#i looked through the peephole and saw a man dressed in all black limping away down the hall | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

half-bakedboy · 3 years ago

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he is your heart (and you are his) (read on ao3)

Pairing: Evan “Buck” Buckley/Eddie Diaz Rated: Teen Summary: Eddie couldn’t remember why he was flicking aimlessly through the blank channels on the television. He couldn’t remember getting to his house. That wasn’t… right.

A knock on the door echoed in his ears like a gunshot.

“Shannon?”

Or... What happened in Eddie's subconscious after being shot changed everything for the better.

Eddie couldn’t remember why he was flicking aimlessly through the blank channels on the television. He couldn’t remember getting to his house. That wasn’t… right. He turned off the screen so he could focus and glanced around the room, barely recognizing what surrounded him. The photos that should have been on the wall were blurred, but even when he blinked his eyes repeatedly, his vision didn’t clear.

A knock on the door echoed in his ears like a gunshot.

He stood up and walked over mindlessly, reaching out his hands in front of him to slide his index finger through the splatter of what looked like blood on the back of the door. He leaned forward and through the peephole was the last person he had ever expected to see. He threw the door open, uncaring for the mess it might have made when it hit the wall, and tears rushed to his eyes.

“Shannon?”

“Eddie,” she said, her voice like music to his ears.

He pulled her in, wrapping his arms around her and pressing his nose into her neck, breathing in the scent of cinnamon and… burning rubber? He shot back, holding her shoulders tightly as he took in her presence. She was standing right in front of him, looking as beautiful as the day he met her. In fact, she looked exactly as she did the day he met her, white sundress and all.

“What’s going on? Why are you— How are you here?” he asked, breathless. He tried to hold in the sobs that threatened to burst out of his mouth, the pressure on his chest almost too much to bear.

“Because you needed me, silly. Can we sit? We’re going to miss the show!”

Her smile lit up the room, as it always had, and she pulled him toward the couch, joy never faltering even as he hesitated to follow her. When they sat, she laced their fingers together and pulled them up to her mouth, kissing the back of his hand gently. She rested them back on her lap and turned toward the television as if waiting for the black screen to light up on its own.

“You have to turn it on, Eddie. Christopher isn’t going to wait forever,” she noted, patting his shoulder lightly.

“Where is Christopher? Where am I?” Eddie stared unblinking at Shannon as if she would disappear if he looked away. “How are you here, Shan?” he asked again, pleading through a barely contained sob.

“We have to watch the show, okay?” she urged again, eyes still unblinking as she stared. “Eddie, we don’t have much time.” Even though her voice sounded pleading, the smile stayed wide on her lips.

“Okay, what do I do?”

Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed the remote and pressed the power button. The TV sprang to life and the telltale sound of a baby crying resounded through the room. There was a hospital room on screen and doctors he recognized surrounded Shannon’s bedside. He even saw himself on the other side of the bed, tears of joy springing to his eyes.

“God, he was so small. Do you remember him being that small?” Shannon asked, leaning her head onto Eddie’s shoulder.

“He was six pounds, two ounces of pure love,” Eddie said and Shannon nodded in response. “He’s almost up to my shoulders now, you know. I swear he’s going to be taller than me,” Eddie noted with a laugh.

“He gets that from my side of the family,” Shannon responded. Eddie leaned over to kiss the top of her head as the screen switched.

Christopher was six years old, Eddie remembered. He had surprised his family by being home for Christmas and he and Shannon spent the entire week fighting. He remembered how much Shannon resented him for coming back for such a short amount of time. Every time he came back meant she would have to watch him leave again and she didn’t think that was fair to her.

“It wasn’t, but we made it through,” Shannon said. He didn’t think he was speaking out loud, but he didn’t allow himself to put much thought into how she knew what he was thinking.

“We made it through and Christopher still talks about that Christmas like nothing bad ever happened.”

Eddie remembered that he had brought it up a few months ago. He still had the coloring books Shannon had bought him and the stones for his rock collection Eddie had found in Afghanistan. He loved that Christmas and looked back on it fondly, not as the last one before his mom left, but as the one he spent with the woman he admired most.

“Who’s this?” Shannon asked as another memory popped into view.

It was Ana.

Eddie’s heart warmed. She was sitting on the couch with Christopher leaning into her side and Eddie just a few feet away, leaning against the doorframe to watch them. Christopher seemed happy and Ana was as content as one could be. She was reading him a story, one that Christopher had picked out because she apparently sounded like the female character looked, and Eddie was listening and admiring, just taking it all in.

“She’s really good with him.”

There was no jealousy or sadness in her tone, just… quiet observation.

“She’s wonderful, but—” Eddie choked on something in his throat, but pushed the feeling aside in favor of turning toward Shannon again. “She’s not you, Shan.”

Shannon’s laughter was bright but she looked understanding when she reached over to cup Eddie’s cheek in her hand.

“Of course she isn’t, Eddie. If she was, no one would allow you to keep dating her,” she noted, a hint of sarcasm in her tone that almost had Eddie chuckling.

“It wouldn’t matter what they thought, you know that,” he said instead, pressing his hand over hers.

“You are stubborn. It’s part of why I fell in love with you.”

“You always were the one to knock me down when I got too high and put me back in my place, weren’t you?”

A few memories filtered across the screen of the first time Eddie had met Shannon and their first few dates up until he asked her to marry him. It had been one of the most incredible days of his life, only matched by the arrival of Christopher and maybe when he started at the one-eighteen.

“As I was saying,” Shannon began, making sure Eddie was staring into her eyes. They looked exactly how he remembered them but maybe just a little less sadness and more peace in them than before. “No matter what you do, Eddie, Ana is never going to be me.”

“I know that, I—” She silenced him with a finger on his lips.

“Because as much as you loved me—and I know that you did, I never doubted that for a second—we were never meant to be together. You never wanted me the way that I wanted you and that was only solidified between us once Christopher arrived.”

“What does that mean? I always wanted you, Shannon. I’d take you back in a moment if I could,” Eddie pleaded, closing his eyes and breathing her in, hoping that if he just focused enough he could stay with her forever.

“You stayed with me because you thought that’s what was best for Christopher and I stayed with you because I didn’t think I could ever find another man that would choose him one thousand times over.” She took a breath and ran her thumb over his eyebrow, a source of comfort she always provided to both him and their son when they needed it.

“Christopher is everything,” Eddie whispered.

“He is, but that doesn’t mean you have to set what you deserve aside. He has the biggest heart because of you, Eddie, which means sometimes, you have to follow your own above his.”

Be sure you’re following your own heart, not Christopher’s, okay?

Eddie hiccuped, “I just— I miss you so much.”

He pressed their foreheads together, holding onto her face as tightly as he could without hurting her.

“I miss you, too, Eddie. But keep watching, okay?” Shannon urged, pressing her palm against his cheek and pushing his face back toward the television.

He didn’t care what was on the TV, though, because he wanted to look at her . He wanted to take her in; the floral dress she was wearing seemed to blow in the nonexistent wind and her wavy hair framed her sharp jaw, softening her features and making her look almost angelic. He wanted to gaze into her eyes and see the light in them that he had watched dim to nothing only a few years prior.

He didn’t care what was on the screen, he just wanted—

“Christopher!”

Buck.

The crack in his best friend’s voice had Eddie’s eyes glued to the television again. Buck was covered in dirt and drenched to the bone. He was trembling and his skin was red and raw. He had a limp in his walk but he kept pushing forward.

“Christopher!”

“No, I— I don’t want to see this,” Eddie begged.

He grabbed the remote and pressed whatever buttons he could, but the remote he thought he grabbed wasn’t that at all. It was Christopher’s glasses, shattered in his hand. He dropped them like they burned his skin and suddenly his arm was on fire, burning deep into his core. He screamed and held onto Shannon’s hand tighter, squeezing so hard that it must have hurt her. She didn’t even flinch.

“You have to, Eddie. You have to keep watching,” Shannon urged.

Eddie loved her smile and while it usually calmed him down and settled the nerves under his skin, that time it caused fear to tingle down his spine instead.

“Why? Why are you here, Shannon?” he asked; pleaded.

“Look!” she said with a laugh. “I used to love playing I-Spy with Christopher. He would always figure out exactly what I was spying so quickly because he was so smart. He is the smartest kid, isn’t he?” Shannon asked, leaning back against Eddie as if to try and calm him down.

Eddie watched as Buck wrapped his arm around Christopher’s shoulder and pointed up at a building halfway underwater. They were on a firetruck, that much Eddie noticed. He could see the bright red through the grimy water and the yellow stripes of Christopher’s shirt stood out starkly against it. His son was grinning up at the building, too focused on whatever Buck was pointing at and saying to notice the flood of bodies moving behind them.

“Why are you showing me this? Why are we watching this?” Eddie closed his eyes to try and stop the tears that threatened to fall again.

“Because Eddie, you’ve never been good at following your heart,” Shannon said with a shake of her head. “You always listen to your brain and make decisions you deem as logical without letting what your heart is screaming at you have any say.”

“That’s not true,” Eddie began, but Shannon cut him off with a raise of her eyebrows.

“Your brain made the choice to enlist even though your heart told you to stay with me and your son.”

“That’s not fair,” he sobbed, bringing her hand up to his lips and letting his lips rest on her skin. “I had to do what was best for our family, for Christopher.”

“Did you ever think that what’s best for Christopher might be having a father who shows him that he can follow his heart? That what’s best for you might be exactly what Christopher needs?” Shannon asked.

At that moment, memories of Buck flashed across the screen.

Buck with Christopher. Buck with Eddie. All three of them together, like a family.

He watched his son and Buck skateboarding, surfing, picking up groceries, at the movies, out to dinner, grabbing ice cream, going to a baseball game. Everything under the sun that they had all done together played across the screen. There were moments that went on longer where Buck had picked up Christopher from Abuela’s house and soft kisses on cheeks were exchanged with those Eddie cared about most. There were clips of Buck helping Christopher with his math homework even though he had no idea what he was doing and showing up with stacks of books on whatever interested Christopher that week.

Eddie had to look away or risk his heart bursting out of his chest.

“Keep watching,” Shannon whispered, her smile widening. “This is my favorite part.”

Her favorite was apparently their moments alone, just Buck and Eddie existing without any other cares in the world. In each one, Eddie could see his feelings bright as day on his face and hoped it wasn’t as obvious as it looked on the television. He knew how he felt—it was almost impossible to avoid it—but to see it on screen as clear as day was almost hard to watch.

He could see how much he wanted with everything in him to reach out and pull Buck into a hug when he was sad or hurt. And when Buck was so happy he didn’t know how to contain the smile on his face, Eddie grinned right back like nothing could possibly bring them down. His eyes shone when Buck so much as glanced in his direction and when possible, Eddie was pressed right against his side as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

His heart seemed to explode inside of his chest at the small gestures of love he saw between them. He leaned forward in his seat, loosening his grip on Shannon’s hand subconsciously as comfort flooded through him. He yearned to reach out to the screen and put himself back in front of Buck, finally take the chance to touch him a little more than platonically or kiss him like he had meant to for the last two years.

Then he recoiled and his heart shattered into a million tiny pieces, the pain in his shoulder radiating throughout his entire body at what he saw next.

He watched himself stare, barely any emotion on his face when Buck was crushed beneath the ladder truck and saw his own face fall into panic as Buck coughed up blood at Athena’s house, eyes locked with Eddie’s like a silent plea for help. He blinked away tears while Buck dug at the mud that had trapped Eddie underground, screaming and sobbing his name as Bobby pulled him to comfort.

The last memory seemed to move in slow motion. One second he was standing in front of the ambulance that was bringing Charlie to safety and then next, Buck was covered in blood. He looked as if he had seen a ghost and all Eddie wanted to do was reach out to him and make sure he was okay. There was so much blood.

Eddie reached toward the screen and everything went black.

“What happened? Shannon, what’s going on?” he asked, grabbing for the remote again but that time, cold metal was in its place.

The gun was too heavy in his hand and he felt wrong to be holding it in the home he had worked so hard to keep his horrible, violent past out of. Before he could discard the weapon, it went off. He flinched, checking himself for injury before he saw the blood darkening the white sleeve of Shannon’s dress. Eddie pressed at the wound instinctively with his palm, grabbing the closest thing in reach to put pressure on it.

An eerily familiar white shirt.

“Shannon?! Shannon! Oh my god, Shannon. I got you, I’m here, okay? I got you,” he pleaded, holding onto her smiling face with one hand while keeping pressure on the hole in her chest. He sobbed over her, tears streaming down his face and his stomach twisting in fear.

When the shirt had soaked through, he pulled it away to change it, but the gaping wound was gone. It was like it never existed. The blood still stained her dress, but instead of a puddle of red, it was splattered across her chest and face, small droplets that fell down her cheeks like tears. She reached out to touch over his heart and when she did, her fingers grazed a bullet-sized hole in his own shoulder.

He found himself unable to breathe as she laughed joyfully in front of him.

“Can’t you see, Eddie?” Shannon asked excitedly, practically bouncing where she sat.

“See what?” he pleaded.

“He is your heart, Eddie. And you are his. He needs you.”

“I can’t breathe, I can’t— Shannon, wait,” he broke off, panicked as she started fading right in front of him. “No, no, no! Please, don’t go. I can’t do this without you,” he begged.

He didn’t care for the way his shoulder seized in pain or how his heart bled out of his chest, his uniform covered in the sticky substance that would never wash away. He didn’t want her to go, not yet. He had so many questions, so many things he wanted to say to her, to make sure she knew.

“I know, Eddie. I miss you, I love you, I would give anything for you to come with me,” she said, running her thumb over his eyebrow again before cupping his jaw in her hand, “but I know of two—and a lot more—people who miss you right now and who love you more than I can even begin to show you.”

“I’m scared, Shan,” Eddie admitted, leaning into her touch even as it drifted away. She was practically a ghost, cool touch and transparent skin, in front of him. “What if I can’t do this without you?” he asked, frozen.

“You have been,” she said simply. “Now, go. Think about what we’ve talked about, okay? You deserve to be just as happy as you’ve made our son.”

Eddie wanted to hold onto her tighter, stop her from floating through the front door because he knew he would never see her again, not like that. He didn’t want to lose the memory of her smile or the way she felt against his hands now that it was so clear in his mind. He stood up to follow her, but behind him, he heard a voice.

He heard Buck.

He wandered down the hallway until he stood in Christopher’s doorway, watching Buck sit next to his son, a worried look on his face like he was holding back tears. Eddie wanted to wipe them away and wondered why he was crying. He hated seeing Buck sad.

“You know, your dad is, uh... he's tough as nails. He's a fighter, right?” Buck said to Christopher. He sniffed back emotion and Eddie kneeled in front of them.

“Hey, I’m okay, I’m right here. I’m not fighting anymore,” Eddie reminded them, but neither looked away from each other. They had no idea he was there.

“So, uh, he—he’s with the doctors now,” Buck explained. Eddie tilted his head as the pain in his shoulder increased minutely.

“Like the ones that fixed you?” Christopher asked. The smile on his face looked just like the one on Shannon’s and Eddie’s heart squeezed in his chest. He tried to reach out but he couldn’t move his arms.

Why couldn’t he move his arms?

“Uh-huh, yeah. Like the ones who fixed me,” Buck agreed.

After a few brief moments of silence, Christopher asked, “Then he's gonna be okay, right?”

“I’m going to be fine, Christopher. I would never leave you. I would never leave either of you,” Eddie said firmly.

As he tried to stand, to pull the two of them close and remind them that he was right there, the pain in his shoulder intensified and a heavy weight pressed down on his chest. He felt like he was being ripped in half and he screamed in pain as an invisible force started to pull him toward the door.

“No! Not them, too! I won’t leave them!” Eddie swore, grabbing onto the doorframe as Buck’s phone chimed in his hand. When he opened the message, a breath of relief pushed from his lungs and he smiled for the first time since Eddie had walked into the room.

“Yeah, I think so, buddy. I think so.”

As Eddie let go of the frame, his screams intermingled with the sobs that poured from Buck’s mouth.

“It’s gonna be okay, Buck.”

If Christopher said it, Eddie had to believe it.

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

He woke up slowly, the telltale sounds of machines whirring and beeping solidifying what he already knew. He was in a hospital room and he was hurt, badly if the pain radiating throughout his entire body said anything.

“You gonna stay awake this time?” Ana asked. She pulled his hand to her mouth and kissed his knuckles gently, taking a deep, relieved breath. “You gave all of us quite the scare, Edmundo.”

“What happened? I— Is Charlie okay? Buck, he— There was blood. He was covered, is he—?”

Ana was already pressing a hand to his chest to keep him laying down before he could even think about getting up. His eyes scanned the room but he only saw Ana. He hated how disappointed that made him. She deserved more than that.

“Charlie is okay, Buck is okay. Everyone is okay,” Ana said slowly, pushing his hair back from his sweaty forehead gently. “Charlie is up in the pediatric ward until the social worker comes by. He’s going to be staying with me when he’s out,” she noted.

“You’re going to foster him?”

Ana nodded and said, “I’ve thought about it before, but something about him just pushed me to my decision. His mom is getting the help she needs and they think she’s going to be okay to reunify with him at the end of it. It’d be nice to have some company, you know?”

“I didn’t know you had thought about that. I didn’t realize—”

“Buck saved your life,” she said quickly as if she was ripping off a bandaid from a wound she wasn’t sure was healed.

“He did?” Eddie asked.

“Yeah, he did.”

He pressed his eyes together and tried to remember what had happened. He felt the sting in his shoulder and the numbness that followed. He saw the bright red blood splattered across Buck’s face and soaking his stark white shirt. He felt the rough concrete scraping against his back and the insurmountable worry when he regained consciousness and Buck was still covered in blood.

“I need to…” He wasn’t exactly sure what he needed to do, but Ana was already smiling softly over at him.

“He’s on his way. I called him when you woke up about fifteen minutes ago but you know how L.A. traffic can be,” Ana explained.

“Why isn’t he here? Where’s Christopher?” He glanced up at the clock and realized it was after the time he was supposed to be home to relieve Carla. “Did anyone check on him? Carla was supposed to—”

“Eddie, it’s been three days.” His heart sank. “Between Carla and Buck, they had it covered.”

“Oh,” he breathed, running a hand over his face. “Ana, I—”

“I’ve never heard someone so worried for another person before,” she interrupted. “When Buck called me, I was sure you were dead,” she said almost conversationally.

“It always seems that way,” Eddie explained. He remembered watching his friends, his army family, be injured in the line of duty. Every one had the worst-case scenario flashing through his mind first and foremost.

“You don’t understand, Eddie,” she began, squeezing his hand a little tighter. “When Buck called me, I had to console him. I had to calm him down enough so that he could actually tell me what was going on. I was worried, of course, but Buck? He was devastated. ”

“He’s my—”

"If you say best friend I swear to God I’m walking out of this room without saying another word,” Ana threatened. Eddie kept his mouth shut. “I have to ask… Did you know that he’s in love with you?”

Eddie thought about the question. Did he? Wasn’t he sure that Buck would never leave him and Christopher’s lives, so positive he made Buck the legal guardian of his son in case of his demise? Wasn’t he positive that Buck was the one taking care of Christopher at that very moment, not worried about his son because he knew he didn’t have to be? Wasn’t that the love that Shannon told him all about?

“I don’t think either of us knew,” he said honestly. He couldn’t look at her, opting instead to focus on the IV dripping what he thought must have been morphine into his arm. “I’m sorry, Ana.”

“You don’t have to apologize, Eddie. Moments like this put things into perspective. You weren’t the only one who made some realizations the last few days,” Ana said with a small laugh. When Eddie sent her a questioning gaze, she explained, “I always thought I needed a husband in order to have a family. That’s what I was taught growing up, what society has pushed on me. It was the only way I thought I would ever have worth.”

“That’s not true,” Eddie interjected, running his thumb over the back of her hand.

“I know that now. I could have fallen in love with you. I could have married you and been a parent to your child, but I don’t know if that would have ever made me happy. What I’m about to do, with Charlie? That’s what I’ve always wanted. To open my home to those in need while still maintaining the independence I didn’t think I could have.”

“You’re incredible, Ana Flores, you know that?” Eddie asked, reaching up to stroke her hair gently. “Any person would be lucky to have you in their life in whatever way you want them,” he noted, “and I hope that doesn’t mean we can’t…” He trailed off in hopes that she would fill in the blanks to what he was thinking.

“I will always be there for you and Christopher.” After a moment, she added, “And Buck.”

Eddie laughed, “Yeah, I guess we are more of a package deal than I originally thought.”

“It would be great for both of you to talk, maybe… now?” she asked, glancing through the glass that surrounded them.

That’s when Buck came into view. He ran down the hallway like he was running to a scene, his breath panting out of him as he stopped at the door, the brightest smile Eddie had ever seen tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Hey, Buck,” Eddie whispered.

“Hey,” Buck responded, relief clear even with only one word.

“I’m going to get going,” Ana said as she stood. She leaned over and pressed a kiss between Eddie’s eyebrows and then his cheek before whispering, “Remember what I said, okay?” He nodded and kissed her right back, holding her hand until she was far enough away that he had to drop it.

She walked over to Buck and pulled him into a tight hug, pushing up on her toes to whisper something in his ear as well. Eddie couldn’t hear what she said, but the shock on Buck’s face was enough to have him pressing his lips together to contain a laugh. She patted his cheek gently as she pulled away and turned enough to shoot a quick wink in Eddie’s direction before walking out the door.

Buck stood where he was for a second, seemingly thinking about whatever Ana had said to him, but Eddie didn’t like him so far away.

“I’m okay, Buck, thanks to you, I’ve heard,” he said, holding out a hand and smiling when Buck instantly took a few steps forward, taking it in his own.

They had never held hands before—at least, not out of happiness instead of hurt—but somehow it felt right. It felt like they had done it a million times before and would do it every chance they got in the future.

“You know, I’ve always been worried about you running into fires or being lowered into wells, but being shot was never on my radar,” Buck said as an attempt at humor. Eddie laughed but Buck couldn’t seem to make the sound. “I wasn’t sure I was going to get you out of there and then once I did, I wasn’t sure I could keep you alive,” Buck whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.

“Hey,” Eddie said, urging Buck to look at him with a squeeze of his hand, “I’m okay.” He repeated the words even though they were obvious. “I’m more than okay, Buck. I— I saw Shannon,” he said quickly.

When he expected Buck to stare at him like he was insane, Buck just tilted his head in worry.

“How is she?” he asked and Eddie fell just a little more in love.

“She’s still beautiful, happier, I think. She still knows how to put me in my place,” Eddie commented.

“Well, someone has to when you’re unconscious and I can’t do it,” Buck retorted, smacking Eddie’s hand playfully.

“She, uh, showed me a lot of… she made things more clear for me. About myself, about… well, you.”

“Yeah? What about me?” he asked. Eddie recognized that hopeful tone and it healed him more than rest ever would.

“She said that I don’t follow my heart and that I listen to the logical part of my brain more than I should,” Eddie noted. He could tell Buck wanted to agree, but he stayed silent, nodding for Eddie to continue. “She made me realize that I’ve spent so much time making decisions for Christopher, I never stopped to think about what I deserve.”

“What Christopher needs is the most important,” Buck pointed out.

And suddenly, he understood what Shannon meant a little more. Eddie would choose Christopher one thousand times over, but so would Buck. His heart matched the size of Christopher’s and Buck had given it to both his son and Eddie from the moment they met.

Buck was Eddie’s heart and he deserved to finally follow it.

“I love you,” Eddie blurted out. “I love the way that you love my son and the way that I know you love me. What Christopher needs is more important, but I guess we’re pretty lucky,” he noted.

“Why is that?” Buck asked, that hope still shining in his face as he leaned closer as if he couldn’t control it.

“Because what Christopher and I both need is you.”

And it really was that simple.

When he kissed Buck, it was like all the pieces of the puzzle slotted into place and what everyone else had apparently already known was made as clear as day to the two of them. Eddie didn’t want to pull away, but he had no say in it when Buck pulled his head back and sent Eddie an inquisitive look.

“So, your ex-wife and ex-girlfriend really did all this, huh?” Buck teased.

“Shut up,” Eddie said with a roll of his eyes.

What he knew Buck heard, though, was I love you, I’m never leaving you, I need you in my life forever, and I’ll try not to get hurt again.

And Eddie was grateful Buck said as much right back.

#buddie #buddie fic #evan buckley #eddie diaz #shannon diaz #911 #911 on fox #911 fic #my writing #i am so proud of this one #i hope you all enjoy it #<3 <3 <3 <3 #buddiefanfiction

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b-afterhours · 7 years ago

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Sympathy For The Devil (part 3)

summary: Set in 1978, Bill a young yet accomplish cop, takes on the crime in New York City. Nervous yet excited to take on his first big task at his new department and prove himself. He soon finds out his partner is everything he had least expected.

warnings: strong language, mentions of sex acts, mentions/use of drugs

also if you’re seeing this for the first time you can read part one here and if you need to catch up on previous chapters go here.

tags: @kikilikes @itsbillskarsgard

A week had gone by, and today finally felt like Bill and Star were on to something. Though there were still plenty of hiccups through the week due to Star being impulsive. A few nights ago, he had to tell her when she's getting the urge, "to count to ten for god's sake". Finally feeling comfortable with his act, he didn't even need Star to help him dress up this morning. He wore his Levi jeans with a denim shirt to match. The buttons only did halfway, showing off his bare chest and gold chain. It felt like he had a good grasp of his role in this game, today. He was looking over his notepad, filled with pages of addresses now. Circling the ones he felt were most important while he was sitting in the parked Pinto waiting while Star worked her corner. He glanced at his wrist watch, 13 minutes, had gone by and Star hadn't gotten out of the alley yet. He set his notepad down, listening to Rebel, Rebel by David Bowie, staring at the alley. Growing worried, he looked at his watch again, 30 seconds... then 3, 2, 1... shit.

Bill got out the car, popping his collar up, and taking long strides across the street to the alley. This particular jawn he came to know as, Green Granada, the car he drove. He was a frequent regular. From the back window of the Granada, he could see Star was struggling to get out as she yanked the door handle. Bill reached to the front of his waistband curling his fingers around the handle of his gun as he approached. He tapped the glass with the barrel, startling the jawn as he tried to cover himself. Bill glanced away from the sight giving the guy time to shove it back in his pants. When he looked back the stout fella looked like he was going shit himself, if he hadn't already.

"Unlock the fucking door now," Bill said through his teeth, bring his face close to his gun staring down the man through the window.

With a trembling stumpy finger, the jawn hit his auto unlock button, Star nearly falling out as soon as it was open. "Fucking limp dick asshole!" She yelled.

Bill still pointing his gun at Green Granada, moved his wrist in a small circle, to get him to roll the window down. "If I see you on this block again, I'll shoot you in the fucking kneecap, you hear me?" The man gulped unable to speak. Bill glanced above the hood and asked Star if she got paid. She shook her head still a little shook up herself. Bill held his free hand out collecting the money. "What are you still doing here? Get the fuck out of here!" The Granada quickly reversed out the alley, nearly getting hit and getting several honks, but the man never looked back at them once.

"Thanks," Star said fixing her dress back to her body and putting her curls back in place. Bill quickly tucked his gun away, he couldn't believe he just did that. Threatening a man with his life? He didn't know he had it in him and quite frankly it scared him.

"Are you okay?" He hooked a hand around her elbow helping her across the street.

"Hey!" She abruptly yelled. "Keep movin' I see you checkin' that radio!" She yelled at a kid peering through the car windows on their Pinto. The kid froze up in the act of getting caught.

"You heard her! Get!" Bill said and the kid bolted. He shook his head getting into the car.

"Sorry about all that back in the alley. I was trying to get out." She said to him lighting a cigarette.

"I saw. Are you okay, though?"

"Yeah," she exhaled smoke. "Al's been kinda weird since his divorce. He can't get his cock up, I try to help, but he just likes it when I watch," she shrugged. "But today," she whistled the little falling anvil tune, "it just sat in his hand all floppy and he was blaming me for it."

"Jesus Christ," Bill rubbed his eyes with one hand. "I got his plate number. I'm gonna make sure his worthless ass gets a ticket for something." He said pulling out of his parking spot and into the street.

Star laughed in delight. "Oh! And I got some names. Well, actually I know of a party, lots-a big ballers will be there."

"Really? Where?" Bill said. He was happy they finally had a flow working together now.

"Tonight. North Harlem!" She gushed.

"Great," he hated discos. "Okay, I guess we'll go. But, it's for work, Star. You hear me?"

Star squealed in glee. "It won't be bad. You can just brood around lookin' like you always do. And I'll go around working the party lookin' for names. Gina might be there too, I'll play nice, ask her where she got her dope."

Bill shook his head, "Gina's been in jail since two nights ago. Told the station about her."

"Already?!" She said appalled.

"What? She stole your money, remember? I got the station to get some deputies to follow her until she slipped up."

"I thought we were trying to work on the low? I got in a fight with her Bill! And then a few days later she's locked up? Just slap a sticker on my head that says snitch, for cryin' out loud!"

"Can you relax? Fight or not, she was already headed to jail. Don't worry. We're fine," he assured.

"We better be," she sighed. "You know what they say."

He rolled his eyes, "and what exactly do they say, Star?"

"The only good snitch is a dead snitch," she said matter of fact.

"Don't be ridiculous. Nothing's gonna happen to you." They pulled up to their motel. The night before they were told that they were moving. They had to hop around motels and hotels to make sure their cover couldn't ever be blown.

"And what makes you so sure?"

"Because," he said putting the gear in park.

"Because?" She pressed.

"Because, I won't let anything happen to you, okay? Now c'mon. We gotta get our stuff ready to go."

Star used the little time they had to shower first. Bill laid on his bed, trying to settle his headache. He got them frequently since working with Star. He reminded himself again of his cruiser and uniform, it's going to all be worth it. His headache began to dull as he focused on the sound of the shower water hitting the tile. The ambiance was soon killed when Star began to sing Waterloo by Abba. It wasn't very pretty. He tried to tone it out, by getting his ear to target the shower water but his mind started to play tricks on him. Aware that there was a naked girl in there, sudsy and wet. He snapped his eyes open appalled by the intrusive thought.

"What the hell," he muttered, disgusted with himself. Feeling no different than all the jawns she had to deal with. Especially with what went on today, he couldn't believe he let his mind wander off like that.

There was a knock at the door, Stan was here. And thank god, he didn't have to be stuck with his thoughts any longer. He looked through the peephole quickly before inviting him in, double checking.

"Ay, how's it going Bill?" He patted Bill's shoulder. "And where's Star, the wonder, at?" He said noticing the empty room.

"Shower." He said and right after she began to sing again. The same tune by Abba.

"She never shuts up, does she? How do you do it?" Stan laughed. "Anyway, here," he handed him a new envelope with keys. "Hotel this time. Should be better than this dump. And your little lady has court in the morning," he said handing over Star's court summons.

"Court? While she's working?" He said looking over it.

"I know but this is from a prior charge. All she can do is show up and explain she's doing CI work and the judge will throw it out. We tried to get it postponed but the judge wasn't having it."

"Well shit. But thanks for dropping by Stan. I got some addresses and stuff will you take it before you leave?" He picked his notepad off the tv stand.

"Sure thing." He looked over the addresses satisfied at what he saw. "These look real promising Bill. And that girl, uh, Gina!" He snapped his fingers upon remembering. "Got some names of some small timers outta her. You're doin' a good job." He said as Bill walked him to the door. "How 'bout we meet tomorrow at the diner across the courthouse? While Miss Star deals with the judge?"

"Sounds good. See you then."

When Star got out of the shower, she spotted her and Bill's bags at the door, ready to go and that meant she had to be too then. The hotel they were hooked up with was already ten times nicer than their motel in just the lobby. They walked in their room, the double beds covered in plush stark white bedding. Star ran for her bed jumping on it with the biggest smiled Bill had ever seen on her face.

"I've never seen anything like this!" She said plopping down. "It's like a palace." It was a really nice hotel but Bill probably wouldn't hold it to palace level, though.

"And there's a radio in here!" She said turning it on and searching through stations. "You think we can go to that little clothing store we saw close by? I wanna buy an outfit for tonight,' she stopped turning the dial when she heard Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival pumping through the radio waves.

"Sure. I gotta find something too." ...

Bill was waiting at the register with his purchased deep red button-up and black slacks waiting on Star as she scrounged up dollars to pay for her shimmering dress in the same color as his shirt. She insisted they matched.

"We gotta look legit," she stressed on him.

Growing impatient, Bill asked the cashier how much she still owed, pulling his billfold out.

"I got it, hold on," Star protested but the transaction went through anyway. "Aw, you did have to do that," she said following Bill out the store. "How much do I owe you? I had like a twenty on me, I just gotta find it."

"It's fine."

"No really. I'll pay you back whatever you want."

"Don't, say it like that..."

"Oh, I didn't mean it like that..." she looked away embarrassed. That was strange to him, he'd never seen her face fall in such a way, and it made him feel bad.

"It's okay. Let's just get ready, alright?" ...

They took the graffitied subway to the disco. Star stood, holding on the pole in the center aisle, not wanting to wrinkle her short dress, she wore it with black tights and thigh high heels boots. Bill was silently sulking about having to go the disco, he wasn't a great dancer. And besides that, he was dreading having to keep an eye on Star with so many people she could hide behind, she was little. He was glad he was as tall as he was but still searching for someone with just the disco lights to see by was going to be a task.

"Chin up, kid," Star said with a smirk. "It's gonna be a blast. And you look great," she said trying to put him at ease.

"We have —"

"Yes, I know what we gotta do," she cut him off. "But at least you're lookin' suave doin' it, right? And me too?" She tilted her head unashamed she was fishing a compliment out of him.

"Yes, you look great too," he tried to hide his smirk.

"Such a gentleman."

Bill let her lead through the crowded disco as she searched for the jawn that invited her. The place was roaring with life and Bill could already spot all the illegal shit going on. He could smell sweat, alcohol, and reefer in the place. Pot was one thing but he was certain the place didn't even have a license to sell booze, either. The real action was on the dance floor, several couples were showing out their dance moves, trying to top each other. Star was vibing along to September by Earth, Wind, and Fire as she walked on her tip toes to see in front over her. She pointed overhead, near the back corner of the place at the end of the makeshift bar.

"There he is," she said pointing a guy in an all black jumpsuit with dark sideburns and chest hair to match. As they approached, she paused pulling on Bill's arm so that she could speak in his ear. "Just follow what I do, okay? Just once." Bill certainly didn't like that plan he knew how she could get but there was no time for arguing. "Randi!!" She said with her arms out, embracing the jawn.

"Hey, sweet thing. Glad you came," he kissed her cheek. "And uh, who's the tall fella?"

"This is my guy, Jax," she said going to Bill's side, hugging his arm.

"What happened to Benny?"

Star frowned, "Locked up in Riker's. For a while now."

"Rikers, yikes. Sorry to hear. Well nice to meet you Jax, Randi, with an 'I'," he smiled, his gold-capped canine flashing under the lights as they shook hands. "Now you don't mind if I steal your girl for a moment?"

Bill wanted to tell the man yes, yes he mind. This guy, Randi with an 'I', was bad news and he knew it. He didn't want Star alone with him at all but he knew, it was going have to happen.

"It's cool," Star piped up. "Have a beer or something," she told Bill. "It'll only be for a moment, I promise."

"See. She promises, Jax," Randi said.

Bill had to sit back and watch as Star and Randi, dipped into a bathroom right behind the bar. He got the bartenders attention and ordered a beer and a shot of whiskey. Fuck it, he thought, what's the worse he could do than drink on the job. He turned around, leaning back on the bar with his elbows, watching the dance floor. Occasionally, he'd look back at the bathroom door. They had ten more minutes before he went barging in. A girl in a gold dress approached him, moving to the beat. She was really pretty, braids from the front of her hair blending into her fro, and the disco ball lights speckling her deep-toned skin.

"Hey, baby? Why you alone?" She said smoothly. Her dress had slits on both sides going all the way to her hips, showing off her beautiful long legs.

"Uh just waiting on a friend," he took a gulp of his Coors.

"You wanna boogie while you wait?" She reached for his hand.

"I don't, uh, I don't know how?"

"Aww," she laughed, "I'm a good teacher."

"Jax!" Star yelled peeping her head from out the bathroom door. "Jax!" He wasn't used to his new name to respond to it. She saw that he was talking to a stunner and for some reason, it took a hit to her self-esteem. And it really took a lot to do that. Not that Star thought she was the babe of all babes. But this woman could easily have gotten into Studio 54 just by batting her long lashes.

"Jax!" She yelled again and finally, he turned his head.

"Oh, excuse me," Bill politely said but glad he was able to ditch the dance floor, not so much leave the girl hanging though. "What's going on?" He said hushed to Star when he met her by the bathroom door.

"A real party." She smirked opening the door enough for him to slide through.

He got in to see 20 people inside, having a private party. The bathroom wasn't a bathroom at all just a room, full of free booze and coke piled on a side table that Randi was in charge over. Bill had caught people with tiny baggies of the stuff every now and again in Newark. But seeing a large pile of the stuff was jarring. Randi was giving out bumps with a little gold spoon to the girls in the room. Bill noticed he was one of the few guys in the place.

"Jax!" Randi gave him a little nod. "Couldn't leave ya hangin' out there."

"The real parties in here," a girl with long dark hair said giggling checking Bill out.

"Come, have some," Randi motioned. "My treat."

"Um," he hesitated. "I uh—"

"Jax, are you already drunk?" Star widened her eyes signaling him to be cool. "He's being silly, Randi," she said pulling the attention to herself. "He'll do some, ladies first, right?"

"Of course, baby," he got a bump ready for her. He made her lean into it so that he could run his free hand down her side and on to her bottom. Bill watched as she inhaled the white powder, really to prepare himself. He never thought that this job would lead him to do this. And to keep up appearances he had to, that was the worst part of it. Star tilted her head back, pinching her nose, eyes shut tight. And she, she moaned? Bill felt way out of touch with all this.

"Fuuuuck that's good," she said.

"I only get the best, straight Miami, no cuts," Randi gave her bum a smack. "Alright, and you Jax? This'll sober you up real quick."

"May I?" Star said reaching for his little spoon. "He likes it when I give it to him," she flashed a cheeky smile.

"I bet. You got a real fuckin' brick house, Jax," he passed the spoon off.

He watched Star try to give him a humble amount, she was watching out for him despite the whole situation. She motioned for him to lean down, he was staring right at her chest, where she held the spoon. He plugged up his right nostril, inhaling with his left. He groaned at the burn and then, he felt his whole head go numb.

"Fuuuuck..." he echoed Star.

"Good stuff, huh?" Randi said dipping his finger in the powder and taking it to his gums.

"I'll get you, boys, a drink. Don't miss me," she winked at them.

"She's a sweet little thing, isn't she? You're lucky, I would love to have her. She's loyal," Randi said prepping another bump for himself. "All these girls in here. They're mine. You can have at any one of them, be my guest." Bill glanced at a group of them dancing together, they all took time to check him out, smiling at him.

Bill's head was buzzing but he was super focused, it was an intense feeling but it felt good. He was ashamed to think that but damn. "I'm alright," he took a seat, "I like to stick by Star."

"Don't blame, ya. She gets the job done. And fabulously, too." Star came back with two bourbon's on the rocks for them, taking a seat on Randi's lap. "Go on," he said to Bill, "I see you lookin'. Dip a finger in there," he pointed at the pile.

"Would you like me to do it for you Jaxie?" Star said.

"Oh let the man handle it for once, darling. Told you, ya got a good one," Randi said. It felt very backhanded with how he had his hands running up and down her body in front of him. Bill poked his finger in the pile and rubbed the powder along his gums. It tasted awful, like nail polish, and then his mouth went numb. He took a sip of his drink and couldn't even taste the bite of the alcohol.

"I see you lookin' at my boy over here, Nance," Randi hollered to a tall girl with french braids and intricate gold eyeliner. "Get us around, will ya? Come over." He turned his head back to Bill. "She's a fox. Anyway, you push?"

Bill tilted his head confused and so Star spoke for him. "He doesn't do nothin' else but take care of me. He leaves the snow to the big guys," she kissed Randi's cheek.

"Well, if you ever think about it? You make a pretty dime of this stuff. And speaking of dimes!" He said as Nance came back with a tray of drinks. She passed them around and then took a seat right on Bill's lap. He expected to feel awkward but the coke had him feeling none of that. "Got some fellas who are driving pure muscle on 5th avenue right now. Since they started pushing." Randi continued his braggadocious spiel. "You saw Ron a week or so ago right? With Gina?" Randi asked Star.

"Was that his name? I never got to meet him, I just waited for Gina on my spot."

"Ah! Well, he's one of my boys."

"Can't believe you're pushin' like that Randi, sheesh," she giggled.

"Ah, not all me baby, I just buy bulk and go from there."

Bill, was noting the whole conversation, Star was really pulling through with getting info tonight. He knew when he woke up this morning, today was the day.

"Anyway," Randi continued on. He was super high considering he wouldn't shut the hell up already. "Another key?"

Bill was actually itching for another the whole time Randi was talking. It just felt so good, his heart pumping to the beat of the muffled disco music outside, he felt alive. At the moment. Nance fixed him a bump three times bigger than what Star had given him. She glanced at him, a small look of worry flashed in her eyes but she let it happen. That was the move for the night, letting it happen. They had to, to get the job done right.

PART FOUR

#bill skarsgard #my bill writings #70s bill

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spicelupin-blog · 7 years ago

Text

S.Black: Halloween Scare

Prompt: “I accidentally scared the trick-or-treater you’re babysitting and now I’m the one scared because goddamn you’re intimidating when you’re angry”

Sirius Black. Marauder’s era.

Summary: In which you’re babysitting and Sirius the Asshole scares the kids.

Warnings: None. Swearing, I guess.

Genre: Slight angst, fluff

Words: 2235

Halloween was one of my favorite seasons. Not only did I love the decorations and aura of the spooky season, but I loved the trick-or-treaters and festivities.

I had moved into an apartment at the beginning of the year, now completely independent from my parents. My apartment was small and I could always hear the rock and roll music coming from the people next to me. Regardless, I felt much better there than in my parents’ home. But, now I had to worry about bills and money now, which I was personally struggling with. Whenever I wasn’t at class, I was working. Mostly at a coffee house down the street. In my opinion, they had some of the rudest customers whom rarely left tips. This frustrated me to no end as I wasn’t making the amount I needed, but then a miracle happened. I got a stable babysitting job.

It was a single mother who lived down the hall from me. She had two adorable kids, an eight-year-old boy named Jack and a five-year-old girl named June. Most of the time they were easy to manage. I’d help them with their homework, make their dinner and then we’d watch some television before bed. When their mother returned home from her shift at the hospital, she’d pay me a fair amount of cash and then I’d walk two doors down to my own apartment.

On Halloween, Mrs. Benson called me sounding frantic. The hospital called her into work the night shift as they were understaffed. She sounded very apologetic as she begged me to take Jack and June trick-or-treating. I was planning on going to a Halloween party with some friends that night, but the thought of the children looking all sad in their costumes made me say yes.

“You’re a blessing, Y/N.” Mrs. Benson swore. Her scrubs were decorated with pumpkins for the holiday.

“No problems, Mrs. Benson.” I replied with a smile. “I’ll have them in bed by ten.”

“Ten!” Jack exclaimed behind me, dramatically flopping back onto the couch. He was dressed as Superman and was very excited to get going. As soon as I walked in the door he jumped up, ready to start trick-or-treating.

“Keep complaining and I’ll make it nine.” I teased. That made Jack shut his mouth and turn his attention back to the television.

“My manager said I can go home at one, so I’ll relieve you then.” Mrs. Benson promised as she kissed the kids goodbye.

“Bye mummy.” June sulked. She had been looking forward to the night with her mum. She had been telling me about her costume and how they were getting milkshakes after at a local diner. June was only five, but I could already tell her mother’s too busy schedule was hurting her.

Once the door shut, I crouched down to June’s level. She had her pumpkin bucket in a limp hand and was wearing a fluffy black onesie on with cat ears and face painted whiskers and nose. She looked adorable, even with a pout on her face and tears in her eyes.

“June?” I said softly, touching her shoulder. “I knew you were looking forward to your mum is with you, but I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for me. We can still get milkshakes though if you want.”

June perked up at the mention of milkshakes. It wasn’t hard to pull of five-year-old out of a funk. She gave me a little grin and swung her bucket by her legs. “Let’s go, Y/N!”

I gave her a grin back before standing back up. Jack hopped off the couch, snatching her own spider bucket with him. “Yeah, Y/N! Can we go now?”

How could I say no to a puppy-eyed Superman? I nodded and they a few whoops before heading for the front door. I grabbed my purse and the sparkly witch hat that was basically my entire costume. I had to rush over here, so I threw on some light jeans, a red long sleeved top and a pair of comfortable boots. We were staying in the apartment building to trick-or-treat so I only brought a lightweight coat with me. I made sure to grab Jack and June’s coats on our way out.

“Don’t run off, or we’ll go straight home,” I warned. I doubt I’d actually ruin their night over one of them wandering off a bit, but it was good to put the warning out there.

We decided to start near the top of the building and work our way down. By the time we made it back to our floor their buckets were weighing down their arms. We stopped in front of the apartment down in between my apartments and their own. It was the apartment I knew for constantly having music blaring. Tonight seemed no different as I could hear the sound of Led Zeppelin seeping through the door.

I rolled my eyes at the music blasting but knocked on the door anyway. The music lowered significantly and footsteps headed for the door. There was a long pause and I started to think the people were even ruder than I imagined and were ignoring trick-or-treaters.

“What’s taking so long?” Jack asked around the candy in his mouth.

“I think-” I started to speak but was cut off by the door swinging open and a long haired guy with a bloody nub for a hand stood there hysterically screaming.

“My hand! AAAH!” He screamed, stumbling out of his apartment towards us. It looked so real, but I knew it couldn’t be.

June tripped while backing away and her candy scattered all over the hall. Jack screamed with the man and backed onto a wall. I, on the other hand, looked very pissed.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I yelled over his screaming.

He stopped the act and looked up at me with a wide grin. “It’s Halloween. Just some fun.” He shrugged like it was no big deal.

“What are you twelve?” I hissed. He was rather handsome and I’m sure in another scenario I’d find his grin was charming, but right now I wanted to slap it off him. “Scaring little kids isn’t exactly my idea of fun.”

“Told you she wouldn’t find it funny, Padfoot.” A light brown haired man in the doorway said. He looked as annoyed as me.

“Oh, she just needs to lighten up.” The man waved his nub in the air nonchalantly.

I huffed at him and clenched my fists. “Asshole.” I didn’t want to make a scene in front of Jack and June. I stepped forward and spoke soft enough for them not to hear. “Try it again, and I will actually kill you. I’m sure no one will miss an asshole who scares kids for fun anyway. Remember, I know where you live.”

That seemed to touch a nerve because he looked a bit worried. “Okay, dove.”

I turned back to the kids and saw Jack now nervously sucking of a gumdrop and June still sitting in her candy.

“June, are you okay?” I asked softly.

She looked up at me with big teary eyes before letting out a sob and exclaiming, “I hate Halloween!” She got up and ran into the Benson’s unlocked apartment, leaving behind her candy.

I turned back to the man who now only had a deep frown on his face.

“I’m-” He began.

I cut him off with a firm, “Asshole.” I grabbed Jack’s hand and tugged him with me to follow June’s trail of tears.

“June!” I called into the empty house. Jack went to watch the Muppet Show while I took care of a crying June.

June eventually fell asleep after an hour of tears. I felt so bad for her. We didn’t even get the milkshakes she was so excited for. I crept out of her bedroom, making sure not to wake her up.

“Is Juney okay?” Jack asked. He was organizing his candy into piles on the living room floor.

“She’s fine. Just don’t be too loud I just got her to sleep.” I sighed, flopping down onto the couch. “You should be going to bed too,” I told him.

Jack groaned. “Five more minutes?”

I shrugged. I didn’t want to make their night even worse. “Okay.’

Jack stayed up until 10:10 and I had to help him up from where he had curled up on the floor and guide him to bed. Once he was snoring in his bed and I had checked on June, I sat back down in the living room. I flicked through the few stations, yet nothing interested me.

A soft sudden knocking at the door stole my attention. I put down the remote and stood up, cautiously walking to the door. In the peephole, I could see the asshole from earlier, bouncing on his feet with anxiety and his hand behind his back.

I pulled the door open a crack. “What?” I asked in a dry voice.

“I- Listen. I didn’t mean to scare the kid so bad. I’m sorry I made her cry.” He held out June’s bucket which had, even more, candy than it did earlier. “Here. I added some. I’m sorry, dove.”

I opened up the door wide enough to take the bucket from him. His hands were fully intact this time. Now that I wasn’t steaming with anger, I actually looked at him. He was tall and lean and kind of reminded me of a dog. He was dressed like a typical rock fan, Led Zeppelin tee and all.

“Thanks,” I grumbled, about to shut the door.

The guy put his foot in the way and said, “Wait!”

I opened the door with visible confusion on my face.

He cleared his throat. “I’ve seen you around. In the lobby and stuff. We’re neighbours so I thought, I don’t know maybe we should get to know each other.”

I pondered on it for a minute. If he had appeared at my door without ever scaring the kids, I’d jump at the chance to make a new friend, especially one so attractive. But, now I was put off. I opened my mouth to say no but was cut off.

“Before you say no, please just try first.” He looked at me with the most convincing puppy eyes I’ve ever seen.

I opened the door a bit wider. “Fine. Come in, but only for a little and don’t be loud.”

He smiled and walked in. “I’m Sirius Black, by the way.”

“Y/N Y/L/N.”

I made some hot chocolate for us and we sat at the kitchen table. “So, what did you want to say?” I asked after swallowing a gulp of the liquid.

“Well, I’m Sirius.”

‘Got that already.”

“-And you are Y/N. What are your kids’ names?”

I snorted. “First off all, they aren’t my kids. I’m the babysitter. But their names are Jack and June.”

“Oh well, that’s a relief.” He mumbled. “So where do you live then? I mean, I always see you around.”

I had to think of if I’d ever seen him before. I hadn’t as far I could remember. “I live on the other side of you.”

Sirius faked looking shocked. The way his eyebrow shot up told me that he knew this already. “Oh really, interesting. I know who to borrow sugar from now.”

I raised my eyebrow at him. “Why do I feel like you knew I lived next to you already?”

Sirius spluttered, “What? No way! I had no idea.”

I rolled my eyes, but I found his nervousness somewhat cute and entertaining. “Sirius…” I said in a warning voice.

Sirius sighed, leaning back in his chair. He looked up at the ceiling to avoid my eyes. “I might have known.” He grumbled. “I see you in the lobby getting your mail or leaving your apartment in the morning. We leave our apartments at about the same time. I wanted to say hi or something but you always looked so busy. I probably sound like a stalker.” He chuckled.

“Kind of.” I giggled and he gave me a playful glare. “Maybe if you had I would have found your little ‘joke’ earlier funny.”

“Still very sorry about that.” He pointed out.

“Mhm…” I brushed it off with another sip of hot chocolate.

“I want to make it up to you.” He leaned forward to look me in the eye. “Let me buy you lunch tomorrow. Dinner, if you’re busy.”

That surprised me. It didn’t disappoint or disgust me though. Sirius seemed nice and had proven himself when he returned June’s bucket.

“Like a date?” I asked cocking my head innocently.

“If you want it to be, dove.” Sirius gave me that wide grin from earlier. “Only if you want it to be.”

I paused to think about this before nodding. “Okay.”

Sirius raised an eyebrow, smiling growing even bigger. “Okay?”

“Yeah, let’s go on a date, Sirius Black.” I nodded again like I didn’t have a stomach of butterflies.

Sirius gave a whoop of glee which I shushed and glance at the kids’ rooms to make sure they hadn’t woken up. When they didn’t stir I looked at Sirius while shaking my head and chuckling lightly.

“I promise I’ll have my whole hand this time, dove,” Sirius promised.

He better. Otherwise, my threat from earlier was going to be fulfilled

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