👀 perhaps “i told you not to look!” and bioleophelia?
7. I told you not to look!
Maybe it was a little out of the ordinary to pay for the space so the boutique could stay closed to the public for the day, but it was a special occasion. Dipping into his inheritance was justifiable when it meant spending an afternoon spoiling his girls.
Leopold smiled politely and took the offered glass when the attendant came around with another round of champagne, only sipping at it. He'd already had two glasses, and while it wasn't strong, he didn't want to push his luck when they were in public and he was still in charge of getting them home. If they wanted to get tipsy and have fun shopping, he'd let them, but his plans for the day involved spoiling them, not indulging himself.
"Don't look!" Jemma's voice came from behind one of the curtains that led to a dressing room, and he didn't hesitate before dutifully closing his eyes. It wasn't the first time one of them had run over to get the other's opinion before showing off what they'd found to him, and he didn't see a reason to stop that habit. If they only wanted him to see the best of what they found, then he'd only look at the best - and then buy it for them, like the good, rich boyfriend he was.
The sound of laughter made him smile, keeping his eyes closed while he sipped at the wine again. It was the most peaceful afternoon he'd had in months, at least since the funeral, and that was all he wanted. Peace.
When the change in his expression made a few drops of champagne slide from the corner of his mouth down to his chin, Leopold pulled the glass away and opened his eyes on instinct. He only meant to do so long enough to wipe the mess away, but his timing was poor, and the curtain to the dressing room had only just slid open again to...
"Leopold!"
"I told you not to look!"
He felt heat flood his cheeks in the moments before he could shake himself into responding, his eyes squeezed tightly shut. He thought he felt drops of his drink sliding down the side of his glass and onto his fingers, but he couldn't be sure, not without opening his eyes again. That was the last thing he wanted to do when they were already less than pleased with his first infraction. But, that didn't mean some part of him didn't want to look again.
The things they'd been picking out were predictable for them - Ophelia found a new jacket and heels, Jemma had picked out a couple sweaters and comfortable boots to replace the ones that were wearing down - and that's what he'd expected to see again. What he didn't expect was something out of character for both of them. Dresses. The colors were predictable, of course, an emerald green for Madame Hydra herself and his favorite scientist in gray and blue, but dresses were something saved for fundraisers and parties, not for afternoons in boutiques.
Then again, he did say he was willing to spoil them, and that meant buying them everything they wanted, even expensive sparkly dresses.
Hesitantly, he opened one eye to look over at them, not missing how neither of them had moved to go back into either dressing room. If anything, they were actually farther out in the lounge area, and they'd retrieved the fresh glasses of champagne for themselves. It only added to the appeal of their fancy clothes, showing off exactly how they would look at a party or fundraiser or public function. Or, just alone, back at the penthouse, where they had plenty of choices for drinks and his new record player and where he could pick out a tie that actually matched what they'd put on instead of the red one that he wore.
Leopold shook his head and set his own glass aside before sitting up straighter to look at them properly. He wasn't being scolded anymore, that was good, at least. And he could feel the emotion settling in his chest while a softer smile pulled the corners of his mouth upward - warmth, and love, and peace.
[ sentence prompts by kayti part iv ]
