[Open - Irish Coffee]

[detectivecontrary]

Levi had been enjoying the pleasant weather they were having lately, which had been a nice change after the storms of a week or so ago. It wasn't quite warm enough for him to switch away from his regular morning coffee, but it was getting there.

Sipping from his mug, he took another bite of pastry before checking that morning's news paper. Since Folly was relatively small, nearly everything was news. There wasn't anything too interesting though, nothing he didn't already know from work, so he folded it carefully and left it for the next person.

Taking a bite of his Danish, Levi leaned back in the booth and enjoyed the idea of a relatively relaxing work day.

Comments

[irishcoffee]

Maggie walked out from the kitchen with a tray full of fresh muffins and set them on the counter as she put some in a basket for a pick-up order and others on a tray in the case. She wasn't quite whistling, not really humming...but the smile on her face was pretty radiant.

"Anything interesting in there, Detective?" she called across the shop.

[detectivecontrary]

"Weather's been surprisingly nice," Levi called to her, casually taking another sip of his coffee as he glanced across the shop at Maggie.

She was happy, far happier than she had been a week ago and that was... troubling. Not that he wasn't glad she was happy, it was just such a sudden turn around it worried him. Especially after what Bella had said about the cat.

[irishcoffee]

"Isn't it lovely? I think spring's finally come to stay."

She walked back into the kitchen and in the brief moment her feet were visible, it was clear her feet were literally not touching the ground.

[detectivecontrary]

"Must be because of your pussy," he said, pausing just the appropriate amount of time to add... "By which I mean your new cat, of course."

If that wasn't enough to get her to open up, then nothing would be. Well, that wasn't true, he could directly ask her but that wasn't nearly as fun.

[irishcoffee]

There was a clatter in the kitchen, the sound of a tray hitting the floor, and then some rather colorful cursing. "You're hysterical today, Jeans."

It was a few minutes later before she came back out, composed and bare feet firm on the ground. "Now. What were you babbling about?"

[detectivecontrary]

Levi grinned at the sound, rather pleased at himself for that one. She seemed to have learned some new words since the last time he had heard her curse like that. Either that or she had been holding back previously.

"A little bat saw you playing tag with a cat the other night," he said, glancing at her over the lip of his coffee mug as he took another sip.

[irishcoffee]

"Bat?" Maggie said, brow furrowed trying to figure out exactly what...oh shit.

The second the realization hit her it showed on her face. Immediately her eyes went to the table and a grin pulled at her mouth in memory. After a minute, she remembered Levi was sitting there and tried for a non-chalant shrug. "Oh, that. That was nothing. Just getting a resident settled in."

And oh, how he'd settled in.

[detectivecontrary]

"You were half naked, apparently," he added, just looking at her while she talked. He knew there was more to it than that. He could wait her out. He was a detective after all.

"She said you have a very nice ass."

[irishcoffee]

"Technically I'm half-naked right now," Maggie replied, waving it off. Then her eyebrow popped. "Your latest was checking out my ass? That can't be a good sign."

[detectivecontrary]

"My girlfriend noticed because you had on nothing but a man's shirt and were jumping through the air," Levi corrected her.

He did not inform her that he was horribly jealous of Bella in that regard either. As good as a friend as Maggie was, she had a great ass and he'd love to see it.

[irishcoffee]

Both of her eyes widened. "Girlfriend? That's kind of a big step for you, isn't it? I can't remember you ever using that word except to deny that some girl was your girlfriend."

[detectivecontrary]

"Don't change the subject," Levi said, giving her a look. It was kind of a big deal and any other time he would be willing to have that discussion with her, but not right now. Not while he was getting to the bottom of whatever this was.

[irishcoffee]

"There was a subject? I thought we were just talking." Maggie tried for cagey, even though she knew damned well it wouldn't work. Finally, she blew out a breath. She hated sometimes that he knew her better than she knew herself.

"Fine. What do you want to know?"

[detectivecontrary]

"The weather, you in just a shirt, and the big cat," he said, waving his hands to indicate all three of the topics. "And how they all tie together."

[irishcoffee]

"I'm happy, my nightgown got ruined when that punk I called you about decided to try and burn down the cafe and I didn't want to walk home naked, and the cat is a DI, a were, and he was walking me home."

All the truth, Maggie thought to herself. Even as she hoped it was enough, she was pretty sure he wasn't going to let it be.

[detectivecontrary]

"You do realize that Bella can smell like... everything about a person, right?" he asked. She hadn't mentioned anything about that, but Levi knew how to go fishing for information and while he hated to have to do with with Maggie, she wasn't giving him a choice. Okay, so she was and he didn't hate it, but that was besides the point.

"Moods and stuff like that."

[irishcoffee]

One eyebrow arched. "Bella can smell my...moods?" Maggie asked, skepticism all over her face. "Or are you trying to cryptically tell me that Bella could smell that I'd had sex."

The last was phrased like a question, but she'd said it as a statement. Because she wasn't going to wait for him to answer. "Fine. But you're not allowed to get on me about this, okay? His name is Jack." Even saying his name made her smile, and shiver.

[detectivecontrary]

"No, I was saying she could. She never said anything about sex. But since you just admitted it..."

Okay, he didn't need to let her know that he had tricked her but there was a sort of gleeful satisfaction to it about her digging this hole herself. Although she said he wasn't allowed to get on her about it, which made it less fun.

"Jack. And just saying his name makes you get all goofy? Does Jack have a last name?"

[irishcoffee]

"He does, and since I'd rather you didn't start plugging his name through databases, that's all you're getting from me." She took a deep breath. "And my rules are all shot to hell again. Shot, shattered, and scattered to the wind. And yes, just thinking about him, I'll start laughing, smiling at the stupidest things. I'm happy, Levi. Truly, stupidly happy for the first time since Dad died."

[detectivecontrary]

Levi nodded, although he was absolutely going to find out who this guy was and find everything he could about him. If Jack had so much as picked up his dry cleaning late, Levi was going to know about it and find out and judge him for it. It wasn't fair, but this was Maggie he was talking about.

"Mags..."

He didn't want to get on to her, especially since she was so happy. She was, as she said, stupidly happy.

"What about him makes you so happy?"

[irishcoffee]

"A question I've asked myself about a hundred times in the last few days, and I'm no closer to an answer. The nearest I can come to is a pull. He's a shifter, extreme senses, kind of like Bella. He can smell the elements in me - says I smell like campfires and rivers and mountain air. And there's something elemental about him. I can't stop touching him, and when I do, it's like I can feel my magic recharging. So there's that and then....," a cagey grin curled her lips, "let's just say we're compatible in a way I've never been with any other partner."

[detectivecontrary]

"That's great," he said, and he meant it. "But you're this crazy after only a week, because he recharges your magic?"

Levi thought it was probably more than that, but he wanted Maggie to figure out what that was, because if this guy didn't have a stellar personality then this wasn't going to last. Magic was great and all, but as a basis for a relationship it sounded shaky.

[irishcoffee]

"No, that was just a strange connection we both felt that first night and we didn't even figure it out until later. I don't know that I can put a name on it, not really. At first he was very distant, combative, get-the-fuck-away-from-me type. But I kept him talking, and talking. And when he did, the more he talked, the more I felt this connection. By the time he left in the morning. He was smiling, laughing. And so was I."

[detectivecontrary]

"You realize how worrying this all sounds, right?" he asked. His voice wasn't accusatory, but he wanted her to know that he was going to be concerned about it. Maggie was happy now but if something happened, it was going to be bad. Really bad, and he didn't want that to happen to her, not again.

[irishcoffee]

Maggie's eyes narrowed to slits. "More worrying than my best friend sleeping with probably the most lethal creature we've ever had in the Folly?"

[detectivecontrary]

"Anyone can be deadly. Someone's ability to kill isn't a measure of their worth or their capacity or incapacity for kindness," Levi said. He understood her point, he did. But Bella was a good person. Yes, she was incredibly deadly, but in some ways so were Levi and Maggie.

[irishcoffee]

"No, it's not, and I'm glad you're able to see that about her. It does my heart good to see how happy she's made you, to watch you walk like you're not carrying the world on your shoulders. Is it too much for me to ask that you look past whatever's worrying you to see the sunlight Jack's brought into my life?"

[detectivecontrary]

"Well that wasn't fair at all," Levi said, making a face at her argument. It wasn't fair because it was a perfectly sound argument he couldn't really argue with.

"But it's never too much to be happy. I'd never want to deprive you of that. I just want you to be open to thinking about if it's all physical or if there is something more, okay? I really hope there's something more, because I want you to be happy. I'm just worried."

[irishcoffee]

"I'd introduce you, but to say he's a private person is probably the biggest understatement of the century. As it is, I think he only told me as much as he did because he was utterly wiped out from fighting the little asshole and eaten up with guilt over hurting him. Even though the little rat bastard didn't deserve it."

Maggie couldn't help the smile, the blush to her cheeks. "Besides. Two alpha males probably would do more harm than good if they're both wearing their protective hats."

[detectivecontrary]

Levi didn't like it at all that Maggie wouldn't be able to introduce him to the guy. It set off alarm bells with all his cop instincts. For all he knew, this Jack guy orchestrated the attack on Maggie so that he could save her. He was keeping those suspicions to himself though.

"Well, you are all giddy, so that's something."

[irishcoffee]

"Better than torrential rain and lightning?" Maggie offered and reached over to take his hand. "I'm okay, Levi. He's okay. My magic was right when I wanted to send Bella back when she arrived, and it tells me that Jack's here for a reason. I might not know what reason right now, but I know it."

[detectivecontrary]

"Well, I hope that reason is to make you very, very happy," Levi said, giving her a genuine smile. He was still going to find out what was up with this guy, but he did hope the guy turned out to be a good person.

"Also, you should take up yoga. Whatever it is you two are doing, you're the one walking funny this time."

[irishcoffee]

The hum that came from her lips was downright sultry as she remembered just how...yeah, she needed to stop that train of thought right now.

"You may be on to something there. Flexibility would be a definite plus."

[detectivecontrary]

"Oh come on," Levi said with a laugh at the look on her face. "You've got to give me something. Is it all kitty-style, whatever that is, all the time?"

Levi realized that talking about their sex lives was an odd way for them to remain friends. He wondered if years ago they had subconsciously done so in order to keep a sort of barrier between themselves.

[irishcoffee]

Maggie suddenly found the table very interesting. "He, ah, found out my little secret. And, ah, well, I discovered a few things, too."

She had hinted over the years that she sometimes tended towards submissive, but she wasn't sure how much she'd let slip about that.

[detectivecontrary]

"And what did you discover?" Levi asked, arching an eyebrow. If she was avoiding telling him right out then it had to be either really embarrassing or really dirty. Either one would be just fine with him.

[irishcoffee]

"I'm not just a little submissive after all," Maggie said, eyes still on the table top. "It was like nothing I've ever experienced. Ever. Being with him. The before, the during, but it wasn't just that. Not even close. I didn't want him to leave after. I wanted to stay in that bed, curled up and talking to him all night long. I hated when he left that morning. I still have his shirt and I wear it to bed now so it's like he's back there with me. And not for sex, not entirely. Just...just for him."

She chanced a peek up at him, gauging his reaction.

[detectivecontrary]

"Because you feel safe," he said, giving her a small smile as he reached over and squeezed her hands. He could understand how that was a huge draw for her, why she would want that.

"Because he's strong and will take care of what you want. It's something you don't have to worry about. You're so used to taking care of everyone, so someone that wants to be in charge of you... I get that."

[irishcoffee]

Maggie blinked at him. "Well, shit. Until you put it that way, even I didn't understand it. I thought I was just...strange. On the slightly kinky or perverted side. Like I was weak or something."

Her eyes were back on the table, her shoulder shrugging slightly before she looked back at through her bangs. "It was just so...freeing."

[detectivecontrary]

"You are strange and if my dreams of you are any indication, also kinky. But not because of that," he said with a shake of his head. Maggie had enough of feeling strange in her life, she didn't need to feel it over what went down in the bedroom.

"Lots of people who have a lot of control over things in their life go the other route when it comes to sex. When you have a partner you trust and feel safe with, it's an especially big deal."

[irishcoffee]

"How did we even get on this subject?" Maggie gave a little half-laugh, "and can we get off it soon? And I really, really don't want to know about what kinky things I do when you're sleeping." Her eyes widened. "Please tell me you don't talk in your sleep. Because I don't want Bella coming after me in a jealous vampire rage."

[detectivecontrary]

"Oh, I have a feeling you've been getting off quite a bit, Mags," Levi said, unable to resist as he flashed her a broad smile. She had practically walked right in to that one.

"And I don't think you have to worry. She was surprised to find out we hadn't ever slept together but, I think... at least I hope she knows, she doesn't have to worry about anyone else."

[irishcoffee]

She couldn't deny it, and she really, really didn't want to. Hell, she didn't even care that she'd walked into his joke. She was too busy trying not to freaking purr again. "More than I ever thought possible."

Maggie picked up her mug and blew warmth back into it. "You hope she knows? Love, that's danger right there. If you want to make sure she knows, tell her outright. Assumptions are only going to come back and bite you in your rather well-formed ass." She paused, grinned, "and not in the good way."

[detectivecontrary]

"I have made it clear to her, she just... doesn't accept things like that so easily, sometimes," he said, frowning a bit. Bella had trouble believing good things about herself sometimes. Levi hoped that, gradually, he could change that about her.

"She's seen herself as a monster for so long it's hard for her to see herself as anything else."

[irishcoffee]

"If anyone can convince her, it's you. You could probably convince a polar bear to buy air conditioning," Maggie smiled fondly. "Give her time, she'll see herself through your eyes eventually. Took me a while, but I got there, too."

[detectivecontrary]

"I am very charming and convincing, aren't I?" he said with a grin. If Maggie thought that he could get through to Bella then he was pretty sure that it could happen. He just hoped it didn't take quite as long as it did with Maggie.