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Carter had never set foot on an inch of public transport. He despised the idea of it entirely. Sure, he understood where the idea came from. He understood the importance to the lower masses and all that. But the idea of jumping in a vehicle previously inhibited by hundreds and hundreds of other bodies? No thank you.
Uber wasn't that much of a step up; most people liked it because it was better than a cab and more personal. He hardly cared for the latter. If given the chance, he liked to walk.
Which was what he was doing today. He caught sight of lonely souls waiting for the bus stop, and within his strides he heard the undertones of annoyance from a blonde woman complaining about the wrong thing. He paused in his footing.
"The problem is public transport." He offered her obviously; "It's the fact that you're catching it at all."
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
The second there was a dog in play, Carter had to keep his eyes on it. He watched the way it practically wiggled with excitement; such was the way with hyper animals and complete strangers. At least he wasn't barking ma at Carter. Not yet, anyway.
Luxanna looked like she had a pretty good hold of him, so Carter took her verbal cue and stepped past her. Nothing about the house felt familiar either. Surely, that opinion would change if he set foot in her room. But given the company they were supposed to keep tonight, he doubted that would happen.
"You're stronger than you look, Luxanna." He pointed out. Or perhaps it was just that she knew how to handle this particular animal.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
She wasn't wrong; given the smug look on his face, Carter mustn't have looked very wounded. He raised a hand to his mouth, covering the grin he couldn't really help around her. When he removed his hand, it was as if he'd wiped it away, and all that remained was a profuse frown. If only he could have filtered the sadness into his eyes, but even he wasn't that good.
So he watched her stall at the door. Did she not want him inside? It would have been odd, considering she invited him here tonight. It wasn't as if he'd forced his way into her home like last time.
Both hands indicated to his chest as he laughed deeply. "Me?" He asked her. Afraid of dogs? "I'm over six foot and physically built like bricks, Luxanna." It was she who should be scared. "I'm not about to start shitting them over a ball of overzealous fluff."
Nothing about the walk to her home felt familiar for Carter. Though he remembered the night they had shared, he couldn't say he'd taken much notice of this part. He'd been far too focused on what her room looked like these days to care.
The little greeting she gave couldn't drown how the noise that came with her initial statement. It wasn't enough that disappointment clearly clouded her eyes, she felt the need to drive the knife in a little deeper. Well, of course, he had to comply. He couldn't let her totally get away with it.
"Waiting for your father, but not for me." Carter denoted quickly, holding his arms out at either side, as if giving her a clean space to take the shot. Or perhaps he was welcoming the dig with open arms. Either way, he was wearing that familiar grin; "I'm wounded by the forgotten sentiment."
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
This was a momentous night for Carter, perhaps even more momentous than the night he managed to get the girl asking him to dinner into bed in the first place. He had never been asked to go to dinner with someone's parent. At least, not like this. They usually knew about him already for one, and when they didn't, they could find out about him pretty quickly. He should have counted himself lucky that he left for so long, or that the school moved. He still wasn't sure where his reputation ended.
He made sure he looked his best, but that wasn't strictly for a parental benefit. No, that was just life.
At least she gave him her address; after New Years, there was no way he would have remembered where they were. He didn't even remember where the bar was.
Pulling up to the familiar place, there was a rush of memories. Stumbling out of her car with a potentially bruised eye wasn't how he expected a reunion to occur, but it had, and perhaps it was better if it was completely out of his hands. Fingertips ran across his hair lightly, ensuring its perfection before he left the safety of his car. Rolling his shoulders back, he stood tall as he rounded the vehicle and caught sight of her waiting for him.
For him? Maybe, yeah.
"Luxanna," He greeted, the second he was close enough. But he didn't reach for her. His hands stayed steady in his jacket pockets. "Taking in the pleasant night air?"
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Just as quickly as it had happened, it was over. Carter raised his eyebrows as she watched the way she stood up. A contemplative look barely grazed his expression before he muted it with something of a happier grin.
Her outburst reminded him of something so childlike. He genuinely considered having a go at her, especially after she'd called him a child more than once on this night. But he didn't. He didn't even think to fight for the pillow might take with her.
"Suit yourself, my dear." Carter said then, "Goodnight."
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Carter watched the way she stood up. As she did, he hooked an arm underneath his head to elevate it slightly. In a way, it was how he could show her he didn't need the pillow. The plush might have aided most in sleep, but he was certain he could fall asleep without it.
When she asked him about moving, he made a point of keeping quiet long enough to survey his position. Fully clothed but respectably shoeless on a stranger's bed. Her bed.
"I'm almost positive I can sleep sideways." He replied, like that was the answer she was looking for. Like she wasn't asking if he was going to leave the room. "Though, my feet will absolutely hang off the edge. I can make it work."
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Hands pressed against his chest, but they were so fast to apply great pressure. It felt like nothing for the man who moved mountains for a living. Still, Carter was oddly keen to play the part. With little to no give he reeled back like she had a kind of super strength.
He flew back, but rather than leaving the bed he doubled over and let his own back hit the mattress beside her.
"Luxanna," Carter cursed her then, "When in the hell did you get so strong?"
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
It was rare for Carter to remotely act out of his stoic stature he was known for. He tried his best to offer the utmost perfect impression in just about every situation. Play wrestling with someone on a bed he didn't own definitely wasn't in his acceptable repertoire. Yet there he was, throwing her down with simplicity both because she didn't expect it and because he was just stronger.
The sound she made had him laughing. Her attempt to talk through the interaction was just something more to entice his actions.
Reaching down amidst his own laughter, he crossed his fingers through the mess of hair that covered his face, his free hand pressed to the unfamiliar mattress to keep him from falling. "You simply must forgive me." He declared, a broad smile shining through the humour that refused to fade.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
A child? Carter scoffed loudly at the offensive accusation. "Older than you." He shot back, unaware that he'd offered the exact same argument the last time she outwardly called him a child.
He barely noticed that she was on the bed with him as much as he just noticed that she was coming to steal his newly acquired property. Give it back? He laughed again.
"Oh, this?" He asked, waving the pillow before her. Seconds later, it left his hand and flew effortlessly towards her face. An arm then hooked around her waist with every intention of knocking her down against the mattress.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Realisation seemed to hit her more than once. Carter didn't really care, because he didn't see how it would influence his own choices and movements. He was already considering moving back to be comfortable again when she ordered a change in rooms. He laughed. He literally laughed at her.
With two hands, Carter encircled the pillow she went for, easing back with all his weight and rolling towards the wall. It was his and he absolutely refused to give it back to her. After all, she gave up on this long ago. Did it really make that much of a difference now?
"You gave up this land, Luxanna; you can't change your mind now." He pointed out. It wasn't as if she could physically move him. And now that he was practically up against the wall, she had no chance.
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Carter couldn't help the way his eyes dropped from hers to the colour that powdered her cheeks. Eyebrows knit together as if he was genuinely confused by the fact. He hadn't said anything that he considered worthy of such a reaction. Sure, he was making fun of her, but he'd done that already tonight and all he got was a mild roasting about the political correctness of furbies.
Her step back had his eyebrows raising, still in obvious curiosity. A hand ran its way through his hair on instinct. There was a smile and suddenly she was flushed out, like the spotlight was right on her. Like it hadn't been all night.
"Sure." He replied, dragging the word out for a spare second or so.
"Won't your father find it suspect that you aren't in your room?"
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Carter watched the way he was sure she looked smug at her victory. Fine, he supposed, he had to give it to her. She was looking out for him like he'd never really bothered with her. They were vastly different, and this was just more proof of that.
She even looked happy. At least, he was sure there was some happiness in that grin she wore. That was a rare one.
"Are you going to wait around for me to drink another?" He asked her then, tilting his head to the side, "Your bartending skills are showing."
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
It was easy to start feeling like he was being lectured, but Carter had to be thankful his mind didn't immediately sway that way. Predominantly, he just didn't want to have to get up. Comfort rolled in waves and his eyelids were already feeling heavy. He expected her to leave then. After all, she'd done the kind and generous thing for him. She'd been doing it all night. That was just who she was.
But he opened his eyes again and she was still there, waiting on him to act like an adult instead of the child he'd shown himself to be tonight. Groaning overtly, he reeled himself up, a hand still fastened to the pillow she'd already tried to steal once. Slowly, he reached for the cup offered, brought it to his lips, and drank the whole thing.
Placing it down again, he looked at her with the utmost sarcasm in his eyes. On his lips. "Happy, dear?"
Carter Chevalier
Usually I hold the power with both my hands tied behind my back
Perception to an inebriated person was a difficult thing to control. It went completely out the window and so for all he knew, she was already gone. He was more focused on how hard it was to get comfortable in a strangers bed. Y'know, without the comfort of sex first.
Then something landed on the bedside table, and it had his eyebrows furrowing with a sliver of surprise. A small, barely audible grumble passed his lips until he actually rolled over to look. There she was, and there was a small plastic cup. He looked at it, then at her. "I suppose you want me to drink it now." He reasoned. That was, if she really cared so much.
That or she still had the will to leave everything to his own devices, which was also okay.
