Punch Drunk Kiss

6

Tabitha anxiously watched the clock. He'd been assigned to a room upstairs, thankfully facing the outside of the Paradise, so he could see Harlan when she walked out later that day. It was only 8 AM. Tabby was too nervous to leave his room.

However, he had to show up for breakfast. He couldn't let Blaise get suspicious of him. The blonde man would never let him leave if Tabitha raised even a hair of suspicion. Reluctantly, Tabitha changed out of his night clothes, and headed downstairs. He was sure to take Mightyena with him, just in case. The hyena dog followed him down the spiral staircase, his claws clicking on the marble steps.

"Good morning, Tabitha," Blaise said unpleasantly. He was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. It was a surprise; Blaise never took time out of his day to bug even his employees.

"What do you want." Tabitha stopped and glared at him. Sensing the tension, Mightyena started growling, but Tabitha held his collar, restraining him.

"Nothing much." Blaise shrugged. "Why has Harlan been asking for you so much lately? She wouldn't shut up about you yesterday."

"Get out of my way, Blaise - we're just friends." Tabitha tried to step down to push past him, but Blaise threatened to force him back first up the stairs.

"I don't like this. I thought I told you to leave Harlan alone," the blonde man snapped, pointing a finger into Tabitha's chest.

Tabitha was silent.

"I can't have anyone interfering with my family. Should you keep this up, I will have you executed. I'll fire the gun myself if I have to," Blaise threatened him. He wasn't very intimidating, but Tabitha still felt uneasy.

"Shut up and move." Tabitha pushed him, and the blonde man stumbled, but let Tabby go. He was insane. Lashing out at his friends, now? What a fuckface.

Tabitha got his food and went to go see Harlan. He wasn't hungry, but he figured she was. He decided not to tell her what the wicked king had told him. That could wait. He knocked on her door, tray in one hand.

She answered, looking exhausted with Lantern in one arm. She rubbed her eyes, immediately perking up as he came into view. "Bee!" she said happily.

"Good morning. How are you feeling?" he asked warmly, coming in as she let him. He set the tray down on her nightstand. "That's for you."

"Thank you, Tabby. I'm feeling better. Sore but better." Harlan handed him Lantern so she could eat. Tabitha held the baby, making eye contact with him. Lantern cooed happily, a much different response than before.

"So.. uh.." Tabitha said.

"Yeah?" Harlan asked.

Tabitha was silent, still looking at Lantern.

"We're still on for noon, yes?" Harlan asked, her voice a little firm.

"Yes - of course," Tabitha said, surprised. "I wouldn't walk out on you like that."

Harlan nodded. "Come sit."

He obeyed, sitting closely with her. She put her arm around his waist, not looking at him. Tabitha watched her carefully, not able to reciprocate her show of affection since he was holding the baby.

"Are you flirting with me?" Tabitha teased.

"With you? Ew... no," Harlan teased back. They exchanged a laugh, leaning into each other. "Go put Lantern down for his nap. I want you," she whispered.

Tabitha stood, placing Lantern down in the little box. Harlan also got up, putting her arms around him. He was too tall for her to put her head on his shoulder, so she settled for his back.

"You're awful lovey today," Tabitha commented.

She giggled, releasing him. He turned towards her. "Come here, love," he said quietly, lifting her as she put her arms around his neck. They were about to exchange a kiss when Blaise came into the room, a knowing expression on his face.

Startled, Tabitha put Harlan back down. "Arceus above, Blaise, can't you knock?" Harlan snapped at him.

"You know I can hear the both of you?" Blaise challenged.

"So what? He makes a better boyfriend than you make a husband," Harlan retorted. "Get out."

Blaise raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything.

"Go. We'll discuss this later," Harlan demanded.

"Have it your way. I want to see you later," Blaise told her, turning his back on her and leaving. Harlan didn't even seem upset, moreso offended that he'd come in without prior warning.

Tabitha noted the way they treated each other. They obviously weren't happy with each other anymore, and it worried him that Blaise might lash out at her, physically. "Are you OK?" he asked her.

"I'm perfectly fine." Harlan didn't look at him. "I'm sorry he's like that. He's so paranoid and for what?"

"I've never seen him act like this in the years I've known him," Tabitha said, sitting with her again, but making sure to leave some room.

"It's the power gone to his head." Harlan shook her head. "He's wanted this for so long. He's becoming worse than Lusamine at this point."

"Man, whatever," Tabitha said, rather dismissively. "This isn't about him. This is about us."

Harlan looked at him from over her shoulder, a blush dusting her cheeks. Tabitha smiled at her.

"You know, Bee," Harlan said. "You were never evil. You were just deathly loyal. I knew that about you way back then. You're just misunderstood."

"And you just want what's best for yourself," Tabitha said. "In a good way."

Harlan smiled, fully turning around to face him. "Let's continue this later," she said softly. She reached up, her lips touching his, and they kissed. The kiss quickly spiraled out of control, leaving Tabitha on his back on the bed and Harlan straddling him. They were panting, staring at each other like this was the first time they'd done this.

"I... uh," Tabitha stuttered.

"Um... let me get off you," Harlan said quietly, blushing immensely. Tabitha sat up, not allowing her to. She was seated in his lap now, his hands on her waist. "Tabby?" she asked, unsure for the first time she had been with him.

"Shh," Tabitha chided.

"We're not gonna fuck, right?" Harlan asked, sounding like she was dying to know. Tabitha huffed a laugh.

"Only if you want to."

They both laughed, then Harlan got off him, dismissing him. "Get out of my sight," she said lightly.

"Later," Tabitha said with fake sarcasm, winking over his shoulder at her as he left.