Work Text:
Leah smiled over at Cleo as the latter glared at the children around her, gawking at her “amazing costume”. She hadn’t bothered with hiding her more… fishy features, given that it was Halloween and everything, but she hadn’t anticipated being ambushed by a load of little shits in various, equally as shitty costumes.
Cleo quietly hissed, going unheard by the kids, but not by her mate, or her mates friend.
“Alright, time to go do more trick-or-treating. Don’t wanna miss all the candy, right?” Jacob said to all the devil spawn surrounding the mermaid, hands holding onto Nessie’s ankles as she sat on his shoulders in her cliché vampire costume.
The children dispersed after that, all rushing to the nearest lit-up porch. Cleo walked to Leah’s side, tucking her face into her neck and wrapping her arms around her waist. She sighed, grumbling a little as she deflated. Leah smiled wider.
“Regretting this yet?” She asked sarcastically. Cleo had wanted to get out for a bit, tired of the few places she could go without exhausting herself. Nessie was so excited about Halloween that she had to run around the house a few times before regaining her composure as she tried to tell Cleo about the holiday.
After hearing about the idea of it, she had decided that she would go with Jacob and Nessie (Bella and Edward had to feed) to trick-or-treat, and that Leah was coming as well. Who was Leah to say no to those terrifying puppy-eyes? The hand creeping under her shorts was also a convincing motivator.
“ No ,” Cleo hissed immediately. Her arms tightend around Leah’s middle as if to steel herself before she straightened back up. Then she began marching up to the now-abandoned porch with her half-full baby blue candy bag held tight, making Nessie giggle and climb down from Jacobs shoulders to follow her.
“Gotta say, you and her are so similar it’s scary,” Jacob stepped to Leah’s side as they watched their little slices of family receive their candy. “I’m glad though.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Leah narrowed her eyes at him, crossing her arms.
Jacob awkwardly smiled at her around his dollar store fake fangs, looking rather ridiculous in his awkward werewolf costume. “You two love each other.”
It was blatantly obvious that that was the truth, and Leah said so.
“I mean,” he looked at the two walking up to the next house, talking amongst themselves. “I mean that you deserve someone like Cleo. You two are amazing for each other, you literally complete each other. You’re happy.”
Leah nodded, watching Cleo and Nessie count their candy. “Yeah, I am. She is too.” She wasn’t good at feelings, or talking, or talking about feelings, but she knew that she loved Cleo, and that Cleo loved her. She was happier having the woman in her life, and Cleo had said the same about her.
They loved each other, they’re mates. Leah needs Cleo, and Cleo needs Leah.
They started walking as Cleo and Nessie made their way to the next house. It was quiet, aside from the chatter of kids and the occasional car or bike.
“How do you do it?” She asked all of a sudden. “How do you stay away from her?”
“I have no clue,” Jacob replied, looking wistfully at the cloudy night sky. “I love her a different way, maybe that’s why.”
Leah scoffed. “Lucky,” she said, no heat behind it. “I know,” he grinned at her, before looking back at the two in front of them. They were walking back, Nessie smiling wide, and Cleo looking happy in the way only she and Jasper could.
As they looked through the candy haul, Leah smiled at her mate, and she smiled back. Everything was right. Until another group saw Cleo’s “epic fit”. After that though, all was right again.
And to think, Leah almost missed that little smile on her mates face.