A Slice of Hell 5
Banner found on Pinterest; will credit artist if I find out who it is
Title: A Slice of Hell 5
Author: enchanted_jae
Fandom: Cal Leandros
Author's note: In a perfect world, we would all treat one another with kindness and respect, our pets would live as long as we do, and Niko would never have cut that glorious long blond fall of his hair.
Characters: Cal, Niko, Robin
Rating: PG13
Warning(s): Language, first person pov (Cal's)
Word count: 580
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of Rob Thurman, et al. This drabble/fic was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for:
♦ dove_drabbles Prompt No. 115 - Break the mold
♦ ficlet_zone Prompt No. 62 - Quantum Leap. I chose: Her Charm, Promised Land.
Summary: Cal returns to find his brother and his friend are up to something.
I returned from Central Park feeling loose-limbed and almost mellow. I did manage to find the nymph Charm by myself. It wasn't difficult. She smelled like clover. Now I did, too. Her charm was as effervescent as ever.
The apartment was quiet when I let myself in. I turned to look at Niko's anal schedule, which he kept posted by the door. There was nothing on it for tonight. He should have been home. I drew my Desert Eagle, put my worry in a choke hold, and took a deep breath. Nothing smelled off. No blood, no taint of adrenaline.
Light spilled into the hallway, where Nik's bedroom door was ajar. I took two steps in that direction and pulled up when I heard quiet conversation. For one horrifying moment I wondered if Robin really had managed to talk Niko into bed. Nik's room, as pristine and precise as he was himself, must seem like the promised land to Goodfellow, especially if he could get my brother out of his clothes.
Robin's chuckle floated out into the hallway. It was low and sexy, the kind of laugh that could make anyone within hearing need a cigarette. Nik responded, although I couldn't make out the words. I froze in place and started to sweat. Did I really want to know what was going on in there?
I took a deep breath. The only thing in the apartment that smelled like sex was me. I reholstered my weapon and approached Nik's open door. Cautiously, I peeked around the jamb.
Niko was balanced on a ladder nearly two stories up, measuring one of the odd, horizontal windows in our converted garage. Goodfellow was standing on the floor. I guessed he was meant to be steadying the ladder, but he was studying Nik's ass. He turned his head and grinned at me.
"Ah, the prodigal brother returns. And how was the fair Charm?"
"Charming," I replied. "What are you guys doing?"
"We've discussed putting bars on these windows," said Niko.
I'd lost count of the number of monsters who'd gotten in here via those goddamn windows. At least when they came to us we didn't have to hunt them down.
"Robin knows a guy who can do it for a reasonable fee," Nik added.
"Don't tell me, let me guess," I said. "Former participant in one of your orgies?"
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Robin said with a sniff of disdain. "You're not jealous, are you, Caliban? I've told you you're welcome at any orgy I host."
"Yeah, no thanks," I muttered. That was Goodfellow for you. I'd like to say he was one of a kind, but the truth was pucks were all alike. Exactly alike. There was no way to break the mold when your species reproduced via mitosis.
Just out of curiosity, I asked, "Why are you measuring the windows in here and not my room?"
"Because your room is a toxic dump," Nik said.
"This room has the best view," Robin added, eyes once more glued to Nik's assets.
"The windows face the same street," Niko commented while jotting a note on a slip of paper.
I face-palmed. "He's not talking about the view out the window, Cyrano."
Nik glanced down at Robin, who was smirking up at him. His gray eyes narrowed. "Now that Cal is here to assist me, you can leave, Goodfellow."
Robin splayed a hand over his heart in feigned dismay. "And miss this view?!"
A Slice of Hell 6