Instant Family (SWSH Fanfic)

Feisty...?

So many thoughts were racing through Bea's mind.

What time is it? How did Gloria get here? Why was she with my brother? How did Allister even get out??

Gloria's grin wavered ever so slightly, Bea could see a glint of perspiration on her brow and neck as she huffed and readjusted a sleeping Allister.

"So uhhhh... where do you want him?" Gloria asked expectantly, shifting about on her porch.

Bea snapped back to reality and stepped towards Gloria, "Here," she said gently, "I'll take him."

Gloria obliged, heaving with the last of her strength, meeting Bea halfway as her strong, tan arms took over.

The transition was less than graceful, Bea got strands of her bangs in her face. Gloria took note, pausing as she gently brushed her fingertips against Bea's forehead and placing her other hand on her back to steady her balance. She could feel Bea's warmth through her tank top as a fierce blush flooded her cheeks.

"You got him? Hey, is everything okay?" Gloria asked sweetly as Bea took a step backward, her wide eyes meeting Gloria's.

Hooooookay wow, say something dummy, say anything, wow her eyes are so pretty she's so—

"Did I— do I have something on my face? Earth to Beaaaa" Gloria waved her hand in front of her face.

"Oh! Uh? Well I — we should— want some water??" Bea fumbled her words as she made room in her doorway for Gloria to step inside. Gloria made her way through, side-stepping as Bea bumped the door shut with her hip.

"I've got some questions for you actually, I'm going to get this trouble maker upstairs to his room— you can take a seat wherever you want." Bea's voice and cool demeanor returned to her normal, proper self as she gestured to her living room, looking back as she took her first step on the stairs. "I'll be back down soon, okay?"

She started up the stairs once Gloria gave her a nod and a smile.

-•-

Gloria's arms were killing her. Sure, Allister was light, but she just walked the better part of a couple of miles over to Bea's house. She collapsed on the sofa, taking note of the perfectly neat home. Not a single speck of dust could be found on any surface, everything seemed to be exactly in place. She felt bad, like she was disrupting some feng shui just by existing and being a tired, clammy mess.

Gloria closed her eyes,

What a weird night... like really weird. Bea was definitely... different, I've never seen her stutter or be so shy, huh...

Gloria continued to reflect on the night, rubbing her hand on the smooth surface of her dusk ball as she waited for Bea to come back downstairs.

-•-

Bea balanced Allister on her hip, stabilizing him with her left arm as she used her right hand to turn the knob on his door. The sheets on his bed made a triangle, giving Bea the perfect pocket to lay him down in.

Once he was settled in bed, she gingerly lifted his head, undoing the strap that secured his mask.

Bea jolted her hand backward as she saw two violet eyes illuminate the mask. Allister's hand grabbed her wrist as he sprang into consciousness.