[Deleted]

Pouting, Jules started to make a protest before swiftly realising Aaron might have point. “Okay, okay… putting my cheque book away now…” She shoved the imaginary item into her back pocket, still pouting. Then she cast a gleeful glance at him, her eyes bright, and she laughed loudly and suddenly. “I’m such a dork, I’m sorry,” she explained, her hand drifting up to hide the childish grin on her face.

She gasped. “You monster, you found my sweet-tooth weakness!” She blew gently into her hand, adding an ice cube to the drink as the bartender refilled it. Her power definitely came in handy when it came to drinking. As Aaron continued talking, Jules’ mouth spread into a gentle, gratified smile. “This is a good time,” she agreed earnestly. “Thanks, dude.” She lifted her drink to his bottle in appreciation. Clink.

Jules regretted her choice of Truth question. Aaron did well to brush over it, quickly moving on with only a hint of a falter in his smile, and she decided to acknowledge his response with a simple, supportive touch of her hand on his knee before joining him in changing the topic. The more she was learning about this man, the warmer she felt towards him (ironic, considering her power set). He was complex, interesting, but not self-absorbed or self-pitying. It was refreshing.

“Oh will you now?” she said with a surprised giggle, her cheeks going a little pink. “I guess the taste of liquor would make a welcome change from burger relish.”

As with many people, Jules often fell back on humour when feeling a little unsure of herself. In this case, she was pretty sure that the handsome, mysterious man was flirting with her and her brain was having a hard time processing an appropriate response. All she knew was that she liked it.

“Woah, that looks nice – can I try some?”

She declined to comment on his ridiculous pace. If this much alcohol was what it took to get on her level, then who was she to complain?

Jules bit her lip in thought. “Truth.” Then she hesitated and looked up at him as though she was hoping to see his thoughts written in his eyes. No such luck. “No, Dare. No!” The bartender looked across, startled for a second by her outburst, before returning to his work with a barely perceptible eye roll. “Hit me with a Truth. I can take it.”

@aaron | 406 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

 

- TANK -

"I'll see you on the other side, drink in hand, smile on my lips."

Pouting, Jules started to make a protest before swiftly realising Aaron might have point. “Okay, okay… putting my cheque book away now…” She shoved the imaginary item Aaron laughed. "Yes. Yes you are. It's alright, I dig it." He'd set the second empty whiskey bottle aside, warmth now thoroughly swarming through his body. He took the rum bottle, a long swig, followed by a raised brow at her words. "I wish I could say it would taste different but alas, you've caught me." He grinned, offering her the bottle since she wanted to try a bit herself. He'd laugh as she did- the booze was at least 90 proof, and would give a hard burn.

"Careful...that stuff will put you out much faster than some orange juice."

He almost made a sippy-cup joke, but decided against it. There was already a clear age difference between them- he was a few years shy of forty, she was what, in her early twenties? Maybe? God, if his friends see him now. They'd be whispering "Cradle robber" in his ears. In his current state, he'd probably shrug it off but later down the line he might face palm at it. He wasn't shy about preferring younger women- he wanted a few kids, and he doubted many thirty-six year old women would want to start a family. None that would be interested in an ex marine, anyway.

"Truth, eh? Hmm...okay, what's one secret kink you'd probably not tell me, lest I asked." He bit his bottom lip. He, like most men, became more baseist as he got more and more drunk. His sexual instinct came out, his flirting, his ability to be more open. Thankfully they were playing this game in public. It could get really bad. He glanced at the bartender, who was watching with raised brows. He waved the guy off.

"Hey, piss of man, this is a private conversation."

The bartender laughed and held up his hands, walking away to take care of the other people. Aaron would turn his attention back to her, waiting expectantly.

JUNIER of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

She laughed happily, joyous in Aaron’s validation of her dorkiness. “Why thank you, I’m glad my nonsense entertains you.”

Jules was really enjoying the opportunity to be silly in the company of an adult, and not just for the entertainment of her one-year-old. Emily was, of course, Jules’ number one fan – but she lacked the vocabulary to deliver the kind of praise and appreciation that most adult humans appreciated from time to time. The sloppy kisses all over her entire face were a decent trade, but there was only so much baby drool that one person could handle.

She practically snatched the bottle from his hands, feeling like she had something to prove. “Just a drop,” she announced, mostly as a firm command to herself. She tipped the bottle up and filled her mouth with rum. Wiping the mouth of it with her sleeve, Jules passed it back as she slowly let the liquor drain down her throat. She smacked her lips, looking satisfied. “That is good!” she said happily. The warmth began to pool in her chest. “And… yeah… strong. Orange juice it is.” Jules giggled.

The Truth definitely caught her off-guard, and Jules could feel her cheeks glowing red. Instinctively, tiny sprinkles of ice scattered across them to cool her off, like miniature glass freckles. Fortunately, she was immediately distracted with laughter as Aaron swiftly dismissed their gawking eavesdropper. She was wiping the ice from her face as he turned back around.

“Okay… Secret kink…”

She grinned. “So you just assume I’m like that, huh? What, do I give off vibes?”

Jules giggled, a melodic, embarrassed laugh, and took a tiny sip of her drink for confidence. “Ya caught me. Okay, well, I’m really into the idea of…” Another tiny sip. “…Um. I like the idea of needing… permission? For… y’know?” The ice freckles returned as Jules hid behind her fingers. “Done. Truth or dare?”

The words tumbled quickly from her mouth, a little unsteadily formed in their haste. She was eager to move on. While not exactly shy, it wasn’t a topic she discussed much at all, let alone with strangers, and let alone with handsome strangers.

@aaron | 360 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

 

- TANK -

"I'll see you on the other side, drink in hand, smile on my lips."

Aaron cocked a brow, his self-satisfied smirk being the only answer to her question as to whether she gave off those vibes. He waited with some expectation, still a little impressed by her won-ton gulp of his rum. That was definitely not a drop. Still, he wouldn't complain, downing a few gulps himself despite not having failed a truth or a dare, that archaic rule out the window now. Still, at her response, he slowly lowered the bottly, setting it on the counter and letting out an "Ahh" indicative of the delicious flavor.

He only gave a slow and appreciative nod, glazed over eyes giving her a little once over before looking away, showing his own interest. He decided not to mention the frosting of her cheeks- she had to know just how damn adorable it was without him making it known. Perhaps he would say something later. Y'know.

When sober.

"I'll just tuck that little tidbit behind my ear for a future date maybe, hm?"

He laughed, using the back of his hand to give her upper thigh (on the outside) a gentle and playful pat. He thought for a moment, trying to decide whether he risk getting a question like the one she answered, or if a dare was the harsher punishment for making her blush so thoroughly. He'd glance at the orange juice, then back to her, swallowing a little before taking another drink of the rum.

"Dare....unless you're feeling a little....under the table?"

A slight dig at the fact that he was very clearly out drinking her, but said with a smile that was meant to be flirty. He liked this one. Kinkier than she was letting on, funny, smart, beautiful. Little hero streak.

Smexy.

JUNIER of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

Jules tried to pull herself together for a witty response, her snark feeling uncharacteristically elusive for a moment. She finally managed to get her head back in the game, her eyes narrowing a little with a challenging glint in them. She smirked softly, so that it came out halfway towards a fond smile, and tipped her head to one side inquisitively.

“Future date? You seem confident.”

He had every right to be, but she wasn’t letting on that kind of information just yet. Her cheeks were doing that for her, alas, but she’d do everything she could to keep some kind of foothold in the banter. Aaron was easy to tease – you’d have to try pretty hard to offend this guy, it seemed.

Then he had to go and touch her thigh – knowing full well what he was doing – and the metaphorical foothold felt a little less steady. However, she seemed to have regained enough composure to keep her power from peppering her face with ice once more, which boosted her confidence significantly. Jules leaned in a little closer at his touch, enjoying the way she had to look up at him to meet his gaze.

“I’m not under the table. I’m not on the table yet either,” she pointed out, somewhat proudly. Too proudly for the words to be coming from sober lips. She thought for a brief second before scrunching her face. “Aww thinking of dares is hard!”

She looked around the room. Burger Guy seemed to have departed, which was a shame. He hadn’t even had the decency to say goodbye. It felt too obvious to do another dare along similar veins anyway. She turned back to the bar. “Take off your left shoe…” she began, very clearly making it up as she went along. Jules’ head was getting too fuzzy for methodical, rational things like planning ahead. “Yeah, take off your left shoe and drink the rest of your rum from it!”

She giggled. “I can help out, that was niceee.” Though maybe not so nice once it had been poured into a shoe…

@aaron | 348 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

 

- TANK -

"I'll see you on the other side, drink in hand, smile on my lips."

He laughed, undoing his shoelaces. He was wearing some boots, thankfully clean and separate from the ones he wore to kill with earlier in the evening. He proceeded to pour his rum into the boot, looking her in the eye as he lifted the end to his lips and took a drink. He then proceeded to slowly offer her the boot, still maintaining eye contact with a smirk.

"Go on then. Drink."

She wanted a taste of his alcohol, and he found a rather epic enjoyment having her drink it from the shoe she dared him to drink from. He phrased it in such a way that brooked no argument because, judging by her admitting her earlier kink, she clearly liked someone to give her orders. And he, being both former military and being in possession of similar kinks would absolutely rise to the occasion. If she refused to take it, he'd simply drink the rest, but judging by the sheer litany of liquor in their blood and the confident smirk plastered across her soft face and eyes, he doubted he'd be doing it alone.

If she did take it, his smile would widen, but was still relaxed, as though it was normal. He ignored entirely the others around who might see and laugh, or think it was weird or gross to drink from someones shoe. But then, they also weren't living as they were. Taking each moment and making it memorable. He nearly died of internal glee at the thought of her waking up tomorrow with the memory of flavor a la rum and Aaron boot. After, he'd proceed to take off his other shoe and set them both on the floor. No use in wearing one when the other was soaked in rum.

Licking his lips, he drank from the bottle to wash out the flavor of shoe.

"Truth or dare."

JUNIER of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

Jules didn’t even try to hold back her delighted laughter as Aaron immediately complied with her dare. A few nearby patrons cast her a dismissive look, causing her giggles to falter for a brief second while she fixed them with a fierce, defiant glare. A challenge flashed across her expression for a moment, just daring them to comment on two people having fun in a bar. There was no law against drinking from your boot. (Probably, Jules decided. That would be a silly and oddly specific law).

Her gaze moved back to Aaron just as swiftly as it had flicked away, her giggles returning as he met her eye with a smirk. She watched him take a drink – probably draining the majority of the boot by the looks of things – and then her eyes widened with pleasant surprise as he commanded her to drink.

“Too easy,” she said happily, enjoying the residual flutter in her stomach that his words had kickstarted. Jules grabbed the boot in both hands. It was even heavier than she’d expected.

It was also definitely a boot. Jules was hit by the brief realisation that this was a truly gross dare, which she decided not to waste any further time considering lest she talk herself out of it. She heaved the boot up and tipped it back as far as she could to quickly drain the rest of the liquor from it. A little drop escaped and dribbled down her chin but, considering the vessel, Jules handled the drink remarkably well. She wiped the excess rum away with her sleeve, triumph evident on her face.

“Ta da!”

Jules immediately returned to her vodka and orange to cleanse her palate. She rested her hand on his shoulder, looking up at him with a cheery grin.

“Truth!”

@aaron | 299 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

 

- TANK -

"I'll see you on the other side, drink in hand, smile on my lips."

He widened his grin as she took his shoe, bringing his hand back to his face to casually half-cover his mouth. Damn, she was nuts. At least as nuts as him. He liked it. A lot. He took his shoe back, smacking his lips a little to indicate a "Mm,yummy right?" aura. He could still taste the leather. Thankfully, he was a very clean individual despite his cleaar abilities to slaughter those he didn't like. As she drank more orange juice, he laughed.

"Truth huh...Hmm.....Tell me a secret. Something you'd rather not tell me."

The last time he asked this, it was about kinks. Now it was just in general- he liked making her blush, and found those frost freckles cute. He grabbed his rum, downing about half of it again as the fire behind his eyes started to make his knees weak. He liked that feeling. The PTSD was now completely erased from his personality, granting him a level of relaxedness he hadn't felt since....well, since the last time he got this piss drunk. He'd offer her the rum again, in case she'd like to have just a little more. He frowned to himself, the girl now being duplicated by his slight cross-eyed gaze. He shook his head and sighed, leaning back against the bar and adjusting his shirt.

"It's getting toasty in here. Think you can walk?"

He could tell- from the fact that she easily drank from his boot and because she was getting more and more exciteable, that it was time to get this woman home and under some covers, with a glass of water and two advil. If she stood up and it was clear that she wasn't about to be taking a long stroll anywhere, he'd promptly scoop her up like a groom carrying his woman over the threshold of their house and start for the door, grinning.

"You're light as a feather, you know."

JUNIER of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

She furrowed her brow in thought. The question was tricky to get her booze-addled brain around. A secret that she’d rather tell Aaron? Aaron specifically, or people in general? Jules wasn’t exactly one for keeping many secrets. He’d responded very warmly to her earlier admissions of her style in the bedroom but this seemed to be on a different theme entirely. He already knew that Emily’s father wasn’t in the picture and that was probably the detail in her life she was least happy to elaborate on… Think, Julia, think.

“Um, oh I don’t know. I don’t have a ton of deep dark secrets,” she said, giggling a little at the unintentional implication that she had a few. “How about… not really a secret, but like…” She paused, losing her train of thought for a moment. She cast an accusing glare at her drink.

“Right. You know how I said Emily doesn’t know her father?” She drained the last of her vodka and orange for one final confidence boost. “Well, neither do I. She looks 100% like me which doesn’t help, but I honestly wouldn’t be able to pick the guy out from a line-up. It could be one of several, and I don’t even remember any names. Or faces, not any more.”

She flushed, finally, the tell-tale gleams of ice forming for a moment before she wiped them away. “Doesn’t make me look too good, does it?”

It was better to haul all that out now, while Aaron still had a chance to back away with his hands raised, offering empty promises to call her before vanishing from her life. She’d understand but, somehow, she wasn’t expecting it. He seemed different.

She definitely appreciated Aaron’s offer of rum after that, and she drank just a little drop more before his words (‘Think you can walk?’) really hit home how drunk she’d been getting. She folded her arms childishly. “I sure can!” she announced loudly.

Unfortunately for Jules she slipped off the stool just a little too quickly and she had to steady herself against the bar. Before she had time to make her excuses, Aaron had swept her off her feet in one dizzying motion and started carrying her out of the bar. Just as they reached the door, Jules protested suddenly. Squirming, she managed to wriggle out of his arms and clamber clumsily onto the nearest table. It was low, and there weren’t any chairs around it. Perfect dancing platform.

The bet had been clear – the poorer drinker was performing a table dance. Jules didn’t know the song and she certainly wasn’t about to pull any sultry moves, but damn if she wasn’t going to deliver on her word. As Aaron sat back in a chair to enjoy the entertainment, Jules began to throw out all the most ridiculous house party moves that she could think of. She was just about to really enjoy a bit of impromptu macarena – not that the song was playing – when her right foot decided to step on a part of the table that didn’t exist.

She wobbled for a moment, trying to regain her balance, and within two seconds she’d tumbled back into Aaron’s arms.

“Oops,” she said with a giggle. “My hero. Get me outta here before they put on a song I do know!”

@aaron | 554 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

 

- TANK -

"I'll see you on the other side, drink in hand, smile on my lips."

He listened carefully, trying his best to keep track of her words and story so as to remember it later. He knew he was going to be punished for this tomorrow, but he was fairly used to it. Men advanced in years like him suffered this sort of this when they drank as much as he did. He gave a little nod, followed by a shrug. Her assumation of him was spot on. Not a single fuck was given about whether she remembered the guy. He nearly made a joke about no birth control with strangers, but the thought slipped from his mind as quickly as she did from his hands, the large male turning back with a cocked eyebrow.

He laughed, however, as she danced, indeed having taken a seat to enjoy the show. He must reap the spoils of his victory, yes? As she danced, he chuckled and clapped along, the entire bar stopping to turn with a cheer as she started her dance. The bartender wasn't particularly happy with someone scuffing his table, but Aaron was in the process of counting out a few hundred taken from his pocket. As she fell into his lap, he grinned down at her, standing with her in his arms and tossing four hundred onto the bar, the man nodding and taking it with an appreciative smile.

"Your dance moves are exactly as amazing as I thought they'd be."

He started for the door under a rain of applause from those around, Aaron laughing and giving a little wave as they exited. He carried her with ease, proud of the fact that she had made good on the bet. It was unexpected- in truth, he'd thought it was a joke she wasn't about to fulfill. He respected a lady who did what she said she was going to do. As they arrived at her house, he'd gently set her down so she could get her keys out to unlock it. He'd then proceed to jam his hands in his pockets and blink away the drunk, clearing his throat.

"Right...my bag is against the wall, there."

He was a damn gentleman, and wouldn't push himself into someones home against their will. He'd just wait patiently as she retrieved it....

JUNIER of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

“Thanks,” Jules said, slurring a little through her grin. “I can tell… you’re lime green jello.”

She settled happily into his arms, trusting the Hero with super strength to be competent at holding her up. If she’d been more sober herself, she might have been a little worried about Aaron accidentally dropping her, but likely they made it up the stairs of her apartment building to her front door with Aaron’s handheld cargo still perfectly intact – if a little sleepy.

Jules rubbed her eyes as he set her down. “Huh, wha-? Oh right, keys.” She fished around in her pockets for a moment, looking up at Aaron and smiling as she watched him clear his head with a few rapid blinks. “Got ’em!”

She leaned against the door for a second as she fiddled with the lock, jamming the keys everywhere except the keyhole before they finally slid into place. Jules cast Aaron a look as he mentioned his bag. “You’re leaving?” she asked, a little pout forming. Her voice was hushed now that the door was open. The lights were off; Emily was clearly sleeping. The Nanny gave her a silent smile and wave, gathering his things and quickly leaving her and Aaron to it.

She couldn’t help it. Jules tiptoed over to her sleeping daughter and planted the gentlest kiss she could manage on her head. Emily shuffled a little in her sleep, a little contented baby sigh escaping her lips, but she didn’t wake up. Jules watched her lovingly for a second before turning back to Aaron. “It’s late,” she hissed. “Come on in.”

@aaron | 267 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

 

- TANK -

"I'll see you on the other side, drink in hand, smile on my lips."

His eyebrows rose, but would scratch his head at the question.

"Well, I didn't want to assume..."

As she stepped inside, he'd wait patiently for her to turn back and offer him to come in. It wasn't as though he expected to be taken to her bed, but it was probably prudent not to have the drunk sup stumble home at this hour. He'd nod, coming inside and removing his jacket, dropping it off on the chair at the table. He'd hiccup, hopefully without her seeing, before gesturing with an open hand to her bedroom.

"You should...climb into bed. I'm honestly astounded you're still on your feet. I can...get you some water or something...."

Though he wondered if she even needed it. Could she generate that too? He'd carefully tread into her kitchen after setting his boots by the door. He opened a few cupboards, clearly in his drunken state not allowing himself to obey the common manners of being in someone elses home. He'd remove a glass, filling it halfway with water and stepping over to her bedroom. He'd knock lightly.

"You should...drink this, before you sleep. If you want, I can bring some aleve too..."

If she took it, he'd stick his hands in his back pockets, waiting for her to get safely into bed.

JUNIER of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

She smacked at him lightly. “Don’t be stupid!” she said, her tone as firm as she could make it while still keeping her voice hushed. “You walked me home.”

Pause.

“Tha’ was nice.”

Jules examined her shoes, which were suddenly looking very interesting. It had been such a strange, unexpected kind of night and in her drunken state she wasn’t anywhere close to being able to process it. All she knew was that she had actually enjoyed her evening with Aaron – a lot. Now he was trying to look after her even though he’d been drinking enough to leave a small village comatose. She decided the polite thing to do would be to follow his instructions. Aaron seemed to like being the one in charge.

“Water would be great, thank you.” She nodded clumsily before meandering her way to the bedroom. She immediately pulled her jumper and jeans off, adjusting her tank top. It wouldn’t pull all the way down to cover her underwear so she fumbled under her pillow for some pyjama shorts. She’d just managed to wriggle into them when Aaron appeared with a gentle knock and water in hand.

“You angel,” she said happily, grabbing the glass with both hands and taking a long drink. “Y’gotta have some too!” Jules added. Mom-mode somewhat activated.

She stumbled to the bathroom quickly to brush her teeth, then she immediately burrowed under her sheets as she finished the last of her glass of water.

“Sit with me?” she asked, patting the space on the bed next to her. She was drunk and sleepy, but not ready to fall asleep just yet. “We can talk and stuff if you wanna.”

Her smile was gentle but genuine.

@aaron | 285 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

 

- TANK -

"I'll see you on the other side, drink in hand, smile on my lips."

He supressed a hiccup as she stumbled into the bathroom, Aaron taking another cup from the cupboard to the sink and filling it. He drank greedily, downing it quickly and letting out a little sigh. He was drunk, she was drunk. It was a cocktail of possible bad decisions waiting to happen. And right then, he was struggling with which was the worse one. Let her go to bed, or steal that kiss he'd promised her earlier. He set the glass down on the counter as she went back into the bedroom, following her and leaning against the door frame, arms folded. Then, she invited him over. He cocked an eyebrow, the quirk of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he stepped into the room, taking the covers and pulling them up and over her much smaller frame. Coming into a crouch next to her bed, he'd grin.

"I'll take the couch. You...should sleep."

She was probably about there anyway. Hell, he was a few minutes away from passing out himself, having finished three full bottles of booze plus a boot. He'd search her eyes for a moment, before grinning and reaching up, patting her hip before standing and walking toward the door. He'd kill the lights and give her a little wink, closing the door to about a foot open before walking toward the living room. Hands in his pockets, he looked around for a moment before nodding to himself.

"Yep, this looks good to me."

He pitched forward, face-planting in the middle of her living room, sleep hitting him like a ton of bricks before his body even hit the floor.

JUNIER of GS + Adox