An Evening Off/Speakeasy Tonight Drabble
Iāve written fanfiction before but this is my first time writing a Drabble! Please please please like and reblog if you enjoyed! Iām more than happy to write more, if thereās anything in particular you want me to do just drop me a message! This is pretty tame but I may venture into some smut later who knows š
Chicago sunsets were perfect. Back home they were cute and all, but the sun setting meant the end. The end of work, the end of school, the end of life for the day. Twee God-fearing mothers tucked twee God-fearing children into bed before going down to spend a few hours in silence with a husband they hated, before going to bed themselves. There was a finality to the sun setting, an ending to all that life was back home.
It wasnāt the ending for me, of course. Sneaking out, drinking low quality hooch, dancing with some ham fisted farm boys, anything to have a bit of fun. But even then there was a ticking clock over your head, whether it was leaving the party early to make sure you were home before your parents would notice, or looking at the boys around you in the hall, knowing very well youād probably be walking down the aisle with one of them in three years. The ending to everything was inevitable.
But not here. Here where the orange light of the end of the working day misted over the top of the skyscrapers, nature meeting industrial progress in a clash of wild beauty. But there was no ending here. When night drew in, under the respectable stores the speakeasies and dance bars opened their doors and spilled light, heat and laughter onto the streets. The God-fearing women tucked their children into beds then put on their best dress and shimmied the night away with their husband, someone elseās husband, even someone elseās wife it didnāt matter because they were living their goddam life. Iād been thrown headfirst into this heavy world of gangs, alcohol and business. It was exhilarating, it was terrifying, it had completely changed my life. I wouldnāt trade it for the world. But it was nice to have a night off every once in a while.
Now that Uncle Charlie was as close to full health as he was ever likely to be, he was trying to get me to take a little time off. Trying was the operative word, wild horses couldnāt have dragged me away from the Box, but it was nice to have the option. Tonight, heād finally got his wish and Iād agreed to a quiet night in while he handled the speak for the night.
āGo see a movie, do some baking, read a book, whatever you young ladies do these days.ā Heād said, pecking me on the cheek as he snapped his hat on his head. There was nothing new on at the cinema and the last time I tried to bake the cake batter ended up on the ceiling, but one out of three aināt bad. I waved him off in his car before ringing the Box, giving Cliff a message to deliver and then calling myself a cab. I was lucky enough to have my own personal lending library.
I stretched in the soft armchair, warmed by the heat of the sunset gleaming through the window. āThis is definitely better than your creaky old rocking chair.ā
Neil looked offended. It was probably fifty percent real. It was safe to say it had taken a little convincing for him to agree to let me order a chair to put in his place. The man only had one seat in his entire apartment, an old creaky piece of wood that he laughably told me was a rocking chair. Despite his gracious offer for me to sit on his lap while we read together, that almost always ended up with clothes on the floor and sweat soaked skin. I aināt saying thatās not the bees knees but sometimes a girl just wants to lose herself in a book. āThe rocking chair has more longevity than that stuffy piece of furniture ever will. Just watch, years from now people will still be using these, while your overdecorated and overpriced piece of chintz will be long forgotten.ā
I rolled my eyes. āYou shoulda thought about an acting career with those dramatic tendencies.ā
āIs it dramatic if one is speaking the truth? Besides, I donāt remember you complaining a few nights ago. If I recall correctly you found the motions of it quite useful.ā
Heat was spreading on my face and I hid my grin behind the pages of my book. āJust continue working Doctor, you know Iām only here for the footrubs.ā
āSuch a demanding client.ā
āThatās how you know Iām high-brow.ā
āYouāre high something, thatās for sure.ā
It had become a little tradition of ours. On the rare night I agreed to spend away from the Box, as soon as Uncle Charlie left Iād ring Cliff, get him to tell Neil to move his butt and meet me at his so we could have a night together. It wasnāt that we thought Uncle Charlie would disapprove, if anything, the man had started making comments insinuating that he thought weād make a fine couple. Sure, we both groaned and protested (and usually flung a few insults each otherās way) when he did, but it gave us something to laugh about later on. It was more that the privacy of it made it so precious. If Uncle Charlie knew, heād be all up in it, even if it was with good intentions. Plus itād be harder to get away with spending the night together. Uncle Charlie was a decent guy but sex was likely way past the line of what he deemed acceptable.
Spending time together alone was treasured, although it had originally been born out of necessity. Most times we just spent the evening sat opposite each other in our chairs by the window, my feet resting on his thighs, while we each lost ourselves in literature. I loved the hustle and bustle of the Box, but this was perfect. It was my freedom. I had choices for what I was going to do after the sun went down, whether that meant I was dancing the night away and managing my behind off at work, or sat here, in the peace and quiet.
Tonight, I was reading Pride and Prejudice and Neil was steadily making his way through another philosophy book, this time by someone from the Eastern world. I was struggling with my choice. Girls had gone wild about it when I was at school but honestly it was all too flowery and reminded me too much of my mother. Sorry Jane, your Persuasion was perfect but this rag just aināt for me.
One of Neilās hands was holding his book up on the arm of his chair, the other was absentmindedly rubbing circles on the sole of my stockinged feet. I sighed happily as his talented hands (and believe me, I went to church every Sunday and thanked the Lord for those hands) pushed into a sensitive spot, and pushed myself down into my chair. He dragged his eyes away from the page and raised an eyebrow at my position.
āDoes her Highness approve?ā
āYou should charge for this Doctor Dresner, youāveā¦ahā¦youāve got a real gift.ā
āFlatter all you like, no amount of money will make me let Moretti stick his feet on my lap and rub them.ā
I snorted at the image, closing the book and placing it on the windowsill. āSay what you want, I think Vinceād be a most receptive client. Very vocal.ā
āAh.ā Neil had also put down his book and was giving me his full attention. I revelled in the feel of those pale blue eyes focused purely on me, that smirk that was half confidence and half affection. āTherein lies the issue. You see, I couldnāt give two hoots about the kinda noises Moretti makes when his buttons are being pushed. I kinda figure thereās only a select few truly interested in that.ā
Yeah, only about half of Chicago!
āOh?ā I let a lazy grin spread across my face and slowly, I lifted one foot and placed it on the opposite side of the other. Both feet were now touching each side of Neilās slim hips, my legs slightly open in front of him.
āBesidesā¦ā My legs were bent at the knee and he rested his arms on them, leaning forwards a little. āIām only really interested in the noises that you make. Make some for me.ā
Always a dangerous thing to say to Neil for when he was pushed just over the border of logic he was a man possessed. The way he gripped me when we rutted together in bed, like he couldnāt believe I was real and not a figment of his imagination.
He raised an eyebrow at me. āSomeone needs to teach you to respect your elders.ā
āAs the wise man once said, respect is earned not taught.ā
I loved it when he smiled, not the sardonic little smirks that were always on display around the Box, but the big ones full of teeth that were usually just for me. I bit my lip to hide my own grin as he started places gentle kisses down my legs, one hand drifting to cup underneath my behind and lift me up slightly. I was hardly a blushing virgin but being with a man so in control always caused a flutter of excitement to grow in my stomach.
āWell Iād better start earning then, shouldnāt I?ā
Later, after Iād come back down to Earth and the sweat had started to cool on my heated skin, I wound my fingers through his and squeezed his hand. We were still sat on our respective chairs, although I was almost half out of mine, my legs slumped on Neil shoulders, one of his hands drawing patterns on my bare, damp thigh. There was a pause, and then he squeezed back. Neil was as confident as could be in the bar, in the hospital, in bed. But in moments of gentle intimacy was where his vulnerability shone through. The man that had lost everything and was so scared of losing what little heād managed to reclaim.
The sun had long since disappeared and the only light in the apartment was shining through from his bedroom, where a small table lamp was burning merrily away through the night.
āI love you.ā I whispered, running my thumb across his knuckle.
Slowly, he brought my hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to them. āAnd I you.ā
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