anothercontinuity | Red vs Blue pt 2

"Hey, no, I get it."

One hand lowers to rest at Delta's back. Oh. Oh this was better than he imagined. A perfect tool to pick open the lock of the situation. And what's more? He didn't even need to lie to pry it open.

"Working your ass off is part of the job. You want to make him happy. But when it comes time to what you want, what makes you happy, then what? You're supposed to sit on your hands and wait for him to decide you're worth it? That's crap. Anyone could see that."

"Does it matter?" It didn't, he knew it. He had his place and if his removal from the manner hadn't been enough of a reminder, having to handle the paperwork reinforcing Locus' legal status as York's would. The very idea was...wearying.

Though it did warm him, somewhat, to have some validation from Felix. And the touch to his back- how often did anyone reach out to him? York used to but- now he had Locus and it didn't happen anymore. He had no one. "I work for the family. He is my boss. I cannot force him to take me."

"Why would you want to?" Felix's brow scrunches slightly.

"I mean, if he doesn't see you that way, if he doesn't want you...well, that's kind of his problem. Why devote yourself to someone who doesn't see what you could be? What you want to be?"

"Because when he is not a smitten, lust addled ass he's...remarkable." He can be. Could be. "But he is, at current, smitten and lust addled."

Delta sighed, combing his hair out of his face. "...I suppose I am far too forgiving of his taking me for granted."

"Well..."

The corner of his mouth crooked upwards.

"I can appreciate this whole gig doesn't give you much in the way of free time. But if you ever want to...you know. Get coffee, talk about it. Get stuff off of your chest. I could be available."

"...I'm free tomorrow after eight." That much he could manage. A dinner away when he wasn't expected to linger awaiting York's attention wouldn't be terrible, would it?

Felix wasn't...known all that well in the family. His reputation was one thing, but knowing more about him would only be to their benefit, right? Right.

"Then it's a date."

Almost to the door now, and if he didn't press his luck? He wouldn't have been the man he was today. Turning slightly on his heel, he slipped an arm around Delta's waist, before tugging him forward and stealing a brief kiss.

That he hadn't seen coming. It wasn't something that happened to him and thus- he had no frame of reference against the action. He shuddered, leaning into the kiss, mouth open and sweet against Felix's mouth.

Overcome would be an understatement.

Well then, better make it memorable. But leaving him wanting more.

Pivoting them both around, he pressed Delta against the door. One moment, then another, before he drew back with a soft hum and a pleased grin. Yeah. This was gonna work splendidly.

"So. Eight, then."

Delta shuddered, listing after Felix for an inch, flushed and panting before he remembered himself enough to swallow thickly. Right. Decorum. He could- right.

"E-eight. I will see you at eight. Monroe's?"

"I'll see you there."

Smoothing Delta's tie back into place, Felix gave a little salute before letting himself out the front door, Sharkface in tow.

Locus, meanwhile, was exactly where he'd been to start. Still coming to grips with the idea that Felix had come back for him. He'd assumed he was done, that he'd abandoned him entirely.

Delta took a moment to find his composure and finalize the meeting, making certain that he would have his time off.

In the office, York continued to rub the back of Locus' neck, nodding at Florida and Maine. "I've got this. Florida- keep tabs on Felix. Find out where the party's going to be, case the joint."

They didn't know enough about the lay of the land and he hated flying blind. Once they were alone York settled back in his seat, hand tracing the plates and lines of Locus' armor. After a long, quiet moment he murmured. "What do you want to do?"

"...I don't know."

He let out a deep breath, his head lowering, some fraction of his frame relaxing once the others were gone, and that answer was free of him. It was truth. Felix hadn't meant to sell him. He knew that without question now, or he would not have come back to claim him.

What did that mean, then?

"Not the answer you were hoping for."

"No, not really." But it wasn't rueful. It was as warm as he could make it, all things considered. "Whatever you want, Locus. That's what we'll do. Your call."

Felix hadn't meant to sell him, just scare him. But that-

You don't make that kind of threat.

"...he was trying to scare you. To discipline you." Which...that didn't sit right with him.

"I don't think he is lying. For what that is worth."

He took a deep breath, lifting his head to look at York. To the man who'd made him feel...all manner of things he'd never thought possible before now. Who owned him, in the eyes of the law as well as in his heart.

But Felix...

"I don't think he will make things easy for you if you refuse. Going to war with him isn't something you want."

"What do you want?" It's something he didn't ask often- not so obliquely. Not now that he'd found what he thought was a good pattern and rhythm for their lives. Things were good. Which, invariably, meant shit was going to go weird or sideways.

And well. Felix counted.

"That's what matters to me. What you want. You're- you're happy here, right?"

"I am." The happiest he'd ever been. But he should have known that would only last for so long. Something would have occurred to interrupt. And now, he knew what.

Things that seemed too good to be true usually were.

"But my happiness does not come before your safety. I am your Eagle. That means I forsake my well-being for yours, when needed."

"You are not my only hawk. I've been doing this for a long, long time. I've got Florida checking out his operation and the boys on alert; we'll go into lockdown. I am not gonna be intimidated into losing you." He stroked the side of Locus' helmet, lips twisted.

"...may I see you?" A request, always a request, the choice was always Locus' but he wanted those eyes on his right now.

A faint nod, and he reached to remove his helmet, undoing it the clasps and pulling it free. To say his expression was conflicted would have been an understatement.

But oh, the way he stared at York. The way his chest twisted painfully at the idea of losing him to this.

Those eyes hid nothing. Every emotion played out neatly across Locus' face, flickered brightly behind that pale green. His fingers combed through Locus' hair, trailing forward along his jaw. "...You are not going to lose me."

Whatever came? He'd endure it. He'd lived through worse.

"How can you be so certain?"

Knowing the tactical advantages and weaknesses of both houses? A smart man would put his money on Felix. Nothing against York or his hawks, just a simple matter of numbers. Equations. Cold, hard facts.

And Felix was motivated. That was the most damning piece yet.

Still, he wished it. He bent to that touch, closed his eyes, his jaw tightening. "I would not see you lose yourself to this. I...I am not worth it."

"We've got better armor. We've got better training. We've got the full weight of the family at our back. And you've got me." And there's nothing he's not willing to do to keep Locus safe. Keep him happy.

He leaned down, pressing his lips to Locus' forehead, lips barely brushing his skin.

"You are mine. And you- you are worth everything." All of his hawks were. Especially Locus. "You will not lose me."

Someone who would never sell him, or threaten to. Someone this devoted to a hawk...it seemed unreasonable.

And a part of him loved York for it. It was insane, inadvisable at the very best, but here he was pledging to protect him anyway.

One large hand lifted, cupping against the back of York's. "Please. Be careful. You don't know what he's capable of. I do."

Someone that loved him desperately without knowing how to say it. Without knowing if it was welcome or wanted. But he felt it, he knew he did.

"Then tell us. You know him. Help us prepare, keep us on the level. We work better with good intel. The more we know? The better we'll be able to handle this." He nosed along to find Locus' lips, his kiss light. Chaste. As loving as he could possibly manage. "We'll be careful. And we'll win."

He could almost believe it. He wanted to.

No, more than that. He would. He'd fight to see it come true. If York was willing, how could he not be? Swallowing thickly he nodded again, before pressing back into another kiss. Deeper. Searching, haunted, silently desperate.

He belonged here. He had to.

Red vs Blue pt 2

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