part twenty-four: dinner, but like, in a friend way
word count: 2.4k
warnings: none
twenty-three | twenty-four | twenty-five
The low hum of the engine filled the quiet street as Lando pulled up to her place, honking twice—impatient, as always—before she even had a chance to text him and ask why he was here on a Saturday afternoon.
She stepped outside, brow raised, dressed in a casual sweatshirt and well-worn jeans. Leaning down as he rolled down the window, the loose flyaways from her claw-clipped hair fluttered in the breeze.
“Did we have plans I forgot about?”
Lando grinned, reaching over to push open the passenger door. “Yeah. Get in.”
She narrowed her eyes, suspicion laced with amusement. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
She hesitated, still watching him suspiciously as she climbed in. “This isn’t a kidnapping situation, right? I feel like I should confirm.”
“Obviously not,” he said, faux-offended. “If I wanted to kidnap you, I’d do a much better job. You’d never even see me coming.”
She rolled her eyes. “Right, of course. How silly of me.”
Lando pulled out onto the road, the Monaco night glittering around them. The city lights blurred past, casting golden reflections across his face. He drove without his usual recklessness, which was enough to raise her suspicions again. No sharp turns, no unnecessary speeding, no sudden lane changes just to mess with her. Just steady, smooth driving.
“…Are you feeling alright?” she asked after a few minutes, glancing over at him.
“What?”
“You’re driving like a normal person.”
Lando scoffed, shaking his head. “I’m trying to be considerate, you muppet.”
“That’s new.”
“The muppet bit or the consideration bit?”
“The second one.”
“”Wow. Rude.”
She laughed, tucking her legs up onto the seat as she settled in. “So? Where are we going?”
“I promised to show you around, didn’t I?” Lando shot her a quick glance, lips twitching. “Figured I’d start with the best Chinese food in town.”
Her eyebrows shot up, surprised. “Oh? And you’re this confident it’s the best?”
Well, it’s got three Michelin stars, so…
“Yeah, I’d say so.”
They weaved through the streets of Monte Carlo, the city glowing in gold and deep navy hues. When Lando finally pulled up in front of the restaurant, she let out a breath, eyes widening slightly.
The building was stunning—sleek, sophisticated, with elegant gold-accented décor visible through the glass windows. Soft lighting spilled out onto the street, creating a warm glow against the night. It was effortlessly beautiful, modern yet steeped in quiet luxury.
The restaurant itself was a blend of sleek black and gold, polished marble, and soft ambient lighting that spilled onto the pavement outside. It looked like the kind of place where reservations were made months in advance.
“Holy shit.”
Lando smirked. “Told you.”
“This is—this place is for Chinese food?” she asked, staring at the building.
“The best.”
Her eyes darted to him, lips parting slightly before she let out a small laugh. “And this is what you call casual?”
“Obviously,” he deadpanned, stepping out of the car.
She turned to him, suddenly self-conscious about the hoodie and jeans she had thrown on. “Liam—”
“Don’t worry about it.” He was already stepping out of the car.
“Liam, I feel underdressed,” she insisted, still sitting in her seat.
He leaned down, peering at her through the open car door with that infuriatingly unreadable expression of his. “Not many people come here anyway.”
A lie.
She squinted at him, skeptical. But with a shake of her head, she got out of the car, and he led her inside.
Inside, the atmosphere was somehow even more stunning—deep emerald and gold tones, plush seating, and an air of quiet exclusivity. It smelled incredible, rich spices and crisp, fresh aromas mingling in the air. The table he led her to gave her a chance to admire the interior design up close – ornate yet modern, a delicate balance of traditional elegance and contemporary luxury. She barely had time to take it all in before she noticed something odd. The restaurant was… empty. Not a single patron in sight.
“Are we early or something?” she asked, glancing around.
Lando didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, something like that.”
No one else is allowed in, but sure. That works too.
In reality, Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo had taken it upon themselves to cover the entrance and exit, ensuring the place stayed clear for the night. Max Fewtrell had coordinated with the staff, and a generous tip had been paid to keep the doors locked to anyone but them. If that hadn’t worked, well… there was always the gun option. But Lando preferred tipping. It made things less complicated.
A waiter appeared almost instantly, as if summoned by some invisible force, guiding them to a private table set by the window. The skyline of Monte Carlo stretched beyond the glass, glowing under the night sky.
She sat down, still glancing around, unsure. “This is—”
“The best Chinese food in town,” Lando finished smoothly, already picking up the menu.
Lando glanced at her, watching the way she took everything in, eyes bright with curiosity. He liked showing her things—pieces of his world, places he had frequented. It felt… grounding, in a way he hadn’t expected.
They were barely seated when he grabbed the menu, skimming it for all of two seconds before setting it down.
“Alright, I already know what I’m getting. Are you good to order?”
She lifted an eyebrow, amused. “That was fast.”
“I have a system.”
She glanced down at the menu, scanning it. “Okay, so what’s your go-to?”
“Truffle dim sum, and—”
She snorted, looking incredulous. “Truffle dim sum? Wow. You really are fancy, huh?”
Lando shrugged, unbothered. “I have taste.”
She rolled her eyes but was still smiling. “What else?”
“Spring rolls. Obviously.”
She hummed, scanning the menu. “How many?”
“...Yes.”
She blinked at him, then burst out laughing. “Liam.”
“Seventeen.”
She simply stared at him, speechless.
“What?”
“You cannot order that many spring rolls.”
“Watch me.”
She shook her head, looking way too pleased with herself. Lando shrugged, lounging back in his seat. “Let’s call it a healthy appreciation.”
Her laugh caught in her throat, and she bit her lip to keep it from escaping. “You’re ridiculous.”
But even though she said it with affection, she couldn’t ignore the small knot of tension in her chest. There was something different about him tonight. Something that didn’t quite sit right. It wasn’t just the way he acted so confident. It was the sharpness in his eyes, the way he kept his distance in his own quiet, knowing way.
And for the first time in a while, he wasn’t thinking about work, or deals, or the person he had to be outside of moments like this. He could shed that skin, leave it at the door. Here, with her, he wasn’t the Reaper. Just Liam.
And Liam had very strong opinions about spring rolls.
As they settled into their booth, a phone rang on the table beside them—his phone.
The screen flashed with an unknown French number.
Lando didn’t even flinch. He glanced at it for a second, then swiped the screen off without answering. His focus stayed entirely on her, and for just a second, it was as if the call never interrupted them in the first place.
But before the mood could shift, his mind had already found something else focused on something else entirely. When the waiter returned, Lando leaned in, hands folded as though this was all just a normal dinner, a normal night.
Except nothing with Lando Norris was ever really normal.
Lando listened with half a smirk as she rambled on about something—he wasn’t even sure what anymore. A book she was reading? Some debate in class? Maybe it was about that stupid little café cat she claimed had a “deep, ancient soul” despite the fact that it was probably dumber than a box of rocks. It didn’t really matter.
What mattered was the way she talked, the way her hands moved animatedly, the way she stole one of his spring rolls off the plate with absolutely no remorse. He let her.
Somewhere between her ranting and the dim glow of candlelight flickering against her skin, the thought struck him.
When was the last time he went on a date?
This would be a nice place to take someone on a date. The ambiance, the exclusivity, the fact that they had an entire Michelin-star restaurant to themselves. He could picture it—soft laughter, shared plates, whispered conversations over expensive wine…
Not that this was a date.
Obviously.
But if it were—hypothetically—it wouldn’t be a bad one.
He shook the thought away, refocusing just as she finished whatever she was saying, looking at him excitedly. He wondered briefly how they’d gotten here, this level of familiarity– how someone so strange and unusual had fallen into the melodrama that was his life. He wondered when she went from someone he barely tolerated to someone he saw himself having dinner with. Usually, he preferred to have dinner alone in his office where he could work or unwind as he pleased without risking being disrupted by anyone else.
He found that perhaps having dinner with company wasn’t so bad after all. He could get used to this, perhaps once in a while.
This wasn’t a date, obviously. But still.
It was a nice place to take someone on a date. Dim lighting, good food, a quiet corner of the city where no one would bother them. And she looked—well. She always looked nice, but tonight, even in casual clothes, she looked like she belonged here in a way that made his chest feel tight.
Maybe that was why he had done all this in the first place. Not because he was trying to impress her, but because—
Because he just wanted to see her smile before he left.
He cleared his throat, suddenly restless. “M’leavin, by the way.”
She blinked, caught off guard. “What?”
“Just to Brazil, for a couple’a days. For a business trip,” he clarified. The words tasted foreign in his mouth. Business trip. He supposed that’s what it was, in a way. Not one he could ever explain to her, but still.
She groaned dramatically, slumping against the back of her chair. “That’s annoying.”
His brow furrowed slightly. “Why?”
“Because how am I supposed to study without you? It’s like you want me to fail.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “Yeah, that’s my master plan—sabotaging your law school dreams. Clearly.”
She huffed, rolling her eyes. “At least bring me back something to make up for it.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re giving me homework?”
“Call it extra credit,” she quipped, propping her chin on her hand. “How about some Brazilian coffee? Or—wait! Something cool, something I can actually keep.”
“I’m going for business, not shopping.” His lips twitched. “You’ll survive.”
“Debatable.” She leaned back, eyeing him. “Since you are abandoning me, I want a souvenir. Something special. Coffee or—” she paused, thinking, “—actually, surprise me.”
He scoffed indignantly. “I’ll be busy– I do have things to do, you know.”
She waved a hand dismissively. “You can multitask.”
Lando rolled his eyes, but there was something warm in his chest, something unfamiliar yet not entirely unpleasant. He raised a brow. “You’re very demanding for someone who’s getting nothing.”
She gasped. “Liam.”
He bit back a grin at her scandalized expression.
“I’ll think about it,” he said, standing.
“Yes!” She exclaimed, looking like she’d won the lotto instead. Immediately after, she seemed to remember something, so she shrugged. “You know, school’s gonna suck without you anyway.”
His fingers drummed against the table. “School sucks regardless.”
“Yeah, but it sucks less when you’re there.”
It was casual, easy—just a throwaway comment—but something about the way she said it made him pause.
She rolled her eyes and stood as well, nudging his arm as they walked out of the restaurant together. The night air was cool, the streets quieter at this hour. They reached his car, but she hesitated before getting in.
“Give me your hand.”
“What? No, m’not doing that.”
She looked up at him, and something about the way the streetlights casted their swathed her in their light made her expression seem almost sad. But he blinked, and it was gone.
“Please?”
Fuckin’ hell.
With a resigned sigh, he extended his wrist. Then, without warning, she turned to him, pulling something from her own wrist—a bracelet, woven threads of charcoal grey and deep green, slightly frayed at the edges from wear.
“Here.”
He blinked, taken aback. “What’s this?”
She didn’t answer right away, just took his wrist, wrapping the bracelet around it with gentle fingers, tying a knot to secure it.
Something about the way she did it—focused, delicate, like it was something important—made his throat feel tight. He could feel the warmth of her fingertips against his skin, the briefest, softest grazes. Maybe he was imagining it, but each touch seemed to linger.
Lando stared at it.
“This is—”
“A souvenir,” she finally said, voice quieter now. “Something to remember me by.”
Lando stared down at it, feeling oddly… unsteady.
It was just a few threads. Nothing expensive, nothing particularly significant. But he knew she’d worn it for a long time. He glanced from the bracelet to her, caught off guard in a way that felt unfamiliar and unsettling. A stupid little thing, really—frayed edges, uneven knots—but he couldn’t remember the last time someone had given him something just because. He flexed his fingers, watching how the bracelet moved with him.
Then he looked at her.
She grinned. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”
His jaw tightened for half a second before he gave a slow nod. “Yeah.”
A pause.
Then—so quick he almost missed it—she leaned in and pressed a light kiss to his cheek. Just a brief warmth, nothing more.
Lando barely managed to suppress whatever instinct made his breath hitch.
She pulled back like it was nothing, still smiling. “Safe travels, Liam.”
He forced a smirk, ignoring the way his fingers curled slightly against the table.
“You’ll , uh, be careful, yeah? Take care n’ all that?” His voice was lower than he meant it to be.
She smiled, bright and sure. “Of course. I’m not going anywhere.”
He nodded, opening the car door for her. She slid in, and as he rounded to the driver’s side, he caught himself glancing down at his wrist again. It was only a few threads, tied with a simple knot. And yet, for some reason, it felt heavier than anything he’d ever worn before.
Summary: Robotnik finds Stone and Rockwell. But at what cost?
Warnings: Electrocution, violence, sexual assault, imprisonment, captivity
Part 1 Part 23 Part 25
--
They weren't there.
Stone and Rockwell had been taken to White's personal residence.
He wanted to impregnate them himself.
Robotnik was going to be sick.
Not so quietly seething, Robotnik made his way outside the facility. Everything was in chaos.
Military cars had arrived on the scene, soldiers and their higher ups standing around, not sure what to do. No doubt they had been called in for a break-in, but all they saw were scared and naked Hybrids.
Robotnik could see many of his own Hybrids leading out the imprisoned ones out. They had blankets tucked around then as they were led towards a few ambulances that had been called. The bright, flashing lights of the vehicles bathed the facility in an unsettling glow.
And standing in the center of it all was Robotnik.
Without his own Hybrids.
Blinking away the after images of the flashing lights, he brought his watch up to begin searching. If White took them to his house, then his address would be saved in the Hybrid Division's archives. All he had to do was some mild hacking.
"Doctor!"
He whipped his head up as he saw Carol running towards him.
"What is it?"
"One of the Hybrids went into labor!"
Just my fucking luck...
"Why are you telling me!?" He snapped and waved a hand towards one of the ambulances. "Take them there!"
"The EMTs are already in there," she panted, catching her breath. Her eyes were intense as she met his gaze. "She wants to name the baby after you."
Robotnik's breath caught.
"What?"
Carol smiled softly at him.
"She wants to name her baby after the man who freed her. She didn't have a choice in joining the breeding program."
"I..."
Who in there right mind would ever want to name a living, breathing child after him? To name anything after him was a curse. Not only had his life been miserable, he himself was a miserable person. Nobody would want their child to be named after someone like that.
"Doctor?" Carol implored him. "Can she name the baby after you?"
Robotnik swallowed thickly.
"Fine."
Carol gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll tell her the good news. Then, we can head out. I'm guessing you have a plan?"
Robotnik let a wicked smirk spread across his lips as he patted his pocket.
"White will get a taste of his own medicine."
--
All of the Hybrids that had accompanied Robotnik to the facility wanted to go with him to face White. Unfortunately, he needed some of them to stay back and deal with the fallout of sneaking into a government facility and beating up all the guards.
He wasn't excited for all the yelling Walters was going to do.
General White's residence was a mansion set in the countryside. There was nobody else for miles around.
No witness for miles around.
His mobile lab pulled up the gravel driveway and he could hear one of the Hybrids snort.
"Rich bastard."
"Eat the rich," another snickered. Maybe he would let them do just that.
Clicking his tongue, his Hybrids fell into attention as they stared at him in anticipation.
"Our goal is to find Stone and Rockwell. None of you will touch White. He's mine."
Head held high, Robotnik strolled leisurely towards the house, his Hybrids following along dutifully. Raising a hand he pressed several buttons. Stopping in front of the large wooden doors of the mansion, he pointed a fingers towards them.
Immediately, the dozen badniks he had summoned with his gloves began shooting up the doors.
In a few seconds, the wood was reduced to splinters. None of his Hybrids flinched away from the gunfire.
Stepping through the destroyed entrance, his shoes clicked against marble floor. Rich bastard, indeed.
"Split up into pairs, find Stone and Rockwell."
The Hybrids did as they were told, streaming around him as they ran into the house. Raising his arm, Robotnik directed his badniks to follow after them, while three stayed with him. He sent the last one to find White.
In only a minute of wandering through the mansion, the badnik had cornered White and sent the location to Robotnik.
Else where, he could hear the sound of Hybrids fighting. Hopefully White's poodles didn't put up that much of a fight.
Walking through the mansion, Robotnik could see many expensive items strewn across the place. Prestigious art pieces, golden light fixtures, delicate pottery, and anything else shiny White could get his hands on. It was obvious that he had no idea what to do with all the money he had acquired from selling off so many Hybrids.
Finally, Robotnik approached where White was hiding.
The master bedroom was large, much larger than any bedroom needed to be. A four poster bed was the centerpiece of the room with red silk draping over it. A fireplace was crackling away, too quiet to cover up the whimpering coming from the corner of the room.
Stepping around the bed, Robotnik found White.
The man was cowering against the wall, curled up to try to make himself smaller. Above him, the last badnik had a red dot on the man's forehead. All of its weapons were on full display as it hovered only a foot away from him.
"Well, well, well," Robotnik drawled as White's beady, little eyes darting over to him.
"D-Dr. Robotnik!" White squeaked out. "What is the meaning of this!?"
White was dressed in a silk bathrobe and nothing else from the looks of it. Robotnik scowled.
"I wanted to let you know I finished your collar," Robotnik's voice was flat as he advanced on the man, his shoes digging into the plush carpet.
"What?" The man's eyes sparkled with fear as Robotnik loomed over him.
"How about we try it out?"
Robotnik wasn't gentle as he pounced on the man. With his height and being stronger, it was easy for Robotnik to wrap the collar around White's thick neck and snap it closed. As soon as it did, Robotnik pushed himself off the man. He never wanted to touch the excuse for a human being ever again.
"You don't have to do this!" White pleaded. His cheeks were red and blotchy as he began to sob. "I'll give you anything you want! I swear I'll never come after your mutts again!"
"We're well past that," Robotnik sneered as he stood straight. "You asked for a shock collar, so I made you one. I hope you find it electrifying."
Staring into the man's terrified eyes, Robotnik pressed down hard on his gloves.
The reaction was immediate.
White couldn't even scream as the electricity coursed through his body, making his limbs jerk unnaturally. His eyes bulged and foam beginning to form at his lips.
Robotnik watched with indifference, but inside, he couldn't help but be pleased. This man had tortured so many Hybrids and was now getting his just desserts.
With a flick of his thumb, Robotnik amped up the electricity. White's skin began to turn red, while his neck began to smoke and burn from the heat.
With a few last jerks of his body, White's eyes rolled up into his head.
"Tell Cunningham hello for me."
Turning on his heel, Robotnik let the collar keep going as it slowly fried the body.
While he had take his time to hunt White down, he was now sprinting through the halls towards where the other Hybrids reported to have found Stone and Rockwell.
The basement.
Like the rest of the mansion, the place was well furnished. The first room was a sort of bar and entertainment area, but he was barely paying attention as he went further in. Soon enough, plush carpet and decorative wallpaper disappeared and were replaced by cold, damp concrete.
Before he knew it, he was standing in a dungeon.
"Doctor, over here!"
Running past what looked to be jail cells, he skidded to a stop in front of one of them. The door had been forced open and what was inside had Robotnik's head spinning.
In two of the corners of the cell were two dog cages. Inside were chains and shackles. Meanwhile, off to the sides of the room were what appeared to be leather benches with straps.
He knew exactly what they were used for.
However, what caught his attention the most was Stone and Rockwell.
Both were wrapped in blankets. Stone's head laid in Carol's lap, while another Hybrid had Rockwell halfway into his. Robotnik could see marks over the skin not covered by the blankets.
Deep impression marks ran across Stone's face. On the floor not too far away, Robotnik saw a gag. It was in the shape of a bone.
Raw, red marks on Rockwell's wrists and on Stone's ankles had Robotnik wishing he could go back upstairs and kill White again.
Approaching slowly, he could see both Stone and Rockwell were unconscious. Frowning, he dropped to his knees and pressed two fingers to Stone's neck. Pulse steady if slow.
"We had to sedate them," Carol hesitantly offered.
"Why?" His voice was steely.
"They're in mid-heat."
Robotnik's stomach rolled.
"What does that mean?"
"They'll do anything to, ahem, become satisfied."
Brushing his fingers through Stone's hair, he watched as his face was scrunched up in discomfort. Glancing over, he gently pushed hair out of Rockwell's face to see the same thing. The fact they had pulled her hair out of her braid made him even more fearful of what had happened to them.
He might have saved them, but would they actually be fine?
Notes/Warnings: Dated superstitions. Dated views on people’s status.
I am so sorry for the delay in this chapter. Life, sickness and write doubt caused the delay in posting.
❤️s, reblogs, comments & feedback are all welcome and appreciated.
Trumpets heralded the arrival of you and Geta, Caracalla would not far behind in his own carriage. He had personally hung back at the royal domus with a handful of his own guards and a few of his specially selected companions for the day; Dondus included. The foreman that oversaw on the building of his baths had asked for an audience. You had heard, that there had been a few final adornments he had to approve in order the baths to be finished. You had thought it had showed great restraint in Caracalla to accept the need for the man’s audience. As of late, he had really come into his own managing the building of what would surely be his legacy. You and Geta were proud of him.
As the two of you stepped from the carriage, you smiled enjoying how lovely of a day it was. The sky was a soft, vivid blue there no clouds. Once the trumpets had gone silent and as your name sliced through the air, the cheers erupted were louder. Birds flew to the heavens. Flower petals fluttered.
You smiled as Geta wrapped an around your middle. The two of you began walking through the various avenues of people sharing things they made with their hands. You remembered one year how your mother made bouquets rich with colors and beautiful scents. Some held up scarves some held up urns. All wanted to catch the eye of you or Geta.
Words were exchanged and melded together as people would come in bowing and murmuring prayers and wishes of good tidings. You smiled sweetly as a young woman who was also with child came to your side. She took your free hand, glancing at Geta you could see tension tighten his pleased expression. You squeezed it and wished a soft tiding of good health to her, and nodding she moved on.
“You have to be careful empress.” One of the guards said in a low tone behind you. “Not all of these people will have good intentions.”
“She was with child herself. I hope she with a good heart.”
He nodded.
“I just wish for you and our child’s safety.” Geta finally said.
“I know my love.” You whisper back.
Music distantly began to play, the savory scent of food wafted through the air.
********
Upon reaching the gardens of one of the senators, you finally sat down. Seeing everything, smiling and nodding to all the people who crossed your path had been a little than you had thought it would be. Dancing and singing; had started among them. It was truly what you had wished it would be like. You wanted Geta’s people happy. There had been too many sour faces, terrible words that sometimes reached the domas.
Geta, came to your side with a small glass. You knew already it was the senator’s way of reminding you of your place. He had not been the most enthusiastic about giving this celebration. He had had his own in mind, when Geta told him of the plans. But he was smart enough to agree.
Concern furrowed Geta’s brow, as he glanced around before his darkened eyes settled on you. “Are you well?”
You laid a hand on your grown belly. You nodded and took a sip from the glass. “I am. Just a little tired.”
You gasped and smiled. “Our baby, wishes to also enjoy the festival.” You felt the flutters of his movements.
“Oh?”
You nodded. Taking one of his ringed hands you brought it to your belly. A large smiled appeared on his face dispelling all of the concern.
“He is strong.”
“Yes. And he will be handsome as well.”
“He will be.” You agreed.
“He will take after me but will have your grace.”
“I will never grow used to the honeyed you bestow upon me.” Your cheeks flushed.
His hand drifted from your belly, to your cheek his thumbed caressed it. “It is easy when the love I feel is so strong.”
“Sire, Senator Caeso and some of his guests wish for a word.” A servant standing straight announced behind the two of you.
He rose an eyebrow, a cloud of displeasured drifted over his features. “Will you wish to stay here?” He asked you.
“Yes, I want to rest for a little longer and then I will find you.”
“I will grow terribly bored till then.” He chuckled and with a swish from the fabrics he wore, he left the small little alcove the two of you had found.
******
You finished the drink and slowly getting up, you went to balcony. You could see further out how the people looked happy and were enjoying the good tidings bestowed in them.
“Did you enchant Geta? Is the baby in your belly from a spell you uttered?”
With your heart quickening, you were greeted by a few women, two of whom looked old while a few were young. All had eyes that held no warmth in them.
“You served us in the box during the games and now you are dressed in clothes much too lovely for someone like you. You should be serving us at this party; not enjoying it.”
You backed up. But there was no where to go the balcony was right there. You felt trapped.
A/N: You should know this chapter is 90% smut with 10% fluff. Seriously, I’m delving back into Smutsville for this one.
***
Just Know My Heart is Breaking Too, Part 24
They end up at Deeks’ apartment, only because it’s closer and neither one of them has the patience to wait any longer than absolutely necessary. Kensi spent the entire drive kissing Deeks’ neck between lights while his hand crept higher up her thigh so by the time they arrive, Kensi’s half ready to climb over the console and straddle Deeks.
As soon as the door is closed behind them, Deeks catches Kensi around the waist and spins her so she’s pressed against a wall. He braces his arm above her, his eyes the deepest blue as he stares down at her, the intensity sending a shiver of anticipation through Kensi.
“Kensi, are you—?”
“Yes,” she interrupts, anticipating his question. They’ve gone through so much to get to this moment, she’s not going to let anything else get in the way. “I want you. That’s not going to stop. Now will you please kiss me?”
Deeks doesn’t say another word, pressing his mouth to hers and Kensi grips his shoulder, tugging him closer. It’s everything she’s been missing. That’s she’s needed the last two years.
Dropping her head back hard enough to make a dull thud, Kensi focuses on Deeks’ fingers moving along her waist and up to her neck. Every touch leaves a trail of heat in its wake, stoking the fire within her even higher.
Deeks sucks her bottom lip between his, one hand cupping the back of her head to protect it from the wall, the other holding her thigh up around his hip. Kensi groans in response and rolls her hips, her stomach clenching arousal as she rubs against his bulge.
He makes a sound that’s a mixture of surprised laughter and slightly pained delight. Pulling back with a gasp, he rests his forehead against Kensi’s for a second.
“Oh my god. Kensi,” he mutters, still breathing unevenly.
“Are you gonna be ok?” she teases.
“It has been a while.” Unexpectedly, Deeks lifts her up at the same time he thrusts against her.
It pulls a stuttered breath out of her and she closes her eyes for a few seconds, meeting the movement of his hips with hers in an uneven rhythm.
“Then we’re, ah, we’ll just have to practice.”
Kensi loops her arms around his neck, grinning into the next kiss as he carries her to the bedroom. She barely notices anything about the room, too focused on Deeks. He sets her on the bed, following her as she lies down, drawing him back into her arms.
Brushing his lips under her jaw, Deeks slowly undresses her, kissing every inch of skin along the way with absolute reverence.
In the quiet of the room, some of Kensi’s urgency dissipates. They don’t need to rush. They have time. They have each other for more than tonight.
Kensi gasps, arching her back as Deeks nips at the top of her breasts and then wraps his lips around her nipple. “Oh my god,” she murmurs, working at the buttons of Deeks’ shirt until she’s able to push it off his shoulders. She makes a sound of relief when Deeks bare skin finally presses against hers and takes advantage of the opportunity to run her fingers along his back and upper hips before finally anchoring in the curls at the base of his head.
While he whispers soft words of praise, Deeks continues his descent until he’s settled between her thighs. She shudders against Deeks’ mouth, her back arching and fingers tightening in his hair after just a few minutes.
“I guess I don’t need thar much practice after all,” he teases, caressing her inner thighs with his thumbs. Kensi shudders at the sensation, her need for Deeks stronger than ever.
“Come here.” She tugs at Deeks’ shoulders and he helpfully settles next to her, pressing his lips to the crook of her neck. It’s unbearably affectionate. Caring. Everything she loves about him.
“I love you,” Kensi sighs.
Lifting his head, Deeks stares at her with mild shock in his eyes. Then all at once, his face lights up with a brilliant, exultant smile.
“I love you too,” he says, guiding her mouth back to his.
***
A/N: I think they earned this after all I put them through, right?
One of the perks of being King means that he can talk to the Realms Herself and She usually responds. One of the cons is that She likes to mess with him. A lot. Especially when it’s inconvenient for him.
Phantom and Deadman found themselves outside the Phantom’s Keep, the castle in the middle of the Realms. She’d made the trip quick for them, but had been oddly silent the whole why. When they’d arrived, Phantom knew why.
When Dark Pariah had been sealed in the Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep, Pariah’s Keep had deteriorated, breaking down and collapsing on itself. When Phantom took the Crown and Ring, the Keep rebuilt itself, changing to better fit Phantom. Looking at it now, though, it was changing again. The changes were unnatural, and obviously not the Realms’ doing.
Someone was making a claim before a challenge.
“Why did you hide this from me?” he asked the Realms. She didn’t answer.
“I’ll go report this back to the others,” Deadman said, “Do you think you’ll be able to come back?”
Phantom sighed, “Before this is dealt with? I don’t know.” He paused, his eyes still not leaving the Keep.
“You have an idea of who’s behind this, huh?”
“Yeah. I think he’s behind everything.”
“What?”
“The Comas that are practically a plagiarism of Nocturn’s work? Someone trying to open a portal into the Realms? It all screams human-orchestrated, but I think there’s a ghost pulling the strings.”
“Vengeful?”
“Most definitely.”
“What do we do?”
“Tell the others that I’m officially taking over the investigations. All of them. Have Constantine and Zatanna go to the League of Assassins, take a Bat if they need, and shut down anything that even looks like it could be a portal. If they can get Ra’s near the Pits, I’ll take care of it from there from inside the Realms. As for the Comas, I want you to take the Speedsters and the Supers and investigate any hauntings in the areas where the coma patients live.”
“Are you sure bringing them is a good idea? What if they get overshadowed?”
“Any Spirit or Ghost hauntings shouldn’t be strong enough to overpower them, but the House might have something to protect them. Take Captain Marvel, too, just in case.”
“Alright. Anything else?”
“Have Batman, Raven, and Wonder Woman, look into the D.M.A, specifically the branch that used to be the G.I.W.”
A gasp. “You don’t think…”
“They’re involved somehow, I know it.”
“Alright.” Deadman said, “You’ll be safe, won’t you, Phantom?”
“‘Course I will.”
***
Deadman made it back using the same door he and Phantom had come through in the first place, largely because that’s where the Realms lead him. The House greeted him on the other side, changing the halls so he’d be with the rest of his team almost immediately.
Zatanna was the first to see him. “Deadman!”
“What’s going on?” Constantine asked, “Why’d you two rush out like that?”
“We’ve got a problem.”
“Well, that’s comforting.” Raven snarked.
Deadman shook his head. “Get Batman, Superman, The Flash, and Wonder Woman on a call. I need to talk to all of you.”
“That can’t mean anything good,” Zatanna said, doing as asked.
The House brought them a T.V. for the conference call, Zatanna stepped out to make sure Superman was paying attention. Soon, everyone that had been asked for was present in the call, masks on of course, and in their respective bases.
“King Phantom asked me to inform you all that he’s officially taking lead on both the Portal Case and the Coma Case.” Deadman started, “With recent evidence, he believes them to be connected.”
“Where is Phantom?” Wonder Woman asked.
“Someone’s attacked Phantom’s Keep in the Infinite Realms, so he’s dealing with that.” Clearly, everyone had questions, but he ignored them. “He wants Constantine, Zatanna, and one of Batman’s cauldron-” there were snickers at the name, “-to go to the League of Assassins base of operations and shut down anything that seems to be related to the portal, natural or artificial. He also wants you guys to try and get Ra’s close to the Lazarus Pits.”
“Why?” Batman grunted.
Deadman shrugged, knowing the exact reason, “He didn’t tell me.”
Batman hummed, typing something on another monitor. “Take Red Robin with you. He’ll be able to get you in and out safely,”
“Alright,” Constantine nodded.
“Flash and Superman? Phantom wants you and your sidekicks to come with me and Captain Marvel to check out the Coma Case. He has a theory he wants us to check on.”
“Which is..?” Superman prompted, Superboy popping into frame behind him.
“If he’s right, then we’ll find some Ghosts or Spirits near where our victims were affected.”
“Oh, no,” Flash shook his head, “I’m not about to get myself, Kid, or Impulse haunted!”
Impulse ran in, skidding to a stop right on the edge of the frame. “What’s this about ghosts?”
Kid Flash was the next in, “Are we going ghost hunting? I’ll go get our stuff!”
“You have ghost hunting gear?” Superboy asked.
“Don’t you?” was the response.
“I guess that matter’s settled,” Superman sighed.
Wonder Woman muted both Superman and The Flash so the conversation could continue. “And the rest of us?”
“Batman, Raven, and Wonder Woman. He wants you to look into the Department of Metahuman Affairs. Specifically a branch formerly known as the Ghost Investigation Ward.” He watched their expressions carefully, though none of the three he was speaking to reacted. “Phantom thinks they have something to do with this, too.”
There were a few beats of silence before Raven spoke. “I guess we should get started.”
“Right,” Batman said like he was in charge, “Dismissed.”
