Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Henry took the item he purchased and smiled politely thanking you. you knew there was something different about him and it drew you in.

"Stay away from those Lopez boys, they're nothing but trouble," Chula said harshly after he left. Your face flushed feeling caught.

"What!- no i would- Never. id never, he's so old..?" Chula raised an eyebrow at your strange response.

"never.." you mumbled, focusing on sorting the different goods.

But what could be the harm, he's just the owner of the Black Crow's SkateLife, how could he be trouble. you roll your eyes at the thought of the man.

You finished helping Chula at 7pm and went home still thinking about the raven haired man showering to take your mind off him, and then you got ready again.. With waved hair, sparkling eyeshadow and highlights, curled lashes, a deep lipstick and dark outfit, it gave you a more mature look and so you left for the roller rink.

Once you arrived you realised your outfit may not be the best for skating around in and you sat down at a table with a milkshake wondering why you came and what your plan was. There was a low chance Henry was even here at this time and what were you meant to do? other than spiral and stare into the rink watching the flashing lights and people spin by.

Until he sat across from you.
"I barely recognized you! what are you doing here?" Henry Stammered. you blinked, stunned as Henry’s eyes surveyed you. "It doesn't look like you're here for skating." He smiled.

"Oh- I don't even know myself, just felt like getting out i guess" You offered back weekly, completely unsure of what to do now.

"I know how that feels," he said as he leaned back into the chair.

"Are you busy right now?" You said a bit to quick

He blinked back before looking for words "-no"

"How about we go outside?"

He pressed his lips together and nodded as you stood up from your chair, he stood too, checking his pockets before you both left.
After you stepped out of the building it was dark.

"So how's it been helping Chula? I know she can be strict" He laughed a bit.

"It's no issue, it's good to help out, right?" You looked into his eyes, almost searching for an objection.

He stumbled on his words for a second but agreed. You guys kept mindlessly wandering as you talked. Stopping by a small bridge when he pulled out a pack of cigarettes nimbly picking one out, and slipping the pack back in his pocket. He lights it, taking a drag.
You watch him, desire in your eyes, his eyes meet and he instinctively passes it to you.

"You are old enough right-?" He asked, squinting and tilting his head.

"Of course, how old do you think I am?" you laugh as you lean towards him and take a short drag.

"Just making sure I'm not going to get into any trouble" he smirked, pivoting his body towards you.

"Chula said you were the trouble"
His eyes widened for a second before he looked you up and down.

"Maybe.. but yet you're the one smoking my cigarette and taking me away from work," He teased.

you took another drag, "So i am.."
you smirked looking up at him.

His eyes darkened as he looked into yours, then at your lips and back into your eyes. You leaned towards him and he got closer. You placed a hand at his chest as you leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. But a hand put to your hip pulls your bodies closer together with another on the back of your neck.

As the kiss ended he gently stroked your hair, breathless.

"You look beautiful tonight." He paused, "How about I take you back home now though," He mumbled.

"That sounds good," You smiled, kissing his cheek.

He pressed his lips together, nodding, then walked with you. Hand on the small of your back, you felt safe with him.

The next morning you got ready similarly to the night before, hoping to keep your charm, and to see him again. And so you made your way to the market to continue helping Chula. She greeted you like usual and put you to work, but your wandering eyes were something anybody could see.

"What's wrong with you dear?"

“Nothing, just watching the people”

Still looking off into the crowd you see him at a booth across from you. He was holding some wood carving while talking to the lady when you caught his eyes, he winked at you. then kept talking to the lady. Your breath hitched for a second and you looked away feeling your skin burn up. A light smack on your shoulder causes you to snap back to reality, locking eyes with a grumbling Chula.

"What!?" You pout.

"I told you to steer clear, didn't I?" She huffed

"What-" You look around, "What are you talking about?" You question.

"You're starin’ right at him," she paused. "All googly eyed, he's a forty-five year old man who's still alone, there's a reason for that."

"Forty-five?" You choked.

"That man’s just a dog astray, nothing good can come from him." Chula lectured.

You sighed and fidgeted with the jewellery at the stand. Chula on the other hand disappears to go talk to Caroline and make sure her sets are ready. Left staring at the booth rubbing the tablecloth between your fingers, focus shifting as a familiar voice interrupts.

“Well if it isn’t the trouble maker from last night,” A mischievous smile playing on his lips .

You jolt looking in front of you.

'Over here,’ He says, slyly appearing at your side.

“Henry-?’ Your body relaxes as you turn to him, taking note of the rest of his body before hesitantly looking into his eyes. His thumbs were hooked in his pockets and his stance was confident, his eyes though, were soft, melting. He smiled, rocking onto his heels.

“I enjoyed spending time with you last night, I'd like to do it again.” Moving a hand he tucked a piece of hair behind your ear, looking into your eyes awaiting an answer.

“Alright” You took a deep breath, “Yeah, That sounds good.”

He nodded looking at you longingly as he put a hand to the side of your face, slowly closing the distance. Your eyes fluttered shut but snapped open when a loud interruption came from behind.

“Why are you back here? Chula huffed, crossing her arms.

“Chula!” He greeted her loudly, passing by you opening his arms for a hug. “Haven’t seen you in a while” He paused, as he realised she didn't plan on reciprocating any of it. He pressed his lips together and nodded as he directed himself out.

Chula shook her head, staring at you with disappointed eyes.

“You're going to get yourself hurt.”

Chapter Text

Stepping back into your place you suck in a sharp breath shutting your eyes tight. The last few hours of working with Chula were rough as she completely iced you out.

shutting the door you lean against it, dwelling on the day. Your brows furrow as you recall your encounter with Henry, he had asked you out.
Clenching your jaw you push yourself against the door harder, tensing your entire body. Letting out a shaky breath you get up and look into the mirror.

Your makeup and hair still looked good, was the date even still on? he hadn't even said when it was. You picked at your lips nervously and reached for your pocket to grab your phone but stopped realising you didn't have his number.

You hesitantly slipped into your room and after picking out a short sleek black dress with a lace hem, you touched up your makeup. You might as well go see him.

And so you walk, in the dark, alone in a dress, to his place of work.
As you step through the threshold an eerie energy shoots through you, you tug pulling your dress down. Your footsteps stop once you reach the doors, pulling at the cold metal, it doesn't open. Glancing at the parking lot you take note of the three vehicles parked outside including Henry's sleek black truck. You look back at the doors and knock, biting your lip in wait. No answer.

Glancing back at the parking lot again you decide to head around the back, tugging at the back doors, they open. You quickly walk in taking in the warm air and quiet state of the building. Henry turns the corner quickly and stops you in your tracks.

"Henry!" You smile walking closer.
In response he puts a hand up and you notice his frenzied state.

"Is something wrong..? You said you wanted to see me.." You fidget with the bottom of your dress, face flushing feeling embarrassed for showing up like this.

"Right-" He takes a sharp inhale as he glances around. "Look tonight wont work, I've got a lot of.. paperwork and it's just" He falls silent surveying you for a second, "Im sorry for wasting your time."

You quickly step towards him, "Henry, it's no issue I promise, I'm sure I could help-" You’re cut off by loud clicks then a man stepping out holding a gun towards you and Henry. You whimper in surprise, instinctually stumbling back.

"Don't move." The man who you saw priorly working the skates orders.

They quickly move in chaining you and Henry up to a bench, he stays silent as he sits beside you, you squirm uncomfortably as your dress rides up.

Loud footsteps fill the building as a crew of men walk in and start talking to the people who took you hostage.

"Henry!" You whisper looking at him teary eyed.

"..look i" he paused, pressing his lips together, "I'm sorry."

"What's going on?" You whine, moving your best to face him.

"They're after my niece, he's trying to sell her to those guys," He states "You shouldn't be here, I'm sorry."

The attention of the men who walked in turns to you both as their leader taunts.

"Ah, looky, looky, Is that Henry 'Black Crow' Lopez? Surprised to see me? Look at you all tied up. "

Henry leans towards you "Let me talk it'll be okay," He whispers.

"How'd you get jammed up like this?" He paused watching Henry, "You got something to spill? Huh? Where's that niece of yours? Maya Lopez. Lopez who blew up the armoury. " He interrogates

An interjection comes from Vickie. "We're actually not at liberty to say until we get our money."

"I'm so tired of all this yappin'" The leader complains as the kidnappers check their phones.

The two groups face each other off as the bigger closes in on Vickie. They appear to be arguing as Vickie again keeps asking for money and they refuse, before the leader gives his order. Vickie turns quickly muttering under his breath he runs towards the counter about to jump over. He gets shot in the back of the head and he falls onto a table in front of you and Henry. He spits up blood as it drips down his face, staring you both down.

You shake, hyperventilating as the leader keeps talking to Henry.

"You's the one who's gonna give me the answers to my question." He grins looking over to you, staring you up and down. "Where is Maya Lopez?"

The lights turn red.
As loud music blasts through the speakers you double over, the rest cover their ears, in displeasure at the sheer volume of the music.

"Circuit breakers in the laser tag area." Henry yells.

As the frenzied yelling of orders continues they Partially untie Henry, letting him lead them to the circuit breaker, leaving you alone.
You can hear partial incoherent screams as you fidget with your chains, doing your best to slip out.

you watch as a loud crash comes from in front of you and you watch as a wall is busted down. A dark haired woman with a prosthetic jumps out ramming a man's head into the floor.

A man in front points his gun at her and she shoots him in the chest. She continues to fight anyone else near, shooting down multiple men and getting into close combat with them. You watch as more men pour into the roller rink to fight her and are stunned to see Henry with a gun held to his head in front of Maya.

A man comes up to you unchaining you and bringing you into the rink with a gun to your head and another girl you recognized. It was Bonnie Chula's Granddaughter, she was a firefighter. You’re both standing in front as Maya and Henry are brought to their knees in front of you.

The leader walks up frantically and cocks his gun at Henry interrupted by his phone playing a sing-song-y ringtone.

"Aye. Well i thought- yeah, I understand. Im sorry, i.. Let me just..." The phone call ends and he smiles looking at his crew before signalling "Lets go." He yells and walks away.

Letting go of you and Bonnie leaving you free as they leave the building. It's quiet. They all look at each other as Maya and Bonnie take note of you.

"Who's the kid?" Maya signs to Henry, Who rolls his eyes and signs back as he mumbles.
"She's not a kid, and not your business."

"Why are you here?" Bonnie asks you

"I came to see Henry.." You mumble.

Bonnie looks you up and down before turning to Maya and signing something to her and then looking at Henry and smugly signing something at him.
He taps two fingers at them and keeps signing while mumbling what he says to them.
"No, Not your business, get out of here you two now." He stares them down clearly annoyed. They both get up to leave, Bonnie helping Maya and leave you and Henry in silence. You looked at Henry as tears started to breach your eyes, tugging nervously at your dress.

"Look, im sorry.. Chula was right," He took a breath pursing his lips. "I'm only trouble, i'm sorry you got caught up in this"

You stayed silent, staring at him, watching the way he moved to you, and apologize. Watching his body as you wished you could pin it down and take control. You bit your lip carefully not listening to what he was saying anymore. He grabs your wrist. Your eyes flick up meeting his, squirming under his grip nervously. He tilts his head looking into your eyes deeply, hoping for acceptance. You blink caught off guard by the situation, melting under his touch you lean in and kiss him.

His hands wrap carefully around your waist before dipping down and picking you up, your arms wrapping around his neck and legs around his waist, bringing your heat closer to his. He brought you over to a booth table, sitting you down on it and pressing you against it.

Your fingers wrapping into his hair, testing the waters with a slight tug, causing him to softly moan into your mouth. He bucks his hips into your thigh, letting out another soft whimper. He pulls you closer, a tight grip on your hips creating a soft rhythm with his.

He brings one hand up into your hair softly stroking it as he breaks the kiss, he moves his hand to the side of your face, softly caressing.

"I'm sorry for tonight, you must of been terrified truly." He paused kissing your forehead. "I don't mean for any harm to come to you, and if it does you best believe me whoever did it will be in trouble." He whispers

as he runs his hands over your body.
You reach for his collar pulling him back in for another kiss, you start to slowly unbutton his shirt. He breaks the kiss with a quick gasp and stops your hands by grabbing your wrists. Although he still pushes his hips up against you.
"That might not be the best idea for tonight.." He pauses looking around, "I still have to clean this place up" He subconsciously presses his hips into you again.

He gently lets go of your wrists kissing your hand.

"Rain Check."

"Give me your number." You demand.

He blinks at you before quickly pulling his phone out.
"Right- i didn't even realise i didn't have it" He stumbles on his words as he adds you and sends a text before smiling. "I'll drop you off, You walked right?" He questioned.

You nod before he walks you to his truck dropping you back off home, with a sweet kiss goodbye.

Chapter Text

Henry's pov:

He watched longingly as you walked into your home. Nobody had gotten him this riled up in a while. He breathed out leaning back against the seat of his truck repositioning his hips to get more comfortable. He rubbed the palm of his hand against his jeans letting out a shaky breath before sucking in a last breath and putting his hands on the wheel. He drives back to Skate Life.

Henry pulls into the parking lot and exits his truck, quickly hopping out and into the building. He quickly stepped to his office heading for the phone when he noticed a dark figure sitting on his couch causing him to freeze.

He slowly pivoted, acknowledging Maya staring at him.

"What the hell just happened" Maya signs with a grimace on her face

Henry looks at her shocked mumbling as he signs back.

"Which part? The part where we were kidnapped by the guy who cleans my skates? Or the part where we almost died because there's a price on your head!?"

Maya signs back dead eyed, "We wouldn't be here if someone hadn't called off Zane and his dogs."

"There's only one person who could have," He paused, staring her down.

"I shot him in the face." She snaps signing back.

Henry slowly moves and sits at the edge of his desk in front of her.

"look.. tonight.. things caught up to us both..." He looks in her eyes, "If the offer still stands.."

Maya stands looking at him, "I'm helping you" Henry signs.

Maya nods and Henry turns around to call the mortician to help dispose of the bodies, requesting Maya stay and help. But all she does is continue to pester about the girl.

"She looked younger than me" She signs to him, "Were you really meant to be out on a date with her?"

"It's not your business" He signs clenching his jaw.

"How old is she?" Maya pesters.

Henry looks at her, pressing his lips together he signs back, "I don't know" he paused, "Didn't ask."

"So I had to wait outside while you were humping some girl whose age you don't even know" She signs flabbergasted.

His face goes red and he looks at her clearly upset before he's cut off by Maya signing more.

"Wow. You are unbelievable." She signs, almost laughing.

"Just get back to work, we need this place cleared out by morning, and you are finding someone to fix my wall, okay?" He signed quickly before getting up and leaving to keep the work going.

After a long night of work his phone buzzes, he quickly pulls it out looking at your name in the notification centre, a good morning text. He quickly sends one back as he watches the three dots shuffle around. He reads the next text.

"Will I be seeing you later?"

He smiled at his phone, quickly typing out yes and hitting send, he turned the phone off and continued back out to see Maya.

"We have to finish this soon," He signs.

"The wall is going to take a while." She rolls her eyes, dismissing him.

He grabs her arm, "Ok, I'll find something to cover it up, then you need to leave." He signs, clenching his jaw.

She stares before walking out of the building, leaving Henry to finish up his work. He calls the cleaner in to finish, before going back to his house. He slips into the shower cleaning himself off, once stepping out accessing the damage from the night before. His eye brow was bruised and partially split open, which he cleaned and closed with a small piece of bandaging tape, and surveyed the other bruises on his body, including harsh marks on his wrists.

He cleaned himself up, fixing his hair nicely and choosing a sleeker outfit still like his others, as he made his way to the kitchen brewing a coffee and drinking it before he left. Getting in his truck and driving to the market they had set up.

He prowls carefully through the market, making his way to the usual booth you occupied. Watching until you weren't paying attention to sneak right in front of you with a grin on his face.

As he made small talk, putting his hands on the table, leaning his hips forward, Chula took notice. She gave Henry a hard stare before asking to talk to him alone, Henry took another glance at you before pressing his lips together and following Chula.

"Don't think I don't know what you're doing boy," She paused, staring him up and down, "Do you know how old she is?"

Henry pressed his lips together, brows furrowing hesitantly nodding into a lie.

"She's only twenty-three, you’re not good for her." She sighs.

His eyes widen, as he stands up straighter. "I- .. know Chula, you’re right-"

"But she really likes you," She pressed her lips together, "So I trust you to do the right thing." She turns away and walks away from the booth to another leaving Henry his chance.

He slowly walked back to the booth, approaching from behind he greets you with a soft hug from the back, burying his nose in your hair, breathing in. As he brings his body closer, tightening the hug you press your ass against him, his hands tighten their grip before letting go and backing up.

He took a quick breath, eyes averted before glancing up and taking his choice.

"I'll pick you up after you’re done, text me alright?"

"Alright," You smile as he leaves.

He quickly makes his way back to his truck, hands in pockets trying to hide his half hard arousal. He hops in the truck leaning against the seat subconsciously spreading his legs. He puts a hand over his face, hiding his blush from himself as he stared down his erection.

He slowly moved a hand downward palming himself through his pants, tilting his head back letting out a shaky breath. His hand took a slow pace moving up and down as he spread his legs further apart and closed his eyes. He quickened his pace as he took a deep breath in, taking himself more in his hand.

He glanced around discreetly as he undid his belt and unzipped his pants, reaching his hand in and jerking himself off. His breathing got heavier as he bit his lip, looking off towards your booth imagining you.

His pace quickened as he panted heavily getting close, he looked around to see if there were any tissues, there wasn't. As he kept stroking himself his eyes fluttered shut as he finished, quickly doing his pants back up while looking around, he pulled out of the parking lot and went to clean up.