thatladii

*I didnt do too much edits/rereads on this one, so if its a little janky Im sorry😭 I deadass get tired of staring at shit staying in my drafts after awhile😶*

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The day of the wedding was here.

Annie felt oddly calm.

Her mind, normally filled with thoughts crashing into eachother like waves into rocky shores, were now as still as a shallow undisturbed tide pool.

It was all hands on deck. The estate was buzzing with energy. Maids and servants flitting left and right in order to get the bride together.

Despite being a royal wedding, they kept things more reserved at Annie's request. It was only fair, she really just wanted to get over the whole thing and go back to what she was doing.

She was getting the final touches of her wedding dress put together. She had a white lace, golden trimmed corset, with a mesh that over layed her chest and arms giving it a sheer appearance. The bottom half of the dress a pristine white, that flared out, lightly grazing the floor.

As for her hair, she went a simpler route. A white headwraps with one link of cowrie shells and just below it was a second thin gold chain wrapped across her forehead. Connected to the gold link were two separate chains, one long and one short, that hung off the sides of her face that connected back together just under her chin, one loop ending just under her chin, the longer loop ending at her collar bone, making it look like gold framing around her face.

Outside of her headpiece the rest of her jewelry was kept simple. Chandelier earrings made of gold and cowrie shells to match the thin headpiece framing her face. With only two thick golden bangles on each wrist. She left her neck bare.

Pearline walked in, "Whew- girl you look good enough to eat!" She gushed giving Annie a once over. Although her face was beaming, it gradually shifted into a serious look.

"What's on your mind Pearl?" Annie inquired, fidgeting with her jewelry, making sure it laid as she wanted it.

"I just...I- I just wanted you to know that you dont have to go through with this if you dont want to." Pearline drew her lips into a thin line.

Annie was taken a bit off gaurd. It brought up feelings that she did so well tamping down to where she was beginning to feel normal for once.

Pearline had never shown any signs of disagreeing with Annie's marriage from the inception of the tournament planning.

"Im ok with it. Why you ask?..."

"Well, it's just that- over the course of a few days it dont seem like you an' Smoke aint really takin' a liking to eachother at all. With all due respect, eventhough he's a handsome man an' all, he dont come off the most respectful to you...I dont like that. I know what's its like to be married to someone you dont want to be married to." Pearlines eyes flashed with a look of forlorn, but as quick as it came, it disappeared.

Annie knew of the man Pearline was married to, a very old man who seemed extremely traditional from what she had told her. Being trapped in that marriage was exactly why she'd go out perform in places that the upperclass society would deem as sinful.

Annie felt for her, didnt judge her. She understood why.

Honestly if Annie wasnt Queen, she knew she'd probably be right beside Pearline to sweat and forget about all her troubles, all the rules, the regulations, the claustrophobia that came with being in these circles.

"Listen Pearline-" Annie stopped herself.

She wanted to tell her how overwhelmed she was. How unsure and honestly afraid she was feeling deep down inside. She wanted to vent her suspicions of the council because she was really beginning to not trust them and their decision making. She wanted to spill everything to her, believing that she would understand. She was one of her- if not- her closest friend.

She didnt say any of those things.

"Thank you for your concern Pearline, but I'll be fine." Annie fixed Pearline with a soft serene smile and patted her on the shoulder. "C'mon now. Let's get this over with."

Pearline had seen a glimpse of the old Annie. She knew that her unfiltered thoughts were about to spill forth on the tip of her tongue, then she saw her put her walls up instead. It seemed like Anisa was only getting further and further away. She was so gaurded now.

Feeling a bit helpless, Pearline followed her long time friend to the wedding ceremony.

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She tried her best not to pay close attention to her surroundings. The warm lights from the chandeliers cast a warm dewy glow against everyones skin in the room. Lords, ladies, and other officials were in attendance dressed in various muted colors. Despite her registering those details it all came across as a blur, whites, golds, browns, tans, messed together like an over-mixed painting. No details, just colors blending into eachother, cuddling her mind.

When she reached the alter she didnt entirely know what to do with herself or her hands. They fell awkwardly by her sides as the officiator droned on with all the vows in the world. Annie didnt really hear a word he said, all of it sounding like he was far away from her underwater despite being right next to her.

Smoke...was staring at her, his eyes undreadable, but a quiet tension remained between them.

They hadnt spoken since their argument at the garden, and Annie wasnt a nervous woman, but his unwavering gaze was making her feel antsy, like she needed to do something but didnt know what it was.

Her hands started fidgeting again.

She shifted her focus from his eyes instead, to what he was wearing. He wore white and gold, same as her, she had to begrudgingly admitted to herself that he looked very handsome.

Her hands were starting to sweat, she started toying with the cloth of her dress.

Then she felt it.

A warmth brushed her fingers.

She looked down... Smokes hand brushed her own, he had a slight tremor in them. Something about it took her off gaurd.

He seemed like this indestructible wall, but here...In this little bubble they were in, she saw it. A small glimpse of something else.

Something else under the heaviness he seemingly carried everywhere he went.

He was just as nervous as her, she realized, and seeing that made her feel a little less anxious, a little less alone in this.

She felt him shift his hands to fully grasp her her own. He was warm, she could feel the callouses across his palms and the soft pads of his fingertips as they closed over hers.

It made her heart flutter and she felt heat coming off from her face to the tips of her ears.

She gave his hands a light squeeze back. A form of reassurance even though they weren't on good terms.

She didnt know why. This man has been nothing but an ass to her, but she did it anyways.

Maybe some part of her needed some comfort too, so much so, it didnt even matter if it came from him.

It seemed to help stop his hands from trembling, long enough for him to slide a ring onto her finger without a hitch when the time came.

"You may now kiss the bride." The long winded officiator finally said.

They shared a quick peck on the lips, too brisk to really make note of, but even with that, the contact lingered, like the heated impression of his lips remained on her own, she felt a lingering tingle from the contact.

The attendees of the wedding broke out in raucous cheers and whistles in celebration of their union.

And that was it.

She was married now, and Smoke was her husband, her partner, her king now. She felt her head start to spin, but then was abruptly brought back to reality when she felt Smoke guide her off the alter, his hand on her lower back.

It felt like a brand. This was the first time they shared any physical contact, and she was hyper aware of his touch against her clothes, feeling his presence against her skin.

This is just for show. As long as the public see a united front from us then thats all that matters. Annie leaned into his body for added effect. She couldnt help but notice how sturdy and solid he felt against her own body.

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After the festivities came to pass Annie felt tired, her eyes growing heavy, the past couple of weeks catching up to her.

Smoke leaned over to her ear, "C'mon, I can tell your tired." His breath tickling her nape caused goosebumps to bloom across her skin.

She knew she was really tired since she didnt feel the need to argue with him. She got up wordlessly and followed his lead as he pulled her in a direction, hand remaining on her lower back.

He pulled some of the councilmembers to the side letting them know that she was tired and was taking her to bed. A few people they passed by gave the pair whistles and a few suggestive looks, thinking him taking her to bed was a completely different thing than what it really was.

He walked her to her bed chamber with two gaurds in toe and two servants to help the queen take her clothes off. Once they reached her door Smoke turned to her,

"They moved my stuff to the next room over, so uhm- if you need me or anythin' you know where I to find me." He murmured.

And with that Smoke left her with the servants to help her prepare for the bed.

She was left feeling a bit bewildered. Last time they talked they'd argued, so she didnt understand this supposed 180 from him. It was a little suspicious.

He aint strike me as a man who likes to pretend all that much. Unless how he'd been acting before all this was an act as well...But that dont even seem right- I'll admit he gotta be the most convincing one. He confusin' me...

A small-a very small part of her couldnt help but think that maybe thats just how the man was...

No.

She squashed the thought, there's an ulterior motive somewhere at play here. I cant afford to slip up.

As she got in bed she couldnt help but think about how anticlimactic it all came to be. With a quiet end to a normal day and not at all like her life would be completely different from this day forth.

Her and her now husband, who's real name she had yet to know, hardly exchanged words for most the wedding except for the exchange if vows.

She was glad that they bypassed on a bedding ceremony. It was one of the few stipulations she had if she were to go through with it.

If someone wouldve tried something, she should've knocked some teeth out.

Smog's ass included if he tried something funny. She groused to herself.

But he didnt. He kept most of his physical contact with her chaste.

She didn't know what to really make of him...

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Somewhere else on the the other side of the estate, Stack and Mary were laid out in Mary's her bedroom chambers, halfway beneath the covers.

His head layed across her chest as she twirled and played with the coils in his hair.

"I never would've thought i'd see the day Anisa got married." Her fingers caught onto a little fairy knot. She gently went about separating the tangled hairs.

"Whatchu' mean by that?" Stack grumbled, half asleep.

"Well, she's so gaurded, 'specially since she became queen. You shoulda seen how she handled them other men that courted her for her hand. Normally they wouldve ran off by now with how she had disregarded your brother when they first met."

"Oh is that right?" His ears perked up, listening in closely.

"Mhmm, when I tell you she looked at him like he was filth that she accidentally stepped on. I ain't never seen her blow someone off so callously, she left and we shut the door on 'em. I will say it was deserved, your brother...he a little-"

"I know. He the type of man that when he sticks his foot in his mouth, he'd rather kick his teeth in rather than admit he fucked up."

"Hmm" she said thoughfully.

"Why you think she so gaurded?"

"We'll, its a lot of instances, she gotta watch her back at all times ya know? Being a monarch an' all. I wont lie though, she was always gaurded but it definitely worsened after the king and queen died."

"That would make anyone more paranoid Mary." He deadpanned.

"I know that-" She groused a little irritably.

"You think they gon' last?"

"Knowing Anisa? Probly not, she'd find someway to sabotage it. I know she said she wouldnt but I seen it happen too many times for it to not happen this time." Mary huffed

Stack stuck a pin in that.

"Hmm...damn, well it looks like we on borrowed time then." He lamented.

She wrapped her hands around him, her thin fingers splayed across his chest possessively. "Not if I can help it. Ill find a way to make it so you both can stay. Maybe I can convince her to really give it a chance. At least long enough that he could get her pregnant maybe? That way ya'll have no choice but to stay. The council would see to it that it doesnt happen"

"Mary...you know I wouldnt ask you to do something like that...I dont want to get you in trouble or nothin'" despite his somber tone, he watched her closely out the corner of his eye, calculating her response.

"C'mon Stack- let me help. I'll find us a way for you two to stay." She vowed, desperate to keep him here with her.

"Damn girl, I dont know how I'd repay you. Doin' somethin' like that for me? -For us." Stack murmured, his breath grazing her chest causing goosebumps to flare across her skin.

Mary grabbed his face, her eyelids lowered.

"I can think of a few ways you can repay me" she breathed against his lips.

"Is that right?"

"Mhmm"

"How you want me to repay you?" He rasped.

He ower his body against hers, the sweat that accumulated from their previous activities had his body gliding against the planes of her skin as he made his way downward.

All the way until he was at the apex of her thighs. Evidence of her need pooling on to the sheets.

"Oh she cryin' for me?" He cooed softly.

"Yes" she breathed, her voice pitchy in anticipation.

"Dont worry ima kiss it better...Make her feel real good."

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Annie woke the morning after, stretching her limbs 'till they cracked. Memories of yesterday rushing back to her, the ending of the night sticking out the most.

Smoke had treated her gently throughout the whole ordeal. She knew he did it for public perception, which was fine.

She herself had planned to only deal with him during public appearances. Outside of that- she'd stay out his way, and make sure that he stayed out of hers.

They hadnt had any official conversation about their own expectations with each other as now husband and wife. Not that they had time to, and both times they interacted it went south, all on the account of him. The man seemed incapable of being civil towards her, but they'd have to speak about it at some point.

Dont gotta be now though...

This was the first morning where she didnt wake to a bunch of servants bombarding her to get ready for the day with council-woman Maevis in toe, who would no doubt be complaining about what more she could be doing, or how she was too soft on a servant who kept messing up. It wasnt the their fault the boy just started working here a few days ago.

That woman gets on my damn nerves. I dunno how daddy dealt with her miserable ass all the time.

She threw on a thin robe over her night dress and headed to her balcony for some crisp, morning air before the sun would make things humid and unbearable for the rest of the day.

Soon as she stepped out she already saw the man that she wasnt trying to see at that very moment.

There Smoke was leaning over the railing, his hair mused from his sleep, smoking on a cigarette.

She immediately got irritated. All memories of how they were with eachother at the wedding flew out the window.

"What you doin' outside my room?!-" She hissed.

Smoke slowly turned his head, looking at her like she was crazy, like she must've lost her damn mind, eyes heavy with sleep. His raspy tone was especially gravely as he'd gotten up just a few minutes ago.

He kissed his teeth, "-Woman if you dont get outta my face with all that yellin' this early in the mornin" his brows, always furrowed, wer scrunched even more in annoyance.

"Well clearly it aint early enough for you to not be smoking like a chimney outside MY balcony" she put a hand on her hip.

"Our balcony." He corrected.

"I just got up an you already bein' insufferable." She huffed exasperatedly, folding her hands underneath her chest.

"So are you." He shot back.

"Cant you find somewhere else to be? You not the first face Im tryna see first thing in the mornin'."

"We share a balcony and this just outside my room so I dont think I got any better place to be.... Besides... The view from here aint that bad either", he paused.

"Dont mind being greeted with it every mornin' I wake up..."

He wasnt looking at the view at all when he said it, he was looking directly at her. His eyes taking a leisure once-over of her.

Annie got flustered,

that was new.

"I- excuse me? You must be talkin' bout them trees outside." She shook her head in disbelief, cause there was no way she was reading into what he was implying right.

"You know good an' well I aint talkin' bout no trees." He grumbled, slightly turning his body towards her, this time more overt in his perusal of her body.

His robe shifted slightly, showing a sliver of his bare chest. Her eyes flitted to the movement before looking him in his eyes again.

"You better watch yourself" Annie warned, the back of her neck was beginning to feel uncomfortably hot and she felt a tingle in her spine.

"I aint gotta watch a damn thing-you my wife aint you?"

What the hell is with this man? One second he lookin' like all he wanna do is argue, and now...Annie didnt want to finish the thought

Nah...I dont know what his angel is but I aint gonna fall for it.

"Only thing Im your wife in, is in public and on paper. Outside of that nothin' else." She clipped. Promptly shifting her thin robe closed across her chest, covering herself from his wandering eyes.

Not that it did much.

"Alright, whatever you say." With that, he turned away from her, looking back out into the forest and continued to puff on his cigarette into the dewy, crisp air of the morning.

Effectively putting an end to their conversation.

"Hmpf-!" Annie let out an indignant grunt and marched back into her chambers shutting her door with a resounding slam!

My God- the audacity of that man! Who the hell is he feelin' like talking to me whichever way? Imma show his ass- out here ruining my morning with his nonsense.

Annie was annoyed-she felt her heart fluttering rapidly, she initially thought that it was because she was irritated, but she already walked away from him and it hadnt slowed.

Her skin felt hot.

"Aint no Way-" she said in disbelief.

Nah, I must be feelin' unwell with my nerves an all. Cause aint no way that man got me feelin' like this. Annie reasoned

Her treacherous mind went back to their back and forth on the balcony just moments ago. She'd never dealt with a man talking to her like that, she didnt know how to handle it. The way he spoke with such conviction and surety, she almost could believe the words coming out of his mouth.

She patted both sides of her face with her hands; "-get it together Annie, dont let him trip you up."

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Smoke watched as the queen made her quick exit back to her bedroom, leaving Smoke alone once again.

He himself didnt know why he decided to say something like that to her.

He didnt regret a thing he said though, he meant every word. Yeah, the woman got on his nerves to no end but fine was fine, and she was the finest he'd ever seen.

A very rare quirk formed on his lips, one of his elusive dimples making an appearance.

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Annie was making her way to the kitchens, wanting to get some hot water to steep her personal blend of herbs from her herb garden to make some tea.

She could feel the steam and heat emerging from the kitchens. As soon as she was about to enter; she bumped directly into Mary.

"Oh-hey Mary! Where you been?" Anisa took a hold of her shoulders, stopping the slender woman from crashing into her. She seemed like she was in such a hurry.

"I barely seen you during the wedding?" Annie's warm eyes searched Mary's, checking to see if she was ok.

"Oh well you know? I wanted to give you some space. Seemed like there was a lot going on and you already had so much on your plate."

"You know that kinda stuff dont matter to me Mary. I would've loved to have seen more of you either way, duties an' all I would've made some time for you." A slight frown forming on her lips

"Im sorry 'bout that."

"Its ok, maybe you do have a point. I dont remember most of it anyways, I felt so far removed from the whole thing." Annie moved one of her hands and carded her fingers through Marys. "Come, walk with me."

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Anisa and Mary walked hand in hand through the court yard.

"Would you mind if we took a walk through the fields outside the estate? Feels a little stuffy behind the walls." Mary asked.

"Yeah sure, let's go"

They walked a few paces outside the estate walls in silence before Mary finally faced Annie and asked her a question she wasn't expecting.

"You met your husbands twin yet?"

She nodded, "Yes-Stack right?" lifting a curious eyebrow.

Mary nodded, but Annie was curious, "yeah I met him- why you ask?"

"Oh nothin' just wonderin'".

Annie immediately sensed bullshit. "Uh huh Mary, there aint no such thing as "just wonderin'" with you. Why you really ask me?"

Annie's mind went to the day of the tournament. She thought about how interested she was in Smoke. Even after he was being rude she couldnt help but gush about how masculine he was, how handsome he was, how strong he was...And Stack was his twin-

"Damn. A girl just cant be curious?" She said defensively.

"Ok, ok" Annie pacified the woman that was clearly starting to get worked up.

"...I just wanted to know your thoughts on him?" She finally said after a beat.

Annie hummed. "Well, It was brief but he seemed ok. He for sure had better manners than his ogre of a brother that Im stuck with." In the back of her mind she had a weariness to him, honestly moreso than Smoke.

At least it seems that Smoke is forthright, almost to a disarming degree. The other had an air of mischief that put her on edge.

"You know he came to me trying to apologize on his brothers behalf?" Annie said in disbelief.

"Really? What'd you say?" Mary's eyes were huge with curiosity.

"I said no, he a grown ass man, if he really wanna apologize he betta' come to me himself."

Mary let out a loud guffaw, "No way you said that to him, Anisa!" . She swatted Annie on her shoulder playfully.

"Maybe not exactly but yeah, thats basically what I said to him. I dont think he knew how to handle my reaction." She started giggling a bit herself, but she trailed off.

"I still wanna know why your really asking me about the other twin- dont lie to me." The abrupt change in Anisa's tone took Mary off gaurd.

"Well, I was uh- Ive been hanging out with him recently. He seems pretty cool and with you being one of my closest friends I wanted to know your thoughts on him."

Annie stared Mary in her eyes for a while, its started to make the woman feel a little uncomfortable.

"You slept with him."

"I-....yes..." Mary said sheepishly.

"Mmm..." Annie levels her with an expectant stare, one of her eyebrows quirked, almost like she was saying "I dont know why you were trying to lie to me about that" ,but with just her eyes.

"-b-but hes not at all like other men I've ever been with. He's so kind, charming, funny-intelligent. And when I tell you the mouth on him Annie, and Im not just talkin' about how slick he talk-"

"-Alright, alright I get the picture" Annie waved away Mary's gushing about the younger twin.

"Im just sayin' maybe theres some qualities they share. Wouldnt hurt to take older brother for a test drive and see whatchu like?" The Queen looked at her friend like she grew a second head.

"What the hell are you on about? I aint doin' none of that with his ass, and if try somethin' he betta go find somebody else to do that shit, cause I aint the one."

"C'mon Annie, atleast try to see if yall can work out. We could even go on double dates outside the palace. Together!" She gushed excitedly.

"Girl, what you on about? You must be out your damn mind. Im telling you no, and that's it." Promptly shutting Mary's idea down.

Annie shifted her arm still intertwined with her's;

"C'mon looks like you need this walk more than I do. You might be going stir crazy staying behind the estate walls for too long."

"Annie-"

"Nope, come with me, I gotta new blend I been meaning to try out and I want you to try it, see how it taste, how it make you feel." Annie chatted on excitedly.

"....Ok, Ill follow your lead" Mary huffed exasperatedly after her friend promptly shut down her idea.

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Smoke heard a knock on his door, he immediately fell his neck get heated in irritation.

"I swear if its that old bird Maevis coming to chew me out 'bout kingly duties again Im cussin' her ass out, I dont give a damn no more." Not that he cared that much in the first place.

He wreched the door open ready to start something, but instead of the short, shrewed woman it was Stack.

Smoke quickly pulled him into his royal chambers.

"Where the fuck you been at?" He grunted impatiently.

"Damn this place a hell of an upgrade, and the first room they gave us was nice as hell already."

"Stack." He warned.

"Calm down man, I was with one of the queens ladies-in-waiting. The thin, pale one with brown hair."

"The one you said been with some of Anisa's previous suitors or somethin'?"

"Mhmm thats the one"

"And what the hell you were doin' with her?" Smoke questioned, eventhough he already knew what the answer was. It's Stack

"Gathering information." He answered cryptically

"You sleepin' with her?"

"Yeah."

Smoke eyes the younger twin wearily. "Im just sayin, be careful with that one."

"Why you say that? You think I dont know what Im doing?"

"I didnt say that. All Im sayin' is a woman that move like that can only attract trouble." Cant trust no woman that calls herself a friend but goes on backdoorin' behind her friends back. Somethin' aint right with that one. Smoke had noticed the looks the pale woman made at him when he first met the queen.

Her 'lil ass was barking the wrong tree with him.

He'll leave it alone, but keep an eye on that one.

"Thats exactly why Im with her right now. She attracted to trouble, something Im full of. Im tryin to see if theres something I can get from her. Maybe some information we can utilize that'll keep us here." Stack reasoned.

"Stack leave that shit alone. You aint gotta do all that anyways. Anisa dont strike me as a woman that'll just drop everything and break things off just because, she well aware of what's at stake with this"

"That aint what Mary told me, and shes known the queen most of their lives-"

"I dont give a fuck what that woman told you. She move like there aint alot goin' on upstairs anyways. Imma stick to what I see with my own eyes." Smoke groused.

Day one as a King and here comes bullshit at my door.

Stack decided to drop the subject, "So whatchu got goin' on day one of being a king?"

"Not much, were technically on our "honeymoon" right now, so they'll be leavin' us to ourselves for a coupla' days 'fore we fully take on our duties. I figure the councils handling responsibilities for now."

"Mm-An have you been "handling" somethin' else while you been here in this shared suite with the queen?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Man- go on with all that. Only thing im handlin' that you need to know is business."

"Sound like you aint handlin' much business then-"

Smoke flung a pillow at Stacks head.

"Boy if you dont get the hell out my room!"

"Ok-ok damn! Im leavin-" Stack scurried out his room closing his door shut.

Smoke could here him laughing all the way down the hall.

Cant stand his ass sometimes.

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It was evening and Smoke hadnt seen Anisa since that morning, it was almost time for dinner. Servants popped in and out a few times to check if he needed anything, Smoke wasnt all that fussy, he'd normally end up dismissing them with an affirming nod and a thank you.

Until one of them, a young servant boy had come by to let him know it was almost time for dinner. A young boy, couldnt have been any older than 14. As he was about to leave Smoke stopped him. "Aye young man, whats your name?"

The boy had froze, not expecting the-now-king to stop him and ask his name.

"The names Damian My King". Smoke cringed a little internally at the title, still unused to it.

"Well, its nice to meet you Damian, think you can do somethin' for me?"

"Uh yeah, no- sure-ah! I mean yes your majesty" The boy started bumbling about trying to correct his slip up." Smoke waved off his blunder.

"Boy dont worry 'bout none a that when its just me an' you, I can promise you that I could care less bout all that proper business, I aint come from all this." This seem to do the trick in loosening the boy up to speak as he wished.

"I gotchu, what you want me to do uhm... Mr.Smoke?"

"I wanna know if you know where the Queen is at? Havent seen her since this morning." The boy paused, putting a finger to his mouth thoughtfully. "Last I seen her she was at the gardens, she had just came back from outside the estate talkin' with lady Mary I think. Couldnt have been less than 15 minutes ago I seen her."

Smoke got up, about to leave right behind the boy exiting his room, but before the boy could take off Smoke extended a hand to him. "Thanks for the info Mr. Damian" he gave the boy a firm handshake.

Damian could feel something in Smokes palm when wrapped his larger hand in his. Smoke took his other hand and pressed it against the boys hand in a solid hold before letting go and walking past him.

When he looked down, he saw that Smoke left him a couple bills in his hand, and it wasnt no chump change. The boy made sure to quickly put the money away and went about his business. Whistling down the hallways with a little extra pep in his step.

Smoke was making his way towards the gardens, his thoughts spinning.

They hadnt taken breakfast together or nothing, and he refused to deal with a wife who was gonna constantly be missing in action when it came to him.

"Aint no way." Smoke shook his head in disbelief.

"She think she can go 'bout all this ignorin' me? Hell nah- fuck all that." He was a man on a mission, but he did make sure to pause and greet any servants, ladies, or lords that he came across, being cordial as best he could. Just because he hated all the courtly shit didnt mean he had no manners.

The after a few minutes of walking he found her. Instead of picking herbs like he had seen her doing last time she was changing out the nectar feeders for the hummingbirds and other insects that lived in the gardens.

"I havent seen you since this morning."

"Oh wow really?" Annie's tone was dripping in sarcasm.

Smoke didnt take the bait this time, "Dinners gon' be ready in a few, and you comin' to eat with me." His tone brook no room for argument...If he was dealing with someone else.

"-How you gon' tell me what Imma do? You sure none of them men at the tournament punched you in your thick ass head, cause the way you been actin' since I met you? You clearly lost your ever lovin' mind at some point. Tch- thinkin' you can just order me around." She muttered never breaking focus on her task.

"I aint tryin' to order you around. Im just tellin you what IM gonna do. And Im gonna go get ready to eat, and your gonna eat with me."

"Aint that the same thing?"

"No."

Here he goes again, why cant he leave things well enough alone? Leave me alone?

"Boy if you dont-", a low grumble from her stomach cut into their bickering. Her cheeks warmed in embarrassment.

"Mhmm, thats what I thought. C'mon." Smoke grabs her hand, without letting her finish-walking her back inside. For once she didnt protest, though she was still simmering in irritation from him, she silently followed his lead.

Maybe if I give in this once, he'll leave me alone after.

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The servants set up a little private dining area for the couple out on their shared balcony. As they were flitting about the room Smoke watched Anisa as she was checking in with them and asking about their days.

She seemed to show genuine interest in all the mundane details and the servants were always excited to share.

Eventhough the Queen had been nothing but prickly toward him, he saw the way people loved her, and how she loved them.

"Nina, is your stomach still been feelin' funny?" She addressed one of the servants, a lightskin girl with short loose curly brown hair.

"Yeah, a little bit."

"Did you finish out that tea blend I made you?"

"Uhm...no your majesty, I had dropped the rest of it when I was steeping the batch you gave me." the young woman said sheepishly.

" Why you aint tell me? I have some more of that in my storage." The queens brows furrowed in concern.

"I didnt wanna trouble you, you already went through all that work to make the first one you gave me."

Annie waved her off, "nonsense, you know I wanna make sure yall are ok. I'll make you some more tomorrow."

"I...thank you Queen Anisa." And with that she was the last servant to exit the area. Leaving the quarrelsome couple alone again.

They shared their meal in silence for a bit until Annie shared something thats been brewing on her mind.

"Why'd you say whatchu said this morning?"

"Mmm?"

"That comment you made about the view. About me."

"Cause I meant it- How many times do I gotta repeat myself that I only say what I mean woman? You hard of hearing or somethin'?"

She was split between being flustered at his admittance and annoyed by his unnecessary side comment about her supposed lack of hearing skills.

"No I aint! I just want to make sure that I heard you right and not just jumping to conclusions."

"Well now you know."

"Mhm. Now I know...And now im gon' tell you stop doin that. Keep them comments to yourself."

"Nah."

"And why not?" She said indignantly.

He was quiet for a moment, and when he spoke he didnt answer her directly,

"You can go on an fuss all you want, we stuck in this hell together. An' I dont know about you but I dont plan on spending this marriage with my wife pickin' a fight or avoiding me everytime we cross paths."

"You sure have an interesting way of showin' it, you actin' like you a pleasure to be around."

"-Spend enough time around me and I can assure you It'll become plenty pleasurable to be around me." He stated as matter of fact, like he was talking about the weather.

As much as she'd fuss at him, he saw it.

The stares that would linger just passed what was appropriate, the way her body would react to his proximity to her, the slight increase of her breathing...

Annie dropped her knife and fork on her plate, the cutlery loudly clinking together sounded deafening in otherwise silent room.

"Im full now" She placed her hands on the table getting ready to get up and leave.

"No you aint, but Imma let go on ahead an run off like you stay doin", he said unbothered.

She was about ready to blow up on him, but then she paused. Maybe thats what he wanted.

She puffed a breath of dry laughter.

"You know what? Yeah, you right-thats exactly what Im gonna do." She got up and walked from the table.

"There. You had your dinner with me. Now im gon get ready for bed. Make sure to tell Nina that we done here." And with that, she was gone again.

Maybe her name should be Smoke the way she stay disappearin' from me. He let out a slight chuckle, amused instead of feeling rejected.

He was gonna wear her down at some point. He could feel it.

She would give in eventually.

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Annie hadnt seen Smoke for the rest of the night. Or at all the next day...

Not that she cared much or anything.

She made her way to the estates library, wanting to get her hands on some more books on horticulture, she had plans on expanding her garden.

She sat down quietly, briefly turning a couple pages to see which one she wanted to start with.

It couldnt have been but a few minutes before she heard the door to the library open again.

She let out an exasperated breath when she heard the owner of the steady footsteps the were getting louder the closer they got.

Her husband again...great.

She already prepared herself for whatever nonsense was gonna to spew out his mouth this time.

"Whatchu readin'?"

She didnt respond thinking that maybe if she ignored him, he would get the point and just leave.

He didnt.

As a matter of fact he walked up to where she was seated. His body slightly looming over hers.

"Medicinal Botany? That got somethin' to do with plants or some shit?."

She sharply turned her face up towards him.

Oh.

She didnt realize how close he was. Any closer and their noses would've brushed.

"Man can you step back some! Damn-" she hissed. And he actually did, listening to her for once.

A small-wait

Am I going crazy or is that a hint of a smile I see? Damn near thought he was incapable of one with him always walkin' round here without a permanent frown of his face...

He does have dimples...

It was a pleasant look to his face...

He should do it more often.

Her heart started doing that annoying thing again, fluttering at the beat of a humming birds wings. She started to get a little annoyed with the fact that she was constantly getting the same feelings in her body whenever he was around her.

Im startin' to think he loves to get a rise outta me...

"To answer your question, Yes. But its not just about some "plants or some shit". She scoffed

"This details the medicinal properties in plants."

"Your 'lil herb garden outside?" Curiousity coloring his voice.

"Oh- uh yes...You noticed?" Annie was a little taken aback from the observation. He mightve been the first man to ask her about her herb garden.

"I got two eyes dont I?"

My God, Im starting to think he's just like this.

"As a matter of fact thanks for tellin' me, I didnt notice." She sarcastically shot back. "-But yes its for my herb garden, I plan on expandin' it. Wanted to see which plants grow best in this kinda climate."

"Mmm." Smoke gave a thoughtful hum. "The young girl from the other day. The one with the stomach problems. You do that often? Lookin' after your folks?"

Annie started to feel a little uneasy. She wasnt used to someone asking her about herself...Theres gotta be an angle.

"Why you askin?"

"Because I want to"

Against her better judgement, something in her, a very small part of her wanted to share a little bit. Not like this kind of Info could be used against her.

"Yeah, its somethin' I like to do."

"I see..." there was a thoughtful silence. He didnt press anymore. Without another word, this time, he let her be.

"See you around, Anisa." And with that he was gone and Annie went back to reading....

-Wait...was that the first time he called me by my name?

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Over the course of next seven days Annie always seem to find Smoke occupying her space whenever she was alone. At some point Annie begrudgingly accepted his presence being around her every so often.

When they weren't too busy bickering she almost found herself enjoying his presence.

Almost.

When he wasnt being annoying he'd offer to help her with her gardens. There she found that he was capable of actually following directions. Listening to her barking orders and fuss at him on which place was best to for a plant, what depth it needed to be buried at for best results.

"No- not there! That cats-claw need full sun, there aint nothin but shade over there."

"I heard you the first time woman! I was movin' that other plant out my way. Couldn't see shit I was doin." He took a pause to wipe the sweat off his brow.

"Damn its hot. I dont know how you can stand out here in this heat with all that shit on"

"Thats cause I make sure to keep hydrated you unlike you who look like you just beggin' to burn up out here."

He heard a small clinking sound right by his ear, when he turned towards the sound he found Annie holding out a refreshment, the liquid a deep red with a few ice cubes circling around the glass.

"Oh-uh thanks, thank you." He grabbed the drink from her soft hands, his fingers lingering just shy of too long before he pulled it out her grasp.

"What kinda drink this is?"

"Its a chilled hibiscus tea. C'mon drink up, cant have your ass passed out in my garden cause I surely aint picking your heavy self up out this heat." She chidded, but her voice didnt have the usual bite it had.

"Don't worry I aint gonna do you like that. C'mon- which seeds you want planted next?" After all the courtly activities he had to get used to doing, it felt nice to do something physical with his hands again.

"Ok... let's see about them lemongrass seedlings." Anisa resolved.

When they weren't fussing, they worked pretty good together.

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Annie was getting ready for bed, she had on a light pink nightgown and her hair loose. Her short, tight coils oiled and moisturized with a nice sheen to it. As she was about to put her hair in plaits she smelled the faint waft of nicotine coming from their shared balcony.

He was outside again.

She thought about him helping her plant earlier today. Even though she was giving him a hard time, she deeply appreciated his help.

She couldnt help but admit how different he's been compared to all of her past suitors. He was hard headed, blunt, and crass and seem to have a talent for pissing her off, but...He had moments.

How he handled himself around the servants and workers. Looking past how ill-mannered he could be in terms of how to act appropriate in Royal court, he made sure to check in on them.

Never treated them poorly.

The younger ones in particular took a liking to him, especially that young boy Damian. The way he'd talk to them you'd swear he was their father instead of their king with his no nonsense attitude, but undeniable soft spot he held for them. Whether sneaking them a little sweet that the head maid said they couldnt have, or a little extra change in their pockets when he could.

She couldnt help but feel herself soften to him-No.

Careful Annie. Dont forget yourself.

She shook her head and let out a slow breath.

Remember what you told yoursel-

"-I can hear you thinkin' from way out here. Betta stop 'fore you combust up in there." She heard him gruffly call to her from outside.

The curtains bracketing her door to the balcony billowed in the night wind with in a come-hither motion. Almost as if it was beckoning her to come outside.

With no reason as to why, she went outside towards him. Maybe the first time where she went to him instead.

He was sitting in one of the chairs, a dark blue night robe around his shoulders, and dark pants. He had no shirt underneath.

The moon light loved him.

Its diffused lighting softened all those sharp edges of his.

With his legs spread and his robe skewed, he was just out here displayed for the world to see. His well developed chest and defined torso that held a certain amount of thickness in the right places made him look very sturdy. Like he could handle a whole lot.

A gust of wind caused his robe to flutter in the wind around his shoulders and made her thin nightgown bellow in the wind.

Her skin pebbled and her nipples tightened. She couldnt say if it was just from the chill of the wind alone that caused that reaction. She crossed her arms along her chest and took the seat next to him.

"You cold?"

"Im fine."

He kissed his teeth. Taking off his robe from his shoulders as he got up, "move ya arms, imma put this on you."

She didnt move, but this time it wasnt because she wanted to be difficult. She didnt want him to see the reaction she was having to seeing him like this. She didnt know what slick comment would come out his mouth.

He didnt wait.

He grabbed her arms and pulled them from her chest and guided her hands into the sleeves of his robe, now warmed with his body heat.

If he noticed her state he didnt comment on it.

He sat back down and continued to quietly puffing on his smoke.

"How you feelin'?"

"Fine."

"You good?"

"Yes"

You sure?

"Yes"

"You dont sound sure."

"....."

"What was you thinkin' about in there, I could damn near feel how hard you were thinkin' from all the way out here. You came out here so somethin' gotta be botherin' you."

"And you just so sure you know what bothering me? Dont act like you know me like we familiar with eachother like that. You dont get to ask me nothin' like that, you aint my friend."

Smoke was taken aback by her outburst.

"Woman Im just askin' you some questions. Just wanna know if you alright."

"And I aint gotta answer shit- I dont even know your real name, and you out here demanding that I answer your questions on me?" She hissed without looking at him.

He's quiet for a while, body so stiff she didnt even here his clothes rustling from movement.

Smoke was quiet for so long Annie thought he left.

"Elijah."

Annie perked her head up and looked at him, eyes wide.

There it was again.

On his face.

That same something she saw from him the day of their wedding a week ago, when she saw his hands trembling, when he folded his hands in her own.

"I..." she was a little stumped, she didnt think he'd actually answer.

"Uhm- Thank you...Its nice to know I dont have to call my husband Smog, or Smoke or whatever anymore." She grumbled but an undeniable softness in her voice.

Hearing her call him her husband did something to him.

He felt his chest tighten.

"Now you know...but understand that names for your lips only, dont no body else call me that you hear me?" He muttered.

Her knee jerk reaction was to fuss at him for trying to tell her what to do again, but something about him-not only telling her his real name-but that it was only for her to use made her yield (just a little).

Whatever the reason it was, she knew that him giving her his real name was a big deal for him.

"Ok... Elijah..." She said his name so softly, so delicately it almost sounded like a lullaby to his ears.

He'd never heard his name spoken in such a way.

Like it was sacred.

Hearing her breath out his name like that made him want to hear her say it again and again.

When she was Fussin' at him.

When she was beaming with happiness.

When she was furious with him.

When she was sad and wanted to confide in him.

When she was in the throes if pleasure.

He'd already been on his best behavior lately, tampering down the pressure he was starting to put on her. But seeing her... seeing her like this. Knowing she only next door to him. Seeing how her eyes dilated when she looked at him, how her breath got shallow, her pebbled nipples, knowing it wasnt just the wind that caused that.

He knew what he said before all this but he aint never met a woman that ran him this ragged, he was addicted to her, and knowing that a woman like her- her body telling him what her lips wouldnt, he couldn't let her go.

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From here on, he only wanted to hear his name from her lips.

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A/n: the way my near asexual ass has no business writing anything remotely sexual is frying me right now, u dont understand😭

Be easy on me 👐🏾 😭

*might dissappear into the lab for a lil bit*

Alright lemme leave before I overthink this shit all over again (eventhough this whole story is completely self endulgent for me)🏃🏾‍♀️💨

Taglist:

Sorry for any mistakes was in a rush to get this out. I lowkey like this one tho...might add some edits even though its posted.

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Their Honeymoon was over.

Maevis burst through Annie's doors. Jolting the Queen out of her sleep.

"Wake up Queen Anisa, Honeymoon's over time to attend your duties." The older woman quipped primly.

"Well first of all- how 'bout a hi, hello, goodmorning to you?" Annie bit back.

The hells her problem?

"My apologies... good morning Queen Anisa. I hope you had a fruitful honeymoon?" She asked, one of her thin, sculpted eyebrows quirked expectantly.

Annie didnt like what her tone seemed to be implying. "Uhm, yes. I'd say it was productive." She said evenly.

"That's good, safe to assume we may have incoming heirs in the future?"

"What? -no, I dont recall having any conversations about children. I just met the man almost 2 weeks ago." Annie was taken off gaurd by the switch in subject. Yeah, she knew that children would be expected eventually, but so soon?

"Well dont wait too long, don't want you to reach an age where baring children is no longer viable for you. Come on-the councils waiting on you and the new King to take on your duties." Maevis said curtly.

The he she talking to me like I aint been runnin' this kingdom by myself for years? He come along and now she movin' like I aint on nothin' ? She aint gon' push me to the side like Im some glorified broodmare.

"Go retrieve my ladies. Let them know Im ready to get dressed..." just as the council woman was about to leave the queen addressed her one more time. "And Maevis?... You ever talk to me like that again? Im terminating your status in the spot- ya hear me?..." Annie said curtly, promptly dismissing ber already done with the day and just started.

The older woman paused, her face remained in that permanent scowl she carried everywhere she went but her previous bravado piped down some. " Yes your majesty, apologies for my outburst. Things have been a little stressful while you were away..." she placated.

Annie's eyes squinted, "mmm... I bet it was. Your dismissed.", promptly waving the older woman away so she could get ready for the upcoming council meeting.

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When she reached the council chambers she saw all the elders seated.

Elijah was already there before her, on the outside he probably looked unbothered and unreadable to most, but after spending some time with him she could tell he was agitated already before the meeting even started.

She went and took a seat to the right of him, keeping her eyes on him.

Sensing her gaze he looked right back at her. Her eyes held a question.

He just shook his head in response, just as lost as she was. She could tell the energy in the room was different, more restless than it normally was when they held these meetings.

One of the elder's, coincil man Cyrus, was a darker skinned man with a thick head of snow white, curly hair with a large beard to match, with a a deep violet shawl. He was the one to speak up first. "Alright. Let this meeting commence." With a final party clap of his hands.

The meeting for the most part went as it normally would, voicing petitions, bringing up small folks issues, figuring out where best to section out the crowns funds for more recreational area's for children in shakey situations to see if it could help reduce some of the juvenile crime rates occurring in their town. That one in particular caught seemed to catch Smokes interest, his ears perking up.

Annie caught that reaction, filing it away for later.

She noticed that Elijah had stayed quiet for most of the meeting, just observing for the most part.

But gradually things started to get strange again.

Annie would offer a solution to the declining literacy rate amongst her people, wanting to expend more of the crowns finance into giving the tutors and teachers a higher pay- It would get shot down. Being told that the funds have more important things to go to.

A strong storm came through and people lost their homes? She suggested to not only rebuild them back, but with steel reinforcements and a build plan that creates a foundation more resistant to blowing over. It would be a years long project as she eventually would want to add reinforcements to all the houses and building's in the town to limit damages when hurricane season came around.

That got shot down as well. Council woman Abatha, a very light skin woman with white hair and green eyes and a forest green shawl to match, had promptly shot down that proposal as well. Claiming that such a project would be too expensive, and with most of the houses still standing- some for decades- then there was no need to put funds into something just in case of a natural disaster that doesnt happen often where they live.

Annie was growing irritated by the second, "Im saying if we invest in it now-it doesnt even have to be a lot in the beginning, just starting with the few damaged houses we already have- then we wont have to dig even deeper into the crowns pockets incase a disaster occurs, resulting in so much damages that it would land us straight into bankruptcy." She firmly retorted.

"-Listen Queen Anisa", Councilman Cyrus cut in. "While we believe that it is for a valiant cause, we simply have more important things to prioritize that are getting a large portion of the funds we already have."

Before Annie could respond back he cut her off, diverting his question to Smoke instead. "What do you think King Smoke?"

Throughout the meeting they've been bypassing her and disregarding her little by little. She was gearing up to tear into the councilman- and quiet frankly all of them, until Elijah spoke up.

"I dont know why the fuck yall asking me all this like Im s'pposed to just know whats goin' on by now. I just got here." He gruffly stated. Any form of pretense thrown out the window.

A silence took over the chamber, unused to such language being used in this setting. Even Annie was taken aback, but not for the same reason the council members were.

Smoke then turned to Annie, a knowing look in his eyes. She knew there was something he was trying to silently communicate with her, she had an idea, but she wasnt sure if it was the right one.

"I think the Queen's Idea is solid. Yall should know that whole saying, "prevention is better than a cure" right?"

"Well, yes-but as we told the Queen its going to be too expensive-"

"And it'll be a whole lot more when this place is flooded to smithereens and you gotta do a whole lot more than reinforcin." He bit back.

Annie looked at him. Her brain was churning, a thoughtful look bloomed across her face watching the man by her side set Cyrus straight.

Not that she couldnt defend herself, she's always had to...

But the support was appreciated all the same.

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After the meeting was adjourned, everyone went there separate ways.

Except for the -now- two ruling monarch's. Elijah was getting up to leave, but he paused when he realized that Annie made no moves, body still stuck to the chair.

"You good?"

"Yes."

"You sure?"

"Mhm"

He was unconvinced, "whats botherin' you? I can see your thoughts gettin' loud again."

In another circumstance, Annie would've found his prodding invasive with her go to action to be defensive, hell, she's already done it before. But she didnt, not this time.

Because...as much as she wanted didnt want to, she knew that under his cool tone, was a real concern that he seemed to have with her.

Each day it was getting harder and harder for her to stick to her own promise.

"Yes, Elijah...Im okay."

Despite that she still couldnt bring herself to open up.

If she were to open up, she would be vulnerable, and to be vulnerable within this place where the walls have ears was dangerous for her.

For once, she didnt know what was different, but he didnt push. He gave her a firm nod and quietly left the room.

She knew things had shifted between them.

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Hours later, she was left alone in her room. The sun casted purples, oranges, and yellows across the walls and her clothes, creating a beautiful array of colors against her vibrant yellow nightgown.

Her mind was still on what happened in the council meeting earlier today.

She sat at her vanity, just staring at herself in her mirror.

She'd come to realize, however small it was, Elijah was slowly seeping under her skin. He was getting harder and harder to cast out of her psyche. He occupied her mind more than she'd like to admit. His presence around her felt like a caress she could physically feel, though they rarely touched.

They'd done nothing but get on each other nerves. She couldnt understand why she had these feelings towards this man regardless.

A small part of her. One that she kept tampered down, refusing to give a voice to finally made itself known.

Somewhere underneath it all, all this fiasco, all the prickly bravodo, all the fussing and fighting, she wanted this to be real. To have someone she could depend on, someone who could hold her up when the weight got heavy.

She was tired...

She already knew she was attracted to him, but he was slowly watering a small part of her that was long forgotten. A want for connection, a genuine one and the way he was moving was making her want to hope for more than what she already agreed with herself on how this only being real on paper...

Which was exactly why, however small the feeling was, she had to nip it in the bud before she it seeped into her bones.

She patted herself on the cheek, willing herself to snap out of her wishful thinking. "Remember the reason to why anyone would want to marry you Anisa. Remember what you have, a seat that everyone wants and that everyone's trying to take from you."

She repeated it to herself in the mirror a couple of times, making sure the reality of the situation stuck with her.

Grounding herself.

He's the first man to almost make her forget. That wont happen again. She thought to herself resolutely.

She grabbed a soft sweater and exited her chamber, heading straight to Elijah's room next door, firmly knocking on it.

She could hear him grumbling from inside his room.

He wrenched the door open looking as grumpy as can be, until he saw that it was his wife at the door.

He froze, never in a thousand years would he have thought she would come to him directly, 'specially with all the chasing he been doing trying to catch her around the estate grounds.

"Well, are you gon' let me in or just let your wife catch a cold out hear blocking up the door?" She moved past him into his room.

He grunted, wordlessly moving out the way so she could walk in.

She noticed how neat he kept is room.

She didnt comment on it.

She went to take a seat at one of the wooden chairs at the side table in his room, before he stopped her. "Uh-huh, I cant have you sittin' in one of them hard chairs in your nice 'lil expensive gown"

Anisa could tell that under he's gentlemanly pretense, he was eyeing her backside, which was a bit counter intuitive to the manners he was showing her.

She hated when he did that.

Hated the affect his gaze had on her, her skin heated almost immediately, she felt a tingle in her lower belly that she refused give name to. She wrapped her sweater around herself a little tighter.

"I can sit where ever I want to-"

"Not in my room you not. I aint havin' my wife sit in that hard uncomfortable ass chair, you go on an' sit on my bed."

He could see her get flustered, visibly starting to get worked up- "dont worry yourself I aint gon' try nothin' you dont want to. Imma sit where them chairs are instead."

He walked her over to his bed, hand on her lower back, she could of sworn she felt one of his fingers graze the top of her behind. Her senses were heightened, hyper aware of his touch. But she said nothing about it, just went ahead and let him guide her to the soft mattress.

She waited until he got himself as comfortable as he could in a wooden chair that had no cushions.

He patiently waited for her to say what was on her mind. She took a deep breath, then turned halfway to meet his eyes face to face. He was always taken aback by her eyes, they always looked at him like she knew every secret he had. Shit- something about her...at this point if she'd ask, he'd spill his guts freely.

He didnt know what it was. Smoke didnt do much lying, if he could he simply wouldnt say anything, but something about this woman...something about her-

"Why?...When you held my hands at the alter. When you helped me around with my 'lil projects, looking out for the servants...looking out for me in that meeting... Why?" She asked.

"Why?" He repeated back.

"Yes, why do you feel the need to do all that. Aint no where in our contract state that you gotta be all up under me, helping around the place... You dont gotta do none of that."

Smoke leaned back in his chair, his eyes looking towards the ceiling thoughtfully.

He could see it.

Under all that defensive bravado of hers, a soft center underneath. An uncertainty.

No matter how furrowed her brows were or how she narrowed her eyes he could always see it. That gentle nurturing nature she carried within her.

It was only confirmed when he saw how she looked after her people. From those that had status almost as high as hers, to the servants and staff that would otherwise be deemed invisible to any other kind of monarch. How deep this woman held love. Even under a gaurded, prickly exterior, she couldnt help her true nature underneath it all.

Elijah was quiet for a little while. His silence was beginning to make her anxious, she had already mentally prepared herself for whatever may fall from his lips.

"Listen...", he took a deep breath. "We aint gotta get along for me to see this as somethin we both didnt make a full choice to be in the situation were in now." She looked at him expectantly almost as if she was goading him to continue. So he did...

"I know i can be an ass, but I pay attention. Cant live as long as I have iving the way I do by being oblivious."

That comment briefly sparked her curiosity about him, what did he do before this? Where did he grow up? How did he grow up?- She quickly cast those thoughts out, determined to keep her distance.

She decided to rip the bandaid off, "And why is it you here feelin' like you forced to stay here stuck with me? You clearly have an ulterior motive" she voice going from soft to accusatory at the flip of a dime.

Her heart pounded waiting for what his response would be.

Waiting for the sweet lies to spill from his lips to deny what she just said.

He let out a short humorous laugh, "The hell girl? Of course there were ulterior motives. Do I look like the kind a man that wants to be in a place like this by choice?" His voice taking a hardened tone towards the end of his sentence.

Annie sat in a stunned silence. She expected anything but straight up admittance.

He gave her with an unimpressed stare, repeating himself once again, "Well- do I?", irritation seeping in his tone after a lack of response.

That seemed to snsp her out of her quick stupor.

"Dont take that tone with me, I just asked you a question. I'll get up right now and leave your chimney-smoking ass by ya'self right now" She bit back.

She was still reeling from him plainly admitting to her that there were ulterior motives from him, so excuse her if it took her a minute to re-center herself. The conversation took a turn she wasnt expecting.

"That just wasnt...a normal response -atleast, not one that Im used to. Im just a little suprised you straight up admitted to it is all."

"I dont make any bones about the kinda man I am baby. You been 'round me often enough to know that by now."

He continued, "Me an' Stack, we owed a debt to some mean ass muthafuckas. If they could rob you of the dirt under your fingernails they would've found a way to make sure you aint even have a speck of dust to your name."

"So you and your brother were desperate?" She surmised.

"C'mon Anisa, I know you intelligent- you been already put two and two together."

"I had my suspicions, but I wanted to hear it directly from your mouth."

"Well now you know..." he said with an air of finality. He leaned further back in the chair, legs parted as he relaxed his body. He continued to watch her.

This didnt go at all like Annie had expected. She came in with the plan to suss him out-to confirm that there was a mask that he chose to wear for her. Only to find that there never really was much of one to begin with, he'd always been who he was with her from the moment they got off on the wrong foot.

She was looking in his eyes again, searching. For what?

He didnt know, but he let her look and search as much as she wanted, he'd already reached a point where he had nothing he really wanted to hide from her. Now what she would do with the answer he gave her was anyone's guess.

Her eyes narrowed, but the rest of her face remained soft, more like she was in deep reflection. A soft breath left her lips.

"You know...You still aint fully answer my question. You didnt have to all those things for me regardless..."

Elijah was quiet for a minute, one of his hands raised to rub his chin, the pads of his fingers grazing against the hairs of his goatee, his mind in deep thought.

"You a good woman, Anisa. Yeah you work my nerves damn near like no one else can but you a good woman. I see you out here tryin' your best to look after everyone. Even them goofies you call your council-sorry. But I...

-I guess, eventhough we both in this when neither of us wanted to be here-hell, we fuss an' fight plenty, but I just want you to know that I gotchu. As far as Im concerned we in this together, whether you want my support or not." He said earnestly.

She eyed him intensely for a bit before her face shifted. Eyes briefly flashed, heavy with emotion, before she sharply turned away from him.

"Thank you for telling me."

"Mhm"

She slowly got up from his bed, moving as if her body weighed a ton. He watched as she leisurely made her way to his door, before she briefly paused at the frame. She slightly turned her head, only her side profile partially visible.

" You go on an' get you some rest 'Lijah." She spoke gently from over her shoulder, almost a whisper.

Before she quietly opened and exited his room, the door closing with a soft click.

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.

.

She had returned to her room and sat on her bed, staring into space for a bit. She was feeling overwhelmed, she felt pressure behind her eyes starting to heat up, heavy with emotion.

She was rewinding what he just said to her over and over again in her mind.

He told her she was a good woman, even with how she had been intentionally difficult to him, trying to push him away at every turn...why?

Why was it him of all people that could see her drowning and want to help her stay afloat instead of quietly letting her sink beneath the weight of her responsibilities.

As much as she hated to say it...Even Pearline and Mary had done nothing but silently watch her as she drowned.

It wasnt their fault though, she would've never burdened them with her worries, and wouldnt dare ask them for help. The only difference was where they would back off after the first few no's, Elijah was Aggravatingly stubborn, sometimes moreso than her.

She pressed her hands to her face, "This wasnt how the conversation was supposed to go" she groaned. She then dropped her back to the mattresses, making her body bounce a little. She let out a long sigh, staring up at her ceiling.

Lost on what to do next.

Damn you Smoke...Elijah...you really are the worst one of them all.

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___________________

It had been a few days since they had that conversation they had Elijah's room.

.

.

.

Not much progressed between them, as a matter of fact Elijah noticed Anisa was more distant then before. Not exactly in a way of her trying to avoid him, just...disconnected.

He gave her space.

Despite that he couldnt help but feel a bit nervous. What was she thinking about? He knew he dropped a bomb on her- well it wasnt much of a bomb, just an elephant in the room that was always quietly in the background.

Maybe i did fuck up our opportunity...I dont regret what I said though. Stack'll be pissed but he'll just have to get over that, just like I had to with his fuck ups

Whatever happend next, he'll take it in stride.

They still worked together, inspite of it.

Smoke was respectful of her distant attitude towards him, she no longer was turning their interactions into an argument every time, but this new development was making him antsy. He almost wanted to go back to deliberately pushing her buttons so he'd get some type of reaction from her...Something.

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.

.

The estate recieved a high profile visitor from a neighboring kingdom.

Lord Brandon was his name and he just so happen to have known the Queen since childhood.

No one had known he was coming, it was a bit of a suprise to Anisa when she had been summoned to one of the study rooms by one of her advisors mentioning that she had a visitor.

When she opened the door she was greeted by a familiar face. "Oh- Hi Lord Brandon. Long time no see", she greeted warmly.

"Anisa, its great to see you! Its been-what? How many years since we last saw eachother?", he gushed, he went to give her a warm hug but she held her hand up, blocking his advance. His face held confusion.

"Sorry Brandon, we cant be as familiar with each other as before, Im Queen now...and a married woman. It wouldnt appropriate" she said cordially.

"C'mon Anisa, its just me and its only us her- wait. Your married now?" His eyes widened in disbelief.

"Well thats what I just said didnt I?" She said flippantly making her way to the long table in the room, Brandon following suit, taking a seat across from her.

"I know, I know...I just didnt expect it is all."

"Well, expect it now, just like I didnt expect you to come up here unannounced." She folded her arms across her chest. "Why you come here for? Its been years and not a peep from you."

"Things have been real busy for me you know? Especially since taking up my late father's mantle. Im finally at a place where I have some free time, so I figured Id make rounds reconnecting with those I care about."

She wasnt liking the loaded looks he was giving her. It felt like he was expecting something of her...

There's something hes hiding.

"I can imagine taking up the mantle can make you very busy, its no easy job. I understand- i mean, last we saw eachother I just took on the becoming the Queen not so long after my parents passed...before you left without so much as reaching out to me afterwards"

"I know...It hurt me everyday I wasnt able to be there for you." His voice heavy with unexpressed emotions. "But Im here now, and I want to make ammends."

Annie was still suspicious, but she nodded in agreeance anyways.

.

.

.

They'd talked for what seemed like an hour. Catching up with eachother, exchanging stories, reminiscing on the good old days before life got too heavy.

"Remember when Mary dared Pearline to jump on the back of one of the wild horses?"

Annie lightly chuckled at the memory, "Yeah, I remember. The horse flew that girl back so hard she ended up flying directly into Mary and they both landed straight into the mud-"

"Served her right, that little stint landed all of us in punishment. I wasnt allowed to go out and play for 2 weeks!" He giggled.

But then his demeanor shifted, more serious. "So tell me about this husband of yours. Whats his name?"

"Oh you mean Smoke?" She didnt feel comfortable divulging her husband's real name to her friend, even if she knew him since childhood.

Elijah said it was for her and her only.

"Thats his name? Who names their child that?" He guffawd.

Annie didnt laugh.

"Watchu wanna know 'bout 'im?" Her voice, though light carried an edge of defensiveness.

"Whatever your comfortable with sharing, dont worry, I remember how private you are." Brandon placated.

"Well, he's decent enough. A 'lil rough around the edges but he's been a good partner to me so far."

"It sounds like things could be better."

"Huh?-excuse me?" Her eyes widened, incredulously.

"Im just saying it sound like he could be doing better." She didnt know why, but him saying that made her bristle in irritation.

He talkin' about doing better like he aint just show up here unannounced after 8 years of radio silence? He might just rival 'Lijah in the amount of audacity he carryin' right now.

Before she could set him straight for his overstepping he grabbed her hands in a firm, vice-like grip. "Im sorry- I havent been upfront with you."

Ahhh, here it comes- what hes been hiding. She thought unamused, they never are.

"I came here, cause I wanted to court you for your hand in marriage." He said in a rush, "after getting word of what that infernal council of yours was planning for you I came here as fast as I could...looks like I was too late though." He said, deflating in disappointment.

Annie looked at him with a blank stare. She was really unamused with the words that just came from his mouth. She was 'bout ready to lace into him before they were interrupted. Both Annie and Brandon turned to the sound.

It was Elijah by the door.

His face held still, but the energy radiating off him was brimming with with tension on a short leash. An antsy energy just swimming beneath the surface of his skin.

His gaze flicked to their intertwined hands, before he looked at the man that currently had his hands ensnared in hers.

It was a look she'd never seen on his face before.

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.

.

Elijah had been looking for Anisa.

He wanted to discuss more about about the plan of making a recreational center for the youth, he had some ideas that he wanted to run by her first. Then he ran across Ruth.

"Hey 'lil lady Ruth, you seen the queen?"

"Uh- yes your majesty, she just recieved a suprise visitor in the drawing room"

"A suprise visitor?"

Yes, his is Lord Brandon. Apparently, from what I've overheard, he was a close friend of the queen when they were children, but he dissappeared when she ascended the throne."

"Thanks Ruth, you enjoy the rest of your day alright?"

"Oh-um, thanks your majesty" the girl beamed, bending her knees in a deep curtsy to bid him goodbye.

Elijah gave her a deep nod, not quiet a smile reaching his face but his face undoubtedly relaxed around the sharp edges he carried in his day to day.

Once he walked from her his mind started whirling.

A man? What kinda business he gotta handle with Anisa where he needed to be by himself with her?

His eye twitched.

Aint no such thing as a man travelin' all this way, wantin' to be by himself with another woman like her without no intentions attached.

He picked up his pace, stepping with more force then needed. His long robes billowing behind his sturdy frame.

Everyone made sure to keep a wide berth from him, as they could tell that the reserved king was a man on a mission.

Soon as he got near the drawing room he heard the voices of his wife and some other man whos voice he never heard of.

He caught the tail end of their conversation.

"I came here, cause I wanted to court you for your hand in marriage." He said in a rush, "after getting word of what that infernal council of yours was planning for you I came here as fast as I could...looks like I was too late though."

Who the fuck this man think he is?

Smoke was indignant. Who ever he was, Elijah made up his mind that he needed to get the hell from around here.

Steppin' up to his wife under their roof? Knowing damn well she's married to him? He didnt give a damn if they were at odds with eachother 95% of the time, as far as he was concerned.

Oh- he was gonna make sure his ass never tried some shit like this again.

He gon' find out just who the fuck I am.

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.

.

Smoke entered the room to see this man holding Anisa's hand looking quiet comfortable. The man looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, quickly snatching his hands from her's from the moment Smoke entered the room.

He watched the man, his eyes unblinking. His body still for a few moments before he slowly reached into one of his pockets of his delicate robes, pulling out a cig. He lit it unhurriedly with a match stick. Still... his eyes never once leaving the mans.

He knew smoking wasn't allowed inside the estate walls, but if he didnt calm his nerves from what he just heard and what he just saw right now? He would've been in the middle of ending that mans life right at this moment.

If he was still in the streets he probly would, but circumstances were different now.

Anisa looked about ready to get on him about his smoking, but he cut his eyes to her. There must of been something in them she saw that made whatever quip was about to leave her lips died in her throat.

His voice remained low, raspy and even, he pointed his cigarette at him. "And just who the fuck might you be?" He cocked his head to the side.

"Oh-uh, Im lord Brandon, Im a close friend of your wife."

"Mmm, is thats right?...She aint never mentioned no body named Brandon to me." He grumbled.

"Well, Im not suprised. Its been a while since we last spoke."

"Couldn't have been that long seeing how comfortable you was lookin' just a minute ago."

"Oh I didnt mean anything by it" Brandon raised his hand in surrender.

"Huh.."didnt mean anything by it" you say?" He rasped quietly nodding. His calmness a thin veil for the storm that was beginning to rumble underneath the surface.

Smoke was disgusted, this punk bitch aint have no spine, tryin to act like he wasnt doing what the fuck I just heard 'im doin'. Im gon' have somethin' for his ass...

He didnt take any type of disrespect whatsoever and he was gonna make sure he nip this shit in the bud immediately.

Just as he was about to start, he felt Anisa's soft hand touch his chest in a soothing manner.

No doubt sensing his oncoming outburst. It gave him pause, her delicate touch was distracting, especially after she had been distant recently. It felt like a soothing balm to the irritating wound that was his brewing emotions.

"-Brandon, go on and make yourself comfortable. I'll have one of my ladies show you to your chambers" she spoke primly.

Elijah leveled her with an quiet, incredulous look, too subtle for anyone around him to pick up on, but not her.

She knew that he was not happy with what just transpired.

"Alright- I'll uh...see you around Anisa." And with that he scrambled out the room.

Which left them alone. The atmosphere tense.

She released her hand from his chest, turning to exit the room as well with out so much as a word to her husband, when she felt Elijah's firm hand catch around her wrist, her jewelry chiming with the sudden movement.

She looked at his hand covering her wrist, then to his face. It was unreadable. His gaze shut out from their, what she was beginning to realize, normal openness he seemed to have in them when he was around her.

He tugged her along with him without another word. His gait was forceful and quick making her have to pick up her own pace to keep up, her gown fluttering with the movement.

A few royal gaurds seeing their brisk pace scrambled to fall in line behind the two monarchs before they got too far out of reach.

Elijah pulled her all the way to the entrance of the manor, then past it taking her to the fields surrounding the estate. The long grass undulating in the wind, shimmering like a sea of green. Before walking any further he turned to the gaurds, telling them to stay at the gate to keep watch, before trekking further into the fields.

Elijah eventually let her hand go, walking a few paces ahead, before he stopped.

He turned around to face her, his brows furrowed.

"Who the fuck was that, an' why his ass movin so comfortable to be doin' allat shit with you?"

"His names Brandon-"

"I already knew that- I wanna know why his ass feel so comfortable to be doin' that 'round you, like I wont knock his head off."

"I dont know-I was just as lost as you were."

"Hmm."

"Dont do that."

"Do what?"

"You soundin' like you aint believe me."

" I never said that, I was just thinkin'."

"Well you can stop all that thinkin' shit cause Im 'bout to tell you what happened."

"...alright." he relented, allowing her to have the space to speak her piece.

She took a long breath, "He came here, tellin' me he wanted to see how I was doin'. Things seemed friendly enough, I grew up with him an' hadnt' seen him in eight years, so I was a little happy to see him. Im not gonna lie an' act like I didnt think there was another reason he was here. I didnt think he'd ask me to marry 'im. I know you heard that part..."

She was quiet for a little while, distractedly toying with one of the long blades of grass.

"Took you by suprise." He stated as a fact, not a question.

He watched her deflate a little bit...

"Yeah...I felt a lil disrespected, he acted like he aint know I was married 'till he started spewing about how he heard about the tournament an' everything...Why now? After all this time- silence, not even a letter to check in on me to see how Ive been doin'. An' now all a sudden you show up asking me to marry you?..." She was starting to get worked up, her hands making wild gestures with her ramble, until she quieted down.

"And I... I aint really like what he was hinting at about you..." she quietly confessed.

Elijahs earlier energy diminished. He didnt ask for her to explain what her friend said about him, it didnt matter. What did matter to him was how the situation was making her visibly upset.

"If its makin' you upset, then why'd you allow him to stay?"

"For proprieties sake. It wouldnt look good on my end to just cast him out. I got different obstacles then if I were just some king 'Lijah. Any move I make that seems a bit more on the direct or harsh side, Im scrutinized so much more for it. Its a very tight rope Im walkin' here." She exhaled, exasperated.

He hummed in understanding.

"You want 'im gone?" His voice low.

"If I had things my way, I would've sent 'im packing by now, to where ever he came from an' take his shit somewhere else."

After a few beats of silence she tentively walked near Elijah. Lightly grazing his side. Her hand gently carding between his fingers as she leaned into his body. She'd never seek comfort from anyone else like this...Hell- she hasnt been this verbalized about what was bothering her with someone else in so long. She was already dealing with too much, and for her friend to come and drop this on her? She was feeling overwhelmed.

Something about him... She couldnt help but lean on his warmth.

She'd been isolating herself lately, trying to wrap her head around what exactly she was feeling towards him. It only made her more tired and confused.

Elijah had been respecting her distance, but it seemed right now, what she needed was his comfort. He hesitated, but he released her hand from his and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, rubbing soothing circles into it.

He felt her lean in to his body, almost as if she wanted to seep under his skin, letting out a long exhale. Her breath rustling the fabric against his delicate undershirt. It raised goosebumps underneath. His body hyper aware of hers whenever they had the rare occasions when they touched.

He didnt dwell too much on it though, he had other things preoccupying his mind.

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.

.

Stack was having one of those rare occasions where he was lazing about. One of the rare occasions where he was enjoying the quiet.

Until he heard a firm knock on his door. He already knew who it was.

And there he was, Smoke, looking gravely serious.

"Imma need you to do something for me."

Stack immediately locked in.

"Watchu need?"

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_________________

Stack was working his magic. He found Brandon walking the hallways. He was weary at first, thinking he was Smoke, he quickly dispelled his worries, making sure to let him know that he was a twin.

Got him comfortable, asked him about himself. Found out he had a liking for horseback riding and locked in on it. Adding his own wacky stories and encounters he's had with horses.

"I aint all that into horses though, they too scary for me. Them muthafuckas' is scared a they own farts, cant deal with no nervous shit like that when they way half a ton." Stack added jovially.

Brandon chuckled, " I understand. Thats why you have to desensitize them, their prey animals, so anything that happens they're programmed to run from it"

"Dang, Iono if I got that kinda patience for all that."

"Im telling you, one solid horse is worth theyre wait in gold."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah!"

Oh really? Then show me, we got some new horses in the stables . I wanna see how you go 'bout desensitizing 'em."

"Since when yall get stables? Last I was here the king was allergic to horses so they couldn't have them around like that."

"Alot can happen in 8 years, and last I checked the queen aint allergic, so yeah, they added some stables. C'mon, Ill show you."

"Alright."

The shorter man followed Stack into a little room that supposedly would lead them to the stable, it smelled of nicotine.

"Sorry, Its a 'lil dark in here, the lights on the opposite side of the room so you might have to feel your way around."

The second he stepped into black room, he heard slide of metal against metal. A gun was cocked. The cool steel pressed against the right side of his temple. His heart froze.

Stack walked into the room behind him shutting the door on his way in, leaving them both in the dark.

Brandon heard the clink of a lighter, its low light illuminating very little of the room. It was Stack. He watched as the man walked to the otherside of him, raising his lighter until he saw the flame spark against the end of a cigarette, sparking the end a cherry red. Against the backdrop he saw a second face. One the exact same as Stack.

Smoke.

In the low light he could see Stack place a toothpick into his mouth next to his twin. The earlier air of friendliness he exudes with him completely gone. The smile on his face had somehow sharpened.

The older twin took a long exhale of his newly lighted cig.

His low raspy voice breaking through the tense silence, Smoke billowing out his mouth like a sleeping dragon.

"Imma tell you this one time, an' one time only, you aint know shit 'bout me boy, an' aint you aint know a damn thing 'bout what Im capable of. I'll have have them beady eyes of yours blasted to the back a ya damn head 'fore you een have the time to call fo' some help. Ya hear me?"

Brandon was frozen in fear, his legs shaking.

"Ion think he heard ya Smoke? Look like he aint know how to be respectful." An unsettling grin splitting Stacks face.

"No-no, no, no,- I heard you nice and clear your majesty."

"Mmm...you made my wife upset today. Imma need you to explain why I shouldn't just kill you now?" His face remained unchanged, but his stare was sharp, unblinking, pupils blown like a shark that smelled blood in the water.

The light only made their faces visible in the dark, casting severe shadows across twins faces only, towering over him like a pair of demonic spirits. One smiling maniacally and the other unflinching lazer focus scared the smaller man shitless.

"Im sorry, I- didnt mean to disrespect you, I swear-"

"But you did, out here tryna dirty mack behind another mans wife?" Smoke pressed his gun further into the mans head, the entrance of the muzzle biting into his skin.

"I-I-Im so-" the man started to soil himself. The smell of urine wafting into the air.

Smoke and Stack were unmoved.

"Imma tell you whatchu gon' do. You gon' go into ya room, repack all ya shit you just unpacked, an' get the fuck on...An' if I even hear of your whereabouts being close to 'round here? Imma find you personally and make do on my promise...And trust me...I dont break 'em."

Brandon nodded his head vigorously, his chest rapidly moving up and down, close to hyperventilating. "Yes your majesty, Ill leave right now."

"Mmm" he grunted, Stack capped the lighter, while Smoke stubbed out his cigarette, leaving the mans in complete darkness.

Brandon took that as his opportunity to exit, scrambling out the door, running down the hallway from where he and Stack came from, damn-near sobbing. He left the door swung wide open in his wake, washing the twins in the light from the hallway.

"Punk bitch" Smoke groused, looking at the puddle the terrified man left on the floor. Stacks nose scrunched in disgust, "atleast he aint do the other thing. I hate when they shit themselves." He handed the older twin a cloth and they went about cleaning the mess themselves. Didn't want or need any of the servants involved in some of the more unsavory parts of themselves.

"C'mon, let's get on outta here."

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__________________

Elijah laid in bed, staring at the ceiling...thinking about the rare moment of vulnerability his wife displayed earlier that day, when he heard a light tapping against the glass door in his room the one that led to their shared outside balcony.

He got up with a low groan and meandered over to the door.

And there she was again... this time in a creme nightgown, hair loose, her mini afro swaying in the gentle breeze of the late evening.

"Brandon changed his mind and left not too long ago. Decided he had an emergency to attend to." She spoke quietly.

"Mm-is that right?"

She gave him an expectant look, knowing there was something he wasnt telling her.

He relented, "That would be my doing" he affirmed with a firm nod.

"I know, just wanted to know what you did to get 'im like that. Never seen that look on his face. He ran outta here like the devil was hot on his trail."

"Thats cause he was..." Smoke grunted cryptically, but kept it at that. Neither of them spoke for a while, an unsure but comfortable quiet enveloping them.

Anisa looked at him, leaning her head slightly to the side like she was reading every untold secret he ever withheld.

Smoke didnt mind the scrutiny, after she had been reserved and distant with him the past couple of days, he didnt realize how much he relished in her eyes caressing him, whether she was pissed off or not. Anything but indifference is all he wanted from her.

She quietly turned around and walked to the balcony, the place where most of their interactions always seemed to take place.

He followed her.

Annie leaned against the railing, arms folded in front of her, looking out beyond the fields surrounding the manor to the thick forest bracketing the property. He stood next to her, lightly brushing her shoulder as he did.

She felt the heat of his body emanating off him as he went to stand next to her. She didnt make any mention for him to follow her outside, but he did anyways. She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in.

"What did you do before?"

"Hm?"

"I know the fighting tournament was meant for warriors of any kind, but there was something different in how you moved compared to everyone else..." she turned her eyes to him. "What did you do before?"

He turned his eyes to her's, gaze unwavering, but there was a softness there that wasnt there before. She was beginning to get used to his intense staring.

"Me an' Stack were mercenaries... Occasionally did made people dissappear if the price was right."

"You kill people for money."

"Exactly what we did."

"Hmm" she hummed, "So thats what you did with Brandon?... Made 'im dissappear?"

"Mhmm" he nodded, chest puffed out.

She shook her head, making her way to leave-

Elijah grabbed her hand before she could leave, she whirled around on him, and he grabbed her second arm while he was at it, making her fully face him with her arms locked in his.

He pulled her in close, her body almost flushed to his. His eyes heavy-lidded and relaxed.

Her breath caught.

"I aint kill 'im if thats whatchu worried about", he quietly rasped.

She was distracted by his proximity, it was like this man was looking for any excuse to touch her at this point. None of this was necessary.

She didnt move out of his grasp.

"Of course I know you didn't, I saw the man leave... I aint worried 'bout all that"

"Then what has you ready to run off on me again..."

"I wasnt runnin' off." She defended, "You already answered my question...What I wanna know is why you got a hold on me, keeping me from my room right now?" She puffed her chest out, fully pressing up against him, invading his space this time. Her eyes squinted at him.

She saw his eyes waver for the first time, she could feel the beat of his heart on her own chest. It was elevated. His pupils were blown, making his deep brown eyes appear almost black against the diffused lighting of the setting sun, just as moonlight was growing brighter.

He seemingly ran out of words to say...

"I aint holdin' you all that tight. You can leave whenever you want to" His hold slightly tightened for emphasis, pulling her ever closer. Her light weight clothes had her feeling almost every ridge of him. Her generous chest pressed against his sturdy one, soft belly pressed against his solid abdomen..

Oh?

Everything about him was solid. She was acutely aware, her body started to buzz.

"I thought you might've had something important to tell me with how you just grabbed me up"

"I aint grab nothin up yet."

"Stop doing that."

"Doing what?" She felt one of his hands move from her wrist, lightly grazing up her arm leaving goosebumps in their wake, to the nape of her neck. His callous fingertips started to toy with ear, lightly touching the shell of her ear before gently caressing her earlobe, her earring jingling from the movement.

She shivered at his touch before she grabbed his hand and pulled it away from her ear.

"Just so you know, I was thinkin' about how I wouldnt have cared if you did... an' I dont know how to feel about it." She breathed quietly...

"Anybody come 'round here thinkin' they can fuck witchu an' your mind? Imma put 'em in the dirt if you wanna. All you gotta do say is the word."

"Elijah, you dont know me enough to be doin' all that for me."

"I know enough. He made you upset, and you my wife. Id be a sorry ass man if I just let someone do you like that an' then they just free to roam under the roof where you lay your head at."

"I dont know what to say to that"

"Dont say nothin'... I aint hail from royalty or none a that, but If theres one thing I can do, is protect what's mines only way I know how."

"Whats yours?"

"Mhmm, you heard me right"

"Hmm... Is that so?" She leaned into his space, so close that she could feel the air he breathed through his nose tickle her face. He watched her with lazer focus, his eyes shifting to her lips. She watched him, his reaction to her.

Her nose a whisper of a touch from his;

"Dont do no shit like that again unless you let me know first." Her voice a hushed whisper, her grip on his hand squeezing a bit firmer for emphasis.

With that she pulled away from his hold. Brushing her body against his as she turned around and walked away, pausing just before she went into her room, "night 'Lijah" she said, leaving him by himself.

Her door making a soft click.

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.

.

Elijah say on one of the chairs, pulling out a cigarette to calm himself down.

He was wired, body very awake prior to before.

Elijah didnt chase, he didnt have to. There was no shortage of women who wanted to take the twins for a spin or two. Whenever the opportunity presented itself just right and he was in the mood for it, all he needed to do was give them a look to let 'em know what timing he was on.

No woman ever made him sweat, not like her.

Feeling her soft, supple body against his own- made him wanna act up, and the way she stayed disappearing on him after leaving him craving more of her, was starting to drive him up the wall.

"Goddamn..." he took a long, slow drag of his cigarette, wishing his lips were wrapped up in something else.

Fuck, I'd eat her off the bone if she let me. Talkin' bout how stressed she be, shit- it would relieve mine the way she got me pent up.

He rubbed a hand across his face to cool himself down

An' she just next door... She been in my room.

He looked out into the night sky releasing a heavy sigh. Somewhere along the lines, things started to get muddy for him. Why exactly was he doing all these things for her for real?

He didnt even stop to think about it, doing it just felt like second nature, something natural. He never had any intentions of doing half the things he finds himself doing or wanting to do for her.

Heh- look at me now, foldin' under zero pressure.

He thought, chuckling to himself like a secret he shared between himself and the night.

Whatever it was, he had no intentions of fighting against it...

.

.

.

_________________

__________

A/n: Smoke is so dramatic when it comes to his Annie...hes not wrong tho 🙂‍↕️

Quiet as kept, Annie's lowkey into Smokes violence ngl😶‍🌫️

He's so thirsty for her. Idk why I wrote him like this😭

Mind you this was meant to only be 5 to 6 chapters, which is why I was jumping around alot 🫠

Dont get too comfortable, tho😩

Taglist:

July, 1958

Weeks had passed since the party and things had shifted.

It wasn't in a way anyone could directly point out because nothing had been said. They hadn't addressed each other. But it was there, sitting between them every time they were in the same room. And they were hardly ever alone anymore.

If they saw each other, it was always with other people around at someone’s house or out somewhere.

Elijah fit into the men's circle as if he'd always been there. So if CJ or Tommy was around, Elijah was too.

Annie noticed the way he moved naturally with them, but she never said anything about it. And they still talked. They had general phone calls that were shorter and only made with a purpose now. If Annie called, it was about something she needed. If Elijah called, it was the same.

There were no unnecessary conversations between them. But why would there be? They had nothing to talk about anymore.

Would Annie tell him about all the days she spent at home with nothing else to think about but him? Because she did. Would Elijah tell her about how he had taken that girl out even when he didn't really want to? Because he did.

It wasn't anything serious or worth thinking too hard about. They’d gone out and talked. One night even ended with a kiss, but it didn’t stick with him. He was only casual with the girl.

And for some reason, Elijah still showed up to church sometimes. It wasn't every Sunday, but was enough that people recognized him now and he didn't feel out of place. He was able to see Annie, but not how he truly wanted to.

Now he was stretched out across his bed, one arm tucked behind his head, the other holding his phone to his ear.

Gloria's voice came through the other end as they talked about nothing in particular. THey were just passing time.

“There’s supposed to be a party in a couple days,” she said. “You think you might wanna go?”

Elijah stared up at the ceiling, quiet for a second.

“I don’t know,” he said after a beat. “I’ll have to see. I'll let you know.”

“Okay,” she said easily.

They hung up without much else said and the room went completely quiet again.

Elijah let the phone rest against his chest for a second before setting it off to the side. He sat there for a moment, staring ahead.

Then he got up, grabbing a clean shirt, pulling it over his head. The motions were automatic.

There was a group outing planned because the women wanted to go shopping. Tommy, of course, had insisted on coming along for it, and somehow that had turned into him pulling the rest of the guys into it too.

Elijah shook his head slightly as he grabbed his keys. It didn’t make much sense to him.

He locked the door behind him and headed out. The heat was heavy in the air even though the sun hadn’t fully peaked yet.

He let the drive be quiet. He didn't turn the radio on or reach for his phone. He just drove. His mind moved a mile a minute as he thought about all the things that he should've and wanted to say but didn't know when to.

The mall parking lot was busy when he pulled in. Cars filled the rows and people moved in and out.

He parked, cut the engine, and sat there for a second before getting out. He took a deep breath wanting to collect himself before being in the same area as Annie. He finally got out of the car and inside.

The air conditioning was blaring in the mall, making it a cool contrast to the heat outside.

Elijah walked with purpose, scanning as he moved. He spotted the group near one of the stores further down.

They were all standing around talking and waiting. Everybody was close together, except for Annie. She quietly stood off to the side. She was dressed simple and she looked good, but something felt off. It was all in her eyes, easy to miss if you weren't paying attention. But Elijah was.

She wasn’t even looking at him. Her focus stayed on anything that wasn’t him. Even when he stepped closer into the group, when his presence should’ve naturally pulled her attention, she kept her gaze elsewhere.

Elijah understood what she was doing, and he did the opposite. He stared at her for so long he knew that if she looked up, she would've seen everything in his face. But she didn't.

“Everybody here now?” Tommy asked.

“Looks like it,” CJ muttered.

“Alright, come on. We not about to be in here all day,” Lillian said.

They started moving toward the department store, conversations picking right back up like they hadn’t paused at all.

Elijah fell into step behind them with the rest of the men. But his attention didn’t move, it stayed on Annie.

She walked slightly ahead, laughing at something Michelle said, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Her body was purposely angled just enough to avoid turning back to see him.

Once they got inside the store, the group split.

The women drifted toward the racks and displays, already starting to pull things off their hangers and hold them up to each other.

The men stood not too far off to the side. Tommy found a seat, CJ leaned against a nearby fixture, and Elijah stood near the wall with his hands in his pockets.

His eyes naturally searched the room, but they always found their way back to her. Even when he tried not to.

Across the space, Annie found herself drifting closer to Michelle.

Her fingers moved across the clothes in front of her, separating hangers one by one, eyes scanning without really seeing.

Every now and then, she looked up quick enough to catch a glimpse of Elijah across the store. He wasn't looking at her, or maybe he was and she just kept missing it.

Annie huffed under her breath, pushing a hanger a little harder than she meant to.

She didn’t like this space between them. It felt like something had shifted and neither one of them was fixing it.

Because she could feel that he wanted to talk to her. And, if she was being honest with herself, she wanted to talk to him too. But she was still upset.

And beneath that there was this quiet understanding that he was probably more upset and more confused than she was. Because she had started it.

She looked down again, forcing her attention back to the rack in front of her.

Michelle stood beside her, flipping through clothes and humming softly to herself.

“How do you get Tommy to stop being mad at you?”

Michelle’s hand paused mid-hanger. She slowly turned her head to look at Annie.

Annie didn’t look back. Her eyes stayed on the dresses in front of her.

Michelle let out a small chuckle under her breath.

“What I do, you not gonna want to do,” she said, dragging her words just a little.

Annie sucked her teeth quietly, shifting another hanger over.

Michelle watched her for a second longer. Then her gaze lifted and moved across the store until it landed on Elijah.

He stood with the men, quieter than the rest. Listening more than talking. His posture relaxed, but there was something held back in it.

Michelle looked back at Annie.

“What you do?” she asked.

Annie hesitated for a second. Her fingers slowed on the rack before picking back up again.

“We left the party and in the he asked me what was wrong,” she started, voice low. “He tried to talk to me and I told him that if he wanted to go out with that girl, he should.”

Michelle’s brows lifted slightly.

Annie swallowed.

“He said he got her phone number already and that he would try with her. And I told him that was fine.”

Michelle’s expression didn’t change much, but her eyes sharpened just a little.

“And then?” she asked.

Annie finally shifted her weight, pushing a hanger aside before answering.

“He dropped me off and didn’t even get out the car.”

Michelle hummed softly, nodding once like she was putting it together.

“So, why you sad?” she asked, glancing at her. “You told him to go out with her. He did.”

Annie’s lips pressed together and her fingers stilled completely now.

“He was mean to me,” she muttered.

Michelle blinked. “Mean to you?”

“He didn’t open my door, and he drove off before I could even say goodbye,” Annie said, quieter this time.

Michelle just looked at her. Then she let out a soft hum, something between amusement and understanding.

“Mm,” she said, nodding slowly.

Her eyes flicked back across the store again, landing on Elijah. Then she looked back at Annie.

“You should go over there, and be honest with him” Michelle said simply.

Annie frowned slightly, finally glancing up at her. She sighed before looking back down at the clothes, pulling another dress forward like that would end the conversation.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” she said under her breath.

Michelle didn’t push. She just went back to the rack beside her, flipping through hangers again.

What was supposed to be “just a quick stop” turned into the women moving from section to section like they had all the time in the world. Dresses turned into shoes, shoes turned into accessories, and somehow that turned into them circling back around for things they’d already passed the first time.

Racks of clothes shifted as hangers clicked against each other. Fabrics brushed under their fingers. Opinions were given, taken, ignored, and revisited again.

“Hold this up on me,” Lillian said at one point, turning slightly as Michelle lifted a top against her.

“Mm, I don’t know. It's cute but it ain't you,” Michelle muttered, tilting her head.

“It could be me,” Lillian shot back.

“But it’s not,” Monica added without even looking up.

Annie stayed with them, moving where they moved, picking things up when asked, offering quiet opinions when needed. But her attention wasn’t fully there.

Every now and then, she still felt that pull to across the store to where the men were.

Once they made their way to checkout, it had been almost an hour.

Bags had piled up quickly, but they weren't done. They moved from store to store.

By the time they were finally heading out of the mall, the energy was different.

The women were energized with arms full of bags, talking about when they were going to wear what and about who was going to see it.

On the otherhand, the men were tired and ready to leave.

In the parking lot, the group split to go to their cars. Tommy had both arms loaded down with Michelle’s bags, walking beside her while she talked, barely paying attention to how much he was carrying. Lillian and Monica walked arm in arm, passing a small bottle of perfume oil back and forth between them.

Annie lagged behind. She adjusted the bags in her hands and made her way toward her car.

Her eyes stayed locked on Elijah as he walked to his car. She wondered if she stared long enough if he could feel it. She was hoping that he would give her something, maybe turn around to break the space between them.

He didn't though. He just kept walking until he got there. He opened his door and got in. And that was it.

Annie stood in front of her car for a touch longer than she needed to.

Then she turned, opened the back door, and placed her bags inside one by one. She took a little more time than necessary, adjusting them, making space that didn’t need to be made.

When she finally closed the door, the sound felt too loud in the quiet of the lot.

She walked around to the driver’s side and got in. She sat there, hands resting in her lap, staring straight ahead.

Then she inhaled slow and deep. She held it for a little, then let it out just as slowly. Her shoulders dropped slightly as the air left her lungs.

That did little for her mind. If anything, it made it louder. Everything was replaying over and over. And she didn't know how long she could take this distance and silence.

The fact that they were standing in the same spaces, being around the same people, and still felt like they were nowhere near each other. It was like they were in two separate places entirely.

She pressed her lips together, staring harder at nothing.

A sharp knock hit her window.

Annie jumped slightly, her head turning quickly toward the sound.

CJ stood just outside her door.

She blinked, taking a second to come back to the moment before reaching over and rolling the window down.

“What is it?” she asked, her voice a little softer than usual.

CJ leaned down slightly, resting his arm against the top of the car. “You coming out tonight?”

Annie frowned a little. “Where?”

“They talking about going to the juke,” he said. “Everybody probably gon’ be there.”

Her mind immediately went to Elijah when he said everybody. They would be in the same room again dealing with the same distance. She didn’t think she could do that tonight.

She didn’t think she could stand there again, pretending like everything was normal when it didn’t feel that way at all.

“I can’t,” she said, shaking her head slightly. “I got some stuff I need to do at the house for Mama.”

CJ nodded easily accepting it without question. “Okay. I’ll catch you later then.”

“Okay,” she said, offering a small nod.

He tapped the side of the car lightly before stepping away, heading back toward the others.

Annie watched him go for a second. Then she leaned back in her seat and let out another long heavy exhale.

She reached forward, started the car, and pulled out of the space.

Annie moved through the house with a rag in her hand, wiping down surfaces that didn't really need wiping and folding things that were already neat. It gave her something to focus on.

Her grandmother had been watching her all morning.

“You been in this house every Saturday since May,” she muttered from her chair, eyes following Annie as she passed by again.

Annie didn’t answer at first. Just kept wiping the same spot on the counter.

“I’m talkin' to you,” her grandmother added, voice sharper this time.

“I hear you,” Annie said, not looking up.

Her grandmother sucked her teeth. “You used to be out all day, dressed up real cute, now look at you.”

Annie rolled her eyes before she could stop herself. But her grandmother caught it.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me,” she snapped.

Annie exhaled, setting the rag down a little harder than she meant to. “I didn’t—”

A knock cut her off.

“I’ll get it,” Annie said quickly, moving toward the door.

She dropped the towel on the counter and walked over, pulling it open without thinking too much about who it might be.

Monica stood on the other side dressed like she had somewhere to be. Her hair was done and she had a put together outfit on.

“Good you're home. Let's go,”

Before Annie could even process it, Monica reached out and grabbed her arm, trying to pull her outside.

Annie planted her feet.

“Wait, where we going?” she asked, pulling back.

Monica sighed because Annie was already getting on her nerves. “The block party,” she said. “I’m tryin' to go.”

Annie frowned slightly. “Then go.”

“I was,” Monica shot back, “but Lillian's got a date, Michelle out of town visitin' family, so now you my last option.”

Annie pulled her arm back fully now, crossing it over herself. “I’m not going,” she said. “I gotta help Mama.”

Monica just stared at her completely unimpressed.

“You lyin',” she said flatly.

“I’m not—”

“You are,” Monica interrupted, reaching for her again. “And ever since whatever happened between you and Elijah you been downright annoying. Can’t go nowhere and can’t do nothing ‘cause he might be there.”

“That’s not—”

“And I’m pretty sure he not even gon’ be there,” Monica added, pulling harder.

Annie stumbled forward off balance, caught between resisting and not wanting to make a whole scene in the doorway.

“Monica—”

“Come on,” Monica insisted, dragging her out onto the porch.

“Monica, I said I’m not—”

Monica turned her head toward the inside of the house and raised her voice.

“Mama Nette I’m taking Annie out!”

There was a slight pause. Then, from inside they heard:

“Good! Get her out my damn house!”

“See?” Monica grinned clearly satisfied.

She reached back and pulled the door shut before Annie could even think about going back inside.

“Let’s go,” Monica said, not loosening her grip as she led Annie down the steps.

Annie followed reluctantly, her steps slower, dragging just a little as Monica pulled her toward the car. The further they got from the house, the less room Annie had to argue. And Monica knew it.

Monica didn’t give Annie any more room to argue once they reached the car. She opened the passenger door and gave her a look. So Annie slid in without another word.

The door shut, sealing her into it.

Annie spent the ride in silence. She leaned her head slightly against the window, arms folded, lips pressed together in a small pout she wasn’t even trying to hide anymore.

Monica, on the other hand, filled the silent space easily.

Music played through the car and she sung with one hand on the wheel. She didn’t force a conversation with Annie or pull her out of whatever mood she was in.

After a while, they pulled up to the neighborhood where the party was. Cars lined the street and people walked the sidewalks. Live music came from the middle of the blocked off area.

Monica slowed the car, easing it to a stop a little ways down from the main stretch.

People were dancing, bodies packed together with drinks in their hands. The whole place was alive and you could feel it before you even stepped out.

Monica turned the engine off and turned her head to Annie.

Annie was still sitting there with her arms crossed, lips slightly pushed out, and eyes forward.

Monica stared at her for a second. Then let out a deep sigh, clearly annoyed.

“Look,” she said, voice cutting through the quiet inside the car, “what I’m not about to do is let you ruin my fun.”

Annie didn’t respond or even look at her.

“So get your little princess attitude together and come have fun.” Monica leaned back slightly, eyes still on her.

Still nothing.

“And don’t make me make you have fun,” Monica added, a small edge slipping into her tone. “’Cause I will.”

Annie rolled her eyes, finally turning her head just slightly. She knew Monica wasn’t bluffing.

Monica had a way of dragging people out of their moods whether they wanted to come out or not. And if that meant drinks, shots, and a night they wouldn’t fully remember? So be it.

Annie wasn’t in the mood for that tonight.

She let out a slow breath, shoulders dropping just a little.

“Fine,” she said, quietly. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Monica watched her for a second longer.

“Good,” she said.

Then she tilted her head slightly. “Now let me see a smile.”

Annie hesitated for a second then forced a small smile.

Monica studied it, then nodded, satisfied.

“That'll work,” she said, reaching for the door handle.

They both stepped out of the car and the loudness of the music hit them. The air smelled like sweat, liquor, and something on a grill somewhere down the block.

Monica moved forward, trying to find her way into the thick of it, her body dancing as she went.

Annie followed slowly trying to stay on the edge of the crowd. Her eyes moved over everything. Faces blended together under the streetlights. It was all overwhelming in a way that made her feel like she was standing still while everything else kept going.

A quiet heavy feeling settled in her chest. She felt that she shouldn't be there.

Her fingers brushed against her arm, grounding herself slightly.

Maybe she just needed a drink to take the edge off and quiet her mind.

Her eyes started scanning again looking for anything that could point her in the right direction. And then she saw him.

Elijah stood off to the side, not too far from the center but not fully in it either. That same woman from the party was with him. Her body danced to the music and she was trying to pull him into it. Her hands brushed his arm and her hips swayed in front of him. But Elijah didn’t move.

He stood there, one hand holding his cup, lifting it every now and then for a sip. His other hand rested by his side clearly not engaged. His posture wasn’t stiff, but it wasn’t open either. He wasn’t giving her much to mean anything.

Annie’s chest tightened at the sight. Because he was still there with her.

Her eyes stayed on them, taking their closeness in. There was a familiarity between them that wasn't supposed to bother her, but it did.

Elijah’s gaze floated across the crowd until it landed right on her. Their eyes met. And while everything around them kept moving, they stayed still. The moment taking over.

Annie took a slow breath in through her nose, steadying herself before anything could show on her face.

This wasn’t what she was forced to come out for. This wasn’t what she wanted to deal with especially not when she hadn’t wanted to be there in the first place.

She broke the eye contact first, turning her head slightly as if she hadn’t seen him at all.

“Come on!” Monica’s voice cut through. She was halfway into the crowd and trying to pull Annie with her.

Annie looked at her, forcing herself back into the moment.

“I’m gonna go find me a drink,” she said.

Monica paused, looking her over. Her eyes narrowed slightly, like she didn’t fully believe that was the real reason. But she didn’t push it.

“Alright, but don't take too long,” she said after a second.

Annie nodded once. Then turned to move away from the crowd. She weaved through people until the music dulled just a little and there was more space to breathe. The further she got, the quieter it felt.

She found a small stretch of land where a tree sat just off the side of the street. She leaned back against it, the rough bark pressing lightly through her top, arms folding in on herself.

She stood there looking, but not really seeing anything.

The music carried from down the street, laughter rising and falling, people moving in and out of her peripheral, but it all felt far away.

Her chest felt too tight.

She swallowed, blinking slowly as her eyes fixed on nothing in particular. And the thought of wanting to go home took over her.

She had the sudden urge to cry. Her throat tightened at that.

She shifted slightly against the tree, pressing her lips together like that alone could hold it back. Annie didn’t know why it felt this bad.

Well…she did. She just didn’t want to say it out loud and give it that much weight. Because what was it, really? Jealousy? And it didn’t make sense. Elijah wasn’t hers and never had been.

They hadn’t even known each other that long, only a few short months. So why did it feel like this? Why did seeing him out there, with her, feel like something had been taken from her when it was never hers to begin with?

She shook her head slightly, like she could physically push the feeling out. She wanted to tell herself to get over it, because she should.

Her hand came up, brushing under her eye when she felt the first tear slip. She sniffled quickly trying to catch it before it turned into more.

“Are you cryin'?”

The voice came from her left.

Annie tensed immediately, turning slightly, ready to brush it off. But when she actually looked up, it was Elijah there. He was close enough to her and yet she hadn't heard him walk up.

His brows were pulled together slightly, his eyes fixed on her face, searching in that quiet way he always did.

Annie wiped under her eye again almost too quickly.

“I’m not cryin'. I'm fine,” she said, voice steady enough to pass.

She pushed herself off the tree, standing up straighter, turning her body just slightly away from him like that would make it easier or would put space back between them.

But Elijah didn’t move or look away. He just kept looking at her. And after a second, he sighed.

“Why you do that?” he asked.

Annie frowned slightly, glancing at him. “Do what?”

“You say one thing, but you do and mean something else.” he said, nodding toward her without breaking eye contact.

Annie huffed quietly, her gaze dropping off to the side. “I don’t know what you’re talkin' about.”

He didn’t respond to that. He simply watched her for a bit longer.

The staring made Annie shift uncomfortably, and instead of truly answering, she decided to deflect.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, glancing back at him briefly.

Elijah shook his head slightly, like that wasn’t the point, but he answered anyway.

“Gloria wanted me to come.”

Annie let out a small scoff, her foot kicking lightly against the pavement. “Guess she don’t know you well enough then,” she muttered. “You don’t even like stuff like this.”

"And you know me well enough?" Elijah’s head tilted just a little as he looked at her.

Annie met his eyes again, but something in her softened this time.

"I think I do." Her voice dropped, quieter now.

Elijah took a small step closer.

“Well somebody who know me, know I don't like being confused.” His voice was lower but still direct.

His eyes stayed on hers.

“And Bunny,” he added, softer this time, “you got me real confused right now.”

That did it.

Annie’s face shifted, the control she’d been holding onto slipping just a little. Her eyes glossed again, her breath catching as she tried to steady it.

“I’m confused too,” she admitted, her voice breaking just enough to hear it.

She looked at him fully then.

“I’m sorry for what happened. I don't know why I do that,” she said, quieter now.

Her hands twisted together lightly in front of her.

“I just—” she swallowed. “I missed you, a lot.”

Elijah just looked at her, taking it all in.

The longer than expected silence made her chest tighten all over again.

She let out a small, shaky breath. “Say something,” she whispered, her voice almost pleading now.

Elijah exhaled slowly. Then, without saying anything else, he opened his arms.

Annie didn’t think twice about it, and she stepped into them. Her arms came up around him, holding on tighter than she probably meant to.

Elijah’s hand came up, resting against her back, pulling her in just slightly. He pressed a gentle kiss to the side of her head.

“Bunny, I'll be whatever you want me to be,” he murmured, his voice low near her temple, “But you gotta be straight with me. And you need to do it now, so I know.”

Annie stayed there for a second longer, breathing him in, letting herself have that moment before she pulled back just enough to look at him.

Her chest rose and fell with a deeper breath.

“I want us to stay friends,” she said carefully. "And maybe later, we could be more than that.”

Her eyes dropped briefly before coming back to his.

“Because I do like you.”

Elijah’s lips pressed together slightly, trying to hold back his smile. He pressed another kiss to her head.

“That’s fine with me,” he said simply.

Annie pulled back, her hands dragging slightly against him before falling away. She stepped back just enough to look at him properly. And he did the same.

Elijah’s eyes slowly moved over her face, like he was trying to catch up on everything he hadn’t been allowed to look at these past few weeks.

He started with her still glossy eyes. Then her cheeks where faint tension was sitting. Then to her lips which were pressed together like she was holding back more than she’d already said. He took it all in.

And Annie didn’t look away this time. She actually let him look…because she missed him. She missed standing close to him and talking without forcing it. It made her chest feel full in a way she didn’t know what to do with. She didn’t even know where to start.

Elijah broke the silence first.

“How long you plannin' on staying out here?” he asked, his voice back to that steady, even tone, but softer than it had been earlier.

Annie let out a small breath, glancing off for a second before looking back at him. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “We just got here, so I’m sure Monica not ready to go no time soon.”

Her tone carried a hint of resignation with it.

Elijah glanced out toward the crowd, the music was still loud, people were moving like the night had just started for them.

“I been out here a minute. I'm ready to go home,” he said.

When he looked back at her, his eyes settled a little longer.

“Want me to take you home?” he asked.

Annie hesitated and not because she didn’t want to. But because of what she thought was best.

“Mama's really tired of me being in the house,” she said, a small, almost sheepish smile tugging at her lips. “I don’t think I can go back right now.”

“Alright. Go let Monica know you leavin' with me, so she don’t think something happened,” he said.

Annie nodded immediately. “Okay,” she said, a little too quick, like she didn’t want there to be any hesitation in that part.

She took a small step back, but her eyes stayed on him for a second longer like she wanted to make sure he would still be there when she got back.

“I’ll be right back,” she said softly.

Elijah gave a small nod, stepping back just enough to give her space to go.

Annie turned and wove her way back through the crowd, the music getting louder the closer she got, bodies brushing past her, people laughing, dancing, calling out to each other like the night wasn’t ever supposed to end.

She spotted Monica pressed up against some man, moving with the music like she didn’t have a single worry in the world. When Monica caught sight of her, her expression changed instantly from recognition to curiosity.

“I don’t see a cup in your hand,” Monica said, still moving slightly to the rhythm, one brow raised.

Annie shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “And you won’t.”

Monica narrowed her eyes just a little, trying to read her.

“What you sayin'?” she asked.

“I’m leaving,” Annie said.

Monica stopped moving completely, pulling back just enough from the man to look at Annie fully.

“Leaving with who?” she repeated.

Annie hesitated. Her fingers brushed lightly against her palm before she answered.

“With Elijah.”

Monica blinked. Then laughed and shook her head.

“Of course you are,” she said, a grin spreading across her face. “Go ahead. Go spend time with your man. I’ll be fine.”

Annie rolled her eyes automatically. “He’s not my man.”

Monica just hummed like she didn’t believe that for a second, turning slightly back toward the music.

Annie lingered for half a second longer. Then turned around. And as she walked away, the word "yet" slipped out before she could stop it.

When she walked back to the spot, Elijah was right where she left him.

His posture shifted the moment he saw her. He pushed off where he was standing, tilting his head slightly in the direction down the street.

“The car’s this way,” he said.

“Okay,” she said, falling into step beside him.

They walked side by side, the music slowly fading behind them with each step. The streetlights stretched ahead, the air cooler away from the crowd.

“The new couch came in.”

Annie stopped completely. Her head snapped toward him.

“My couch came in?” she asked, her voice lifting in surprise.

Elijah couldn’t help it, the corner of his mouth pulled up slightly at her reaction.

“Yeah,” he said. “It came in about a week ago.”

She smiled softly, a little brighter than anything he’d seen from her in weeks.

“Can we go see it?” she asked, her tone turning just slightly sweet.

Elijah let out a quiet breath through his nose, shaking his head just a little.

“Yeah,” he said.

They kept walking, a little quicker now, the distance between them got smaller.

A few cars were parked further down, away from the crowd, and Elijah’s sat near the end of the row. He walked ahead just enough to reach the passenger side first, pulling the door open.

Annie carefully slid into the seat.

“Thank you,” she said softly as she tucked her legs in.

Elijah closed the door behind her, walked around the front of the car, got in, and started the engine.

August, 1958

The rest of the summer went by naturally like whatever had been off between Annie and Elijah had smoothed itself out.

They were back to how they used to be…maybe more than that.

At first, it was small.

Annie would laugh a little harder at things Elijah said, stand a little closer than necessary, and let her hand linger on his arm for a second too long before pulling away.

Then it became a consistent thing.

She would brush her fingers against him when she walked past. Her hands would rest lightly on his shoulder when she wanted to tell him something. And her eyes softened every time she looked at him, her lashes lowering and fluttering.

She didn’t talk about other women at all anymore. She didn’t bring up who he should be seeing or what kind of girl he deserved. That stopped completely.

Instead, she looked for him in every room she was in. It was subtle, but it happened far too often. If he wasn’t in the room yet, she noticed. If he walked in, her attention shifted to him almost immediately.

And when he was around her?

She was warm and all smiles. Light and flirtatious in a way that just came out of her.

Elijah didn’t call it out or push back on it. He just allowed it, because she was finally letting herself meet him where he had been waiting.

And now with school starting back, they fell into each other’s space even more. Their routines overlapped again, falling into that previous pattern they had before the summer started.

They often found themselves spending uplanned time together. Allowing them the freedom to unintenionally explore the deeper parts of their "friendship".

Well, except for tonight.

With it being a Friday evening, Annie had her girls over to start the weekend off right. There was music playing low in the background, drinks scattered across the coffee table, and the faint smell of something sweet was lingering in the air.

The girls were spread out in the living room comfortably. Their shoes were kicked off and their bodies relaxed from the drinks they had. They were talking about some book Michelle had been reading.

The group loved having book discussions about whatever story they were reading at the time and all their ladies had their time. Now it was Michelle's turn and her book was one of those new erotic novels she found. The book was quite…descriptive.

Lillian, Monica, and Michelle were deep in discussion over it. Trying to physically map out if the position they were describing actually made sense.

“I’m telling you that don’t even sound possible,” Lillian said, sitting up straighter, her hands moving as she tried to explain. “Like your leg gotta be up. But no, that’s not—”

“It is possible,” Michelle cut in, shaking her head. “You just not flexible enough.”

Monica laughed, already leaning back into the couch. “No, yeah, it’s possible,” she said, nodding slowly. “And it feels good too.”

“How would you even—?” Lillian started, stopping mid-sentence as she tried to picture it again.

Annie stayed quiet while curled slightly into her corner of the couch. A glass in her hand as she sipped slowly as she listened. Her eyes moved between them, taking it all in, but not jumping in.

She never did with these conversations because she didn't have anything to add. She lacked in experience and she never felt the need to pretend to know something she didn't.

Lillian groaned when she finally noticed.

“Oh my God, Annie,” she said, throwing her head back dramatically.

Annie glanced at her. “What?”

“I can't wait until you can actually participate in these conversations,” Lillian said, pointing at her.

Annie frowned slightly, taking another sip before responding. “Don’t rush me. I'm not ready for all that,” she said calmly.

She paused, her nose scrunching just slightly.

“Besides, that sounds like it hurt,” she added.

Monica immediately let out a dramatic, exaggerated moan, her hands gripping her thighs as she leaned forward.

“No, girl,” she said, dragging the words out. “It hurt you so good.”

Both Michelle and Lillian burst out laughing.

Annie’s face twisted in pure disgust. “You are so nasty,” she said, shaking her head.

Monica just grinned.

Michelle stood up, still laughing under her breath. “I’m about to get some more chips,” she said, brushing her hands together as she headed toward the kitchen.

The conversation carried behind her as she walked off.

In the kitchen, it was quieter. But the silence broke with the sound of the chip bag crinkling as Michelle poured more chips into the bowl.

She shook the bag a little to get the last of it out.

Then the phone rang.

Michelle paused mid-motion, glancing toward it for a second before setting the empty bag down.

The ringing continued persistently until Michelle wiped her hands against her shorts and reached over, picking it up.

“Hello?”

There was a brief pause.

Then the sound of a man's voice came through. “It's Elijah. Is Annie there?”

Michelle’s brows lifted slightly at the tone.

“Yes, she's here. Hold on,” she said easily.

She set the phone on the counter, grabbed the bowl of chips, and headed back toward the living room.

The girls were still mid-conversation, but Michelle cut right through it.

“Annie, someone's on the phone for you,” she called, setting the bowl down on the table.

All eyes were on Annie.

She set her glass down slowly and stood, smoothing her hands along her thighs like she needed something to do with them before walking toward the kitchen.

She could feel them watching her the whole way.

She got to the kitchen and picked up the sitting phone.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Bunny.”

Her face softened immediately. A small smile pulled at her lips before she could stop it.

“Hi,” she said, quieter now.

“You busy?” he asked.

She leaned lightly against the counter, fingers playing with the cord. “No, not really. The girls just here talkin'.”

“Mm,” he hummed. “I’m not interrupting nothing?”

“No. You're fine,” she said quickly.

There was a small pause.

“How was your day?” he asked.

Annie exhaled softly. “It was okay. The kids still tryin' to get used to me,” she said, a hint of tiredness slipping into her voice. “How was work?” she asked.

“It was alright,” he said. “I fixed that car I told you about."

“The one that wouldn’t start?”

“Yeah.”

Annie nodded to herself. “That’s good.”

They started talking about nothing, but yet anything to fill space. He asked about her dress she was getting made, and she told him it wouldn't be ready until Monday. They talked about new receipes Annie wanted to try, and what furniture pieces would work in Elijah's apartment.

It was something they'd done a hundred times before. But underneath it, there was something else and Annie could hear it. His responses were coming out slower, almost hesitant. It was like he would try to say something , but would ask a new question in an attempt to dodge the original one. He was clearly working up to something.

In the living room, the girls noticed how long Annie had been away.

“Why she been on that phone for so long?” Monica muttered.

Lillian shrugged, “Let’s go see.”

The three of them stood up almost in sync and made their way toward the kitchen. They leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching her.

Annie glanced up when she felt them looking at her. Her lips pressed together, a small sigh slipping out.

“I should probably go,” she said into the phone, turning slightly away from them. “The girls are asking for me.”

“Wait,” Elijah said quickly.

She paused. Her grip on the phone tightened just a little.

“I wanted to ask you something before you hang up.”

Her eyes flicked back to the girls. They leaned in closer trying to read her face.

Annie turned her back to them completely this time.

“Go ahead,” she said softly.

There was a brief sound of him clearing his throat on the other end.

“I know you said you needed time,” he started, voice steady but more serious now. “And I told you I’d wait till you was ready.”

Annie’s breath slowed. Her fingers stilled against the cord.

“But I’m tired of holding on to it. There's one of them romance pictures you like playing at the drive-in tomorrow,” he continued.

Annie swallowed.

“And I wanted to know if I could take you out officially."

Her breath hitched.

“Give me a second,” she said quickly, her voice coming out lighter than she expected.

She pulled the phone away from her ear, setting it gently on the counter, covering the receiver with her hand. Then she turned around to the girls who were still watching her.

“What?!” Monica whispered loudly.

“What he say?” Lillian added.

Annie leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “He wants to take me on a date tomorrow.”

There was a split second of silence. Before there was an immediate reaction. They all started talking at once, basically yelling at her to go.

Annie blinked, overwhelmed by the reaction.

“I—”

“Say yes,” Michelle cut in, firm. “Right now.”

Annie let out a small breath, her heart beating just a little faster now. She picked the phone back up.

“Hello?”

“I’m still here,” Elijah said.

Annie smiled again. She exhaled slowly, steadying herself.

“I’d be happy to go out with you,” she said.

There was a short pause.

“Good,” he said, and she could hear the satisfaction in his voice. “I’ll pick you up around 7.”

“Okay,” she said softly.

“Goodnight, Bunny.”

“Goodnight.”

She hung up slowly. And when she turned back around, the girls were already looking at her like the night had just gotten a whole lot more interesting.

Annie didn’t sleep well that night.

She laid in her bed, turned to one side, then the other, pulling the covers up, pushing them back down, but her mind wouldn’t settle. Every time she closed her eyes, it went right back to his voice on the phone and how he had asked her out on a date.

She let out a quiet groan into her pillow and flipped onto her back, staring up at the ceiling.

Why did that make her so nervous? It wasn’t like she didn’t know him.

Since she didn't get much sleep, she was up early moving around. And maybe a little too much.

For hours, she went from her room to the kitchen. From the kitchen back upstairs. Opening drawers just to close them again. Standing in front of her closet like something new was going to magically appear if she stared long enough.

And her grandmother watched all of it.

The older woman sat there, eyes following Annie as she passed by for the third, fourth, fifth time.

“You gon' wear a hole in my floor,” she finally muttered, shaking her head.

Annie barely paused. “I’m not doing nothin',” she said, grabbing something off the counter that she didn’t even need.

“You doin' a lot,” her grandmother replied.

Annie sighed. “I just don’t know what to wear,” she admitted, half to herself as she turned back toward the stairs.

“You been knowin' about this since last night,” her grandmother said.

“I know!” Annie called back halfway up the steps. “That don’t make it easier!”

Hours later, her hair was done in soft, neat curls that framed her face. She paused when she passed a mirror, tilting her head while she looked at herself.

Her outfit had taken the longest to figure out. She went through three, maybe four, different options before settling on a dress she hadn’t worn yet. It hung just right. Thin straps resting on her shoulders, the fabric hugging her waist before falling naturally. The neckline lifted and shaped her chest in a way that would make anyone stop and stare.

She slipped on her heels after that, careful with each step as she tested her balance. Then her perfume, putting on just enough so the familiar scent wouldn't be too overwhelming but you could still smell her.

By the time she was actually done, her room looked like she had turned it inside out. There were clothes on the bed, shoes on the floor, and jewelry pushed aside.

When she made her way downstairs for the last time, her movements were slowed.

Her grandmother was sitting on the couch next to her uncle Marcus. They both looked up when they heard her coming.

Annie tried not to pull their attention too much. She grabbed her purse from the table, checking inside quickly to give herself something to do.

“Where you goin'?” Marcus asked, leaning back slightly as his eyes moved over her.

Annie opened her mouth to answer—

“She going out with Elijah,” her grandmother said for her, not even looking away from the television.

Marcus’ brows lifted.

“Dressed like that” he asked, sitting forward now.

Annie’s head snapped toward him. “What’s wrong with how I’m dressed?”

Marcus gave a small, disbelieving chuckle. “You look like one of your little friends.”

Annie rolled her eyes, turning away from him as she adjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder. “Y’all always got something to say,” she muttered.

“I’m just saying,” Marcus continued, not letting it go.

“It’s just a date,” Annie said, sharper this time, turning back to look at him. “And there’s nothing wrong with what I got on.”

Her grandmother hummed low, like she was listening but not getting involved.

Marcus held his hands up slightly. “Aight. Don’t get mad.”

“I’m not mad,” Annie said, even though her tone said otherwise.

She turned back toward the table, grabbing her lipstick and applying a quick swipe, pressing her lips together after.

Marcus kept talking anyway. And Annie tuned most of it out. Because right as she was about to respond a knock sounded at the door.

Annie’s heart jumped.

Her grandmother glanced toward the door, then to Annie.

“Well,” she said simply.

Annie didn’t answer. She just turned and walked toward it.

When Annie pulled the door open, her breath caught just slightly.

Elijah stood there, one hand tucked casually into his pocket, the other holding a small bouquet of flowers. He had on a neatly pressed collared shirt tucked into starched pants, the sleeves rolled just enough to show his forearms.

For a second, they just looked at each other. Then Annie smiled.

“Hey,” she said softly.

Elijah’s lips pulled into a small smile in return. “Hey.”

His eyes moved over her taking in the dress and the way it sat on her. She clearly put a bit of effort into herself tonight.

“You look…” he started, then paused, like he was choosing the right word. “You look real nice.”

Annie’s smile grew just a little, a hint of shyness slipping through. “Thank you.”

She glanced down at the flowers, her expression softening. “These are for me?”

He nodded, holding them out toward her. “Yeah.”

She took them carefully, her fingers brushing his for just a second. “They’re pretty,” she said, bringing them closer to look at them properly. “Thank you.”

Then she stepped back, opening the door wider. “Come on in. I’m gonna put these in some water.”

Elijah stepped inside, the familiar warmth of the house settling around him, but his attention stayed on her.

It wasn’t that Annie didn’t wear dresses before. She did all the time. But this was different. Maybe it was the way the straps sat on her shoulders, or how the neckline dipped just enough to draw his eyes without her trying. Maybe it was the way the dress hugged her a little more than usual, the way it moved when she did. Or maybe it was just her. The way she carried herself tonight had a softness there, but something else too.

She turned to head toward the kitchen, and without thinking, he followed.

His eyes caught the slight sway of her hips as she walked, the fabric shifting with her. She reached up absentmindedly to adjust one of the straps, and it only made him look a second longer before he pulled his gaze away.

In the kitchen, Annie moved quickly, grabbing a vase from the cabinet and setting it on the counter. The faucet turned on, water filling the silence between them for a moment.

Elijah leaned lightly against the doorway, watching her.

“I like your dress,” he said after a second. “You look beautiful.”

Annie glanced over at him. “Thank you,” she said, softer this time.

She turned the water off and carefully arranged the flowers in the vase.

“I’ve had this dress for a while,” she added, adjusting one of the stems. “Just never felt like the right time to wear it until now.”

Elijah didn’t say anything, but the way he looked at her said enough.

Annie cleared her throat lightly, picking the vase up. “I’m gonna take these upstairs real quick,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

“Alright,” he replied.

She moved quickly out of the kitchen, her steps just a little faster now. Up the stairs, down the hall, and into her room.

The second she stepped inside, she let out a quiet breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her heart was beating faster now.

She set the vase down carefully on her dresser, adjusting it slightly so it sat just right. Then she looked at herself in the mirror again, just for a second. Her lips pressed together, a small smile forming before she shook her head lightly.

“Get it together,” she murmured to herself. Because the last thing she needed was for her uncle or her grandmother to say something that would throw her off before she even made it out the door.

She turned quickly and headed back out, moving a little faster this time, ready to get back to him before anything, or anyone, could interrupt.

When she stepped back into the hallway, Elijah looked up from where he stood.

“Ready?” she asked, her voice soft but steady.

Elijah gave a small nod, pushing himself fully upright. “Whenever you are.”

Annie smiled, a little more relaxed now. “Let’s go.”

She moved toward the door, and Elijah stepped ahead just slightly to open it for her. The night air greeted them as soon as it swung open.

He held the door as she stepped out, his hand hovering just slightly near her back as she moved down the stoop stairs. They walked toward the car together. The streetlights cast a soft glow over everything, stretching their shadows out behind them.

Elijah reached the passenger side first, opening the door and stepping back to give her space. Annie gathered her dress slightly at her thighs as she slid into the seat, careful with the fabric and her heels.

“Thank you,” she said, glancing up at him.

He gave a small nod, his hand resting briefly on the top of the door as he made sure she was settled before closing it gently. He walked around the front, got in on the driver’s side, and started the car.

Annie sat with her hands resting in her lap, fingers lightly intertwined. She looked out the window for a bit, watching the streetlights pass, then glanced over at him. He looked the same, but not in this context.

She opened her mouth once, like she was going to say something then closed it. Because what do you say?

Elijah kept his focus on the road, but every now and then, his eyes shifted briefly toward her before returning forward.

He could feel that quiet tension sitting and he didn’t rush to fill it. He let it be.

It didn't take long for the glow of the drive-in to come into view. Lights strung up around the entrance with cars lined up and people moving in and out.

Elijah pulled into line, rolling slowly forward until they reached the booth. He reached into his pocket, handing over the money while the attendant gave them a quick glance before passing back their ticket.

“Screen three,” the man said.

Elijah nodded, pulling forward.

Annie leaned slightly, looking out the windshield as they drove in, taking it all in.

“I haven’t been to one of these in a long time,” she admitted quietly.

Elijah glanced at her briefly. “Yeah?”

She nodded, a small smile forming. “Not since before I moved up here.”

He hummed, turning the wheel as he followed the signs, guiding them toward the right section. Cars were scattered across the lot as people tried to pick their spots carefully. Elijah drove a little further in before he found the perfect spot. It was not too close and not too far. He pulled in, easing the car to a stop, the engine idling softly as the screen loomed ahead of them.

He glanced over at Annie once the car settled, the soft glow from the screen lighting her face just enough for him to catch the way she was looking out toward the concession stand.

“You want anything?” he asked.

Annie turned her head toward him, then back toward the stand, like she was trying to decide on the spot. “I do,” she said slowly. “I just don’t know what yet.”

Elijah nodded. “I can go grab it for you.”

Annie hesitated for a second, then cleared her throat softly. “Or I can just go with you. I don’t really know what I want I have to see it first."

“Okay,” he said simply.

He got out first, closing his door before walking around to her side. He opened her door and held his hand out to her.

Annie looked up at him, smiling, and placed her hand in his. Her fingers fit easily in his grip.

He helped her out steadily, not rushing her as she stepped down. Once she was fully out, he closed the door behind her, and she took a second to smooth her dress down along her hips.

They started walking toward the concession stand together side by side. They were close enough that every few steps, the back of her hand brushed against his. Her fingers twitched just slightly like she was deciding whether to let them stay there or pull away.

They kept moving through the lot, cars slowly rolling in, headlights cutting through the dim lighting. Annie had drifted slightly to the outer side where cars were still coming in.

“Get on this side, Bunny,” he said softly, reaching out. His hand came to her waist and he shifted her to the other side of him, placing himself between her and the moving cars.

Annie’s breath caught just slightly at the brief contact, her body reacting before her mind could catch up. She let him move her without resistance, settling into place beside him.

She always felt safe with him. He considered her consistently, and it did something to her. He never made a show of it, but he always made sure she was taken care of.

He never saw her as too tall or too big or anything other than exactly what she was. And somehow, with him, that made her feel softer in a way she didn't usually allow herself to be.

They reached the concession stand, the line moving slowly as people ordered ahead of them.

Elijah glanced over at her. “You need a minute?”

Annie nodded, stepping closer to the menu board, her eyes scanning over everything. “Just a little,” she said.

He leaned slightly beside her. “Get whatever you want. Don't worry about it,” he said.

She glanced at him briefly, then back at the menu, a small smile playing at her lips.

After a moment, she decided.

When it was their turn, she stepped up and placed her order. Elijah followed right behind her, adding his own before reaching into his pocket to pay.

Annie started to say something so she could pay, but he was already handing over the money. So she let it go.

They stepped off to the side, waiting for their order, the soft buzz of conversation and distant music filling the space around them.

It didn't take long for their order to be ready. Elijah stepped forward to grab everything before Annie could even reach for it. He adjusted the tray slightly so nothing tipped, drinks balanced between his fingers, the bag tucked under his arm.

Annie instinctively reached out. “I can carry something—”

“I got it,” he cut in, not even looking at her and turning back toward the direction of the car.

She rolled her eyes a little but fell into step beside him anyway.

During the walk back her attention was on him. On the way he shifted the drinks to keep them steady. The small frown on his face as he concentrated. The way he walked just slightly ahead of her like he was clearing a path.

When they reached the car, Annie didn’t think twice. She reached for the handle and opened her own door.

Elijah immediately let out a low, irritated sound under his breath.

“Man…” he mumbled.

Annie paused halfway into the seat, glancing up at him. “What?”

“I could’ve opened that,” he said, shifting everything awkwardly in his hands.

She slid into the seat anyway, smoothing her dress as she got comfortable. “You had all that in your hands. I wasn't about to sit there waiting,” she pointed out.

Elijah shook his head, closing her door with his elbow before quickly walking around to his side.

“Ain’t the point,” he muttered as he got in.

Annie smiled to herself, shaking her head slightly.

Once he settled in, Elijah placed everything carefully between them, making sure nothing spilled before finally relaxing back into his seat.

He reached forward and turned the radio dial, matching it to the station listed on the sign nearby. A low hum of static filled the car for a second before the sound of the movie came through clearly.

The screen in front of them flickered, previews still rolling.

Annie picked at her fries, bringing one to her mouth, her gaze drifting between the screen and her lap.

Elijah leaned back, his arm resting along the seat, his eyes shifting toward her after a moment. He cleared his throat.

Annie glanced at him, chewing slowly. “What?”

“I know we already talked about it,” he started, his voice quieter. “And we moved past it…”

Annie’s brows pulled together slightly, not sure where he was going.

“…But I still wanna apologize,” he continued, looking at her fully now. “For that night when I dropped you off.”

Annie stilled a little. The fry paused halfway to her mouth before she lowered it slowly.

Elijah looked down briefly, then back at her. “I shouldn’t have drove off like that,” he said. “That was wrong. And I was just frustrated and mad.”

Annie blinked, a little caught off guard. She hadn’t expected that tonight.

“It’s okay. I get it,” she said after a moment.

She shifted slightly in her seat, her shoulder relaxing. “I was being a bit much too. We both were”

Annie gave a small shrug, her gaze drifting back toward the screen for a second before returning to him. “But we got past it,” she said. “So, it’s fine. We don't gotta keep going back to it. Let's enjoy tonight, okay?"

Elijah nodded.

“Yeah, alright,” he said quietly.

The screen brightened fully then, the movie starting up, sound filling the car more clearly now. The glow from it cast soft light across their faces, shifting every few seconds as scenes changed.

Annie leaned back into her seat, a fry between her fingers as her eyes stayed locked on the screen. Then she shook her head slowly.

“Mm-mm,” she murmured under her breath.

Elijah glanced over at her briefly before looking back at the movie.

“What?” he asked.

Annie didn’t answer right away. She just kept watching, her head tilting slightly as Paul Newman came into frame again, followed by Sidney Poitier not long after. She let out a quiet hum.

“They got some fine men in this movie,” she said casually.

Elijah’s eyes slid over to her giving her a mean side-eye.

Annie felt it, but she didn’t look at him.

Instead, she lifted her drink, taking a sip like she hadn’t said anything. She shifted slightly in her seat, adjusting her leg, keeping her attention still on the screen.

Elijah kept looking at her for a second longer. Then scoffed quietly under his breath and turned his attention back forward.

Annie pressed her lips together, trying not to smile.

They ate and talked as the movie played on, falling back into their easy rhythm. Every now and then, one of them would make a comment to something a character said. It felt comfortable.

“I been likin' Diahann Carroll since Carmen Jones,” he said, his tone casual, almost thoughtful.

Annie’s head turned slowly. Her eyes narrowed just a little.

Elijah didn’t look at her.

“She real pretty,” he added, nodding slightly toward the screen.

That did it.

"Oh, okay—" Annie gasped softly, her hand coming up to push at his arm. “Now you just talking.”

Elijah finally looked at her then, a faint hint of amusement sitting at the corner of his mouth.

Annie shook her head, looking at him like she couldn’t believe him as she pushed him again. “You see how you doing me?” she said.

Before she could pull her hand back, Elijah caught it like he’d been waiting for it.

Her words paused and her breath did too.

He brought her hand up, pressing a gentle kiss against the back of it.

“I’m just jokin',” he said, his voice quieter now.

His thumb brushed lightly against her skin as he lowered her hand just a little, but didn’t let it go.

“The only woman I see that pretty is the one sitting next to me,” he continued, his eyes lifting to meet hers fully.

Annie’s breath caught and she tried to hide it by biting down lightly on the inside of her cheek. Her eyes flicked away for just a second before coming back to him.

“Really?” she asked, her voice softer than before.

Elijah nodded once, still holding her hand, his gaze steady on her face.

“You the baddest thing walkin',” he said it like it wasn’t even up for debate.