I'm His

16

Chance and I spend the rest of the day locked up in his room. We don't talk much, content to be in each other's company for a while. 'I missed this so much.' Chance has his head resting against my chest, arms locked around my waist. I stroke through his thick blond hair, kissing his forehead occasionally, telling him I love him.

"As nice as this is..." Eventually, Chance pulls away from me. He stretches, looking like a large, satisfied cat. "Right now we have some pressing matters to attend to." I wink at him, trailing my hand down his bare stomach.

"Is that what the kids are calling it these days?" Chance actually turns red. Rolling away from me to try and hide his blush, he coughs once.

"Baby, we can have a day long marathon some other time. Don't tempt me." I laugh. Rolling out of bed, Chance searches on the floor for his phone. "I'm gonna go call our dirty fed. See you at the meeting place, baby."

~~

When the time rolls around, the gang and I meet Derek on the rooftop. As much as I don't like him, I'm still somewhat grateful to see him. "I know the phone lines can't always be trusted, but we can't meet so frequently in person, either. My connection to the Governor-" Chance lifts both his hands, eyes closed.

"Stop." Derek closes his mouth, grim. "Your help has been much appreciated. And it won't go without reward. But I called you here to discuss the property laws we were trying to erect." Chance brings up, and Derek frowns.

"It's been an uphill battle. He won't be swayed on this subject." Chance smirks at him.

"Good. Because I've changed my mind." Derek has his hands deep in his pockets, stress lines creasing his forehead.

"Well that's...a relief. But I would appreciate if you didn't ask for favors...unless you were dead set on seeing them through completion." Derek seems shocked, but his relief is noticeable.

"I will. This was a mistake that won't happen again." I see my own relief mirrored in Derek's expression. Some of the weary lines around his face soften up, and he sighs. 'This is a big step towards fixing things.' I reach out and take Chance's hand, solidly standing beside him as he and Derek begin discussing their options.

"Before you leave, I feel I should offer you a drink." Chance smiles, but there's no real emotion there.

"Oh. That's not-" Phaedra cuts Derek off.

"We insist!" Like magic, she appears with a glass of brandy for everyone. She sidles up next to Ash, giving him a friendly nudge, his glass just a little more full than everyone else's.

"Our relationship shouldn't just be based on you following orders, Derek. We're on equal footing, here." I clink our glasses together, and Derek blinks at me in surprise. "So drink with us." He looks suspicious at first, unable to hide the frown that flits across his face. 'I don't blame him. Acting sort of friendly to him after I've given him the cold shoulder the whole time since I've met him would probably make him a little more than just cautious.'

"You are truly the strangest bunch I've ever worked with." Then he laughs, under his breath, and knocks back the glass in one shot. "Another one?" We procure a bottle, passing it around as the sun starts to melt underneath the horizon.

"Now that the serious business is done, it's time to unwind a little." She pulls out a deck of cards from her back pocket, shuffling them with an easy grin on her face.

"You're welcome to stick around a little longer if you like, Derek." Marcus invites, a loose smile on his face similar to Phaedra's.

"I think I would like that. Very much." Sitting down next to Marcus, Derek chats quietly with the lawyer. I scoot a little closer to Chance's side, feeling at ease. Once Derek grabs a cab home, we disperse to our rooms. I stay outside a bit longer, talking to Hideyoshi and helping him re-bandage some of his injuries.