penny!verse. morning after the first night belle stays over after she comes back to gold
Wow, all the memories that come back! I haven’t thought of that in ages.
Reminder for other people: It’s a Rumbelle Criminal Minds AU. Bay is a street kid Gold is fostering. Belle has been gone for 7 years after she was kidnapped by Killian Jones and needed to leave to recover.
For you, my darling:
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There was somebody in the room. Belle’s muscles tensed, ready to run or to reach for a weapon or whatever was necessary. It took three shallow breathes and the familiar smell before she could relax. It was Gabe. Memories flooded back of the night before, the dinner and movie, the popcorn fight with Bay. The feeling when he laughed at the popcorn in her hair. When they both pretended to be ashamed while Gabe had pretended to scold them. The feeling when Gabe had pressed his lips together and haltingly asked her if she wanted to spend the night. It was late, and raining. There was a guest room, or…
They hadn’t done much more than kiss, but she had stayed in his bed. The shirt he had lent her covered all of her tattoo but he had caressed it through the material. Just once, but she could still feel the warmth of it hours later. Other than a tattoo artist no one had touched her breast in more than seven years. She hadn’t flinched, hadn’t pulled away. It felt like gaining something back that had been lost.
The sun was almost coming up, the light through the windows a pewter gray. If she slipped out of bed now she could use the excuse of a run and Gabe would understand. Or she could leave now, before Bay woke up. Before he knew that Gabe hadn’t been the only other person in the house last night. She could still nap a little in her own bed. Gabe would tell her he understood, at least, but she expected his eyes would say something different.
She slipped into the bathroom, the stone floor warm under her feet. Gabe and his creature comforts; she’d almost forgotten about the heated floors that had made her laugh the first time she’d discovered them. Belle used the only glass at the sink to drink some water, taking a moment before looking at herself in the mirror. She didn’t look any different than she had a few hours ago, but for just a moment she thought she saw a different woman. One who laughed quicker, trusted easier, and thought that she had her life figured out.
“Five hours,” she told the image in the mirror. Maybe she wasn’t the same person anymore but she’d managed to get five solid hours of sleep while sharing a bed. And maybe it was her imagination but her lips were a little puffy from the hour before sleep, when she’d kissed Gabe and he’d kissed her, and she hadn’t pulled away. Not one time.
“Belle?” She could hear him stirring in bed. He’d spent so long worrying about her, she couldn’t make him worry more. Not tonight, at least.
“Just thirsty.” She slipped back into the bed, just making out his outline a foot away. When she felt his hand seeking hers under the blankets she didn’t pull away, but let him find her. She led his hand to rest on her hip. “Go to sleep, it’s still dark outside and we don’t have work tomorrow.”
“We’ll have breakfast,” Gabe muttered. Belle wondered if he was awake enough to even remember what he’d said in the morning. She wondered, too, what Bay would think if she was still there when he woke up. With the warm weight of his hand on her she didn’t stay awake for long enough to wonder anything else.
It was bright outside when she woke up again. The bed was empty and when she strained her ears she could hear noises in the direction. Belle debated taking a shower, but settled for changing back into her clothes from the night, minus her shoes. They were still down in the family room.
“Did you actually make something other than coffee?” Belle aimed for casual teasing when she entered the kitchen, hoping to keep things light. She was surprised to find Bay, not Gabe, at the stove stirring together what looked like eggs and vegetables.
“Sunday mornings I make eggs and Gabe gets donuts. It’s the only thing I know how to make other than popcorn.” Bay didn’t turn around at first, but when he looked at her over his shoulder he was smiling. “I promise not to throw any at your hair.”
“So Gabe is out?” It would be an easy time to slip out. She could call later and tell him she’d see him in the morning. He and Bay clearly had a tradition and maybe it was best to give them some space.
“He’ll be back any minute. He left when I was in the shower. There’s a mug for you next to the coffee pot. Gabe made extra.” Bay gestured to the corner of the counter where the coffee pot had always been. Next to the thermal carafe was a mug covered in roses, proclaiming Tyler Texas to be the ‘rose capital of the world.’ She’d picked it up on one of their cases because it had amused her. They’d been stuck in the airport for a few hours and she’d wandered every airport shop at least twice.
“Are you sure I…” The sound of the garage door stopped her from asking any questions.
“Finally, I’m starving. Could you get the plates, Belle? The eggs just need cheese. You like cheese, don’t you?” Bay asked.
“Doesn’t everyone?” It seemed to be the right answer, though a different question had passed between them unspoken. He was okay with her staying for breakfast, and if that was true then maybe she was okay too.
“Hey.” Gabe came in with a small pink box, his shoulders relaxing just a fraction when he saw the coffee cup in her hand and the bare feet. “I would have left you a note but I figured the kid would be articulate enough, despite the early hour.”
“Hey, you’re the one that slept until noon last weekend.” Bay rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.
“Jetlag.” Gabe poured himself a mug of coffee. Belle knew it was at least his second, but more likely his third. Some things never changed.
“You don’t get jetlag when you take a train to Jersey. Nice try, though.” Bay carried two plates of eggs. Belle picked up the third and carried it and her coffee to the table.
“You should be nicer to me. I’m the one with the donuts.”
“I’m the onle with the quicker reflexes. Besides, at some point Belle will distract you and I can get all the donuts.” As he walked around the table Bay’s shoulder touched hers. From the wink it looked like it wasn’t an accident.
“I’m sure one is enough sugar for anyone.” Gabe opened the box and handed Bay a large apple donut. He offered the box to Belle next. “I know it’s not a donut but I thought you might prefer it.”
Inside the box, next to his jelly-filled, was a chocolate eclair.
“Breakfast of champions.” She smiled at him, and it was easy.
*passes u a glass of water* leverage ot3 Halloween pranks?
***
Thank you for the water reminder, dearest. I needed that.
We never did get Haloween and Leverage, did we? Seems like a lost opportunity. I got distracted by the banter so it’s not very prank centric.
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“You’re not wearing a costume.” Parker, mask perched on the top of her head, crossed her arms and glared at Eliot.
“No, I’m not.” There was no concession to the holiday in his outfit, not even a little orange to balance out the black he wore from head to toe.
“How are you going to get any candy if you’re not wearing any costume? And a mask. The mask is essential so no one knows how old we are.” For a moment Parker switched her focus. “Hardison, aren’t you ready yet?”
“I’ll get my candy the same way I always do; by tempering the chocolate correctly when I make myself a batch of truffles. And unlike some people, no one’s going to believe I am a teenage boy.” Eliot made a pointed look at his bare arms, the muscled not easily hidden. Parker had to admit that he might have a point. “Hardison, on the other hand…”
“You’re just jealous because some of us know how to hide our finer attributes under layers and blend in.” Hardison came into the room with a trio of pillowcases in one hand and a plastic pumpkin in the other. “We’re not sharing our candy with you, by the way. It’s every man for himself tonight.”
“You’re a six foot tall Buzz Lightyear, Hardison. You’re not blending in anywhere.”
“Green Lantern. How many times do I have to explain to you that it’s Green Lantern. They’re not even the same…”
“Don’t you have some candy to be stealing or something?” Parker almost laughed; Eliot knew perfectly well what the costume was; Hardison had been talking about it for days and had tried it on for them once. It hadn’t taken very long to get him out of it that first night. Tonight they’d be more patient.
“You can't come with us if you’re dressed like that. People will see you.” Parker did a mental inventory of their room, trying to think of a quick costume they could pull together. “You could be a bank robber.”
“No.”
“Country music star?”
“Don’t you remember the last time? They didn’t leave me alone until I posted an obituary for the guy.”
“A lawyer?” He had a rarely worn suit that might work.
“No.”
“A one handed lawyer? Zombie lawyer? Demon lawyer?”
“Parker.”
“Sexy vampire? You don’t have to glitter. I have some fake blood.”
“Hell no. I hate vampires.” From his back pocked Eliot reached for a baseball cap. “This is as good as it gets. I’d stay home but I’m not leaving the two of you alone. I don’t have the bail money on hand.”
“One time and you’re never going to let it go, are you?” Hardison handed one of the pillowcases to Parker, looked at Eliot, and handed her a second one.
“Do you really want to tell me that you don’t have anything planned for tonight?” Eliot raised an eyebrow.
“Not as long as they give us candy.” Parker looked at her pillowcases speculatively. “What’s the load-bearing weight of these? I’m not sure two is enough.”
“Great. Parker and enough sugar for an elementary school full of children, and Hardison with whatever is in that pumpkin. Don’t try to tell me it’s empty.” Eliot sighed. It was going to be a long night.
“It’s nothing. Barely anything. Just, you know, if someone has their lights on but they’re not handing out candy then they shouldn’t have their lights. Right?” Hardison grinned as he tied a green mask over his eyes. “It only works for about an hour.”
“Wicked.” Parker slid her mask over her face and pulled the red cloak up to cover her head. “Are we ready?”
“It’s Red Riding Hood or the wolf, Parker. Not both.” Eliot shook his head.
“Silly Eliot. Haven’t you learned by now that two is more fun than one?” She slipped an arm around both of her boys and dragged them out the door.
If you're taking essentially anything let me just slide right in here and see about getting a dose of Carelle (carl/belle). Can literally be anything that strikes your fancy. :D
I was like “OMG someone asking for Carelle?” and then i clicked on your profile and saw that this is a new account for Mel. Hello darling! Did you want something from an existing verse or new?
