Chapter Text
My alarm had gone off and - despite my best efforts - I hadnt been able to reach it before it roused Shark. His back had been pressed up against my chest, my arm trapped under his neck. As I rolled onto my back to all but smash the clock, he'd rolled over as well. I curled my arm around his shoulders, holding him close as he burried his face in my chest.
"Already?"
I nodded.
"It feels like I just got here," he whined, pulling the blanket up to his eyes.
"Thats what happens when you don't go to bed till two."
"It was closer to one."
"No, it was definitly two."
He scowled up at me from under the blanket. I pressed my smile firmly against his forehead. The Chief would be at the Snack Safari soon - as would Misa.
"We gotta get up."
He let out a groan before rolling over me and out of my bed. He scooped up the clothes he'd left on the floor, pulling on his pants and shuffling over to his shoes. With his hand on the door, he looked back over his shoulder at me.
"I'm gonna have a shower," he pulled the door open and rubbed at his eyes, "I'll see you out there."
What was I going to tell Misa.
I could still feel the way he'd ran his fingers over my back. How he'd untucked my shirt to grab handfuls of my waist. How messy his mouth had been against mine, only getting lazier as he moved down my neck.
How he'd fallen asleep the second his head hit my pillow.
Another coffee was placed down in front of me, a beaming Misa standing behind it.
"He seems to be feeling better," she placed her elbows on the counter and her chin in her hands, looking contentedly through the window over my shoulder.
I nodded, keeping my smirk hidden behind my cup, "amazing what a good sleep can do."
Her eyes focused on me, sparkling in that breath catching way they always did. She put a hand over my mug, pushing it and my arm down to the counter. She leaned in close and whispered a thank you. My cheeks burned red.
The staff door opened - Chief strided into the cafe. Misa quickly pulled away and bounded around the counter, running out the front to join Shark and the kids.
"Well I'm glad they're in high spirits," the relief in the Chiefs voice was palpable. He walked swiftly to his spot by the cooktop, tieing his apron as he went, "did you get much done after we left? I wouldn't blame you if you just went to bed-" he finally turned to look at me "-are you ok?"
I lifted my cup back in front of my face and nodded, "hot drink."
He raised his eyebrows, then shrugged - like his daughter, his attention was pulled out the window.
"But uh," I continued, "I did find a couple leads. There was one particularly interesting one I wanted to check out-"
"The man from the orchard?"
"You read the paper too?"
He nodded, "I know some people that live in the area. Gave them a call. They corroborated the sighting."
I pushed myself up off the stool, "then we should head out there right away-"
"I think," he cut me short, putting a hand on my shoulder, guiding me back into my seat, "you can take the time to finish your coffee."
"Chief-"
"Or at least," he topped up my cup, "wait for the kids to go to practice."
The day ended how it usually did - in an aurora plasma dual slash. A swift victory was always welcome. After all, we still had the long drive home.
I'd suggested the other two stay in Jaguar, letting its auto pilot whisk them back. They'd both declined. Stubborn as each other, I figured there was no point in arguing.
Shark had fallen asleep in the back seat. When the roads were straight and long, I found my eyes drifting to the rear view mirror. Misa sat beside me, diligently awake and eternally chatty.
We were half way home - the sun was dropping quickly behind the horizon, it would be dark by the time we got back.
"Oh! Eagle pull over!" Misa pointed at the fuel station coming up down the road, "I'm hungry."
"Of course," I turned to her with a smile, "you paying?"
She met my smile with a pout and a whined, "Ta-kun."
I snapped my head back to the road and cleared my throat, carefully adjusting my grip on the wheel.
"My shout then?"
I could feel the grin she flashed me.
I pulled into the station, coming to a rolling stop. I gestured over my shoulder with my thumb.
"What do we do about him?"
She thought for a moment, "we'll get him something. Let him sleep."
He was awake when we came back out, stretching groggily - seeing him awake picked up Misa's pace. She beat me to the car, and after a few quick words to Shark, she turned back to me.
"Can we stay here a minute?" She called out, "stretch our legs a little? Enjoy the last of the sunset-"
She continued to throw suggestions at me - unneeded, I'd agreed the second she looked at me.
She dumped her drink and snacks in the front seat and skipped past me, headed for the fence along the road. I watched her go, eyes lingering before a hand came down on my shoulder. I glanced up at Shark.
"Sorry for falling asleep."
I shook my head, turning back to watch Misa hop up and sit on the fence, "glad you got some rest."
A moment of silence - both our sights set on the same view.
"She's beautiful," Shark sighed, shaking my shoulder as he spoke, "makes you wonder what she see's in guys like us."
"Us?" I spluttered, but Shark had already began to jog towards her, taking my chances to ask further questions with him.
I watched him reach her, her arms held open for him. As she pulled him closer, he must have whispered something to her - something she wasnt ready to hear. Her wide eyes quickly narrowed as they fixed themselves on me. I froze in my tracks.
"Eagle!" She stormed towards me, "we're a package deal, you know."
"Excuse me?"
She was up in my face, hands on her hips. I looked over her at Shark - the smile plastered on his face bigger than any I'd ever seen
"I said," she all but growled, "you don't get to kiss Shark unless you also kiss me."
My mouth fell open - my words failing. She glared up at me, a sly smile betraying the fierce burning in her eyes.
"I mean, I could..." I rubbed the back of my neck, "I could fix that, if you'd like?"
"Please."
Placing a hand carefully on her cheek, I tilted her face up and stooped down to meet her. With a hand resting against the small of her back I pulled her closer, praying my jacket was enough to hide my heartbeat from the hands I'd trapped against my chest. I kissed her how I once caught her kissing Shark - how I'd dreamed of being able to. Everything about her was warm, but still her arms wrapping up and around my neck sent goosebumps shivering down my back.
I pulled away when I heard Shark hop down from the fence. I waited a moment - for him to get a little closer - then flashed him a smirk.
"She's the better kisser," I called out.
"Oi!"
Misa's giggles turned into laughter as I grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the car
"If we're quick we can leave without him!"
He caught us easily - together, we barrelled into the car.