Hero and Elaine sat on the low wall during break that night, Elaine having broached the subject they had touched on earlier that day. Hero had remembered to put up his shield, noting Hawk’s discomfort. He had sent a wave of reassurance before it had gone up, but Hawk still wasn’t happy. It didn’t matter that they were still physically close, if several yards apart so Elaine could have this conversation with him in private.

“You need to tell him, Elaine,” Hero said, not for the first time.

“I know,” she sighed, swinging her legs. “And I will, before I move in.”

“Why not now?
“I’m scared…” She looked up at him, her eyes worried. “Not that he’ll be mad or anything. He’s told me how he would love to have a family someday. But what if he wanted us to be married first? And we’ve only been together a few months, what if he thinks it’s too soon?” She wrapped her arms around her stomach. “What if I think it’s too soon?”

“I thought you guys were using protection?”

“We are, but it isn’t like we haven’t done it a few times without them.”

“Aren’t you on anything?”

She shook her head. “I’m allergic to it. Whatever is in it, my body rejects it, no matter what kind it is. Even the IUD was a bust, remember?”

Hero did remember. She had it when they were in college and it had somehow moved and caused her excruciating pain, sending her to the hospital. She had to have it surgically removed and Hero had helped take care of her during her recovery.

Hero sat up straight, inhaling deeply. “Well, it isn’t like I can rag on you about that too much, anyway.”

“You guys aren’t using any, either?”

Hero shook his head. There was no point in telling her there wasn’t a need since Hawk’s cells, and now his, were able to destroy any and all foreign bacteria and viruses. Not that they had anything to worry about to begin with. What he did say was, “We’re both clean so it’s not an issue.”

“That’s a relief,” she said, her eyes glancing in the direction their boyfriends were. She had heard of Hawk’s reputation, too. It was natural she would be concerned for Hero. She looked back at him. “Regardless, it still happened.” She bit her lip. “What should I do?”

“Why are you asking me? This is your choice, not mine. His, too, I should add.”

“‘Cause you’re my bestest friend in the world and I value your opinion above all others.”

He glowered at her. “Rude.”

She gave him a wide smile and tucked some of her freshly dyed pink hair behind her ear, revealing two piercings at the top of her ear, one a flower, the other a heart.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Do you remember back when we were in high school and we talked about what we wanted to do when we graduated?”

“You said you were going to be a film composer.”

“And you said…?”

She gave a small smile. “Be a teacher.”

“You love kids, Elaine, you always have. You’re dating a rather large one, in fact.” They both looked back in Hawk and Jordan’s direction just in time to see Jordan attempt a run up on the wall and slam into it instead, Hawk laughing at him.

Hero looked back at Elaine and smiled. “So, what’s the question again?”

She leaned her head on his shoulder. “There isn’t one,” she relented. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, giving her a squeeze and a kiss on the top of her head.

“You’re going to be a great mom, Elaine. Don’t even worry about it. You do need to talk to him about it pretty soon, though, especially before you move out and leave me.”

She laughed. “I’m not abandoning you, Hero.”

“Suuure.”

“Still, I don’t like the idea of leaving you on your own. Are you sure you’ll be okay? Hawk doesn’t exactly live super close and we’ll be on the other side of town.”

Hero forced back a grin. “Trust me, El, I’ll be just fine. I told you, don’t worry so much about me. Plus, I’m still going to help you with the penalty fees for breaking out early.”

“You know you don’t have to, right?”

“I want to. You’re not leaving me for some drug dealing low life who beats you so I’m more willing to let you go.”

Elaine threw her hands in the air with an exasperated sigh. “I’m not leaving you, you brat!” 

Hero laughed, dropping the shield. Hawk immediately grabbed Jordan by the collar and dragged him back so fast Jordan’s feet barely made purchase on the ground as he demanded to be released.

Hero jumped off the wall and went to Hawk, sliding his hand smoothly into Hawk’s, sharing what he could without words. Hawk squeezed his hand. He approved. 

“Everything okay?” Jordan asked, wrapping his arms around Elaine, standing between her knees as she remained on the wall. 

She kissed him. “Everything’s fine.” She brought his head closer to hers and whispered something in his ear. He narrowed his eyes, suddenly worried, but he nodded.

They were walking back into work when Hawk and Hero’s steps faltered. Anxiety drifted through the link but they didn’t let it show.

“It might not be that bad,” Hawk whispered.

“I hope not.”

Hawk frowned as something caught his eye. Hero followed his gaze toward Alerik who was standing a little ways from the building, gazing up at the sky, his expression more severe than usual. After a moment, he lowered his gaze, directing it toward Hawk. They stared at each other a moment, Hero feeling the waves of disgust ripple through his boyfriend as they walked on.

“You’re being dramatic,” Hero said, rolling his eyes.

“I feel violated when he touches me with those dead, gray eyes,” Hawk said, shuddering. “Violated!”

Hero laughed as they stepped into the building. They forgot all about Alerik and his strange behavior, but kept the shifting in the back of their minds as they headed to the back room. Hawk gave Hero a kiss before they separated, making his way to the main freezer, and grabbing a pallet jack as he went. Jordan met up with him a moment later, talking about nothing of great importance. Elaine ducked into the dairy cooler, greeting her coworker. Charlotte intercepted Hero at the packaged meat cooler to discuss the next section they would be working on, making sure it was fully stocked for the upcoming holiday.

Will it shift again?

Probably…anytime between now and tomorrow morning…you’ll know before it happens.

Hawk was wrong; they never sensed it coming at all.

-*-

It happened suddenly, with no warning, no sign. The news reported it later as an act of God. Those who lived through it said it was like trying to escape a war zone. The one thing everyone did agree on, however, was that the earthquake that devastated the lower west side of the city was no ordinary earthquake.

-*-

Hero and Hawk were in the packaged meat cooler hiding behind a large steel shelf loaded full with boxes and boxes of bacon, stealing a few minutes to make out before Charlotte caught them. Hawk had Hero pinned against the wall, Hero’s legs wrapped around his waist, his hands tangled in Hawk’s hair. Hawk braced himself against the wall with one hand, the other arm around Hero’s waist. Their tongues moved against and around each other, licking, sucking, and biting until their breath steamed around their faces, their lips swollen and red. 

“Are you sure you still want to hang out with Elaine after work?” Hawk moaned. “You’re driving me crazy pulling my hair.”

“I promised, babe,” Hero said, licking the tip of Hawk’s nose. “Just like you promised Jordan you’d hang out with him tomorrow.”

“Dammit,” Hawk muttered, kissing him again. “Fine, then you’re all mine after work tomorrow.”

They both sensed Charlotte approaching and they untangled themselves from the wall. Smoothing out their clothes, they kept grabbing and nipping at each other’s lips, teasing and torturing each other, testing their limits. Finally, Hero pushed him away, giggling. 

“Get out of here, you’re going to get me in trouble.”

Hawk walked away backward, tugging the top of his hoodie down, exposing his collarbone, smiling wide, the tip of his tongue on his fang, his intention very clear.

Blushing, Hero pushed him toward the door that led to the floor. He got Hawk out just as the back door opened, Charlotte walking in. 

“Hey, there you are,” she said with a smile. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

Hero shrugged, running a hand through his disheveled blonde hair, hoping she didn’t notice. “Sorry, I was trying to find that bacon Greg was talking about.”

Charlotte cocked one eyebrow. “For ten minutes?”

“To be fair, there’s a lot of bacon,” Hero said, jutting his thumb at the steel shelves.

She stared at him, not buying it for a second. “Uh huh.” She shook her head and grabbed the case in question. “Oh look, here it is.” She turned and headed back out the door. “Your belt is undone.”

Hero froze and glanced down, grabbing at his waistband. He wasn’t wearing a belt.

Charlotte glanced back and grinned. “Got ya.”

Hero blushed and put his hand on his face, shaking his head. You’re gonna be the death of me, Hawk Helman.

Hawk’s laughter warmed him as he moved toward the door. 

His heel made contact with the concrete, the sound reverberating around the cold room like the click of a trigger a split second before the explosion.

-*-