Penumbra

Penumbra 4

Summary: Birdie meets the gang again and something bad happens to her Scrunchie

Warning: smut and softness, lil bit of Gang Luke proving his title and rep

Word Count: 5.5k

Chapter Song : I Wanna Be Yours - Arctic Monkeys

—

It was another two weeks before Birdie entered the bar again. On Luke's back, her arms wrapped around his front, Birdie was giggling as Luke bolted around, easily carrying the small girl as he ran in circles.

"Luke!" Birdie squealed, "you're making me dizzy!"

"That's the point sweetheart." Luke said, continuing to spin.

Neither of them had so much as acknowledged the other people in the room. Puppy stood behind the bar with Ashton, making a drink for Calum who was sitting at the bartop, next to Michael.

They all watched Luke and Birdie as they finally stopped spinning, approaching the bar. "you two look happy." Puppy mused.

"We are." Birdie said, hopping off of Luke's back so she could sit next to Calum. He swirled his drink and Birdie watched him, "what are you drinking?"

"Old fashioned." Calum said, holding it out to her.

Birdie accepted the glass and Luke grabbed it from her, "you are not going to like this." He assured her.

"I could!"

"You won't."

"Let me try." Birdie whined, lower lip pouting out.

Luke sighed and handed her the glass, everyone watched with amused expressions as she took a sip and immediately grimaced, sticking her tongue out as she quickly gave it back to Calum "ew!"

"Told you Princess." Luke grinned, he'd been standing behind her while she sat at the bar and his arms looped around the front of her body as he bent down to rest his chin on the top of her head.

Birdie turned her attention back to Puppy, "I wanted to say, I'm in awe of the fact that you're a bartender. Like I've heard about sexual harassment towards beautiful girls who work in restaurants and bars and I'm just... you're so fierce." Puppy's eyes had widened in surprise and Birdie continued, "I just, I don't think I'd be able to do what you do, I hate situations that feel dangerous, violence really scares me."

Calum choked on his drink and Luke smacked his back harshly, "violence is the worst." He agreed.

"Well..." Puppy struggled to find words, "I mean, usually people are pretty respectful, especially since it's not a secret that I'm with these two assholes." She nudged Ashton who grinned, pressing a kiss to her cheek, "but at the start this random guy was getting grabby and Calum beat him up pretty bad-" the look Luke was giving Puppy told her to stop but Birdie was watching the other girl with wide eyes.

"And then what?" Birdie asked.

"And then Calum felt really bad about it and apologized to the guy after he made sure the guy wouldn't do it again, right Cal?" Luke interrupted.

Calum set down his drink, turning his entire body to look up at Luke, "what?"

"you felt really bad, didn't you? Cuz we're not fans of violence in this bar." Luke stated.

Calum's eyes flickered between Birdie and Luke, noticing the way Birdie was hanging onto every word. He shot the rest of his drink, "only after the guy said he wouldn't do it again did I apologize." Luke gave Calum a look and he sighed, "because violence is bad, and I shouldn't have let my anger get the better of me."