10-4, coffee that.

〔 o f f i c e r   d e a c o n   j a m e s 〕

Hey y’all! It’s Laura again with the newest bean in the patch, Deacon! As always, you can hit me up in the DMs or on Discord [ldawg#9812] to talk plots/connections for him as well as the other three babes.

(mention of drugs tw) | @madison-intros

Kennedy: I'm sorry cowboy. I know Breezy will definitely keep it interesting in my absence.

Kennedy: I'll make it up to you, I promise.

Deacon: It's okay. I'll try and survive another lunch with Bree and not be too disappointed for her sake.

Noah nodded his head, though he didn’t completely understand being a middle child. He was the oldest and Bree was the youngest. It had always been the two of them. And at the end of the day, they would do anything for each other. “I think it did too,” he told him with a singular nod of his head. “I mean, you really rose above and stood out. I’ve heard the stories of the middle children just bein’ forgotten and all,” he shook his head, having clearly watched far too many unrealistic movies in his days. “I know, Bree hangin’ out with Chesney and suddenly, I feel a lot like a middle child,” he teased in response, shaking his head, “I mean, the two of them could not care less if I existed or not.” Noah was only kidding, knowing that both Chesney and Bree adored him as a sibling and family friend, but he couldn’t help but give shit about it, and he would do it to their faces as well, all in good humor. “But that’s why we have got to have good guy friends,” he clasped Deacon on the shoulder, “For moments when the go one and forget about us.” 

“Well, I couldn’t go bein’ forgotten, could I?” He laughed, shaking his head at the thought. When he and his sisters been growing up, Deacon’s parents were great about sharing their love equally. He never felt like anyone was a favorite, never wondered if he belonged or fit in with his family. It was what gave the kids so much strength in their own relationships with each other. “There’s no breakin’ those two up once they get together. It’s like nobody in the world exists.” Deacon sighed as he lifted his beer to his lips again. “You’re right, man. That’s why guy friends are the best. Don’t go tellin’ Bree but I’m actually a little grateful she’s givin’ me the night off. I’m beginning to feel the brunt of all her jokes and it’s really breakin’ my heart.”

Kennedy: Rain check on tomorrow's not so impromptu lunch break?

“Deacs, how could I forget that you care?” Her brows raised as her head fell to the side as she spoke. She wasn’t lashing out at her brother - not in the slightest. If there was one true and steady it was that her siblings cared about. Their heads may butt and their words may find disagreement, but a the end of the day, they were a family. They grew up with everything the needed to sustain a normal and happy life and her siblings were most of that equation. No number of materialistic items would ever compare to the love that her siblings brought to her life. Her lips parted in laughter once more, taking another bite of the the chocolate croissant before her. “You know I mean well,” she stated as she finished chewing the food. Her eyes grew at his words, “Hey! That was one week that I needed to stay in the attic,” she teased him, “It’s not my fault my apartment flooded. Lucky for me though now, Ximena is a great housemate to have, even if her and Ryan are not quiet at all.” She laughed, shaking her head, “Zeke is a good guy, Deacon.” She turned more serious, the laughter dying off, “I can’t say that it will go anywhere, I can’t predict the future but I really like where things are at right now. And,” she paused, a smile beginning to touch on the corner of her lips, “if he goes and breaks my heart, then have at your brotherly duties of kicking ass.”

“I don’t know, you’re growin’ up and gettin’ all busy with people that aren’t me. Maybe you’re goin’ off and forgettin’ your big brother.” He shrugged, the playful glint in his eyes giving away just how much he was joking. “Yeah, I don’t miss havin’ a roommate now that you mention it. Do they at least split time between their places so you can get some quiet now and then, or are they the kind that are always over at your place?” Deacon raised the cup of coffee he’d gotten to his lips, watching his sister carefully. He nodded at Sydney’s words, respecting his sister’s judgement of character. She was, after all, a James. “I know he is, Syd, that’s not what this is. I just want to make sure you’re bein’ smart. I don’t want you goin’ off and gettin’ hurt.” 

Avery followed Deacon inside, realizing this was the first time she had stepped foot in his place. Her eyes scanned the walls, her eyes meeting his as he mentioned juice boxes. The corners of her eyes crinkled with her laugh as it turned into a smile, “Juice boxes do bring on this frisky feelin’,” she joked softly, cheeks turning red once more. She was flirtatious but there was nothing that was graceful about it. “Clearly, I can see why the kids would never stop ravin’ about coming over to the James house.” Avery commented with a still remaining smile on her lips, “A beer is fine by me,” while it wasn’t her favorite, she knew that a pinch of alcohol might bring a bout of relaxation to her. 

Deacon’s tongue darted across his lips before he nodded at her selection. “Perfect, I’ll go grab us a couple cold ones. Feel free to grab a seat on the couch. I think I got all the the Hot Wheels pulled out, but if you find one, let me know.” Rubbing his hands together, Deacon quickly made his way to the fridge in the kitchen and pulled out two beers, using the magnetic bottle opener on the door to pop off the lids. He headed back into the living room and sat down on the couch, not directly at the end but a little closer to the middle. Giving her space sounded fine but Deacon was a little more focused on getting closer to Avery, not sitting a whole couch away. After resting the beer on the coaster that he’d left out from last night, Deacon moved another one toward Avery and sat her drink on it. His fingers lingered there briefly as he looked over her face, giving Avery a smile. Finally, the man leaned back, resting his arm on the back of the couch, fingertips close enough to brush through her hair if he wanted to. He did, of course, but he would give it a minute before doing that. Instead, he turned his body to face Avery. “So, how’s school goin’ so far? You wranglin’ those little rascals into shape?” 

“The Belle ball of course,” she replied as if it was obvious what night she’d been talking about, when she hadn’t specified. She leant on the table, given her cousin a wicked grin as she looked at her older cousin. “Get lucky, make a girls dream come true? Break hearts, dance? I want all the gossip, I need to live vicariously of course.”

“Live vicariously? You tellin’ me Maddox didn’t take you home and ravish you?” Deacon had a feeling that Hunter and Morgan were far more than just friends. He could see the way the guy looked at her, the same way nearly everyone in town did, and Deacon knew Morgan wouldn’t tell him anything without a little push on his part. “Yeah, I wouldn’t say I ‘got lucky’ so much as I got to spend the night with a really great girl. We didn’t sleep together so get your mind out of the gutter, Valdez. We just...” he trailed off, a smile crossing his lips as he remembered the night he’d spent with Kennedy after the ball. “We stayed up talking for hours.” 

The balmy breeze rustled through the trees and blanketed them in its warm embrace. Kennedy ignored the gravity of this moment in exchange to enjoy the levity of his presence. All of those ominous clouds that threatened to rain on her parade dissipated into the dreamy indigo evening studded with the brightest stars. She desperately tried to follow her doubt to dismiss the implication of his words. I’ll watch anythin’ with you, Ken. His words triggered the blissfully dormant part of her that yearned to be wanted. To feel like someone could fathom loving the broken pieces of her. “Don’t go saying something you don’t mean.” Kennedy whispered delicately; almost wishing that he didn’t catch it. If he had he’d have yet another pitiful nod to her grand surrender to the feelings that unnerved her. Deacon was the kind of person that got drunk off of. Every moment she spent near him, she felt herself longing to stay forever like this; like a helpless satellite drifting into his rotation and being soaked in his neon rays. “You wanna trade in your spurs to walk on the wild side?” Kennedy gently untangled her hand from his to cradle his jaw. The stumble tickling the inside of her palm. “You don’t bore me, Deacon. I like you just the way you are with your boxer brief wearing, law upholding, good boy virtue.” Tipping up onto her toes, her blushed along his cheek before she laid her head on his shoulder. “The way you make me feel is dangerous,” the words flowed out of her with ease. “because it’ll make seeing you walk away hurt worse.” Kennedy sucked in a breath before place a comfortable distance between them.

“No,” she shook her head before sliding back behind the walls she had built. “Not possible for the town’s James Dean. Plus, we gotta watch out for Ms. Avery. She’s the one with the ruler. That breaks anyone’s will in the best kind of ways,” she winked. Kennedy smoothed out his lapel. “I better go find my date. She’s got a very important little man to return to and I’d be a really cheap date if I didn’t get her back him at a decent hour.” 

“I never say things I don’t mean,” he confessed, hoping with every part of him that Kennedy would understand how real it was. She, of all people, should know that by now. He’d meant every work he’d said since he first met her. His heartbeat raced even faster as she cupped his jaw, and for a split second, Deacon thought she might actually kiss him. His body reacted accordingly, leaning into the touch and moving toward her own lips when her face moved closer to his. He tried to hide the feeling of disappointment that washed over him when her lips didn’t find his own. It was in that split second that he realized all night long he’d been thinking about kissing her. His body had been craving it, and now his brain finally caught up, subconscious becoming conscious.

When she pulled away, a wave of coldness swept over him in the kind of way he hadn’t known it could since his ex was around. Deacon had spent the past three years chasing that, wondering if it could exist outside of purely physical relationships, and now that he’d found it, he knew. Every part of him that was drawn to Kennedy Kelley was crying out inside for her to be back in his arms. Deacon didn’t say anything as he watched her smooth his lapel, his own hand reaching up to grab her wrist. He used it to tug her closer as his arm slipped around her waist. Ducking his head just enough, Deacon kissed Kennedy like he’d wanted to since the day he met her, and he held her there for as long as his lungs could possibly stand to before breaking for air. “I’m not walking away. Let me take you home tonight. I’ll be on my best behavior, I swear. I just can’t let you go home with anyone else.” Before she could answer, Deacon kissed her again, hoping that was enough of a convincing move on his part to convey just how badly he needed her to say yes. 

Noah laughed, nodding his head at Deacon’s words. “Yeah, you really are the middle child,” he had almost forgotten. It didn’t seem like Deacon was with how he looked out for both of his sisters all the time, but he could only appreciate the sentiment more. “They were smart, knowin’ two on one would get them anythin’ they wanted.” He chuckled at the thought, “They’ve been plottin’ against you since the beginning.” Noah knew the same thing would have happened if it wasn’t just him and Bree. Anymore and he was sure to be outnumbered. “If she’s with Ches then I got no worries about her comin’ over and smackin’ either of us over the head.” 

The topic of his sisters was an odd one to touch with Noah, and this was about as close as Deacon would ever get in that realm with the man. He knew better than to linger on it too long, but he wasn’t one to drastically change the topic of conversation unless it was absolutely necessary. “Yeah, most people forget but I like to think it’s what made me so damn endearing. I mean, you gotta learn how to get people to notice you as the middle child. Otherwise, you don’t get any love.” He laughed as he lifted his beer to his lips and drank from it. “Oh, I knew they were. If one of ‘em had been born a boy, I’d be in an altogether different boat.” Deacon adored his sisters, which only made joking about them more fun. “That’s kind of what I was thinkin’. You know how she gets with that girl. Ain’t another human being in the whole universe.” 

Avery laughed softly, nodding her head. “Of course he didn’t notice,” she teased back in response. There was a part of her that thought some kids left their bags behind on purpose. Not that she was assuming Dylan did that but she had a fair number of the kids over her years of teaching that were a little too forgetful when it came to their bags. As Deacon took the bag from her, their fingers grazing, she looked up to meet his gaze when he invited in her. “Oh,” she breathed the word, straightening up as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. There was no doubt that her cheeks were already reddening at his invitation. She really ought to get this whole blushing thing checked out. “yeah, I’d like that.” Avery didn’t have anywhere else to be at the end of the night. Perhaps one of the perks of being single. 

Deacon smiled at her accepting his invitation to come inside, hoping for the best. He was only human, after all, and had been attracted to Avery since the first Meet the Teacher night last year, but he’d known better than to make too much of a move while his kids were in her class. His gaze followed her hand to her hair, already wanting to follow suit and mimic the movement.“Me too,” he said as way of a reply before stepping back and holding the door open for her. “I, uh, don’t have a lot to offer but I can get you a beer or some water, or maybe a juice box if you’re feelin’ frisky?” Deacon topped the joke off with a wink, looking down at the brunette before him. “We only keep the best here in the James house.” 

The mirth that curled around his confession happily crowded her skin. Kennedy giggled along with his hearty chuckle. “Hey, Cars is a masterful animation if I’ve ever seen one. Who can really be upset over humanoid cars that sound like Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy? It’s so noir.” The absurdity of her comment almost mirrored that of his favorite film. Although, it wasn’t a wild stretch of the imagination that his favorite film would be that of his twins. Deacon held close to his family values and his role as their sole protector. Kennedy couldn’t help the kindling admiration and envy that blossomed within her. There were good fathers out there in the world. She just wasn’t lucky enough to have one for herself. “Well if it makes you feel better, you vote counts with me. If you ever wanted to watch something that is..” she leaned into him to heed the silly implication of her words. Sounded like you asked him out on a date. Like that would ever be a good idea. “Nope, there’s nothing to be insecure about. It’s safe and intoxicating.” She hummed. “And I’m good at this game. It’s the perks of being an observer.” She tipped her head up to capture his gaze. “There’s nothing boring about you, Deacon. You’re more dangerous than you know.” 

Her nose passed along his as they comfortable melded into one another’s frame. Kennedy’s hand anchored onto his shoulder for a moment before she stepped in closer. If she was going to tempt herself with some fantasy why not feel it in full force before allowing reality to rip it all away. Her fingers danced along the back of his neck and raked through the hair along the nape of his neck. “I know but I don’t want to hurt you–even if you can take it.” She whispered. 

Deacon wanted to kiss her so badly. He was hearing her words, but the way her laughter sounded in the quietness of the night surrounding them felt like riding a tilt-a-whirl. All he could think about was trying to get her to do it again and again and again. Kennedy Kelley was intoxicating. “I’ll watch anythin’ with you, Ken,” he said quietly, not sure if she understood just how serious the statement was. If Kennedy asked him to watch an old black and white movie, he’d do it. A European film with subtitles? He’d stick it out to the very end.  “Safe and intoxicating, huh? Now, dangerous, that’s a word I could get used to. Either way, I hope you’re not findin’ me too boring, because I sure don’t think that way about you.” Looking down at her, Deacon’s gaze slipped from her eyes to her lips as he felt the instinctive pull toward them again. The closeness was building up all the feelings he’d felt since meeting her, but Deacon didn’t want to rush anything, not with Kennedy. 

His eyes fluttered closed at the feeling of her hand in his hair, craving even more of it than he’d thought he could want from her so soon. Kennedy was different from the other women Deacon pursued and everything about that made him nervous, but in the best kind of way. “It would be an honor to be broken by you,” he told her with complete certainty.

As long as Deacon needed to talk, Sadie had time to listen. She was only teasing him about Kennedy, not expecting him to open up like this. But now that their conversation was serious, her only concern was his heart. “Yeah, I remember that, you big old cheese ball.” Her words were paired with a warm smile, just trying to lighten the mood. She recovered quickly with a more somber expression. “Just kidding. But hey, it’s not bad to believe in something. Just please be careful. I am not scared to dropkick Kennedy if she hurts you. You know that. We can’t have this talk without me sayin’ that.”

“You know what? I’m sick of your face,” he replied jokingly, reaching out and gently shoving her shoulder with his hand. It was the same line he’d always said as a teenager when he tried not to give her an upper hand with an insult that hit too close to home, even if it was just in teasing. “I will, I promise. I’ve got more than just me to think about, you know that, and the kids will always come first. But don’t go worryin’ too much, okay? Deacon James doesn’t get hurt.” 

“It’s written in blood that I have to at least say it,” she teased him. It’s only because Sydney did most of the teeth cleanings that she mentioned it anyway. To give her brother a hard time was not something the brunette could pass up. “You better,” she wagged her finger in his direction, leaning back in the chair. Sydney fought off an eye roll as he dove right into mentioning Zeke. “Not wasting any time, I see,” her tone was still pleasant. At least she knew she was going to be ambushed by Deacon at this breakfast with him. She had no idea that Sadie had a bad interaction with the man, tainting her image of him almost immediately. Not that it would have changed the fact that she went on a date with him. “Yes, we did have a great time.” She told Deacon, “He’s not a bad dancer,” she admitted, “Which was a nice touch. My last date could not dance all that well,” she teased, poking fun at her brother with a playful smile. 

“I know, I know,” he replied with a laugh. Deacon would always tease his sister, knowing that she would defend her job just like he would his own. He’d admired her for putting in the work to become a dental hygienist and was proud of her for doing something so prestigious compared to the work he did. He didn’t need a degree to be a cop, and he had joined the academy right out of high school. In his eyes, his sisters were both much more admirable than he was. “Hey now, I’m just askin’ a simple question. I want to make sure you know I care, that’s all.” Deacon held his hands up innocently, not wanting to come across too judgmental. After all, Deacon was a guy who believed in second chances, he’d proven that with his wife. “Oh, okay, shots fired then. Nah, I’m glad you had a date this year, a real one. It’s about time the boys of Madison got their heads on straight and realized what a catch you are. I got to get you married off soon or you’ll be livin’ in my attic for the rest of my life.” 

Noah laughed as Deacon said Bree was terrible at taking turns. “Honestly, I had to pull the older brother card a lot to get my way.” He shook his head, “Wasn’t the best reason but most of the time I could get away with sayin’ I was older so it was my way or the high way.” He admitted to Deacon, “I mean, she was more than willin’ to oblige if she still got to hang out with me.” Noah teased, though he had always been one to want to hang out with his younger sister as well. They had their fights, like most siblings, but at the end of the day they always had each other’s backs. “Phew,” he wiped his brow as if he had been sweating, “I was worried she was goin’ to pop up out of no where and scare the shit outta me.” 

“Man, I wish that had worked in our house,” he said wistfully. “Bein’ in the middle really ruins that whole ‘big brother’ thing sometimes. Any time I wanted to watch a boy movie, Sadie and Syd would gang up on me. Actually, I think they’re the ones who taught it to the twins now that I think about it.” Deacon shook his head, lifting his beer up to his lips and taking a sip. “Man, I wouldn’t be surprised if she still did that. You know she’s likely to do it. I think we’re safe tonight, though, she said somethin’ about having dinner with Ragsdale. You know that means she’ll be otherwise engaged all evening.” 

It was not like Avery to make house calls during the year, but neither of the James twins were in her class and so it wasn’t really against any of her rules that she set for herself when it came to the parents of her students. When she noticed that Dylan had left his bag behind at the school, Avery eagerly, perhaps too eagerly, offered to drop it off at their home. It’s not like it was entirely in the opposite direction of her own apartment or anything like that. Approaching the door, her knuckles rapped gently against the door. His words sounding before he opened the door had a smile touching her lips. Clearly, he was expecting one of the kids to forget something. Also indicating that the twins were not home. “Just little ole me,” she offered a smile in his direction, “Dylan forgot his bag at school today.” She lifted the small child’s backpack up toward him, “I figured I’d come drop it off in case he was missin’ it.” 

“Well, little ol’ you is a welcome surprise,” he replied, resting his shoulder against the door frame as he crossed his arms over his chest. Deacon’s tongue darted over his lips slowly. Avery was attractive and absolutely his type, so Deacon couldn’t really help himself. “Oh, well, shoot. I’m glad you dropped it off. He didn’t notice or anythin’, but I’m sure he’ll appreciate not getting behind on his homework.” He reached for the backpack, his fingers grazing her hand as he took it. “Do you want to come in?” Deac’s intentions weren’t entirely harmless, not after the Belle Ball where he’d danced with her for two songs and flirted just as long. Deacon wanted to know if Avery was as interested in him as he was in her, and he had a gut feeling she was, but he’d never know if they didn’t leave the porch.