#epileptic reader

Charles Leclerc

Charles' first instinct is to try to train Leo to be a service dog for you

He gives up, the little guy is too chaotic, but he does end up getting you a service dog of your own

He'll go to every doctors appointment if you're ok with it so that he's updated on everything

Whenever you have a seizure he'll sit you down after once you're all put together again and debreif

Does anything hurt, did you hit your head if he couldn't get there fast enough

He's a worrywart, but he does trust you

He just wants to help as much as he can

Lewis Hamilton

The first thing Lewis does is research as much as he can

Within a day of your diagnosis he knows how to respond to seizures, how to reduce triggers, and manage symptoms

He's basically an in home clinic, and boyfriend simultaneously

He has entire game plans for seizures in different situations

At the paddock? All of Ferarri/Mercedes know how to deal with a seizure of any kind

It was part of his terms to sign with Ferarri, that everyone gets trained

At home? There are blankets all over the house to protect your head, and he'll always be ready to help at any second

Ollie Bearman

When you tell Ollie about your diagnosis he thinks it means you're gonna die

He goes to the most reasonable person he knows (His older brother, oscar)

And Oscar convinces to actually at least google what epilepsy is

He does on an internet deep dive, and figures that other people also need to know what to do if you have a seizure at the paddock

Introducing powerpoint night, where Ollie invites the entire grid to his 100+ long slideshow on what to do if you have a seizure, and how to minimize triggers

Kimi and Esteban ask a lot of questions, because they know they'll be around you the most

In the end the Haas Garage is a haven for you, in the loud, bright, chaotic paddock

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It was a pretty stressful for you. The morning started off somewhat shitty. You received your usual kisses from your beloved wife, but then came the water spilling on your work clothes, dropping every little thing in your grasp and not to mention the pounding migraine you were having.

Yeah, it definitely wasn’t your day…or your entire week.

You’ve been working back to back, nonstop. It was tiring, yeah, but you had to keep going. You don’t even know why you didn’t take a break, maybe you’re an overachiever or something in that range. Either way, you were running yourself ragged—and that did not go unnoticed by Grayson.

The sun peeked through the glass of the window, casting a soft glow across the kitchen tiles as Grayson sat at the table, cup of tea in one hand while she was reading the news in one with her reading glasses. You shuffled lazily out of the bedroom, obviously not looking the best as you settled by the table with her, leaning against her with a huff.

“Sweetheart.”

“No. Already know what you’re gonna say..”

Grayson sighed lowly, placing her stuff down to wrap her arms around you as she pulled you closer—planting a warm kiss to your forehead. She couldn’t help, but be worried. I mean, you’ve been working. Non. Stop. You were hardheaded and you knew, but you couldn’t stop—you had to keep busy. “All I’m saying is just to take a break…”

“I will later—“

“You keep saying that, but you never do.” Her voice was stern and raspy, giving you ‘that’ look—knowing she wasn’t dealing with your bullshit, but you weren’t exactly at the best at staying still. You both knew that.

You rolled your eyes at her comment, pushing off from her to grab your stuff (though they kept falling out of your grasp over and over again). Though she was right, you felt the need to keep working and just staying busy in general, but she wasn’t having it at all.

“For Christ’s sake, just stay home for one day, alright? Just one is all I ask.” She was starting to get fully fed up with your stubbornness, always testing her patience—as usual. You couldn’t help, but grumble as she continued to go on and on about you overworking yourself. You weren’t really listening until she said something that really caught you.

“You’re gonna trigger a seizure, Y/N.”

You tensed up as she brought that up. You couldn’t even count how many times you felt this weird ‘aura’ surround you, signaling the brewing process seizing amongst. It wasn’t easy at all, but Grayson helped you along—with her being cautious and very attentive to you whenever she felt that you were a bit off.

“Grayson, I’m not..”

“You are.”

She gave you a glare that was filled with sternness and determination, though with obvious concern for your wellbeing—as she always worried. You looked away as you grasped your things tightly in your hand before setting them down on the counter, “Fine…I’ll stay home for the day.”

She was a bit surprised that you agreed this early in, though she definitely wasn’t complaining at all about it. With a small grunt , she got up from her chair and pulled you into a warm hug while her face was buried in your neck. “You know I only worry because I care and love you, right?”

“Mhm.”

“Good…”

Words couldn’t even describe how relieved she was when you finally gave in and stayed at home, though that didn’t stop you. One way or another, you were going to find something to do.

You were hardheaded and you knew that, but you didn’t care, honestly.

Of course you said you would stay home, but you never said you’d stay still and take a break—you didn’t feel that you had to. So, with you being you, you were up moving about—buzzing around the house with stuff to do. Piles of paperwork, clients ringing in here and there, and other piling things. Yes, it was tiring, but you just couldn’t stop.

You were currently sitting at your desk, brows knitted firmly together as you filed out some paperwork. Your back was killing you, headache was a bitch, muscles were tensed, and you could feel a strange sensation just brewing in you.

Shit. She was right.

Your thoughts were drifting away, further and further. You felt your eyelids getting progressively heavier and heavier as the seconds went by—hell, you could barely focus. There was this…this sense of doom that just slowly blanketed you, making your body tense rather quickly. God you hated this.

Meanwhile for Grayson, she was in the living room, doing her usual things. It was going fine until she felt strange. It was quiet. Too quiet. She swiftly made her way into the bedroom, seeing how your chest heaved heavily as your breathing was unsteady and difficult—quickly moving to your side as she gently pulled you out the chair and onto the floor away from everything.

You, on the other hand, was going through pure hell. Your body felt as if it wasn’t yours, doom was falling over you, your eyes locked on whatever was in front of you—though you could barely even make out what it was since your vision was blurring gradually until..

You just blacked out. Unconscious.

It felt weird. Aftermath of seizures always felt weird and just like a fever dream, but you couldn’t really remember. You were at your desk, working on something and then BOOM. You’re on your side, coughing and spitting up, tired as hell, feeling disoriented and just downright confused. But what you definitely noticed is that you weren’t alone. She was there right alongside you—just as she always been.

Grayson leaned over to grab some tissue to wipe the waste off your cheek and lips, looking at you with concern and worry. You sighed heavily as you finally turned over to shuffled over to her warmth, which she immediately wrapped her arms around you, “It happened, hm?”

You couldn’t really talk as your tongue was hurting badly, most likely from gnawing on it excessively. A simple nod was all she needed as your eyes fluttered shut, feeling your body tingle with soreness, and your brain clouded. Seizures weren’t fun at all, but at least you had her through every step.

Always through thick and thin.

As the darkness grows thick and suffocating, you step back seeing the comfort of the wall behind you only to come into contact with something long and sinuous. With a yelp, you whip around. A metallic SNAP! startles you out of your skin. You tumble backward and fall to the floor just as the power surges to life with a steady hum. Once your eyes adjust to the light, you are faced with the sprawling power grid. It fills far more of the wall than you’d been able to see with just the flashlight. As you stand slowly, you turn in a lazy circle. Taking it all in, you see fuses blinking in a steady rhythm beside switches and breakers. Wires creep along the ceiling like an intricate canopy woven of copper and cable that vines its way back down onto the next wall. 

The room is the power grid.  

“Holy shit,” you breathe. “Eddie, how the hell do–.”

As you come to face them you freeze. There are no tools on the floor. No flashlight. Volt’s coat and Eddie’s vest are nowhere to be seen. 

And you are alone. 

They’re gone. 

“No. Nononono no.”

In a few long strides you burst out of the door and into the long brick hallway.

You need to be here, whole and real. Both of you dammit.

Sprinting down the corridor beneath the amber Edison bulbs, you pass the limp velvet ropes and the chairs stacked on the tables. Everything is just as it had been weeks ago when Eddie taught you to patch a wire.  

If it weren’t for your rapid footfalls on concrete, you’d think you’d gone deaf. The Breaker Box is eerily silent. No music. No conversation. Not even the sound of melting ice settling in the glass.

You round a corner and skid to a halt on the stage.  The lights above you burn hot and brittle. The spotlight is aimed directly at you. Squinting, your attention sweeps the room. The dark tables are upright and pristine with flickering candles on each one. Chairs await the patrons. Neon gleams on glossy ceramic tile and across a floor clear of shattered glass and spilled drinks. 

The Breaker Box–the pinnacle of luxury and entertainment–looks ready to open for business. But there is no inimitable host, nor is there a cranky bastard behind the bar to greet you. Until…

“Over here.”

Stepping out of the spotlight and jumping down–ow–from the stage, you blink the spots out of your eyes. Finally able to focus, you wonder if what you’re seeing is a cruel mirage. Eddie sits on his favorite barstool, shirt open and vest unceremoniously thrown over the bartop. 

Elation and anxiety clash in your belly. You want so badly to believe this is real. It takes every ounce of restraint to stop yourself from racing to him like this is a cheesy movie and you’re in a field of wildflowers or on a rain-soaked city street. 

As you approach, hand gliding along the shining bartop, you see that Eddie looks far better than he did moments ago. His color is back to normal, healthier even. The smirk on his face reminds you of the playful Eddie you shared drinks with a couple of weeks ago. Your Eddie; if you can call him that. 

There's something brighter about him. More alive. His titanium eyes shine with a light you’ve only seen in one other place: Volt’s stare.   

Shifting on his stool, Eddie sighs contentedly then meets your gaze. “Hey there, live wire.” 

Just hearing the nickname, your stomach does somersaults. 

But…he doesn’t call me live wire?

Leaning an elbow against the bar, you stop next to him, close enough that you can feel a faint, staticky hum in the charged air between you.  

You bite your lip then hesitantly ask, “How do you feel?”

“I’m tired,” he says, raking a hand through his wiry hair. “But that’s normal after a reset. Other than that, I feel…” Eddie pauses as if searching for the right word. His mouth twitches into a smile. “I feel good. Stable. I had almost forgotten what this feels like.”

When you feel heat beneath your fingers, you realize your hand rests on his solid forearm. You don’t recall reaching out, but you need to touch him. He doesn’t flinch or gasp. Doesn’t pull away or move to the other side of the bar. Instead, he glances down at your hand with a bemused blink then chuffs.

“So um…” You swallow hard around the lump in your throat. “Live wire, huh? I don’t think you’ve ever called me that. It’s usually Volt’s thing.”

“Huh. Funny.” He flashes a smile that practically crackles with vitality, and you notice a scintillating glow in his eyes. “It felt natural to say.”  

Your cheeks grow warm. Drumming your fingers nervously, you look around the club again. 

There is still no sign of Volt. 

“Some good work you did,” Eddie says, tapping the plate on his chest. 

Your white-knuckled grip on your emotions begins to slip. Tears bubble in your eyes and your voice cracks. “I had an excellent teacher.”

“Well, obviously.” 

His mouth curls into that smirk. The one that makes you feel like your insides have been replaced with fizzy soda bubbles. You laugh, grateful that it came out as a worn giggle rather than a snotty sob. 

You open your mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. When you try again, all you can do is let out a pop of nervous laughter. 

“What’s on your mind, sparks?”

Whatever is happening with the club–with you and Eddie–all feels fragile as glass. How do you explain something you barely have words for? How do you pour your heart out without drowning the both of you? There’s no roadmap for this conversation. No wisdom from Dasha, Dante or even Teddy can help you navigate this. 

“You, uh,” you gesture to his chest. “You might want to double check and make–.”

“I trust you,” he says.  

As your resolve crumbles away, you close the distance between the pair of you. Clutching his shirt, you pull him off his stool and press your head against his scarred chest. When you inhale his scent, the relief you feel is somewhere north of nirvana. It’s him. That citrusy, summer storm scent blends with a drying layer of sweat. Tears stream down your face and you can’t stop quivering. 

It’s your Eddie.

He never thought he would be lucky enough to have this. After the things he said. The distance. The way she melted into Volt. And how close they had all come to tragedy. Eddie can’t believe she wants to be here, pressed to him in the circle of his arms. 

***

Conceptually, he knows that this is the part where he gets to finally hold her. He’s thought about it, dreamed of it more times than he can count. Instead, Eddie stares at her head against his chest–dumbstruck and slackjawed. His arms hover near her body. As one of her soft hands grips the back of his neck, the other snakes around his waist and clutches him tightly. It’s then that he finds the courage to haltingly engulf her in his arms. When his fingers whisper along her back, any hesitation he feels evaporates. He clings to her, growling softly as he buries his face in that sacred nook between her shoulder and neck. Her plush curves are warm beneath his desperate touch. As Eddie listens to her small whimpers, her perfume relaxes him and stokes his hunger. 

Eddie’s fingers splay through her thick hair as he cups the back of her head. With a deep hum, he tightens his hold around her waist, swaying her slowly.

“It’s okay,” he murmurs reassuringly. “It’s over. You did it.”

“Don’t do that again, okay?”

Her shaking slows, and her exhausted body sags into his. A breath later he hears her let out an almost inaudible moan wrapped in a long sigh. For Eddie, this moment transcends the euphoria of the dance and the kiss that followed. This is something for him. Just him, just her and this golden intimacy between them. For decades, this kind of closeness has haunted him. He never knew it could bring him such peace.

Her grip tightens on his shoulder and her breath splashes across his bare chest.

“I won’t,” he says with a quiet laugh. Nuzzling her, he adds, “Cross my circuits.” 

Far too soon, she pulls away. Eddie’s hand lingers on her cheek, thumbing away her tears. 

Expression clouded with fear, she manages a single syllable. “Volt?”

“Right here, live wire.” 

“Are you…you’re okay, right?”

***

You spin to see Volt hopping from the stage, coat slung casually over a shoulder. As he moves toward you, the charm radiating from him is tempered with the vulnerability and softness of your Volt. 

Volt lays an arm over your shoulders and plants a kiss on the top of your head. His voice is quiet, sincere. “Quite literally better than ever.”

He starts to pull away, but you reach out to stop him. With a fist in each of their shirts, you pull them to you, your forehead pressed to both of their shoulders. 

Your Eddie. 

Your Volt. 

Their arms slip around you and you feel it: the completion of a circuit. Volt’s touch is delicate and sinuous as he traces shapes on your shoulder while Eddie holds you, one hand tight on your hip. Their scents mingle into one perfect aroma and you hear something…it’s music. A strained, suspended chord being resolved into a full-bodied three-part harmony. 

Once again, the weight of the evening is more than you can bear. When the tears come, your fists clench, holding them even tighter. 

“I…I thought I’d lost you both,” you say.

“Everything is alright,” Volt whispers. “We’re both here, live wire. We have you.”

Volt marvels, realizing that only hours ago, the shared experience of loving her was enough to bring him and Eddie both to the barest brink of winking out. Now, with one arm around Eddie and the other around his live wire, Volt feels the full weight of his happiness. They are the only audience that matters to him. His beloved charges. 

***

Though Volt’s love for his human is a more recent development than Eddie’s, it is no less fulfilling to feel her against him again. Her hand flattens over his steady current before moving her touch to his lower back. He tightens his hold around her shoulders while Eddie’s embrace remains at her waist.

When her shoulders loosen ever so slightly, Volt sees this as a victory. Even her silent, quaking sobs tell Volt the only thing he needs to know: she trusts them both enough to break apart in their arms. And that trust is a great gift indeed.

Inhaling deeply, he takes in her perfume, an intoxicating scent that evokes a calm night spent kissing in the moonlight and watching the stars amble along their spiraling path. 

***

You promised yourself that when it was over you could fall apart. Usually, you would keep the emotions at bay until you were safely away, alone, and able to let the dam crumble. But this time you’re not alone. Eddie and Volt are your safe place. Cradling you between them, they soothe you with calming words and light, languorous touches. 

“We’re safe.”

“I’ve got you.”

“You did so well.”

“So proud of you.”

Neither of them breaks the hug until you choose to. When you step back, you knuckle at your eyes and try to dry your tears with the heel of your hand. 

“Sorry,” you say with a nervous chuckle. 

They both cut you off. “No apologies,” Volt says. “You’ve nothing to be sorry for.”

Tugging at their sleeves, you counter, “But your shirts. I just sobbed all over them.”

“Live wire, they’re merely tears, and there are other shirts. There will always be a place for you in our arms, be it for a dance, a night, or simply to hold you.”

Stroking your hair, Eddie adds, “You have no idea what you mean to us.”

When they sense you’re ready, Eddie returns to sitting on his barstool while Volt guides you to sit on the adjacent seat. Volt winks at Eddie then chooses a chair from the nearest table. In one fluid movement, Volt spins the chair and sits in it, coat and arms draped artfully over the back. He smiles warmly. Though he speaks to Eddie, his stare rests on you as if sketching your face into his memory. 

“Eddie, did I interrupt a conversation? I seem to recall you telling me that you had something to say to her.” 

With one of his signature sighs, Eddie studies his hands. He struggles with each word. “You…were…right.”

“I’m sorry?” Putting a hand to your ear you tease, “I didn’t quite catch that.”

He gives you a warning glare that is full of affection. “Don’t push it.”

“My hearing is just off, I guess.” 

“You were right,” Eddie announces. 

You bat your eyelashes. “About what?”

“Annoyingly, about everything.”

“Oh, thank fuck. You still think I’m annoying.” You let out a long, relieved breath. “Go on. Keep telling me about how right I am.”

You expect him to roll his eyes and snark back, but his tone is sincere. “I thought that the only way to keep it all together was to break myself. That’s devotion, right? Sacrifice. As long as it kept the light on, damn the consequences. And–stupidly–I was holding on to all those ideas of how I thought things had to be.”

“Not stupid,” Volt says. “Stubborn, perhaps.”

“Eddie? Stubborn?” You feign shock. “Never.”

“I learned it from you,” he rumbles. “Stupid or stubborn, I wasted so much energy trying to be something it’s never been possible for me to be. I didn’t realize that all that did was trap us–all of us–in a situation that wasn’t working. And I…I don’t think I ever would’ve seen it.” He looks up at you, those titanium eyes gleaming with gratitude. “If it wasn’t for this obnoxious, annoying human hadn’t helped me.” 

Your laughter is thick with tearful, genuine joy. “Glad I could use my powers for good.”

“Dear spark, that is a colossal understatement,” Volt says. His lambent eyes and hair glow brightly, and his smile radiates with pride and love for you and Eddie.

You blow out another puff of relief. “You’re both okay? Really?”

 “Better than okay,” Eddie says. “You saved us. Both of us,” he adds, hooking a thumb over his shoulder to Volt. “You didn’t have to do, well…any of it. Being a pain in my ass after hours. Helping me around the club. Hell, you didn’t even have to ask about the power. And you absolutely didn’t have to do this,” he gestures to his chest. “You could’ve just walked in here that first night, had your fun with Volt and moved on to…whatever. But…you didn’t just show up. You stayed.” Tears appear in his eyes. His voice is tight. “Thank you. I can’t…you’re so…infuriating.”

Volt's voice is sumptuous as ever. “What he means is that he’s quite taken with you.”

With a sigh, Eddie rolls his eyes and growls warningly, “Volt.” 

“We both are.” Volt’s expression is warm and…enticing. “In case it wasn’t obvious.”

For a moment you’re at a loss for words. Despite all the flirting, the kiss and even seeing them so vulnerable, a sliver of you never expected that either of them would reciprocate your feelings. 

Bemused and slightly bewildered, you ask, “Taken with me? As in…”

Volt gives a slow, sincere nod. Tenderly, he answers, “As in.”

“As in,” Eddie says gruffly, “do we really have to spell it out?”

Eddie shoots a look at her, shocked. “Wait, really?”

Your cheeks burn brighter than your Fantastic Red Shirt, and you can’t get the smile off your face. Though you open your mouth to speak, what actually comes out is a giddy giggle. You’re giggling. Shit, you’re actually fucking giggling. “The feeling is very mutual.”

***

Oh, dear Eddie, didn’t I tell you?

Shut up. 

“Yeah.” She grins, eyes glittering as her attention settles on Eddie. “I’ve been into both of you since the night we met.”

Baffled, Eddie tries to form words. He scratches the back of his neck, and can’t quite meet her eyes. “I–I mean. We wouldn’t mind you sticking around. You know. If you wanted…to. Or…whatever.”

With a lighthearted chuckle, Volt says, “We’d be delighted to have you.”

“I’m delighted to be had.” 

Eddie’s eyebrows shoot up to his hairline as his jaw falls down. Through their shared connection, Volt feels Eddie’s entire being tighten with elation and curiosity, quickly followed by disbelief and anxiety.

I imagined that, right? 

Well, I know you’ve imagined it on more than one occasion. Perhaps earlier this very evening. 

Volt, tell me I imagined it. 

I most certainly will not.

She stammers. “Uh, I mean…not that I…shit.”

That’s when Eddie realizes that after all this time, there are no secrets to keep. Neither he nor Volt has to maintain the charade of stability. Eddie doesn’t have to pretend he hates his human. No more hiding. No more artifice. He can love her out loud. 

“You know what,” she says. “Fuck it. I said what I said.” 

Eddie’s current skips and skin flares with hot tingles. 

Volt’s laugh is rich and smooth. “Live wire, you only need but ask.”

***

 Since you walked into the club that first night you’ve felt an unmistakable but entirely unjustified closeness with Eddie. That unshakeable feeling of familiarity soon grew into a crush. The crush quickly became an ache that only abated when he was nearby. Staying away from the Breaker Box had done nothing to lessen that ache. Instead you spent your nights thinking about the club and its proprietors. 

You’ve wondered what would have happened if you’d acted on your impulse that day with the ladder. When Eddie held both your body and stare with equal intensity. What if you had kissed him? Would he have stopped you? Dropped you? Kicked you out? Probably all of the above, really. 

But there was always that tiny sliver of ‘what if?’ lingering in your mind. Those thoughts you keep to the darkness of your bedroom, imagining Eddie’s strong, nimble hands and what those calluses might feel like against your skin. You’ve sighed into a pillow while fantasizing about the soft heat of his breath on your throat, his lips against your pulse. Afraid of who might hear, you’ve swallowed his name as those visions grew hungrier, more passionate. Even in your sleep, your dreams delve even deeper into your curiosity. In that place, two hands become four as Volt slips into the space behind you and explores your body with his languid touches and searing mouth. More than once in these past weeks, you have awakened to find yourself twisted in sheets and frustrated by the otherwise empty bed.

Sitting in the club, gazing at them and basking in the bliss of confessions and requited feeling, those bedtime desires spark within you. 

Across from you, Eddie stares at the floor. At first, his expression is pensive, deep furrows carving his brow. His mouth hitches into a smirk that uncurls into a smile that you find positively devious. Before you can ask what’s on his mind, he slips off the barstool, and closes the short distance remaining between you. Those steel grey eyes meet yours. He takes your hands in his and gently urges you to stand again.

He licks his lips, eyes hooded and gleaming with ideas. Anticipation sends shivers through you. All you have to do is tilt your head and lean forward.

***

Of all of the dreams that come unbidden, the ones that taunt Eddie the most are those in which he kisses her for the first time. There are trembling, whisper-soft kisses in some. Others feature arguments he can only end by crushing his mouth against hers. Though he’s imagined this more times than he can count, the reality is so much sweeter.

Eddie caresses her tearstained cheeks. Searching her eyes for permission, he receives it in the way her hands slide up his bare chest, the way she holds her breath. Unleashing years of need, he plunges his hands into her thick hair. As Eddie leans into her, his human’s eyelids flutter closed and her head tilts to welcome him home. 

When he experienced her kiss with Volt, Eddie thought he knew bliss. But this is different. Having her in his arms returning the kiss with surprising force–this moment is exquisite. The sweep of her tongue against his is both a dance and a duel. She curls her fingers around the back of Eddie’s neck, eliciting a surge of pleasure that courses through him. Pulling him closer, she deepens the kiss with a soft moan into his mouth. When her hand slides up and tugs at his hair, Eddie growls, his chest rumbling with a hunger that will not be slaked by a kiss alone. 

His hands settle on her lush hips, massaging her curves as he counts all of the ways he wants her. Between her time atop him–her scent, hair and breath teasing him–and this incandescent moment, fiery desire consumes Eddie. His hands tremble from the need to roam her body. 

Reluctantly, Eddie tears his lips from hers while he can still stop himself. Breathless, he opens his eyes, he sees glittering sparks appear just over her left ear. 

***

You’re pleased when you realize that like Jon, Eddie and Volt seem to be exceptions. You can allow yourself to relax in their arms, beneath their hands. You can trust them with your heart and your body. You’re not sure how much you can give so soon, but you can answer that question later. For now, it’s enough to simply relish the pleasure of Eddie’s delicious touch

Where Volt’s kiss was honeyed and slow, Eddie kisses you with urgency, a hungry passion. Beneath that heat, you can feel both catharsis and trepidation. And he isn’t alone.

Even with the Dateviators, most of your experiences have been surface level. You told Eddie it had been a long time since you were touched. Be it human or object, hugs and cuddles are difficult for you, let alone kisses and more. You want that intimacy. Ache for it. But after so long without touch, your dates with household objects have shown you that you’ve all but developed an aversion. Touch–especially sincere, loving touch without expectations attached–had become a foreign concept. Accepting it has become uncomfortable regardless of what you might want. 

Too soon, Eddie pulls away. Your chest heaves as you catch your breath. And you can’t stop smiling. 

Eddie speaks first. “Drink? Someone mentioned a whiskey sour and I’m suddenly thirsty. Very thirsty.”

“Oh, sweet fuck, yes please. And I do believe I was promised chocolate.”

Eddie looks over his shoulder. “Volt, the lady asked for chocolate.” 

Long legs unfolding as he spins the chair back toward the table, Volt dons his coat with the grace and flourish of a magician 

“Then chocolate she shall have,” he says. “I’ll pay a visit to Freddy and Mitchell and we’ll find something positively decadent for you.”

Emotionally wrung out yet giddy, you blurt out, "Other than kissing the two of you?”

Volt blushes, his smile radiant. “I’ll be back soon. But I know you’re both in good hands.”

As he passes by, you stop him with a tender touch. “Wait. What about you?”

He blinks as if genuinely confused. “About me?”

“Chocolate. Whiskey. What about you?”

He looks between you and Eddie, diamond-like tears forming in his eyes. Volt’s voice crackles like an old record. “I already have everything I want, my live wire.”

Chapter 18  — Chapter 20

Masterlist

Trudging up the stairs towards her apartment, she cursed the elevators for being broken. All she wanted to do was collapse into her bed and sleep for two days. Unfortunately, that was impossible since it was only Wednesday and she had an important meeting first thing in the morning.

Passing the third floor, she considered if she was going to eat before she went to bed. She was starving, but cooking seemed like too much effort and time. Then she considered having something delivered but guessed that would take even longer than cooking. She decided to just eat a spoonful of peanut butter so that she wasn’t battling hunger while trying to fall asleep.

Finally reaching the fifth floor, she exited the stairwell and took the four steps to her door. It was a small victory for climbing the stairs— at least she didn’t have further to go once she got to her floor.

She unlocked the door and pushed it open. Immediately, she dumped her purse, jacket, and laptop case on the floor beside the door before pulling her shoes off one at a time to drop in the pile.

Rounding the corner into the living room, she gasped. Her favorite scented candle was lit on the coffee table next to several containers of Chinese take-out. Eddie stood from the couch as she approached.

“What are you doing here?” she asked as she let herself fall into his embrace.

He pecked a kiss to her temple as he pulled back to look at her. “You sounded a little overwhelmed when you called earlier. So I had Buck take Christopher for the night, and I brought you dinner.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she was overcome with emotions. “I love you. You are the best. I was about to eat some peanut butter because I’m too exhausted to cook or wait for delivery.”

“And let me guess, you’ve barely eaten anything all day?” he chastised.

She shrugged. “I had a bagel for breakfast.”

He pulled her over to sit on the couch. “I’m glad I came then.”

“I’m really glad you did.” She grabbed a fortune cookie while he started to open the other containers. “Are you staying all night?”

He nodded. “I’m all yours. Buck is taking Christopher to the zoo tomorrow.” He dumped some rice on the plates he’d gotten out of the kitchen. “Chicken, beef, or shrimp?”

“Some of each, please.” She set the fortune cookie back down as she stood. ”I’m gonna go change out of these work clothes. I’ll be right back.”

Before Eddie could even finish dishing up the food, she returned in sweats and a shirt she’d stolen from him.

As she sat back down, she picked up and opened the fortune cookie. She pulled out the piece of paper. “‘Life will soon become interesting,’” she read. “I think it’s already plenty interesting.”

Eddie chuckled. “Yeah, where’s the one that says we get a vacation soon?”

He finished adding everything to their plates as she flipped on the television and started an episode of How I Met Your Mother.

They ate in a comfortable silence and had finished before the twenty-minute episode had ended. He set the mostly-empty plates on the table, and she shifted to curl in against his side while he wrapped his arm snugly around her shoulder.

As the credits rolled, he asked, “Bed or another episode?”

She yawned. “One more. I’m probably going to fall asleep, but I’m comfy.”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead as the TV rolled over into a new episode on its own. “As you wish, mi amor.”

She had just started to doze off when, suddenly, she was overcome with a familiar, distinct, full-body tingling sensation along with intense nausea. She quickly shifted to leaning forward on the edge of her seat. “Oh, no. No, no, no.”

Eddie reached out and placed a tentative hand between her shoulder blades. “What’s wrong?”

She stood and moved over to the empty dining room, which she kept devoid of a table and other furniture precisely for this reason. “Seizure,” she stated as calmly as she could before lying down in the middle of the floor.

“Oh, uh, okay.” Eddie was surprised, but quickly stood. He grabbed a blanket from the recliner and moved to sit beside her. He knew about her epilepsy and the medications she took for it. However, in the eighteen months they’d been dating, she’d never had a seizure. He lifted her head to slide the folded blanket underneath.

She let out a quiet whimper before her eyelids fluttered closed.

“Okay. You’re okay. I got you.” He pulled out his phone, opened the timer, and set it on the floor. He continued to whisper soft reassurances to her and started the timer as soon as she started to seize.

Despite his training and having treated patients with seizures at work, he couldn’t help but notice the way his hands shook as he carefully kept her rolled on her side. “You’re okay,” he repeated, more to reassure himself than anything. He continued to repeat it several more times as he waited for her to stop.

He felt his anxiety spike again as he watched the timer hit four minutes. He thought about what time it was, trying to figure out which shift was manning the 118 currently. He knew if she hit five minutes, he would have to call 9-1-1. As the timer rolled past four and a half minutes, her movements finally began to slow. He breathed a sigh of relief and pushed some hair out of her face as she stilled. Next, he used the corner of the blanket to wipe the saliva that had dribbled out.

For his own peace of mind, he checked her pulse, satisfied that it was steady and only slightly tachy. Next, he counted her breaths, ensuring her breathing was also back to normal. Then he sat there, running his fingers gently through her hair, and waited for her to wake.

Finally, after several minutes of anxiously waiting, she groaned.

“Hey, sweetheart. You with me?”

Slowly, she cracked her eyes open and looked around for several moments before finally landing on his face. She was clearly confused and still disoriented.

“You’re okay. You just had a seizure,” he explained. “Do you remember feeling it coming on?”

She thought for a minute before finally nodding. Groaning again, she rolled onto her back and threw an arm over her face. “Trash,” she slurred.

Eddie shifted away to grab the trash can sitting in the corner and move it beside her. “Do you want to sit up?”

“Not yet.” She lied there, trying to regain her bearings.

He took her hand in his and ran his thumb softly over her knuckles. “Anything I can do?”

“Mmmm, make the jackhammer in my head stop? And the nausea, too.” She rolled back onto her side before starting to push herself into a sitting position and pulling the trash can between her knees. “This blows.”

Leaning forward, he placed a chaste kiss on her temple. “I know. I’m sorry. Do you want something for the headache?”

“Not yet. I don’t want to puke it right back up.”

She didn’t know how long she sat there, taking slow, deep breaths in an attempt to clear the nausea. All the while, Eddie rubbed soothing circles across her back. The soreness was already starting to settle in all her muscles. Eventually, she pushed away the trash can and leaned into him.

“Ya know, this isn’t the kind of interesting I was hoping for. Stupid fortune cookie,” she grumbled.

“Me either. You think you’re ready to move?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around her gently.

“Yeah.” She nodded. He stood, and she reached a hand out for him. “Help me up?”

Instead of pulling her up, he bent down and slid one arm under her knees and the other around her back and easily lifted her. He walked slowly towards her bedroom, cautious of making the nausea worse, then set her gently on the bed. “What do you need?”

“Uh, I will take that Tylenol now. Plus, water and some Advil for in the morning, and the trash can by the bed,” she listed, then, with a pout, added, “Please?”

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

She laid back into her pillows as she waited for him to return. Next thing she knew, she was peeling her eyes open to find Eddie beside her, rubbing a hand across her head.

“Here, take these and then you can go to sleep.” He handed her the pills and then opened a bottle of water before offering that as well.

Once she’d swallowed them, she took a few deep breaths to clear the flare of nausea. “Thank you.”

“Of course.” He pressed another kiss to her hairline.

“As much as seizures suck, it’s really nice having you here to help. I’ve just slept on the floor in there so many times because I just didn’t have the energy to move.”

“I’m glad I was here. I hate that you’ve had to go through that alone.”

“I hate that I have to go through it at all.” She sighed. “And I just broke my longest streak. At least I didn’t try to take a chunk out of my tongue.”

“Ouch.”

She nodded. “Yeah, one time, I had to get stitches from biting it so bad.”

He cringed. “That sounds awful.”

“Mmhmm,” she hummed, eyes fluttering closed. “Work is really going to suck tomorrow.”

“No, it won’t.” Eddie argued. ”You’re taking the rest of the week off.”

“I can’t!’ she declared, opening her eyes and leaning forward. “I have too many things to get done and a meeting first thing that we’ve been working toward for three weeks.”

“You just had a seizure,” he pointed out the obvious. “For the first time in, what, two years? And a long one at that. You were about twenty seconds away from a trip to the hospital. You don’t think your stress levels had something to do with this?” His tone was one of frustration, but she could tell he was just worried.

She sighed, knowing he was right. “Maybe.”

Eddie climbed into the other side of the bed and settled nearly in the middle. “So take the long weekend. Just relax and get some rest. Doctor’s orders.”

Shifting to curl into his side, she giggled. “You’re not a doctor.”

He huffed. “Medic’s orders. Is that better? Or I can call a doctor.”

“Don’t you dare.”

Rolling impossibly closer to her, he pressed one more kiss to her forehead. “Good night, mi amor.”

When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was her alarm clock. She was surprised to find it was nearly ten already. Slowly, she shifted onto her back and turned her head to look at the other side of the bed. She found Eddie sitting on the bed, scrolling through his phone.

“Good morning,” he greeted as he noticed she was awake. “How’re you feeling?”

“I’m okay. Just a bit sore. Which is pretty much what I expected.” She took Eddie’s hand in hers. “And maybe a little grateful that I got to sleep in and I don’t have to get up and go to work.”

He lifted her hand to kiss her knuckles. “You needed it.”

“Oh, shit!” she panicked. “I didn’t call. I missed the meeting. I’m gonna get fired!”

Eddie shushed her. “I called. Just breathe. It’s okay. I called earlier and talked to your boss. He knows you’ll be out today and tomorrow and told me to tell you to take Monday also, if you need to.”

She took a deep breath and let herself relax. “Okay. Thank you.”

“Of course. How about some breakfast?”

“Mmm. Yes, please.”

Eddie let go of her hand and got up off the bed. “Stay there. I’ll be right back.”

He disappeared out of the room, and she could hear him moving around her kitchen. A few minutes later, he returned with a plate and set it on the bed in front of her.

She looked up at him, surprised. “Since when do you make omelettes?”

“Uhh, well, never?” He laughed. “I may have called in reinforcements. Bobby dropped it off earlier. I just reheated it according to his very direct instructions.”

“Eddie! I could have just had some cereal or something. You didn’t need to make him drive over here so early on his day off.” She reached over to grab her phone off the nightstand.

“I figured you could use real food. I was going to order delivery, but Bobby offered.”

“Why would he have offered?” She opened Bobby’s contact to send him a thank you text. “Oh. You told him about last night.”

“I couldn’t fall asleep. Then they were all texting in the group thread. So when they asked why I was still up, I told them. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have without asking you first.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s not like my epilepsy is a secret. They’re your—our— friends. I’m sure I would have told them anyway.”

He nodded. “Okay. Eat and then you can go back to sleep for a bit. If you want.”

She cut a piece off the omelette and ate it. As she chewed, she spoke, “Bobby says we’re invited over there for dinner if I’m feeling up to it. I told him we would let them know a little later today.”

“Sounds like a good plan to me.”

She took another bite of her food. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

Shaking his head, he explained, “I ate earlier.”

“Oh, right.” She glanced at the clock. “I forgot it was so late already.”

“Anything else I can get for you?”

She contemplated for a moment. “Umm, maybe a glass of apple juice?”

He disappeared from the room with a simple nod.

Soon after he returned, she finished her omelette and he took the plate into the kitchen.

“Did you want to go back to sleep?” he asked.

“How about a shower and then a movie on the couch?” she countered, throwing off the blankets she was still tucked under. As she stood, dizziness flared, causing her to sway slightly before sitting back down.

Eddie was in front of her instantly, steadying her. “How about a bath instead?”

It could be hard sometimes, having a partner with epilepsy. But they made it work, and Kaminari wouldn’t leave them for the world. 

They’d expressed their dismay over not being able to see popular movies, and their annoyance at the cost of medicine. The worst part of it, Kaminari thinks, is their fear that he’ll leave them. He’s always quick to reassure them, but he knows they still get anxious about it.

And he understands, he really does. But he still wishes that they didn’t feel that way.

The positive aspects greatly outweigh the negative, of course. For example, he has a loving partner. He cares for them and they care for him. He’s also very experienced in helping people with seizures now.

Kaminari will never forget the first time he witnessed his partner having a seizure. It was terrifying. Since then, he’s tried his absolute best to make sure they never have to deal with their triggers.

He can remember it like it was yesterday. How their words became murmured and gibberish. How they fell and twitched, how he cried and tried his best to help without touching them. The ambulance ride.

He never wants either of them to have to experience that again. Of course there will be minor ones, these things aren’t cured just like that. But he’ll do his damnedest to make sure that they’re safe throughout them.

Footsteps knock him out of his thoughts. Well, footsteps and the knocks on his head.

“Hello? Anyone home?”

He swats their hand away and looks up at them. They grin down at him.

“Hi (Y/N).  What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing much,” they say, waving their hand in a vague gesture. Their pearly whites flash out in a smirk and Kaminari feels more fear facing them than he does against hundreds of villains.

“Did I do something? What’d I forget now?” he asks, trying to remember. What day was it again? Wednesday? What was special about Wednesday again?

“Tonight’s date night! Silly,” they laugh. “Don’t worry though, it was my night to choose what to do anyways.”

Kaminari pales, bowing in his seat. “Sorry (Y/N), sorry. I’ve been struck with a bunch of paperwork today. Slipped my mind.”

(Y/N) rolls their eyes with a groan. “That pun was a bit of a stretch mister. Better step up your game or I’ll win the title of punniest person in the room. Though it wouldn’t be that much of a shock.”

Kaminari drags a hand down his face and sighs in fake annoyance. “That was horrible..”

“I know.”

He rolls his eyes. “So, what’s the plan for date night? A movie? Dinner? Maybe even-”

(Y/N) pushes his face away. “Gross, Denki. Keep it in your pants. But yes, we’re going to the movies!”

“Sounds great to me babe.” He scribbles his signature across another paper and smiles up at them. They lean down and plant a kiss on his cheek.

“Now hurry up and finish your work! I don’t wanna miss the movie because you didn’t wanna finish your work,” they say.

“Yeah yeah,” he waves, “I’ll get it done. Heroes honor.”

“I’ll hold you to it.”

An hour later and Kaminari only has ten reports to fill out. (Y/N) says that it’s time to leave, the movie might start soon. Kaminari heads to get dressed, assuring them that he finished his work.

He dresses in the outfit he knows they like best. Black skinny jeans, a leather jacket and his pale yellow shirt. Kaminari slides out the bedroom door, socks slipping down. Their eyes brighten and their smile widens when they see what he dressed in.

“Hi there my bumblebee. Ready to go?”

He nods, shoving his feet into his sneakers. (Y/N) places their feet in their shoes with much more grace. Kaminari takes note of how the blue of their shoes matches their dress shirt. He swallows when they stand up, their shoes making them an inch taller than him.

“You look good,” he stammers. They smile, peck his cheek, and grab his hand. He feels like a massive dork, cheeks ablaze.

Their walk to the movies is filled with lighthearted chatter. Kaminari asks what movie they were seeing and (Y/N) admits that they were thinking about Deadpool 2.

“That’d be cool. Are you sure it’s friendly though?”

They nod. “I read up on it. There’s a scene where some lights start flashing but it’ll be fine. I can just cover my eyes until you say it’s over. Right?”

“Of course.”

The pair walks into the theater. Between the two of them they can easily finish a large bucket of popcorn and so they order one plus two large sodas. They check into their movie and settle. Kaminari places his arm around their shoulder, their head leaning against him.

The movie was good. The ending was awesome though, and Kaminari would definitely watch it again. Not right now of course. Right now they had to get their sleepy lover home.

He lets them lean against him, his arm around their waist. He makes sure he’s on the outer edge of the sidewalk just in case. Their walk is filled with a peaceful silence.

(Y/N) goes to get dressed in pajamas as soon as they get back to the house. Kaminari takes a quick shower before doing the same. He finds them laying on the queen sized bed and turns the lights off, joining them.

“I love you,” (Y/N) breathes out, leaning into his space. Their words ghost over his lips. They lean in and give him a soft, slow kiss. No matter how many times he kisses them it always takes his breath away.

Kaminari pulls away first. “I love you too, (Y/N).”

They send a smile his way, snuggling closer and resting their head on his chest. Kaminari holds them close.

“Come now, don’t talk about our human that way.”

“First, she’s not our anything. Second: you’re defending her now?”

Volt flashes a wolfish smile. “You’re not intrigued? Not even the tiniest bit? ”

“No.”

“What’s the harm? I'm simply getting to know her.”

 “Of course. Because that’s something you’ve always wanted,” Eddie scoffs, rolling his eyes. 

“What can I say?” Volt puts his hands in his pockets and leans back confidently. “She sparks my curiosity.” 

Eddie answers with a scowl of disdain. “You’ve got to be fucking with me.” 

“--rather lovely, but you don’t need me to tell you that.”

“Not at all. She’s quick-witted, intelligent–.”

“Debatable.”

Eddie’s face burns with embarrassment. “Volt…” 

“And–I can’t say I’ve ever seen a human surge before. Certainly not this one.”

“What do you mean she surges?”

Volt grins, “I thought you weren’t interested.”

“For fucksake,” Eddie sighs, ready to stomp off.

Volt’s demeanor shifts from playful to sincere and quiet. “I’m not sure what else to call it, really. Occasionally, part of her head glows and arcs with electricity.”

“What the hell is it?”

Bouncing on the balls of his feet, Volt smiles. “I don’t know! And that makes her all the more…fascinating.”

“Really? Fascinating?” Eddie looks askance at Volt. “That’s what you’re going with?”

Frustrated, Volt heaves a sigh of his own. “And what word would you choose, Eddie?”

“Threat.”

 “Eddie, she's no threat. Besides, I can handle anything.”

 “If you don't like that word I have others.”

 “Are any of them not an insult?”

 “What is there to compliment? The human is–.” 

“Think of it like this," Volt interjects, growing impatient. "If I’m spending time with her, she’ll be too focused on me to be a bother to you. And hasn’t that always been the point?”

“You’re wasting energy on her and it’s only going to make things around here worse.”

“Trust me.” Volt places a gentle hand on Eddie’s shoulder. “I have everything in hand.” 

Eddie’s attention wanders as he hears the loud groan of the door opening upon the club. “I’m serious, Volt. You need to be more careful.”

“And you,” Volt adds, “should be resting.”

“I’ll just add it to the list.”

“Eddie–.”

“There isn’t enough time, alright? There’s too much to do. So unless you want us to blow a fuse–.”

“We’re not going to blow a fuse,” Volt assures him. “Though you might if you don’t relax.” 

“Relax?” Eddie chuffs a rueful laugh. “Yeah. That’s not going to happen when she’s here.” 

“Eddie, you know the house needs this place. I can’t just close tonight. Not before the show. She might not come by. And if she does, you won’t even notice.” 

Eddie isn’t convinced. Not by a long shot. Exhausted, already overwhelmed by the night’s crowd, Eddie sighs and concedes. “Fine. Just a few hours, but only if you swear you’ll keep me updated.” 

“Have I ever failed you before,” Volt asks with a cocksure grin. “Obviously not.”

“Volt,” Eddie says with an edge, “if it gets worse, you come get me.”

Footsteps draw their attention. Looking to the entrance, they see the human scanning the club. Eddie rolls his eyes. “Fascinating? Really?”

He doesn’t wait for a response. As he walks away his bootfalls are heavy, his expression dark. Approaching the human, he meets her eyes for the briefest of seconds then coldly stalks past. 

            Get rid of her, he tells Volt.

The human shakes her head, annoyed with Eddie. However, when she sees Volt, her smile beams bright enough to light up the room. 

“And here I thought you weren't fond of clubs,” Volt teases as he approaches. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, live wire.”

“Well, I had to come back. The vibe…the show…” she blushes and bites her lip nervously. “The host.” 

Volt feels a slight skip in his current. Stepping closer, he can't help but grin. “Is that so?”

 “Mmhmm." She bites her lip nervously. "Might have been the best thing I saw on stage. My favorite, even.”

  In the charged silence that follows, she holds his gaze. Heat rises in Volt’s cheeks, blushing with a sincerity he never expected. Being honest with himself, Volt finds he quite enjoys the experience. Enjoys her. 

  Gesturing over her shoulder toward Eddie, she asks, “Still intense?”

“As ever”

“Who is he, anyway? To you and this,” she adds, gesturing around the club.”

Volt lifts his chin and his confidence borders on hubris. “I supply, filter and distribute all the power in the house. Eddie is my predecessor. He’s been retired for quite some time now, however his knowledge and experience are invaluable to keeping the club humming along.” 

Stepping closer, looming over her, Volt sees the slightest note of fear flicker across her features. Though his intentions are earnest, there is an edge to his words. “I feel I should warn you. As you might have noticed, Eddie is rather ill-tempered. I assure you, it is best for everyone if he is just left alone. Especially when he is off the clock and taking a well-deserved rest.” Searching her eyes, he softens his voice. “I do hope I’ve answered your questions.”

“Just...I didn’t interrupt anything important, did I?”

“Of course not,” he sings. “Administrative matters. Your host would never want to bore you with such things. Not when there’s so much more to experience together.”

She arches an eyebrow. “Color me curious.”

“Now now," Volt teases. "I wouldn’t want to give too much away. Not so soon.”

Volt takes her hand in his, imparting the smallest tingle of static electricity. He shoots a quick glance up to the lights, expecting a surge that doesn’t come. 

Good. He’s either resting or beginning to thaw about the human. 

Volt returns his attention to her, admiring her body. “I must say, live wire, you are staggeringly beautiful any day or night. But in red–mm mm!–you are positively luminous.”

As she follows his stare, she gasps. Red satin slips off her bare shoulders and clings to her curves. He gives her a twirl and admires the fit of the wiggle dress and the sheer stockings with a Cuban heel, seams as straight as ray of light. She’s already a tall woman, and the strappy black shoes bring her just that much closer to Volt’s lips.

Once again, the human is utterly giddy. “How the hell do you do this?”

Volt hears her breath catch as he brings his cheek within an inch of hers. He whispers conspiratorially, “Can you keep a secret?”

“Several.”

“Mmm, so can I.”

“Oh, it’s like that,” she says playfully. 

“All in good time, live wire.” Still holding her hand, Volt strokes her fingers with his thumb. “Shall I escort you to a table? The show doesn’t start for a little while, but I’m sure we can find something to fill the time.”

Eyes lingering on Volt’s lips, she asks, “Can I get a drink?”

“Thirsty, are we? Right this way.”

Wrapping her arm around his, he leads the human to a seat, then gracefully takes a spot behind the bar. Volt practically juggles the bottles, turning each step of  the process into an entrancing dance. With his signature flare, the host presents his guest with a honey-brown drink garnished with an orange wheel and a pair of glistening cherries threaded on a short cable. 

“Whiskey sour,” he says proudly. “On the house, of course.” 

After she takes a long experimental drink, a smile unfurls across her expression. 

“Oh,” Volt sings. “Have we found something you enjoy?” 

She looks up at Volt from beneath her lashes, confident. Perhaps even a little daring. “Mmhm. The drink is almost as satisfying as watching you make it.”

“Why thank you, sweet spark.” With another blush he gives her a light bow. “Your host does love to entertain.”

“Does he have any other hidden talents?”

Volt’s slow grin is full of wicked promises. “Many,” he purrs.

“Now I have to know.” 

When his attention falls to your cocktail, his eyes crackle with mischief. Volt lowers himself to your drink. With a quick flick of his tongue he takes a cherry stem into his teeth and slowly, gently pulls the fruit free of the cord. The stem disappears into his mouth leaving the bright red cherry pressed to his lips. Commanding your gaze, his eyes never leave yours. One more motion of his tongue and he brings the cherry into his mouth. The stem emerges from his lips tied in a perfect knot. He plucks it free and displays his art for her. 

In the dark club, her cheeks flare pink. “Impressive.”

She almost matches her dress. Now it's a challenge for him. “I’d be happy to give you a private demonstration sometime, if you’d like.” Placing his elbows on the bar, he leans closer. “Would that be enough temptation for you to come see me again? On a slow night, perhaps, when I can give you my undivided attention.”

As she brings the glass up to her mouth, she uses it to point at Volt. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“Oh, live wire, I certainly hope you’ll hold me to lots of things.”

With a bemused chuckle, she covers her bashful smile with another drink from her glass.

“You blush deliciously,” he says. 

The human’s skin turns an even deeper shade of red. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she quietly says, “Seems to happen a lot here.”

“Oh does it?” 

“Must be all the energy around here.” 

“Of course,” Volt says, an unexpected warmth in his eyes. 

The silence that follows is packed with an electricity that has little to do with the drinks, vibe or the music. She idly spins the remaining cherry in her drink. When she looks up to Volt, the human seems uneasy. 

“So…um…what now?”

Volt laughs affectionately. “You don’t do this very often, do you?”

“I’m not usually…social. Especially with objects. That’s…that’s very new.”

“Then allow me to take the lead.” His hand hovering above hers, he asks, “May I?”

She nods. “You may.” 

Volt takes her hand and turns it palm up. “Please correct me if I am mistaken, but I've heard that the lines on an individual human’s hands are completely unique. Not unlike our barcodes. Some even believe you can discern aspects of your future simply by looking at them. Shall I read yours?”

Intrigued, she tilts her head. “You can read palms?”

“I learned to read barcodes from Vagabonda, one of our old Spotlight acts. I imagine the skills are somewhat transferable.”

 “Alright.” With a subtle chin pop she says, “What do you see?”

 Volt moves forward until he and the human are mere inches apart then focuses intently on her steady hand, “Hmmmmm. How interesting. Yes, quite fascinating indeed.”

 “Oh, do tell.”

 “Well, according to this line right here…” Volt traces his fingertip across the longest crease of her palm. “You've recently met your destiny.”

 “Hrm…I've met a lot of objects lately. Any lines have something a little more specific? I’d hate to miss my destiny in the crowd.”

 Stroking her hand, Volt’s unwavering stare fixes her attention. “Tall. Handsome. Dangerously irresistible. Does that ring any bells?”

 Eyes glittering, she gives Volt a coy smile. “Someone comes to mind, yeah.”

As Volt places a kiss in her palm, the power surges. The lights flicker and flare, accompanied by a loud, droning buzz. In his mind, Volt hears Eddie’s surly voice.

We fucking talked about this.

And you’re supposed to be resting.

Volt, Eddie warns.

When he looks up at the human, he sees small motes of light crackling on the side of her head. She merely continues staring at the reflections in the glossy bar. He stands, still holding her hand in his. “I am sorry, live wire. As much as I’m enjoying our conversation, I’m afraid your host must prepare for his show.  To your table, then?”

chapter 3 - Chapter 5