#awan x reader

Awan's days and weeks at work became a blur, as they had been before teaming up with Miss Hayes, as he settled into a slow, repetitive routine, handling paperwork and mid-level white-collar cases.

Yet, His evenings and weekends energized him. On weekday evenings, he'd set aside time for Y/n: sharing incredible discussions about their day as they ate dinner at her old wooden table. Helping her with her grading or preparing worksheets for the next day, then watching television together on his sofa, letting his muscles ease into the couch while watching his favorite neighbor peacefully drift off to sleep under the bluish glow of the television, enjoying the tender sounds of her quiet snoring earned from the long day of being an educator. He softly whispers in her ear to call it a night, walking her out before wishing her a good night's rest, as she promised to stay up past 8:30 next time, but never does.

On the weekends, he spent reconnecting with friends from college and more time with his family between runs to his favorite comic book store. Cheyenne and Chenoa even became part-time residents of the apartment building, as their sleepovers happened more than once a month, to the point that Awan hung up a sign the girls made with broken crayons, reading "Awan, Cheyenne, and Chenoa's place," below the gold numbers on his front door. At the same time, Y/n spent time with her parents or friends around town.

​

It was Friday, close to noon in late October. The fourth-grade teachers at Phoenix Elementary were in the midst of their Native American history unit. Awan would speak to each class every day of the week during the designated time for the subject. Finally, today was Y/n's turn to host Awan.

The guest speaker was sitting in a bright blue rocking chair, the one Y/n's father made her, as nine- to ten-year-olds surrounded him in Y/n's classroom, gazing up at the agent, who was sharing stories about his childhood on the rez as the students sat on the colorful circle rug, with a faint sound of chattering metal in the background.

Y/n was flipping through pages of the latest math test on multiplying fractions at her walnut wooden desk, checking every answer as she'd occasionally stop to stare at the Navajo man with a large grin, before taking a break to listen to the tale of him and his sister, Aponi, first time performing at a pow wow. As some of the kids fell asleep. Miss L/n's head propped up onto her fist, her thick lips curled into a smile, and her brown eyes were twinkling at her neighbor as he spoke.  

Awan's voice bounced off the rusty brick wall as he furrowed his brows and toyed with his turquoise ring, struggling to keep eye contact with the deadpan class.

The ticking clock and tapping tree branch on the window rushed Awan to finish up as he stumbled around, finding the words to close out his lecture. He smiled, opening the floor to the students as they all sprang up at the man's final words. "Ok, now I'm open to any questions." The Bitsui man let out a deep sigh as he clapped his hands, rubbing them together. As this quickly became the FBI Agent's favorite part of the lectures because the kids always asked the best or most bizarre questions he had ever heard, he knew from the stories Y/N's would share during their dinners, describing the colorful personality of all her students, that they would be the best bunch by far. 

Words poured out of the youngsters, as if a body of water rushing from a faucet. High-pitched voices layered upon another, as Awan's hazelnut pupils jumped back and forth between all of them, as if he were watching a tennis match on television.

"Have you ever killed anyone?" One boy yelled, sitting in the front row closest to Awan, as he tilted his head to the side

"Do you ride a motorcycle like the cops on TV?" A classmate, Daisy, interrupted, chirping out her question, swinging her brown twisted pigtails around.

"Are you single, asking for my mom?" The whole class turned to their classmate, the reddish-tan boy, who asked, "I want a new dad for Christmas."

The teacher jumped up from her wooden seat and walked over to her students, her eyebrows arched as she spoke firmly to her kids. "Hey, y'all know the rules! One at a time and no off-topic questions." The 4th-grade teacher firmly stated, placing her hands on her hips as she stood behind them, then took a seat on the edge of the carpet, politely sitting with her lower half turned to the side, neatly positioning the flowy skirt.

Chittering

Chittering

Chittering

"Ok, you," the Navajo man called out, pointing his finger at a giggling girl named Yasmin, seated next to her best friend, Luna, who was whispering in her ear, telling her the question she planned to ask the guest speaker soon.

Yasmin lowered her hand. "What made you want to be an agent?" the bubbly girl asked, her grin on full display with a giggle hidden behind it, causing Y/n to raise an eyebrow at the two suspicious students.  

"Well, I like fighting bad guys, and I couldn't be a superhero like the ones on television because I'm too tall for a cape."

"Oh, just like Batman…" The girl cheered out.

"I prefer Superman," he said with a smile as Y/n let out a light chuckle.

"Why do you have girl hair?" A boy named Joe questioned.  The one Y/n complained about because of how entitled and disrespectful he is. Yet, Joe got away with it because his parents believed in free-range parenting, claiming they were 'letting him fully express himself without any limit of what might be considered right or wrong by society.'

"Watch it, Joe." The dark-brown teacher yelled at the boy.

"Well, in my culture, the longer the hair, the stronger you are."

"That's so stupid," Joe yelled, his scrunching his face up as if he just ate a sour jawbreaker.

"Alright, write two paragraphs explaining why disrespecting other people's cultures and beliefs is wrong." The woman yelled at the disrespectful boy, pointing at his wooden desk, her sharp eyes watching him carefully. March back to his seat, his head down, talking under his breath.

"You better believe I'm calling grandma this time, too, and having a lovely chat with her about your behavior this week. "

Chittering

Chittering

Chittering

"Are you dating Miss L/n? You've been giving her the googly eyes all day," Luna asked, widening her eyes as she moved in front of the carpet. watching intensely into the man's hazel eyes, prompting some of her classmates to join in on the improvise staring contest with the Navajo man

Y/n took a few seconds to speak, as she looked at her handsome neighbor, wanting him to answer, yet noticing him loosening his tie as sweat began to form on his tan forehead. "What did I just say y'all!"Ms. L/n said

"You didn't say what was on topic. "Luna tightly smiled as she glanced at her teacher, shugging her shoulders as she did before turning back to the guest of honor.

"Let's stay on the topic of his culture and career ok, little lady," Miss Y/n firmly yelled as her students turned back to the man. Y/n mouthed the word 'sorry' to the man, and they continued to embarrass her.

"Can you please answer my question first? " The fourth-grader pleaded, as her hands cupped together.

Chittering

Chittering

Chittering

"Um… " Awan bounced his look between the clock and the eager scholars, noticing the time. "Would you look at that? Who's ready for gym? I'll answer some more questions after, ok?" Awan's wobbly voice said while letting out a deep breath.

"Me, me! "The kids jumped at the rush to line up at the wooden door, laughing and talking as they did so.

"Wait, how do you know our schedule?" Luna and Yasmine asked the tall man as he jumped out of the rocking chair and began to fix his tie.

"Go all of ya!" Miss L/n quibbled out before flashing a kind smile to the Navajo man. "I'll be right back in a flash, Sheriff. What do we say, kids?"

"Thank you, Mr. Bazooie."

"It's Mr.Bitsui, y'all," Y/n scolded as they began lining up at the door and pushing one another, trying to be the line leader. One girl behind another, chatting about their opinions on the man.

"Luna," Awan calmly called out, as Miss Y/n gathered her chatty class into a line. The tall man squinted down to be eye level with the fourth grader, who stood in front of him with a doughy look in her brown eyes. Miss Y/n glanced between the two as her talkative kids shifted into a straight line. Listening to Awan’s calm words question her rebellious student, "Which one of your cousins made you ask that?"

Luna tried to look away, but met her teacher's sharp eyes. Her friends leaned over her shoulders, looking at her with raised eyebrows or parted lips. Luna scratched the back of her head and turned back, dropping her head a little. "Anut Aponi," Luna admitted in a lower, almost whispering voice. Awan began to laugh at his sister’s demands. "She promised to convince my mom to let me dye my hair if I did it!" Luna rushed out to explain herself as her friends began talking among themselves.

Before Y/n could react, the tanish woman, Theresa, wrapped her hand around the metal doorframe and popped her head in, a devilish grin on her face. "Don't worry, I’ll take them to the gym," Theresa yelled out before Y/n could reply. Her co-worker ushered the class out as if the school were on fire.

"Ok?" the fourth-grade teacher questioned, raising her black eyebrow and waving slowly to her tight-smiling friend, who was pushing students out the light-grey doorframe. Once the last student exited, she peeked her head out, blinking her bright eyes before turning back to Awan. "Thank you for this!" Y/n cooed to him, smiling warmly. "Most of the kids seemed to enjoy it, and I did too. How often do you get to meet someone in the FBI like us?" she added while picking up trash from a student's desk. "But why did I have to go last if this was my idea?" she asked, turning to her favorite neighbor, meeting eye to eye.

"Because I wanted to ask you something…" Awan said, looking into Y/n’s buggy brown eyes. His gaze darted to his turquoise ring—the one his grandmother made him to ward off negativity. Smiling at the silver ring as it glowed under the fluorescent lighting, Awan returned his attention to the school teacher, only for a faint squeak in the background to catch his attention.

Chittering

Chittering

Chittering

"Sorry, but what is that noise I keep hearing? It's like a rat," Awan asked.

"She's not a rat," Y/n said, rolling her brown eyes as she giggled at the man. "Come here." Y/n grabbed Awan by his damp hand and walked him over to a large, unknown item covered by a big beige cloth. Carefully, she removed the cover to reveal a cage, the classroom’s pet. "She's a guinea pig," Miss L/n explained as the small animal ran through mountains of hay to greet its owner. "Awan, this is Miss Mimi, the classroom’s pet," the teacher said, gently grabbing the small gray furball to show off, holding it close to her face. "She always loves to make herself known when we have company in the classroom."

"So, why am I just noticing her now?" Awan asked, raising one of his bushy eyebrows as he looked down at the small creature, who was wiggling her tiny pink nose in the air.  

“Because of the no-pet policy, I kept her at my folks' until school started, and I let some of the kids take her home on the weekend ever since she got divorced from Mr. Fencie, the  Russian Tortoise in Theresa's room.” Awan’s eyes widen with a smile as Y/n carries on babbling about classroom pet drama. Watching her beautiful eyes twinkle as she spoke, observing the way her red-stained lips shaped into a crooked smile when she giggled, and the flow of her curls bouncing with her, “ -then he got caught cuddling with Miss Pompom, the bunny from third grade, and it got super freaky deaky from there, which caused a school assembly about it, all because of him." She explained, clicking her tongue before letting out a giggle. Mimi sighed, "Awan,” Y/n called out, noticing her friend was zoning out on her. “Do you want to hold her?” Y/n softly asked, holding out her furry co-worker, who began to roll her black eyes as the dramatic love scene unfolded.  

“Would you have dinner with me tonight?”

Y/n was taken aback by the question, taking a few seconds to process what was said, "Like a dinner date? Mr. Bitsui, are you asking me out?" Y/n teasly asked, a little smirk forming as she stepped closer to him.

“Yes, yes, I am. “ Awan stated shakely, loosening up his bolo tie.  

‘About time you asked,’ Y/n thought to herself as Miss Mimi cuddled into Y/n’s hands. "Yes, I would like to go on a date with ya, sug," Y/n loudly expressed to the man before quickly covering her mouth with her furry friend. Miss l/n quickly jerked back the gray animal, leaving a red stain behind. The sound of Mimi’s teeth chattering and  loud, high-pitched screaming filled the room for a moment before Awan softly stroked the top of the Guinea Pig’s head. “i think she likes you, sug.”

"I prefer her owner more. Dinner at seven thirty works?" Awan expressed. Y/n softly agreed as she gazes between her pet and the man she catches herself daydreaming about more than she likes to admit." How long have you had her?” He asked as he stared at the chittering fluff ball.

“I've had her since I started teaching. I wanted something to make the space comfortable—and what’s better than a pet? Plus, Miss Mimi loves her job too, especially during reading time…"

It was 2 pm on the dot, and Awan was sweating bullets as he daydreamed about how tonight could go, pacing the rustic brown maple floors of his unit, picking up his beige telephone.

A tall, dark ginger man buried himself inside a plush red armchair, the brown frame of his glasses resting at the edge of his nose as his finger tips loosely hold onto the rim of a scotch glass, trying to analyze the data from marketing supporting the benefits of extending the hotel chain to the West Coast.

Ring...

Rick popped up, letting out a long-winded sigh as he stared at the landline. Shifting his glasses to the top of his head before bearing his face into the palm of pink-tinted hands.

Ring...

Ring...

Scratching the back of his pale neck, the young businessman took a deep breath before grabbing the phone and plastering on his best corporate smile as he sang his rehearsed greeting. “Hello, this is the Williams hotel, and this is Richard Williams speaking. Tell me the problem, and I’ll fix it."

“Hey Ricky, sorry, I didn’t know this was your business line." Awan expressed, leaning against the back of his brown sofa, checking his jawline in the entranceway mirror as he debates on whether or not to shave his growing five o'clock shadow.

"Awan? Hey man, how are you?" The ginger man asked, his pitch rose as the seriousness faded. "Yeah, this is my personal line, yet the staff still gives it out. “ Ricky sighs as he straightens up his posture, placing his beverage onto the glass coffee table before sitting back. “Really tho how are you doing, dude? “

"Good, look, I need some advice on dating," Awan flatly stated as he cleared his throat. He knew it was best to ask Rick, compared to his uncle Chayton and cousin Takoda, who called themself 'ladies men', loves to share details with his father and his grandfather, even teasing poor Awanie during his teenage years as he was a bit of a late bloomer. " I’m about to go on a first date with this girl I really like, but I’m worried. "

“Oh dude, there's nothing to worry about, especially in your situation. You two were dating before you even knew... Aponi told me," Rick teased with a grin. “So, regardless of how tonight goes, remember you’re not there to impress her, you’re there to show her you’re serious and take things to the next level, so don’t get in your head like you always do."

"Awan, open up right now," Aponi shrieked out, loudly banging on her brother's wooden door.

"Thanks," Awan hung up the phone and quickly opened the door."Aponi, what are you doing here? " His eyebrows lowered, his slight smile dropped, and his head began to shake. "Luna!" 

"Yes, my lovely niece did me a favor by confirming my suspicions, and you need my help." Aponi rapidly nodded her head as she held the widest grin she could with her hair kit beside her and a lucky pair of scissors in her right hand. " Now, move and tell me everything," she snappily asked, grabbing her brother by the chin and examining his growing facial hair.

"You said you didn't like her, and she was a bad influence on the girls after you caught them trying to smoke your cigarettes."

"Things change, my dear awanie! Now let's do this before i have to pick up those two headaches of mine."

​

Y/n was back in her botanical apartment, getting ready for the evening as the orange glow from the sky peeked through the blinds. After a complete scrub down, teasing and combing through her hair, Miss L/n was standing in her bedroom, staring at her wardrobe spread across her room with just pants hanging out of her dresser drawer, formal tops hanging up on her closet door, and dresses scattered across her sage green bedspread as she stood there in her powder pink robe. Her chin was resting on her right hand as her eyebrows tried to embrace one another. Y/n faced the telephone in the room, dropped her head back, and deeply sighed before dialing the number of a critical relative.

Toying with the plastic-covered wire as the phone rang in her ear, biting the tip of her white, iridescent press-on nail, as she quietly chanted 'pick up, pick up' as her heart raced through her chest as if it was running cross-country before hearing a click.

Ava was the most successful of Y/n's cousins, the highest-paid actor of the time. She was the star of her own sitcom called 'Hey, There', which her whole family watched. Sitting in the large panel dressing room, covered in gray carpet, with the million-dollar actress rehearsing lines in front of her Vanity, sat comfortably in her chartreuse leather chair with gold accents. Her personal assistant was in the corner, engaged in an intense argument with the producers over the conditions set by the actress.

Ave had cleared her throat lightly, demanding attention from her room, prompting the producers to state, in a friendly manner, that they would continue the conversation later, and they exited the room before the actress picked up her black telephone. "Hello," she let out, hoping it was a secret lover of hers planning another rendezvous for early in the morning, since she would be busy at the usual time.

“Hey Ava, what’s a good color for a first date?” she asked her not-so-older cousin in a flash, grinning with all her teeth as the woman continued eyeing her clothing.

“Oh, depends on the date,” she added with a wide smirk, then sat back into a leather-style chair before waving off her assistant to fetch her some warm tea with lemon. “Is he sexy, or hot?”She asked, leaning closer into the cell phone.

Y/n smushed her lips together and closed her brown eyes before answering, “Second one until he's shirtless."

“Ooo,” she sipped her tea, “Pink, baby pink or pastel yellow," Ava added, "who is he, and when did it start?"

"His name is Awan," Y/n states as she pulls a light yellow, flowy dress from her closet. "He’s my lovely, kind, and very gentle neighbor."

“Have you told your folks about him yet, or Anut Lisa?” she questioned, her younger cousin going silent, only her intense breathing audible. “Junebug, you better-”

“I don’ want to rush it," Y/n was combing her black curls before cutting her cousin off to rush out an excuse on the matter, " and it’s just a date vi vi.”

“Hey, I’m happy for ya,” the actress sighed, shifting in her chair as she tapped her right foot mid-air. “Just be careful, alright, y’know, ya not the best at picking them.”

“You sound like grandmama,” Y/n groaned out while applying a thick layer of lip gloss to her opaque lips. “I promise. He’s different.” She rubbed her lips together. “-and if things go sour, he’d tell me, I know it!” she cheerfully added, “he’s an honest guy!”

“Junebug, just worry about tonight, ok, and call back with updates.” Ave rushed out as her makeup and hair girls walked in. “I've got to go, love ya suga.”

Awan and y/n were sitting at a white ivory table in the corner of an upscale restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona. Soft Jaz was playing as the mixed-race couple awkwardly glanced at one another after the judgmental waiter took their order. The ceiling was hand-painted with mauls and jewels embedded in the scene of a starry night. Couples mingling with their assumed business colleagues, as others scroll to the dance floor to waste a little time before their fine dining begins.

Y/n smoothed down the light yellow satin skirt of her dress underneath the table as she could feel the glares on her from others, knowing that she and the man did not belong. ’Why did he pick such a nice place?’ She asked her inner mind, raising her head to notice the young caucasian couple walking in, glowing beneath the entrance's luminous diamond chandelier. The smell of t-bone steak mixed with Chanel No. 19 lingered in Y/n's nose. ”So?” the woman carefully asked, shifting her gaze to her date, trying to hold back a frown, finally noticing the sweat forming on his forehead.

“So,” Awan sickly said as he tried to take a sip of water, yet his trembling hands wouldn’t let him.

The dark-brown woman tried to hold back a chuckle before easing the man’s hand back down to the ivory-colored surface of the table. “We do this every day at home, but now it’s…”

“Awkward… “ he smiled back at her, fixing his butterfly tie, “I think it’s just nerves and stuff. What do couples- I meant friends- sorry, can we start over?” Mr.Bitsui rushed out.

"Yes, how was your day, Mr.Bitsui?"

"It was great, I gave a very impactful speech today, then i asked out the perfect woman, and she said yes. Can you believe it?"

"Perfect, huh?" Y/n asked, her glossy lips parted yet curved upward.

"Perfect."

"Mh… my day just got even better. " The dark-brown woman admitted with a heartfelt smile as her clenched hand moved from under the table to rest onto the top of awan's smooth hand.

He shyly smiled before clearing his throat. "So, can you tell me more about Miss Mimi?"

She takes a sip of water before smiling."Mhm…" Y/n thought for a moment, then spoke again." Well, we had a pregnancy scare a few weeks ago, one of the kindergarteners brought their furry friend from home for show-and-tell, then he got out and went looking for some special attention from Miss Mimi…" Awan was mid-sip before he started choking on his drink and trying to hold back his laugh as others began looking at the newly- formed couple again.

They were strolling in the warm, lit hallway, holding hands as the couple's giggles bounced off the wall, discussing the earlier events of their date. “I had a lovely time, Awan.” Miss L/n smiled as she stood in front of the 142 door.

"me to..."

"Good night, awan."

"Good night...One more thing."

"Yes," they tilt closer to one another, heartbeats in sync as their lips were inches away, gazing deeply into each other's eyes as if there were shooting stars inside of them, making a wish the new couple both wanted… this perfect night to last forever.

Took a deep breath as he could feel the woman’s breath on his neck, craving her lips to be there instead. "There’s a 'Hey, There' marathon on right now, and I figured we could enjoy some dessert together while watching it. " he brushed his thumb on her palm.

Y/n beam at the gentleman with smoky eyes. "Sounds fun," The woman walked through the dark wood door, still holding Awan's large hand," told ya I'd do it. suga!" Y/n pointed out, tilting her head to the clock of Awan's kitchen that showed it was 8:31 as he followed behind her, laughing at his date's remarks.

Taglist: @evrmoris @daughterofthesunlands @threadd-in-feelings @darkeyesshine @pomegranateas @thetaoofzoe

A cherry duster was flying down the highway. Jim got a glance of a dark brown thumb mid-air on the side of the sandy-covered roads. Turning on his signal light, he swiftly pulled over to a figure in front of a Burgundy Cadillac. Hopping out of his Signature vehicle, he greeted the brown figure, “Well, hi, how can I help you out today, beautiful?” He flashed his impressive smile that led to many fun nights in the backseat of his trusted duster. 

She fluttered her hand, matching his energy by flashing the same irresistible smile.  “Howdy, I got a flat suga,” Lisa L/n rushed out in a smoky voice as he moved closer. “Care to help me out?” she asked, leaning in closer as she spoke, batting her lashes while toying with the man's collar.     “Of course,” Jim rolled up his black sleeves and grabbed the items needed before starting. Jim loosened the lug nuts as the older man sneaked a peek of Lisa's thighs in her denim shorts as she watched the man, one hand on her hips and the other behind her back. “What brings you here? I can tell this isn't your neck of the woods, doll."

" 'm visiting some of my kinfolk." She admitted as Jim replaced the tire.

"Oh shit, are you from Mississippi?" He calmly asked as Lisa raised a brow and popped up in front of the man

"Who's asking?" The Mississippi woman questioned as she rotated her revolver while Jim turned his head.

Looking up to see the Silver Barrel of a gun, gifted to her by her father, looking back at him. “Whoa,” jumping back with hands in the air and wide eyes, “ you know y/n, she’s my kid’s teacher”

“Oh, you know my Junie,” she carefully relaxed her triggered finger and lowered her firearm while giving a welcoming smile to the dirty blonde. “Sorry, suga habit,”

"Don't worry, not the first" he grinned before finishing up," and you're ready to roll"

“Thank you," She let out before patting the man on the shoulder and hopping in. " You saved me from having to redo my hair,” she checked her curlers in the mirror before putting on her sunglasses as the Cadillac's purr echoed throughout the Arizona Desert. Dragging her purse to pull out a five-dollar bill from a stack of cash from her mother.  “Here, suga, I’m sure you’ll get someone on their back tonight.” Lisa lowered her glasses and quickly examined Jim as she held the bill between the tips of her fingers. “Cuz hon, it was never going to be me,” she added with a giggle before speeding off in the Direction of Y/n's School.

The rusty brick classroom was silent as Y/n’s students were in gym class. Staring down into the silver cage, the gray fur ball was shaking like a leaf on a windy day. Miss l/n gently opened the cage, trying to pet the Guinea Pig’s head; Yet Miss Mimi would duck and hide to avoid any contact.  Y/n deeply sighed, whispering an apology to the small animal before continuing to hang up the Valentine's Day decorations made by the students. Mimi began rambling around in her medium-sized cage to find a comfy spot to ease her worry.  Peeking her head in, Lisa's ears began to ring from Mimi's high-pitched screaming. Y/n turned around and flinched at the woman, grabbing her chest as Mimi's crying echoed. 

“Ah, don’t scare us like that,” Y/n shouted while her aunt laughed at her.

“Sorry, baby!” Lisa giggled before taking her niece in for a hug. “ Why’s Mimi so jumpy tho?” Lisa raised a thin eyebrow at the classroom pet; the small creature started to take deep breaths before rambling again. 

“Um...” the fourth-grade teacher sighed, “The poor girl almost met her maker while i was in Mississippi.” 

It was winter break, and Awan was trusted with the task of taking care of the pet while Y/n was out of town, visiting family.  The girls were in Aponi’s office, where Mimi had been for the past few days, and were playing with the three girls before dinner.

“Time to eat,” Aponi yelled from the kitchen as she took a green pot of mashed potatoes off the stove.

The girls placed the small animal back inside and walked off, leaving the cage door wide open. Soon their Border Collie named Kel-el came in, sniffing the area with a drooling mouth, as mimi snuggled underneath some hay to take a nap.

Awan, Aponi’s husband, Javier Mauricio, Izzy, and Doctor David were in the dining room connected to the kitchen.

“So Awan, remind us again why we're not meeting your girlfriend but her pet rat instead,” Javier asked his brother-in-law, who was fixing himself a healthy plate of Diné and Hispanic food. 

“She’s not a rat,” Awan stated, taking a seat across from Javier. “She's a Guinea Pig, who means a lot to her and her class!”

“Plus, who would want to spend the holiday with their student?” Izzy added while cracking open a cold beer. “She sees Luna enough at the schoolhouse as it is,” Izzy commented, taking her seat next to her date.

“Plus we’re not ready for that yet.” Awan delicately conveyed to the table in between bites. 

“I think it’s nice of you to wait.” David chimed in, causing Javier to cut his brown eyes towards the doctor. “It took me a while to ask Izzy out,” The man said with a hint of pink on his cheeks as Izzy grabbed his hand. Javier rolled his eyes and scoffed at the couple as his wife finally sat down at the head of the table with his and her plate.

“Sure, bud, but how can your mama meet Nina before we meet your girl?” Aponi’s husband complained before sighing. “Just don’t let a good thing go to waste, man.”  

“I’m not; that was for work, and how’d you know about that anyway?”  Awan’s eyebrows rose as his eyes slightly widened at his brother-in-law.

“Your mother told Ricky after begging him to come to the wedding,” Aponi explained as she twisted her plastic fork into her food. “God, then she begged him to ask me.”  She held her head up and frowned at her brunette brother.

“Shit, that means I'm next.” Awan let out a sigh as the sound of paws tapping onto the wooden floor filled the background. The adults continued their chat as the four-legged animal of the home entered the living room where their kids' table was.  “You think if i disconnect my phone, she’ll take the hint.” 

“No, then she’ll just come to your job and throw a fit,” Aponi firmly expressed before sipping her wine, made by their father.

“Kal-el, what's in your mouth? Chenoa carefully questioned the puppy, tilting her small head with her pink spoon sticking out of the side of her mouth. Both Luna and Cheyenne turned to face the sitting dog, whose mouth was closed shut, and cheeks were filled like a chipmunk.  The two turned to one another, frozen, their jaws near the floor and eyes wider than the Grand Canyon. 

“Open, boy “ Luna and Cheyenne yelled to the dog, running after him as the K-9 sprinted across the room.

“Aw shit,” Awan dashed into the living room after hearing the girls. “Drop her, boy." Mr Bitsui begged the animal as he chased him around the room.  "Come on." Awan carefully asked the Border Collie, cornered by his family. Yet, the dog made his great escape by crawling through a small hole between his humans. After many failed attempts, Awan fell on his face, and, with help from others, Aponi's childhood pet finally dropped the grey Guinea Pig. "Sorry, Miss Mimi”  Mr Bitsui let out. The small furry creature was shaking in Kal-el's saliva on the hardwood floor of the split-level home before it was scooped up into the Navajo man's arms.  Yet, the furry animal would fuss and shout at Awan in her gibberish language while clawing at his face, leaving behind a few marks. As the adults took a sigh of relief, little Chenoa's eyes began swelling up at the thought of her new cuddly friend being almost eaten by the other because she forgot to close the cage. 

"Bad dog!" Aponi and Chenoa, in her mom’s arms, yelled at the smiley pup before placing him outside onto the patio for the rest of the night.

“Maybe it’s a good thing she’s not here,” Javier stated while returning to the table. For the rest of the break, the three girls were on mimi duty and would not let her out of their sight until Miss L/n returned. 

"Aww, you must really like this fella if he can watch our lil mimi. “ The aunt cooled out while blowing kisses to the first thing she purchased for her niece's classroom, sneaking in a small piece of celery to the guinea pig in between the metal bars.

“He's kind, very trustworthy, and has it together.” The 4th-grade teacher shyly smiled at the remarks, her face heating up at the thought of her new lover. 

“Mhm, Thera,” Lisa yelled for her niece’s friend, Theresa, who was across the hall. As soon as Theresa  heard her name,  she popped into the room to comment on the subject.  “ whatcha think about this fella of hers?” 

“Oh, the  Navajo Gentleman, he is nice-looking and reasonable. Bland to some but lovable. “

“The  Navajo Gentleman,” Lisa slowly repeated, smirking at Y/n.

“He’s good for her, I promise, “ Theresa said, placing a hand onto Lisa’s shoulder.

“I’ll be the judge of that, sug “ Lisa calmly added before noticing a small creature at the door. “Is this a school or a zoo?” the older Mississippi lady asked, pointing at the bunny.

“Both,” the exhausted fourth-grade teachers expressed, as this was the tenth time Pom-Pom the bunny had escaped from her classroom. 

In the long hallway, y/n greeted and introduced neighbors to her aunt. Reaching the end, they were outside of her apartment; Y/n was skimming through her purse to find her keys. The two women could hear Awan, on the phone with Chenoa, who was begging for Jackson Five tickets as she had been doing for the past few weeks. 

"So how long are you staying?" Y/n questioned, pulling out her keys and placing them inside her golden door handle.

“Want me gone already?” Lisa smirked as Y/n frowned, twisting the key. “Just pulling your leg, sug, I leave Monday night.” She added, entering the home, taking a seat on the comfy sofa.  “I promise, boss lady! 'got work two extra days for it and cover any shift needed at the diner cuz of this little getaway,” Lisa said, pressing her thick lips together.

Y/n put down her school bag and purse on her armchair before entering her bedroom. "Now you know Grandma runs a tight ship like she's a navy captain; get any pushback from paw?” She yelled out from her closet.

“Eh, we’re not speaking at the moment.” Lisa crossed her arms as she leaned her head back.

“What did you do this time?” Y/n allowed out a deep sigh while placing her hand onto her hip. 

"Nothing… just told the preacher no after he asked for my hand in marriage,” Lisa added, mumbling the last part while shuffling through the spread of magazines on the coffee table. Noticing a woman's catalog with a few pages marked. “Is there anything we need to talk about?” The aunt popped up, meeting her niece at the doorframe of her bedroom. Miss L/n's eyes narrowed, and her lips parted. “ Don’t act dumb with me, little miss." She held up and waved the catalog, open to the lingerie section. “I hope y’all are using protection; we don’t need any more kids in this family, especially out of wedlock.” Lisa lectured Y/n, who walked past her, arms full of blankets for the pull-out sofa. “Y’know, pookie back in jail for not paying his child support,” The anutie carried on while flipping through the pages, as Y/n put down the items. “And got another one on the way by his first baby mama’s sister”

“OH MY LORD, is this why you're really here?” Y/n stopped, stood in front of her aunt, and snatched back the magazine. “ Did my folks put you up to this?”  Y/n questioned before walking back to her bedroom to hide the book in her nightstand away from intrusive eyes. 

“No, Junebug, I promise,” the aunt pleaded as she watched the shy woman warm up. " I'm worried, ya acting funny, and ‘want to know why.” Lisa’s brown eyes relaxed onto her niece’s heated face as the shy woman tucked back her tight curls. 

Sitting in the grand dining room of her grandparents’ Greek Revival mansion that served as a bed and breakfast for travelers. Gold dishes, covered in the finest food, loved ones gathered around the large circular table as laughter and chatter filled the space. Time paused, problems faded, and darkness turned into light in this home when the L/n family was together. 

“Say, Junebug,” Ava half-whispered to y/n, who was taking a bite of mac-and-cheese. "I never got a chance to ask, but how did you know what, go?”  The star asked her cousin before sipping her water.

“It was fine.” Y/n rushed out as her daddy across the table took notice

“What was fine?”  The two women heard the head of the table ask as the room swiftly went silent.

“Nothing.” The two rushed out loudly, causing their grandmama's face to frown. 

“When we’re at this table, we share with all, not some; you two know better,” the head of the family declared, making her two granddaughters quickly apologize. “Now, out with it!” the matriarch of the family demanded. 

“Junebug went on a date a while ago and has been tight-lipped about it since. Aunt Claire, tell me if the brother’s as cute as y/n said he is?”

“I can’t tell you, hon; we haven’t met the fella.” The doctor asked her daughter with an eyebrow raised, “Why is that, baby?” 

“Mama, it ain't like that.” Y/n let out, avoiding eye contact with her folks.

“ ya dating somebody, Junie?”  Lisa questioned, joining the conversation 

“You didn’t know either?” Ava asked with a slack jaw. "Oh, dear..." Vivi quickly squeezed her lips together as she sank into her cushioned seat.

“Ooo,” Sydney hollerned out before loudly sipping on her drink. 

“Can we change the subject?”y/n begged, slamming her fist onto the table, stopping the room and everyone from jumping at the action. “Please?” she carefully added while lowering her voice.

The room lingered in silence for a brief moment as y/n's parents silently conversed with one another, their faces betraying a range of emotions before looking at their daughter again. 

“Who made those green beans? They taste like they're still in the dirt,” Grandfather L/n asked the table, causing the room to be filled with awkward laughter as y/n sipped on her water. 

“Paw, they’re not that bad,” Mycia cried out to the older man as the family carried on with usual talks.  Sydney patted her little cousin on the head before chuckling along with the family. 

“Yes, they are, baby.” he placed his hand onto her shoulder. “‘m just proud you don’ burn down the kitchen this time.” The dark brown man smiled at his clumsy granddaughter as Y/n's parents burned holes into her skin with their eyes, continuing to avoid eye contact with them.

“Look, I promise I'm not acting any type of way,” Y/n clarified, her face dropping, “ just taking my time this go around, that’s all.” She half-way smiled while putting down the glasses. “How are they doing with everything?”

Why?” Lisa rolled her eyes and sighed before crossing her arms and looking at y/n again

“Can’t I ask about my cousin?” Y/n carefully asked as she poured the sweet tea she made earlier this week.

“Not that one.” Lisa took a seat at the table. “ ya got let him go, Junebug.”

“I did,” Miss L/n argued to her aunt while holding two glasses. Yet Lisa just tilted her head, frowning. “Don’t give me that look”

“He better not be the reason why your folks ain’t met this new fella yet? “

“You just don’t get it; no one does,” Y/n communicated.

“Knock knock. I thought I heard you talking to someone.” Awan opened the wooden door and walked in to greet the woman "Hi, I’m Awan, bitsui y/n’s neighbor. You must be Aunt Lisa.” he held out his hand and shook Lisa's hand,

“Yes, I am. “Lisa continued shaking but twisted to her niece with a slight closed-lipped smile. "No wonder ya so mad all the time now; ya stay in pain with this tall tool around.” She added, her mouth opened, eyes widened, impressed by his immaculate height and muscle. "oh 'm tellin all the girls when i get home." Lisa mentioned with an enigmatic smile, tucking behind her chin.

“Oh no…’ Y/n covers her face and starts saying a silent prayer to the big man upstairs, hoping her aunt wouldn't scare off her newfound lover by her wild aunt. "God, i thought we were cool, man"

Lisa pulled her chair towards Awan, standing on it as she wrapped her arm around his broad shoulder, pulling him in closer, slightly knocking the man's balance off. “Say, stallion, how have you been enjoying your Mississippi ride?” She asked with a devilish grin, biting her lower lip. “do y'all have to go really slow so it doesn't hurt her so much or do you not go all the way in” she asked in a lower voice, not wanting the neighbors to hear.“you know what i don’t care as long as you too are using protection and ya got good job.” she stepped down with Awan help. Y/n was turning a few shades lighter, feeling her soul exit her body as her heart dropped to her feet. “Because it’s too many mouths to feed and shoes to buy around our village, and you look like you got an iron stomach, i would hate to have to feed you on a daily basis,” Lisa explained, shaking her head, looking at the man's stomach before hitting it. Awan let out a gasp as y/n imagined her parents at her funeral after dying from pure embarrassment.

“Anut Lisa, stop,” y/n half-way yelled. “We are not active in that area. Awan was rapidly blinking, brows furrowed, and head barely tilted.

'Oh. Ohh, why not!” she looked at y/n, then Awan. “ Oh my, baby, I am so sorry. Look, i don’t judge if you got a lil sugar in your tank.” The older Mississippi woman stepped closer to the tall brunette and offered him sympathetic eyes. Personally, I think we all do, but it’s terrible you feel as tho you have to hide yourself from the world like this. I’m sure-“ She grabbed both his hands.

“He's not gay,” y/n shouted out while waving around her arms at the woman.

Lisa looked him up and down, then back at her niece before mouthing the words ‘you sure?’ and Y/n slowly nodded to her family member.

Awan snapped back to reality. “That's what it means?” he shouted. “ You told me it meant I was extra sweet.” Y/n awkwardly smiled at him, shrugged her shoulders as the tall man questioned everything.

“Aww ‘M so sorry, sug.” Lisa cooed to the tall man. “How about we start over by letting ya take us out to dinner ?” The visitor asked halfway, fixing the man’s gray collar.

"Oh, of course i would love to," the tall man said with a crooked smile.

“Great, hon, give us a while to gussy ourselves up.” Anut Lisa added, partly shooing him off as Awan stood there for a moment waiting for reassurance from Y/n on the matter. Watching Awan depart, Anut Lisa swiftly turned around. “He’s right up your alley, so innocent and nerdy,” Lisa teased in a slightly giggly tone before beginning to prepare for their dinner date.

The three were sitting in an Italian restaurant, waiting for their meals. "So, Awan,” Lisa said, looking directly at the couple.

“Go easy on him,” Y/n quickly commented.

“I will. What do you do for work?” She asked intensely while closely examining the man 

"I'm an FBI agent, but feel like a paperwork robot these days."The servers brought out their food and the trio began eating.

“That sounds interesting,” Lisa declared while shifting around her food before taking a bite of pasta. “I always told lil mymy she should try to be one, but she never listens to me. Do you like it?” 

"I used to,” Awan shakily explained. “Now I'm just happy I'm allowed to pay the bills and take care of the people i care about most, like my nieces."

“What about your mom or grandma? We come from a family that takes care of one another as much as we can,” she stares intensely into the man's eyes "My daddy always taught us  that how a man treats the other women in his life is how he’ll treat ya"

" Stop it." Y/n mouthed to her Aunt, her brows pointed. Yet, Awan just wiped off his sweat, cleared his throat, loosened his tie, and spoke.

“I don’t get along with my family outside of my sisters,” Awan strongly explained plainly to the woman. “My family is difficult at times; My mother and father were not the best, and I grew up seeing a lot of relationship problems.” Awan choked back some tears as Y/n caressed his back. "But I can assure you that i will treat your niece with the utmost respect I possibly could show anyone.”  he confidently noted to the traveler. "Because my grandfather taught me how to be a gentleman regardless of my upbringing." He grabbed his girlfriend's hand and looked lovingly into her eyes

“Mh…” The dark-skinned woman nodded, then looked at her niece, easing back into her seat, then shifted her focus back to Awan to ask her final question. “What do you see when you picture a future with my June bug, huh?”

“Anutie,” Y/n blurted out, feeling like a college girl again back home in Mississippi, watching her aunt investigate the last boyfriend she brought home. “Again, we just started dating!” She clarified to the woman, hoping she would finally get the hint.  

Yet, Lisa would stare down at Awan, watching the bullet sweat roll down his tan forehead as he tried to pet them away with the napkin. 

“I-” Clearing his throat, Awan carefully took a deep breath before answering, “ I want to be with her as long as she allows me to. Give her everything she wants. Even when we weren’t dating, I know I wanted her in my life, no matter what it took to make it happen.” Mr. Bitsui looked at his girlfriend, cupping her hand into his.

“Oh, ok Awanie, so why haven’t y'all- “ Anut Lisa teasingly asked with her wine glass in hand. 

“Ok, who wants something sweet?” Y/n interjected, slapping down the dessert menu while displaying a tight smile. Lisa giggled as Awan looked puzzled at the two women.

The weekend went smoothly as Lisa, Y/N, and Awan hung around the city. He learned more about his girlfriend’s history; some He predicted, such as her being an innocent kid who ran around helping people as much as she could and a big bookworm. Yet, hearing how Y/n was a tomboy and once gave her older cousin a black eye when they were younger. Mr. Bitsui covered his mouth while he listened to the stories about his kind neighbor, never expecting such a pretty girl to be so rough. 

It was Sunday afternoon; Lisa was packing up to leave, planning to stay the final night with her sister and brother-in-law.

"I’m sorry about Aunt Lisa; she's a lot but means well tho…” She says, scratching the back of her head as she watched her daredevil aunt convince two men from the neighborhood to pack up her car by flirting as she always does.

“I get it, and I’m just happy I got to express my feelings about you,” he added. “i like it.” Awan gently pulled the woman closer by her hips, causing her to giggle before placing a kiss on his cheek.

“Aw, Sheriff,” Miss l/n sang to the tall man before being interrupted by their guest.

"Aww, how sweet. Bye Junebug. Alr, Sheriff ya passed the test, good luck on the next one.” She firmly shook his large hand. Awan's face went blank at the news. “Now, you got to meet the folk, sug, and her daddy ain’t no better." Awan instantly froze at the idea of meeting Y/n’s parents, remembering the things the woman told him about her overprotective father.

“Awan... Awan...Awanie! “ Y/n waved her hand across Awan’s face, yet no reaction.  “ Ya broke my man.” She turned and shouted to her aunt.

"Well, it was either goin be me or ya daddy,” Lisa calmly stated while Y/n continued snapping her fingers, trying to get her neighbor to come back to reality. "I’ll see y’all later. Good luck, Awanie,” she added while walking to her car. “Lord knows ya’ll need i!” Lisa said to herself as she hopped into her luxury vehicle.

“Your dad?” Awan turned to his girlfriend with his eyes popping out of his head. Y/n could feel his heart racing in his chest as his breathing intensified. “ The really scary guy in your pictures… I think I need to lie down.” Before Y/n knew it, Awan’s eyes rolled to the back of his head, and his body went limp as Miss L/n tried her hardest to hold him up while waving goodbye to the burgundy Cadillac.

Y/n swung around and saw her boyfriend on the ground. “He’s not that bad, I promise.” Miss L/n was chuckling at the tall man who was lying on the concrete.

dividers by @uzmacchiato

Taglist: @evrmoris @daughterofthesunlands @threadd-in-feelings @darkeyesshine @pomegranateas @thetaoofzoe

Awan was running his warm bathwater as he dug through the copper colored bedside table to find a pack of cigarettes. Picking up the red-and-white box, opened the lid, grabbed one, and set it between his tan and pink lips. Sparking a light on his black lighter from his nightstand, he stopped himself from firing the white stick due to a knock at the door.

It was Y/n standing there, her face heating up at the view of the sun-kissed man, in sweatpants, and shirtless, his new haircut highlighting his gorgeous features like his strong jaw as he in the ajared door "Hey, I-" Miss L/n's heart began racing as the idea of her handsome neighbor carrying her in his strong arms into the home so the two could enjoy a bath together, as she could hear the running water. The man rushed to hide the cigarette as the woman talked in a wiggling voice, "-saw this at Mr. John's store on my way back and figured you would like it." Y/n grinned at Awan as she quickly handed the man an issue of Superman, where he and his cousin, Supergirl, are fighting each other for unknown reasons, with trembling hands. "I promise I didn't pick it because of the cover." The teacher dryly giggled before clearing her throat. "Are we still having coffee tomorrow?" she asked as her brown eyes drifted off to the man's six-pack.

"Of course, I'm looking forward to it," he flipped through the page before smiling back at Y/N, "thank you for the comic, I needed it." Awan grinned.

"No problem, see ya in the morning, suga," Y/n added before turning around and opening her door. "Good night suga!"

"Good night," he went back in to turn off the water before noticing a small baggie in his porcelain white sink with a note that said,'

'A little greenie always makes bath time better!'

Awan shook his head before placing Aponi's apology in his medicine cabinet, which hid behind the sink's mirror. "Nice try," he sighed as he wrapped a hair tie around his short ponytail. Before removing his grey sweatpants and stepping into the hot, soapy water, Awan opened his medicine cabinet again, by its silver handle, to grab the small bag of weed he was sure his sister had gotten from their brother-in-law, who grew the plant as a hobby. "A cop that grows his own weed, yeah, that's not ass backward at all!" he added to prepare the herb to place into a deconstructed cigarette. Finally stepping into the porcelain bath, the man lit the homemade blunt and leaned back as the water covered him like a warm blanket. The muscles of his body release the tension built up during his argument with his sister. "Fuck, I missed you, my old friend." Awan expressed, as he watched the thin white smoke from the burning blunt dissolve into the air, before lying far back to soak in the soapy water.

The two were exiting their units before walking out of the rusty-red brick building and into the glowing daylight peeking through the gray clouds. The birds flapped their wings in the cold, crisp air as the slow-moving, gliding cars passed on the black road of the neighborhood. The ringing bells of the bicycles owned by the local kids, who ran the paper route on this side of town.

Awan and Y/n could feel their hands brushing against one another as the pair of neighbors strolled down the light gray concrete. The pink and orange sunrise filled Y/n's eyes as she could feel her face heating up at the idea of Awan's fingers interlocking with hers, as the chilling Arizona wind swept away brown and orange leaves out of their way. Yet, she noticed the man had a slight frown on his face as they continued their walk to the coffeehouse around the corner. 

Y/n swallowed her pride before asking the man what was on his mind as she gazed at him." So did you find out what your sister was hiding?" She wondered as she gripped the strap of her purse tightly, "I heard you two shouting yesterday; it sounded pretty bad." Glancing again at the towering Navajo gentleman, while giving him a comforting smile. 

"Yeah," Awan positioned his hands in the pockets of the cream-colored dress pants, letting out a huge sigh as he did so. "She's seeing our dad again, has been for a few months now." He halfway smiled at the woman as they walked along the sidewalk. "She missed the rez too much, I can't blame her for that." He pauses for a brief moment, taking in a short intake of breath before questioning the dark-brown lady, "How was the first week back, tho?"

"I'm hoping this week's better," she said, her expression easing into a peaceful gaze as her grip loosened on her bag, finding it quite amusing that a man could be so calm and collected in the midst of anger. Awan opened the door for her as she scrolled into the coffeehouse, with the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and hints of caramel and hazelnut creamer floating through the air. 

Miss L/n placed her order for a small cappuccino with extra creamer and sugar, topped with whipped cream. The man who accompanied her ordered a half-and-half coffee with a muffin for breakfast. "My kids are unique to say the least." She stated while pulling out her large brown wallet; however, the man quickly paid for the order. Awan brushed off the woman, not wanting a thank-you for the small act, directing her to continue with her answers to the questions, while making themselves comfortable at a table in the center of the large room, "Thanks. One of my students set a kid's whole comic collection on fire because they stole one of their issues." Miss L/N stated, while watching her neighbor smile and grin at the thought of some kid taking action into their own hands over their love for comic books, as the waiter placed down their drinks. "Stop smiling," she scolded, wiggling her index finger at him as she took her Brown coffee mug in hand. All the men could do was stare at the woman with googly eyes as she wore a concerned look, but soon she smiled with him, too. 

"Hey, I can't blame the kid," He clarified while stirring his half-and-half coffee as he added a pack of refined sugar into the mug. "I would do it too if I were him!"

"Her, you can't blame her." The fourth-grade teacher clarified to the gentleman as she took a sip of her cappuccino. "She seems like a good kid, tho, might have some trouble at home, but I don't know, I try not to make assumptions about my students, especially during the first month," she stated while patting a napkin around her lips, catching the excess liquid left without ruining her makeup. "But she's not even the worst one. I have a few kids who call their parents by their first name because they believe in 'free range' parenting. "

"What's wrong with that?" He questioned with raised eyebrows. 

"It's full of bullshit, it's just an excuse People use to get out of parenting. "Miss Y/n continues explaining conflicting views on the parenting style. Telling the man how she believes that some of their ways are good and practical when used correctly, however, many use the phrase as a way to to create entitled kids who don't know how to function in society or have at least some respect for humankind "For instance I had this one kid made the biggest mess during our First week back party you know. "She called for a moment, making the most disappointed and stank face Awan ever saw. "Tell me why this little boy told me he wasn't going to clean it, because and I quote that 'cleaning up wasn't part of his job, it was mine,' when I tell you I almost popped a little boy upside his head so fast." 

He laughed at his country friend as she continued, wide-eyed with concern, "You want me to come down there and talk some sense into them." Mr. Bitsui playfully offers," I'll wear my badge and my most Serious face, he makes a funny face, creating the woman's smile 

"Oh, Sheriff, you sure know how to make them scared-", Y/n pulled out her sage green planner and flipped to October. "Actually, would you come during October? I'm planning to do a native lesson for history, and what better than having a real native to speak?" She flipped through her red history folder, where her lesson plans were." Plus, it would be so good if the kids meet ya since most of them are color, I want them to see someone like them in a high-paying job." She held a bright orange number two pencil in her hand. "No pressure, of course, you are a busy man."

"Y/n," He put his hand on her, looking deeply into her brown eyes, before smiling so that all his teeth showed. "I would be honored to," he jerked back his large hand as heat rose to his face, "Tell me the date."

"Great, I'll see if some of the other teachers would join too, they all love stuff like this, thank ya, Sheriff."

"Of course!"

"Now tell me, which one of those two troublemakers got you that Superman wallet if yours?" Y/n asked, arching an eyebrow, noting back to the brown Superman wallet he pulled out when paying the polite cashier.

"Cheyenne," he replied with a laugh, remembering the day she gifted it to him. "It was the first gift she ever got me." Awan giggled. "She was four and staying with me because Chenoa had a bad case of the flu. Yet she does what she always does best at, keeping up with her anti-swearing duties, so I promised her I would take her to the store and let her pick up anything because she won so much money." He told, "when we got there, she told me to wait outside. She'd be right back, so of course, I watched from the window, and when she came back out with a little gift box, and when I looked inside it was my Superman wallet."

"Aw, that's adorable," Y/n added with a poked out lip.

"Yeah, those two can be sweet when they want to be!" Awan teased, noticing a bit of whipped cream on her face. "Hey, you got a little something on you." Miss L/n would use her tan napkin to wipe the whipped cream off her face. Yet, the woman would miss during every attempt she made, causing Awan to remove it for her, so he brushed his thumb against the rim of her thick lips.  Staring long into her eyes, she could feel her face warming as a slight twinkle in her eyes, and Awan's eyebrow eased into a smile while his thumb continued to Caress the woman's cheek. His hand would jump back as they heard the front doorbell ring, making the Angert chick his watch and clear his throat. "We should go," Miss l/n softly replied with a 'yes' before grabbing her purse.

Awan stepped off the metal-and-wood elevator, rudely greeted by his so-called partner.

"Hey, ready for work today, or are you still too busy living in?" Nina asked Awan, but stopped mid-sentence as she finally noticed the change in his appearance as he drank the last drops of his half-and-half coffee. "What fuck happened to your hair?" She shouted, causing the workers of the Berua to turn for a brief moment and stare at the two. Yet the Navajo man looked puzzled at Agent Hayes as he continued drinking his coffee. 

The blonde secretary, striding, attempted to greet Anget Bitsui at the entrance. "Cheyenne or Chenoa?" Jessica calmly asked, while shifting through paperwork, about the man who created the chip designed to track dogs. Yet, the creation was being brainwashed and controlling Joey Ellis, their suspect, before handing them to Nina.

"Both of them got into a fight about who could do my hair, and my ponytail was collateral damage, "Awan states, throwing the cream disposal cup into the silver trash can." You'll see my old pony framed in the shop tomorrow at 2!"

"Oh, thank you!" Jessica cheered to her friend with a large grin." How mad was she tho?" She swiftly changed her expression by dropping her face.

"Kinda saw it coming, but still pretty upset since she worked pretty hard to keep this hair in good condition." Awan calmly added.

"Oof looks good tho." Jessica smiled as Nina crossed her arms.

"Can we do our jobs?" Miss Hayes interrupted as the group broke apart. A co-worker called Jessica's name as Awan began walking to his desk. "Funny, how you let disobedient kids mess up your hair, and yet you still wouldn't get rid of them for an hour to work." She commented as you mind asleep, following behind him: "Sounds like your little babysitting duty did more harm than good for you."  What are you doing anyway? "He was sitting at an oak desk, pulling out a pink sheet of paper that was a form for vacation request, as a man had a mountain of days to use—quickly scribbling down the days as Agent Hayes stood beside him, hovering over his shoulder as he did so. The man jumped up and strolled over to the empty tinned mail slot used for request forms. 

"Put in for some time off, problem?"

"No, you never thought you would take vacation time, ever.

"Well, it's a new day." He added, slightly shrugging his shoulder as he walked back to his desk to unpack his new leather boy bag, gifted by his sister, Aponi, for his recently passed birthday. Yet Awan could feel eyes burning a hole in him as he strode onto the black marble floor, especially those of the office secretaries. Some were biting their lips, as others were twirling their hair as they whispered to one another about Awan's newest hairstyle.

A tall brunette woman, working as one of the bureau secretaries, flirtatiously waved at the tall Navajo fellow as he passed by, "Hey, Awan." Jen, agent Abbott's sister-in-law, who had recently divorced, let out a low, throaty voice as she observed him.

"Oh, hi, "he flatly greeted before continuing to walk towards his desk. Yet,Nina rolled her eyes and slapped her teeth at the woman's sudden attempts at flirting with her partner.

“You’re late!” Theresa squeaked as Y/n enter the fluorescently lit teacher lounge, decorated in inspirational quotes on the corroded brick walls, a chalkboard filled with essential days such as due dates for report cards, holidays countdowns and teacher work days, As well as a kitchenette primarily used to make coffee for all to enjoy throughout the day and a green fridge holding teachers’ lunches, they would not eat due to their busy schedule. Y/n was checking her blue mail slot for any flyers about upcoming school events.

“Um.” She stopped for a moment, considering what to say to her black-haired, purple-streaked friend as she examined the mail space, checking for her last name, since she could never remember exactly where hers was. Most of the time, one of her students did it for her, since it was a classroom chore. “I had coffee with a friend. She confidently let out to her nosy friend as she picked up a yellow flyer out of her slot.

“You mean your fine neighbor, what was his name, Mr.Bitsui?” Theresa let out with a smirk as she eyed her friend before continuing to grade her students’ reading logs from the previous summer.

She turns to her friend and place her hands onto the gray counter as she puffed out to the Brunette woman “He’s a friend and just a friend, you know a woman and man can do that right” Miss l/n’s eyes widen at Theresa, Who was carefully blinking rapidly at Y/n Before taking a tiny sip of black coffee from her off white mug. 

“Mhm, so can couples!” Theresa clarified in a firm voice, her big-framed glasses positioned on the bridge of her nose, and a sharp red ballpoint pencil in her right hand, tapping on the white round table.

“You’ve been watching too many noir films again.” The Mississippi Woman told her friend, in a concerned tone as she raised her eyebrow, “Anyway, I got him on board to give a speech during our native American week at the end of October.”

“Yes, I get an extra planning period before fall break,” she cheered, fist-pumping the air. “Thank you, my sweet angel sent from above," she praised Y/n before running up to give her a bear hug." Now tell me more about this coffee date. “

She rolled her neck before pointing toward the exit. “Go to class,’ Y/n cheeseed before it's telling her friend all the details about her lovely coffee day with ‘the  Navajo Gentleman, ’ as they nicknamed him.

"And why were you late today anyway? "The female FBI agent asked her partner as she drove closer to his mother's home." I mean, I thought we agreed that we would always be on time, especially now that we're so close to figuring out this case." Agent Hayes Express as she made a sharp turn into a cul-de-sac where Awan's mother stayed  

He looked at her with raised eyebrows and parted lips. "I never agreed to that," he explained, squinting. "And I was busy before I got here, I mean, it's Monday after all. "Nina pulled into the driveway, parking the blue vehicle before sighting out to the Navajo man and unlocking her door. Awan stopped for a brief moment, taking in a long but sharp inhale before grabbing his dusty-colored cowboy hat from the back seat, then exited the vehicle, slamming the door before power walking to the main entrance of the two-story Mediterranean home.

"Just know my step-dad is a bit nerdy." Awan clarified to his FBI partner with lower eyelids before aggressively knocking on the front door

"Yeah, that's not saying a lot coming from you, you know that, right?" Nina added a little more before the charcoal, but the door swung open. Being greeted by a not-so-distant Stranger in Awan's life 

"AWANIE, my sweet baby boy." Kelly chirped out before taking her youngest son into a big bear hug, with the biggest smile plastered on her face. "How are you, my sweet boy?" The dirty blonde woman cooed out to her large son as she poked out her bottom lip as if she were talking to a toddler. "I've missed you so much," she continued, smooching up to him, hoping her son would let her kiss his cheek as she would when he was younger.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" The man broke away from the embrace as he asked, "Should you be at work?" He questioned, tilting his head to the side

"No, I'm letting the new girl train." She explained with a wink, motioning for the two FBI agents as they entered her home, "I needed to see you, dear, you never visit us anymore."  Is this your partner? Hi, I'm Kelly Washington." She extended her hand for the female FBI agent to shake 

"Nina Hayes, you look familiar. Have we met before? "Nina added, as she shook the pale woman's hand. 

"Well, I am the best weather reporter Arizona or America has ever seen," Miss Washington firmly stated, standing tall, placing her hands on her hips.

"Where's Tim?" Awan firmly questioned, with a sharp tone of voice, as he examined the home, seeing, most of all, pictures of him and his two sisters, plus his stepbrother, whom Awan had barely seen since his high school days. 

"In his study," She motioned her right hand towards the grand stairway. Yet "Are you staying for lunch?" She quickly questioned her son. 

No, we're on the clock-"  He tried to clarify, yet Awan was interrupted by his partner, who answered for him by stepping up to be between him and his mother. 

"Yes, of course we can." Nina smiled tightly at the man, nodding, trying to get him to play along. 

"Perfect, I like you already." Kelly smiled at the Baltimore woman, shimming her shoulders, before strolling off to continue preparing  lunch

Tim was sitting in his office, which was a make-shift science lab, with many test tubes filled with chemicals and liquids across the room, and many papers filled with scribbled notes, as a small, brunette man sat at the lush red office desk,  which was custom-made in Italy for a pretty penny. Dr. Tim was examining a framed photo of a past life while sighing out, reminiscing about what life could have been if he hadn't made the mistakes he did. 

The scientific man jumped out of his chair at the sound of the sliding doors to his office beginning to move. Rushing to meet his company at the door, he saw all his once long-haired step-son and partner waiting for him with a bit of a grin plastered on each other's faces.

"Awan!" he shouted playfully as he hid the picture of his son, his ex-fiance, and him in the drawer nearest to him, as it was the last picture he would ever take with the two of them.  Did you get bigger or did I get shorter? It doesn't matter." The scientist greeted the Navajo agent with a slap on Awan's stomach, causing him to gasp a bit at the man's punch. "Hi Nina, it's nice to put a name to a face. Awan is very proud to call you his partner." "Are you staying for lunch? "

"Yes, sir, can you help us with this paperwork?" Mr. Bitsui communicated, handing Tim the vanilla folder.

"Of course." The scientist places his thick, jet-black glasses, enhancing the people in his emerald green eyes to make them appear larger than they are. Examining the paperwork in great detail and formulating his hypothesis on the recent discovery. 

Soon after the three discussed the information and intricate points, these two detectives were sitting at The Washington's lovely marble-and-gold dinner table, sharing lunch. 

"So tell me about yourself, Miss Hayes. Wow, I love to see a well-rounded woman like myself, single by any chance?" Kelly questioned as she cut up the fish into smaller pieces before consuming the dish. "Our awanie needs a date to his sister's wedding this spring." She expressed with a smirk on her face, looking back and forth between the two agents as her husband's head fell into his gold-trimmed plate.

"Oh, I assumed all of his sisters were already married since he was the youngest." Nina had a slightly dazed expression before taking a bite of her unseasoned salmon, which tasted very raw in the middle.

"Awan again?' The older woman took a sharp inhale as her deep blue eyes narrowed toward her youngest son, who quickly darted in Nina's direction. "You didn't tell her about your brother either." Kelly Scolded, her head tilting as her jaw began to tighten 

"He's not my brother, he's a cousin," He firmly demanded as he darted directly at his mother's dim blue eyes. Tim was shaking in his seat, as he usually does, before clearing his throat and trying to sit straight as the minor disagreement continued. 

"Richardson is, and will always be, your brother, Awan." Kelly rushed out, holding her silver salad fork tightly. "Why do you always have to make things so problematic like that, sister of yours? I thought you were my good boy, sweet and obedient, just like I raised you to be. "She expressed as her son's hand began to ball up into a fist, as his eyebrows arched down, creating a valley or wrinkles on his tan face. "I don't understand why you want to put your mother through so much pain and agony, when all I'm trying to do is be here for you!" Miss Washington expressed to her son as the blue veins in her neck began to appear. "I mean, seriously, have you thought about how I feel regarding the whole situation between your sister and me?" She added, while holding her face as her long fingers held up her forehead. Sighing before dropping her fork to grab her large wineglass with sparkling water to take a sip. "How heartbreaking it is to know that three out of my four kids don't want to see me anymore, because of what? My career choices or my opinions on personal mistakes you kids have made ?"

"Sorry, Mom. "Awan took a deep breath and apologized with some sympathetic tones lingering in his voice.

The room fell silent. The ticking of the grandfather clock, the noise of a high definition color TV set playing the local Phoenix news, which was showing Katherine reporting on Arizona's weather, playing in the Distance as the four silently ate lunch 

"How is that savage sister of yours anyway?" Kelly answered because Awan's jaw clenched, "Sorry, wild- fierce, better?" She rolled her dark blue eyes. Continuing to eat her garden salad, taking a bit." I don't understand why everyone is so touchy about a word all of a sudden, "she said, covering her mouth. I used to say it all the time back when I was younger to anyone and everyone." Miss Washington clarified as she ate her food 

"We've talked about this, Mom, you know why!" Awan puffed out as he placed his forehead into a palm, and  his jaw began to tighten 

"Watch your tone. I am your mother, and you will show me some respect when you converse with me, especially in my home. Honestly, I'm still hurt. You haven't called or seen me in months. I thought I was important to you, awanie. "His blonde mother was beginning to tear up from him, practically shouting in a polite tone at her disobedient son. 

"I've been busy." The male FBI agent clarifies to his mother in a high-pitched tone.

"You weren't that busy if you had time to babysit!" The female FBI agent cleverly slipped in as she was taking a sip of bubbly Water 

"Babysit, when?" Kelly asked with wide eyes.

"Look, we need to go, "The Bitsui man clarified, jumping out of the seat as he jerked the napkin from the collar of his shirt. 

"Awan, I'm not done with you. Plus, you need to eat more, as you seem to be slimming down." "No woman will ever pick you if you're so thin. You could start going  back to the gym as I suggested a while ago."

"And on that note, let's go." Awan popped out of his golden chair. "Bye, Mom, Tim." He frowned before heading toward the double doors.

The car ride was silent, and the only sound audible was the radio playing slow jams, Temptations Ain't No Love " on the Rolling Stones' Aggregates Street in Phoenix. Awan would stare out the window, his eyebrows glued together as his mouth made a firm frown. Agent Hayes gazed over to her partner, who wouldn't dare to look at her, causing Nina to rest her head on her left fist as she kept cruising down the road until turning into the parking lot of their office.

"Did you seriously feel the need to tell my mother I was babysitting recently?" Awan asked Miss Hayes as he unbuckled with his cream colored seat belt 

"What I thought your mama deserved to know, it's not fair to punish her because of your dad. She seems pretty lovely, caring, and supportive." She clarified while turning the key to shut off the car

"Nina, if you knew the whole story, you wouldn't think that!"

"Well, I'm listening," she stated, resting a gentle hand on his forearm. "  Look, I know you're still mad about Saturday, but you have to understand where I'm coming from and how serious this is." She graved, making steady contact with the sun-kissed man as he tried to avoid her Glaring stare. "Most of us can't just live in a fantasy, as you do with those comic books, Awan! Waiting around for some magical moment to take action, like some kid, will get you nowhere in life." She explained, letting go of the man as he signed out, " I mean, Jim and I would've figured something out by now. 

"From now on, we should take separate cars."He's demands, rolling his eye and puffing through flared nostrils as he placed his hand onto the silver car handle

"See, now you're avoiding the issue just like a child, Jim said you would," the woman shouted, smacking her thigh as she did so before pointing her finger at him.

"So where is he?" He asked in a lower tone, noting that the dirty blonde man had been absent all day without contacting anyone to explain his reason. "Mhm, where's Jim right now, huh?" He asked again, raising his voice as he leaned in closer to Nina with wide, brown eyes, " Is that why you wanted to have lunch with my mama, to waste time until Jim showed up again, so you two could take credit for my intel? Because it's clear as day you don't want to work with me anymore." The Navajo man yelled at the woman, his eyebrow arching. 

"Awan," Nina tried to explain in a shaky voice, yet could feel herself tripping over her words, as she was attempting to communicate herself to the man, yet was quickly interrupted, " That's not true. Jim has-"

"has better insight on how to handle this than I do?" The Navajo gentleman jumped out of the woman's vehicle, slamming the door behind him as he urgently dug into his cream colored pockets for his keys.  Nina followed after him as she was trying to come up with the words to say to the man, as her parted lips would not speak while moving closer to Mr.Bitsui."The guy who didn't go to the academy or hasn't been in any school for almost 30 years, and has absolutely no experience in anything outside of driving a gangster's car and lying on his back in a bed that isn't his?"He shouted out, his voice carrying for miles through the empty parking lot, as the fluorescent street lights lit the space. 

Awan would put the key in and open the door to his midnight black vehicle as Nina stood next to him, tears swelling in her Brown hazel eyes. "Awan, listen to me." She slammed the door, trying to get the man's attention again, as the brown pupils of her eyes rapidly looked at him. 

"No, save it, I'm done," Awan yelled with a wide stance as he jerked her hand away from his car. "First thing in the morning, I'm telling Abbott to remove me from this case." He got closer to her, making her step back with terror in her eyes, as she no longer recognized the man she was standing in front of. "And you know, Nina Hayes, you're really a hypocrite,"  Awan yelled, pointing his index finger at the short woman. "You say you play to win, but you're really playing for glory and validation,"  he added before entering his car.

The engine revving caused Agent Hayes to run away from the midnight-black vehicle quickly. Roaring throughout the space, as Hayes stood in front of her blue vehicle, hyperventilating as she watched Awan speed out of the empty parking lot of the bureau as if he were racing in NASCAR. Nina would drop down to the ground, doing a rapid round of push-ups before jumping up, screeching at the top of her lungs, then kicking the tire of her car. 

Thanks for reading.