#alejandroflores

[celinecerberusarchive]

⌝ Celine hadn't come to Alejandro's work since he returned, it seemed like something that would only feel like an invasion to him and would have her seeing something it was easier to pretend she didn't actually know about. After Christmas however, and after Jagger getting in trouble at school with a new boy, Celine knew she and Alejandro needed some real one on one time and they weren't going to get it any place the kids would be. So she had told Blaze to take care of Jagger and she'd be home in a few hours, giving herself some leeway in case the conversation resulted in her crying in her car.

⌝ Walking into the Vault there were a few glances her way, Celine sort of used to them but even she could admit she'd sort of worked for them this time. As she had done on Christmas, with the hopes of getting Alejandro's attention, she had done her make-up and tried to pick things that were complimentary to her form, she'd even pulled stockings from her drawer that had not been worn in years, fingers playing with the hem of them sticking to her thighs and showing due to the shortness of her dress. The boys might have thought she was going on a date, honestly, with the amount of effort she had put in, but she just...she just hoped telling Alejandro the truth might shift the dial a little, that maybe he'd be able to look at her and see the woman he had married and had his children, the one who worked for them and didn't give up, and not the woman who had divorced him.

⌝ Seeing Alejandro behind the bar she approached, long black nails nervously scratching at the wood of the bar top, waiting until he was done with a customer before she signalled him. Hoping he would come over and not send another bartender to help her, she continued to scratch. Within the dark establishment, various things one might not think should be happening going on in the shadows of the place, but Celine could only focus on Alejandro, watching him when he finally did approach her. "Can we talk somewhere private?" Surely a place like this had private areas.

@alejandro-flores

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Christmas Eve || Ale&Cel

        It was meant to be a surprise for the kids, that their father would be there on Christmas morning. The boys been so happy that the whole family had got to spend Thanksgiving together, but Thanksgiving had been a few hours over lunch before Ale got to take them back home with him, Celine had been able to mostly avoid him by remaining in the kitchen. Christmas was longer, Christmas wasn’t simply food, they’d be spending the entire morning sat around the small living room together opening presents. Celine wanted it for the boys but wasn’t sure how much she could take of Alejandro’s words, distance only growing in her mind each time they interacted, fear deep in her bones the only emotion lingering inside the man for her was distain.

         Still, the notion it was a surprise had been lost on their older son who saw Alejandro pull up out front of the apartment building from his window - young Jagger asleep after a sugar crash, expectant of Santa still, or at least telling Celine he still believed. Excitement seemed to fill the teenagers spirit as he bounced through the apartment, touching his mother’s shoulder and giving it a gentle shake, to make sure she was fully listening to his words. “Dad’s car is fucking packed,” Blaze informed her, heading towards the door to go and help his father. “It’s going to be just like Christmas before.” 

         Celine felt a sting in her chest at the words, eyes shifting to the tree the boys had put up. It was, in fact, as nice as the one they’d had before they’d moved into the apartment because it was the same one. Green tree with a selection of decorations made by the kids, as well as complimentary ornaments in Christmas hues, not at all what one might expect of the punk aestheticed family. Unlike the tree itself, and the decorations, however, the gifts beneath were measly, as they had been since Alejandro had gone away.

          “Dad,” Blaze greeted, docs not tied up because he’d just pulled them on, baggy and heavily worn black pyjama pants half stuffed into the leather of the boots, and a seasonal shirt for the movie Krampus. “Mum’s not going to believe all of this,” he grinned, broad smile pulling into his olive hued cheeks, pushing back some hair with fingers covered in rings. “I’ll help you get everything up.”

@alejandro-flores​

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Arrangements || Ale&Celine

       The morning had been overwhelming, when Celine rose Blaze had made breakfast for everyone and the boys were sitting at the table with their father going over what was left in the pile of items they’d kept in their drawer for Ale. Celine had reminded them that Jagger still needed to go to his Uncle’s for the day, he had lessons to do with him over the summer and Blaze intended to go to his part time job, dropping off and picking up Jagger on the way. Packing their individual lunches in tin lunch boxes Celine had watched them make promises with their father about seeing him again soon, a clear expectation on Jagger’s part his father would be there when he got home.

        Now, of course, as the door closed behind the kids it was just Alejandro and herself in the home, Celine having dressed for work because she would eventually need to go, clutching a cold brew cup she had filled with iced black coffee. She’d probably have three before the day was out, more if she ended up staying late to cover the clients she hadn’t been able to work on the day before. The woman stood in the small kitchen area of the room, connected to the dining room and the living room because the place was so small, much smaller than the home they’d once had together she couldn’t afford without him.

          “You got out early,” Cel commented, unsure what else to say exactly.

@alejandro-flores​​

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The Return || Ale&Cel

          The summer holidays had been running Cel ragged, Jagger had been bouncing around from house to house while Cel worked, trying to convince Jagger to stay at home some days so he could take care of his little brother but it was hard to tell a teenage boy he needed to spend his entire summer with his little brother while his friends were hanging out at the drive-in, or breaking into rich peoples pools, or even just hanging out at BJs ordering burgers all night. That day Blaze had left saying if she took Blaze to work with her then he’d grab him on his way home, that he just wanted to go see Maverick again with his friends and Cel had easily agreed.

           “Go put some stuff you want to play with in your bag, Jag, Mum’ll pack you a lunch and then we’ll go to work for a bit yeah?” she told the young boy, hair dark like her own but the warmth of his skin all his father’s, not to mention his eyes. Both her sons has his eyes, fortunately only blaze seemed to have his smirk. Jagger nodded though, running his hand along the wall as he walked to his bedroom to start packing himself some toys to play with.

          Of course, that was when there was a knock at the door, Celine assuming it was one of her neighbours who wanted to complain about how loud Blaze had been playing his music the previous evening while she’d been at work, it happened a lot but Celine mostly lied to the neighbours and said she scolded the kids when in reality she just didn’t mention it. “Coming!” the woman called, slow steps in her heavy combat boots, laces loose unlike the rest of her clothing that clung to her form, shoving her phone into her back pocket that said she was already running a little late for her shift.

             Celine could have smelled him if she’d known him as a wolf, or maybe even if he’d smelt the same as he had when he’d been arrested but time had changed them both and the scent on the other side of the door was masculine but unfamiliar. It made her cautious as she took the door handle and turned it, opening the door with the chainlink latch still connected. 

              A few inches was enough though, and even aged she could recognise who it was, she’d known his face as long as the woman could remember, freezing silently as she tried to adjust to the sight, reconcile in her mind whether or not she was dreaming because she had, Celine had dreamt of him more times than she could count. Dreams where he was loving and happy, dreams where he was angry and betrayed, dreams where none of it had happened. This wasn’t like this dreams though, she could almost smell the outside world on his skin. “Ale...”

@alejandro-flores​

[celinecerberusarchive]

⌝. Celine had gone back to the Den with the pack as she had promised Ryden she would, allowing Cass to help bandage her feet that had become bloody and bruised rushing about the open field with no shoes on. She had texted Alejandro and the boys, telling them she would be home as soon as she could, and for Alejandro specifically saying she had seen him take the boys and trusted wherever he had felt safe taking them. It did surprise her a little that was her home, Blaze obviously having his own keys. It was hard for her, to take care of the pack instead of rushing to be with her kids but, surprisingly it was easier than before, on Halloween. She trusted Alejandro, knew he would keep them safe.

⌝. It was only an hour or so from the incident when she did get home though, not leaving them without her for a ridiculous amount of time, stepping into the room and being rushed upon by Jagger. The boy was getting older to be sure but not so old that something like this happening didn't still make him wish for his Mum, Blaze too who hugged her over the little boy in a less intense way. Her eyes on Alejandro as they did. "It's okay," she assured them both, mostly Jagger as her fingers ruffled his hair. "Dad got you home, we're okay here," she insisted.

⌝. It took Jagger a second to let go, telling her that he needed to check on his friends, Blaze saying he'd do the same as they'd become seperated when Alejandro obviously evacuated them from the riots, adding he'd take Jagger into his room. Jagger asking to be tucked in, and Celine giving him a little nod. The boys departing with those sentiments and leaving their parents alone.

⌝. Celine rushed upon Alejandro as Jagger had on her, arms holding her ex close, fingers at the back of his neck. "Thank you for getting them home," she whispered in his ear, nails running the length of his neck over and over again, aware perhaps this was too much, but she couldn't help it. The affection wasn't about being scared, she did trust him, she hadn't worried the boys would be hurt with him protecting them, it was that it finally felt good to have some of the weight removed, for someone else to make sure she could be less overwhelmed, could lean on someone, it had been so long. "Seeing you get them just...it felt good to have a partner. Even if it's not...like this." She intended to let go, but did not.

@alejandro-flores

[celinecerberusarchive]

𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤...𝒾 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝒾 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓃𝒶 𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓇𝓎 𝓎𝑜𝓊

⌝ "You can't say that to me anymore!" Celine objected as the young couple walked down the streets of Descray, near clean skin in the girls youth while Alejandro had already been her canvas for a few years, sure, she probably shouldn't have skipped class to give him that first tattoo in the art classroom but it seemed he had yet to regret it...or her. Despite the fact all day he had been telling her that he didn't want to be her boyfriend.

⌝. It was only when he slowed that Celine took her chance, wrapping arms around his shoulders. "I'll curse you if you stop being my boyfriend," she threatened with a taunting smile on her lips, one that never seemed to disappear, rare moments when her cheeks were not filled with warmth around him. "Freyja won't let you love anyone but me, I'll renew your punishment daily," she continued to tease, presuming that he had simply been playing with her for the day, to listen to her say she would not allow him to stop. They were so young, it hadn't much occurred to Celine that now that school had been done, his business doing well, and that they were living in their own little townhouse - a location Ale referred to as 'temporary' constantly - that he might have other thoughts and plans.

⌝ Leaning in the woman caught his lips, smiling in their kiss as the pair stood out front of an empty retail space in South Opulence, 'SOLD' sign in large letters across what had once been a real estate advertisement. He kiss felt like home and having him in her arms was all the young woman had dreamed of since she was little. "What did we come out here for anyway? I thought there was no dealing on date days?" she asked.

@alejandro-flores