Bringing back hot coffee [rp for lapsedsaint]

[aesthetic_mojo]

It should have been a simple excursion. John looked too good sleeping to wake him just because Charlotte felt like moving around, so she left him and went out to find the nearest coffee shop. She could get her exercise, see his neighborhood some more and bring him back a treat. A note explaining went on her pillow and she took his keys with her.

Less than three blocks from the house an immense man stepped out of a parked luxury sedan. Charlotte had never seen him before but she knew the type. He was hired muscle of the worst kind. With a word he would kill, torture or merely kidnap without questioning the motives of his employer. And with absolutely no finesse, which was a small comfort.

Only when he stepped closer did she realize something else about him. He belonged to her father. Something in his features was similar enough to the man who had accompanied him through her childhood. That made the goon distant family. Even better. Without looking at the car, she continued walking, fully intending to walk around the man. If they meant to grab her, they would never have given her warning.

As she drew even with him, the man spoke in an elephantine rumble. "Mr. Blaine wants a word."

She glanced up at him. "No is a word. He can have that one."

He stepped in front of her and indicated the open car door. She finally looked over at the car, just for a moment, then back up at the goon. "I'm not getting in there." For another moment, even more brief, she crackled with energy her father would have been able to feel behind the steel. "Anything I had to say to him, I said twenty years ago, so if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get coffee."

She didn't need to hear it to know an order'd been given. She was allowed to walk away unmolested and she heard the car drive away before she'd gone a block. Another block down she found excellent coffee. Only after she got a full cup in her and her hands stopped shaking did she buy pastries and fresh coffee to take to John.

She took a different route back to the house, carefully putting away John's keys before going to look for him.

Comments

[lapsedsaint]

While she was gone, John only woke up long enough to piss and read the note. Knowing that she would be back with coffee, he promptly went back to sleep.

He heard her come in and rolled over, she he was facing the door. He was not, however, going to get up.

[aesthetic_mojo]

She leaned against the doorjamb, coffee cups and small white bag carefully held close, and watched him for a long moment before speaking. "You're a lazy bones, Agent Everton. We'll have to put you into a training program before you can go back to work."

[lapsedsaint]

He opened his eyes and smiled. "I thought I was getting plenty of exercise."

[aesthetic_mojo]

"Aren't you super secret agent types supposed to get up and run at four AM or something? Or am I watching the wrong movies?" She sat on the edge and handed him his coffee. The rest of the things went on the floor. "Did you miss me, darling?"

[lapsedsaint]

He took the coffee and sat up. After a sip and a happy groan, he shrugged. "When I was younger, I did. I'm on vacation."

[aesthetic_mojo]

She rubbed his thigh, carefully keeping the touch light. "If that means I get to see you the way I did this morning, I'll take it." She closed her eyes for a moment, able to clearly see it, and swallowed hard.

[lapsedsaint]

"And how was that? Completely unconscious?" He smiled and pulled at her with his other hand. "Come a little closer. What's in the bag?"

[aesthetic_mojo]

She hesitated, unsure if she was up to the smell of the cheese danish and cinnamon scones she'd purchased. Looking at his smile, she managed to match it. "Relaxed and comfortable."

She put the bag on his chest and shifted so she could lie with her head in his lap. "When I met you it seemed you were always tense."

[lapsedsaint]

He peeked in the bag, then set it aside. He might be hungry, but he was much more interested in touching her. "Maybe it's your influence."

[aesthetic_mojo]

She closed her eyes tightly. "That defies all logic, doesn't it?" Her arm went over his hip so she could hug him. "I'm too high strung to calm anyone."

[lapsedsaint]

He returned the hug and glanced down at her. "You're high strung? I don't believe that."

He slid down a little under her so he could kiss her. "But it does, yes."

[aesthetic_mojo]

She'd been happier hiding against his hip but she returned the kiss gently. "I demand constant attention and entertainment. Isn't that why you were sleeping so soundly?"

[lapsedsaint]

He chuckled softly. "Well, that could be it." He laid back and closed his eyes, lightly rubbing her back. "You know, this is the longest I've been in his house in years."

[aesthetic_mojo]

"That's a shame. It's a charming house." She laughed against his chest. "That means you've lived in sin with me more than you've been here, too. Simply scandalous."

She glanced up at him. "May I ask why you keep it if you are never here?"

[lapsedsaint]

He didn't open his eyes at her question. "So I can say I have a home."

[aesthetic_mojo]

"It's a beautiful home. Thank you for welcoming me into it." Filled with shame that she'd brought anything ugly so close to his home, she sighed softly. "It means a great deal to me."

[lapsedsaint]

He smiled again and hugged her against him. "I'm glad you're here. Although, I must admit, I miss the monsters."

[aesthetic_mojo]

"When we get back you'll find they missed us, too. They'll have shredded part of the couch or a curtain."

She took three deep breaths to build up to what she wanted to say next. "Maybe when we get up I could take a few minutes to ward the house. It wouldn't take much, just the same things I've done to the flat."

[lapsedsaint]

He looked at her for a few moments, then nodded slowly. "If you'd like to, honey. I can't hurt and your apartment hasn't caused me any harm."

[aesthetic_mojo]

"Thank you." She swallowed. "Darling, I'd never do anything to cause you harm. Nothing."

She lightly caressed his side, feeling for his ribs and then higher for where his gun might sit when he worked. "Maybe while you're in the shower."

[lapsedsaint]

He nodded and arched against her fingers, eyes closing again. "That would be fine, honey."

He reached over for his coffee and took a drink, then settled again. "Did you have a nice walk?"

[aesthetic_mojo]

She exhaled slowly, fighting not to stiffen in his arms. "Besides the ugly bodyguard, it was fine. It's a pleasant neighborhood."

[lapsedsaint]

"Bodyguard?" He sat back up some and looked down at her, concern in his eyes. His hand kept moving on her back, but it was obvious that he was already starting to think.

[aesthetic_mojo]

"It's an honorable job for those members of the family not suited to intellectual pursuits." She wouldn't look at him. "Still, he's too much like his father to do anything but give me the creeps."

[lapsedsaint]

"What happened?" His hand slowed, his eyes on her, waiting for her answer.