Chapter Text
He feels out of place.
Gil is busy entertaining guest and by guest, he means his mother. The two of them flirt nonsense back and forth as Gil pulls batch after batch of cookies out of his oven. They laugh and smile and Bright is happy for them. Glad that they still find some light in their lives despite the sad and dark times that have threatened to swallow them both hole. It’s still disgusting and weird to his surrogate dad to make his mother blush with a poorly hidden compliment.
JT and Tally are in the living room. They’re on the sofa talking quietly to one another. He can hear his name mentioned briefly, causing JT to glance back at him, but then he shakes it off and their conversation continues. He likes Tally. She smells soft and gives really good hugs. She makes JT laugh effortlessly and Bright finds their relationship to be both wholesome and worthwhile.
“Tally,” JT grunts as he attempts to move his wife off his lap. Tally pokes a little more before letting him up, earning a small smile from JT despite his tone seeming bothered or aggravated. “Damn it, woman,” he grumbles, kissing her. He smiles at her and they kiss again. “Enough, enough,” he pulls away and steps towards Malcolm and the door. “I promised Dani I would help her back into Gil’s driveway.” He dodges Tally’s arms as she attempts to pull him into another kiss.
As he steps out of the living room and brushes past Malcolm, giving him a pat on the shoulder as he passes.
Malcolm stands in his same spot for five more minutes, patiently waiting for Dani and JT to come into the house. Just as he starts to grow impatient from having nothing to do, they open the door mid-argument.
“Not true,” Dani says, face pinched in annoyance. She steps towards Malcolm before turning her back to JT to add. “You’re such an idiot! If you really wanted to measure how badass someone is maybe we should look at how many times it takes a person to pass the detective placement test.”
JT’s mouth opens like a hinge,” you little-”
“Kids, kids,” Gil grumbles from the kitchen. Gil’s face quickly grows from mild irritation to a grin. He points to Malcolm, finger aimed slightly above his head. “Bright.” He calls the man’s name and Malcolm looks up, eyes wide when he sees exactly what it is he’s managed to back up under. “Mistletoe!”
He glances at Dani out of the corner of his eye. She’s under it too.
“Gotta kiss, shit heads,” JT grins at the two of them. He pushes Dani ever so slightly and she turns and punches him in the arm. “Hey!”
Dani rolls her eyes and looks to Malcolm. She blows a bubble with the gum in her mouth once, eyes thoughtfully taking in Malcolm’s nervous pale face. She smiles softly, once, and takes him by the sides of his face. She kisses him as she had two nights ago when she stayed over at his house. She kisses him like she has a dozen times before.
“Jesus,” JT mumbles and Dani can hear his feet shuffling on the floor at their very public display.
Jessica leans in while JT stumbles away,” how was it?”
Dani wipes her mouth with the back of her hand,” like kissing my brother.”
Malcolm’s cheeks heat up, his neck and face suddenly uncomfortably hot.
Gil chuckles, turning away from them with a shake of his head. “I’d hate to see any family reunion you with, Powell. I have never seen siblings kiss like that.” He makes a ‘humph’ sound and goes back to his oven duty. Unbothered and unphased now that action is over. Jessica turns with him a moment later, her eyebrows drawn in suspension. She doesn’t say anything, mercifully.
“What was that?” Malcolm asks hours later. He’s hot with alcohol and embarrassment he swore he bit down earlier.
Dani smiles, secretly so much prouder that Malcolm’s voice has risen several octaves. “You said you were okay if we told the others,” she reminds him with a coy smile. “So, I want to make a game out of it.” She stops outside his apartment,” I’m gonna just do what I would do if they already knew until they realize that we’re boinking.”
Malcolm frowns at her term,” boinking? That makes me-” He shakes his head and Dani smiles with her newfound power.
“Boinking.”
Malcolm glances at her.
“Malcolm,” Dani says, reaching across the console and taking his hand. “Wanna boink tonight?”
He pulls his hand from hers and opens his car door.
“Oh come on-”
He keeps walking, knowing she’s following behind him.
“Baby,” Dani calls, jogging up to catch up to him. “Alright, alright,” she surrenders when she gets to his apartment door and he motions to shut the door before she gets there. “I won’t say it.” He raises an eyebrow. She places her hand over her heart,” I won’t.”
He opens the door and lets her in.
She waits.
He’s nearly asleep, nestled facing her as the little spoon.
“Malcolm,” she whispers, pressing a kiss to his warm skin.
He hums sleepily, shifting.
“I boink you.”
He groans.