Chapter Text
Raven arcs an eyebrow as little shoes patter pass. She pushes off the car and rolls the creeper out from underneath the Honda Civic. Tiny shoes hit the ground and Raven finds herself staring at blazing green eyes as she sits up from the roller board she is laying on.
“Hi!” a toddler greets with a mess of black hair and big smile.
Raven glances around for an adult and returns her gaze to the little boy. “Hey Squirt. What’s your name?”
Lifting both arms and turning his thumbs to his chest the toddler replies with a cheeky, “Me Looace,”
Raven chuckles with a hum of contemplation. “Luis?”
Little eyebrows narrow with a pout. “Me Looace.”
Raven finds herself tilting her head in thought before she decides, “How about I call you Ace?”
“Ace,” the toddler repeats with a laugh and then points to the silver vehicle. “Car.”
The mechanic nods in affirmation and smiles. “Yup. Car.” She watches for a second as the toddler stares at the car. “Soo Ace . . “ Raven trails as she glances around the empty garage. Mondays mornings were typically slow. “Your dad around?” ‘Ace’ tilts his head in a bit of confusion. “Mom?”
“No mo’ mommy. Mommy work,” explains ‘Ace’ as Raven nods her head, wondering just where this kid came from.
“Lucas?!” a deep voice bellows in a bit of a panic.
“Bell?” Raven calls out to the familiar voice.
“Rae, have you seen—” Bellamy begins but stops in relief. In quick large steps he scoops the toddler into his arms. “Lucas!”
“Didn’t know you had a kid, Blake,” Raven comments as she pulls the rag tucked into her back pocket to wipe the grease off her hands. She had been working at the local garage for little over a month. It was a far contrast from the auto shop she worked at in Polis. And while the pace was a lot slower, Arkadia gave her the new start she was looking for.
“Lucas is my nephew,” Bellamy explains with a chuckle as he ruffles Lucas’ hair. His actions earning giggles from the little boy.
“Ko’ Bell. Down,” Lucas pleads as he points to the ground.
“Say ‘hi’ to Rae first,” Bellamy instructs as he gestures to Raven.
“Hi Rae,” Lucas beams causing Raven to smile back.
“Hey Ace,” Raven salutes earning a laugh from the toddler as he mirrors his owe salute. “Aren’t you off today?” Her eyes now at Bellamy who is placing Lucas down.
“I am, but I forgot my pay stub. Thanks for occupying Lucas, he must have slipped out of the office when I sorted through my mail. O, would have killed me if something happen to him.”
Raven nods her head, “The garage is far from child proof.” She eyes Lucas who is curiously approaching the roller board. Her foot instantly resting on top of the creeper, preventing it from moving, just seconds before Lucas is climbing onto the board. Lucas plops himself down and smiles, as Raven begins to slowly roll the board forward and back with her foot. “O is your sister, right?” Having heard Bellamy mention her to a few coworkers from time to time. The two siblings seemed close.
“Octavia, yeah. Moved in with me a few weeks ago.”
“How old is he?”
“He’ll be turning three in a few months,” Bellamy answers as he glances down at his nephew.
"Cute," Raven comments, unaware on just how much this little boy was about to change her life.
Raven is walking out of the office when a toddler comes barreling into the garage. "Hey Ace," she greets with a smile.
“Hi Rae,” Lucas smiles as he wraps his arms around her legs.
“Hey Bell,” Raven waves before she ruffles Lucas’ hair.
Bellamy nods with a small smile. “Slow day?” He observes the empty garage.
“You just beat the rush,” Raven explains as tiny arms continue to latch onto her. “You need anything?”
“Just need to sign off on some paperwork. Sinclair asked me to come in,” Bellamy answers as he looks toward the office. “Come on buddy.”
“No. Me stay,” Lucas is quick to decline as he tightens his hold around Raven. The female mechanic raises an eye brow in a bit of surprise.
“Lucas,” Bellamy sighs as he places he crosses his arms.
“Rae, Rae, Rae. Me stay,” Lucas shakes his head as he pushes his face into Raven.
Bellamy lets out another sigh as he rubs his face. “Do you mind?”
“No,” Raven answers having just finished working on the last job for the day. “Want to go for a ride, Ace?”
Green eyes peek from below. “Yes.” He looks pass her at the roller board a couple of feet away.
“Thanks. I owe you,” Bellamy smiles as he heads towards the office.
“So you keep saying,” laughs Raven as she lifts Lucas into her arms.
This had to be the tenth time Bellamy has brought his nephew by the shop. Most visits were quick but a few warranted more time. Lucas took an instant liking to Raven and preferred to spend most of the time at the garage with her. Raven chalks it up to the fact that she lets him ride around on her creeper.
“Me,” Lucas is saying as she carefully places him on the board. “Me.” He insists as he tugs at her hand.
“Want me to ride with you?” Raven asks earning a smile and nod. “Ok.” Raven smiles back and adjusts them both so that Lucas is securely settled between her legs before pushing them off.
The duo spend several minutes rolling around the garage. Lucas is laughing causing Raven to join in with her own laughter. She found his laughs to be contagious.
“Hello?” a voice eventually interrupts.
“Mommy?” Lucas perks up at the voice and is attempting to wiggle off the board.
“Woah, hold on Ace,” Raven replies as she tightens her arm around him and uses her feet to stop the creeper from moving any further just as an attractive brunette appeared a few feet in front of them. Piercing green eyes stare at the pair and Raven feels her face flushing.
Lucas continues to wiggle, “Mommy!”
“Hey son,” the woman smiles as Raven releases him. The toddler is quick to climb off of her and scrambles over to his mother who swings him up into the air and into a hug. She peppers him with kisses causing his laughter to fill the garage. Raven is torn between watching and pulling her gaze away.
Green eyes are once again looking at her and Raven finds herself standing from the roller board. “You must be Octavia,” Raven says, noting just how attractive the Blake genes are.
“And you must be Raven,” Octavia responds with a smile earning a surprised look from Raven. “Bell mentioned that Sinclair hired a new mechanic and described you as a hot genius. Just don’t tell my brother I told you. He’d deny complimenting anyone but himself.”
Raven lets out a laugh just as Lucas begins to wiggle from his mother’s hold. “Down, peaz, Mommy.” Octavia obliges to his request, and observes as the toddler is quick to approach the roller board beside Raven.
“Ask for permission, Lucas,” Octavia reminds just as her son is inches from the board.
“Peaz,” Lucas asks as he looks up at Raven, earning a smile from the mechanic.
“Sure Lucas,” Raven finds herself saying, the name unfamiliar on her tongue but Octavia made her a bit nervous at saying her typically nickname for him.
“No. Me Ace,” Lucas is quick to correct with a put and thumbs jabbing to his chest.
“Right, Ace,” Raven says with a smile earning a cheeky smile. She watches as he climbs onto the board, her foot on top to prevent it from rolling.
“Ace?” Octavia repeats with an arced eyebrow and an amused smirk.
Raven swears her cheeks are pink embarrassment as she looks up to see Octavia peering at her with sharp green eyes. “When I met—Lu—your son, I asked him what his name was and I thought he was saying Luis. I didn’t realize he was saying ‘Lucas’ so I started calling him Ace. It must’ve stuck because he insists I call him Ace and not Lucas.”
Octavia hums, “Cute.” She bends down to Lucas and smiles. “Can I call you Ace, son?”
“Nooo,” Lucas laughs earning a chuckle from the mechanic and a laugh from his mom.
Bellamy appears from the office, greeting his little sister by messing her hair with his hand before pulling her in for a side hug and kiss to the top of her head. Octavia pretends to be annoyed at the gesture but leans into her brother and allows a smile to slip her lips at his affection. Raven smiles at the interaction and feels her heart warm when Lucas scrambles off the board barreling in for a hug with shouts of ‘me!’
If Raven was not certain before, she was certain now—moving Arkadia was the best decision she made.