Diego Hargreeves [The Umbrella Academy] (trythingsmyway) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2019-04-03 14:36:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !log, ~2019 april, ~25 points, ~~diego hargreeves (trythingsmyway), ~~~~ jo harvelle (harvelle) |
Who: Jo Harvelle and Diego Hargreeves
What: Dinner and such
Where: Jo’s place
When: Tuesday, March 26 (during the blackout)
Warnings: FTB on adult situations
Status: Closed, Complete
Diego wasn’t sure why he suggested dinner with Jo, except that he wanted to spend time with her. He liked her, wanted to get to know her better. And food was a good way to spend time with someone.
She didn’t get off work until 11. He picked up dinner from Hong Kong Garden just before they closed, then headed to Jo’s around 11:30 to give her time to get home. Bag of food handing off his arm while a 6 pack rested in the crook of his elbow, he freed his other hand to knock.
He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t a little bit nervous. He hadn’t been interested in anyone since Patch. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be interested in anyone other than Patch. But Patch was gone, and Diego decided he couldn’t keep living in the past. He was stepping out of his comfort zone, and hoped he didn’t regret it.
***
In all honesty, Jo hadn’t been entirely sure Diego was actually going to show. She’d hung out at the club a little while after the power had gone out, but had finally left a little early, and since she didn’t have a way of reaching him she wasn’t sure if the night was canceled or not. When he did knock on the door, she was still dressed - jeans and a tank top - and had a few candles lit so that she could clean her gun, which she’d just finished a few minutes before he arrived. At the knock, she got up and picked up her gun out of habit, walking over to the door to check the peephole. When she saw him - barely - Jo slid it into a drawer by the door, then pulled it open.
“Hey...wasn’t sure if you’d still make it,” Jo said, stepping back so he could enter. “I’m glad you did though, ‘cause I’m pretty hungry.”
***
“When I say I’m coming, I’ll be there,” Diego told her. A shadow crossed his face thinking of Patch. He hadn’t been there for her. But he also hadn’t said he would be there. She’d called him, but he hadn’t gotten the message until it was too late. He still felt like he failed her, and this wasn’t anything like the same thing, but he had a momentary stab of guilt.
He recovered with a breath and a shifted of his arm. “Food’s probably cold and we can’t really heat it up, but.” He shrugged. He had eaten worse than cold Chinese food. “But the beer’s been on ice, so it’s cold too.” Warm beer was a totally different story. That was a travesty, and a crime.
***
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she replied. Once he was inside, Jo shut and locked the door out of habit, then motioned towards the couch. “Make yourself at home. I’ll grab a bottle opener.” The coffee table had a couple of candles lit in the middle, and after she returned from the kitchen Jo paused to light a couple more candles around the room to make it a little brighter for them.
“Cold pizza would’ve been better, but this is definitely better than nothing.”
***
Diego went to the couch, and set everything down while Jo left the room. He started putting the food containers on the table before she returned. “I should have thought of that.” Cold pizza was edible. Sometimes, depending on the pizza, cold could be just as good as fresh from the oven.
“Hopefully this won’t be too bad. And if it is, we’ve got beer to wash it down.” He wasted no time cracking one open and taking a generous sip.
***
“It’s a date the next time there’s a blackout,” Jo said jokingly, grinning as she sat beside him on the couch and opened a beer of her own. After a sip, she set it down and started to look over the containers he brought, then snagged a bag that looked like it might hold the promised egg rolls. On opening it and confirming it, she smiled triumphantly.
“Perfect. Just what I’ve been craving all day.”
***
“Glad I could help with that craving,” Diego said. He looked her over. In the flicker of the firelight, she looked...he wasn’t sure. Almost majestic. Which seemed ridiculous. He didn’t think that way, didn’t see the world through rose colored glasses. He was generally cynical and pessimistic.
He reached into the bag to snag an egg roll for himself and bit into it. “Definitely better hot and fresh,” he said. “Pizza next time, definitely.”
***
She shot him another grin before biting into the egg roll and sitting back. Crossing her legs, she watched as he pulled one out himself. “Definitely,” Jo agreed.
“Normally, I’d offer to put on a movie or music or something, but considering the circumstances, I guess we’ll just have to talk. Or play poker, if you’re any good.”
***
“You have no idea,” he grinned. Poker was his game. Playing with her could be a lot of fun, depending on what they played for. Strip poker would be his choice, but he was in her home so he’d let her make the decision.
He gave her a once-over look. There really was something to be said for the flicker of candlelight. “What’re the stakes, then?” he asked as he bit off another bite of egg roll.
***
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” she replied easily, because it was definitely her game, too. Even before she’d ever left the Roadhouse, she’d grown up swindling Hunters out of their money in poker games. It had been one of the few things she’d done regularly that her mom had actually approved of - as long as the Hunters paid their tabs ahead of time.
Jo caught the look this time, and arched a brow as she considered him in return. At the question, she mused it over for a moment. “Well, we’ve got choices. We could play for money, but if you haven’t gotten a job yet, I’d feel bad about taking your cash; we could play for egg rolls until they run out...or we could play for clothes.” Not that either was wearing a lot of layers at the moment, but what was life without a little risk?
And fun.
***
There was an old saying that a fool and his money would be soon parted. Diego didn’t consider himself a fool, and he didn’t care to be parted with what money had had. It was too much of a risk, because what he knew of Jo Harvelle, she could hold her own.
“Clothes it is,” he said after a moment, and with a nod and a wry smile. “Been a while since I played. Hope I’m not too rusty,” he stretched, allowing several joints to pop and crack.
***
“What if I hope you are?” Jo asked innocently, before popping the rest of her egg roll into her mouth and getting to her feet again to head for the closet. From it, she pulled out a couple decks of cards, then returned to the couch to sit one cushion down from him.
She paused to take another sip of her beer, then began to shuffle the decks together. They had the same backings, so that wouldn’t be an issue, but she found it more challenging if multiple decks were used.
“What style should we go with?”
***
“Seven card stud,” Diego suggested. He stuffed the remainder of his egg roll in his mouth, making a point of chewing and swallowing. He shifted a little, getting comfortable, the food forgotten as Jo started to shuffle.
The first few articles of clothing came off, Diego stripped his knife harness and his shirt first, revealing scars and tattoos. Before long his shoes and socks were gone, leaving him in only his pants.
He studied Jo carefully. He wasn’t inclined to lose intentionally, but he wasn’t going to be upset if he didn’t win the hand.
***
There was something oddly hot about the entire situation - a meal (barely touched) by candlelight, no other distractions, and a guy who went shirtless pretty easily and was certainly easy on the eyes. Jo found herself evenly matched, to the point where she had to force herself to ignore his bare skin and instead focus on the game, but that didn’t mean she didn’t lose a few pieces of clothing herself - also her shoes and socks, a knife of her own, and her tank top.
She was still in her bra and jeans, though, and didn’t seem to mind the fact as she dealt the next hand of cards, then gave him an easy smile as she won that one too.
“Guess your skills aren’t really a match for mine, huh?”
***
“Guess not,” he flashed a little grin. He could have been upset that he’d lost, but decided that would be counter productive. He didn’t really mind losing to her. If any of his siblings had been around, it would be a completely different story, but they weren’t around. He was a different person when he was away from them.
He got to his feet to take his pants off. He wasn’t wearing underwear, and that was quickly revealed once he started to push the leather down from his hips.
***
Jo didn’t really see a point in not looking, considering he wasn’t exactly trying to hide anything, but once he fully stripped, she sat back and picked up her nearly-forgotten beer to take a long sip.
“I really do enjoy winning,” she commented smugly as she gave him a small grin of her own.
***
Diego felt a smile tug at his lips. If she only knew he hadn’t felt like smiling for a while now. Not since...well, he didn’t want to think about what made him stop smiling.
“The question is,” he said, his voice low and husky. “What are you going to do with your prize?”
***
Her eyes darkened with desire at his words, but she didn’t move for a moment, still studying him. Finally, Jo lifted her beer for one more sip, then set the bottle down. Leaning over, she gave him a smile as she got to just within a few inches of him.
“Well….I was thinking that maybe...I could be completely evil right now and just sit here and eat my dinner,” she said, even as her eyes danced mischievously and she reached past him for the bag of egg rolls. “Unless you have a better suggestion?”
***
“Nope,” Diego answered, his eyes dancing in the light from the candles. “Not a single one.”
He picked up his beer and leaned back before taking a long, deliberate sip. “Food’s probably a good idea. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t eaten all day.” He made no move toward the food, though.
He didn’t feel the least bit awkward or ashamed of his nakedness. He only wished she in the same state. Her bra and the jeans were sexy, sure. But his mind was racing with thoughts of what they might do if she were naked too.
***
Oh, two could definitely play at that game. After sitting back with the bag again, she stretched her legs out idly until her bare toes brushed his knees, but made no moves otherwise.
“I bet you’re famished, then. Starved, even. Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve had a craving all day, ever since you suggested this dinner.” But she wasn’t pulling out another egg roll, just watching him.
***
He held her gaze, and slowly let his tongue slide across his lips. He took another sip of beer, licked his lips again. He wasn’t afraid or ashamed to be the first to cave, because the sexual tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife.
He leaned forward to set the beer on the table, and tuned toward her, his eyes dark and hooded.
“I’m not sure I’m in the mood for cold Chinese.”
***
Idly lifting one hand to her hair to push it back from her face, her smile faded, but not because she was afraid or anything like that - instead, her face took on a more of a challenging look, daring him to be the first to break.
“So what are you in the mood for, Diego?”
***
“Something a little less...cold,” he said. He shifted slightly, though his gaze remained steady. She was toying with him, and he could certainly appreciate that. He enjoyed a good challenge.
After all, he was pretty sure she wanted what he wanted. If she didn’t, for whatever reason, he’d back off. But he wasn’t getting the impression she wanted him to stop.
He dropped a hand, let a finger drift along her thigh. “What do you say?”
***
“I could go for something with a little more heat,” she mused lightly as she let him hold her gaze. Jean-clad legs shifted slightly under his hand, edging just a little closer, and she gave him another smile as she tossed the bag back over to the coffee table.
***
He didn’t even notice the bag sailing out of her hand. If he did, he didn’t care. He’d already forgotten about it. He met her gaze, his eyes warm chocolate brown. His tongue slipped out between his lips, and he tilted his head, eyes closing as he leaned in for the kiss.
***
Jo had about two full seconds to contemplate drawing things out just a little longer, but decided at the last minute not to. Instead, she lifted one hand to lightly cup his face, then leaned in and met his lips with her own as she closed her eyes as well.
Almost immediately, the kiss deepened and Jo shifted closer, definitely okay with all of this.
***
Diego’s hand traveled up and across her thigh, fingers expertly finding the button to undo her jeans. He shifted, pressing himself against her even as his nimble fingers worked her zipper down while his tongue fought hers for dominance in their kiss.
***
Her own hands reached down to brush his away so that she could push her jeans down herself even as she moved in closer for the kiss. After pushing them partway down, she moved her hands to his hips so that she could tug him in while trying to maneuver him onto his back if she could. The couch may not have been the best place for this, but she was determined to make wherever they were at the moment work.
***.
It took a moment for him to realise what she was doing, but once he caught on, he moved with her, going backward and resting on his back, his hands on her hips now that her jeans were out of the way. Those hands flittered up her sides, moving in for her bra.
He had a bit of experience with bras, and getting them off women, his hands working the clasp easily, “You have protection?” he murmured, voice thick and husky, between kisses.
***
One of her hands moved to push her jeans down further, though her movements were slightly hampered by the kissing and him removing her bra. At the question, she nodded.
“In the bedroom,” Jo said, before kissing him again, only to then murmur against his lips, “but I'm on the pill, too.” So they could stay right there or move to the other room.
***
He made an agreeable sound from deep in his throat. He’d consider going into the bedroom, but he didn’t make a move to do so right away. There was an awkwardness where they were, but it wasn’t his first time in this kind of situation and he felt like it probably wasn’t her first time going at it on the couch either. And they had an advantage in that he was already undressed. She would be soon, if he had anything to say about it.
“I got condoms in my wallet, too.” he murmured. But if she was on the pill, that was good enough for him. He wasn’t looking to create any little Diegos.
***
At this point, the only thing Jo was still wearing was her panties, which she didn’t bother with at the moment; instead, the blonde was more focused on lowering her lips to his shoulder and neck, doing a little exploring and tasting of her own in their current position. Since he didn’t make any moves to grab his wallet, she figured he was fine with her current protection, and Jo didn’t make any moves of her own to change their location.
In her mind, since she honestly barely knew him, Diego was mainly just a hook-up right now. One that was delightfully not complicated and new to town. It meant that they could just have a good time right now, and when she inevitably kicked him out later - which she swore she would do - there wouldn’t be any hard feelings.
As his hand grazed her hip, though, she was finding it hard to focus on anything other than what was happening right that moment, and she was starting to forget her determination to make sure he wouldn’t stay the night.
***
He wasn’t thinking about anything past the current moment. Well, maybe a little. He was imagining her writhing beneath him, or rolling her hips above him. Whichever, he wasn’t picky. He had a lot of issues, but dominance during sex wasn’t one of them. He could, and would, go either way.
His hands drifted away from her hips, fingers trailing softly upward, until his palms cupped her breasts. He looked up at her, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “Beautiful,” he murmured.
***
Jo’s breath caught slightly at the touch as she met his eyes, then leaned in for another deep kiss.
A couple hours later, after they’d made it to the bedroom at some point, she stretched out beside him while still catching her breath just a little. “Okay, now I’m starving - for actual food.” Jo reluctantly pushed herself up, then looked down at Diego beside her. “You up for going back to that cold Chinese?”
***
“I’ve eaten worse,” he told her with a little smile. He sat up, and leaned forward to snatch a quick kiss before he swung his legs off the side of the bed. He wasn’t thrilled about the prospect of truly cold chinese food, but he wasn’t going to complain because he had actually eaten worse.
“Mind if I hit the can first?”
***
“Go ahead,” she replied, heading for her dresser to pull out a different tank top and a pair of shorts to draw both on over her naked form. After one last glance towards him, she smiled a little and headed for the living room. “If you’d rather, I have bread and peanut butter and jelly. We could always just do sandwiches instead?”
***
“Do you have any marshmallows?” he replied. He didn’t bother to close the bathroom door. There didn’t seem to be much point. He emerged a moment later, after washing his hands, and started looking for his pants. He tugged them on, didn’t bother with the rest of his clothes.
“Peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches. It sounds disgusting, I know. But we used to eat it a lot when I was a kid.” He’d thought it disgusting when Five returned from the future and made one for himself, but it had more appeal at the moment than the chinese food or peanut butter and jelly.
***
“Um...yeah, I think so,” she replied and headed over to the kitchen. Looking over her shoulder at him, Jo raised a brow. “It definitely sounds….different? I’m up for trying just about anything once before I’ll write it off, though,” she said before stepping into the dark kitchen. Since she knew where everything was, she had no problem grabbing what she needed - bread, peanut butter, plates, and a knife - but it took her a couple minutes extra to find the marshmallows.
“I think you’re in luck,” she called out as she pulled a bag down, judging what it was by touch alone. “Want to bring a candle in here?”
***
“On it,” he called to her. He chose a candle and headed into the kitchen with it. The lack of electricity was almost romantic, but he banished that notion before it took hold in his mind. He barely knew Jo. This was a hook up, nothing more.
“You spread the peanut butter, I’ll add the marshmallows,” he told her. It would be like an assembly line. To make two sandwiches.
***
“Works for me,” Jo replied as she glanced over at him, then passed the marshmallows. As she started to spread the peanut butter on the bread, she idly stretched a bit, wishing there was some music playing or something - not that the candlelight wasn’t nice, but it would help fill in the silence a little and make things slightly less awkward.
Setting the bread down, Jo passed the plates over to him and watched as he added the marshmallows. “How’d you come up with this combination?”
***
A small smile touched his lips. “We were kids, in a huge mansion. We were always looking for ways to make things interesting. I think it was Five who first suggested the marshmallows.” He shrugged. “It’s weird, but, well. We were weird kids.”
Music would be nice, but the candlelight was definitely an aesthetic.
***