Birds of a feather

Morning came slowly.

Not peacefully—

Joey suspected his life had permanently lost the right to peaceful—

but slowly.

His bedroom sat wrapped in soft gray light filtering through the blinds, the city outside still half asleep. For the first time in days, there were no alarms blaring, no hunters trying to kick the door down, and no screaming cursed weapons demanding ****.

Which honestly felt suspicious.

Joey lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling.

Then he became aware of the cool body pressed against his side.

Cassandra.

She lay curled against him beneath the blankets, dark hair spilled across his chest and pillow like ink. One pale thigh rested over his leg possessively while one hand sat lazily against his stomach.

Joey smiled despite himself.

A week ago he had been worried about grease traps and late rent.

Now he woke up next to a gorgeous vampire after surviving a supernatural gang war.

Life was weird.

“You are staring again,” Cassandra murmured sleepily without opening her eyes.

Joey jumped slightly.

“That is deeply creepy.”

“You like it.”

“…A little.”

That earned him a small smile.

Cassandra opened her eyes slowly, crimson irises duller in the daylight but still unnervingly beautiful.

For several quiet seconds neither of them spoke.

Joey could feel it through the bond again.

Warmth.

Comfort.

Something deeper than lust now.

Which somehow scared him more than the hunters had.

He brushed a strand of dark hair behind her ear carefully, fingertips trailing down her cool cheek. Cassandra leaned into the touch automatically, eyes half-lidded.

That tiny reaction did dangerous things to Joey’s brain.

“You’re doing the staring thing again,” she teased softly.

“You’re unfairly pretty in the morning.”

“I am unfairly pretty all the time.”

“…Also true.”

Cassandra smirked and shifted closer until their legs tangled fully beneath the blankets. Her lips brushed his slowly, teasing more than kissing at first.

Then Joey kissed her properly.

Slow.

Warm.

Unhurried.

Not desperation this time.

Not adrenaline or fear or survival.

Just wanting her close.

Cassandra made a quiet pleased sound against his mouth and climbed partially over him, cool fingers sliding into his hair while kissing him deeper.

Joey’s hands settled against her waist instinctively.

“Careful,” Cassandra murmured against his lips. “You already exhausted me once this weekend.”

Joey laughed softly.

“You say that like you weren’t encouraging literally all of it.”

“I regret nothing.”

“Honestly? Fair.”

She kissed him again before finally settling against his chest with a content little sigh.

Only then did Joey notice something missing.

“…Wait.”

Cassandra glanced up.

“What?”

“Where’s Crystal?”

Cassandra blinked once before answering.

“Greta took her home after we left the bar.”

Joey relaxed slightly.

“She’s okay?”

“She is fine,” Cassandra assured him. “Greta stayed long enough to ward her apartment and make sure no one followed her.”

Joey nodded.

Honestly?

Greta protecting someone sounded terrifyingly effective.

“And the others?” he asked.

“Gone back to their own lives for now. Malcolm had another contract nearby. Valerie claimed she needed a shower and ‘three drinks worth regretting.’ Elias disappeared after attempting to flirt with the bartender.”

Joey frowned.

“…Did it work?”

Cassandra considered.

“The bartender gave him mozzarella sticks.”

“…That’s either very good or very bad.”

“We may never know.”

Joey snorted quietly.

For a while they stayed there together beneath the blankets in comfortable silence.

No danger.

No fighting.

Just soft morning light and Cassandra tracing lazy circles against his chest with one pale fingertip.

Then Joey shifted slightly and felt something crinkle beneath him.

“…Ow.”

Cassandra raised an eyebrow.

“What now?”

Joey reached beneath the pillow and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

He blinked.

Then groaned.

“Oh God.”

Cassandra looked curious.

“What is it?”

Joey unfolded the paper carefully.

Taylor’s number.

Right.

Because apparently in between surviving **** cultists and acquiring supernatural girlfriends, he had also somehow charmed a cute college girl at Burger Chief.

His life genuinely made no sense anymore.

Cassandra noticed the expression on his face immediately.

“…Ah,” she said knowingly.

Joey rubbed the back of his neck.

“I forgot I even had this.”

“The college girl.”

“Taylor.”

“The very pretty college girl.”

Joey narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Why do I feel like you’re setting me up right now?”

“Because I am.”

Joey dropped backward onto the pillow dramatically.

“Cassandra…”

She propped herself up on one elbow beside him, the blanket slipping slightly down one shoulder.

“What?”

“I barely understand whatever THIS is yet,” he said motioning between them. “Now you want me to text another girl?”

Cassandra looked genuinely confused.

“Yes.”

“That is not helping my panic.”

She laughed softly.

It still startled Joey sometimes how human she could sound when she really meant it.

“You are thinking about this incorrectly,” Cassandra explained. “Affection is not ownership.”

Joey looked at her quietly.

That… honestly tracked with everything he knew about her so far.

“You really wouldn’t care?” he asked carefully.

Cassandra studied him for a moment before answering.

“You came back for me against Silas when every instinct should have told you to run.” Her voice softened slightly. “You protected Crystal. You protect people even when you are terrified.”

She brushed her fingers gently along his jaw.

“I am not worried about losing you, Joey.”

That hit him embarrassingly hard.

Which Cassandra absolutely noticed through the bond.

Her smirk returned instantly.

“Oh no,” she purred. “That one landed.”

“Please stop emotionally perceiving me.”

“Never.”

Joey groaned into the pillow while Cassandra laughed and leaned down to kiss the corner of his mouth again.

Then she grabbed his phone from the nightstand and dropped it onto his chest.

“You should text her.”

“I don’t even know what to say.”

“You fought hunters with a haunted machete. Surely you can survive messaging a college student.”

“That was somehow less stressful.”

Cassandra rolled her eyes affectionately before settling against him again.

“Come now, burger boy,” she murmured against his neck. “Impress me.”

Chapter 28 birds of a feather

Joey spent almost twenty minutes rewriting a three-word text.

**Hey Taylor :)**

Delete.

**Hey Taylor, it’s Joey from Burger Chief**

Delete.

**Hey Taylor, wanted to see if you maybe wanted to hang out sometime if you’re not busy or if this is weird then ignore this haha**

Delete immediately.

Cassandra watched from the kitchen counter while sipping coffee with the expression of someone observing an injured raccoon attempt advanced mathematics.

“You fought armed vampire hunters with less hesitation than this,” she noted.

Joey glared at his phone.

“Bullets are easier than flirting.”

“That is profoundly sad.”

“It is *honest.*”

Cassandra slid behind him, cool arms wrapping around his waist while she rested her chin on his shoulder. Her lips brushed lazily against his neck.

“Send the message, handsome.”

Joey sighed dramatically.

Then finally typed:

**Hey Taylor, this is Joey. I survived another Burger Chief shift and thought I deserved a reward. Want to hang out today?**

He stared at it.

“…Too much?”

Cassandra smiled against his skin.

“No. Confident. Playful. Human women enjoy that.”

“You say ‘human women’ like you’re studying them for science.”

“I literally am.”

Joey snorted and hit send before he could panic.

Three dots appeared almost instantly.

Taylor replied:

**YES. Absolutely. Also now I’m curious how dangerous Burger Chief actually is.**

Joey blinked.

“She answered immediately.”

Cassandra looked smug.

“Because she likes you.”

Before Joey could overthink that statement, another message appeared.

**You busy right now?**

Then:

**There’s a zoo downtown I’ve been wanting to visit.**

Joey’s eyebrows lifted.

“A zoo date?”

Cassandra smiled wider.

“Oh, she’s adorable.”

Joey typed back quickly:

**I can do zoo.**

Another immediate response:

**Perfect :)**

Joey stared at the screen for a second too long.

Then Cassandra kissed his cheek.

“You’re smiling.”

“…Shut up.”

“I absolutely will not.”

---

About an hour later, Joey stood in the apartment parking lot staring at a dark gray sedan with visible rust on one door.

“It’s beautiful,” he whispered emotionally.

The car looked like it had lost several fights.

Greta leaned against the hood smoking something that smelled deeply illegal in at least twelve states.

“I cleaned it,” she announced proudly.

Joey peered through the window.

The interior was spotless.

“…How?”

Greta shrugged massively.

“Blood comes out easier than people think.”

Joey froze.

“…Greta.”

“What?”

Cassandra pinched the bridge of her nose.

“The vehicle belonged to one of the dead hunters,” she explained carefully to Joey. “Greta handled the paperwork.”

Greta grinned.

“I am shockingly good at fraud.”

“You’re admitting crimes very casually lately,” Joey muttered.

“I contain multitudes.”

Joey walked around the car slowly like someone approaching a wild animal.

“It runs?”

Greta looked offended.

“Of course it runs.”

The engine immediately made a horrifying coughing sound.

Greta slapped the roof.

“It runs *enough.*”

Cassandra stepped beside Joey, amusement flickering in her crimson eyes.

“It is better than walking home at midnight.”

Joey considered that.

“…Fair.”

Greta tossed him the keys.

“Congratulations. You inherited **** property.”

“That feels legally complicated.”

“It is.”

---

Taylor was waiting near the zoo entrance wearing jeans, white sneakers, and a yellow sundress that somehow made her look even prettier than Joey remembered.

When she spotted him, her entire face lit up.

And Joey almost walked directly into a trash can.

Taylor laughed immediately.

“Strong entrance.”

“I wanted to establish dominance over the environment.”

“Well the trash can seemed intimidated.”

Joey relaxed slightly at that.

Better.

This felt easier now.

Not effortless.

But easier.

Taylor stepped closer, smiling warmly.

“You look good, Joey.”

The words hit harder than they should have.

Mostly because she sounded sincere.

“Thanks,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “You too.”

Taylor tilted her head playfully.

“You survived another dangerous shift at Burger Chief?”

“Barely. Fry-related trauma.”

“Tragic.”

“Thank you for your sympathy during this difficult time.”

She laughed again.

God, he liked that sound.

As they walked into the zoo together, Joey noticed something strange almost immediately.

Birds reacted to Taylor.

Not dramatically.

But noticeably.

A pair of flamingos drifted toward the edge of their enclosure as she passed.

Parrots chirped loudly when she laughed.

Even a massive eagle in one exhibit seemed weirdly calm while watching her.

Taylor noticed Joey staring.

“What?”

“…Do birds always like you this much?”

She blinked in surprise before looking toward the nearby aviary.

“Oh. Yeah, kinda.”

“Kinda?”

Taylor shrugged shyly.

“Animals usually like me.”

Joey grinned.

“Disney princess energy.”

“I was hoping for mysterious forest witch.”

“Nah. Too wholesome.”

Taylor bumped his shoulder lightly.

“You’re making fun of me already?”

“I’m building confidence.”

“Well it’s working.”

That startled him slightly.

And Taylor noticed immediately.

“There,” she said, pointing at him dramatically. “That face.”

“What face?”

“The ‘wait someone likes me?’ face.”

Joey groaned.

“I hate how accurately everyone reads me lately.”

Taylor smiled softly.

“I think you’re just easier to read when you stop hiding.”

That one hit a little deeper.

The date itself turned surprisingly easy after that.

They fed giraffes.

Taylor laughed so hard at a screaming peacock that she almost dropped her drink.

Joey made the mistake of trying to impress her with animal facts and accidentally confused gorillas with orangutans so badly that a nearby child corrected him.

“You’ve been destroyed by a seven-year-old,” Taylor informed him solemnly.

“I’ll never recover socially.”

“You should probably leave the country.”

“I was considering it.”

By the time they reached the large aviary near sunset, Joey realized something important.

He wasn’t performing anymore.

He wasn’t desperately trying not to screw things up.

He was just… having fun.

Taylor walked beside him quietly for a moment before stopping near a pair of massive white birds perched together high in the enclosure.

They were beautiful.

Elegant.

Strange somehow.

The two birds stayed pressed close together, completely focused on each other despite all the noise around them.

Taylor smiled softly while watching them.

“They mate for life,” she said quietly.

Something about the way she said it made Joey glance at her.

Not sad.

Not wistful.

Just… deeply certain.

Like the idea meant something important to her.

“You like birds a lot,” Joey observed.

Taylor laughed softly.

“Yeah.”

One of the birds suddenly spread its wings wide, making several nearby people gasp.

Taylor smiled instinctively.

And for one strange second—

Joey could’ve sworn the bird looked directly at her.

Not at the crowd.

At her.

Then the moment passed.

Taylor looked back at him, cheeks faintly pink.

“Sorry. I kinda nerd out over birds.”

Joey smiled.

“Nah. It’s cute.”

Taylor looked startled by the answer.

Then pleased.

Dangerously pleased.

“Oh,” she said softly. “You’re getting smoother.”

Joey pointed at her immediately.

“Don’t ruin it by acknowledging it.”

Taylor burst out laughing again.

And somewhere far away in the back of Joey’s mind—

through the bond—

he felt Cassandra’s amusement too.