Leave Her, Johnny, Leave Her

Luna wasn’t sure she ever wanted to move again. She felt sluggish, though her body had already started to heal from the Wolfsbane laced bullets the moment Mako took them out. Not to mention the sheer mental trauma of being shot at by the Clave left her feeling more than tired. The horror of seeing Mako take the rest of the bullets, even if she remembered a couple seconds too late that he would be fine, physically, wasn’t something she could shake so quickly either. Knowing he would be fine didn’t make it any easier to watch.

At the offered glass of whiskey, Luna gently smiled and shook her head, eyes locked on Mako’s face. That sweet face always made her feel better, even if it wasn’t it’s normally jovial self right now. “No thank you,” she said, fiddling with the shirt of his she wore. It was way too big, but it was cleaner than what she’d been in, and it was comforting. Like he was giving her a constant hug. Like he was protecting her from those bullets all over again. She walked over to him and put her hands over his, thumb stroking his skin. He’d saved her life. How did she even begin to thank him for that? “You don’t have to keep your eyes closed.”

He remembered, he probably wouldn’t ever forget, the gunfire, not to mention what he had said. If he could just take a long walk off a short pier to get that out of his head, to take that back and do it right? Mako would have done it in a heartbeat. As it were, no chance. Move forward, keep trying, all that shit.

But damn, he’d wanted it to be something else. Special.

Sensing her closer, Mako instinctively started to relax, even when his hands trembled a little under hers. Peeking open an eye, there was a second when his breath caught at the sight of her. Truth be told, since that first uh-oh moment, that’d been happening consistently. Then his expression melted and he put the glasses on a nearby bookshelf, wrapped his arms around her. Just a full embrace, cheek to her hair and unsteady hands on her back. “I’m so sorry, baby.” An echo of his previous words during the chaos, although he let out a steadying breath, pushing away guilt in favor of something, anything she’d need. “Are you okay? Anything you need, you got it; all that sucked and you.. alright, you look damn cute in my shirt but what can I do?”

She’d almost - almost - gotten back into the swing of things. Until he’d kissed her wrist, that is. Okay, friends didn’t do that, right? That wasn’t just her imagination? That wasn’t just her pulse quickening for no reason? She tried to push the thought aside, even if it tried it’s hardest to stay and make a home in her mind. Mako was definitely…easy on the eyes. But she couldn’t let that get her all twisted up when he probably didn’t see her that way.

“Well, we are a little short-staffed today,” she said with a nod, looking around the bakery. It wasn’t terribly busy at the moment, besides the slowly growing line behind Mako, but nothing she couldn’t usually manage. Not that she was up for sharing that at the moment. If he wanted to help, then she couldn’t seem to make herself turn it away. Not when it meant he could stay instead of turning around and walking out the door. And looking like that, she noticed, clothes loosened now that the act was over, she found herself trying to look pointedly at his face, and not…everywhere else. “I could use some help cleaning up the tables, maybe lifting some bigger boxes in the back so we have more room. I might even have an apron big enough for you.” She grinned, trying to look casual as the offer was made. “That sound okay to you?”

What in all things holy was he doing? He had intended to come in, joke and tease with her, something to lighten the day and make something, anything better if her day was a rotten one. The latest news said, he was sure that had a good purpose. Fact was, though, he’d gotten those butterflies in his stomach around her and.. and he couldn’t exactly deny the wondering thoughts, how his eyes sought her out in a crowd, lowered to her lips instead of staying on her eyes. Damn beautiful ones, too.

“Tell you what, I’ll find that apron and get to work, boss.” He shot her a wink and broad grin, immediately vanishing behind the counter into the back, courtesy of his delightful vampire speed. A rush later and he came out with an apron just big enough for him, determined to make her laugh throughout the day and a bussing tub. A curtsy her that nearly ended with him falling on his face and he started to work. Each and every table that was occupied, he held a conversation with the patrons, somehow making them beam and laugh, clearing the this and that away. He even called out greetings to anyone who came in, farewells to those who left, and let out a big laugh when a child got it in their head that they should cling to his leg and force him to keep working with that extra weight.

“Boss, we’ve got a stage five clinger!”

Mako let the ruins wall fall with a dry, dusty crash and scratched his cheek as the sound echoed. A cheeky grin was flashed to Tobias as he eyed the chamber ahead of them. “Guess I shoulda been quiet ‘bout that one, huh?” he joked and took a testing step on some stone steps. “Ladies first?”

Mako didn’t realize his hands were shaking until he started to pour whiskey into the tumblers he had pulled from the box he kept in the kitchen. The glass of the bottle clicked and clacked against the tumbler edge and he had to take a breath, a few of them just to stop the shaking until both were filled.

He had almost lost her. God, he had almost lost Luna and looked at the other room, approached it with both glasses in hands and whiskey bottle under his arm. He’d offered her a clean set of clothes and knocked on the falling-off-the-hinges door and closed his eyes as he entered. “I.. whiskey?” he offered and resisted every temptation to peek open an eye.

This was starting to feel less and less like part of the act. Unless “Carl” was supposed to stare at the prospective dealer in that unnerving way of his. The way that made Luna want to fidget. When he started to stammer, though, a small smile curved her lips up. “You’d…” she trailed off softly, urging him to finish that thought. Why couldn’t she tell if this was part of the game or not? It had to be. No one had ever outright been at a loss for words around her. It was all just some over-the-top acting to flatter her ego. Get her to make this supposed deal. So was it part of the act when her eyes dipped a little lower than they should have? To where his mouth was working to find words? “Just ask, huh?” she questioned, her accent almost gone completely as she grinned. For a moment, her mind wandered as she thought of all the things she could playfully ask for. Would “Carl” stammer some more if she thought of a good one?

A loud, exaggerated cough broke her from such daydreams.

Luna giggled quietly, a laugh shared between her and Mako. It seemed they were holding up the line. “You’ve got a deal.” The facade was over now, a thought that threatened to dampen her spirits. Make her feel how most moments passed often did to someone. Then again, she’d take Mako over “Carl” any day, too. As fun as their games were, it was always nice to see and learn more about the real him. “So…what is it I can get for you today?”

He was starting to get those thoughts, those forbidden thoughts when it came to friends. The ones about leaning in, holding a breath from her to see if she’d close a distance, the ones about wondering what that’d be like and just for a few moments, just a few moments longer than her heartbeat, he was tempted as her accent faded and his throat remained drier than the Sahara. He wet his lips with a quick swipe of his tongue and let his head hang, a sigh falling at the cough.

Mako couldn’t tell if he was grateful or pissed at the interruption and his cowardice. Was it being a coward if he avoided kissing a friend? A really, stupendously, emotionally, mentally, and physically attractive friend?

He caught her hand and pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist. There was intimacy there, he knew that, but he didn’t regret the action. “Question is what can I get you? You need some help ‘round here? I’ve got two good hands, a pretty smile, and a day to help you out if you need it.” He was back as Mako and thusly loosened the tie to dangle, unbuttoned the suit jacket and let the vest stay as it was.

“No. No, no, no, no.” Rapid fire denial, Mako watched just a moment too slow as Luna’s frame jerked from the impact of the hit and got to her as the bullets continued to fly. A duck, a spin and he took the rest.

The Clave were attacking and he needed to get her out of there. Get as many as possible out but her first.

“Hey. Hey, hey, look at me.” Fucking shit, his body felt like it was on fire and it hurt to move, it was hell as his body worked to push out the bullets. With a low groan, he scooped her up and dashed to the back of the bakery, shoving open the door and speeding her away. Faster, faster, he commanded his body and, miles away, laid her on the forest floor. “Look at me, baby. Oh.. oh god.”

There was so much blood and he covered the wound with a hand, cupped her cheek with his other and knew he was shaking. Please, he prayed to anyone listening, please let her be okay.

“That’s my blood. That’s a lot of my blood,” Luna choked out among the pain and he couldn’t stop the choked laugh, picked up a bullet that fell out of him, pulled out his pocket knife. “Oh shoot.”

@tobiaspierce

Mako, in his own way, gave Tobias a droll expression. The ruins were rickety as hell, certainly scared the bejeezus out of Mako, but they had a mission. Mako had found something, something important about his heritage and, well, he had no family left. He needed something, anything that made him feel whole again. Like.. like he mattered to the world.

“Would you just like the damn lamp and- eurgh,” he grunted while holding up the door, “-get your ass over here, man?!”

@tobiaspierce

Mako gave Tobias a rueful look and spread his grease paint-coated fingers along his friend’s cheek. “Listen, fucker, I love you.” He gave the man a big, smacking kiss on the forehead for it. “But you’re shit at sneaking and I really, really want to scare the ever-living shit out of Jos. So either you do the get-up or I sneak by myself.” He grinned broadly and smacked his back. “Or are you chicken?”

“It’s only cliche if you are a vampire. I’m not a vampire.” she replied with a shrug, but she’d mostly avoided vampires, witches and wolves over the years since she’d landed in Hollow Grove. “Are you going to go as a princess? Braid your hair all pretty?”

“Fair.” Shit, there’d probably been a brawl or something about it. Pity he’d have missed it, he was itching for a good fight. Still, his face lit up with his laugh and he shrugged broad shoulders. “You know what? If it’d make you happy, I’d seriously consider it.”

“Hey so be it!” Issy exclaimed with a wide grin and no shame what’s ever. Watching Mako’s theatrics she couldn’t help but laugh, he absolutely always put a smile on her face. “I mean in my defense I only moved back permanently like three years ago, but really I have no defense, I just failed you as a friend. Please tell me you still love me.”

Mako didn’t move, didn’t react for a solid two, three seconds. Then his eye peeked open before shutting quickly. “Depends. How’re you gonna win my love back?” he mumbled out the corner of his mouth. “Food is good, alcohol is better.”

Luna, for all the seriousness she tried to play, could not hold back the snort that tore from her when Mako slipped and fell. She checked to make sure he was okay, of course, but the initial sight of it broke whatever grasp she had on the character she tried to portray. He shot up again like a jack-in-the-box, and she tried to compose herself at the equally funny sight of that. Maybe it was for the better that the imaginary banana peel had wiped him out and broken the hold his gaze had over her. He might’ve been in character, but the way he looked at her, the way he talked…something about it almost made her forget she was supposed to play a part. Made her want to smile and remind herself that this was all just pretend and Mako was naturally charismatic. He’d be like this with anyone.

Which made it all the harder for her not to reach out and move the stray curl away from his face. They were getting back into character, and that could’ve thrown this whole charade off. If he wanted to move it, he could move it. The kid behind Mako would probably appreciate her not taking up anymore of his time, anyway.

So she wiped the smile away and got back to business, pretending to study “Carl” as he gave her all the details. “You’s guys, you’re all the same. Never wanna tell a gal what all these favors are they’re askin’ for.” She rolled her eyes, then placed a hand on her lip, looking him over again. Finally, she sighed, then leaned on the counter so she could get closer. “Look,” she said with a sigh, “I’m gonna need a lotta heavy sugar, for one thing. No dough, no favors. Next…ya gotta make me a promise, Carl, ya hear? You promise me ain’t nothin’ gonna happen to me for gettin’ my hands dirty.” She gave him a meaningful look. “Do ya promise?”

As soon as he was up, Mako was back in place, although his eyes.. they should have stayed on hers. He wondered why they kept wandering and why he didn’t bother to stop them. Just playing the part as he leaned in. His chest, it felt tight in a forgotten familiar way, like heat wanted to rush on his cheeks and redden the tips of his ears but couldn’t. Could he just look at her for a while longer and not wonder why? Just to enjoy the sight of her, how comfortable he felt, despite the liveliness of his nerves? Damn right, but he was gonna work to make her laugh in the process.

He let the curl dangle, and continued to lean in just dangerously close. “Well, alls you gotta do is ask, I’d be- I’d.. uh..” She had leaned in and he forgot what to say, what to do. Her eyes were so damn pretty and dark, skin looking so soft and.. and he needed to focus because what the hell was he doing? Eyes that, of their own accord, flicked down to her lips shot right back to her eyes and he swallowed the thick lump in his throat. “I- I’d.. I’d make damn sure you got all the best stuffs,” he rasped and tried to school his features. “You just ask, it’s yours. And you ain’t gonna get touched by any of dis, promise.”

The high of monster jam had worn off faster than she’d wanted it to and she’d been thrust back to this life that she didn’t much care for anymore. She’d spoken with her mother over facetime and she’d commented on her skin, how she didn’t seem to have aged a bit since she was about twenty years old. There were times when Holly could easily pretend she was living a normal human life, she’d only been a vampire for about six years after all, but she’d been brought back down to reality all too quickly. She didn’t think there was getting out of this funk, but she was certainly attempting to by eating her way through a dozen cupcakes. All placed in front of her in different flavors, she’d taken a large bite of one when a familiar face neared and through a mouthful of food all she managed was, “Don’t even think about it– I’m not in a sharing mood.”

Patrik wasn’t even sure how it had come about that he had gone from one surprise toss to being Mako’s test dummy.  Hell, he wasn’t even sure what Mako was actually trying to achieve by turning him into a human discus.  It was a good thing he was a werewolf though or serious damage would be done.  “I’d call that one a four out of ten, which is an improvement,” he said, rubbing at his leg.  “You need to work on your projection.” 

The morning paper lay discarded on the counter as she continued to refill the display case, trying to figure out what she felt over the upcoming trials. These were the people who’d bombed Spring Fling and killed so many that day. People like Mrs. Dawson, and very nearly Luna. The same people who’d put all the kids and everyone else at the manor in danger the night of the Blood Moon, herself, her brother, and her friends included when they’d partaken in helping the kids escape. She wanted even some of them to face the consequences for their actions, but a part of her worried they wouldn’t. A seemingly unlikely outcome given their rap sheet, and yet, the ones the town had captured were only a small portion of a much larger group. Maybe they would somehow wiggle out of their grasp again. Maybe they’d be off into the night before anything could happen.

All those sour thoughts ran through a loop in her head until she spotted a customer who stood out from the crowd. Normally, he would’ve stuck out anyway, his height and build making it almost impossible to be concealed. But now…now those concerns about the Clave trial were completely shoved aside as she studied his ensemble and barely bit back a smile. Leave it to Mako to always leave her guessing. Not that she minded. In the time she’d known him, she felt like she could relax when he was around, or just be a complete and utter goofball without fear of judgement. It had her looking forward to any chance she got to spend time with him. Particularly when he was dressed in a sharp suit and sunglasses, looking ever the enigmatic character as he approached the counter. 

The moment he started to speak, Luna playfully rolled her eyes skyward with a bright smile, quickly trying to put on her most serious face. The outfit now made much more sense. Leaning against the counter, she looked around like anyone could be listening, then let her gaze fall back on Mako. “Depends on who’s askin’,” she answered in a New York accent that didn’t sound quite right. “You got’s a name, pal?”

A keen eye, a gaze that had been sharply looking out for any kind of amusement on her part, caught those quick grins and the effort put in to hide them. As much as he wanted to do a victory dance, delighted that something he'd done had taken away that somber expression he'd spotted when he passed the threshold, Mako turned the toothpick clamped between teeth to his cheek and tilted down his sunglasses. He told himself that long look-see over was just being in character and the truth of it wasn't relevant, even as fun danced in his eyes. "Does it?" he flirtatiously purred and leaned on the counter as well - and promptly crashed to the floor when he slipped, landing in a well-dressed heap, only to rush up.

The kid behind him, sensing a long delay before his cupcake, sighed heavily.As though he hadn't heard the boy sigh and that he hadn't fallen, Mako leaned in and offered a smirk.

When it fell across his brow, Mako puffed out a breath and blew the curly locks that had fallen out of his bun away. They fell right back where they were, but he had a loose script in his head. "Dey calls me.. Carl." That same damn-the-devil grin stayed in place and he tapped a finger to the underside of her chin. "The boss says you can douse us a favor and sent me to make sure you gonna do the right thing'n say yes. So what's your price of doin' us a favor?"