mhalachai | FICS: Jump-Start, Like a Polaroid (both AB)

A couple of ficlettes. My brain's a little broken from earlier. You know, up is down and black is white and God's disproving his own existence. Ugh. So to cheer me up, I wrote fic.

Title: Jump-Start
Fandom: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter (master list here)

fanfic100 Prompt: 72 - Fixed
Characters: Anita, Nathaniel
Disclaimer: The Anita Blake universe belongs to Laurell K. Hamilton. I'm only borrowing and will return them at the end of the fic.
Author's Note:

eavling wanted an Anita Blake story that had something to do with jumper cables.
Word count: 650 or so
Summary: Anita + a car that won't start + Nathaniel... not such a great pairing on no sleep.

~*~
"Anita?"

"I'm asleep," I mumbled into the pillow, and pulled the quilt up higher over my head.

"Anita, please."

There was a thin line of panic in Nathaniel's voice. It made me open my eyes, disoriented on my two hours of sleep, and sit up as best I could. "What's wrong?"

Nathaniel crouched by the bed, all dressed to go outside. "My car won't start."

I looked at him for a second, then slid back under the covers.

"I'm going to be late for my appointment, Anita, I can't be late. Please," Nathaniel said. He was almost begging. With anyone else, I'd have kicked them out of the bedroom to let me sleep, but it was Nathaniel. It'd be like kicking a kitten.

"So take my jeep," I muttered.

"You have to be at work this afternoon, and I won't be back in time."

Damn it. I blinked hard, trying to clear my hazy vision. The clock told me that it wasn't quite ten. If I got Nathaniel out of here soon, I might be able to get at least four hours more sleep before I had to hightail it to work. Happy times. I sat up again. "I don't suppose you know how to use the jumper cables?"

"Not on a car, no."

I just looked at him. Was he talking about... No, I so didn't want to go there. "Go make me coffee," I ordered, tossing back the covers. "I'll come jump-start your car."

"Thank you!" Nathaniel exclaimed. He dashed out of the room.

"Yeah, whatever," I grumbled. Getting clean clothes out of the closet would be too hard, so I pulled on the clothes I'd stumbled out of when I got home after sun-up. I probably wasn't going to be up for long enough to care. At least I hadn't bled on anything at work last night.

When I made it out to the kitchen, Nathaniel had a cup of coffee all ready for me. "Did I take that long?" I asked, frowning into the cup.

"No, I put it on before I went in to ask you," he said, shoving his arms into his jacket.

I lowered the cup to stare at him.

He smiled, not nearly as sorry as I'd like him to be. "I know you, Anita, I knew you'd like coffee." He turned his back to me as he pulled his hair out of his coat. "If we hurry, I can still make it to my appointment."

I watched him as he walked toward the hall. Maybe I was half-sleep, but there was something he hadn't said, that was as important as what he did say.

*~*~*

I slammed the hood of Nathaniel's now-running car. "You're all set to go," I said as I coiled up the jumper cables. "If you can't start it again after your appointment, call me and I'll come pick you up."

"Thanks so much, Anita," Nathaniel said warmly, holding open the back of my jeep so I could put the jumper cables away. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

I tried to frown at him, but he looked so happy that my irritation vanished. "Well, tomorrow I'm going to show you how to use those things. Maybe even change a flat tire while you're at it."

Nathaniel came over and stood close enough for a hug, but not touching. Not yet. "I think I'd like you to show me how to jump-start your engine."

I smacked him lightly on the arm. "You and me both," I said with an exhausted laugh. "Now, go to your appointment."

"Okay." He lifted one hand, but let it fall to his side.

I was too tired to think how to handle Nathaniel today. I wrapped my arms around him in a hug, pressing my cheek against his neck, breathing in the warm scent of his skin. "I'll see you later," I promised.

"Okay." He hesitated, then kissed my hair.

I pulled away and watched him get into his car, then waved as he drove off. Only then did I turn around and trudge into the house. I made sure the coffee maker was off, then staggered back to my bedroom. I was already falling back to sleep as I stripped off my clothes and crawled back into bed. I arranged the covers around me, laid my head down on the pillow, and closed my eyes.

A minute later I opened my eyes. "What appointment?" I asked the empty room. I had no idea where Nathaniel was going, or what he was doing.

How the hell was I going to sleep now?

~*~

Title: Like a Polaroid
An Anita Blake drabble
Note: I missed the cut-off for this week at

abvh100. So I'm putting it here. Anita POV

~~*~~

Jason was watching Nathaniel's dance from backstage when I made my way down from Jean-Claude's office. "What are you doing?" I asked, donning my jacket.

Jason gave me a grin. "I always like to see how his set ends," he said. "He's really very good at this."

I glared at Jason, not at all comfortable watching Nathaniel shake it for the audience.

Jason laughed at my discomfort. "You can watch my end if you want," he said, and obligingly wiggled his butt at me.

I shook my head as I walked away. "Save it for the customers, Jason," I said.

~*~

FICS: Jump-Start, Like a Polaroid (both AB)

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