Chapter Eleven
Day Six
Edrisa is less surprised the second time she is woken up by fingers running through her hair with her head planted firmly against a body. If anything she's less reluctant to move.
"Ugh, 5 more minutes," Edrisa whines, snuggling closer into Malcolms warm side. She feels his stomach move with a rumbling laugh.
"Sorry 'Drisa, but I really have to charge my phone before the team sends SWAT up here," Malcolm jokes. She grumbles a little more before pulling away so that he can get back up.
"Wait, you stayed up all night again," Edrisa says in a disapproving voice. Malcolm ignores her observation, rushing up to his room.
When he returns back he's catching a pillow inches from his face.
"Malcolm Bright, don't ignore me," Edrisa huffs with a slight pout.
Malcolm looks at her with an overexaggerated wounded look.
"You were totally going to hit me in the face," he teases. Edrisa holds her fake disapproving look, but he can see a small wrinkle by the corner of her mouth that indicates a smile trying to break through.
"Only with a pillow and only because you were so obvious in ignoring me. And because you continue to jeopardize your health. Actually, give me that back! I have plenty of reason to throw it multiple times," she teases back holding out her hand expectantly.
"Are you seriously trying to start a pillow fight with me right now?" Malcolm asks incredulously.
"Noooooo," she replies, but Malcolm sees her arm reaching across the couch. Probably for another pillow.
"I should warn you Dr. Tanaka, I was on the Harvard fencing and axe throwing team," Malcolm says holding the pillow up defensively.
Edrisa smiles and quickly launches another pillow. Malcolm throws his back and she ducks behind the couch.
They go that way for a while, tossing pillows over the couch and using it as a shield. At some point Malcolm goes to jump over the couch to surprise Edrisa, but receives a soft hit to his back. She had the same idea and snuck up on him instead.
"Gotchya! Ha! I win!" she says jumping up and down. Malcolm wants to continue their playful banter, but he loses all thought at her joyous attitude. Her smile was infectious and her laugh filled the room.
Their phones go off again collectively. Edrisa immediately sobers and glances towards hers fearfully.
"I-I'll go get that," she says hopping over the couch and maneuvering around their mess to retrieve her phone. Malcolm debates for a moment before hurrying to check his.
Dani messaged Malcolm, checking in.
He quickly returns to Edrisa. She's cleaning up the cushions.
"Who was it?" Malcolm asks, trying not to sound too wary.
"Oh! It was the maintenance for my apartment. They said that I should be able to come back tomorrow…" Edrisa responds with a forced smile.
Malcolm feels his heart sink.
"Oh, well, that-that's great! I'm glad they were able to fix everything," Malcolm says. Edrisa looks at him again, her eyes reading him.
"Yea, it's really-really great," Edrisa echoes. She gets up and heads to the bathroom to get ready. Meanwhile, Malcolm collapses on the couch.
He knew this was a temporary arrangement. And it will be a week tomorrow of having Edrisa stay with him. It was temporary.
So why did this feel so sudden? Why was he so upset?
Edrisa reappears in her skinny jeans and a red sweater. She smiles at him and plops down beside him.
"Well, I am going to make breakfast. And after that, you need to get some rest," Edrisa prompts. Malcolm gives her a look.
"Nope. No! Non Negotiable. Last time you stayed up all night, we were called in so you didn't have a chance to rest. Don't think I didn't realize that. And last night you were up all night again," Edrisa explains. Malcolm is touched by her concern.
"Edrisa, I can't just sleep and leave you by yourself. I'm supposed to protect you," Malcolm says seriously. She smiles softly and shakes her head.
"You have such a hero complex Mal," she replies, shaking her head fondly.
Malcolm crosses his arms and remains planted on the couch.
"Look, I can call Dani and have her pick me up so I can take JT his blueberry muffins. They'll take some time anyways, so we can watch a movie and eat breakfast together while they bake...if you want I mean. Then I can go into the office to finish filing the case reports and you can sleep. I'll be safe and you can sleep," Edrisa offers.
Malcolm opens his mouth to argue, but closes it realizing he really doesn't have an argument to that.
"Fine," he relinquished, "but we make breakfast and I get to pick the movie."
Edrisa smiles, "deal!"
So Edrisa begins making the muffins while Malcolm makes pancakes. They glide past each other in the kitchen, Edrisa's phone playing music.
She freezes when one song comes on and listens for a moment.
"My lovers got humor. She's the giggle at a funeral. Knows everybody's disapproval, should have worshiped her sooner.."
She continues mixing her ingredients, humming the tune. Then she hears a soft voice under the silky tone of Hozier. It's Malcolm, singing along lightly.
She stops her humming and mixing altogether, completely caught in the harmony of his voice. She never heard Malcolm sing before, and he could sing.
When the song is over she turns to him with her mouth gaping open. He's happily flipping pancakes, oblivious to her staring.
"Is there anything you can't do?" she asks with praise and a slight teasing tone.
"What do you mean?" He responds confused.
"You can sing!" she exclaims accusingly.
He blushes a bit.
"I-I didn't realize I was honestly. I haven't sang in years," he responds sincerely. She pours her batter into the tray and puts her muffins in the oven.
"Do you have any other secret talents I should know about?" She asks with complete interest.
"Well, I can play the guitar and I used to dance," he says nonchalantly.
She gasps.
"What! Since when?" she asks. He shrugs.
"I just started the guitar during quarantine. And my mother made me take ballet when I was a kid," he replies.
"Ballet? Like ballet, ballet?" Edrisa responds in total disbelief. Malcolm chuckles.
"Yea, that was forever ago," Malcolm answers, serving her a plate of pancakes. She takes it, still staring at him.
"We are totally going dancing AND I must hear you play something," Edrisa immediately decides.
Malcolm grins at her enthusiasm.
"How about we stay in and make a day of hidden talents. I'm sure you have some of your own," Malcolm proposes. Edrisa looks like she'll take the bait for a moment before realizing his plan.
"Oh, that was sneaky! Tomorrow, today you need rest and I need to finish work," Edrisa replies.
Malcolm hangs his head in defeat.
They eat in a comfortable silence, enjoying each other's company. Malcolm finishes first.
Then the sound of his buzzer has him quickly up and to the door.
He cautiously pressed the speaker "hello?"
"Bright? It's Dani," a distorted voice replies. He buzzed her in.
He holds the door open as Dani is quick up the steps.
"Dani? What're you doing here?" Malcolm asks, confused.
"Edrisa texted me. She told me you were coming in later and asked if I could pick her up," Dani responds. Malcolm shoots a look at Edrisa who's hiding behind her cup of tea.
"Edrisa!" he exclaims.
"I may or may not have messaged Dani while I was getting ready," she confesses.
"Before we talked about it," he responded, impressed but hurt.
"Yea, that was crappy of me. But you really need some sleep Malcolm. And I wanted to hang out with Dani," Edrisa tries to amend. Malcolm doesn't respond.
"Are you mad at me?"'she asks with an edge to her voice.
"Of course not 'Drisa," he says with a soft smile. She visibly relaxes.
Dani clears her throat.
"Soooo, are we good to go or.." Dani asks, looking between the two of them.
"Rain check on the movie?" Edrisa asks Malcolm nervously. He smiles.
"Of course," he replies. She smiles back and turns to Dani.
"Yep, good to go," Edrisa says excitedly, taking her muffins for JT. She turns to Malcolm one last time to wave bye. He returns her wave with a smile and then she disappears with Dani.
He immediately wants to follow. To ignore her request and watch her, make sure she's okay. But instead he forces himself to take his pills and go to bed. He would meet her at the station in a few hours. It was 10:00am now and he never slept for long.
But honestly, not having anyone home while he slept comforted him. He couldn't hurt anyone because there was no one there. The thought troubles him and he thought of ways to fix that while he tried to sleep.
AN: I did oneeeee more fluff piece before it all goes down...which is coming next