#boatbuilt

SC. ── they'd  offered  him  a  position  at  another  firehouse.  that  was  what  he'd  been  called  into  boden's  office  for  -  one  year  after  taking  (  +  passing  )  the  lieutenant's  exam,  months  after  giving  up  on  asking  about  a  new  post  entirely,  +  it'd  just  landed  in  his  lap  like  a  gift  horse  who's  mouth  he  shouldn't  look  into.  he  should've  been  excited,  an  immediate  yes  !  falling  from  his  lips  before  they  could  even  get  the  rest  of  the  offer  out,  but  he  found  himself  haunted  at  the  prospect  of  having  to  decide.  hesitancy  burrowed  deep  within  his  bones  +  turned  what  could've  been  a  quiet  evening  spent  tucked  away  in  his  office  with  jay  into  one  that  had  him  metaphorically  running  when  he noticed  the  window  had  been  left  open.

fingers  twist  the  hem  of  his  shirt  between  them  in  an  unconscious  effort  to  grasp  at  a  thought  long  enough  to  make  sense  of  it.  really  make  sense  of  it.  part  of  him  believed  that  if  he  did  he'd  have  an  answer;  one  that  made  sense  ...  that  left  him  feeling  whole.  instead  he  sat  atop  the  rig  for  far  longer  than  he  meant  to  +  got  lost  in  it  all.  so  lost  that  he  hadn't  seen  stella  (  @boatbuilt  )  make  herself  comfortable  across  him,  hadn't  noticed  the  way  she  stared  until  it  got  under  his  skin  +  burned.  but  by  then  he  was  ready  to  talk  (  +  even  if  he  wasn't  he'd  already  jumped  ship  +  opened  his  mouth  to  start  ).  ❛   so  uh..  a  -  a  lieutenant  position  opened  up  at  the  53  this  week.   ❜ 

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀new orleans felt different without its apex predator — quieter, but not calmer⠀(he doubted the city of new orleans would ever be quiet).⠀slowing at the edge of the quarter, though eyes look around. it's still familiar. still has that second home kind of feeling, and he'd be lying if he didn't say he missed that. he has no need to announce himself until he reaches the compound, and when he does, he lets his voice carry just enough to be heard.⠀❛ i’m not here to cause trouble, ❜⠀he says easily with a small chuckle following the words.⠀❛ just stoppin' by to say hi. ❜ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀—⠀for @boatbuilt's rebekah from emmett.

He rolls his bottom lip between his teeth, mouth twisting.

God, doesn't he know. Robby's certain his whole life is better forgotten, shoved somewhere deep and quiet. Away from the world, away from the hospital. Away from everything.

Sometimes, he thinks he needs a fresh start. A new name, maybe. A new city, at the very least. A chance to start over.

"Uh," Buck squeaks, panic in his eyes.

Sure, there's an explanation for his current state, covered in shaving cream and half naked. It's a perfectly reasonable explanation. Unfortunately for him, Buck's brain has gone offline.

He wipes the shaving cream off his mouth, trying not to gag at the chemically taste.

" do i have to rock a beard for you to get the hint ? " an impatient eyebrow arches, the bag in her hand swiftly placed on top of the nurses' station. in it, his favorite cologne, a coffee mug reading 'i can't fix stupid, but i can make it pretty' adorned by scalpel illustrations, plus a bottle of twenty year old single malt irish whiskey – it did come widely recommended. " i don't know what got you on that nice list, but i smell foul play. " still, she hopes it's a nice treat – definitely nicer than the damn bag of coals that was tempting her while she was out shopping. arms fold across her chest, sporting a self satisfied smile as she waits for him to look inside. of course, it's not until he gets to the bottom of the bag that she remembers she'd also thrown a couple of condoms in there – as if she could've possibly helped herself. " what ?? " lois asks with as much innocence as she can muster, trying to keep her amusement under the lid of a more serious demeanor. " you know i'm all about spreading holiday cheer, sloan, but someone's gotta make sure you do it responsibly. "

" so, you know what i'm about to do, right ? " queen of misdirection, she stands in the doorway, leaning back & watching as he inevitably glances at the mistletoe hanging between them & draws his own conclusions. she's not inclined to make it that easy. " nuh-uh, don't smirk. this is no smirking matter, my friend ! i'm here to finally give you a piece of my mind. i've given you half an hour & you don't seem to find anything wrong with this picture, which is ludicrous, by the way, so i obviously need to say something. " she goes on, eyebrows arched as though she expects him to already be aware of the error of his ways. " you're wearing a suit. " & he sticks out like a sore thumb. " you came to my fun, casual, ugly christmas sweater party in a suit – why would you do that ? do they take away your harvey-mobile if you loosen that tie for one night ? can you even loosen it ? " & to make her point, working in the much awaited segue, she reaches over, taking hold of that stubborn knot. " let's see here... " she wiggles it once, twice, then pulls in one swift motion, urging him to meet her halfway for a kiss. she keeps it soft & sweet, smiling against his lips as she manages to distract him long enough for that tie to actually release its hold on him. her smile gets a little brighter as she pulls away. & it's only partly because she's proud of herself. " thank me later. "

Clark reaches around her, grabbing a butter knife from the drawer so he can spread cream cheese on their bagels. In the mornings, he handles the food while Lois makes their coffees.

He's certain Lois makes it the best.