donotlick | spooky scary

[ The certainty in his voice makes a warm shudder roll up his spine. Fuck. How did he go so long trying to act like this was just werewolf stuff? Fuck. Fuck, he's so far gone for Hank Anderson it's scary.

But he looks back at him with a little confident smile. ]

Yeah, I know. I'm not afraid.

[ With that, he heads over to his desk to do a couple quick things before they go. And start chewing a handful of gum to get the taste out of his mouth for the time being.

He pulls out his phone to text Eli real quick that he's fine now, and thank you. He can only imagine how much the big nerd has been fretting about him... but he probably already knows he's alright. Dumb brother, that he loves so much.

He heads back over to Hank. ]

Alright, let's go.

[ Trust me, Hank won't be truly calm until he's got Gavin in his house, warm and safe and protected from any hunters or anyone else.

At least he saved Gavin. At least they're gonna be alright. Hank couldn't have lived with himself if he'd lost him. Maybe it really is love, when all he can think about is Gavin even considering the knowledge that his ex-wife is in town. Fuck, he's gonna have to deal with that.

For now though, he debriefs with Connor and gives him the spiel to give Fowler. Connor nods, offering to guard his house if necessary. Hank waves him off, knowing the stubborn robot will probably do it anyway, but it's nice, too. It's like family. Even getting Kamski's help in the nick of time had felt like that too.

Who would've thought a fucking werewolf would get a second chance at having a family? Hank's still reeling a bit from it, but having Gavin back helps him focus once more. Gavin has a way of taking up all his brain power in a way that might be more than just an alpha thing now that Hank thinks about it. ]

Great. Let's get going. We can get drive-thru burgers or something on the way home, I'm starving.

[ The Hovering Alpha Vibes are real, but they make him feel warm and fuzzy. As well as just knowing Hank gives a shit about him. His heart soars a little. Everyone gets a second chance now, it seems. Funny how all that works.

Gavin's stomach gurgles at the mention of burgers and he huffs. ]

That sounds good to me. I'm starving after all of that. [ He grins toothily. ] Double meat and extra large fries?

[ A gremlin!! ]

[ He loves this gremlin. He's very loud and alive and Hank wouldn't have him any other way. He pats Gavin on the back as they make their way out, enjoying that toothy grin and even the sound of his stomach. It all means he's alive, and that's what Hank cares about. He's happy to feed his beta even if it end up being greasy drive-thru food. ]

You know it. Extra everything.

[ Loud and alive is the only way to be, as far as he's concerned. He leans into his touch and once they're out and in the parking garage, he reaches over to grab his hand and give it a squeeze. ]

It's gonna be fine. You look out for me, I look out for you. Yeah?

Yeah.

[ Hank smiles. Wow, they're holding hands. Wow. Hank's super okay with it. They need to get going but they're having a moment. ]

Yeah, that's right.

[ Gavin squeezes his hand. It's a very nice moment, that's for sure. He really wants to kiss him but they really do have to get going...

So he just leans in a little, putting a hand on his chest. ]

Just don't be too hard on yourself. What happened isn't your fault.

We'll see about that.

[ Still, Hank shoots Gavin a warm look as he lets go and unlocks the car. Sitting down in his own space, Hank feels some of the tensions start to drain from him. He'll feel better once they're home. They have places to be and exes to call, but first he's going to take care of Gavin, no questions asked. ]

You remember anything else from when you saw her? Did she say anything at all?

[ He sits in he car and instantly puts his feet up on the dash. Little shit. Gavin crosses his arms and leans back, shaking his head. ]

No, she was painfully neutral. Which I think was the whole point. Acted like she'd never met me, which we both know is a crock.

Seat belt.

[ Besides that, whatever, make yourself at home, Gavin. It can't be any worse than the mess Sumo makes in his car. Hank starts the car. ]

Fuck. She had to know it was you. Probably didn't want you to recognize her because then everybody on the scene would've been on her.

[ And we all know it's much harder to poison someone when everyone knows you were there...]

[ Gavin rolls his eyes and clicks his seat belt in. Such a dad, Hank. ]

Yeah. Maybe it was a mistake to not make a bigger deal of seeing her but... she might have done something worse. I don't know.

[ He sighs. He know show your average run of the mill person works, but throwing in all this supernatural hunter shit just makes him unsure. Gavin doesn't like being unsure about anything. ]

[ Once a dad, always a dad. ]

Yeah, last thing you wanted was a scene. You made the right call.

[ He wouldn't put it past her to somehow force Gavin to shift somehow so she'd be justified uh killing him. He'd heard her talk about hunting some others of his kind, so he knows the lengths she'll go. ]

Me and her, we... we agreed she'd leave me alone if I just stayed the way things were. I don't know if this was her trying to send me a message or if she's really lost it or what.

[ Gavin's general opinion of her was that she was a smart and capable woman, long before he knew of her Real profession. (Clearly the kind of person Hank would be interested in.) There has to be a reason. ]

I'm leaning towards message. Maybe she knew you'd find a way to save me? She was just so calm, I didn't even sense I was in any danger. Kinda creepy, in hindsight.

[ Surely Hank's ex-wife would know he's still the kind of guy who would go to the end's of the earth to save someone, right? ...right? Shit. He almost doesn't want to think anything too bad of her for the risk of breaking Hank's heart all over again. ]

[ Hank sighs. ]

I hope that's all it was. If she really was trying to kill you, I... fuck.

[ It's all very conflicting, at least Hank had the drive to focus on, because if he thinks too hard about the fact that his ex-wife tried to kill his mate, he might lose it. ]

She's always been good at her job. Really good. I kind of... I didn't ask, back when we first met and when we still had Cole. Even after I got turned, she really seemed like she wanted the best for me. [ He pauses. He loved her. He really did, once. But she'd always been the kind of person to kill monsters, wasn't she? ] Maybe I was wrong.

[ Gavin frowns and sits up a little more. Shit... this is tough. They might not be together anymore, but it's still a betrayal isn't it? He remembers how Hank looked when he spoke of her years ago... he loved her so much. He figures you can't just erase someone from your heart completely, especially when you had a child together. That's something Gavin can't understand.

But what he does understand is how he feels about Hank. He loves him, wants to stand beside him and protect him. He saved his life, after all. At the end of the day, if Beth is trying to hurt him... but. ]

Hey, let's just see what happens. You always told me to never jump to conclusions with stuff, right?

[ Hearing you sound so sad makes his heart hurt, Hank. (He wants to be the reason you smile...) ]

[ Hank takes a deep breath, gripping the steering wheel tight and shaking his head to try and knock himself out of it. He's been getting better at not dwelling in stuff. Now isn't the time to start again. ]

Yeah, you're right. We don't have the whole picture, so we'll wait and see.

[ Plus Gavin is alive and that's the important thing. His mate is here, and he's safe, and he's sitting right beside him. They'll be fine. Hank isn't alone, after all. He's got Gavin. He's never felt luckier to have him. ]

Once we eat and regroup at home, maybe we can figure this shit out. Together.

[ He wonders... would Hank go back to her, if she wanted to? Oh. Ow. His heart absolutely wrenches at the thought. But... if it's what he wanted. He's gotten over Hank before, he could do it again. Couldn't he? ...couldn't he? Shit.

He takes a shaky breath. One thing at a time. So he smiles a little and nods, his stomach deciding to make a sound again to cut through the tension. ]

Yup. The sooner the better, I say. I'm wasting away over here.

[ He definitely can't go back, not after the things they both said and how much they've changed. It doesn't change the fact that Hank loved her once, that he was so in love with her that they had a child and cared for that child with all the joy in the world.

But once Cole was gone, that spark they had died. Everything they did reminded Hank of what he'd lost, and as he started to drink more and do less, she started hunting more and spending less time at home. They were trying to fill the gap in their lives outside of each other, and it just wasn't going to work out no matter how hard they tried.

She left him with a warning. She made him promise. He knew it was a promise he could keep, back then. Why would he want to turn anyone? So they could suffer his same fate? He never thought he'd meet someone like Gavin. Someone stupid enough to save his life—someone who wasn't made of metal so they couldn't be brought back. Someone dumb enough to fall for him, despite his faults and his curse and his ten-ton emotional baggage.

Hank doesn't need to know Gavin is in love with him to think he's something else. He can feel it in his bones. Even in the way Gavin forces that smile. Hank chuckles, feeling the stress simmer down at Gavin's adorable stomach growl. ]

Always gotta feed the baby.

[ Don't worry, Gavin, you're a cute baby. And they're pulling up to a drive thru now, so the time has come. ]

Whaddya want?

[ Gavin snorts and puts his feet down, crossing his arms. His cheeks pink a little. ]

I will only accept being the best baby. [ At least his big dumb werewolf appetite makes Hank laugh a little. ] The usual, but with bacon this time.

[ Well, whatever happens it'll work out... he's in the best headspace he's been in years, he'll handle it. Eli's back in his life. If he has to wail about a broken heart in his twin's lap then, dammit, he will. ]

I'll pay this time.

You are, don't worry.

[ Hank grins, ordering their double meat, extra bacon burgers and large fries. He's happy to have Gavin here, dumb wolf appetite and all.

He'll try not to break his heart, but then the thought of being found attractive is completely out of this world for him. They drive up to the next window, the woman reading off their order and cringing a bit at how much meat and grease they ordered. ]

Alright, pay up, Reed.

[ Hank, you absolute goof. How does he not notice how the woman flushes and bites back a smile when she looks up from their order at him? Gavin's just grinning himself as he fishes out his wallet and hands him the money with a wink. ]

Feels like you've been my sugar daddy lately with all these meals you keep gettin' me.

[ He's teasing, obviously. Once they get their bag of food, he immediately beings to dig into the bag to fish out some piping hot fries. ]

[ He's dense like that. Hank waves his thanks at the girl and parks them into a spot so they can eat without making a mess of his car. He's not a barbarian. ]

And here I was all this time I thinking I was your alpha.

[ When your obliviousness to your own hotness just makes you hotter, the Hank Anderson life. Once the car is parked he pulls out his burger and unfolds the wrapper in his lap, then starts going to town. ]

Alpha, sugar daddy, same thing. [ His eyes are playfully twinkling. He looks at Hank for a moment as he chews and swallows, licking his lips. It slips out before— ]

You look nice today, by the way.

[ Hank scoffs. He can't disagree, he'd drop everything to help Gavin. He's bought him lunch and dinner several times now. Is that what people think when they see them? Huh. Hank stuffs some fries in his mouth, nearly choking when Gavin compliments him. Very smooth, Hank.

I mean, he'd dressed up a little nicer today, it's true. He just didn't think anyone would actually notice, much less the person Hank was subconsciously dressing up for. Whatever, it's fine!! He's blushing but he covers it up by taking a large sip of soda and clearing his throat a bit. ]

Uh, thanks. Yeah, I just... I dunno, thought I'd try something a little different.

[ No, most people just think you're two sappy idiots who are dating and in love.

Gavin blinks and then grins at Hank's reaction. Ah... getting Hank flustered always feels like such a victory. His own heart gives a warm little flutter. Fuck, he's cute when he's all red like that. ]

Well, it's definitely working. [ He takes another big bite of burger. ] Gonna have to start beating people off you with a stick even more if you keep this up.

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