“I know. You married me for my sparkling sense of humor,” she deadpanned, patting his leg. Jessica turned her wrist and looked at the remainder of her cigarette, quickly dwindling. She shrugged, took another drag, and then stamped out the butt beneath her boot.
“Indecent exposure, misdemeanor,” Jess chuckled. She sobered up, though, when Luke’s voice grew serious. The investigator was good at reading people but this didn’t take her PI senses- she knew when her husband meant business. Sure, he could get scary serious, like when he was trying to scare some of the neighborhood kids straight. He could be tender serious, like when Dani was baby babbling some fantastical things that were entirely untrue, but he wanted her to know he believed every word of it. And then there was the, “This means everything to me,” serious, the voice he had only used a few times before during their relationship.
Jessica nodded in understanding. No smartass comment. She knew firsthand the way power could corrupt, and how much abusers loved to do what they did. “You got that right. It’s up to people like you to dam up those floods. Not turn around and pass it down. I know you’ll do it and be great, babe. It’s not going to be easy, but you’re unbreakable. Body and spirit.”
The woman gratefully accepted his kiss. “Rest sounds good- just try not to stare at the ceiling all night, Luke.” Jessica stood, stretched, and yawned before clapping her husband on the shoulder. “Finish up that cigar, yeah?”
Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS) was a habit he still hasn't been able to completely shake since his escape from Seagate. Though it wasn't nearly as problematic during his first year of freedom a few years back, it generally plagued him at night." Damn I'm still doin' that shit?" He frowned, pushing the cigar against his palm effectively ending his smoke break.
Standing to his feet and stretching his arms out with a yawn." Well guess you could always read me one of Dani's bedtime stories." He joked. Whether he was vocal about this or not, sleeping beside Jessica was comforting. He enjoyed their pillow talk and enjoyed screwing with her when she was groggy and tired. The playful banter was enjoyable and fun.
Within a week...Luke Cage formally known as Carl Lucas was sworn in as chief of police. His first order of business was to apprehend his old friend Diamondback to whom was distributing dangerous drugs on the streets. The commissioner paced back and forth in his office pondering an effective method to rid the lethally addictive (Diamond) drug off the streets.
"Sweet Christmas I'm hungry as well." He murmured. It was almost dinner time and he hadn't eaten since breakfast.