A good mood for Hawk Helman meant a bad day for Alerik Albright, and caused a nervous twitch in Jordan Franks’ left eye. It wasn’t that Hawk was going to be conspicuously nasty to Alerik, quite the contrary. Everything he would do was inconspicuous and almost subliminal. It was meant to be as annoying and frustrating for Alerik as it was fun and amusing for Hawk.

Jordan was the one who usually roped into Hawk’s schemes and more than once he nearly got caught. The few times he wasn’t involved, he was on edge waiting for something to happen.

Tonight would be one of those nights. 

Unbeknownst to Jordan and everyone else, the demon Hawk had fed on a good sized human the night before and was far less moody than he normally was, his power much more controlled. Tonight was all about stealth and subtlety. And, with Charlotte off for the night and no one to babysit him, Hawk was free to use his abilities to his heart’s content.

All night long, as they worked, Jordan, Elaine, and Hero kept waiting for something to happen. Whenever Hawk would walk by Jordan, he would shoot him a grin or a wink but say nothing. There were a few times he would disappear for a few minutes then come back like he had just gone to the bathroom. 

It was when he walked by eating a burrito that Jordan knew something had happened. Hawk didn’t eat at work. Ever.

At break, Jordan was at the wall with Elaine and Hero, pacing back and forth, unable to stay still, waiting for the inevitable eruption that was bound to occur.

“What the hell has that fool been doing all night?” he muttered. “I don’t know what it is between him and Alerik, but whenever he gets like this, he becomes like some super ninja, attacking him discreetly in the dark. I swear, he has poison traps or something laying out all over the place where he knows Alerik works. Maybe even a tripwire set up so when he kicks it, arrows shoot out into his eyes.”

Hero and Elaine watched him with amusement as he continued to pace and grumble and worry out loud.

“You wanna know what Hawk did once that nearly got my ass in trouble? Flipped every damn can over and then had me move stuff around on the shelves while Alerik was taking a piss. The dude is so anal about how those shelves look and where things go, he flipped his shit when he came back and saw it. I was just at the end of the aisle when he got there, too.”

Elaine almost choked on her sandwich while Hero covered his mouth to hide the huge grin that was pulling at the corners. He was taking a bite of his own sandwich when he saw Hawk striding up to them, as carefree as a bird, his dark red hair pushed back off his face, his amber eyes shining.

Hero’s face warmed almost instantly. Damn, he’s so hot…

Hawk seemed to falter in his steps, something passing over his eyes but it was so brief no one caught it. 

“Alright, motherfucker, what have you done now?” Jordan demanded, his finger pointed in Hawk’s direction.

“Me?” Hawk said, putting his hand on his chest, affecting a cherubic look on his gorgeous face. “Why, whatever do you mean, Jordan? I’ve done nothing but focus on my work all night long.”

“That’s what I’m worried about! What work?”

“Good work.” His grin suggested anything but.

“What exactly did you do?” Hero asked.

Hawk shrugged. “Can’t say, really.” He pulled out his phone and his eyes widened in excitement. “Make room.” He pushed his way in between Elaine and Hero, careful not to touch the latter, and leaned back on his hands, his face to the sky, eyes closed. “Three…two…one…”

POP!

All heads turned toward the building.

POP!

A few people walked slowly up to the main entrance doors so they could look inside. 

POP! POP! POP!

“Oh my god, did you see that?” someone exclaimed, laughing. There was a flurry of excitement as more people crowded around to watch the action that was occurring just beyond into the aisles.

POP! POP! POP! POP POP POP!

“AHHHHHH! I’LL KILL YOUUUUUU!”

The people at the door sprang back laughing as it burst open and Alerik stormed through, covered in streamers, confetti, and glitter, screaming and trying to pull the mess off his clothes and out of his perfectly styled hair, now disheveled and hanging in his face.

Elaine, Jordan, and Hero, all slowly looked at Hawk who merely sat there, leaning back, smiling. 

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