#28dwub

she tried to suppress her giddy smile as she bounced over to him, standing in front of him and casting a shadow over his book until he was forced to look up at her. she reached down and removed the book from his hands, carefully placing it on the seat next to him. he looked at her quizzically, the raised eyebrow dropping to meet the other as she placed her hands on his shoulders before settling her knees on either side of his thighs.

she sat down, comfortably seated on his thighs and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“how can i not stare at you?” she said with a soft smile. “you’re gorgeous.”

the corner of his lips quirked up into a smile against his will. “how could i possibly compare to you?” he said, delicately placing his hands on her hips.

regina hummed. “i guess you can’t,” she grinned cheekily, sliding slightly closer and watching a faint blush creep up his neck and color his cheeks.

she ran her thumbs along his jaw and tilted his head back, her attention squarely on his lips. her eyes flicked upward hesitantly before she tilted her head down, feeling his pulse quicken and his throat still under her hands as though he was holding his breath. she moved slowly, to give him the space to stop her, but his grip on her hips only tightened slightly. his mouth parted and regina closed the gap between them, closing her eyes at the feel of his soft lips moving against hers and soft moans vibrating between them.

his thumbs slipped under the hem of her shirt, whether consciously or not, she wasn’t sure, but it spurred a desire to be bolder than she usually was with adam in moments like this. her tongue danced with his when his mouth parted again, her hips mirroring the movements. she ground against him, hands moving toward his back and under his shirt, trying to close the nonexistent gap between them.

a low growl escaped adam’s throat and sent a thrill down regina’s spine. she could feel that he was hard even through their clothing and the sensation spurred her on, the room around them fading away as she ground harder and faster against him.

“adam,” she sighed, in-between kisses, moving her hands to slip under his shirt.

he froze at the sound of her voice and pulled away, stilling her hips and shifting her back. regina opened her eyes, stunned and confused, shifting her weight back on his lap.

“hey, it’s okay. it’s just me,” she said softly at the sight of his panicked expression. she moved closer to him again, settling herself against his hips.

he refused to meet her eye, standing abruptly instead, the sudden movement threatening to send her flying off him and onto the floor. his arms wrapped around her back and he set her on her feet before turning and walking toward the hallway.

“i’m—i’m sorry,” he said quickly, turning his face toward her without making eye contact before disappearing from the room.

what just happened? regina wondered, collapsing against the couch and wrapping her arms around her knees. maybe she had pushed him too quickly? the nature and state of their relationship was still a question mark, but she had thought they were making progress. maybe their relationship wasn’t meant to get physical.

or maybe it was just her. tears started prickling behind her eyes as she desperately tried to push away her deep-rooted insecurity trying to claw its way to the surface and drown her from the inside.

a few days later, at the police station

adam looked at the station doors from behind a nearby tree, internally warring with himself as to whether it was really the best time to talk about what happened a few nights ago. he certainly never pictured himself wanting to have a personal conversation about their relationship while regina was on duty, but the thought that she may have been left with the wrong impression about his intentions toward her didn’t sit well with him.

his shoulders tensed at the sudden sound of someone whistling near the station. he peeked around the tree, only to clench his jaw at the sight of the nosy reporter making his way into the station. no doubt to bother the detective.

regina sighed as she nudged the stack of paperwork to the edge of her desk with her forearm, pushing her keyboard as far back as it could go so she could rest her forehead on her arms. the last few days hadn’t been easy, between the impromptu agency meetings regarding new supernatural species moving to the area and mediating a territory dispute in the forest. it barely left time for sleep, let alone a chance for her and adam to talk.

if she was being honest, she knew she was avoiding the conversation and welcomed the additional work. but she also knew she couldn’t let this drag on much longer. there was still an awkward tension around them, even though she did her best to remain professional.

“your bodyguard isn’t around today,” bobby’s voice cut through her small office, his face partially obscured by the narrow glass vase in his hands encasing a few red roses.

“he’s not my bodyguard,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“is he your boyfriend?” bobby asked, jealousy clearly marking his features.

regina faltered and looked away. “not exactly, no.”

she could almost hear the smirk that appeared on bobby’s face and looked back at him to find that he had stepped closer to her. “so you’re single, and i’m single, so why don’t i take you out for a nice valentine’s day dinner, like old times? i even got you your favorite flowers.”

she shuddered at the memories of their past valentine’s celebrations together, none of which had been particularly pleasant for her. she eyed the vase as he set it down on the desk in front of her, placing his palms carefully on the wood surface and leaning toward her.

“first of all, those aren’t my favorite flowers. you would know that if you paid attention. and given our history, it’s incredibly bold of you to bring me roses and ask me out on a date,” she said, pursing her lips together to prevent her train of thought (presumptive asshole) from being spoken out loud.

bobby took a step back with a hand over his chest in mock hurt. “you wound me, angel.”

“just get out of here bobby,” she said, gritting her teeth.

“that’s not a no, so i’ll pick you up at seven, angel,” he called out as he headed out of her office.

she came to her senses at the nickname, standing up and rounding her desk quickly. “it’s always going to be a no to you!” she snapped at his retreating back, but he merely waved his hand at her without looking back.

regina let out a frustrated yell, grabbing the vase he had set on her desk and threw it as hard as she could at the far wall, the sound of it shattering and falling to the floor in pieces doing little to release the tension in her shoulders.

adam had waited patiently outside the door to regina’s office, not wanting to interrupt her conversation with the reporter, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t listening to every exchange between them, his grip on the doorknob tightening and warping the metal before he realized and tucked his hand into his pocket instead. he moved swiftly to the side as bobby walked out and glared at him, and it was all adam could to do suppress the urge to knock him unconscious.

he knocked twice and walked in, surveying the room briefly, lingering on the broken vase and scattered flowers before meeting her gaze. “i will not be paying for that,” he said, his mouth curving upward into a gentle smile.

regina couldn’t help but smile and appreciate that he was actually joking with her. “not that i’m complaining, but what are you doing here? i figured you’d be busy today,” she said, moving back to sit on the edge of her desk.

adam’s smile faded and regina noticed his eyes had turned a conflicted green, shifting from an icy green to its usual warm emerald. she wasn’t sure if she had seen him this nervous before; one of the things she appreciated about him was that he didn’t beat around the bush.

he finally looked at her and clasped his hands behind his back. “i wanted to talk about what happened the other night,” he said finally.

a weight settled in her stomach. “oh, right,” she said, swallowing nervously.

“i regret the way i reacted. and you deserve an explanation,” he said softly, stepping closer to her as if that would ease the awkwardness between them.

regina shook her head, trying not to let her disappointment show. “it’s okay, adam. i know we never talked about it, but it’s alright if you’re not interested in anything more physical. i can respect that. and it doesn’t change how i feel about you.”

his eyebrows shot up so quickly that regina thought they might fly off his face. “you are mistaken.”

at the frown on her face, he cleared his throat and followed up quickly, “i am very interested. i was just… unprepared that evening and you deserve… more.”

unprepared? she thought the word choice was odd since it wasn’t like they had planned to do anything physical; she had just gone with her instincts after all. although she vaguely remembered adam telling her once that he hadn’t been with anyone in that way since before he was turned.

understanding dawned on regina’s face. “oh adam, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about, i promise. it happens.”

“still, i want to make sure you are aware of how… receptive i am to progressing our physical relationship as well. in fact, i have thought about it often,” he said warmly, but the underlying tone was suggestive.

the way he said it, as his gaze slowly trailed down the length of her body and back up, sent a shiver up her spine. her mouth parted open in surprise at his boldness as she met his gaze, icy and full of fire at the same time, the intensity of them stealing her breath and rooting her to the spot, raising her body temperature even though he was still a few feet away.

he stepped slowly, but surely, closer to her until he was hovering over her and regina had to tilt her head up to look at him from where she was perched on her desk. he leaned down and captured her lips with his, her body reacting instantly, hands moving to his waist as his tangled themselves in her hair. his lips were fire and water, each movement against hers sending sparks down her throat and drowning her at the same time.

when he finally pulled away, she felt flushed from head to toe and cleared her throat, “well, i’m probably not going to get any work done today.”

adam looked a little proud that he had flustered her so visibly. “perhaps i can help you later this evening then. we can do… paperwork at your apartment together,” he said slowly.

the deliberate way he paused before the word “paperwork” made her breath hitch and she could only nod.

he walked out of the office backwards with deliberate steps, putting his sunglasses on slowly before turning away, but not before regina noticed the smirk on his lips. she looked at the pile of paperwork on her desk and knew that the end of the day couldn’t come fast enough.

“Why is this so difficult?” she mutters as she stands over the stove, wooden spoon in hand. The pot in front of her contains milk and hot cocoa powder, but it has not yet coalesced into anything resembling hot chocolate. Something keeps sticking to the bottom of the pan. A faint—but growing—scent of something burning wafts up and makes her wrinkle her nose. 

“Shoot!” she hisses, stirring faster now in a futile effort to save the drink. 

“You don’t swear even when you’re alone?” 

Winter whips her head around at the sound of the low voice to see Mason leaning against the kitchen doorway. Despite her frazzled state, she offers him a small smile. 

“Well I’m not alone,” she says. “I’m in the home of four people with super hearing.”

The smell of something burning grows stronger and she watches his upper lip curl back. “Don’t forget about the super smell, too.” 

Her cheeks burn as the familiar feeling of embarrassment, growing more frequent around him over the past few weeks, courses through her. She curses the nightmare for making her so inconsiderate; she never would have overlooked such a detail on a good night’s sleep, and a trickle of shame joins the unease in the pit of her stomach. 

“Oh! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean—” 

Mason strides over to the stove and flicks off the burner. “Relax, sweetheart, no harm done.” He peers into the pot, expression shifting between amused and disgusted. “Except to whatever the hell that was supposed to be.” 

A shaky laugh escapes her mouth. “Hot chocolate. I’m...not the best at cooking,” she admits.

He studies her and it is only then, under the intensity of his gaze in the low light, that Winter realises how close they’re standing. She must have drifted closer to him—unaware, unthinking—because they’re barely six inches apart. 

“You couldn’t sleep.” Mason says it as a statement. 

“No.” She clears her throat. “I’ll be okay, though.” 

He continues watching her, silently assessing, and she realises that the longer they lock eyes, the calmer she feels. 

For the first time in two months, she feels safe.

After a weighted pause, what could have been a minute or an hour—she can no longer tell, focused solely on his proximity, on the smell of cigarette smoke and sandalwood—Mason shifts and the moment dissipates.

“Yeah,” he agrees simply. “You’re stronger than you look, detective.” He throws one last look at the ill-fated hot chocolate and says, “Make sure you put soap and water in that or Nate will lose his goddamn mind,” before stalking out of the kitchen. 

It takes her a minute to regain some semblance of composure, the surprising evaluation ringing in her head, but Winter cleans up after herself. 

Nate was observing her with a soft smile on his lips, the sight both heartwarming and slightly amusing. She was snoring softly and the pages in front of her lips trembled slightly with every breath she exhaled. Her nose wrinkled every once in a while in a way she also did when she was awake - a habit he found utterly adorable - and the corners of her mouth curled upwards… the dream was pleasant, at least.

But that posture can not be good for her back and knees, Nate mused to himself, a mug of chocolate on each of his hands as he stood a few feet away from the table.

He had been patrolling and the best gift he could receive when he went back to the warehouse was the news that Berenice was in the library researching on her own. He had to refrain himself from going running to her and instead thought of bringing her some of her favorite beverage - hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Only to find her sleeping deeply over his books.

He left the mugs on the floor for a moment before gently removing a raven strand of hair from her freckled face, placing it behind her ear tenderly.

If Berenice could see how he was looking at her - she could barely be able to believe someone could hold such warmth in only a gaze. He whispered her name in the silent library, as if it was a secret which had to stay among the books for no one else to discover.

But she jolted awake with a jump and an exclamation.

"Wolpertinger!" She yelped, bright blue and brown eyes blinking unfocused, a mark on her cheek where she had been resting it against a book. Nate stifled a laugh at her alarmed expression as her eyes fell on him, cheeks quickly warming.

"Oh? Is that my new pet name?"

She groaned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, proceeding then to stretch her arms as far as they could go up and behind her head, and Nate watched attentively every motion, dark eyes drinking in the sight of her slightly disheveled.

"Don't tell me I drooled over the books." She spoke, voice thick with sleep sending a delicious thrill through him, as she scanned the pages of the books she had used as a pillow. "Thank God." She muttered to herself, checking there was no harm done, and turned her face to Nate, more awake now. A wide smile instantly lit up her face at the handsome features she had come to adore. "Hi."

"Hello." Nate answered, and the pair of them let the moment linger for some seconds, eyes locked and smiles firmly planted in their lips. Their relationship was still so new, so exciting, and still so little moments had been shared, this felt like a blessing. Nate was the first to snap from the trance. "I brought you something."

She perked up, curiosity all over her features as he presented her the mug of hot chocolate. The rich smell of it instantly invaded her nostrils and she all but moaned, hands enveloping the warm ceramic.

"Thank you so much. You read my mind."

"Let's move to the couch, shall we?" Nate offered her a hand and she took it, the familiar spark lighting up her nerves at his touch making her smile widen.

They settled on the couch side to side, his arm falling over her back to surround her almost absentmindedly, bringing her closer. She sighed with satisfaction and stared at her drink.

"So many marshmallows. You're my knight in shining armor." She took the first sip as Nate grinned at her, happily watching the joy this simple gesture had brought to her features.

"Anytime, beautiful." He replied, squeezing her the slightest bit.

Berenice got comfortable, throwing her legs over his lap to turn her torso towards him more easily, the look on her eyes silently asking if it was okay, the pressure of his lips against her forehead a better answer she could have ever hope for.

"What were you researching? Are there wolpertingers in the Wayhaven forest now?" He asked with a hint of amusement on his smile. She snorted softly before taking a big gulp of chocolate.

"I was investigating how many myths repeat themselves in different countries and cultures and the differences between them." He could see in her face that innate thirst for knowledge she had, something he found incredibly attractive. "I want to create a database with all of them so we can go through it faster when we need it. A software with a collection of all the names and characteristics that had been assigned to the same creature over the years. Maybe also link them to the historic period they were first discovered? And a list of the myths that are not true? Hmm." She reached out for her notebook and a pen and started writing quickly her new ideas, leaving it on the table and looking back at Nate, who was staring at her with something akin awe in his face. She started talking faster. "I know you don't like technology, so it'll be really easy to navigate and completely encrypted so it can only be accessed from a computer in particular. I have one to spare at home and I thought, maybe, I could install it here? I would only need a corner, I know the library is your favorite place and I don't want to spoil it for you but… I'm rambling, aren't I?" She let out a breath sheepishly, hurrying herself to drink some of her chocolate, hands slightly shaky due to excitement and anxiety.

His big hands engulfed her smaller ones around her mug, the heat of it warming them both.

"You're brilliant, do you know that?" He asked softly, watching how her entire demeanor relaxed at his words. "I want to share everything I have with you. And that includes this place."

She took the last sip of the chocolate and left the mug on the floor, turning to him with a small frown. "I just don't want you to feel forced to it. I thought it would be nice to do the research together, maybe? I would do all the data dump in the software, but I need to recollect the data before I do that."

"Like a side project? Only the two of us?"

His earnest smile gained him a matching one from her. "Yeah! It will be a lot of work, but I could learn so much. And you, too, if you wanted I could teach you about the software as I create it!"

Technology was still incredibly frustrating for the vampire, but for her, he would sure as hell try. The excitement in her features so intoxicating he would have agreed to practically anything she had asked.

"I would love to."

"Really?" The question was slightly breathless.

"Really."

She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, knocking him backwards in surprise, his back against the couch and his girlfriend practically on his lap.

"I can come here after work every day, and on the weekends we can use the mornings and then have the afternoons free." She spoke, her breath hitting his neck and making his heartbeat quicken. She pulled back slightly until they were nose to nose.

"And what would we use the afternoons for, I wonder?" His voice had dropped an octave and she swallowed, eyes falling to his lips before going back to those gentle ones of him.

"I'm open to ideas." She retorted, licking her lips and making his focus snap to her mouth. He moved softly forwards, giving her time to stop him. When she leaned in as well, he lost no time in capturing her lips with his.

Berenice groaned almost instantly, one hand taking the nape of his neck, the other tracing his jawline with a featherlight touch. His fingers grasped her hips firmly, digging into her flesh hard enough to let her know how much he wanted her, not enough to hurt her.

"Nate…" she sighed against his mouth, and he traced her bottom lip with his tongue, a growl forming deep inside his chest at the sweetness of her lips.

"Gods, Berry…" he pulled her even closer, chests pressing against each other, breaths quickening. "You taste like chocolate."

She giggled against his lips, the sound more enticing than a siren's song. He couldn't help but smile, their lips still touching.

"I'm gonna request for more chocolate kisses if we're going to spend so much time together." She pecked his lips one more time before pulling back, licking her lips with her neck and ears flushed red.

"I'll give you everything you want, Berry." Their eyes met and she could see the honesty there.

"What a dangerous thing to say."

"And still so true."

She got up from the couch and stood between his spread legs, his hands coming to rest at the sides of her knees. He looked up at her, for a change, her 5 foot 2 towering over him for a moment. Her soft hands took his face, thumbs brushing his cheekbones before she leaned down, his hands unconsciously traveling upward to the back of her thighs.

"Then, Nate…" her breath hit his mouth, her lips brushed his so softly it could have been his imagination. He could only see the uneven colors of her eyes, drowning in them, his breathing hitching. "Help me put the books back."

And she was gone, only the smell of chocolate and her apricot shampoo surrounding him. He let out a huff and she giggled, it was nice to be the one doing the teasing for a change.

"What a mean girlfriend I have." He shot her a grin, getting up and helping her collect the books.

"Let's put these in their place and I'll show you how good I can be."

He watched her march towards the shelves with a raised eyebrow.

The Captain, though, is genial enough. And also, it seems, an inveterate flirt, eyes lidded as he brushes off Nate’s grousing about the weather from the other end of the chesterfield. “I can hardly complain of spending more time with you, here.”

“I—” Nate is grateful for the low, ambient light of the hearth in the drawing room to hide even the barest hint of a flush on his face, turning his face away to collect himself and not be drawn in by the way the Captain’s eyes shine with fire beneath dark waves.

“I should like that too, Captain—”

“Mickey. I insist.” The Captain’s—Mickey’s—intervention is gentle, and a muscled arm stretches out across the back of the chesterfield as if to bridge the gap between them, and Nate turns to face him as if following some long-forgotten instinct.

“Mickey.” Mickey’s eyes are warm at Nate’s words, and he smiles at Nate widely enough to make Nate’s heart ache.

“I had merely hoped that I would be able to show you more of the estate.” The weather outside was far too inclement, winds howling and sky steel-grey, though thick, dark eyebrows disappear under lush tresses as Mickey reassures Nate.

“I had expected nothing more from my first English winter, you need not worry.” Mickey draws closer to him and slowly—so slowly—raises a calloused finger to trace the flush high on Nate’s cheekbones, making Nate’s eyes flutter shut for a moment.

“Though I had not expected the winter blooms to be so captivating.” Mickey’s voice is sinfully deep, and when Nate opens his eyes again Mickey is right there, pupils ink-like as normally bright blue eyes flicker down to watch as Nate licks his lower lip reflexively, his mouth inexplicably dry all of a sudden.

Nate’s breath hitches, and he dimly recalls his governess teaching him about Isaac Newton’s theories and—

And then the Lieutenant arrives, and the moment shatters like cristallo in Nate’s hands.

Mickey leans back as if burned, scowls at the Lieutenant who affects not to notice the irritation. The three of them sit in silence for a while before Nate requests more lights to be brought in, so at least he can escape into another world in one of his books.

Tries to, at least. Every other page, his eyes are drawn back to Mickey, who has not stopped looking at him in what feels like centuries, sometimes with a small, secret smile that Nate feels warm his soul.

They continue thus (the Lieutenant having stubbornly resisted any of the Captain’s increasingly less gentle suggestions that he might like to tend the horses, or check the bags, or be somewhere else) until it is dark without and Mickey and the Lieutenant must leave to return to Sutherland’s townhouse.

“We will see you soon, your Grace.” Mickey’s tone is thick and dark with promise, and Nate does not sleep a wink that night.

**

The day after his valiant attempts to stop his commanding officer making a fool of himself, Mason is bored, and tired, and bored, trying to explain something very simple to a man in his late twenties who should know better. “You know that you cannot stay here.”

Mickey looks bored too – or tries to, but the tightness around his eyes betrays the affectation, even as he tries to cover it with a sharp laugh. “I know. But why can I not enjoy myself while I am here?”

It is not as if Mason does not know fun – has not indulged himself in the pleasures of the flesh (though not recently, not since they first arrived in London, and he does not like to think about why that might be). Instead, he deflects and defends Richmond with a scowl.

“He deserves to be more than a plaything, you—”

“He is.” Mickey is harsher than Mason remembers ever seeing him, even on the blood-soaked battlefield at Santa Maura, blue eyes now ablaze and teeth bared in a snarl.

“Prove it.” Mason is shocked at himself, that he is involving himself in Mickey’s business so – but he Nate deserves better than to be cast aside, and Mickey is hurtling towards a precipice that Mason cannot save him from.

“I—” Mickey, for all his bluster on the battlefield, looks like a lost, little boy then, blue eyes wide with what looks like fear and soft, Mason realises, with unshed tears.

“I’ve never—” Mickey has not said much about his past, but Mason knows he had wandered half the globe before his 22nd nameday, lost and adrift – little wonder, then, that he has not known this kind of companionship before, even if he is well-versed in the other.

“Talk to him.” Mason tries to calm his voice, squeezes Mickey’s well-muscled shoulder gently, even as he chides him. “Get your head out of your arse.”

A wet-sounding hum of assent and a nod, before Mickey turns to face the wall to compose himself.

~

Nate does not want to interrupt them, is perfectly prepared to return to the library from whence he came – but he fancies that he hears his name on Mickey’s—Mickey’s—lips and cannot resist listening.

“You know that you cannot stay here.” The Lieutenant’s accent is as familiar as Mickey’s, as is the flat tone of his voice.

What is not familiar, is the harsh bark of laughter that leaves Mickey, whose laughter is usually warm and lilting, musical in its peaks and troughs.

“I know. But why can I not enjoy myself while I am here?”

Nate feels quite ill, all of a sudden, feels something within him slam to the floor like a leaden weight. Jerks away from the door and lets the book fall through his fingers as he flees to his father’s folly, where he stays until the storm outside has grown to a crescendo, loud and wild enough to match the storm of his own heart.

Nate jerks away from the door, flees to his father’s folly, where he stays until the storm outside has grown to a crescendo, loud and wild enough to match the storm of his own emotions.

**

Nate can hear the men searching for him and for a selfish moment does not care, does not want to care (caring hurts, it hurts to have been used so). Then thinks of what might happen if they do not find him soon, thinks of Riona and how the scandal might affect her with their arrangement in place, and ventures out into the storm, one step at a time.

The wind is punishing, and he welcomes this pain, drinks it in instead of savouring his own.

“Richmond!” And too late, Nate realises that even when trying to lose himself in the storm he has fallen back into Mickey’s orbit.

Mickey walks slowly up to him, dark hair plastered to his cheeks and blue eyes wild with a worry that does not seem to dissipate even though he has found his quarry. “We were worried sick, what—”

Nate brushes the outstretched hand away and carries on walking, carries on even when he loses his footing in the mud and skids down the bank.

“Don’t walk away from me!” Mickey’s voice is little more than a howl, primal and wanting, and Nate turns to face him with lips pulled back in the nearest thing to a snarl he has ever managed.

“Why? Is this not fun?” Nate’s voice is harsh, harsher than it has ever been, and he enjoys the flinch that draws from Mickey, even as Mickey strides confidently down the bank and stands before him.

“Fun is us being able to laugh in the warm. Safe and happy.” Mickey’s eyes are soft as he brushes hair away from Nate’s cheek, and Nate’s skin burns under Mickey’s touch, calloused fingers sanding away his hurt.

“But you—”

“I would not – you deserve more. That doesn’t mean I can’t want—” Exactly what Mickey wants must go unanswered for now, as Nate bends to capture Mickey’s lips, tastes the rain and salt on his tongue, and is not sure whose it is as he tangles a hand in thick, dark hair and devours the man in front of him, who offers himself willingly with a gasp.

“Your Grace!” Mr. Jenkins’ voice can just be hear over the storm and over Nate’s thundering heartbeat.

Mickey laughs helplessly, even as he steps away reluctantly to look up at Nate as best he can with the rain in his eyes.

--

Morgan can handle physical pain. Not quite as well as she has people convinced she can, but it needs to be bordering on agonising to really slow her down too much.

Somehow though, something inside of her aches as she watches Tanner heading for the door of the bar, his arm slung around some random girl's shoulders. Tall, blonde, legs for days as the saying goes. Not the most attractive human Morgan's ever laid eyes on, she's sure to point that much out to herself. But then she doubts that Tanner's going to be paying much attention to the woman's face tonight. Not that any of that has anything to do with the painful throb radiating through her body. She can't even tell exactly where it hurts, only that it almost takes her breath away.

And she doesn’t understand it at all.

It only gets worse when the pair stop before they reach the door and Tanner leans in to speak into the girl's ear before slowly kissing over her neck, his hands roaming all over her lower back and ass.

She wants to look away but she can't, for some reason unknown to her she's hyper focused on his hands and his face and the way he pulls the girl's hips against his before they turn and head out into the night, disappearing from her view.

If breathing were necessary for her she feels that she may have passed out by now, every single breath catching in her throat and making the pain worse. She's even worried for a split second that she's about to do something stupid. Like crying. This random pain is that bad.

And she still doesn't know why. Maybe she's sick somehow. Maybe-

"Are you alright?" Nate's voice breaks her out of her dazed state and she snaps her attention over to him with a frown.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Tanner just left with a girl," he points out, gesturing towards the door. As though that explains anything.

"And?"

"Well, I thought you and Tanner-"

"Fucked," she interrupts before he can suggest that they're an actual couple like Farah insists on constantly doing, "we fucked."

He nods, apparently trying to look sympathetic, she guesses. But she swears she can see a glimmer of ironic amusement in his eyes.

"More than once," he offers, the way he's talking making it seem as though he's trying to imply something.

"Yeah, he's good in bed," she answers with a shrug, her tone suggesting it should be obvious and giving him a confused look before glancing back towards the door despite herself.

They're still gone.

As though there was a chance Tanner had changed his mind and come back. As though she even wants him to change his mind and come back. Because why the hell would she want that? Why does she care who he screws? She inwardly confirms to herself what she already knows - she doesn't care - and then downs the rest of her beer before getting to her feet.

The movement draws the attention of Adam and Farah as well, all three of them now looking at her in apparent surprise at the possibility of her leaving early and alone.

Farah's eyes scan the bar before realisation dawns on her face and she hurriedly stands up as well. "Are you leaving? I'll come with you."

Morgan hesitates, brow furrowing further at Farah, "why would you do that?"

"I just thought…" Farah trails off, glancing in Nate's direction with uncertainty before continuing, "I thought you might not want to be alone."

Morgan just shrugs, pulling her jacket from where she's draped it over the back of her chair and shrugging it on as she turns and heads for the door.

Maybe Tanner's still outside. Maybe he changed his mind after all. Or, what if he's just still out there making out with the girl he'd left with? What if he's got her up against the wall just around the corner away from the street lights. He'd do something like that, she's sure of it.

But what the hell is she thinking? Why does she care?

She doesn't. Let him fuck some bimbo out in the open, in the freezing cold. Some ugly bimbo, at that. Ugly and giggling and stupid, not his type and no good for him at all.

What the hell is wrong with her?

"I didn't realise you liked him that much," she'd almost forgotten Farah was beside her, and she scoffs at the entirely incorrect observation before lighting a cigarette.

"Who?" she knows who, but if she admits that she knows Farah will take it as confirmation that it's true.

"Tanner."

"He wishes I liked him at all."

"Well you must like him a little," Morgan glares over at her and Farah shrugs, a tiny smirk playing on her lips. "I think you like him a bit more than a little though."

"You think wrong," Morgan replies dryly, confusion washing over her again when the mention of his name forces into her head images of what he might be doing with the girl right now and the ache hits her again.

This time it's very obviously in her chest, squeezing at her heart and making her lungs feel heavy.

Can vampires have heart attacks? Asthma attacks? What on earth is happening to her?

"You sure?" Farah pushes, dragging an irritated growl from the back of Morgan's throat.

"I think I'd know."

"Would you, though?"

"Yeah."

"But would you really?" Farah's full on grinning at her when she looks back over, though the cheer or entertainment or whatever has gotten into her doesn't seem to be catching on.

"If you have something to say, just say it."

"I just did."

The conversation draws to a close at that. Morgan doesn't even know what Farah's implying, let alone know how to respond to it.

The whole night has given her a headache, so much so that as quickly as she drops her finished cigarette to the ground there's another between her lips and she's lighting up again.

She hadn't wanted to go out anyway, but she didn't fancy hanging about the warehouse on her own either. Then the nauseating sight that was Nate and Lucas fawning over each other until Tina had dragged the detective away, and then Tanner had shown up.

And now? Now she's getting sick somehow, or her heart's giving out, or whatever this stupid, sporadic chest pain means. And the only way Farah can think to help her is to speak in riddles about Tanner fucking Drake.

She's done, and the sooner she can get back to her room and ignore it all the better. She might even try to sleep tonight despite not having been tired in the slightest earlier in the evening. And hopefully when she wakes up (providing her heart or lungs don't stop functioning overnight, of course) this irritating pain in her chest will be gone.

--

By this time, the cold in the air was cut by the heat of the sun. Lou sighed contently, even despite Adam’s scoldings, and half closed her eyes as she turned her cheek towards the warmth.

“Sugar, caffeine, carbs… sounds like a perfect start.” Lou said, her voice light and airy with satisfaction as she washed another rich bite down with her latte, enjoying the bitter contrast and the creamy foam.

The real treat though, was that he had chosen to sit next to her rather than across from her. They didn’t touch, but just the barest movement and Lou could have her knee brush his or her elbow bump his arm. She didn’t, but it was nice to have the chance. The faint awareness her mind and body made towards his presence was a comfort all on its own.

Adam, despite himself, was placated by her answer. He even smiled, amused rather than exasperated.

“Speaking of breakfast…” Lou’s eyes cast down to the untouched cup sitting in front of Adam. It was a simple brewed tea. Just something to have in order to stave off suspicion. He came so frequently into the bakery now with her in the morning it had occurred to them someone might notice he never ate or drank anything.

Adam followed her gaze to the cup and gave it a scowl.

“You should just get the same as me!”

“Feed your habit, you mean?” Adam said with a chuckle, leaning into the sofa and letting his arm fall across the back of the couch behind Lou’s shoulders.

“If you tried it, you’d see why I am obsessed.” Lou said, letting her head tip back as she half turned in her seat towards him. With a smile, she offered the brownie up, safe in the knowledge he was unlikely to accept.

Perhaps it was the way she had presented it— half a challenge, half a bluff, that made Adam bold enough to take her wrist in his hand. Lou nearly jumped, but managed to force down the compulsion so he wouldn’t frighten away. Adam guided her hand a few inches, close enough he could lean forward and easily take a bite, closing around a portion adjacent to where Lou had last taken one.

Adam hummed, chewing with a slight grimace before he managed to swallow the confection. He let go of her hand to rub his thumb against the seam of his lips and then licked a remnant of chocolate from it.

“I can now fully confirm… that is a dessert and an unsuitable breakfast.” Adam said, decided and almost smugly. He turned to regard Lou again and his eyes widened just slightly for a moment.

Lou knew why. Her cheeks had exploded into a bright wash of red that reached all the way to the tips of her ears. Her lips were even parted in silent surprise. Inside, she felt her heart pattering, pulse up and her stomach fluttering.

He had to know. He had to hear it. And yet Adam’s face remained impassive save for the barest smile, daring to flicker into existence at the corner of his mouth.

Was he… was he teasing her? On purpose?

A high- pitched squeal erupts from her as she twists and turns around. Her eyes sparkle at the thought of Lumine finally asking as she rambles, “Oh, I know. You should wear a suit and bring flowers and chocolates, or you can bring her on a dinner date too. You can play the piano, right? You can serenade her. It’ll be so perfect. You guys would be such a cute couple.”

“Ah, right. Very helpful advice, Tina...”, Lumine stands from their seat and nods, “Well then, I’ll go ask Verda instead.”

Before they could leave the room, she pulls them back, “I’m just kidding with you, Lumine.” As they plop back to their chair, she shoots a question," For starters, what does she like?".

Their face scrunches up in thought.

Nat is never the type to talk about herself. Dodging the question when presented. Always directing it back at them. A mystery yet-

“I-I’m not sure.”, Lumine stammers, “It’s hard to tell.”

" That's rare. You usually have a say on people. ", Tina comments. The station alarm rings. The night shift is starting.

“I need to go.”, they grab their coat and make their way to the entrance.

“Hey, Lumine”, she calls “We’ll figure it out. Don’t worry too much.”

“Ye... see you tomorrow.”, they mutter, still occupied by their thoughts. Walking out of the station, they’re pulled from their mind by a familiar voice.

“Good evening, Lumine.”, Nat smiles. These meetings become a regular occurrence, yet her words instantly bring a smile to their face. They walk side by side, slowly gravitating towards each other. Shoulders barely touching. Like puzzle pieces, Natural.

" Isn’t patrolling the same places boring to you?”, they ask as their eyes shift around the surroundings.

“The scenery is beautiful, but with you, everything around me is brought anew”, her smile grows, but dims with a pang of disappointment, “Unfortunately, I have been requested to be at the Facility.”

“For how long?” The words rush out their mouth.

Her brows furrow to think before she answers. “Likely, a week”

Then she wouldn’t be back till the night before Valentine. This makes planning easier, but a week is too long for her to be gone...

They shake away the errant thought before it escalates.

“Lumine?”, Nat questions, concerned.

They reply with a little tint of pink on their cheeks, “It’s nothing.”

“If you’re certain…” Luckily, she doesn’t probe them further. She clasps her hands together, and asks, “When I come back, would you care to go somewhere together?”

“Like a date?”, the thought makes their smile grow. “It depends on the workload. But I’d like to sometime.”

Her expression brightens, “I will look forward to it.”

Lumine glances up at Nat’s smile. Her gaze meets theirs. A kind warmth surrounds them. This rush so unusual thrums in their chest.

Barely noticing their arrival to the apartment, Lumine blinks out of the trance and steps away from her. They clear their throat, “This is my stop."

She grasps Lumine’s hand and slowly pulls it up to her lips. Planting a soft kiss on their fingers, Nat’s smile curves further to an unfair smirk, “Rest well, Lumine.”

Fully combusting to red, Lumine quickly retracts their hand and shoves it into their coat. “Y-you too, Nat. Well, I will go now. Good night.”, they stammer before closing the door. Unable to remove the grin on their face, they can guess that Nat is stifling her laughter outside.

Each day after the other yields nothing. Every single plan created by Tina doesn’t feel like what Nat would want to do. This only tangles them in their mind. Leaving the station, they are greeted by a bright grin.

“Heya!”, Farah pops out of nowhere. Lumine nods in reply as they start to walk towards the apartment. They concentrate on their problem, leaving her in unbearable silence. She purses her lips before figuring out what’s happening.

“You’re that deep for her, huh.”, Farah pipes up.

They release a weak laugh, “Is it that obvious that I’m thinking of her?”

Farah’s grin and shining eyes that clearly say yes. Slowly to a stop, Lumine frowns in thought as they lift their hand to their lips. The thoughts of her fill their head. Their heart flutters. They can’t run from this feeling, not anymore.  Lumine asks, “Got any advice for Valentines?”

“Just be yourself.”, she replies with a shrug, “Love shouldn’t be difficult, especially when Natkins is deep for you too. "

Lumine freezes for a moment as they whisper curse to themselves. A light chuckle escapes from them.

The answer is simple.

They release a sigh and settle to a bright grin, “Thanks, Farah!”

“No biggie! We’re family, after all.”, she gives a triumph smile strained with confusion.

As Lumine dash back to the station, they call out to her, “Come with me. I need to ask Tina for something. I’ll even treat you to some popcorn."

The day finally comes. Nat arrives at the warehouse and soaks in the comforting air. Being in the facility, she longs for home, for them. Knowing that they would be asleep, she strides to her room before pausing to a familiar beat.

The sound of them makes Nat smile. she listens out for where it comes from before arriving at the library. Opening the door, she peers into the room, “Lumine?”

“Right on time.”, they move from their seat while nodding towards the clock. Following their gaze, Nat spots the Oak grandfather clock as it chimes.

“Happy Valentines’ Day, Natalie”, they say as her eyes widen in surprise. Standing in front of her, Lumine gives Nat a black box with a red tulip pinned in front. “It’s 70% dark chocolate. It goes well with Earl Grey.”

They eye Nat for her reaction but is only met with silence. Lumine rubs their neck and excuses, “I don’t know if you’ll like it simple. Couldn’t think of another way to-”

Nat tugs them to an embrace. They stiffen for a moment before relaxing. Nat pulls away to gaze at theirs. She lightly brushes her hand on their cheek as she smiles, “It’s lovely, Lumine.”

Enjoying her touch, Lumine sighs. This closeness they have. Holding their gaze, Nat smirks and Lumine seem to notice.

“What’s wrong?”

“You never fail to be captivating.”, she says with a playful tone.

They scoff, “Flatterer.”

“J’adore ton sourire.”

“You know, changing the language won’t make a difference.”, they chuckle.

Letting out a light giggle, she leans in to whisper, “I apologize, but it seems like the words rush out before I could comprehend it. "

Growing red, they bury their head on her shoulder, as their goofy grin starts to form. The heat crawls up their cheeks. Their heart thunders out of their chest.

Everything is different around her.

They still have so much to know about her, but there is one thing they do know.

“Hey, Nat.”, they murmur on her shoulder.

“Hm?”

regina put her hand on farah’s and squeezed back. a knock on the door made them both turn.

tina opened the door, holding out regina’s bouquet. “we better get going or else your guy might break something,” she joked as regina took the bouquet from her.

“i better go check on him,” farah said, giving regina a wink and leaving the room.

“are you ready?” tina asked softly.

regina stood up, adjusting her dress with tina’s help. “i think so. how do i look?”

“if the battery ram doesn’t marry you, i will,” she said and regina chuckled.

they exchanged a long look of understanding, one that could only be ascribed to friends who had seen each other through the highs and lows of their twenties and secrets that no one else would know.

“it’s the end of an era,” tina said quietly, one hand on the doorknob, the other clasping regina’s. “you and me.”

regina gave tina’s hand a squeeze. “i’m still going to see you around. we’ll still hang out.”

tina gave her a bittersweet smile. “you know it’ll be different. you’re marrying the love of your life and beginning your life together. and i’m incredibly happy for you. if anyone deserves to be happy, you do.”

“you are definitely going to make me cry,” regina said, trying to delicately wipe away a tear without smudging her eyeliner.

“if you cry, i’m definitely going to cry,” tina said, chuckling. “so let’s get you married before that happens.”

* * * * * it was a small ceremony, of only those that felt like family, but regina didn’t even register anyone else besides the man at the end of the aisle that stole her senses. she didn’t register that his crisp, tailored charcoal suit matched nate and morgan to his left, nor that verda was standing in the center smiling at her encouragingly.

her eyes never left adam’s green ones, sparkling with warmth in the late morning sun as she walked down the aisle, the breeze ruffling his hair, styled no doubt at nate’s insistence. the silvery sheen of his pale blue tie matched the heels hidden underneath her dress, coordinated no doubt with farah’s help. but all of those details faded away like a vignette as she approached him.

she gave her mother a hug but didn’t register rebecca’s red rimmed eyes as she moved to sit down next to eric. nor did she register farah’s beaming smile or tina’s teary one from where they stood on verda’s left. she handed her bouquet to tina without so much as a glance in her direction, preoccupied with the feel of adam’s arm as she tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow.

she continued to stare at him in awe even after adam turned back to face verda, but he kept glancing to the side at her once verda began the ceremony, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

“we are gathered here today, to join these two souls together,” verda began, smiling warmly at regina.

adam raised his hand up and verda fell silent. regina glanced between them both, trying to suppress the panic rising in her throat.

“if i may, i would like to say something first,” he interrupted, his tone gentle but still laced with authority.

regina tensed. why would adam want to interrupt their wedding?

“i know we agreed to do our vows in private after the ceremony, but i need to make sure you and our closest friends understand what you mean to me,” he explained. “as dr. verda has said, we are here to join our souls together spiritually, but you must know by now my soul has always been yours.”

regina’s mouth fell open slightly.

“i know now, without a single questioning thought in every fiber of my being, that you are my soulmate, in every romantic and literal sense of the word,” adam murmured.

he reached up to stroke her cheek with his thumb, brushing against her veil.

“and i love you with my entire heart and soul and i promise to love you forever,” he said, smiling gently with his fingers resting under her chin.

regina could feel tears gathering in the corner of her eyes, the lump in her throat blocking her voice. they hadn’t discussed whether she would turn, so the idea that he would still love her even after she was gone and never love again overwhelmed her completely. adam looked at her with such love and tenderness that somewhere in the distant corners of her mind, she knew she should be saying something, anything, but especially that she felt the same.

but how could she even hope to articulate the depths of her feelings for him when words failed her like this?

say something, she thought, vaguely aware that her mouth was still open in surprise when verda cleared his throat and continued with the scripted vows.

adam took both of her hands in his and smiled warmly, just as verda said, “adam du mortain, do you take regina elizabeth bishop, to be your lawfully wedded wife? do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her?”

“i do,” adam’s said, his voice ringing clearly. “you have my heart, my body, my soul, for evermore and i will always say yes to every lifetime with you.”

“and do you, regina elizabeth bishop, take adam du mortain, to be your lawfully wedded husband? do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?”

regina’s mind was still in a daze, replaying adam’s words from earlier on loop. she felt tina adjust the veil at her back, subtly pinching the skin between her shoulder blades in the process, an attempt to shake her out of her stunned silence.

“i—i need a minute,” she blurted out, grabbing onto the skirts of her dress and running back down the aisle.

tina chased after her, catching her back inside the dressing room while adam looked on, brow furrowed in concern. his gaze fell to the ground, nate’s hand patting his shoulder reassuringly.

it could be feasible, although the thought hadn’t occurred to him in a very long time, that regina might not feel the same. perhaps he went too far and overwhelmed her and now she might change her mind.

“are you okay?” tina asked, quickly handing her a water bottle and encouraging her to take a sip.

regina shook her head. “i’m okay, i just got overwhelmed. i can’t believe he feels so strongly for me, and i couldn’t come up with anything that would really explain how i feel and i—oh god, he’s probably panicking, right now!”

“hey, take a deep breath,” tina said sharply. “the way that man looks at you, like you’re a dream he never wants to wake up from, and the fact that you said yes to marrying him, that already tells him how you feel. all you need to do is actually marry the man.”

regina looked at tina and they burst into laughter together. “you’re right,” she said, gathering her dress and exiting the room one last time.

she ran back down the aisle, tina frantically chasing after her and holding up the back of her dress. regina grabbed adam’s arm for balance as she stopped suddenly in front of the podium.

“i do! of course, i do! a thousand lifetimes over, and i will always say ‘i do’,” she said breathlessly, eyes shining with unshed tears.

adam’s shoulders instantly dropped in relief and she giggled, mouthing a silent “i’m sorry,” as verda asked the crowd for any objections.

“you may now kiss the bride.”

adam gently cupped her face in his hands and leaned in, his emerald green eyes drinking in every part of her before his lips covered hers. her hands instinctively reached up to either side of his neck, keeping him in place as their lips moved in sync slowly and deliberately, only pulling apart when the cheers and clapping around them had gone on for almost a minute.

“i love you, mrs. du mortain,” he whispered as he pulled back to look at her again.

“and i love you,” she said, her heart swelling with more joy than she ever thought possible.