When Hell Froze Over; Zed/Zapp; BBB

[thatdamnwhitemage]

Fic: When Hell Froze Over
Fandom: Blood Blockade Battlefront
Characters/Pairings: Zed O' Brien/Zapp Renfro
Summary: The Big Dipper duo is out on a recon mission when a freak snowstorm threatens their whole operation. Things have been weird enough between them ever since that drunken kiss a few nights ago, but if they don't embrace their differences this time around, they may very well freeze to death.
Content Notes: For the prompt 'Huddling for Warmth.'

Zed leans back in his seat and cranes his neck a little, clearly offended at the rank odor hovering around Zapp's mouth. One of his pale eyes widen and the other narrows into that strange expression that shrieks disgust.

"What?" he croaks at last, squirming as Zapp touches his leg to steady himself. "Is there something on my face?"

"It juss occurred to meh," Zapp slurs his speech. "I'm irresistible and you've never made a move on me, fishy. I'm your senior, too. Shouldnya try to score some brownie points? Huh?"

The dark stain appearing across Zed's face as both of his eyes widen is more than enough to tell Zap that he hit a little too close to home. "You're drunk," he grunts and shoves Zapp off of his person, averting his eyes. "And as good-looking as you seem to think you are, I find you gross and neolithic. Whatever you're planning, forget it."

Zapp tosses his dignity to the wind and catches his junior in a loose headlock, jerking him back into his seat. "Oy, I was bein' nice!"

"What is it?" Zed questions his motives, prying that arm away from his neck. "Haven't you been with enough Beyondians to satisfy whatever sick sense of xenophilia you have?"

"Eh-uh," Zapp corrects him, wagging his finger. "This ain't 'bout my kinks."

Slamming his palms down on the bar counter, Zed looks him straight in those beautiful, blue eyes this time. "Then what?!"

"You like me," Zapp says with a cheeky little grin. "I know ya do."

"I'm out of here," Zed mutters and pushes off the counter as he rises to his feet once more. A clatter of bottles and shouts, and Zapp bars his path once more. His heart races and blood drums in his ears as he tries to play it cool. "You're in the way, again. Move."

"Come on, admit it," Zapp heckles him, taking another bold stride into Zed's personal space. "I am a pretty shitty human being but you have a thing for me."

Zed clenches his hands into fists. "And?"

Roaring with laughter, Zapp revels in his petty victory. "I was right and --"

A yank forward by the collar and Zapp is silenced with a mouth suddenly against his. Paralyzed from the contact and the person on the end of it, he just stands there gaping. The entire world spins off its axis and into the sun, time freezes, and there's no one else in the bar but him and Zed.

"That should shut you up a while," Zed gasps as he pulls away from him. "If we're lucky, it will shut you up for good and teach you a lesson about manipulating the emotions of others for your own personal gain."

Left to stew in his own bewilderment, Zapp remains in that same position for at least five minutes before a glass bottle smashes into the back of his head and then it's high-time he vents his frustration. (On the poor bastard who starts the bar brawl, no less.) By the time everything is said and done, the HLPD gets involved and he has to jet with his tail between his legs.

"Zapp?" Steven interrupts his deep-seeded brooding yet again, waving his hand. "Have you heard a word I said?"

Shaking his head a little, Zapp opens his mouth to answer but quickly snaps it shut at the look of irritation on his boss's face. "Uhh, what if I said maybe?"

Sighing, Steven leans on his fist and does that tapping thing with his toe against the desk. "You and Zed, this morning, a recon mission."

"The fuck?!" Zapp protests immediately, leaning on his desk. "Kinda short notice, don't you think? And what about the she-bitch? This is her shtick, not mine!"

Eyebrow twitching, Steven looks up from the stack of papers clutched in his left hand. "Chain is in the Bahamas right now and did you really just question an order?"

Yelping, Zapp jumps at the ice crawling along the floor at his feet suddenly. "Okay, okay! I get it! I'll do it!"

"Good boy," Steven croons with that piss-your-pants kind of smile he's known best for. "Oh, and dress warmly. It's very cold out today."

As Zapp skulks towards the backroom of the office where Klaus's garden and Zed's tank are kept, he can't ignore the quickening pace of his heartbeat. It's been two days since he and Zed have any kind of contact because of what happened at the bar. Leo has invited him to lunch, too, but he refused to go just because of Zed's presence.

"I take it Mr. Starphase already briefed you, then," Zed calls to him from across the room as he cracks the door open and peers inside. "I've packed what should be essential for braving the harsh climate," he explains and slings a backpack over his hoodie. "Assuming you didn't pack anything, of course."

Zapp shoves his hands into his coat pockets. "Wouldn't wanna disappoint you if I actually did, right?"

Zed just shakes his head and strides past. "Let's get this over with, then."

After taking the elevator down and finally reaching the street, they load up the moped and Zed steps aside in wait for his senior. A few minutes later, he shoots a look at Zapp and gestures to the moped.

"Tch. I ain't driving," Zapp scoffs and folds his arms over his chest. "What? You're Mr. Hotshot. You fucking drive."

Zed just heaves a sigh and glowers back at him.

"Or can't you drive at all, Flipper?" jeers Zapp again, not bothering to smirk this time.

Shaking his head and surrendering for the sake of his own nerves, Zed mounts the moped and beckons Zapp with a rough jerk of his head. "You'd do well to hang on, too."

"To what?" Zapp blurts without thinking and then glances down at the sturdy backside before him on the seat. "Oh, fuck no! Forget it! I'm driving!"

Zed does smile this time, wagging his finger. "I'm already in the driver's position," he informs him and points to his own waist. "You'll have to hang on to me."

Muttering curses and trying to hide the fact that he's blushing like mad, Zapp throws his arms around those stiff abs without any further protest. The engine revs and Zed speeds away from the curb into the flow of traffic (effortlessly, Zapp notes with chagrin.) Their destination is an abandoned high-rise overlooking a warehouse on the marina and Zed pulls up behind the building to park the moped in a secure location.

"In case you missed the details before," Zed says in that obnoxious 'I know everything' tone that Zapp detests, "the warehouse across the boardwalk is supposed to be Don Marcolle's distribution center for the Reaper's Breath. We're here as unseen observers only; in no situation are we to engage the enemy."

"Whatever," Zapp groans and scrambles off the moped. "What? I get the idea, okay? Quit lookin' at me like that or I'll give you a reason for lookin' bug-eyed."

Zed summons a thread of blood and holds his hand out to Zapp. "No need for both of us to race to the top. We should collaborate on this one."

"In your dreams, sushi roll," Zapp says with a click of his tongue and flicks a cord of his own blood out. "I'm a solo act, 'kay? Was that way before your dumb ass ever got here and I'll always be that way. Get used to it."

Humming thoughtfully, Zed snaps his wrist without another word and catapults himself to the top of the high-rise alongside his partner. An alcove just above the door to the roof provides shelter from the fury of the wind, but the space is a little too compact for Zapp.

"Can't we take turns squatting in it?" he asks straightaway, frowning at the prospect of being in such close quarters with Zed. "Come on, you know you don't wanna be that close to me."

Zed swings his backpack from his shoulder and sets it in the corner of the alcove. "Sit," he commands and Zapp gladly flops down to get out of the gusty wind...until Zed squeezes into the spot beside him. "Don't give me that look. We're both on this mission and that means we'll both need to be in top form in case of an emergency. Just suck it up, as you always tell me."

The silence that passes between them lasts for far too long, what with Zapp constantly checking the time on his phone to distract himself from the other thigh brushing his own. A shiver radiates throughout his body and he trembles against Zed, hugging his knees to his chest as he does so.

"Here," Zed offers him a thermos cup full of coffee. "Gifts from Gilbert. Be sure to thank him once we return."

Zapp doesn't supply any snide commentary and takes it at face value, grateful and shaky as he downs the warm liquid. The wind whips harder around their makeshift shelter and his teeth start to chatter.

"F-Fuck that Starphase," he hisses between clattering teeth, "making us come out here for nothing."

"Mr. Starphase rarely does anything without reason," Zed adds and takes the cup from him, pouring some for himself. "We'll just have to make the best of..."

Zapp's eyes bore a hole right through him. "I-I just drank from that, though!"

"If you weren't so juvenile with your own reasoning, that declaration would almost be cute," Zed deadpans and takes a hearty swallow from the cup, licking his lips clean afterwards. "Keep your eyes on the warehouse."

Enormous flakes of snow waft around on the gusts suddenly and whip around in wild circles as the wind picks up. Zed quietly curses under his breath as he taps away at his phone.

"This wasn't in the scheduled forecast," he murmurs and looks at Zapp. "Are you...?"

Zapp shudders harder than ever, and dressed in nothing but his jersey-striped bomber jacket, it's no wonder. "Am I fucking cold? Yes! Way to point out the obvious! Ya want a prize to go with that?!"

"Stop your crying and keep quiet," Zed says in a low, dangerous tone. "We are on a recon mission, remember?"

"Man, fuck this! Fuck everything!" Zapp continues with his tirade, clearly frustrated. "Fuck Starphase, fuck you, fuck me, and fuck my stupid fucking flirting! Fuck it all!"

Zed smiles at that last bit. "So that's what has you so flustered these past few days."

"Shaddup," grumbles Zapp as he scoots closer to the wall. "I'm not flustered."

Pulling a fleece blanket from his pack, Zed covers one side of himself with it and raises the other half over Zapp's shoulders. He lets it hover over his partner a moment and asks, "Well? Are you ready to admit to your own folly and put this behind us?"

"Fine, fine," Zapp says with a little sigh afterwards and bumps hips with Zed again. "No one has to know, though. We keep everything low-key and friendly, 'kay? No fluffy stuff for...a while."

Zed chuckles and relaxes at last, letting the blanket fall over Zapp. "I like this side of you."

Zapp rolls his eyes and grunts, "No idea what you're talking about, kuzu cakes."

"Is that an insult or a term of endearment?" Zed fires back at him, smiling more when Zapp tries looking away. "You should try being honest with others more often, yourself included. Life is easier that way, trust me."

"Just..." Zapp pipes up at length, peeking up at Zed through heavy lashes. "Don't tell anyone about this, got it? I'll kick your fishy ass if you do."

Zed shrugs and puts a strong arm around Zapp's shoulders. "If you could kick my ass, that is."

"Pfft. Shut up," Zapp jokes, starting to grin himself. "I would totally kick your ass."

"Keep telling yourself that, then," Zed says with a laugh.

Zapp grunts, not yet willing to admitting that he likes having Zed at his side to brave the sudden storm, but if he does huddle a little closer as the arm around his shoulder tightens then no one else is around to see.