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Nighttime, Imperial Paints Paint Factory Loft, Portland, Oregon – Friday, November 13th 2015
On a bed Nick Burkhardt wearing a T-shirt with pants is laying next to Adalind Schade whose dressed similarly yet has a feeling of security, and contentment while laying next to the Grimm. Words Adalind’s pretty sure no Hexenbiest has ever said before. Heck if you asked her a matter of weeks ago she would have found it laughable at best. Worse? Insane wouldn’t even begin to cover it.
In her most private moments she often pondered, and could tell there was something intense between them, given as agony crushing, yet nothing compared to losing Diana, was regarding losing Hexenbiest spirit only Nick left her alive. The same man who sent the heads of two Repears back to their master with a mocking note daring for a better fight. (Something she shouldn’t have found attractive when learning about, yet did regardless.) The Wesen who Nick has already killed including members of Verrat when showing back up during Juliette’s memory loss. Which she caused and a moment of sadness given her actions in the life of a now very dead woman, but Adalind shoves those thoughts elsewhere. Rather focusing on the handsome man beside her.
“Thank you,” Adalind says.
Keeping his eyes focused up on the ceiling is easier than turning to look at the blonde, the former Hexenbiest, something that doesn’t bother him maybe as much as it should. Remembering when entering Renard's office and knew she was there before talking, he’s always felt her nearby. After all recalls telling Adalind earlier on being the first wodge ever seen, even wishes that’s almost all the pull was. It’s always scared him mere minutes after picking up a ring for Juliette she caught his eye, only he doesn’t look. Not really, especially not if in a relationship. And fine is human after all so if it was just a mere glance, like if appreciating a fine car or something, yet was more than that. Could tell a feeling of confidence, of being intelligent, and just something more. Yes she was attractive but could tell from what was inside of her. Not just from outward looks.
Even what is underneath, the walking corpse appearance, despite them initially scaring one another Nick recalls it never bothered him. Not just from getting used to Wesen on a daily basis but remembers when being rather pleased at seeing her change in that hotel room during the whole Mellifer mess. Strangely enough it didn't help much on being a problem for not finding her as attractive. While he questioned Renard if found that attractive it was to get under the Captain's skin, alongside a general annoyance upon Adalind being back in his life bringing up feelings rather not have.
Could have grown to appreciate Juliette the same way if she bothered to give him a chance Nick reflects sourly. Pushing any real recalling of that recent disaster elsewhere, back to the blonde trying to sleep beside him. A blonde who, for years, it was easier focusing on annoyance, dislike and wanting to take her head off rather than Adalind’s clothes. A few brief moments of enjoying that kiss before… having to force his mind back to saving Hank. Not release all the tension built up from their previous encounters including the blasted double date or Adalind’s dress.
A dinner that he should have enjoyed with his girlfriend… not be indulging a game of out maneuvering the other. A game he could tell she liked, the way her eyes lit up when interacting with him. The attraction from Adalind’s side Nick knows is hardly subtle. Yet this calmer, domestic they have settled into feels even scarier.
Drifting to recently when sleeping with Juliette, where everybody including her was thinking the issue looking like Adalind. Not from deep down in the private corners of his mind, unhappy it wasn’t Adalind in person. Rather just his… girlfriend he was in a relationship. So yeah played it off instead of the fact he enjoyed it, and did notice the differences. Because looking back there were certain ways Juliette performed on Monroe and Rosalee’s wedding since, actually surprising given their lack of anything sexual. Not just recently from Trubel being there, rather even before that. Or actually was willing to do what he wanted for a change. Letting his mind wander Nick recalls years prior upon first moving in… when opening a box to pull out an Elvis lamp. Something Juliette considered ugly, and made him get rid of it.
Pausing Nick wonders if Adalind would have done the same? Teased him sure, maybe had an idea for where in the house to place so it wasn't in public view right when you walked in. Not like he'd put that on the fireplace mantel anyway, but seeing it as nothing more than a piece of garbage? No Nick knows Adalind wouldn’t treat him like that. From taking his hand to feel their kid kick, or a comment earlier when saying how she’s not going to ask when he will be home. Knows how that question would just be another burden rather than sweet or caring. It scares and is affectionate how she knows him so much.
Mere moments ago when Adalind came into his room asking that she didn’t feel safe, and wanted him to sleep in here. No games, no manipulation, just raw vulnerability. This time wasn’t about Kelly, rather between them and he really didn’t need long for making a choice. Despite having very justified reasons not to ask, there was no hesitation by Adalind, far unlike Juliette who made him sleep on the couch for months then blamed him on being unhappy that he couldn’t be in his own bed.
Has a feeling that deep down even if Adalind ended up losing her memory like Juliette did, and suppresses a shutter, is she wouldn’t be so frigid. Really looking back over the day Kelly was conceived, a topic that neither his mother nor him have discussed how they are going to explain one day, yet both have agreed whatever story will probably not be the full truth. Never mind the complicated events that they have been living these past years, their journeys interwoven and separate. Certainly not admitting to anybody deep down he was more bothered by Juliette yet again despising him for being a Grimm instead of Adalind sleeping with him.
Drifting back over to her words of asking to not hate her anymore yet Nick knows hating her was never the problem.
“What?” Adalind inquiries.
Frowning “Did I say something outloud?” Nick wonders since really hopes a good portion of his musing has not been verbal.
“You’ve been in deep concentration. The only words I’ve heard of hating me was never the problem” Adalind says moving to her side looking at the dark haired man.
“I never could hate you, I wanted to” Nick says after a moment. Deciding that is partially from the faith Adalind has put in him by dropping her walls, and he wants to “But I never could. Even after everything you’ve done.”
“I did try to kill your aunt, and that’s just one of the things I’ve done” Adalind says in mild skepticism.
“Yes you did. I just can’t hold much anger towards you for following Renard’s orders. And given everything in the Wesen world it’s not like you were the only person” Nick says.
“And everything else?” Adalind says.
Glancing down to look at her eyes “It was easier to tell everyone including myself” Nick reveals.
“Easier for me too” Adalind replies quietly.
Being tired from the full day's events of moving, and taking care of Kelly, Nick watches as she drifts off. The blonde’s eyes closing, and her breathing easing out. Hesitantly reaching Nick places his right hand on her side, when seeing she doesn’t even feel alarmed can feel the pull of sleep calling. Letting out a low yawn knows it’s been a long day let alone past weeks or months really. Drifting off to sleep Nick realizes just possibly could get used to this, having Adalind, Kelly and one day Diana. Briefly Nick wonders if these past years it wasn’t about Juliette and him. Rather Adalind and him for their lives circling around one another with everybody else just getting caught in the middle.
After all they were each other’s first Hexenbiest and Grimm.