The build of a lifetime has begun for both the club, and its members. But one structure is standing much sturdier than the other… Which will crumble first?
General trigger warnings for this story: Language, smut, mentions of rape, mentions of drug use/overdose, violence/death, racism/gang activity.
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CHAPTER 3: THE BUILD
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"You ever fucked a Son?" Tig finally worked up the courage to ask Sydney from where he sat at the bar as she worked her first Saturday night shift after the day that they had spent together, touring the small town on his bike.
Sydney fought the urge to roll her eyes at the question that she'd heard far too many times…
Sydney emerged from Happy's dorm in the SAMDINO clubhouse the morning after her birthday party and boy was she feeling it. After an hour and a half of puking her guts out, she decided that it was finally time to make an attempt at the greasy meal that Happy's mom had prepared for her for this exact moment.
Her feet hit the bottom of the stairs where she was met with the raised brow of her father who was sitting at the bar reading the paper, feigning oblivion to the mounds of people passed out around the room as a result of her birthday bash. All she could do was groan, which eventually turned to a humourless chuckle when his exaggerated, all-knowing expression didn't fall.
"Had a good night, did we?" He recited in an awful British accent.
Sydney realized that she was still a little drunk when she laughed much harder than intended, but she let her old man think that it was because he was funny. "As if anyone here would've let me have it any other way." She took a seat in the barstool next to him and buried her head into her arms on the bartop.
"Only turn twenty-one, once." He jostled her shoulder.
She slowly raised her head, as not to get dizzy. "Thank god for that." She scoffed. Partying was a way of life when it came to being an associate of the Sons of Anarchy, but last night had been a whole new level...
"You sleep in Hap's room?" James asked casually, to which his daughter responded with a nod that took as little effort as possible.
The only way that anyone had been able to convince Sydney to go to bed was if her pillow would be her favorite set of abs - which Happy had been less than pleased about as her drunken neediness cut his gash-hunt short. Sydney had slept in the same bed as Happy ever since he had started babysitting her when she was young, and it was something that she never outgrew. Over the years he had become accustomed to her taking up space in his bed, and somewhere along the way her cuddly nature stopped annoying him - but his ability to adapt did not go as far as being able to enjoy being cock-blocked. But he sucked it up, it was her birthday after all..
"You sure there's nothin' goin' on there? No playing 'hide the sausage'?" He asked cautiously, throwing humour into the situation in typical James fashion. He trusted the Tacoma Killer with his life, and he trusted the judgment of his daughter even more. He knew that Happy would never step out of line, and if something ever did happen, he knew that it would be Sydney's decision - which never bothered him.
"Dad." Sydney groaned again, not being able to help the chuckle that rumbled from her aching chest.
"What makes you think that I ain't a daisy fresh girl, Sergeant?" She pouted as she feigned offense.
Tig looked at her with amusement in his eyes as he raised his brows. "I can tell what type of girl you are from a mile away, Princess." He scoffed.
"Oh yeah?" She cocked an eyebrow, an amused smile now pulling at her lips.
"Yeah... I can." His voice dropped an octave as he leaned in closer to her. "You're one of those girls who likes it rough, dirty, and a little degrading."
Sydney could feel the bubbling arousal in her chest spreading throughout her body with the way that the words came out of his mouth in a low growl. "Mmmm." She nodded in approval, leaning closer and tilting her head to the side. "Maybe I am... You gonna degrade me to find out?" With how close she was to his mouth she could practically taste him, but it was a taste that she wanted to savor.
"You need a man big enough to handle a woman like you." He nodded.
"And I suppose that's you, huh?" She tipped him a nod, getting even closer to his mouth before pulling away with an evil smirk. "So, who's askin'?" She scanned the room full of SAMCRO members and associates.
"An interested party." He smirked, looking down at the whiskey in his glass.
"I'm afraid that doesn't narrow it down much, sweetheart."
"Nah, guess not." He chuckled. "So, have ya?" He prodded with a mischievous grin.
"Well, pussy ain't really my scene... So I guess that means that I've fucked a few sons in my day." She mused.
"Smart ass with a tight ass." Tig's grin widened. "C'mon, you know what I mean..." He urged with a nod.
"You take me for a pass around, Sergeant?" She challenged him with a tilt of her head.
Tig's face fell once he realized what his curiosity might've implied. "Nah, sweetheart..." His brow creased as he shook his head, looking genuinely concerned. "I hope not." He added, eliciting a knowing smirk from her before she turned around to get back to work.
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"Long ride from Charming to Oakland..." Laroy crooned wearily as he sat next to the Outlaw President on a park bench overlooking the San Leandro Bay. "How come Easy Rider's meetin' me face to face?"
Clay sighed. "Assembly warehouse burned down..." He looked straight ahead as he delivered what he was sure was going to be some devastating news... For him. "All the guns, including your M4s - gone. Stolen, or blown to shit."
"We need that hardware." Laroy narrowed his darkening eyes at the old man who refused to meet them after he had assured him that consistency of supply wouldn't be an issue.
"The shipment is gonna be a little late." Clay fought the urge to roll his eyes as he played referee for the damage that the Mayans had caused.
"That can't happen." Laroy shook his head. "Got a shipment of my own comin' in -very important cargo.
"I've been doing business with the One-Niners for a long time." Clay swung his head in the gang leader's direction. "I always respected our arrangement - never sold one gun to the Mexicans. Now I need you to show me a little respect, and give me a few more days for delivery." He sneered.
"Don't give a shit about history or respect." Laroy shook his head. "This is about business, old man."
"And I'm tellin' you, brotha, that givin' me some more time? Really smart business." Clay shot him a phony grin filled with malice.
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Sydney's first weekend working at the clubhouse was coming to a close as she paced behind the bar that she had fully cleaned, stocked, and reorganized on the slow Sunday night. She could practically feel herself falling asleep with the low energy in the room as the only bar patrons - Bobby, Chibs, and Juice - discussed how they would soon be heading home for the evening. But her excitement was reignited when a certain Sergeant entered the room at the perfect time...
"Tiggy!" She squealed, running and jumping into the tall man's arms.
To say that Tig was taken aback as she wrapped her legs around him, would be an understatement - but the absolute last thing that he was doing was complaining. "Hey, Princess." He grinned.
"Please tell me you're gonna hangout with me. I'm so fucking bored." She tossed a glance towards the worn out members who were hunched over the bar, still recovering after the previous night that they'd all had - but not her.
"Hell yeah." Tig nodded, glad to see that he wasn't the only one who couldn't be kept down by something as trivial as a hangover. "I'll keep you entertained, dollface." He winked, staring at her as he enjoyed the placement of his hands that were cupping her ass over her black leggings as he held her against him, the thin material leaving just enough room for their imaginations to wander.
"I knew I could count on you, Sergeant." Sydney smirked as neither of them made any effort to move from the fact, she squeezed her legs a little tighter around him to help reinforce the idea that she wasn't in any hurry to be put down.
Jax waltzed into the room with a blonde girl on his arm as he bade her goodbye, cutting the tension as Sydney and Tig finally untangled themselves from the embrace.
"She's been here a few times now, Jackie. New favorite?" Chibs teased.
"Nah, we aren't serious... Just.. You know." He replied through his blush as the guys began harassing him the second that she was out the door.
"Lucky son of a bitch." Tig sighed. "I bet she rides you like a cowboy."
Jax glared at Tig who was lazily leaning against the bartop, silently scolding the Sergeant's brash comments in front of the lady as he shifted his gaze to Sydney.
"No need to be shy, VP. How does she take it? I bet Tiggy's right. She looks like a top to me." Sydney interjected with a look of sinister excitement on her face.
Tig's evil smile quickly matched that of the little blonde who was quickly becoming his sidekick. They'd each had a history of being shit-disturbers, but as they joined forces to elevate the reactions it earned them, he found himself surprised that she was just as raunchy as he was.
Sydney nudged Tig's arm, effectively signalling for him to wrap it around her shoulders. "You know what... I bet you popped her cherry." She surmised with a squint. "And you know the great thing about virgins... You take 'em around the block? It keeps 'em coming back to make up for lost time." She mused, grinning as the guy's faces creased and contorted over her horribly misogynistic words.
"Oh yeah, man." Tig agreed. "She shaved? Or she do some fancy landing strip shit?"
"Nah, that one's too shy." Sydney shook her head. "She's either full bush, or bareback."
"Think she's a spitter?" Tig turned his attention to her as they broke off into their own theatrical conversation.
"Hmm... She might swallow. The shy ones surprise you sometimes - too nervous to say no. Bet she'd even let him backdoor her if he asked real nice."
"What is wrong with you two?" Juice spoke for everyone as the two pin-balled back and forth with matching glints finding their way into their eyes as they fed off of each other.
"Doesn't this shit bother you?" Jax grimaced, dumbfounded by the vulgar words that came out of the young woman's mouth.
"Doesn't what bother me?" She asked sweetly as Tig's arm fell from her shoulders, to her waist - his fingers grazing the exposed skin between the top of her leggings, and the red Coca-Cola tanktop that she'd knotted in the front.
"All these assholes see women as, is pussy."
"Because they are?" She stated obviously, feeling Tig's grip tighten. He couldn't believe the nasty comments that were coming from someone like her.
"What?" Jax sneered in confusion.
"Does anybody force the sweetbutts to fuck you, Jackson?" She asked slowly, as if she were speaking to a child - her hair bobbing around on the top of her head in a messy bun only emphasizing her sass. "Exactly." She responded when he stood stoically without an answer to her question. "They wanna be pussy, they're gonna be seen as pussy. You think they don't know what they're signin' up for? Think again, sweetheart. And if they do decide that they got a problem with it, then that's all it is: their problem."
Jax scratched his head as he listened to the seriously twisted logic that he only wished he could find a flaw in, finally taking the opportunity to make his way back to his dorm where he unlocked the door and made a beeline for the desk, pulling the drawer open and sifting through the pile of newspaper where he had hidden it.
He sighed as the worn parchment caught on the callouses of his over-worked hands, feeling the same unnerving sense of peace since he'd found it at the bottom of a box in the family storage unit where it had been waiting for him all these years. He lit a cigarette as he sat himself on the end of the bed, studying the manuscript that had inhabited every crevasse of his conscience.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SAM CROW.
HOW THE SONS OF ANARCHY LOST THEIR WAY.
BY JOHN THOMAS TELLER.
For my sons.
Thomas, who is already at peace.
And Jackson, may he never know this life of chaos.
He hadn't understood what the ominous dedication had meant when he'd first sat down with the only advice that he'd ever been given by his father from beyond the grave, but the more that he sat at the table next to Clay - the more that he thought about the son of his own that was soon to enter his world, the better he got at reading between the lines.
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Sydney moved around the bar, stacking glasses and wiping countertops. It had been a week to the day since she'd first set foot in the clubhouse, managing to get a few more days of work around the compound under her belt in that time, which she'd used to better get to know everyone. She was pleased with her quick success in navigating her new stomping grounds - everybody had quickly taken to the newcomer, especially the guys. She looked like the typical prissy little gash - girly and done up - but she was anything but, and they were quickly learning it as they came to love her sexy demeanour coupled with her ability to put them in their place.
Somebody in particular that Sydney found herself quickly taking to though, was Tig. She felt herself slipping under the spell of the undercover gentleman - the man who had given up almost all of his free time to her rather than partying at the clubhouse or bagging crows - something that she'd quickly learned he was notorious for. He'd taken her for rides on his bike, for meals around town, and for coffee on her lunch break or after working at the office. He'd revealed himself as the dream man that she didn't even know she had: adventurous, witty, attractive, and lived the club life.
"So, you get to come to one of our little shindigs." Tig tipped Sydney a nod across the bar where she began stocking the fridge with the shipment of beer that he'd brought inside for her - an action that, like many others since she had arrived in town, had earned the usually lazy and whiny Sergeant more than a few raised eyebrows. His out of character actions as he treated Sydney like a lady were constantly recieving scowls from the guys, from Gemma, and even from Clay. He was a typical Son, anything with a pussy was just that - pussy. The only woman that they had seen Tig respect in years had been Gemma - and nobody disrespected Gemma.
It wasn't that anyone blamed Tig for his interest in her - they didn't blame him at all. But what did confuse them - and maybe made them a little jealous - was her interest in him; the way that they were constantly flirting, or finding an excuse to be near each other.
"The Queen herself has graced me with an invitation." She joked in a British accent, beaming with pride after managing to earn herself the coveted affection of The Matriarch and score an invite to one of her infamous family dinners in such a short amount of time. "Play your cards right, Tiggy, and I'll even let you ride with me." She teased.
"That right?" He scoffed. "Tell ya what, Princess. How about we skip the part where I gotta ride in a cage, and you just save me a seat, huh?"
"I'll make sure my man gets the best seat in the house." She leaned in seductively, whispering into his ear. "Right between Clay and Jax." She pulled away with a playful grin.
"Oh, so now I'm your man!" Tig feigned offense.
"You were always my man." She rolled her eyes with a smirk, turning her back to him until she heard him finally walk away, turning back to watch him walk out the door - mentally checking out as he got further and further away.
"Syd? You listening?"
She snapped out of her trance. "Huh?" She shook her head and refocused her eyes, seeing Half-Sack waving a hand in front of her face.
"Wow..." He drawled. "You got it bad." He had an annoying smirk on his face, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She knew that she could trust the shy prospect.
"Mhmm." She nodded as she licked her lips.
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"So, what does one wear to dinner with The Queen." Sydney mused as she leant over the island in her kitchen, staring up at Tig as he unscrewed the cap on his beer.
"I could think of lots of things that I'd like to see you in, baby." He smirked. He'd ended up at Sydney's house after convincing her that Clay and Gemma's house was 'hard to find', and that it would be in her best interest to let him lead her there.
"I'm serious." She whined, her brows quickly furrowing in confusion when he wordlessly made a beeline up the stairs - understanding what it was that he was doing as she followed him into her bedroom where he stalked straight into her walk-in closet.
Sydney couldn't help but smirk as she laid down on her bed - impressed by his initiative as she kicked her heels back and forth while he rifled through her countless items of clothing. "Nah." She stopped him when his attention moved to the rack that held her dresses. "Too try-hard." She explained as he turned to her with a raised brow, but it was evident by the look on his face that he didn't understand - respecting her wishes and moving on to the next rack, nonetheless.
"Try these on for me." He emerged from the closet a few minutes later, dropping three separate outfits on the bed in front of her.
The subtle authority in his voice had excitement bubbling behind Sydney's belly button and dipping down to her core. She pressed her thighs together as she shot him a discerning glance, knowing exactly what he was doing.
Tig just grinned and looked at her expectantly - watching her knowing smirk turn dirty as she scooped up the clothes and padded towards the bathroom.
Sydney was even more impressed with the rough and tough biker once she saw that his outfit choices weren't actually horrible - shaking her head with a chuckle as she noted that all of the shirts were very low cut. The first outfit that she tried on was a muted green bodysuit that she hadn't even taken the tags off of since she'd bought it online months ago, and once she saw how flattering it was, she loved it. It exposed a majority of the skin above her waist with the thin straps and low neckline that was definitely not meant to be worn with a bra - which paired perfectly with the simple black jeans that he'd chosen to accompany it. She pursed her lips in a nod as she stood in front of the mirror in the full ensemble - this was undoubtedly an outfit she would have chosen herself. Was it dinner appropriate? Definitely not. Open back and hard nipples may have been Sydney's idea of family dinner, but she knew that it probably wasn't Gemma's - and she didn't want to give The Queen any reason to regret inviting her.
Tig's eyes widened as soon as the bathroom door swung open and she stepped out in the clothing that he'd chosen. "That one." He stated abruptly, rapidly nodding his head in approval.
"You would've said that about whatever one I tried on first." She giggled, rolling her eyes as she walked over to the full length mirror that was positioned next to the closet. "You really want the fashion show to be over so soon?" She asked with an innocent tilt of her head as she studied her reflection, turning her body back and forth slowly - giving him a proper show.
Tig's eyes grew heavy with lust as she stood there, posing for him. His breath caught in his throat as he eyed what he could've sworn were nipple rings poking through the thin fabric of the shirt, leotard, bathing suit thing that he'd picked out. The leggy blonde was the biggest temptation that he had ever experienced...
"Not that one." He gave a curt nod.
Sydney snickered and set back off to the bathroom. She already knew which one she was going to wear, but she wasn't going to let his efforts go unrewarded - so she made sure it would be the last one that she tried on.
"Okay..." She drawled suspiciously as she dramatically swung the door open, crossing her arms and stalking towards him in a multicoloured striped tanktop, and medium-washed denim skirt.. "Either you have an old lady that you aren't tellin' me about, or you're a crossdresser. Which one is it?"
Tig's worried expression softened once he realized that her anger was just facetious, grinning and looking down as he shook his head. "Just got good taste, doll." He shrugged.
Sydney pursed her lips and raised a brow, her doubtful gaze lingering on him before she made her way over to the mirror.
"You know..." Tig got up off of the bed, walking towards her and propping an arm against the doorframe of the closet. "We could just skip dinner, do somethin' more fun..."
"Hmm, like what, Tiggy?" She asked with curious eyes, slowly moving towards him where he pushed off of the doorframe and allowed her to press her back against it before resuming his position with his arm now above her head, leaning closer and closer.
"Could think of a thing or two." He said in a low tone - almost a whisper.
Sydney tilted her head up and to the side, her back arching off the wood while his hooded eyes remained fixed on her lips. "We're gonna be late." She rasped, slowly slipping away and heading back to change into the last outfit - smirking as she left Tig stunned.
The last outfit was a ruched white top with a sweetheart neckline and bell sleeves that hung around her biceps, paired with distressed dark-washed jeans in a capri style that shaped her body perfectly. The shirt sat just above the waistband of the jeans, exposing her diamond belly ring among the sliver of her tanned abdomen. She pinned her long curls out of her face on one side to finish off the perfect look that was sweet and casual with just enough sex appeal.
"I'm wearing this one." She announced with a grin as she bounded out of the bathroom towards her closet to grab her strappy nude mules.
Tig was shocked that she seemed to actually approve of his choices. He'd gone in completely blind, just picking out what he wanted to see her in without choosing straight up lingerie. But his mind drifted off as the thought of her walking out of the bathroom in something black and lacey got his blood pumping all over again...
The two finally headed off to Gemma's where Tig held his ground on taking his bike, Sydney following close behind in her car. She pulled into the driveway behind Gemma's XLR, getting out and strolling towards Tig who had parked beside the other Harleys.
"Was pretty easy to find, if you ask me." She looked at him expectantly as he unbuckled his helmet.
"Some of the crows have had trouble before. Just tryin' to lend a helping hand, Princess."
"Mm." She nodded, clearly unconvinced. "You do seem like quite the giver..." She purred as she stroked his jaw, giving him a dirty smirk over her shoulder as she headed towards the door.
Tig entered the familiar warmth of Gemma and Clay's home close behind her, smiling bashfully when he caught the knowing stare that Gemma was giving him across the room.
Gemma ushered Sydney straight into the kitchen where she was introduced to the other women: Bobby's old lady, Precious, and Otto Delaney's old lady, Luann, who ran Cara Cara - the porn studio that housed the beauty salon that Sydney would be attending. Unsurprisingly, Gemma put them all straight to work, but what was surprising was that the much younger woman of the group seemed to know exactly what she was doing.
"You cook?" Gemma scowled.
"Sure do." Sydney nodded as she adjusted the oven temperature. "My daddy was never one for making a meal, so I learned how to cook before I learned how to ride without training wheels. Poor DINO boys are probably starving without me." She chuckled as Gemma nodded with a smile.
Tig watched Sydney from where he sat on the couch as she settled comfortably into what looked like her natural element. He found himself a little in awe, feeling as if this had to be too good to be true. He had seen Gemma burn through the women that his brothers brought around - none of them meeting The Queen's standards - but he could've seen the rarely earned approval from a mile away.
The Sergeant was the kind of man who had always marched to the beat of his own drum, but Clay and Gemma were the only family that he had - apart from his brothers - their approval meant something to him; the approval that Sydney had so easily earned without even seeking it. He wasn't a religious man by any means, but he found himself believing that there must be a God - a God with very twisted morals to have sent down the light haired angel that inhabited his conscience.
As dinner cooked, Gemma watched attentively as Sydney played co-hostess - a position that The Matriarch was happy to share - making sure that the guys had fresh beers, and the snack table stayed fully stocked.
"You tryin to get me drunk, pussycat?" Tig teased as Sydney placed another drink in his hand before he had time to discard his empty one.
"Well how else am I supposed to get you to come home with me?" She rolled her eyes playfully, smirking as Tig threw his head back and laughed.
"That why he ain't been at Cara Cara lately?" Luann asked quietly as she nodded towards Sydney and Tig from where she and Gemma had been watching the encounter in the kitchen - getting her answer when Gemma simply smirked in response. "Wow... Never thought I'd see him with an old lady again." The blonde woman scoffed in disbelief.
"Yeah, well... She ain't his old lady yet. He's gotta man up and ask her."
"She really that into him?" Luann asked skeptically. "She's young, beautiful..."
Gemma knew what The Porn Queen was getting at in thinking that Sydney could do better, and much better than Tig, at that. "Why don't you ask her yourself?" She nodded as Sydney walked back towards them.
"So, you his old lady?" Luann asked Sydney after briefly breaking the ice by gushing over how much money she could make in front of a camera.
"Not yet." Sydney smirked.
Once dinner was ready, Gemma directed everybody into their seats whilst Sydney was put on drink duty. She returned to the table with an armful of beer bottles, placing them in front of their respective owners as she realized that the only empty seat left at the table was next to Tig - the smirk on Gemma's face telling her that this was her doing. She blushed a little and rolled her eyes before taking her seat, knowing that her and Tig likely would've raced to sit together, anyways.
Sydney and Tig took turns brushing their thighs, knees, feet, and hands against each other while everyone ate - talking and laughing as they enjoyed the delicious home cooked meal. After the main course was complete, everyone had broken off into their own side conversations, sipping their drinks as they waited for dessert to be served.
Juice sat beside Sydney, showing her his favorite memes on his brand new iPhone when she suddney felt a shiver run through her body. She glanced down while Juice was preoccupied by his beer, only moving her eyes to see Tig's ring adorned hand resting on her knee while his head was turned as he whined to Bobby about some football game that the team he'd bet on had lost - insisting that it must be rigged. She didn't dare look at him, she just smiled as privately as possible while he did the same - but Gemma didn't miss the giddy looks on either of their faces.
Sydney felt a warmth replacing the exciting chill, spreading through her as she sat at the dinner table, looking around at the smiling faces that filled the room. This felt like family, this felt like home.
;
Jax sat with his bike rumbling below him as he breathed in the fresh pine of the forrest on the crisp, early morning. He'd gotten up at the crack of dawn to make the trip outside of town, and he hoped that it would be worth it...
He nodded when Opie finally noticed him, giving a nod to his boss as he made his way over with his hardhat under his large arm.
"So... Everybody's talking about the warehouse..." Opie glanced over his broad shoulder at his coworkers who were watching the encounter closely.
"Mayans hit us." Jax nodded. "Stole all our hardware... We need you, man."
"For what?" Opie scowled.
"Numbers." Jax shrugged. "There's gonna be retaliation soon."
"No way, man." Opie laughed humourlessly.
"We're gonna need to get in and out fast - you're the only guy who can pull off shit like that."
"Look, you think I wanna be here chippin' wood for shit pay?" He scoffed. "I made a promise to Donna... I'm earning straight." He nodded with as much conviction as he could.
"Come on, Opie." Jax shook his head, dismounting his machine. "We all earn straight. I spend forty hours a week with a goddamn power tool in my hand just like the rest of these chumps." He nodded to the men behind them.
"When you're on Clay's payroll, everything in your hand is a power tool." The taller man shook his head.
"You saying no to the club?" Jax raised a brow, feeling a slight falter in his expression as he pressed his best friend.
Opie sighed, crossing his arms over his plaid-covered chest. "Everything turned to shit since I got out..." He shook his head. "I'm in debt up to my eyeballs, my kids hardly know me... I even mention the club to Donna and she busts out crying..." He made his way over to his truck where he pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offering them to Jax.
"Look, man... If you need money-"
"I don't want to borrow." Opie shut him down. "I want to earn."
Jax was glad to hear that, because he didn't have any money to lend, and he knew the only way that Opie could earn...
;
Sydney sat at her desk in the office on the sunny Monday morning, smiling when Tig came to grab some keys - yawning as he stretched his arms dramatically above his head before flopping down onto the couch.
"Tired?" She teased him after witnessing the attention-begging display.
"Don't be mean, baby. He groaned and held up a hand, feigning offense. "I was up until 4:00 A.M.."
Sydney felt the tiniest twitch in her nerves when he called her baby. "How come? Fun night?" She asked suggestively.
"Oh, I wish, Angel... But you were busy." He grinned before dropping the facade. "Nah, I slept in too late yesterday - couldn't sleep last night."
"Gonna nap after work and do it all over again?"
"You know it." He nodded, the both of them laughing.
"You shoulda called me! I'm always awake."
"You were awake until 4:00 A.M…. When you had to work today?" He deadpanned, obviously not believing her.
"Well so were you." She scoffed. "5:30 A.M. actually. I slept until 1:00 P.M. yesterday and then napped when I got home after bar shift." She explained.
"How come?" He scowled.
"Always been that way." She shrugged, which made Tig smile. He had always been that way too.
;
Tig turned his attention away from the war movie that he was watching, to the phone ringing on his nightstand; scowling as he wondered who on earth would be calling his personal at such a late hour - hoping that one of his daughters wasn't in trouble again.
But his heart skipped a beat when he saw that it was Sydney calling - chuckling when the little crown showed up beside her name from when she'd programmed her number into his phone. But as quickly as his heart had sped up, it slowed right back down as worry overtook him - realizing that she could be calling because something was wrong. She had never called him before, but then again, it hadn't been that long since he had and given her his number. But his racing mind finally stopped when it landed on the conversation that they'd had in the office earlier in the day...
"Doll?" He answered cautiously, just in case.
"Oh good! You are up."
Tig swore that he could hear her smile through the phone. "Who says you didn't wake me?" He grinned just as audibly.
"I care about the result, Tigger - not the process. Now is there anywhere around this godforsaken town that a girl can get some ice cream at such a fine hour?" She asked playfully. "It seems that your tour didn't include one... I'm gonna have to leave a bad review."
"Sweetheart, it's almost 1:00 A.M..." He shook his head incredulously.
"And?" She retorted.
Tig laughed, he should've known that his protest would mean nothing to a true night owl. "What're you in the mood for? McDonalds off of the highway is open twenty-four hours, grocery store across town is too."
"Hmmm... I'll go to the store. Thanks, Tiggy."
"You think I'm lettin' ya go alone? Nah, I want ice cream now."
Sydney giggled. Mission accomplished. "Am I comin' to you, or are you comin' to me?"
"Baby, you're gonna be comin' for me, the rest of your life."
Sydney knew that he was just joking, but man did it turn her on. "Don't tempt me with a good time, Sergeant." She purred seductively, hearing his breath catch in his throat.
"Be ready for me in ten." He choked out.
"I'm always ready for you." She couldn't fight her grin as she spoke, which only intensified as she heard a slight groan before he hung up the phone.
Less than ten minutes later, Sydney's nerves picked up at the sound of Tig's Harley pulling up in front of her house. She ran out, dressed in a dark pink oversized hoodie that ended up covering her tiny black shorts and looking like a dress.
She found herself feeling bashful when Tig's eyes roamed over her - which was rather out of character for her. Something about the way that he was looking at her with a bare face and a messy bun made her feel shy. He wasn't ogling at her when she was done up as usual, he was admiring her in her natural state - and he still thought she was blazing hot.
The pair strolled into the grocery store minutes later without a care for the ungodly hour, passing a beer display with a cooler full of tiny ice cubes, which Sydney grabbed a handful of. Tig looked at her and scowled, to which she just shrugged and popped one into her mouth - biting down and crushing the ice between her teeth. He rolled his eyes and smiled, grabbing his own handful and walking off.
Sydney's lips curled up into an evil smile. But little did she know, her plan was the same reason that Tig had picked up his own handful of ice...
Once Tig stopped in front of the tall freezer of ice cream, Sydney quickly reached up - pulling the back of his shirt out and dropping her fistful of ice down his back. But she was confused when he seemed to advance towards her at the exact time, to do the exact same thing. She squealed as the cold ice made contact with her skin, melting instantly and trickling down her back.
Tig didn't even register the cold sensation at first - he just scowled, knowing that she wouldn't have had time to do the same thing to him without having planned it first. The melting ice finally made its way to a spot that made him twitch, pulling him from his confusion as he tugged at his shirt to try to get it out while she did the same - howling as the cold trails made their way down her back, the two of them laughing uncontrollably at each other.
Sydney's loose garment made it much easier to get all of her ice out, but Tig was struggling with his tighter shirt under his heavy kutte. "Let me help you." She laughed, barely getting the words out.
"No fuckin' way." He put his hand up in the air to stop her from coming any closer as he jumped back.
"I don't have anymore!" She held out her empty hands for proof.
Tig nodded his chin towards the pocket on her sweater skeptically, which she dramatically shook out - showing him that she was out of ammo. He shivered again, nodding quickly.
Sydney chuckled, taking a step towards him, sliding on the puddle of water on the ground, squealing before he caught her - both of them in hysterics again all over again. She finally caught her balance and helped him with his shirt, feeling fire under her fingertips when she touched his skin.
"Done fuckin' around?" He raised a brow.
"I'm never done fucking around with you, Sergeant." She cooed.
"That's my girl." He replied huskily with an approving nod before grabbing himself a pint of Rocky Road. Sydney felt her senses tingle at his words, smiling at the flavor choice that seemed so very 'Tig like'. "Which one do you want?" He nodded to the rows of different flavored pints.
"Hmmm... Half Baked, or Cookie Dough?" She asked his opinion as she weighed her options.
"The fuck's Half Baked?" He contorted his face.
"Chocolate and vanilla ice cream with cookie dough and brownie." She stated obviously.
"You're sayin' you would get somethin' other than that?" He asked in disbelief.
"It's too much chocolate sometimes..." She explained, chuckling bashfully as he gave her a typical 'confused man' look. "Cookie dough." She decided.
Tig nodded, reaching for the pint of Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough.
Sydney winced, clutching his arm and guiding it back into the freezer, pressing an imaginary button on his wrist as if she was using a remote control. He immediately bought into her game, releasing the ice cream and twisting his hand like it was robotic, letting her guide it toward the pint of Haagen Dazs Cookie Dough Dynamo instead. She looked up at him expectantly when he wouldn't grab it, but he nodded towards her thumb hovering over the imaginary button. She giggled and pressed it, smiling as he wrapped his large hand around her desired flavor.
Tig felt the immediate smile on his face when he heard her giggle, he couldn't help himself if he tried...
"What was wrong with the other one?" He asked on the way to the checkout counter, brows furrowed in deep confusion.
"The chocolate chips are bigger in this one." She shrugged, blushing when he gave her a playful, discerning look - realizing how delusional her reasoning must've sounded to someone like him.
Tig reluctantly let Sydney pay for the ice cream upon her insistence that it was compensation for bringing her to the store, his mind too occupied to argue as his chest buzzed with the excitement of having her wrapped around him on the back of his bike.
They pulled into her driveway a few minutes later where Sydney got off, realizing that Tig wasn't behind her. "You coming in?" She looked at him curiously.
"You ain't workin' in the mornin'?" He asked, a little surprised since it was so late on a Monday night.
"Oh, I am - but I'll be up for a while. You can keep me company." She said nonchalantly. "Unless... You got somethin' better to do?"
The sarcasm in her voice wasn't lost on Tig. He smiled and nodded, cutting the engine and following her inside where he sat down on the couch while she put on her favorite superhero movie.
The more time that they spent together, the more Tig had started to discover the more human parts of her; the parts behind the sweet talking and cryptic words, the parts that only people she really cared about got to see. He'd began to notice things that only someone who paid very close attention to her would notice - like the fact that she was always spinning around or doing cartwheels, how she fiddled with her necklace, and how she was always chewing bubblegum or sucking on a lollipop to satisfy her massive sweet tooth. She loved everything about nature, which he had easily picked up on by the artwork in her house and the way that she would stare at the pink clouds as the sun set when he took her around on his bike. She would only eat ice cream after it was melted and drinkable, and she loved to contort herself into weird positions on the couch while they watched movies together;which was how he'd begrudgingly learned of her undying love for Marvel - of course he'd said that DC was better, just to get under her skin.
But Sydney had learned a lot about him, too - not all directly in conversation, as his walls were much thicker than hers, but enough that she could piece together the rest. He was an ex-marine who sometimes struggled with what his duties in the club had cost him. He was no merciful saint - he enjoyed the violence - but from time to time his demons would catch up with him and his conscience would eat him alive, often plaguing him with nightmares. He was the most dynamic person that Sydney had ever met - there was finally someone that challenged her dominance, someone who was not only turned on by her boldness, but fed off of it, instead of being intimidated by it. He was rough, dangerous, and insane, but he was also sweet, compassionate, and sincere - a living, breathing paradox. Just like she was.
The pull was like nothing she had ever experienced before. Every word that came out of his mouth was music to her ears; smooth, as if he was drawing her in closer. Her demons danced perfectly with his, their jagged edges fit flush together. She had been warned heavily about his tendencies - the good, the bad, and the ugly - most of them including him being a sleazy scumbag with wild kinks. But besides eye-fucking her constantly, he had been a perfect gentleman - opening doors for her, making sure she got home safe, not being too forceful with his advances. The warnings only amused her, because they came from people who had no idea about her own.
;
Tig looked up in horror as Sydney smacked the side of the large knife against his hands, stopping them as they were gripping a mustard bottle en route to her burger. "Na-ah, if you ever want me to feed you again, you will put that nasty shit down and get it away from my food." She slowly lifted the knife, releasing his hands.
He backed away with his hands up and eyes wide. "Hefty price to pay, darlin'. I don't think I could live without your cooking now." He shook his head, thoroughly enjoying the routine that they were quickly falling into.
Sydney forced herself to keep her smile at bay. She had cooked for Tig a few times now, and at first she had thought that he was just being polite - as well as the fact that he was an eternal bachelor who relied on Gemma and restaurants around town to keep him fed - but now that he'd started having regular meals at her house, she knew that there was more to it. It was something that she had never experienced before, but she liked it - especially with Happy coming and going so sporadically.
She adjusted the knife in her grip so that she was holding it like a gun. "Now lower the weapon, outlaw... And nobody gets hurt." She ordered in a Sheriff's voice - both of them laughing and lowering their respective 'weapons' before getting back to work.
Tig grabbed the jar of pickles after putting some on his burger, but before he knew it - it was being ripped out of his hands and put back into the fridge wordlessly, both of them snickering at her actions.
"Why do you even have this shit if you hate it?"
"You're eating it, aren't you?" She raised a brow, making him chuckle. "You know, Tiggy..." She leaned over the kitchen island. "It would be a lot easier for the both of us if you would just sit down with your beer while I do the cooking, like a good old man."
"Careful, doll. One day when you're my old lady, you're gonna regret ever suggestin' that." He smirked.
"I think I could live with just about anythin' if it meant that I got to call myself Mrs. Trager." She mused in a southern accent, chuckling as she grabbed the plates off of the counter.
As the two settled in at the dining table, Sydney couldn't help the smile that began to form as she watched him eat, looking so content and at peace. "You don't get a lot of home cooked meals, do you?" She blurted out as she watched him scarf down his food.
"That obvious, huh?" He smiled bashfully, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"I'm sure you could have lots of girls cooking for you if you just asked." She sipped her drink with a brow raised in amusement as his cheeks pinkened the tiniest bit.
Tig forced a smile. The amount of faith that she had in him gave his heart a sad twinge. He didn't understand what it was that she saw in him - it was clearly something that neither him, or anybody else did.
"It's a good thing you have me now." She tried to lighten the mood when her comment had more of an impact than she'd expected. "I would hate to see what you fending for yourself would look like." She chuckled.
"Whole lotta beer and frozen pizza." Tig chuckled. "Lived with a buddy one time - a brother actually, in Tacoma now... Stupid fucker." He grumbled. "Don't think I ate anything that wasn't from a box or a restaurant that whole time." He chuckled again.
Sydney giggled at the obvious vendetta that he had against the other man."Sounds like a dream." She joked with a smile.
The voices of insecurity began flooding Tig's mind as he processed her words... Wondering if she'd been trying to tell him that he was overstaying his welcome - that he was pushing things too far considering they were technically nothing more than friends.
"Hey, darlin' - I can go back to beer and frozen pizza if I'm too much for you to handle." He gave a wolfish grin, trying to keep the mood light.
Sydney shook her head a little too quickly - an action that didn't go unnoticed by him. "I like having you to cook for." She said in a small voice, looking down at her plate as she momentarily dropped her usually cryptic flirting.
Tig smiled warmly. Another thing that hadn't gone unnoticed by him was the fact that she said she liked having him to cook for, and not someone to cook for. He stretched his legs out under the table, brushing his foot against hers.
Sydney's foot instinctively rubbed back against his, her eyes falling closed before she realized what she was doing - snapping them open where she was glad to see that he finished eating at that moment, giving her an escape route as she stood up to grab his plate. "Besides." She started, smirking as she spoke. "I didn't learn how to use a grill for it to go unappreciated by a man." She winked.
Tig snickered. "I'll appreciate you any day, baby." He growled, reigniting the familiar light-heartedness in their encounters.
Sydney took the empty plates to the kitchen and began rinsing them when Tig came up behind her, smoothly slipping a clean plate from her hand where he began drying it.
"Tiggy, you don't have to-"
"You don't gotta do everything, Princess." He cut her off. "You deserve to be taken care of too." His voice was soft and full of sincerity, but she'd had more vulnerability than she could take for one night.
"A man wouldn't know how to take care of me if he tried." She scoffed. "Trust me, I've been down that road - ripped the e-brake and turned right back around." She half-lied, knowing full well that if there was anybody who could take care of her, it was Tig.
Sydney had never felt the need for a boyfriend. She'd lived in a cesspool of male attention her entire life, creating the illusion that there was nothing that she was missing out on - but there was just something about Tig that, for once, made her want to find out; made her want to be taken care of. Even Happy didn't make her feel quite like that. She'd always listened to Happy and allowed him to see her in a truer form of herself, the same way that she had done with her dad - but only when it suited her best.
She watched as Tig mulled over her words as he stood silently, drying the plates. "I'm good at taking care of people, not being taken care of. Like Gemma." He met her eyes when she began speaking again, taking her aback by the way that he looked at her so attentively. Sydney wasn't used to having someone put so much weight to the words that came out of her mouth. Attention had been part of her daily life since she was a preteen, but the attention that Tig gave her was all new to her, because it was attention to her, not attention to her body, or her flirty facade.
"Women like us aren't good at being told what our every move will be." She shook her head.
Tig listened to every word from Sydney's lips as she stared deep into his eyes. He realized then how much he liked the sound of her voice - even when she was telling him things that he didn't want to hear. He was so used to tuning out the high-pitched whine of the croweaters that he'd forgotten what it was like to actually enjoy talking to a woman. She could talk for hours and he would never get tired of listening.
"Gemma makes it work, you know... Bein' an old lady." He couldn't believe the words that were coming out of his mouth, but they didn't stop. There was something so different about Sydney. Women usually looked at him with one of two things; lust, or fear - but Sydney looked at him like he was human. He found himself constantly in a trance, like he was trying to figure out if he was dreaming or not after she'd given him a taste of a domestic life, showing him that it was attainable even in the life they lived - something that he never thought was possible. Maybe settling down was in the cards for him, if it was with the right person...
Sydney flinched a little as it became her turn to process his words, wondering if he'd really meant what she'd thought he meant...
Tig saw her flinch, knowing all too well how she was feeling, because he was feeling the same - vulnerable, confused, and uncomfortable with the fact that it wasn't a feeling he was immediately rejecting.
"You don't talk to people like you talk to me." He stated plainly, leaning on the island with his hand propping up his chin. He was sure that the idea in his mind, was already in hers - but he didn't see the harm in planting the seed, just in case.
"No." Sydney confirmed with a soft smile.
"Why not?"
"Not many people understand me... The same way they don't understand you."
;
"Hey, man. I'm, uh - gonna take a smoke break." Tig said distantly while as patted the hood of the Ford that he and Happy were working on as he watched Sydney pack up the office for the night.
The Tacoma Killer grunted in annoyance when the Sergeant dumped the work onto him, and poorly hid his true intentions - shaking his head with a scowl as he turned his attention back to what he had been unsuccessfully trying to get finished all day.
Sydney walked across the lot with a huge smile on her face as Tig's hand rested on her lower back while they laughed about the bitchy suburban woman who had tried to demand a free brake job earlier in the day. Once they reached her car, he opened the door for her before she chucked her purse onto the passenger seat.
"Are you coming for dinner when you're done?" She asked softly, clutching onto the open door with that innocent twinkle in her eye.
Tig squinted in the sun as he rubbed the back of his neck, a pained look creeping its way across his face. "I don't think so… Got alotta work left on this damn truck, it's gonna be a late one."
"I could wait for you... Unless some of that in a box food is calling your name." She teased.
"Awe, doll... You'd do that for old Tigger?" He grinned.
"Old Tigger is the only one I'd do it for." She rolled her eyes and smiled playfully.
Tig smirked, pulling her into a long hug. "You're too good to me, pussycat." He kissed her on the cheek before pulling away to let her get in the car. "I'll call ya when I'm on my way."
Sydney closed her eyes, sighing as her body clung to his - nodding and getting into the car where he closed the door for her before making his way back to the garage to a brooding Happy.
Tig figured that it was best to just avoid Happy's piercing black eyes as he watched him re-enter the garage after an encounter that he had undoubtedly watched every second of - having seen some of the warnings that a few of his younger brothers had gotten for merely trying to ask questions about Sydney.
"She don't let anyone do that shit." Happy rasped. "Except me." He added with a smirk. He wasn't thrilled about Sydney's choice of company, but he knew it had to be something special for her to allow Tig in - or strategy.
"Huh?" Tig questioned, hoping the quiet man would elaborate if he played dumb.
"Touch her like that." He clarified.
"Never?" Tig found that very hard to believe. A girl like Sydney? So touchy and flirty?
"Not like that." Happy confirmed, turning back to his work.
;
"Have you seen Tig?" Sydney heard from behind her while she stocked the bar after a busy Thursday night, turning to see Cheryl standing with her arms crossed.
It had been exactly two weeks since Sydney had first set foot in the clubhouse. She'd managed to befriend a decent amount of the crows, finding that most of them weren't that bad - given they were either terrified, or admired her, so they kissed her ass - but Cheryl was dumber, and more stuck up than the rest. She was older, so not only did she have to work twice as hard to compete with the hotter, younger pussy, but she was also set in her ways - a fatal flaw, in Sydney's eyes. Comfortability always clouded judgment.
Sydney blew a bubble with her gum. "Club shit." The pink candy popped obnoxiously. "Be back later." She deadpanned.
Cheryl just looked her up and down and huffed away. Sydney chuckled, shaking her head. She had noticed the dirty looks that she had received from the older woman since she'd started taking up the Sergeant's time, but it only amused her.
About an hour later, almost like routine, Tig greeted Sydney first as he arrived back at the clubhouse. "If it isn't my favorite girl in the whole wide world." He snaked an arm around her waist and planted a sloppy kiss on her cheek.
Sydney started to smile, but refused to melt in his arms as she usually did. She spun around dramatically as he slid past her to grab a beer, shooting him a brow-raised look. "What?" He laughed nervously.
"Cheryl's lookin' for ya again." She taunted.
"Who?" He scrunched up his face. "Oh... Her." He sounded irritated when he realized that it was the same crow who had asked Sydney for his whereabouts multiple times this week. He rolled his eyes and began walking back out from behind the bar when Sydney's leg shot up and blocked him, feeling his dick twitch as his denim covered crotch collided with her bare leg.
"Not so fast, Sergeant." She leaned back and examined her manicure, blowing another bubble. "Seems your little whores think that I'm your captor."
"Oh, you are, baby." He growled playfully, eating her up with his eyes before chuckling at her dramatic display.
Sydney's lips curled into a smile. "Better get back to her. The next crow that asks me where you are is getting a key to your dorm." She teased, but he just stood stoically.
"Tell 'em that they can take a damn hike."
"Since when did you start turning down pussy? I hear you were their most popular customer..." She mused.
"Think they all got scared off when they started smellin' coconut and flowers on me." He winced.
She couldn't help but smirk. "Cheryl didn't seem scared." She countered.
Tig stood still for a moment, contemplating his options before he quickly grasped her calf and lifted it up so that he could make his escape, but he didn't at all expect her leg to bend into the flexible position so effortlessly, the shock interfering with his sneak attack. His eyes widened as he looked directly at her crotch where her legs were spread in front of him, barely covered by a pair of denim shorts - trying to find the strength to avert his gaze, but he couldn't.
Sydney smiled deviously and bit her lip, curling her leg downwards to rest her calf on his shoulder - his hand snaking around it to rest on her shin before he finally looked back up to her.
"Interested in better things these days, doll." He gulped, patting her leg before lowering it, trailing his fingers across her skin before walking away.
Sydney's cheeks immediately felt the heat as she let go of the breath she had unintentionally been holding, feeling the goosebumps covering her entire body as they continued to dangle themselves in front of each other - neither of them wanting to give into the pressure just yet. They'd become far too engrossed in their game of seeing who would crack first, forming some kind of odd bond - an unspoken understanding that they were together, without being together.
The struggle of fighting the lust that they felt for one another was nothing short of mutual, but they loved making each other squirm. Tig found himself in awe of her time and time again, shocked that a woman could keep up perfectly with his unusual ways. He lived for the surge of adrenaline that would hit him when he would make a crude remark, just for her to laugh or retaliate with something equally inappropriate.
There were no questions between the two as to their intentions with each other, they both knew clear as day how they felt, but neither of them were great with words - and they loved the chase.
Of course nobody had believed Sydney when she'd insisted that nothing had happened between the two of them - especially knowing Tig. But their confusion only made her enjoy the experience that much more. She loved proving people wrong - being the opposite of what they expected. However, the feelings were building fast, and the sexual tension was building faster - both were soon to boil over, it was just a matter of time before one of them would give in...
Tig, on the other hand, was terrified. He had never gone this long with a girl without sleeping with her - he'd barely even gone this long with a girl if he had slept with her. But there was something so different about Sydney, something that made him, for the first time, scared to make a move. He still found it hard to believe that she was actually even interested in him. He was a confident man - but his confidence level didn't quite reach the depths of seeing himself in a committed relationship with the much younger, smoking hot woman of his dreams.
His behaviour over the past few weeks had shocked his brothers, he knew that it had shocked Sydney, but most of all, it had shocked himself. He wasn't a man who thought about his words or actions, but she made him hyperaware of his every move. She was warm and inviting, but cold and deviant at the same time. Drawing him in, and then pushing him away - leaving him needing more. He had never settled down because it seemed that all women were the same. He didn't know that it was possible for a woman to be twisted and bent in all of the same places as he was. He didn't just need someone that could hold him down and turn his attention away from the demons, he needed someone who could also take on a few demons of their own, someone who could clean his bloody wounds after a fight just as easily as they could come home covered in blood with him, and he may have found just that…
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Songs for this chapter
Head Over Heels - Vogue In The Movement
New Girl - Finneas
Gangsta - Kehlani
Out of Nowhere Girl - Luke Bryan