#cazoo

Get it, because they're... ok sorry 🤣

Yeah idk I saw this pose a while ago and I was having bad Cazoo brainrot so I thought of them. The oval office desk was an afterthought.

It was a known fact that Casey always woke up early.

It had been a habit ever since her teens, when Dex had a tendency to wake her at 6am and drag her to a diner to discuss tactics. Sometimes her nightmares were so bad that by dawn there was no point going back to sleep. Sometimes she didn't wrap up warm enough and the chilly breeze of a Stilwater morning would rouse her. Sometimes she found herself having made the horrible mistake of actually having gone home with one of her one-night stands instead of nailing them at the club, and had to sneak out. Whatever the reason, she was an early riser, but not happy about it; she almost always woke disgruntled.

But this morning, she woke not recalling any nightmares. Not desperate to escape. Not even cold. Satisfied, well-rested, and overall very content. A slightly buzzy feeling in her head from a now very hazy night of heavy drinking. A familiar, almost nostalgic scent. A pleasant warmth all around her. She was too comfortable and too hungover to even open her eyes, so instead the events of the previous night began rolling in.

The Saints fame had taken a sharp upward curve recently thanks to their newest brand deal. Saints Flow; their very own energy drink. Tasted like shit, of course, but it was going to pay some pretty big bills. Ultor had them throw a huge party at the Mega Condo to celebrate. Attendance not optional.

It wasn’t that she disliked parties, not by a long shot, it was more that she didn’t like being right at the centre of attention. She preferred standing around the food and booze, watching a few strippers, stepping out for some air when it got too much. Schmoozing with strangers, not so much. Friendly as she was, she was still somewhat of an introvert.

She was so, so, so tired by the end of it. Early riser meant early to bed if she wanted any sleep, and the fact that contractually she and her co-leader had to stay for the whole thing meant it was way past her usual bedtime when everyone left, and even then, the stress of it meant that she and Zoo had found themselves kicking off their shoes and settling on a couch on the upper floor to wind down afterwards. A few moments of peace. One last drink. One last smoke.

Casey didn’t technically smoke. Well she obviously did, but it was always by bumming cigarettes, she never bought them. The shit with her mom had set her attitude on this for life. A habit could easily turn into an addiction, and the next thing you knew, you were dependant forever. Whenever she saw that looming danger, she chose to swerve it. But everyone was allowed the occasional moment of weakness. She even bought lighters so if someone asked for a light she could ask for a cigarette in return. But not a single pack, so she was forced to rely on her friends in this regard.

Shaundi had cut down on all forms of smoking now she was trying to get sober, Johnny didn't always have them on him, and while Zoo did share pretty generously, he always seemed to hold it over her when she came to him for one. Eventually handing her one, yes, but not before making jokes. Teasing her. Making her ask nicely or downright beg just to fuck with her. But Pierce was reliable enough to always have a pack, and generous enough to share without making a big deal out of it.

Pierce had already left, though, so she was forced to resort to asking her fellow Boss. He was drunk enough not to make a big enough deal of it on this occasion. Until he discovered there was only one left in the pack, and then suddenly he didn’t seem to be feeling so generous.

“Sorry Cass. I need it more than you do.”

“Zach...” she complained, pouting at him and clasping her hands in her lap a little.

“Push your tits together all you like, love, I’m not sharing.” he replied, tossing the empty packet back on the table.

“What? I wasn’t... I'm not...”. She glanced downward. “OK, that was not deliberate.” she claimed, crossing her arms over her chest while he sat there chuckling at her.

“You look nice tonight.” he remarked gruffly as he clasped the cigarette in his mouth and grabbed the lighter she’d bought him specifically as a thank you for allowing her, in his words, "fag nicking" behaviour. He lit it and eyed her up slowly in unison with his first draw on it. Almost like she was the one he was inhaling.

“Thanks?” she replied, peering down at the shimmering folds of purple that draped her curves, and then back at him. “I mean... so do you.”.

Zoo rolled his eyes, obviously not very much in agreement, and loosened up his tie to the extreme. “Complete bollocks, all this Saints Flow shit, isn’t it?”

“I guess.” she replied noncommittally. He was right, in a way, but right now she was very much drawn in by the money it could bring them. The fame itself didn't hold so much appeal but the sheer power she stood to gain from it... that was pretty exciting. Her fingers twitched thinking about it. Her eyes fixed on the glowing tip of the cigarette. “Y’know I really think you should share.” she said in the firm voice she often used for negotiations.

“Fuck off.” he said jokingly, amused rather than serious. “I fucking bought it.”

“Yeah, with OUR money.” she pointed out. She gave a frustrated sigh. “C’mon Zach, you know how bad I need it when I’m wasted.”

“Oh you need it that bad, do you love?” he asked with an eyebrow raised, having picked up on a double entendre there.

“God... shut up...” she complained, the slightest tingle of a blush creeping across her face at accidentally giving him that power, then looked him in the eyes. As hazel met hazel, his resolve seemed to soften a little. His eyes didn't have the greenish hint of hers. They glowed almost amber. “...Please?” she added as a final attempt to break it, before downing the last of her whiskey rather quickly and putting her glass down.

He sighed.“Y’know what? I’m not sharing, but we can do the usual.” he suggested with a shrug.

‘The usual’ was not so usual anymore considering she’d worked out how much easier it was to ask Pierce, but it certainly used to be a regular transaction between them. A ritual they engaged in whenever she'd “quit” multiple times a couple of years ago. They both knew the score. He'd take a long drag. She'd open her mouth. He’d blow in the smoke. She’d inhale it and they’d draw away. Maybe she wasn’t technically getting much nicotine, but the scent, the taste... somehow it was enough, most times.

“Alright.” she replied somewhat eagerly, sliding a little closer to him on the couch, hoping it’d give her that little cherry-on-top buzz she craved alongside the booze.

Maybe the time that had lapsed since they last did this was why everything seemed slower. Clumsier. Closer. A long, hard drag during which his eyes were fixed on her again. His hand on her face, his thumb parting her lips, her tongue running along her teeth a little before she fully opened her mouth. Him blowing in the smoke, longer, closer, deeper. The gold in their eyes molten with heat, rising, flowing into each other.

They didn't draw away. The gap closed rather than widened, the smoke was replaced by tongues, and the second half of that oh-so-precious final cigarette was left to fall to the floor, burning a small hole in the carpet as both sets of hands found themselves occupied by faces, shoulders, waists, hips, chests, asses, thighs...

Oh fuck. She sighed, shaking her head. Of course the scent was familiar; it was one she’d known for over 7 years now, at least if you counted the coma. Of course she was warm, their bodies were still intertwined under the soft covers of one of the beds in the crib. Most obviously of all, of course she felt satisfied. She opened her eyes slightly and was practically blinded by the light. Nonetheless, her theory was confirmed by a blur of pale skin and messy black hair in front of her.

“Zach...” she mumbled, her voice coming out in more of a groan that she expected.

“Hmm... Cass?” he responded, barely moving, actually nestling into her hair a little at first rather than startling.

“Yeah.” she confirmed. “I uh... I think we fucked last night.”. She could barely keep her eyes open so she leaned into his shoulder a little. It was just too fucking bright.

“Oh... for fucks sake...” he complained in only mild annoyance, his low cockney grumble a little raspier than usual. “You sure?”

“What do you...? Yeah I’m fuckin’ sure!” she replied indignantly. “You don’t remember?”

“Errrr....” he replied, screwing his eyes shut before opening them back up with a slightly confused look. “I remember snogging you. For fucking ages.”

“Yeah we were makin’ out like fuckin’ snails because we were fuckin’ exhausted.” she recalled matter-of-factly.

“That’s a lovely image that is.” he said sarcastically, drawing back to look at her properly. “Look, do you actually remember us fucking ‘cause...” he shut his eyes and covered them with one hand, rubbing at his temples. “Fuck me it’s bright in here.’

“Yeah, that’s what we call morning Zach, y’know, the time when you usually finally manage to crash?” she teased.

“Oh, thanks a lot.” he complained sarcastically.

Maybe that was a little harsh of her, considering half the time he didn’t actually sleep at all, and that she too, was struggling to keep her eyes open. But she didn’t feel best pleased at either him or herself right now.

You had to have boundaries on this sort of thing. Not because she wasn’t somewhat attracted to him. If she met him in a bar she’d be dragging him to a bathroom stall halfway through the first drink. But they were close friends. Really close. She couldn’t think of many things more dangerous than sleeping with someone you had an actual emotional bond with.

They’d made out on occasion before when things got too intense, but it was like they were both instinctively picking the best times to get it out of their systems without complicating things. Times when it was unlikely to turn into more; in the street after an intense battle, in the corner of a party where another Saint was bound to interrupt them, in an elevator between intense negotiations. They didn’t speak about it, really, there was no real need. It worked for them, that little taste of something forbidden.

“God, we’re so stupid, this was always gonna happen, wasn’t it?” she sighed. “Not like people don’t rag on us enough about it.”

The boyfriend and girlfriend assumptions and jokes were constant amongst allies and enemies alike. They were pretty thankful they were young enough that it wasn't husband and wife yet. That didn’t stop it grating on them both.

“I mean... maybe. “I'd like to think I’d remember it though.”. he pointed out softly. He paused. “I’d like to think you’d remember it.”

“Hmm... true...” she admitted slowly. She’d always thought if they did cross that line it'd be something pretty sensational. “I mean...”. She attempted to rethink. “We are both fully clothed.”

“My tie's off.” he remarked, thumbing at his open shirt collar.

“Sure; tie, underwear, that’s the same thing.” she retorted.

“No need to get so sarky love, I’m just trying to figure it out.” he replied a little more grumpily.

“Right, I... I guess.” she sighed. “Would you have even been able to get it up?” she teased a little.

“You asked me that last night.” he recalled.

“You uh...” she panted as she pulled away to take a breath, well aware he was as wasted as she was. “You sure you can get it up?”

He smirked, gave an aroused chuckle and grabbed her ass tighter, pulling her right onto his lap.

“Woah, yeah, OK, that was not an issue, holy shit!” she replied rapidly, flustered.

He laughed a little. “Yeah.”. He surveyed her face and then frowned. “Are you blushing?” he said almost incredulously. There was no way he hadn't seen her blush over the years, but it certainly wasn't that frequent.

“Can we keep gettin’ to the bottom of this, please?” she asked abruptly blushing harder from him alerting her to it, shaking her head and looking away from him a little.

He turned her face back to him slowly and brushed the strands of hair she’d managed to wiggle all over her face back, his eyes searching as if to jog his memory. “I know you... you were cold and... I took you over to the bed.” he recalled.

She gave a soft exhale of amusement. “No Zach, I told you I was cold so you’d take me over to the bed.” she admitted.

Zoo rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Can’t blame me for falling for that one, you’re always bloody cold.” he pointed out. So was he, a lot of the time, so she knew it was likely to work.

It was a line, for sure, but she was admittedly a little chilly too. So it was kind of nice when he scooped her up with a smirk and took her into the bedroom. He laid her down and ran a hand down her body, looking a little dizzy as he parted her legs with an odd fascination, then pulled the covers over them both as he brought himself down on top of her. When the fabric was out of his hands he took hold of her wrists and kissed her again.

“You... pinned me to the bed...” she said a little breathily. Unsurprisingly enough a little of the heady feeling he’d invoked by doing that was spilling over to this very moment.

“You alright there, love?” he asked, picking up on her tone, his eyes burning into her intently.

“Yeah.” she complained, shaking it off, though her heart still seemed to be running that little bit faster. “But... we’d drank a lot and I eat so much at parties so I... felt kinda sick...” she recalled.

“Do you wanna... stop?” he asked. He rolled off her so they were facing each other.

“No fuckin’ way.” she panted, grabbing at his tie and pulling it off over his head. Her fingers worked at his top two buttons as her cheeks flushed a deep red at how pathetic what she was about to say was likely to sound. “Just... go slow, OK?”

“Of course, love...” he agreed, pulling her flush with him with a hand on her lower back and kissing her again. She brought one hand to his face, dancing from his cheek to his jaw to his neck and back up again, her other hand navigating to his chest through his shirt, the pleasing feel of his skin inclining her to wrap a leg around him, bringing their crotches together and causing him to emit an aroused growl. His hand was still firmly at her back, his other running up her thigh.

They were still incredibly turned on but it was no longer the frantic race to become one now they were both more comfortable. It was like it brought the pace back down a little. Everything was slow, sensual, steamy, and seemed almost endless as neither of them really wanted to stop.

“I remember now.” she said gently. “It was... so...” she peered at him through her lashes a little recalling it. “...uh...”

“Nice, weren’t it?” he admitted in an oddly soft tone for him, giving her the slightest of smiles.

“Mmhmm.” she agreed, biting at her lip.

Comfortable. Safe. Warm. Something neither of them were acclimatised to. Something neither of them even sought elsewhere, let alone received. It was so unusual in fact that despite their intense arousal for each other... after a while of locking lips slower than ever... they both drifted out of consciousness.

“We... fell asleep.” she realised with absolute clarity at that moment.

It seemed to jog Zoo’s memory too. “Yeah... think that’s what happened...” he admitted, scratching the back of his neck.

“OK... so... we didn’t have sex.” she summarised.

“Nah I... I don't think so.” he agreed.

“Oh... OK...”. she relaxed a little, just enjoying the feel of his shoulder against her face. There was a moment of calm, and maybe a little disappointment between them before the realisation. She glanced back over at him. “Oh my god... so... so we just... just cuddled together? All fucking night?!”

He looked at her, seeming to process the implications of that. Not only that, but they remained like snuggled up to each other right now. They snapped away from each other abruptly and both jumped out of bed.

“What the fuck, Zach?” she accused.

“Why do you say it like that?” he replied defensively. “Like it’s just me! We both did it, Cass!”

“Yeah well we fucking shouldn’t have, I mean, that’s... that’s...”

“Soppy shit. Romantic shit.” he suggested bluntly, crossing his arms at her.

“Couple shit!” she added. She turned and walked away, then turned back at him. “Shit that we-“ she flicked her finger between the two of them frantically. “Cannot get ourselves into!”

He tutted at her. “Like I don’t fucking know that!” he replied. “I’ve got the same rules as you remember! Nothing serious. Even if I did I'd-“

“Be cuddling up with Johnny?” she interrupted before he could even finish.

His eyes flared at her at first, and then he looked down and shook his head in slight embarrassment. “Can you fucking not?” he complained.

“No, really, I’m serious.” she said flatly. “Are you using me to get over Johnny?”

He didn’t even seem to know what to say to that at first, frowning at her. “You using me to get over Shaundi?” he returned, obviously thinking her accusations were some sort of projection.

“Oh please, you’re nothing like Shaundi!” she pointed out.

“And you're nothing like...” he paused. “OK... sometimes you're a bit like Johnny. Sometimes. But I mean... I don’t see you as that... I...”

“Urgh!” she growled. “God this is a fuckin’ nightmare.”

“Oh, cheers!” he snapped. “I’m not any happier about this than you, you know!”

“I thought you were a fuckin’ insomniac!” she complained, walking back over to him pointing a finger accusingly. “I thought you didn’t fuckin’ sleep!”

“I am! I don't! I... actually I slept alright last night, actually...” he said absent mindedly.

“Oh, how fuckin’ convienient!” she said sarcastically. “Why now, Zach?!” she asked, not mentioning the fact that she'd also slept unusually well.

“I don't fucking know, I... when I woke up in the night and you were there I s’pose I just...” he caught her eye and then swiftly snapped his gaze away, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Just what?” she asked.

“I don’t fucking know, fuck off.” he complained, looking embarrassed.

“Zach...” she warned in a low tone.

“I might have... given you a little squeeze.” he admitted, scratching the back of his neck and putting up a fairly casual facade although he didn’t look happy.

She glared at him and before she could even stop herself she smacked him on the arm.

He gave her a look of surprise that turned to amusement. “Careful love, that’s domestic violence no-OW!” he yelled as she interrupted him by batting at him again. “I was bloody joking!”

“Not. Funny.” she warned, pointing a finger at him.

“Thought you were in fucking therapy.” he complained, rubbing his arm, looking not so much hurt as annoyed that she’d dared do it.

“Yeah well I’m a work in progress, asshole.” she mumbled. “I could do a lot worse and you know it.”

“Look, Casey, we’ve done all the fight to the death stuff already love, we both know it’s stupid.” he reminded her, alluding to what had happened after Julius conveniently didn’t clarify which of them he was leaving the Saints to.

“I know... I.... I don’t wanna fight you, Zach.” she clarified when the guilt hit her. “It was... heat of the moment...  I... I’m sorry.”

“It’s... fine love.” he replied, seeming surprised she’d even apologised. “Look... How’s about we just... keep it to ourselves and... not worry about it too much?

“Yeah, I guess we can just... just not think about it again, right...?” she agreed.

“Sup, Boss and Boss.” Pierce greeted as he walked in, startling them. They both jumped about a foot. They must have not heard him coming up the stairs. There was an awkward pause.

“...Alright mate...?” Zoo asked the other man a little wearily.

“We had sex!” Casey blurted out suddenly.

Zoo looked at her like she was insane for a matter of seconds before registering what she was doing. “Oh uh... yeah... I um... s’pose we did.” he muttered.

“Riiiiight...” Pierce looked between the two of them, looking confused as to why they'd felt the need to tell him that. “This a new thing, then?”

Casey and Zoo looked between each other, apparently equally surprised by the question. “Yeah...” she answered. “Did you think we’d... done that before?”

“Well I guess we...” he seemed to decide against finishing his initial sentence. “Uh... so... you guys... a thing now, or...?” he asked hesitantly.

“Oh, no, no, god no-“ she started.

“No, nothing like that-“ he began at the same time.

They caught each others eye and smiled a little. “Not our thing.” they said practically in unison.

“Right, right.” Pierce chuckled. “Somethin’ didn’t add up there.”

“It was just a... stupid... drunken thing y’know?” Casey explained.

“Only one cig left... one thing led to another... you know how it is...” Zoo added matter-of-factly.

“Oh...” Pierce remarked. “Uh... guess now would be a bad time to mention I left some in your purse, huh?” he said in the female Boss’s direction.

“Oh you’re shittin’ me?” she replied, heading over to the walk-in closet where she usually stashed her purse during parties. It was wide open with a full pack tucked into the top. She picked it up and walked back out of the closet with a sigh.

“I figured if you guys split when you headed out...” Pierce explained.

“Headin’ out.” she remarked, looking back over at Zoo before shaking her head. “Yeah we probably shoulda thought about that.” she joked.

“Yeah...” he chuckled, giving her a grin.

“Should probably think about it now.” Pierce pointed out. “We gotta be at the studio in like half an hour.”

“Ugh, we have somethin’ today too?” she complained, clutching at her forehead a little.

“Just a quick interview.” he assured them. “Look, don’t worry, if you’re both hungover I’ll go on myself.”. He scratched the back of his neck. “Again.”

“Probably best, mate.” Zoo told him. “We’ll be down in a sec.”

“Mmhmm.” Casey agreed, nodding.

“Y’know I can’t always be the face of these things.” he remarked to them both, but he was positively beaming at another chance to be in the limelight, and had a spring in his step as he headed back out.

“You know you love it!” she called back, and then looked back to her fellow Boss awkwardly.

“We haaad seeeexxxx!” he mocked in an approximation of her accent.

“Shut up...” she responded, starting to laugh a little. “...I panicked, I thought when he found us up here he’d just assume... shit I don’t know...”

“Yeah, I’m sure he'd be really suspicious at us being in the same room fully clothed.” he joked. He paused. “It’s alright, though.”

“You don’t mind that Pierce will probably tell everyone?” she pointed out.

“I mean...” He mused on it for a second then shrugged. “Not really.”

She looked at him. It was true. Who gave a fuck if people thought they slept together? He was cute. A really good friend. He meant a lot to her actually. She smiled at him again. “So... we good?” she checked.

“We’re fine, love.” he assured. “Ready to head down?”

“Uh... I’ll be down in a second.” she explained.

“Why, gonna finish yourself off?” he teased.

“Zach!” she exclaimed in surprise, then immediately composed herself, crossing her arms. “I’d hit you again but I'm worried you’d enjoy it.” she managed to return.

“Yeah, nice try love, you know you can’t get me on anything like that.” he scoffed. “I have no shame.”

She laughed a little. ”Damn, I guess you’re right.” she sighed, rolling her eyes in his direction. “Look just get gone so I can change my panties man; they’re fuckin’ wrecked.” She thought she heard Zoo take a sharp breath in at that. He didn’t seem to lose his composure, but he didn’t respond either. “What?” she asked.

“No, nothing...” he responded. “Nothing.”

She tilted her head to one side, curious. “C’mon Zachy...” she said in her most charming voice. “Just tell me.”

He was silent a moment more, not catching her gaze, and then he spoke in a low tone. “Just... seems a shame...” he remarked. “To have people talking about us and not even get a little fun out of it...”

She looked over him, trying to assess his seriousness, as a tingle of excitement admittedly rose in her chest. She raised her eyebrows at him. Their eyes locked. The stare seemed endless, then she realised she was the one who’d yet to respond this time. “Y’know we... have another party in a couple more days...” she pointed out casually.

“Yeah?” he replied. He knew about it of course. That was how they both knew that wasn’t what he was asking.

“Yeah...” she confirmed, a slightly mischievous grin spreading across her face.

He stepped a little closer. “You gonna look this hot?” he asked, eyeing her up much as he had the previous night.

“Ohhhhoho...” she replied, chuckling a little. “Last night I wasn’t even tryin’, Zach.” she challenged somewhat seductively.

“Well...” he remarked, looking pleasantly surprised, putting his hands in his pockets as he stepped a little closer to her. “I look forward to seeing you try.”

“Maybe this time we... end it a little earlier...” she suggested, holding up the cigarette packet and pushing it softly into his chest.

“Get a little less smashed...” he mused, letting his hand slip from her chin and going to grab the pack out of her hand. She neither prevented him or let go, their fingers brushing against each other.

“...Make sure there’s only one left in the pack.” she finished, but it came out less like she was completing their joint suggestion... and more like she was making a very clear demand. He responded with a knowing nod. She let go of the pack.

A smirk started to lift the corners of his mouth before he turned away. He paused, and turned back to her, and she just knew he was intent on getting the last word. “You know, three would be better.” he said thoughtfully.

“...Three?” she asked, intrigued as to what exactly he was suggesting.

He smirked, keeping her on edge for a second. “I’ll keep three in the pack.” he finally clarified, then turned back only briefly as he started to walk away from her, “Two for afterwards.”. He shot her a wink and turned to walk away from her again.

“Oh...” she remarked, but it was obvious that despite her exclamation, he’d got the last word here.

Her eyes remained locked on him as he headed away from her, down the stairs and out of view, then for several seconds she stared at the empty space he’d occupied. Then it all felt too still and quiet, so she snapped back into life, grabbing her bag and focusing on pulling out clean underwear before she was forced to think about it too hard.

A habit could easily turn into an addiction, and the next thing you knew, you were dependant forever. Whenever she saw that looming danger, she chose to swerve it.

But everyone was allowed the occasional moment of weakness.

----------------------------

And then that next event was cancelled and they had to go on a Not-A-Date to get to it...

...yeah I am not at all abnormal about them and I don't have an art piece planned for one of the other days. 🤭

This is the OT3 universe (they just have to wait like 6-7 more years to get to that point) so the "three would be better" line is totally a nod to that. 😅

And yeah. There is a moral to this story and it's this: