blackbird in the dead of night

      » 𝚑𝚎𝚛  𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜  𝚊𝚛𝚎  𝚝𝚑𝚎  𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚎  𝚑𝚎  𝚠𝚊𝚜  𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐  𝚏𝚘𝚛 ,  𝚋𝚞𝚝  they  still  don’t  make  him  feel  better  about  his  plan .  it’s  less  of  a  plan  anyhow ,  more  of  a  desperate  attempt  to  think  before  simply  acting  on  blind  impulse .          “ i  do  my  best , ”  he  replies  with  a  wink .  yet  her  words  make  his  slight  smile  drop .          “ it’s  not  set  in  stone ,  i’d  have  to  find  somewhere  to  hire  me ,  but  i  wouldn’t  leave  you  with  no  protection . ”  that  much  is  true .          “ and  you  could  always  come  find  me  if  you  had  any  trouble . ” 

⋯ ❛ YOU’RE A PRETTY AMAZING GUY, NIKO. don’t you ever doubt that, ❜ harper spoke and reached out and gave his hand a gentle squeeze before pulling her hand back as she took hold of the fork and knife. she noticed the smile dropping slightly though and she couldn’t help but wonder if she had said something wrong. ❛ did i... did i say something wrong? ❜ she asked and looked at him with a soft expression on her face. it’s not set in stone, i’d have to find somewhere to hire me, but i wouldn’t leave you with no protection. a smile appeared on her lips and she dropped the knife and fork to lay on the table next to the plate. ❛ you’re really sweet, you know? and i really appreciate it. i do, but i want you to think about yourself for once. ❜ and you could always come find me if you had any trouble. ❛ oh, hell yeah. you’re not getting rid of me that easy, you know, ❜ she said and laughed softly. ❛ besides, you’re my friend too. don’t you dare think that i’m just going to stop talking to you. because that’s not happening. if anything, i’ll bug you EVEN MORE NOW. ❜

“yeah, i’d love to catch up, harps.” the male grinned a bit, shaking his head. “did you want something to drink?” he pulled over a chair, gesturing for the girl to sit as he took a seat. “oh yeah? i’m sure you are. just, hey, if you ever need to take a break, you know you’re always more than welcome here… it’s good to work hard, but not if you’re overworking yourself.” seb glanced over and a small chuckle slipped from his lips as gracie was mentioned. “she’s great. she’s starting school again and she’s got a bit of nerves, but she’ll do great. she always does… and i’m good. just working and helping out as best as i can.”

⋯ ❛ GREAT! ❜ THE SMILE ON HARPER’S LIPS could warm up ice so quickly. looking at sebastian, she noticed the grin on his lips and it caused her to laugh a little softly. did you want something to drink? ❛ do you have hot chocolate? with those little marshmallows? ❜ she asked and blinked her dark lashes at him as she walked over and took a seat. ❛ you’re sweet, and i just might take you up on that offer, ❜ she said and laughed softly, pushing her raven-colored hair onto one shoulder as she leaned her chin against the inside of her palm. she’s great! she’s starting school again and she’s got a bit of nerves. ❛ aw! i’m sure she is going to be a heartbreaker, just like her dad, ❜ harper said and winked at him teasingly. ❛ if you want me to talk to her, let me know. i mean, i’ve been a girl going to school once and i feel like i know what to tell her, ❜ she said and chuckled softly. ❛ hey, you know, if you ever need any help sebastian, i’m here. just call and use me. ❜ furrowing her eyebrows, she shook her head and laughed. ❛ that sounded wrong. you get me, though. ❜

the male peeked his head out around the corner as he heard the small bell ding out front. he chuckled, smile on his lips as he stepped out. “harps, hey! welcome in! you come to grab something to eat or were you just wanting to chill here for a bit?” he finished wiping his hands off with a hand towel before slinging it over his shoulder. “you doing okay?”

⋯ HARPER WALKED INSIDE OF THE B&B, hoping to see a good friend of hers. it didn’t take long for his head to stick out from around the corner, and her smile grew instantly. ❛ hey, ❜ she said and smiled as she moved her hands to her face, pushing it back and out of the way. ❛ i think i’ll stick around for a bit. maybe we could catch up? i feel like it’s been, i don’t know, forever since i talked to you last, ❜ harper said and smiled as she watched him toss the hand towel over his shoulder. ❛ i’m... i’m doing alright, though, thank you. just, you know, working my ass off, ❜ she said and rolled her eyes a little. ❛ what about you? and how is gracie? is she doing well? ❜ harper questioned the male, genuinely interested.

leo raised his eyebrows at her optimism. “has it ever snowed in caliornia?” he questioned with genuine curiosity, his eyebrows furrowing slightly in confusion. he couldn’t remember. he doubted it, though. especially since everything only seemed to be getting hotter and hotter. “uh, if i’m honest i really haven’t given the two much thought.” if could barely keep his days straight. “yeah? i should do that. i always wait until the last minute and it bites me in the ass every time.”

leo nodded his head slowly as if that would solidify the uncertainty of his answer. yeah, right. he had no doubt she could see right though it. no doubt in the slightest. leo nodded once more at his words, chuckling softly. “yeah, after back to school it’s like everything just happens at once.” he huffed out honestly. “yeah? you might wanna go up north for that, though. don’t think it’s ever snowed in california, so sorry to be the bearer of bad news.”

“i do,” naomi assured her with a wave of her hand. she absolutely did. it was the least that she could do, anyway. naomi’s features softened at the mention of a holiday. if only it were that easy. naomi forced a small smile at the raven haired girl, nodding slowly even if she knew it wasn’t plausible. “yeah, maybe.” she offered. her smile grew a little more as harper continued and she nodded a little. “some netflix in bed probably would do me some good, actually.”

⋯ ❛ NETFLIX IN BED could honestly fix just about anything, ❜ she said and chuckled softly as she rubbed her hands against the hot chocolate cup. licking her lips absentmindedly, the raven-haired female let her eyes lock with naomi’s. ❛ honestly, though, you do deserve to have some time to yourself. everyone does. and sometimes, it’s what you need, you know? especially with how FUCKED UP the world is today. ❜

leo was quick to nod as if that would do a better job of convincing her that he was okay. yeah, right. “i’m good,” he added quickly. not halloween yet, right. although that didn’t mean the craft stores weren’t going to stop setting up their decorations in preparation or it, no doubt. he shook his head at her offer. “what? no, no. that’s sweet but uh, no. i appreciate it, though.”

       » 𝚑𝚎  𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝  𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎  𝚝𝚘𝚘  𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑  𝚘𝚏  𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝  𝚑𝚎'𝚜  𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 .  for  two  main  reasons :  number  one ,  she  doesn’t  know  what  he  actually  does ;  number  two ,  it  might  not  even  be  actually  happening .  most  of  this  seems  to  be  in  his  head ,  but  he  thinks  it’s  only  practical  for  him  to  envision  it  as  a  reality .  the  last  time  he  had  allowed  himself  to  relax  and  not  observe  his  surroundings ,  he  lost  too  much .          “ i  was … ”

the  food  arrives  at  that  moment ,  and  nikolai  is  a  little  grateful  for  the  additional  time .  once  their  waitress  leaves ,  nikolai  looks  back  to  harper .          “ i  was  thinking  about  a  career  change .  it  might  not  happen ,  and  there’s  a  lot  of  limiting  reasons  for  that . ”  here ,  he  looks  up  at  her  with  a  smile .          “ first  of  all ,  there’s  you . ” 

LEANING BACK IN HER SEAT, she noticed their waitress moving around the cafe absentmindedly, while washing the tables. she wondered how long it would take until their food would get there because honestly, she was a little hungry. tilting her head a little to the side, the raven-haired female let her dark-brown eyes lock with her friend. i was... and just as he was about to say something, the food arrived at the table and harper’s smile widened at the sight in front of her. ❛ god, this looks AMAZING, ❜ she said and giggled softly, and she gave the waitress a soft smile as she left the two. i was thinking about a career change. it might not happen, and there’s a lot of limiting reasons for that. ❛ a career change, huh? wow, that is pretty.... that is a pretty big change, niko, ❜ she said and took her fork and knife. first of all, there’s you. ❛ ahhh! aren’t you CHARMING, ❜ harper spoke and rolled her eyes a little bit at the words coming from nikolai’s mouth. ❛ i have to say, i would really miss you –– but, you know, if a change of career is something you feel like would help whatever you’re going through, then... i would understand. you need to think of yourself, no one else. ❜

naomi had regret washing over her as soon as she saw the look on harper’s face. thankfully, though, harper’s words had naomi relaxing again. she needed to get it together. she cleared her throat as she pushed a hand through her blonde hair, nodding her head slowly. “yeah. i um, i’m sorry. i’ve just been working a lot and,” naomi shrugged slightly. “i’m really sorry.”

❛ YOU DON’T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE, ❜ harper said and chuckled, shaking her head in the process. ❛ honesty, it’s okay. maybe you should take a holiday? ❜ she suggested and a soft shrug of the shoulders happened as she kept her dark-brown eyes locked with the blonde. ❛ or maybe, you know, take a night off and go out with your friends. or, you know, stay in bed and watch netflix for a whole day. you’re allowed to take some time to yourself. ❜

leo’s eyebrows immediately furrowed at the mention of halloween. jesus, what month even was it? he didn’t know. he felt like he’d been so damn out of it lately. it had to be far off, right? leo was too focused on trying to figure it out that it took him a moment to acknowledge her starbucks comment. he cleared his throat, shaking his head a little. “yeah. it’s been really fuckin’ hot lately,” he huffed out in disapproval, pushing a hand through his hair. 

         » 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚙𝚎𝚛  𝚒𝚜  𝚘𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚝 ,  𝚘𝚛  𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚜  𝚒𝚝'𝚜  𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚢  that  she  knows  him  well  enough  to  pick  up  on  the  smaller  details  in  his  expression .  he  sighs ,  looking  down  at  the  grey  lacquered  table .  he  doesn’t  want  to  lie  to  her ,  but  he  doesn’t  want  to  stress  her  out  over  what  could  possibly  be  nothing .          “ that  obvious , huh ? ”  he  questions ,  a  hand running  down  his  face .          “ i’m  …  things  need  to  change ,  a  little ,  you  know ?  i’ve  been ,  i  dunno  …  i  just  feel  kind  of  stuck ,  i  guess .  might  make  some  moves  to  change  things  up . ”

HARPER KNEW NIKOLAI pretty well by now and she knew him well enough to pick up on the small details in his expression. it was pretty obvious that something was going on with him. that obvious, huh? ❛ yeah, ❜ she said and laughed softly, ❛ just a little bit, not gonna lie, ❜ she spoke and sank her teeth into her bottom lip carefully. i’m... things need to change, a little, you know? i’ve been, i dunno, i just feel kind of stuck, i guess. might have some moves to change things up. harper blinked and looked at him anxiously, leaning forward on the table. ❛ you feel stuck? and what kind of changes are you thinking about? ❜  

━━ vivian couldn’t help but think back on last halloween, how another event at trx ended up as one of the worst nights. memories of just how long it took to rebuild trx to what it was now - how far the club had come. she couldn’t blame the timing, she really couldn’t blame anyone considering who had done it was still a mystery. quickly, she regained composure- an old talent. “you have an early start if you start thinking about it now.” 

matty smirked back at her with nothing but fun in his eyes. “you clearly have no idea of who i am, huh? you new in town or something? he questioned. matty knew everyone, he was well known, not for being a good person, but at least for being the kind of cop that risked it all. “yeah, i robbed a lot of shit. it’s a miracle they accepted me into the force and i keep thinking my past is the reason why i haven’t made it to swat yet, but who knows. have you ever stolen anything?”

❛ ACTUALLY, I’M FROM TREEVILLE. i just moved away for a couple of years to –– ❜ she spoke and swallowed against the lump in her throat, feeling her chest tighten a little as she thought about what had happened in las vegas and that was when she had stopped in the middle of the sentence. yeah, i robbed a lot of shit. it’s a miracle they accepted me into the force and i keep thinking my past is the reason why i haven’t made it to swat yet, but who knows. have you ever stolen anything? ❛ i stole some candy when i was younger. i ate it and i got sick and i felt so bad about it that i went to my mom and told her, and she made me walk back to the shop and pay for the stuff that i had stolen. ❜

         » 𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚛  𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐  𝚋𝚞𝚝  𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚏𝚞𝚕 ,  nikolai  allows  himself  a  small  chuckle .  harper  brings  out  the  softened  edges  of  him ,  allows  him  to  lay  the  hatchet  down .  he  matches  her  position ,  leaning  forward  with  arms  on the  table ,  shrugging  in  response .     “  well ,  go  out  there  and  start  something.  it’s  a  small  town ,  i’m  sure  you  can  find  ways  to  entertain  yourself .  i’m  supposed  to  be  the  boring  old  one  here ,  but  if  we’re  sharing … ” here ,  he  pauses .  he  can’t  tell  harper  about  the  exact  intricacies  of  his  job ,  though  she  knows  he  works  for  vivian ,  in  a  particular  sense .  yet  telling  her  now  would  only  stress  her  out  ;  he  can’t  casually  hint  at  leaving ,  not  with  her .  neither  of  them  are  any  good  at  goodbyes .  and  this  may  not  even  be  an  actual  goodbye ,  so  there’s  no  sense  in  getting  her  worried .          “  i  got  nothing  . ”  an  easy  grin  spreads  across  his  face ,  covering  the  thought  process  within .     “  sorry,  птичка . ”

HARPER WATCHED AS NIKOLAI LEANED forward with his arms on the table, mimicking her position. well, go out there and start something. i’m sure you can find ways to entertain yourself. harper laughed and rolled her eyes a little bit at the words coming from the male’s mouth. i’m supposed to be the boring old one here, but if we’re sharing... the smile on her lips softened and she raised an eyebrow at the words coming from him. ❛ uh, we are indeed sharing, ❜ she spoke and laughed softly as she leaned forward. i got nothing. sorry, птичка. she rolled her eyes and laughed, keeping her eyes on the other before lifting the hot drink to her lips and taking a sip of it. ❛ are you sure you’re okay? ❜ he questioned curiously.