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It wasn't that you enjoyed seeing anyone getting kicked out of the Breaker Box. That it happened at all came with inherent thoughts of unpleasantness: that someone had gotten too rowdy, or rude, or even violent, thereby necessitating their removal. You didn't enjoy the idea that anyone would cause such a disruption to the chill atmosphere that your boys tried to cultivate in their club. You'd much rather see everyone behaving themselves and enjoying their time at the Breaker Box.
All that being said, on the rare occasion that Volt had to forcibly remove someone from the club, it definitely did something for you.
The intimidating cut of his tall, sparking figure with his broad shoulders squared; the authority in his voice as he told the troublemakers it was time to go; his unwavering resolve in the face of anyone daring enough to argue back; the sheer strength of his muscles if it came down to physically kicking someone out? All together, it was enough to give anyone the vapors. And hey, you were only human.
Feeling rather flushed, you had eyes only for Volt as he returned to you in your booth once more, right on the heels of just such an unpleasant task. The blue was still fading from his skin while he smoothed a hand through his hair to get it back under control (at least as much as the unruly strands ever could be controlled.) A hint of frustration lingered in his expression as he approached, but he hid it behind a smile just as he reached you.
Sliding into the booth beside you, he tutted regretfully. "My apologies, live wire. You shouldn't ever have to witness unsightly displays such as that. I'll have to have a word with Dorian about who he allows past his guard."
"No, it's okay," you argued faintly, still staring at him, wide-eyed. Swallowing hard as that comment garnered Volt's full attention, you rushed on, "That is, I—I didn't mind seeing you...um..."
Your sentence trailed off aimlessly, but there was no point in finishing it. You'd said enough, and you could tell the moment the pieces clicked together in Volt's mind by the devilish grin that spread across his lips. "Well!" he purred, pinning you with his hooded, glowing gaze as he leaned in closer, "If what you wanted was a display of strength, you had only to ask. I can think of many far more...pleasant uses for my muscles, and would be more than happy to give you a private demonstration sometime." You felt his smile grow wider at the moment his lips brushed your neck. "As many times as you like, in fact."
"Volt!" you protested, giggling. It was a tempting offer, and his flirtation was very welcome, of course, but you didn't want to get too carried away in public during club hours. Reluctantly, you pushed him back. He went easily, and even better, seemed to sense your reluctance if the sly chuckle that rumbled from his chest was any indication. "I'm definitely not saying no to that, since you're offering," you managed at last, fighting off the fluster that Volt had ignited in you, "Just...maybe later?"
"Of course, darling. Any time," he acquiesced at once with an easy nod.
Your heart did a funny little flip at that, drawing a grin to your lips.
Yet...even after all that, you found you still couldn't get your mind off the subject. Biting your lip, you hesitated for just a moment, then tentatively reached through the opening of his coat to graze your fingers along his upper arm. Your eyes flicked up to his face to make sure that was okay, but based on the eager look in his eyes, you had nothing to worry about; he seemed more than okay with you touching him.
Emboldened by his approval, your fingers wrapped around his bicep to rub it in a more firm touch. Even with his shirt in the way, you were still able to feel the hard muscle hidden underneath, and even a hint of the power contained there when he flexed slightly in response to your touch. None of this did anything to help ease the flush that you were now sure was covering your face, but even so, you looked up to meet Volt's eyes and gave him a smile.
"I really didn't mind seeing what happened just now," you admitted, "You kicking that guy out, I mean. I love how strong you are, and I love getting to see you using that strength. Especially when you use it for a good cause like keeping the peace in the club." Resting your head on his shoulder, you continued trailing your fingers along his muscles as you finished happily, "I'm never afraid of a bar fight breaking out when you're around."
Volt's expression softened as he watched you nestle in against him: eyes glowing just a touch more brightly, smile wide and helpless, cheeks filling with a rosy hue. You nearly managed to catch him speechless with your easy praise, but he found some words just before his silent fluster could be detected. "That's very sweet of you to say, spark," he murmured. It was such a generic response; he was self-conscious of it lacking his usual flair, and yet he meant every word from the very depths of his electrical soul. Besides, it was all he could think to say. He'd just have to trust that you'd be able to feel his sincerity. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to your head. "You know there's no lengths I won't go to if it means keeping you and our Eddie safe."
Releasing a happy sigh, you shifted to be able to see his face a little better from your vantage point on his shoulder. "Yes, I do know that," you assured him, squeezing his arm as you heaped on some more praise, "You are certainly the most well-equipped for the job." But as soon as those words left your lips, you jolted back, sitting up straight. "Not that I think Eddie couldn't hold his own by himself!" you corrected yourself in a wide-eyed rush, "I just mean..." You gestured lamely at Volt with one hand. "...you're so strong! Does...How..." Unable to decide which line of thought to pursue, you trailed off, your eyes drifting away from Volt's. "Hm..."
Though you'd looked away from him, Volt kept watching you, so he noticed the moment you started biting your lip, your cheeks dusting with a faint trace of heat. He reached out to feel that heat for himself, his fingers brushing your cheek. "What's running through that mind of yours?" he wondered fondly.
Your eyes snapped back to his at once. "Oh!" Knowing there would be no point trying to hide your thoughts from him, you had no choice but to come clean. "Um..." you stammered, "Just thinking...or, I guess, wondering...how Eddie's strength measures up to yours."
Chuckling, Volt gave your cheek a teasing little pinch. "Pitting us against each other, are we, live wire?"
Pulling away, you brushed off his hand. "Never!" you insisted. In the very next breath, though, you went on, "But...then again..." Alight with curiosity, your eyes searched his. "Have the two of you ever arm wrestled?"
This time, the laugh Volt let out was louder and more incredulous, though still genuine with mirth as he challenged, "You'd ask me to put our dear Eddie to shame like that?"
"Well," you goaded, meeting his teasing energy with your own, "Someone's confident he'll be the one to win!"
"I am in charge of kicking out the unruly patrons for a reason, darling," Volt pointed out.
"Why don't you prove it, then?"
Volt's eyes narrowed, yet the smirk didn't fall from his lips in the slightest, telling you that your challenge was very much accepted. Abruptly, he held out his hand to you, palm-up. "Would you happen to have some kind of token you might lend me?"
Now you were thrown off. Blankly, you raised an eyebrow at him and tilted your head. "A...a token?" you wondered, a silent prompt in your words.
Just as you'd hoped, Volt was happy to explain what he meant. "If I'm challenging Eddie to a contest of strength, there must be stakes, spark," he said with a wink, "And what could be better than the opportunity to spend the remainder of the evening with you?"
Though his easy flirtation made you blush, you tried your best to give him what he'd asked for. After digging around in the pockets of your fantastic red shirt, you found a spare button that had gone unnoticed before. You held it up for Volt to see. "Is this good enough?"
"That's perfect," Volt assured you, letting you drop it into his palm. His hand closed around it, then he leaned in to kiss your forehead before stepping out of the booth once more. "I'll be right back," he told you with a grin positively brimming with confidence.
There were no patrons waiting for drinks at the bar when Volt got there, which meant he had the perfect conditions to make his arrival as dramatic as he wanted. An opportunity he was happy to take full advantage of. Coming to a stop across from where Eddie was polishing some glasses, he slapped down the button you'd given him onto the bartop between them, and propped up his elbow on its surface.
"Volt?" Eddie questioned, "What're you—"
"Arm wrestle me," Volt interrupted with the same confident grin he'd left you with, laying out the challenge without any further preamble, "Loser tends to the bar for the rest of the night, winner gets to keep our live wire company."
Quickly, Eddie assessed the situation and the stakes before him. His steely eyes flicked from the button on the polished wood, to you still in your booth watching them, to Volt's waiting hand hovering above the bar, and—finally—to Volt's cocky expression. Within only a few seconds, Eddie was decided: it was a ridiculous game, but he would play it.
Rolling his eyes, he huffed out a quiet breath and set aside his rag and the glass he'd been cleaning. "Alright."
For a moment, Volt's smirk widened. He knew he'd be able to entice Eddie into this!
What he wasn't expecting—once Eddie's hands were empty—was for him to reach up towards the buttons on his shirt. Volt's grin slipped as his lips parted slightly, transfixed as he watched the nimble fingers of Eddie's hands slip between the wires hanging from his neck to undo two extra buttons and part the fabric beneath. First the top one—which already exposed far more chest than he usually showed in public—then the lowest one available to him without taking off the vest. With that one undone, some of Eddie's chest hair was made visible.
Unable to take his eyes off the exposed skin, Volt's mouth ran dry. He hardly noticed when Eddie reached out to take his hand, and forgot to fight back when he pushed it down flat against the bar with no trouble.
Just like that, he'd been bested.
While Volt just sat there, still stunned, Eddie let go of his hand and picked up the button indicating his win. Coming out from behind the bar, he headed towards you at your booth, patting Volt's shoulder in passing. "Have fun," he said, wearing a well-earned grin on his lips.