"Seriously, bro?" Dom's face flushed a deep red, and he folded his arms over his expansive chest. "How many times do I have to tell you it was an accident? I knew I shouldn't have bunked with you. Is it my fault you take up so much fucking space? I could've bunked with Peyton and still had more damn room in that bed than I did with you."
"So now it's my fault you pushed a pillow into my face while I slept?" Seb kept his features stoic, even if he was laughing his ass off on the inside.
During one particularly bad snowstorm, Theta Destructive and several teams in Unit Alpha were forced to sleep at HQ in the sleeper bays. The agents outnumbered the bays, so teams had to share. Seb got the bed, not because he had senior status on his team, but because of his leg and lower back. Dom decided to bunk with him because, well, it was Dom and he wasn't "sleeping on the damn floor if there's a bed"--he didn't care who was in it.
Seb held back a smile. "I don't know anyone who moves that much in their sleep and takes their pillow with them," he managed with a straight face.
"So what? You're the one who kept trying to spoon me."
Seb shrugged. "I'm a cuddler."
"Fine. Whatever." With a huff, Dom marched over to his desk and dropped down in his chair. Seb grinned. Winding Dom up was too much fun. Of course, Dom gave as good as he got. Seb pulled up the file of today's incident and added his account of events. An hour later and it was time for his team's afternoon coffee run, this week being Angel's turn. The man popped his head in with a smile.
"Hey, boss. The usual?"
"Yeah, thanks, Angel."
Angel nodded. He turned his attention to Dom. "Dom Corleone?"
"No matter how many times you say it, Herrera, it still ain't funny," Dom griped. "If anything, I'm Clemenza."
Seb and Angel looked at each other before having a good laugh.
"What? Seb's obviously the Don, which makes me his oldest and dearest friend."
"We haven't known each other that long," Seb reminded him, holding back a smile, "but continue."
Dom flipped him off. "Unfortunately, I feel like I've known you for fucking eternity. Anyway, I'm also a great judge of character, have a keen eye for talent, and possess an unparalleled training record."
"Nope." Angel shook his head.
"I don't see it," Seb teased.
Angel snapped his fingers. "I know. Sonny."
"You know what? Fuck the both of you. Go get me my cappuccino, and tell Dex if he hogs all the powdered chocolate, I'm going to tell Sloane how his midafternoon coffee runs include scarfing down a frosted donut bigger than his head. Seriously. How is that dude still alive with what he eats? I've never seen a Human polish off a whole Therian-sized burger, fries, and still have room for a milkshake."
Angel nodded his agreement. "I think whoever put him together got the parts all mixed up and gave him a Therian stomach."
Or he got mutated by his jaguar Therian boyfriend and is no longer Human. Of course, Seb wasn't about to mention that.
Angel went off to get the rest of the team's orders, and on his return, he was accompanied by a scowling Dex.
"How dare you try to come between me and my afternoon donut?" Dex placed his hands on Dom's desk and leaned in to peer at him. "That powdered chocolate is mine, Palladino," Dex rasped. "Debbie brings it for me as a thank-you. I practically delivered that woman's child."
"You stepped in as a Lamaze coach, like twice," Dom drawled.
Dex straightened with a sniff. "That's why I said practically. You're not listening."
"Oh, I'm listening all right. Listening to all the reasons I should call Sloane this second. Today was triple chocolate frosting with bacon bits, wasn't it?" Dom put a finger to his earpiece, and Dex all but launched across the desk to grab Dom's wrist.
"Wait!"
"Yes?" Dom smiled sweetly.
Dex let his head hang in defeat. "I may have been a little hasty." He straightened and wrinkled his nose. "Fine. I'll tell Debbie I'm willing to share." With a grunt, he walked out the door, then spun on his heel to glare at Dom, a finger pointed at him menacingly. "But this isn't over, pal. I'm watching you."
Dom waved a hand in dismissal. "Yeah, yeah. Less watching, more sprinkling chocolate powder on my cappuccino."