pullmeoutalive | Ramey

[ He takes the box gingerly, blinking when the box ends up heavier than he expects. ]

What's the occasion?

In part, it's a thank you. From me and from all the girls.

[ She shrugs a little, taking a seat on the edge of the coffee table. ] It seems kind of a appropriate to give it to you now, considering what happened tonight.

... Okay, well, now I'm curious.

[ He steps forward, placing the box on the table beside her and kneels in front of it. Carefully, he lifts the lid. ]

[ OH GOD IT'S A HORRIBLE MONSTER WHAT HAVE YOU DONE-- okay, no, Peter has no actually opened Pandora's Flat White Box. What he finds when he lifts the lid is... a coat. Leather, which explains the weight, in a deep red. Emblazoned in gold on the shoulder is the outline of a griffon- the Griffonix's logo. ]

Some of the girls mentioned it was about time we got you a uniform.

[ He lifts it out of the box slowly, stunned into silence, and runs his fingers over the emblem on the upper arm. Even now, he's still wearing his old jacket with its flame symbol – almost like its a bad habit. It's one of the few things he had on him the day he left, and, you know, it's comfortable.

So, yeah, he's long overdue for a change. ]

I—

[ He looks up at Madigan, expression still slack. ]

I don't know what to say.

You don't have to say anything. [ The rough night he's already had aside, she already got one thank you out of him this evening. She knows from experience that Peter has a hard time expressing gratitude, so any more than that is going to be difficult. ]

Go ahead and try it on.

[ He shrugs out of his coat, folding it and setting it on the floor beside him. He pulls the jacket out of the box and slips it on. Surprisingly, it fits pretty well. ]

I— This is awesome. Seriously. I don't— [ He cuts himself off, because he can sense he's about to spiral into a babbling mess. He smiles a little, something small and genuine. ]

Thank you. I can't believe you guys did this.

[ Oh, well. It seems she stands corrected- she did get another thank you out of him after all. More than the expression of gratitude, it's that smile that catches her off-guard. Something flutters in her chest, and she has to look away for a second to tamp that feeling down. ]

Some of those girls owe you their lives. It's the very least we could do.

[ Once she's sure she won't be caught again by the look on his face, she glaces back, leaning over to adjust the jacket a little, flashing him a flirty little grin, Because that's how she deals with things, apparently. ] And I do love a man in uniform.

[ Another little laugh, but it's a touch more heartfelt this time. ]

I'm gonna have to start wearing a sign to remind you I'm more than just eye candy, aren't I?

[ Once she's finished fiddling with his jacket, he gets to his feet, arms slightly outstretched. ]

So? How's it look?

It might help to have a reminder.

[ As he stands, she leans back, supporting her weight on her hands, and gives him a once-over. ]

I'd say you look pretty amazing.

[ His nose wrinkles a little, and he hunches his shoulders, affecting a bashful sort of look. ]

Aw, shucks.

[ But he ditches the act in favor of pulling his arm forward, examining the griffon logo on the jacket's arm. He smiles a little. ]

This was a nice touch.

I thought it would be nice for you to look official, no matter what you're doing.

[ Whether he was patrolling the club or rescuing girls, she wanted his ties to the club to be official. Or at the very least official looking. ]

Oof. This arrangement is starting to feel pretty legitimate, here. If you try to foist business cards on me next, I might just have to walk.

Ah... shit. Um. Give me a second, I need to cancel an order with the printing company.

[ He snorts, straightening out the jacket and adjusting the sleeves. ]

Hope it wasn't too big an order.

[ He kneels back down, scooping up the old jacket. For a second or two, he weighs it in his hands, his thumb brushing across the flame emblem on the shoulder, before he folds it up and stuffs it into the white box. ]

I, uh. [ He swallows, frowning down at the old garment to avoid looking over at Madigan. ] The guys didn't cause anymore trouble after you had Hannah evacuate me, did they?

Only for themselves. After that little outburst, none of the girls would even give them the time of day.

They left feeling pretty... unsatisfied.

[ Another little laugh, and he puts the lid over the box. ]

Well, at the very least, I guess we can all safely say this night did not go the way any of us planned. That's gotta be some kinda consolation, somehow.

Nights like this happen every now and then.

Are you gonna be okay?

[ Well, that's a difficult question, and for a second or two, he flounders. ]

... I dunno.

[ He smiles a little ruefully, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. ]

I mean, tonight's been kinda shitty, and I won't lie, I could've gone at least another year without seeing any of those guys again. I'm thinking maybe at least a few stiff drinks are in order before I turn in, but—

[ He tugs absently at his sleeve before nodding. ]

Yeah. I think I'm gonna be fine.

[ She smiles at him, something soft and warm in her expression. She gets where he's coming from, but she's glad that it seems he's going to stay. ]

Do you still want to stick around for Hamburger Helper? I don't like to brag, but it's my specialty.

[ For a second, he seems caught off-guard by that smile of hers, and without realizing it, he smiles a little in return.

The comment, though, snaps him out of whatever daze he was in and earns another snort – not the most gentlemanly sound he could've made, but there it is – and he shrugs out of his new coat, folding it carefully. ]

Yeah, so long as you're making it. Pretty sure you don't want me within five feet of a stove, anyway.

[ There’s a part of her that finds she likes that little smile of his, but there’s another part that tells her this is dangerous. She knows, which is why she looks away and wanders into the kitchen. ]

Of course! I’m a great cook. You know, as long as it comes in a box and tells me what to preheat the oven to.

[ He follows her as far as the entryway of the kitchen, leaning against the wall and folding his arms over his chest. ]

Pretty sure that’s the only practical way to cook, anyway. Simple instructions with helpful little pictures.

The pictures are a must.

[ More often than not, Madigan just thrives on takeout- usually there’s always something open, no matter the time of night. Vegas is kind of great like that ]

I also have ice cream if you want dessert.

Dinner and ice cream, huh? [ He lets out a breath, as if he were impressed. ] If this is the treatment I get every time I have a shit day, I should have shit days more often.

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