all heart

“I’ll make you one.” The promise came easily, with longing. She wanted to make him something good, something that would make him feel warm and happy. The way he made her feel. He bit his bottom lip, white teeth peaking out to sealing down on plush, dark skin. The world around him looked like a wet water-color painting that had been tipped over--all messy, runny colors melting into each other. But Cooper was vibrant. Cooper was technicolor and moonlight. Her knees wobbled and she was grateful for the post of his body to hold her steady. She sighed with the press of his lips, shivering as his hands slid down her back, gliding over the subtle curve of her hips. The strap fabric dangling off her shoulder was dangerously close to falling off, Sage still far too drunk to notice how much of herself was already exposed. Warmth tickled her ear and a chill crawled up her neck, a pinch of pleasure tingling over her skin. “Oh--” she rose up into him, open palms sliding up his chest to grip his shoulders for purchase. The firm pressure of his fingers on her rear hitched a gasp in her lungs. Her heart thrummed in her chest, abdomen coiling delightfully. Her hips flexed forward, bumping against his. Her mouth felt dry. There was a heat crawling between her legs and space swimming in her head. She blinked up at him, lips parted. She furrowed her brow in confusion. “Shouldn’t do what?” She clenched her fingers in his shirt, eyes falling closed, pushing up on her knees to reach his lips.

He followed the gentle tug against his arm, moving his body closer til there were mere millimeters of space between them. Cooper could smell the faint scent of vodka coming off her- her head would definitely be pounding in the morning. Hopefully he would wake up before her to pick up some Advil to have on hand. “I’ll have maintenance come and fix the wobbly ground,” he nuzzled into the top of her head. Her hair was always so damn soft, Coop was surprised he didn’t fall asleep in it more often. Sage’s voice was quiet but he was sure he heard her correctly. Unzip…her dress. Something he had done numerous times before with different women but currently it seemed so foreign to him. “I, uh…yeah, yeah I can do that…,” Cooper traced the teeth all the way up until he found the small metal zip that continuously slipped out from between his index finger and thumb. He could feel his entire body burning from the feeling of her teeth against his own skin, but he refocused on the task at hand. “Stay still babe, it-it’s slippery,” he informed her. The light whirrr! sound when he managed to expose her back made his pulse quicken. His eyes gazed down upon her creamy skin, his lips touched the few light freckles that graced the nape of her neck, her shoulder blades, and then down to her waist. Cooper’s hands moved up to her shoulders, urging the strap of her dress to fall down her arm. “I don’t have anything baby. But I could run out? Or…or I could order something?” he spoke the words as he kissed his way back up to her neck.

Pleased that she had accepted defeat, Cooper watched as all their food started showing up in the window. “I might need you to hold some of this,” he told her, grabbing what he could before turning around so she could attempt to grab the rest. She wasn’t wrong- they definitely could split the check, it was something most couples did nowadays. But she was different. He wanted to be able to support her, take care of her and spoil her as much as he could. He stopped once she emphasized the phrase, ‘being with you’. It sounded nice coming from her voice. And the idea of her being with him…exclusively? That seemed even nicer. Cooper turned his head slightly and kissed her hip, her closest body part to him. “Hang on, okay? I’m only gonna walk a few feet and then put you down.” With a swift nod to the worker (who seemed disgusted at their playful affection), Cooper took a few steps out before he carefully bent down and placed everything in his hands on the ground. “Ready?” Before she could answer, he had gripped her up by her waist once more and slid her down his body, keeping her as close to his chest as he could. “I know it’s not, y’know, time for me to take you home but is it okay if I…,” he could feel his cheeks turning bright red. The last time he was this close to her he was inebriated. Clearing his throat, he tried again. “Is it okay if I kiss you right now? Instead of at the end of this d-date?”

In spite of their inconvenient positioning, Sage was never one to turn down an opportunity to help someone. Cooper especially. Slumped over his shoulder, Sage’s hands found their way to the paper boats of food, securing them in her grasp. Her knuckles ached from the pinch of supporting the weight. She gave a light laugh at his mention of hanging on. With what? she wanted to question. Her hands were full and with her body slung over his shoulder, her arms and legs wouldn’t be much help either. Although the thought of her legs curled around him wasn’t something Sage would consider a bad thought. Her cheeks flushed and she settled for trying to lay as still as possible.

He lifted her off his shoulder with ease. Maybe it shouldn’t have been surprising. Sage had seen Cooper with his shirt off before. She’d touched him, run her palms over the smooth skin stretched over taut, sculpted muscle. But the sensation of her body being lifted into the air still sent a gasp rushing from her lungs. She clung to the food as he placed her in front of him, nearly chest to chest. Close enough she could smell the faint accents of his scent lingering on his clothing. Sage’s breath locked up in her lungs. Her eyes switched from his chest to his face, the dark warmth of his eyes. A faint smile ghosted over her lips. Her body felt like it had been poured full of liquid sunlight. “I-I,” Sage stammered. Yes, her heart echoed. “Both...would be okay, right?” She laughed softly, turning until she located a space to set the food down--a nearby bench sufficed. She tucked her hair behind her ears, biting on her bottom lip, shifting in closer to him. It was different, kissing after being asked and just...kissing. Somehow this felt far more nerve wracking. As if unsure of where to begin, Sage’s arm moved for his hand, hesitating before she finally curled her fingers around his. “Um...” her heart throbbed, an arc of nerves jutting through her chest. “I-I’m closing my eyes now,” she murmured, inclining her face towards him, lips lifting ever so slightly outward, waiting to reach his.

Usually, Cassidy was not a stickler about the amount of alcoholic beverages the patrons were having.  Tonight though, he witness a larger man get aggressive with several women and stumbling around knocking the bar stools down and causing a ruckus. “Hey man, I think you have had enough. Let me fix you a glass of water.” Cassidy told the man as he started to pour the man some water.  However, the suggested was not welcomed and was met with distinct opposition.  “Fuck you pretty boy.  Give me another drink..”  A sigh left his lips, he was too tired from making drinks all night for the large crowd to deal with him.  “Let me rephrase asshole, you are cut off.  I am closing your fucking tab.”  Per usual, Cassidy did not know when to keep his mouth shut.  The man then started to get rowdier causing Cassidy to leave the bar and try to calm him down.

While Cassidy tried to handle the man to call a service to pick him up, the man towered over him by a few inches and definitely at least a good seventy pounds on him started to raise his voice.  With his attention focused on the man, Cassidy did not noticed the blonde asking about drinks.  Not one for manners, Cassidy continued with his words towards the aggressive male.  “Get yourself an Uber and get the fuck out of this bar.”

Out of nowhere, the man turned causing Cassidy’s eyes to shift towards Sage.  Hearing her words, he shook his head.  “I think I have it handled.”  Last thing he wanted was cops to come into the bar.  One, it tended to be a buzz kill but more importantly Cassidy had a long history with the law and he sure as hell was not a fan of those in blue.  Suddenly, he noticed the man reaching for Sage and Cassidy quickly stepped in.  “She is off limits, now get the fuck out.”  Most of the time when Cassidy felt getting ballsy, he had Daniel their monitoring the situation.  But tonight the friendly giant was nowhere to be seen and Cassidy was left on his own.

More derogatory language was aimed towards Sage, causing Cassidy to fume.  Before he knew it, the two were exchanging words then suddenly a fist hit him square in the face causing the redhead to fall backward to the floor.  “You need to learn to quit you fucking fairy.  Fuck this place.”  While Cassidy tried to regain his strength and what little pride he had left the other man stumbled out of the bar.  Standing up, he felt dizzy as blood dripping down from his mouth.  “Are you okay?”  He asked, his body still wobbly from everything as he grasped onto the bar counter for support.

A crack resounded throughout the bar and Sage shrieked as Cas stumbled back onto the floor. The slurry of degrading words lobbed her way ghosted past her ears. She dropped to the ground, pain swelling in her knees when they hit the floor. Even with his face stained red, a vibrant cut splitting through his right eyebrow, he was still trying to stand. Panic bolted through her. “No, no, no,” Sage insisted. “I don’t think you should stand. You could have a concussion or--” he didn’t seem to  hear her. Perhaps he had been hit so hard that her words couldn’t reach him. Cassidy continued pushing his way up, grappling with the bar for purchase. Sage threw and arm around him, pushing what little support her tiny stature could afford against Cas. Even if she couldn’t help much, if he buckled at least she could try and buffer the fall.

The croak of his voice made her glance up, wide eyed and lips parted. “Am I okay?” she asked. Her voice softened. Her arms burned under his weight. “I’m okay. He...he didn’t get me, so,” she offered a shrug. “A-are you okay? You’re bleeding. I-I think it would be good if you sat down.” She shifted her body towards the entrance tot he back of the bar. “You’re bleeding a little.” An understatement. “I think we should get you cleaned up. If you can walk.”

Diana couldn’t believe that she had grown up with people who Maximillion. People who could threaten and coerce without a flicker of guilt. People who believed others like Safe were just stepping stones into getting what they wanted. It was scary how easily she could have turned out like them. She could imagine few things worse.

Looking at Safe now, she wished there was another way that didn’t include her. The opposition would see her as an easy target and it was Diana’s job to make sure she wasn’t. As it was, she had no idea exactly how she’d do that. “Lunch break would be best. Let me know when yours is and I’ll make it work.” She didn’t say how it wouldn’t be easy, how things would be cancelled and people would be unhappy. It seemed the girl might shatter if she placed anything else on her. Besides, cases like this was why she was in the business.

“O-okay,” Sage said, folding her arms. Her thumb shifted to rest on the cushion of her bottom lip. As much as her schedule felt like second nature as she lived it, trying to explain it to another person could be...challenging. “I work at a cafe Saturday through Thursday. I can usually take a thirty minute break around ten, except on Thursdays when I get done around three. Then after her shifts she was left dashing off to work or to her apartment for a condensed power nap or a near-inhaled meal of whatever was leftover in her fridge. Then it would be off to the next shift ( or sometimes double if money was tight ). “Do those work for you? I know it’s not... a noon lunch, but I work at a coffee shop so I start kind of early.” She offered a guilty shrug, wondering if her ‘help’ was just making things more difficult.

42. How long can you just kiss until your hands start to wander?

“I-I don’t know. What do you consider wandering? Like holding someone? Or like...rubbing their back? Not that long. I just like being close.”

6. Are you single this year?

“Yes, so far. N-not that I’m expecting anything. I just don’t think it hurts to be a little optimistic.”

43. How long was your longest relationship?

“I don’t think I’ve had an ‘official relationship, but the closest one I had was with the guy I was seeing for about a summer a few years ago.

53. Is there someone mad because you’re dating/talking to the person you are?

“I wouldn’t say mad, but @owxnwalkxr and @cassandraxwilson both didn’t like the guy I was seeing a few years ago. I guess they were kinda right to not be super trusting of him.”

45. How many people did you kiss in 2011?

3. Are you a virgin?

“No...I’ve done it before.” Once.

13. Do you get jealous easily?

“I think it depends on the situation. I try not to be jealous about things I can’t help, like people being close to their family, or having more money or a nicer apartment. Other things are harder. Like the guy you like sleeping with your best friend.”

26. Has anyone told you they don’t want to ever lose you?

28. Have you ever been cheated on?

“You can’t be cheated on if you aren’t in a relationship. So no.”

24. Do you think you’ll be married in 5 years?

“I don’t know. But I’d hope to be. I’d honestly love to have started a family in five years. But I don’t know if things will work out that way.”

9. Describe your perfect mate

“Mate makes it sound so clinical. I guess I try to keep an open mind because sometimes the people who are best for you aren’t always the people you expect. But I’ve always hoped for someone who is loyal and hard-working, who has a good heart and likes having fun. Mostly I just want someone who can love me. Like, really, truly love me. Even with all my flaws and all my debt.”

“I try to. I don’t always wash my hair everyday because it gets too dry, but I definitely try to at least was my body. But I know I’ve had a few times where I’ve been so busy and so exhausted that I just crash the moment I get home.”

“I mean, yeah. Probably more often than I’d like to admit. This is embarrassing, but I actually had a huge crush on my high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Greene. He was a little older, but he had a really nice smile and helped me understand the class by comparing baking to science, so… I don’t know.” Maybe I feel that way a little bit now, too.

“Sorry, but I don’t really feel like that’s any of your business.”