Penumbra

Penumbra 2

Summary: Birdie and Luke continue to get to know each other but the fact that he's a gang member hangs heavily over him.

Warnings: smut

Word count: 4.9k

Chapter Song: Young God - Halsey

——

The second date was indeed at a bookstore. Luke found many old, worn out, once loved, poetry books and flipped through the pages, finding sappy poems to read out loud to Birdie as she hid her face with embarrassment. Other people in the store passed the pair and many watched with a smile as Luke made a fool out of himself just to earn a giggle.

When he walked her home after, once again, he didn't pressure her for a kiss and, once more, they both left feeling breathless and smiling like fools in love.

The third date consisted of the two of them going to a movie. It was an action movie, one of the superhero ones. Luke's arm slipped around Birdie's shoulders half way through and she immediately snuggled into his side. Luke smiled the rest of the film, resting his head on top of hers.

When he walked her home after, Birdie stopped at the door and turned to look at him, holding the half-eaten movie theatre popcorn bag rolled in both hands as she moved back and forth from her toes to her heels, expectation on her face.

She batted her lashes at him. Luke knew what she was asking for and he wanted to kiss her, but he didn't want to cross any boundaries.

When it became evident to Birdie that she'd have to make the first move, she simply threw her arms around the tall man's neck, getting on her tiptoes to press her lips to his. He reciprocated immediately, hands going to her waist as he bent down to give her better access. His lips were soft against hers, tongue teasing her lower lip which made her smile.

The bag of popcorn dropped to the sidewalk as her fingers tangled in his golden locks and he groaned slightly against her mouth, finally pulling away. He was breathing hard as he looked down at her, eyes dark. Birdie pouted and just like that, his lips were on hers again.

He kissed her like his life depended on it. The distance due to height became too much for him to bare so he simply lifted her up, squeezing her tight to his chest as she let out a squeal of delight that had his heart thundering in his ribcage.

Lips on hers, Luke breathed in the floral perfume she always wore, body relaxing at the soft, simple fragrance. There was something else as well, the smell of freshly made waffle cones and ice cream, sweetness that clung to Birdie like a second skin, and it always gave Luke a happy sense of deja vu and nostalgia. It reminded him of hot days in Australia when he was a child, his older brother buying him ice cream to save them both from the warm air if only just for a moment before Luke had to lick the now melted treat off his sticky fingers.

Birdie finally pulled away, grinning at him as he continued to hold her about a foot off the ground. He returned her smile, giving her a quick peck before setting her down. His hands lingered on her hips for a moment before he tore them from her waist, shoving them in his pockets or risk grabbing her again.

"Goodnight Luke." Birdie said, voice near a whisper.

A strand of hair had fallen from her messy bun and Luke couldn't help but push it behind her ear, something he'd been wanting to do for ages, "goodnight Birdie."

She turned to go, and Luke remembered the popcorn, forgotten on the sidewalk, "wait," he said, picking the neglected but otherwise intact bag off the ground to hand it to her, "don't want to forget this."