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Prompt: "Kiss and make up"- Dex really, really mad with Sloane and Sloane trying his best to make up for it. 

Sloane loved date night, especially now that they didn’t have to go outside the city. With Sparks knowing about them, all they had to do was be discreet. Instead of having to drive upstate or to Jersey, they just made sure to stay away from headquarters. After a delicious dinner where Dex had eaten his weight in noodles, they were walking off some of their food in Central Park. It was a gorgeous night, but the most beautiful sight was that of his boyfriend walking in the soft glow of the park lamps and the moonlight in the night sky.

“Come here.” Sloane came to a stop and snagged a hold of the loop in Dex’s jeans, pulling him against him, and smiling when Dex wrapped his arms around Sloane’s waist. He leaned into Dex and bent his head down, murmuring quietly. “How about we go home, shower, and get into bed. We can watch some TV…” He trailed a hand discreetly down to Dex’s hip and squeezed. Maybe get cozy.”

Dex kissed Sloane with a hum. “How can I say no to that?”

“Freak fucker.”

They both turned, frowning at the two Humans standing there sneering at them in disgust. With a sigh, Dex took Sloane’s hand and tugged him along with him as they headed for the street. A shitty end to an otherwise perfect evening. At least Sloane wasn’t on crutches anymore. Not just because it meant he could pick up his pace, but more so he wasn’t tempted to knock some sense into these assholes.

“You’re disgusting. Spreading your perversion,” one man spat out at Dex as he and his friend followed Dex and Sloane. “Fucking an animal. It’s sick.”

Dex came to an abrupt halt, turning to the two men, his blue eyes blazing with anger. “What did you fucking call him?”

“Dex, leave it,” Sloane urged gently, putting his hand on Dex’s shoulder. “Let’s go.” Sloane was used to the names. To people spitting at his feet. He’d dealt with it all of his life, and made peace with the fact it would take time before the world came around to the idea that he was just a regular guy like every other guy, with a few Felid exceptions. Dex on the other hand, wasn’t used to it, and Sloane’s view on the matter was a sore point for his partner.

The man’s friend stepped forward with a leer. “He called your boyfriend an animal, a rabid beast that should be put down with the rest of the freaks.”

“You ignorant son of a bitch!” Dex lunged forward and Sloane caught him. He picked Dex up and moved him to one side, blocking his view of the two Humans.

“Babe, why don’t you go call us a cab, huh?” He cupped Dex’s face and smiled. “Let’s not have our evening ruined by these jerks. Come on.”

Dex inhaled deeply and let it out slowly through his mouth. He nodded. “Okay.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Dex’s brows drew together. “What? I’m not leaving you here with these assholes.”

“I can handle two Humans. I’m just going to talk to them, okay? Then I’ll be right beside you and we’ll go home and continue our date night.”

Dex was ready to argue some more but his phone rang. It was Cael.

“Go on. Talk to your brother, get us a cab.”

It was clear Dex didn’t want to, and if he didn’t have Cael on the other line, he probably wouldn’t have. As soon as Dex was out of sight, Sloane turned back to the two men.

“You know, we’re not going away,” Sloane said, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “So what then?”

“We’re going to change the world, put you animals back in your cages.”

Sloane nodded. “Right. I hate to break it to you, but the world’s already changed, and people like you will either have to resign to the fact that we’re not going anywhere, or you can be decent Human beings, and turn all that energy toward a cause that truly needs it.”

The first guy turned to his friend with a laugh. “Sounds like a load of Therian hippie bullshit to me.”

Well, he’d tried. Sloane shook his head and followed the path Dex had taken when something hard struck him in the back, knocking the wind out of him. He hit the ground with a groan and rolled onto his side when he was kicked in the stomach. Motherfuck!

“We weren’t done with you,” one man snarled.

Sloane let out a growl and lashed out, grabbing one by his leg and swiping it out from under him. He went down with a flurry of flailing limbs and colorful expletives. Sloane made to get up when he found himself surrounded. Shit. Where the hell had the other three come from? He put his hands up in front of him.

“Listen to me. You don’t want to do this.” Slowly he reached for the inside of his jacket where his badge was. Before he could pull it out, they were on him. A punch to the face split his lip, and a kick to the back of his healing leg had him seeing stars. He reached into his jacket and his badge fell onto the ground. Before he could grab it, one of the men snatched it up.

“Oh Fuck.” He stared at the badge tucked in the wallet before pushing his friends off Sloane. “We need to get the hell out of here.”

“What?” His friend snarled, ready to land another punch when he was shown the badge.

“He’s a THIRDS agent.”

The men flew off him and bolted. That was fine. Sloane had gotten a good look at them and even heard them addressing each other by their names. They’d be brought in by the end of tomorrow. With a groan, he pushed himself to his feet. He stretched out his leg. It was a little sore, but he’d be okay. At least until he got to the sidewalk where Dex was waiting for him. The moment Dex saw him, he rushed over.

“What the hell happened?”

“I got jumped.”

Dex stared at him. “Those guys jumped you?”

“And their friends.” Sloane tongued his split lip and winced. “Five in total. I’ll call it in tonight. Everything okay with Cael?”

Dex’s eyebrows nearly reached his hairline. “Is Cael—Are you fucking kidding me?”

“What?” Sloane cocked his head to one side. “Are you mad? Why are you mad?”

“I’m not mad,” Dex replied through his teeth. “I’m beyond mad.” He took a deep breath and calmed down. “We’re going home.”

“Okay.” Sloane had no idea what had gotten into Dex or why he was so pissed, but he agreed this wasn’t the place for an argument. Sloane hated arguing in public. He waited quietly as Dex called them a cab. As soon as they were in Dex’s living room, his boyfriend exploded.

“What the hell, Sloane?”

“What?”

“You’re really going to stand there and tell me you have no idea why I’m pissed off?”

Sloane shrugged. Shit. Bad move. Dex threw a hand up.

“Un-fucking-believable.”

Whatever it was, Sloane had fucked up. Bad. Dex was pissed at him. Not Dex pissed, but really pissed. He just wished he knew why.

“Could you at least tell me why you’re pissed at me? I just got jumped by five guys. I’m feeling a little sore.” It was clear Dex was doing his best to keep himself calm.

“You can’t keep doing this to me.”

“Doing what? For fuck’s sake, just say it.”

“You were in trouble and you didn’t call me.”

Was that it? Because Sloane hadn’t called him for help? “Dex, I’ve told you before. I’m—”

“So help me if you tell me it’s because you’re Therian….” Dex shook his head, unable to finish his sentence.

“I handled it.”

“Really? Is that what that was? How many more times do you have to end up in the hospital because you don’t trust in me? In us?”

Sloane frowned at him. “Bullshit. Next to Ash, there’s no one I trust more. If I didn’t have faith in us, I wouldn’t be here.”

“Really? Then why when it comes down to a fight, you push me out. I’m a trained agent. I can handle myself, and those assholes.”

“I know that.” This argument was stupid. Why couldn’t Dex understand? Sloane could take a hell of a lot more of a beating than Dex. Sloane was bigger, stronger, and healed quicker. The last thing he wanted was to see Dex hurt.

Dex held his bandaged arm up. “When we agreed on this, what did you tell me? That this was a reminder of us. To think about us.” He thrust a finger in Sloane’s direction. “You don’t get to pick and choose when to uphold that promise. We’re equal partners. At work, don’t I have your back?”

“Dex—”

“Do I or do I not have your back on the job?”

“Yes,” Sloane replied grimly. “I trust you to have my back.”

“Then why can’t you let me have your back outside of work? Do you know how that makes me feel?” Dex deflated, his eyes growing glassy. It broke Sloane’s heart. “Every day at work, I have to deal with the fact that I’ll never be as strong as my Therian teammates. I have to train harder, push myself as much as I can so I don’t let you or anyone down, but I understand, because that’s the nature of the job. I’m up against Therian perps who can kill me with one swipe of their paw.” He sighed. “What I’m not prepared to deal with is my own boyfriend believing I’m not enough.”

“Dex, I….”

Dex shook his head and turned to go upstairs. Sloane quickly caught up to him, taking hold of his arm.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that’s how I was making you feel.”

Dex nodded, but he didn’t look Sloane in the eye. His voice was quiet when he spoke. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“I’ll come with you,” Sloane said.

“I just need some time alone. Okay?”

Sloane swallowed hard and released him. “Okay.” He didn’t want to let Dex go, but if it was what his partner needed, so be it. He watched Dex go upstairs. They’d had arguments before, fought, shouted, but they never walked away from each other angry. Sloane didn’t like it. He’d really fucked up this time. What he had believed to be merely a biological fact, Dex had taken as a personal fault.

While Dex showered, Sloane sat on the couch thinking of all the times he’d stopped Dex from doing something because he was Human. In his mind, he’d been protecting someone he cared about, and then later someone he loved. In Dex’s mind, Sloane had been saying he wasn’t strong enough.

“Fuck.” Sloane ran a hand through his hair. He had to do better. Dex was the best thing to ever happen to him. He couldn’t fuck this up any more than he had.

Once Dex finished with the shower, Sloane took his turn. He hated the silence in the house. Dex’s house was never silent. There was music, laughter, joy. It was one of things Sloane loved about the place. It was always filled with love and happiness. Sloane would be damned if he let that change.

After he’d showered and changed into a T-shirt and pajama bottoms he left Dex curled up in bed and went downstairs. He made Star Wars shaped chocolate chip cookies using Dex’s favorite cookie cutters. Then poured a glass of milk, and arranged everything on the Death Star shaped tray. He wrote a small note and folded it up next to the cookies. Upstairs, he left it on the nightstand and came back downstairs. He went to the linen closet, pulled out a pillow and blanket before heading down to the couch. Good thing it was long enough for him.

Having no luck sleeping, he kept the TV on, grateful for the CSI marathon. Around two in the morning while Sloane deduced who this episode’s perp was, Dex appeared beside the couch in his black boxer-briefs, Classic Nintendo T-shirt, and orange socks. He folded his arms over his chest and fidgeted, but he didn’t say anything.

Sloane opened up his blanket and Dex hesitated for a second before joining him on the couch.

“Did you mean it?” Dex asked, allowing Sloane to pull him in close.

“Every word.” His note had been brief, but he’d meant it. Dex was the most precious gift he could have received in his life, and he’d never do anything to screw it up on purpose. “I love you, and at times I’m so scared that this is all going to go away, that I let my fears take over. I’m sorry I made you feel like you weren’t enough. We are equal, and I’m going to do my best to prove it to you every day.”

Dex nodded, a small smile coming onto his handsome face. “Thank you for the cookies.”

“Don’t suppose you left me any?”

Dex let out a snort. “Are you kidding? They were my bribe. I ate them all.” For emphasis, he booped Sloane on his nose on every pause. “Every. Last. Crumb.”

“I wasn’t trying to bribe you,” Sloane began when Dex arched an eyebrow at him. “Okay, maybe a little. I wanted to do something nice for you.”

“And they were delicious.”

Sloane eyed him. “All of them. Really?”

Dex gave his cheek a kiss. “Of course I left you some. They’re on the counter.”

“Aw, thank you.” Sloane couldn’t help but beam at him.

“I’m magnanimous that way,” Dex teased.

“You are. Very magnanimous.” He kissed Dex, reveling in the taste of him, in his warmth, and love. “I love you so much.”

Dex gave him a cheeky grin, and donned his best Han Solo impression. “I know.”

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Copyright © 2014 Charlie Cochet. All Rights Reserved. THIRDS published by Dreamspinner Press.