Progeny- Chapter 7
Well. I've never had a chapter result in such icy silence once a story was up and rolling. I was going to write an epilogue but I've lost heart. I thought perhaps I better put everyone out of their misery. Here's the rest of it, dreamt up through lectures on the relative ruminal proportions of propinoate and acetate.
Fi was shadowing him closely as he unlocked the door into the loft. They'd gone back to his place because it was closer to the club and Fi had demanded somewhere to shower and change, pronto.
He stepped through the door and reached for the watch in his pocket. Fi flicked the lights on and it dangled from its golden chain between his fingers.
'It's pretty,' Fi commented offhandedly, already walking past him. He realised he had one eyebrow raised and lowered it.
'Might give the kid a quick talk on when to quit when I give it back,' Michael decided out loud.
'Listen to you, being all fatherly.' She was talking from the bathroom. She'd snagged one of his clean shirts and disappeared, although she'd failed to shut the door. Michael stared at the open doorway for a while. Very deliberately, he turned away and placed the watch on the bench. Some things were better left alone.
He pulled the wad of cash out of his pocket and counted it. Even considering the drinks, they'd made a profit tonight. That wasn't even figuring in the actual payment they'd get when he returned the prize. Nonchalantly, he put the cash on the bench next to the watch. The only people that broke into his place were other spies, and they didn't tend to be interested in valuables so much as secrets. He'd needed the money from this job though, no matter how petty the work. Between the hospital bills and baby accessories, Theo's arrival had eaten through the buffer of cash he'd managed to scrape together whilst in Miami.
The last things in his pocket were two ecstasy pills. He dug them out and couldn't help noting how innocently they nestled in the palm of his hand. He contemplated them for a moment. Having drugs on hand could be useful to plant on people who needed arresting, but that worked both ways. He let the pills rattle down the drain.
Staring contemplatively out the window, he toed off his shoes. The sun would be up in a couple of hours. He wondered how his mother had coped with having Theo overnight. He wondered how Fi had managed to go the whole night without her son. She'd never been parted with him for more than a couple of hours before. Speaking of which…
Fiona emerged from the bathroom wearing his shirt. And nothing else. He had to admit, it looked a lot better on her. He sighed internally. This probably meant it was time for some kind of talk.
'What are you giving me that look for?' she asked, mildly affronted.
'Fi…' Michael started, ordering the words in his head. 'You have a boyfriend.'
'Who, David?' she said innocently, stalking forwards until she could sprawl on his bed. She managed to lounge there in what he could only think was a very provocative position. 'Did I say he was my boyfriend? He's just a friend.'
'A friend. A friend that takes you on dates,' stated Michael, tone dubious.
'I was just trying to make you jealous, Michael,' she explained, as though it was obvious. 'Did it work?' she asked coyly.
Michael stared blankly at her for a long moment, her long brown legs stretched out on his bedcovers, toes pointed like a ballet dancer. 'Fi, you really think this is a good idea?' He leaned back against the counter, somehow feeling that the ten feet of space between them still wasn't enough. Her personal space was as big as her personality and she was somehow rubbing up against him from all the way over there. He'd always found it sexy, and bad, no, wrong, don't think that…
'Is what, Michael? Being together? Helping each other out with every little thing? Having kids together?'
Michael had to admit he didn't quite have an answer to that.
'Theo is going to grow up and wonder why his separated parents don't hate each other like everyone else's,' she pointed out. With a languorous yawn, she lay back on the bed, stretching her arms above her head.
'I don't want to hate you,' he said softly, sure she was focusing closely on his every word.
'Oh Michael. You really think that's what is going to happen if we actually make this thing we have official?' She propped herself up on her elbows, her gaze direct, honest, impossible to lie to...
He looked at her, looking at him from the place she had claimed on his bed. She sat up properly and was swung one leg off the side as she stared at him intently, waiting for his answer.
'No,' he admitted.
'Good,' she said with a prim nod. 'I expect at least a 20 karat diamond in the ring, and you're sleeping on the couch until that happens. Oh, and at first light I'm borrowing your car to go pick Theo up.'
Michael's face went blank for a moment as he did a speedy mental refiguring. Honestly, he'd been struggling against taking everything he'd ever wanted. As usual, Fi had put things in perspective.
With a long suffering sigh, he reached out and flicked off the light. There was a faint smile on her face just visible in the darkness as he stalked forwards, challenge crackling between them.
'I think I'll be a spring bride,' Fi decided out loud, her silhouette flopping back against the pillows. Michael reached the bed, but he didn't stop. Fiona watched him with a sparkle in her eye as he knelt on the bed and held himself over her with his hands. Ever so gently, he leant down and continued the kiss he'd interrupted back at the club. Fi tilted her chin up and captured his lips more fully, her hands unashamedly reclaiming their former territory at the hem of his shirt.
His mouth moved from her lips to her ear to her delectable collarbones. 'Have I mentioned I love your collarbones?' he mumbled against her skin. She laughed and tugged on his hair. Michael paused and let out a wide yawn.
'Well, it's been a long night, and I got work in the morning honey…' With a lumbering groan, he rolled onto the bed beside her and gathered her in his arms. A quick wriggle and he was all snuggled up and ready for sleep. There was a moment's silence.
Then; 'Michael, I have not had sex since slightly after Theo came into being. If you don't perform, right now, I will make sure you never can again.'
'But you wanna get married, right?' he asked in mock confusion. The blue neon lights of the club below them shone through the window and illuminated her narrowed eyes. 'We gotta practice for that. And, uh… I got a headache.' He grinned at her, white teeth by night light. She punched him in the shoulder then kissed him.
The End
If you want me, I'll be trolling posts written on animal activist forums written by people that have never left the city. It always cheers me up.
