Evidence
Chapter 19: Unbecoming
Next morning, Niles was preparing breakfast, enjoying the silence of the house that early in the morning and feeling ridiculously content about the world.
At some point he realized he had been humming to himself while making pancakes, and smiled at his own giddiness.
He was thinking of her, obviously, and it was impressive how happy he was, even after a night when they had been interrupted at such a… well… important moment.
Such an intimate moment.
Such a loving moment.
The butler shook his shoulders in childish delight at that – if he felt that changed for the better now, what would be when they finally did it?
He would probably burst with happiness, if this feeling he got at their close encounters was any indication.
(Close encounters of the third kind with Miss Babcock – that's a concept I must share with her!)
'Laughing by yourself this early in the morning, Niles? And I am the crazy one…'
He turned his head to see the object of his dearest musings at the last step of the back stairs.
And, for a long moment, he could just look at her, wondering how he had managed all the zingers and pranks, for so many years, once she was that beautiful.
And he wondered if he would ever be able to make any joke about her cold heart, after realizing how wonderful he felt when she looked at him that way she was doing now.
There was nothing cold about those eyes: Niles had seen the heat of desire, in them, last night, and he was seeing the warmth of affection, now.
CC noticed he was taken by his own feelings and would not react any soon. So, she finished the stairs and went to him.
She rested a hand on his back and approached slowly, kissing his lips softly.
Niles closed his eyes and both enjoyed the simple sensation of touching the other.
She parted a bit and whispered, smiling, 'Good morning'.
She stayed so close to him she could feel his breath on her lips, and followed attentively the turmoil in his eyes.
Niles couldn't find his voice and, even if it was new to both of them, neither was scared or uncomfortable.
It was like things were happening as they should be, between them. Even when they didn't know what to do, it felt right.
He didn't need to explain his reaction to her. She must know he would have been content to see her, even if she had gone to the kitchen with the only goal of having some moments alone with him, before the family arrived.
(It was not like she had never done that, in the past…)
But her actions made quite clear she was there to make sure they still were intimate and loving, as he had been reminiscing, and he couldn't exactly describe the feeling that invaded him.
She brought the hand that was on his back up, reaching his shoulder and then caressing his cheek.
(She was as much as him in this tender thing.
And there was no way they could deny it was tender. They were just greeting each other in the kitchen, early in the day, as if there was nothing more enjoyable than kissing good morning.
Both had the sensation life was full of light and warmth, and that acting like a couple was the most natural thing in the world.)
The swinging door opened suddenly, and Fran's head appeared, 'Niles, I was… oops, sorry, Sweetie, didn't know you had company. Good morning, Miss Babcock'.
CC gave a step back, turned and went to the fridge to get some water – or she would kill the nanny – and threw, as if it was a curse, 'Morning'.
Fran made a pleading face at Niles, who had a murdering glare at her, himself, 'Please, don't hate me…'
CC groaned from behind the open fridge door, 'It's too late for that'.
Niles made a shooing gesture to Fran, who got the idea and improvised, 'Oh, all right, I'm staying here in the other room, just call me if you need anything…', Fran yelped at CC slamming the fridge door at that and looking at her as if she was more than a sworn enemy, '… or not. Anyway, we'll talk later, Niles. See ya!'
They were alone again, and CC went to her preferred place in the kitchen – behind the island.
Niles resumed his tasks at the sink and cook.
She raised her chin and acted cool, 'Good morning, Hazel'.
Niles felt a bubbling on his chest at her formal voice, her (un)polite demeanor and the familiarity of her position in his kitchen, understood the game and answered with fake surprise, looking at her as if they had just met, 'Oh, there you are. Good morning, Miss Babcock. Did you sleep well?'
She nodded approvingly at him playing along, 'Very well, thank you. Even if I had some awful scent in my pillow, last night'.
He bit back a smile at how quickly she dropped the nonchalance and adopted their usual banter as a form of communicating, 'If bad smells bother you, it would be enough to shower now and then', he threw her a glance, 'But I guess it mess with your rituals. At least, it must have to be a serious reason for such a resistance as yours'.
She made her typical annoyed expression, her tongue moving in front of her teeth, 'You should refrain from using too much cleaning products. That's what is impregnating everything', she smirked, 'Aren't you aware that I can feel you whatever I go, in this house?'
(That tirade made him freeze for a second, before he was able to process what it meant and resume breathing.
It was funny how she had commented his scent and smell of cleaning products, for years, and he never noticed it was endearment. He always guessed it was repulsion, because it was absurd that a woman like her, used to the most expensive perfumes, would be able to appreciate something that was part of his job.
Her attitude made Niles think that maybe she didn't think of him as someone beneath her because of what he did for a living. Maybe she had understood that job was part of what he was, but not all he had to offer. Maybe she had realized he was trying to be all around her, and that it was a nice thing she could recognize his scent in things, as much as he felt enthralled every time he recognized her perfume when he entered a room…)
'My home, my rules', he volleyed back after gulping down the emotion, trying not to loose himself in the feeling of belonging that conversation was creating...
(… and making things worse by calling home the place where they were.)
'Does it mean I'll have to invite you to the penthouse more often, so you can learn how to properly take care of a place?'
'It's a world gone mad if you will be the one who'll teach me to be a housewife', he smirked, 'When we both know I'm already one'.
She had to laugh at that, and he grinned at her.
Niles moved to the other side of the island and started putting things on a tray.
They kept silent for a while.
CC observed him working, marveling at how quick he could assemble breakfast, and at how comfortable it was being with him.
She started wondering how it would feel to meet him in the kitchen after they spent the night together. How would they feel? What kind of things would they have to say to each other? Would it be always easy like this? Would they be able to stand separated by furniture, like they were, right now?
CC decided it was not safe letting her thoughts go that way, so she resumed the conversation, trying to discover what had happened last night.
(She had the right to know what was the reason why Nanny Fine had interrupted them, and put her in this situation of wondering what could have been.)
'What about you? How was your night? Any calls for you to clean messes after the people of the house?'
Niles crunched his nose, 'My night was uneventful', then, he looked at her time enough to present her a large oversweet grin, 'Thank you for asking'.
CC raised her brows at the answer, realizing he had not detected her interest in knowing what Nanny Fine had to tell him. Deciding it must not be more important than how cute he was when working diligently while giving her attention, CC went back to the teasing, 'Uneventful? I've heard one of your shirts went missing. You're so senile you didn't even realize you were robbed?'
He shook his head with a smile, and didn't look at her, 'Don't believe in gossip. It was borrowed by someone very special to me'.
It was her time to let the smile show, 'You shouldn't keep lending your clothes, then. How many can you afford giving away before we have to see you parading nude through the house?'
Dear.., she thought, widening her eyes a bit, Where did this idea come from?
Niles looked at her for a moment, registering her comment with pleased surprise, and resumed what he was doing, 'I didn't really lend it – she took it. She is the kind of person who takes what she wants', he stopped talking and reached out to take something that was close to the sink…
(CC didn't know what was it that he was reaching out for. She just knew his movements got him stretching in a way that made her want to reach out and grab him over the island.)
'She has charms and attitude', he resumed as soon as he was back to his previous position, 'And I would easily do anything for her', a dramatic sigh, he stopped and rested his hands on the counter, as if in resignation, and finally looked at her, 'Can you believe the power she has over me?'
CC got flushed at the implications and had to force her voice out, 'She seems to be dangerous. Who knows what is it she wants your clothes for?'
'I wouldn't mind if she used them for some witchery', he shrugged, 'Anyway, I'll make sure to take my shirt back'.
She snorted and crossed her arms, 'Really?'
'Yes', now he supported some of his weight on his arms, inclined a bit into her direction, 'Even if I have to tear it out of her body myself'.
CC had her mouth open, looking at Niles and not sure of how to proceed.
His smirk told her he had been intentionally bold, and that he was not repentant.
Not the least.
She sighed and stretched her arms, trying to relax a bit, 'We should stop doing it in this place'.
'Yes, we should', he answered, straightening himself and looking at her movements with interest, 'We wouldn't want you to scare the natives'.
She lowered her arms and squinted, 'And how would that be, if the one saying the most bizarre things is you?'
'Yes, but the one doing the bizarre things is you', he was deadly serious, 'And, one of these days, things may change, you'll be all talk and no action, and I'll be forced to do something totally unbecoming to shut you up'.
She observed while he prepared to took the ready tray from the island, 'I'd love to see you trying'.
He raised it and started walking to the swinging door, 'You will'.
CC opened her mouth to ask him what the hell he was doing, but Maxwell's head was the one to appear at the swinging door, this time, 'Good morning, Nil- Oh, CC, you're up already'.
'So it seems', she answered bitterly, just to see her partner's confused face and Niles' amused one.
'Oh, then… Well…', Maxwell was really predictable, 'Good morning to you, too. Old man: breakfast is ready?'
'I was on my way', the butler showed the tray on his hands and made a bossy gesture to the millionaire, his head indicating the door the man was holding, 'Open up. Sir'.
'Oh, yes, of course. Great', Maxwell hurried to obey, keeping the swinging door open, and then turned to the blonde, 'Are you coming, CC?'
Niles stopped at the door and turned to look at her, 'Are you?'
She rolled her eyes at the innuendo and came to join them, 'It's not like I have a better place to be…'
ncncncncnc
Niles entered the theater and immediately saw his favorite blonde.
She was yelling at some people on the stage, her arms waving emphatically, making sure people got exactly how much discontent she was and what she expected them to do with the pieces of furniture they were carrying.
(And some of her suggestions would make the proverbial sailor blush.)
He smiled at her brazen figure and bad mouth, strangely proud at how free and powerful she was while working.
(Niles wished to see her like this and more and more situations, and the most he was involved in them, the better.)
He hadn't seen her since breakfast – she had gone to the penthouse to prepare for the day, and then directly to the theater – and he had spent the day missing her and looking for excuses to discover when and if she would be back to the mansion.
(What Fran quickly detected and had pleasure in staying in the office to witness. He was never so uncomfortable to extract information from Maxwell Sheffield as he had been that afternoon, with a knowing brunette perched on the producer's desk, smirking to herself at his not that subtle questions.)
Approaching, he stood at the front of the stage and yelled, 'Stop cursing their souls, Babcock. It's snack time', he rephrased, 'Human snack time', he frowned and rephrased again, 'I mean, not to devour humans, but to be fed like one'.
She turned to him, the surprise by his presence already turned into delight.
He lifted a picnic basket at a height she could see from the stage, raising his brows, and it convinced her. She turned back to the terrorized people and yelled, 'Let's have a break. Ten minutes!'
The people scurried away, relieved, and CC motioned for Niles to occupy the small desk she had put in front of the first rows of seats.
She descended the stairs by the side of the stage and went to meet him.
When she reached him, she occupied one of the seats and motioned for him to do the same.
They sat side by side, and she cleaned the table of some of her work material.
(All the time wondering how they had never noticed how easy for them was to work in tandem.
Really, the evidences of their synchrony have been around for the longest time…)
CC observed Niles taking the things from the basket: some pre-heated tea, sandwiches in halves and pieces of cake carefully wrapped, and she suddenly realized how hungry she really was.
It was always nice to watch him work, too: she noticed how he was at the edge of the seat, his torso turned to the desk, his back straight while his arms and hands moved effortlessly.
'Uhmmmm', she moaned in appreciation at the hot tea he quickly served her, 'That was a good idea'.
'Taking the break or giving the people some time ahead before you chase them again?'
'You coming here, you fool', she grinned.
He just smiled, happy she was content by his presence. He had hoped she would be.
'What happened?', she asked, curious, while he organized the sandwiches, 'Things got that boring in the house?'
'Mister Sheffield said you were a bit... agitated, when you called him earlier. I offered to come and fed you, so you wouldn't eat anyone from the staff'.
'I wouldn't eat such low lives', she took the half sandwich he offered in a napkin, 'Thank you'.
'Dismember them would already be kind of a problem, at this point of the production', he said and served himself, deciding not to mock the fact she had thanked him as a normal person.
'Nothing that some bribes to the press couldn't solve', she shrugged, and then added, annoyed, 'They are so incompetent I can't believe how they still get any work done. If I was not here to make some damage control and stop the nonsense, we would have a ridiculous parade, not a play...'
'Don't forget to eat', he pointed at the abandoned sandwich in her hand.
She obeyed, getting back to it.
(That thing was delicious, she knew she needed it and that he had come to make sure she was fed. There was no way she was not doing what he required of her, under these circumstances.)
They ate in silence for a while, finishing the sandwiches and getting to the pie.
'I brought you this, too', Niles suddenly said, taking a rose from the basket, 'I haven't found the one I put in your room last night, so I suppose you liked it enough to keep it with you. Or you ate it, what is a way of showing appreciation, for your kind', he extended it to her gruffly, 'Have it'.
CC snickered and took the rose, 'All right, but I won't eat it in front of you'.
'Aw', he answered, faking disappointment, 'I'll have to install hidden cameras, next time you sleepover'.
'Do it. I'll make sure to provide interesting footage', she let out the throaty laugh.
He smiled and kept staring at her, enchanted by how she expressed her good mood.
CC had noticed her own happiness, too.
It was great to have Niles there, lifting her spirits with food, light-hearted zingers and little gestures. She was never very fond of traditional romanticism, but he made it seem...
Wait a minute!
'Hey', she raised a hand to call his attention.
'What?', he stopped eating and looked back at her, attentive.
'Is this a date?'
He raised his brows, took a napkin, cleaned his lips and gulped down, gaining time. Then, he finally answered, 'Do we have to name it?'
She frowned, 'If I want to keep my sanity, yes'.
'I don't know what you're talking about'.
'Things with no names are confusing. In fantasy stories, characters with no name are extra scaring and dangerous. How am I supposed to understand something I don't know what to call?'
Niles raised a finger, 'First: when I said I didn't know what you were talking about, I was referring to your sanity – I didn't know such a thing existed', he paused long enough to see her squinting at him when she got the joke, and raised another finger, 'Second: is that why you have given me such creative names? Because you wanted to understand me?', he lowered his hand and wriggled his brows at her, 'Am I that interesting?'
She pursed her lips, 'Maybe it is and maybe you are, but you're evading the point', she smirked, 'Butler Boy'.
'Do you think so?', he asked with a cheeky smile.
'Niles', she warned, 'I'm not known for my patience. Give me a straight answer or suffer the consequences'.
He grinned, knowing she was perfectly capable of doing something to make him talk, and finding the notion delicious, 'You should behave yourself, Babs, or I'll be forced to do that unbecoming something I have mentioned this morning'.
She felt excited at him bringing it up, 'Uhm, I see you're anxious to prove me how impressive you can be', she lowered her voice, 'I hope you have something really good planned'.
'I have a lot of' (and he mimicked her deep voice) 'really good things planned, and I'm perfectly aware that nothing less than shocking could affect someone who has survived Salem'.
'I think you can't shock me anymore, Niles', she said, nonchalantly, 'You have done so many absurd things to me that you may have spoiled your own game'.
'Wanna bet?'
This menacing low voice he rarely uses messes with me,'Do you need my compromise to do something?'
'Are you chicken?'
'I don't want to humiliate you'.
'As if'.
'All right', she put her empty dish on the desk and cleaned her lips with a napkin, 'Name the terms'.
'I win if I get any reaction that could be described as shocked. You win if you manage to stay indifferent. The winner decides the prize'.
'Uhm', she nodded, 'Risky'.
'I told you, I don't take things lightly', he pointed a small fork at her, 'And don't you dare make a fat joke again'.
She raised her hands in surrender, lowered them down at his pacified expression and took her tea, reclining into the seat and looking ahead, as if giving him space to act, 'Deal. Amaze me, Butler Boy'.
'Great', Niles grinned and mirrored her position. Then, he joined his hands on his lap and talked slowly, 'When I was planning it, I had in mind some interesting variations of shocking', he moved as if getting comfortable, 'Shocking and subtle, for example'.
CC frowned in confusion, and then she felt it.
He had moved his leg, and now it was rubbing slightly against hers, under the desk.
She felt his ankle on her calf, and the electrical thing they had between them came to life.
CC gulped down, put the tea cup on the desk and closed her eyes to just enjoy his ministrations.
It was absurd how much she had missed his touch, and how much it made her feel aroused. Her left hand had stayed resting on the desk, and it was clenched in a desperate fight for control.
(The fact there were some people already wandering through the stage added danger to the situation, and she felt thrilled.)
It seemed there was a link between her leg and her core, because every move he made seemed to go directly there. She knew she had already lost the bet, and didn't care to hide it.
'I could go for shocking and perverted', she heard him whispering, and turned her eyes to see what he was referring to.
He had moved his coat aside, and she could see his arousal through his pants, because he had put his left hand at the side of it, stretching the cloth and not letting any doubts.
CC's breath faltered, and her hands twitched in desire of touching him. The desk was the only thing keeping them somewhat hid from other people, and she resisted the urge to reach out only because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to stop herself, once she started it.
'Or', and Niles' voice sounded husky, 'I could go for shocking and really unbecoming', he licked his lips, looked at her hand on the desk and at her face.
She kept looking at him in expectation.
At the open curiosity in her eyes, he felt unsure.
After some moments, he breathed deeply, closed his coat and took his leg away from hers, 'I'm sorry. It was a crazy notion'.
She was surprised, 'If your intention was shocking me, you succeeded. I didn't see that coming'.
'What?', he acted defensively, adjusting his coat and seating a bit further in his seat.
'You just stopped', she sounded more confused than annoyed.
He looked at her, saddened, 'That was not part of the plan. I just didn't have the guts to go on', he looked away and wriggled his fingers nervously, 'Maybe we should consider I've lost the bet'.
CC looked at him silently for some moments. He seemed upset, and she wanted to be sure she had got it right, 'You stopped because your idea of unbecoming was too much even for you?'
He made a pained face and nodded.
'Well, now I really have to know what it was'.
'Just let it be, Babcock', he frowned, trying to sound intimidating.
'Nooooo way'.
She sounded so sure he looked at her.
'You own me spontaneity, Niles'.
'I won't do it', he pouted.
'You can't simply back off from your original idea like this'.
'You wouldn't like it'.
'Just tell me, then', she winked at him, 'And let me be the judge of that'.
He knew she would not give up, and surrendered, 'I was going to take your hand'.
'And put it in you?', she had a nasty smile on her face.
'No', he frowned, 'I would just take it', he looked away, again, shyly, 'I would join our hands on the desk, where anyone could see them', he sighed and still didn't look at her, 'As I said, I'm sorry. Sometimes I get...', he waved it off, 'Just forget it'.
CC stayed staring at him, silent.
'Do you want me to go away?', he looked at her and asked, worried by her silence, and willing to do something to put her at easy.
It seemed to wake her, 'Niles', she said, sternly, 'You said I have won our bet'.
'Yes', he answered, not fully understanding.
'So, I choose the prize'.
'Yes'.
'I would like you to be my slave from now until midnight. Is it inside the rules?'
'Y-yes, I think so'.
'Good. Then, your first task is to follow your spontaneous idea and make the unbecoming gesture', she extended her hand on the table, her palm up, and ordered, 'Take my hand here, where anyone can see'.
She talked seriously, but after some moments under his shocked stare, the nastiest smile appeared on her face.
Niles smiled goofy and took the offer.
For some moments, they just relished in the feeling of skin to skin, and in the understanding that they could hide what they felt, if they wanted, but that they could show it, too, whenever they wished.
(It was a huge step for them, and both knew that.)
Obviously, Niles had to push things farther.
'May I have the honor of touching your hand with my lips, Mistress?'
Damn, he is good, 'Yes, Slave. You may'.
He did it.
And CC had to suppress a moan at his eyes closed in pleasure and his lips grazing her knuckles.
(Damn chemistry!)
When he backed away, straightening his back but never letting go of her hand, he looked at her, 'What should I do now, Mistress?'
CC breathed deeply, 'We could find a place to…'
Riiiiing
They separated, so CC could get her cell phone.
She looked at the number that was calling her, turned the phone off and looked at Niles again, 'It was from the mansion. I'll have to call back'.
Niles just nodded, frustration plain on his face.
CC talked with her no-nonsense voice, 'Once we were interrupted again, we'll make a change of plans: you'll go back to the mansion, now, and you'll make sure to have the night off. I'll pick you up as soon as you call me'.
She could see his eyes getting dark with emotion and desire, and the effort he made to answer in a leveled voice, 'Yes. I'll do it'.
'You better not disobey me'.
Both got up from their seats, and CC almost ran to the stage to yell to the people who were back, so she could vent out some frustration.
(If she stayed there, looking at him while he took his things and prepared to leave, she would not be able to let him go.)
CC heard Niles' voice calling her some moments later, and a wave of pleasure washed over her at his polite 'Miss Babcock?'
She turned to see he had approached the stage with the rose extended at her again, a very serious face and a loud voice, 'Don't forget your snack'.
She went to kneel close to the edge, so she could reach for the rose. She let the grin show when their hands touched unnecessarily, 'You'll pay big for that, Bell Boy'.
He wrapped his fingers around hers for a moment, winked and answered just for her to hear, before turning and going away, 'I'm counting on it, Witch'.