triskehale | date night

Entry tags:

barry

date night

Derek has a lot more time on his hands now that he isn't working the food truck, and he's doing his best to find ways to fill it. He's made some improvements to the cabin, and now he looks at the place that was once a place for him to be alone and wonders if its too small. He wonders if maybe Barry might want to find a place of their own together. The thought scares him and exhilarates him all at once, and he pushes it aside to think about later. Things are so good between them, and he's a little worried to press his luck.

Since the truck has been closed, Derek's Friday nights are free again. Barry is at the station, no doubt cooped up in his lab, and Derek decides to see if he can go coax him out. It's a little strange to walk through the police station, even as often as he finds himself there now. He still has a bit of a reputation there, thanks to his history of showing up with bleeding criminals, and now he's also known as the boyfriend of the cute new forensic scientist.

He waves at a few people, avoids small talk with a few others, and finally breathes in relief once he finds Barry's lab. He's the only one inside, sitting in the moonlight pouring in through the window, and Derek knocks on the door frame. "Hey," he says quietly. "Must be a hell of a case."

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"Oh, yeah," says Barry, nearly groaning when Derek's thumb slides against the tightest part of his neck. No wonder he's got a headache. "For me, at least, if not for anyone involved in this case. There's kids," he says, "And a dead mom, and it looks like the dad did it, and I just - "

Barry breaks off until his voice stops shaking. "Sometimes I really hate this job."

Knowing what Derek does of Barry's past, it's easy for him to see why this case might be particularly difficult for him. Derek's brow furrows and he leeches the pain from Barry's body, feeling the brief echo of a headache before it all fades away.

"That's awful," he says quietly, pulling over a chair and dropping gracefully into it. He presses his knee to Barry's and reaches out to take his hand, wishing not for the first time that he was better with his words. But sometimes unspeakably terrible things happen, things that have nothing to do with super powers or magic. Humans, Derek's found, can sometimes be terrible all on their own. "Is the guy in custody?"

Barry nods. "I've run every test I can think of, but everything just points back to him. I know I'm not the one making that little girl an orphan, but it's gonna be me on the stand telling the judge he did it, and that's what's gonna happen anyway."

Barry exhales and presses his knee hard against Derek's, grateful for the warmth of his hand. "I just hope that somewhere in this city is another Joe who can give her a life again."

"Barry, it's not your fault," Derek says gently, squeezing his hand. "She'll be safer away from him, and I'm sure she'll find a home. I know that you'll make sure that she does."

Derek pushes his chair backwards while still holding onto Barry's hand, so that he rolls away from his desk. "Come on, hummingbird. You need a break."

He keeps rolling backwards, inching their chairs closer to the door with a hopeful smile on his face. "I've got a roast in the oven back at the cabin. How about you come home with me, and we'll eat the whole thing, huh? It's my turn to take care of you."

Derek pulls them across the linoleum floor in small increments, and Barry can't help but smile. "A roast?" he asks, realizing suddenly that it's been hours since he ate. His stomach growls, and Barry actually feels his head spin with a rush of hunger. "Do you have potatoes?" he asks. "Or one of those breads they make where you put it in the oven and fifteen minutes later, boom — garlic bread?"

"I knew that would get your attention," Derek says with an amused smile, nodding in response to his questions and standing up. "There are potatoes and carrots in with the roast, and if you come home with me right now, I promise that I'll make you garlic bread."

He goes over to grab Barry's jacket while reaching into his own pocket with his free hand, turning to hold out both Barry's coat and a protein bar. He's started carrying them around even more since he and Barry started dating, and it's come in handy more than once. "You left me to my own devices too long. I have a whole thing planned."

Barry shrugs into his coat, hand closing around the protein bar before he even registers that he's reaching for it. It's become routine, Derek making sure that he's fed as soon as he sees him, and Barry smiles. He thinks back on what Derek said before.

"You take care of me all the time," he says. "But food plans." Barry's smile warms, his hollow insides suddenly feeling a little lighter. "I won't say no to that."

"It's my job," Derek says easily, leaning in to give Barry a soft kiss before he tears into the protein bar. "And I take my work very seriously."

Barry's eyes seem brighter, his smile easier, and Derek lets out a breath. He hates seeing Barry upset, but he knows that Barry feels things so deeply. They're alike in that way, and all they can do is try to pull each other up when they get too low.

"Food is just the first part of the plan," Derek assures him, leading Barry out of the lab and through the station. He checks his phone to make sure they're still good on time before the roast is done. Once they're out on the street, Derek sidles up to Barry and wraps an arm around his waist as they walk. "The first step is feeding you dinner, and the final step is feeding you breakfast. Everything in the middle is a surprise."

Barry trails behind Derek, munching on his protein bar as they navigate the precinct. He catches more than one pair of eyes on Derek, and Barry smiles to himself, shrugging as if to say that no, he has no idea how this is his life, either.

When they step into the night, Barry relaxes against Derek's arm. "A surprise, huh?" He grins. "I bet I can guess some of it."

"Oh, I'm that predictable, huh?" Derek asks, smirking a little and looking over at Barry. The line of his throat predictably draws Derek's eye, because he is, in fact, that predictable. The deep bite that Derek gave Barry that full moon, the claiming bite, has long since healed but Derek swears that he can still see it. It's most likely his imagination, but he thinks that he sees the faintest silvery mark there and it makes him absurdly happy.

"Just because I've barely seen you in days doesn't mean that I'm going to jump you the moment we're alone," Derek teases, sneaking his warm fingers up under the hem of Barry's layered shirts to press them against his hip. "Maybe I have a rousing night of board games planned. A little mental stimulation."

"I think I've had enough of that," Barry says with a rueful smile. He's mentally exhausted but too wired for something as simple as sleep. A night in with Derek will be a lifesaver. He presses against the fingers at his hip and wonders if he can convince Derek to apply them to more knots in his neck later. "Do you want to walk for a while?" he asks, "Or take the express way home?"

"I'll just have to stimulate something else then," Derek teases, but the look on his face is absurdly fond. Barry has been wrapped up in this case, and Derek has been mourning the loss of Saffron. They've been together but distracted, and Derek doesn't want that tonight. He wants to focus on Barry, and hopefully take his mind off of the terrible things plaguing it, if only for a little while.

"Whichever way you want," Derek says with a shrug. "The roast has a bit more time to cook, but the faster we get there, the faster I can make you garlic bread."

Barry blinks. "Definitely the speed route," he says and ducks them into an alley. Once he's certain there's no one there to see, Barry scoops Derek up and races with him through town, nearing the woods in seconds. He reaches the cabin and Barry skids to a halt, putting Derek on his feet and kissing his cheek before he does another double circuit of the length of Darrow.

When he appears in a crackle of lightning in front of Derek again, Barry gives a deep exhale. "That's better. I've been sitting too much."

Derek is ready for it when Barry scoops him up, and he wishes that he had time to experience it as Barry does. Instead, it's over before he can blink and Derek turns into the kiss with a happy growl.

Air rushes by him and Derek turns towards the cabin just in time to have Barry skidding to a stop in front of him. His hair is ruffled and Derek reaches up to mess it up even further before taking his hand and leading him towards the cabin. He's careful to arc them towards the front door in a way that keeps the back of it hidden from view, because that's a surprise for later.

Jinx is there to greet them when they walk in, and the puff gives a happy chitter from its cage. The whole cabin smells of slow-cooked meat and spices, and Derek inhales deeply before heading for the kitchen. "Make yourself at home while I put this bread in. Some of your sweats were mixed up in my laundry. They're in the top drawer."

It's all absurdly domestic, and Derek's chest clenches for just how much he likes that. He never thought that he could exist so easily in the same space as someone after Laura died, but with Barry it's as easy as breathing. Barry's warm scent and his hummingbird heartbeat are a part of Derek's home now, wherever that home may be.

Barry doesn't notice that he's being herded, all but falling through the door in his haste to lift Jinx and cuddle her to his chest. He pats the Puff's cage and wanders deeper inside, pulling open Derek's top drawer one handed to find his sweats. He finally places Jinx on top of the dresser and shrugs out of his clothes, pulling on the sweatpants and then one of Derek's tees. It's absurdly large on him, but it smells good, and Barry doubts Derek will mind.

"So where is this bread?" he asks as he pads back into the kitchen. "You need me to butter it?"

It takes a lot of effort not to turn and watch as Barry disrobes because even after months together, he still isn't tired of looking at Barry's body. He doesn't think he ever could be.

Instead he slices a loaf of French bread in half, and turns to get his homemade garlic butter out of the fridge. He smiles when he sees Barry in his shirt, and leans in to kiss him before handing over the butter. "Yeah, you'll be faster."

He leaves Barry to it and checks on the roast, poking at it with a fork and inhaling. It should be done about the time the bread is, and Derek holds his hand out for the tray once Barry's done. He puts the bread on the top rack and closes the oven before turning around and finally giving into the urge to pull Barry into his arms, holding him tightly in the middle of the tiny kitchen.

"Mm," he breathes out, nuzzling behind Barry's ear. "Want to make out for fifteen minutes?"

Barry's startled from his stoveside vigil when Derek pulls him close, but he burrows into his arms, closing his eyes until Derek's question. "Always," he says with a chuckle, pressing his lips to the nearest patch of Derek's skin, right where his collar ends. "Right here in front of the bread?" he asks, "Or the couch where it's extra dangerous?"

"Wouldn't want to scandalize the bread," Derek says solemnly. He never sets a timer when he cooks because he just goes by his nose, but he doesn't trust that Barry wouldn't distract him from the scent of burning bread so he lifts Barry up with one arm and uses his free hand to set a timer. Once they're over at the sofa, Derek sits down and pulls Barry down into his lap before leaning in for a kiss that's soft and greedy all at once.

"This doesn't count as jumping you," Derek murmurs against Barry's lips, even as his hands slide up under Barry's shirt to travel along his soft skin. "Because I said I wasn't gonna do that."

"Did you?" asks Barry. He has a vague memory of the promise, but it's difficult to think with Derek pinned comfortably between his thighs. He cups Derek's cheeks to kiss him again, thumbs dragging against his scruff. Has it grown longer? When's the last time they had a chance to just sit like this? Too long, that's certain. "A little jumping is okay before dinner."

"Just a mild jumping," Derek says, this time against Barry's jaw. He growls softly as Barry's fingers scratch through his beard and then lifts his head to kiss him again, this time licking slowly into his mouth. He tastes like the peanuts from the protein bar, and Derek pulls him closer, holds him a little tighter.

He had the vague urge to maybe go down on him before dinner, but this is so much better. Right now, he just wants to kiss Barry over and over, to hold onto him. He sucks lazily at Barry's tongue and then bites softly at his bottom lip, resolving to go back to his plan later. He'll lay Barry down and take him apart piece by piece, but right now there's nothing better than this.

"You look good in my shirt," Derek breathes out as he kisses his way down Barry's neck and noses under the loose collar. The shirt is way too big and hangs off of him, but Derek isn't lying. He thinks it looks incredible. "I'd wear your shirt but I might Hulk out of it."

"Leave my poor shirts alone," Barry laughs, pink cheeked and breathless in Derek's arms as that mouth of his makes its way down Barry's throat. His beard scrapes just right at Barry's skin, and he tries to remember they're going to eat soon. He exhales and thinks of his work shirt lying on top of Derek's dresser now. "You'll pop off all the buttons. I'm already down two this week from accidental friction fires."

"Hey, I always replace the ones that I destroy," Derek replies, leaving a line of kisses along the length of Barry's throat and gently pressing the tip of a claw to his chest before retracting it and resting his hand there instead. Because Derek has destroyed a few in his eagerness to get them off of Barry's body, and he's sheepishly left new replacements on top of Barry's dresser afterwards.

He drags the loose-hanging shirt up Barry's back, fingertips gliding along his spine as he urges him closer. His arousal is a slow burn that could easily turn into a roaring flame, and he lets out a slightly shaky breath before licking his lips and tipping his head up to kiss Barry's mouth once more.

"All I can smell is garlic," Derek murmurs rather pitifully, just before shoving his nose behind Barry's ear and inhaling. Now it's just Barry and garlic, which is a little better. He's just sucking Barry's earlobe into his mouth when the timer goes off, and he jumps a little before turning back to scowl at the oven. "Okay, okay, back to the plan. Stop being so tempting."

"Wha?" asks Barry, his eyes closed, and it isn't until Derek begins to pull away that he understands. "Couldn't we just - " he starts, but now that he's paying attention, the smell of fresh baked bread is nearly a physical presence bearing down on him, and Barry's stomach rumbles.

He begins to reluctantly disengage. "I can at least make it fast," he says and speeds into the kitchen, pulling out the bread and slicing it and arranging equal piles on both of their plates. Barry emerges from the speed force shaking out his fingers. "God, that's hot!"

In a blink, the comforting weight in Barry's lap is replaced by a rush of air and the scent of electricity. Derek looks over just in time to see the blur in his kitchen turn back into Barry, and he chuckles fondly as he gets up to follow him.

"Careful, hummingbird," Derek tells him, lifting Barry's hand to kiss his fingertips. They smell like garlic and butter, and Derek drags his tongue playfully across the pads of his fingers before stepping away. The meat smells perfect, and Derek turns off the stove before lifting the roast pan out of the oven. "Hey, grab some drinks? We're not eating in here."

The set up in the backyard is probably a little (or a lot) corny, but Derek had seen something like it while flipping through a home improvement magazine at the hardware store. He was making improvements anyway, and maybe there's a part of him that wants to make this place better for Barry. The wolf in him seems to think that if he keeps fixing up the den enough, Barry won't want to call anywhere else home.

"Follow me," Derek says after piling their plates high with meat and potatoes and heading for the back door. He's just a little nervous as he turns on the light switch with his elbow, and a few strands of soft fairy lights strung out across the area illuminate all the cushions and blankets below. There's a white sheet hung up against the back of the cabin, and his laptop is sitting hooked up to a small projector on the opposite side of the cushions. "I set this up today. The weather is sort of perfect for being outside at night and I just thought that it would be-- nice. To sit out here with you."

"Not in here?" asks Barry, but he dutifully fills his arms with a few sodas and water bottles from the fridge, standing in curious expectation until Derek has gathered their plates. He follows Derek to the door, eyebrows climbing to his hairline when the lights come on to reveal the elaborate set up in the yard.

"Wow," Barry exhales, nearly tripping down the few stairs as he gapes at it. "This is amazing. It's like something out of a movie." Barry's grin widens further at the sight of the projector. "Is that for movies?"

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