For Carl

Three weeks later…Saturday evening

Carl enters the gaming store. He was supposed to meet Noah twenty minutes ago. They had a full night ahead of them meeting their Girls at the County Art Expo to view Enid's great vision. Whatever that means. He joined Noah as he waited to make a purchase, "Sorry, I had to stop for gas."

"No worries…I am in no great rush. I hope there is food at this thing."

"I doubt it…we should hit the food court just in case," Carl responds.

The cashier returns to the front counter, "Who was next?" he stares at Carl.

Carl shakes his head. Here we go. Noah exhales evenly, "Really…I have been standing here for at least ten minutes. You saw me standing here when you went to return the item from the guy in front of me. Now you want to play ignorant to serve the white dude before me…the white dude who is not holding any merchandise." I do not have it to give today.

The sales associate face reddens, "I was just trying to be fair…I apologize…let me just ring up your purchase," he stammers.

"Fair...really. Get your manager so I can explain why you will not be getting my money today or in the future," he retorts.

"Or mine," Carl chimes in. They share a fist bump.

Carl and Noah enter the exhibit hall maneuvering through the throngs of people, "America said they are in the back corner." A sizable gathering of guys blocks their view. George Michael's Freedom; Janet Jackson's Control; and Salt-N-Pepa's Expression play in a loop over the speakers.

"Damn…they are hot as hell…Best part-they are walking around the hall…Isn't that the computer chick?…I am shooting my shot…I thought she was with that guy that beat down Negan?... Who cares?"

The longer Noah and Carl listen the stronger the rage builds until they push their way through the group to see for themselves what has brought unwanted attention to their girlfriends: Poster-sized photos of the 'Geek Squad' mounted to the wall.

Sophia stands behind an old-fashioned cash register with her arms folded on top of the machine; Enid's torso is hidden behind an antique camera with black flap; America sits in a pretzel pose with Noah's large laptop covered in Star Wars stickers hiding her upper body from view; and finally Justice stands with her arms crossed at the wrist resting on top of her head, her cleavage is covered by a black jacket and the top button of the skin tight jeans is undone.

Their faces morph into a scowl. Their chests rise and fall rapidly-all rational thought is gone. "You finally made it," Sophia's voice cuts through. They respond with a collective grunt. Shit. "Look, don't go all buck nutty…what you see is an illusion," she attempts to explain.

"Illusion…exactly what do you think those guys are imagining?" Noah rants.

"I am going to have to spend the entire night defending both of you. Where is Josh by the way?" Carl voices his displeasure.

The remainder of the Squad approaches laughing. Sophia turns and shakes her head hoping her Girls will pick up the non-verbal cue. Justice catches the tensing of Carl's jaw. She walks in front of him and pulls his folded arms apart and wraps them around her waist, "Look closely…Who's jacket am I wearing? Did you even notice the jewelry? Look at my eyes…I was thinking about you and how amazing you make me feel," she whispers slowly to calm him down.

He inhales deeply, his eyes sweeping the poster. With her direction he notices the Black Panther logo on his varsity style jacket and the glint of the gold chain against her skin, "Double-sided tape." Carl bites the area between her neck and shoulder before closing his lips and sucking gently, "I have more amazing waiting for you tonight. Do not go far," he instructs. She shivers in his embrace and her core tingles.

Late night

Carl backs his car into an alley for extra parking behind the Comix Shop and kills the ignition. He climbs over the console; reclining the passenger seat with his left hand while he trails open mouth kisses against the column of Justice's neck. Her heart races as she parts her legs ever so slightly to allow them both to fit in the shared seat.

Girl it's only you…I just want to be your man…How does it feel…In between your thighs…Kiss you all up and down…How does it feel…

Two and a half hours later she straddles his lap. His hands creep under her shirt and bra so his thumbs can stroke her nipples to ripened peaks. Their lips fuse together and their tongues coil against one another savoring the taste and texture. Justice presses her mound against his rock solid erection and releases a breathy moan. He pushes back with his pelvis creating a delicious friction that raises the temperature within the car and fogs up every window.

Carl slides one hand from her chest, down her spine and grips her ass for greater leverage as they continue to grind against one another. "Yes…like that," he groans. She pulls back slightly to breathe and stares into his lust filled eyes; never stopping the figure eight pattern her hips make. Her hair is disheveled and her lips are swollen. She has never been more beautiful.

Justice feels explosive pressure in her spine and slows her hips to a stop. She leans her forehead against his, panting, "Carl…I…can we…do you," she stammers.

He stops to regain his senses and picks up on her anxiety, "Hey…our first time will not be in this car," he states with a soft kiss to confirm his sincerity. Justice exhales in relief. "Why don't we cool things down before I have to take you home," he suggests. She hugs him to her chest and nods against his cheek.

I get so breathless when you call my name…There's a chemistry, energy…when we're all alone

Tuesday

Justice and Carl were excused from English to complete their Junior Senators paperwork and reflection essay required for participation. His voice interrupts the tapping of their fingers against the keys of their laptops. "I think we should talk about college," he introduces.

"What about it?" she never looks away from the screen.

"I was thinking…should we attend the same school or at least be in the same area?" Take a leap of faith.

Justice stops typing, her eyes fixed on her still fingers and her heart picks up speed, "Are you talking about us beyond high school?"

"I think we could be…I would like us to be," his voice gains clarity.

She peers up at him over her screen, "Are you sure because that means you want to be my person."

"Your person?" he questions.

"My person…the one I call when I need to hide a dead body. The person that sees me at my worst and still believes there is something worth saving," she explains. I need him to binge Grey's Anatomy with me.

He laughs, "So you are prepared to hide a body for me?"

"I think you are worth a felony or two," she winks.

"Cool. You think Ms. Penelope would be okay with a College Road Trip?" he pushes.

Justice shrugs, "Maybe." What is he up to?

Carl nods and a smile that displays every tooth in his mouth breaks across his face. I have a person.

Friday

The 'Geek Squad' made their way down the hall distracted by their conversation. "Sophia, are you really kicking Josh to the curb? He has been trying so hard lately," Enid asks.

"I don't know…maybe he can be more consistent," she shrugs in response. The discussion is interrupted by yelling.

"Get off me!" They all turn in the direction of the voice. Carl is pulling Roxanne's hand off his butt. Justice removes her dangling, cowrie shell earrings placing them in the front pocket of her jeans. Each girl drops their bag against the bank of lockers and power walks toward the stand-off a few feet away. Justice's momentum builds the closer she gets. I am beating this trashy bitch down.

"Don't you want to know all the things my hands can do?" Roxanne suggests looking up at him, "I could make you forget…" her statement is cut off by a hard shove. She stumbles back on her heels, "What the hell?"

"Exactly…what the hell do you think you are doing? I see you are below basic…so I am going to have to show you because you did not understand when I told you," Justice rants. She charges forward prepared to strike. Carl drops Roxanne's arm and tries to stop his tiny warrior but he forgets how physically strong she is. He tries to carry her away over his shoulder but the force of her forward movement causes him to spin them away from her target. Justice swings her legs out wide stretching to make contact. WHACK! Her foot connects knocking Roxanne sideways causing her head to bounce off a metal locker.

AN: Thank you to everyone who reached out to make sure I was still alive. You will never know how much that meant. {Huge smile} I will not tell a lie…the MSF messed me and the Muse up! I honestly feel traumatized…the nerve…the audacity…there are not adequate words for the level of anguish and unbridled rage. Just know that I will continue to take care of our baby in this AU.