#luckily i never go anywhere without a teabag or two but still

[telemna-hyelle]

The hot tea from McDonalds ivw been looking forward too all morning

[fleckcmscott]

Watch What Happens - Chapter 14

Chapter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Summary: Arthur, an aspiring comedian, has struggled to find normalcy and compassion his entire life. Y/N, a hard-working paralegal and transplant to Gotham, has just been put on a case for the Wayne Foundation. When they meet, unexpected sparks fly.

Chapter warning: Swearing

Words: 2,673

After breakfast and some passionate necking in the doorway, Arthur had left. As he’d disappeared into the elevator, he gave a playful but modest wave and smiled. Coincidentally, the next door neighbor had popped out to get her paper. When Y/N had greeted her, the woman had kept her eyes averted, muttered a quick, "Morning," then hurriedly went back inside.

At first Y/N had found it odd, but then it’d dawned on her. Maybe she needed to learn to keep her voice down.

Chuckling, she’d gone back into the apartment and the bedroom, considering changing the sheets. But, blushing happily, she’d left them alone. He would be over again that night; she’d been sure they'd wind up between them. Then she’d checked the sofa. She hated trying to launder upholstery and wasn't particularly good at it. Luckily, she hadn't seen anything that would have given away their activities - her robe had been in the way.

From the moment he was gone, she knew she was head over heels. Her eighty-seven percent certainty had increased to ninety-six over the course of their morning. He hadn't said much after they'd gotten up, but his actions touched her. After a little prompting, he'd poured coffee for them, then asked how she liked hers. He'd made it with one sugar and a shot of milk. (Seemingly nervous that he'd make it too white, he'd kept asking, "Is that enough?") Then he'd hovered next to her while she cooked. It'd already felt like he belonged there.

The speed with which the comfort of routine had developed between them was startling. In her past relationships, she'd taken things slowly. Jeff, her ex-husband, was someone she'd met as a sophomore in high school. He'd been a college freshman, studying pre-law. It had taken five months before they started dating. He was a good man - they exchanged Christmas cards every year, letting each other know they were  still alive. But they'd gotten married only a month after she'd graduated, before she’d had a chance to develop her own identity.

Y/N decided the biggest distinction between then and the present was that she'd grown-up. Taking care of her father had forced her to mature quickly. She hadn't had time for other people's bullshit and had to figure out how to clearly say yes and no, something she'd struggled with until her late-twenties. She'd had to learn what she did and did not want.

Arthur, even the Arthur who'd been trembling and biting his nails on the couch with his Gotham Department of Health notebook, was what she wanted. It was surprisingly easy to like and love him, not only because he was handsome, kind, and most of what she’d experienced of him had been great. But also because she now knew herself.

Picturing him, while sitting at her desk and trying to work, made the corners of her lips turn up. Nervous excitement and plain happiness caused her to laugh quietly. She felt foolish. She hadn’t giggled like that since she’d been a teenager, lip-syncing badly to the radio with her sister.

She truly was trying to act professionally that morning. But at their usual mid-week meeting with Matt, Patricia passed her a note with the words, “You can’t stop smiling!” written on it. Y/N gave it back, feeling like a girl trying not to get caught by the teacher, with a heart, followed by two questions marks and an exclamation point.

Once the meeting ended, Patricia arched a brow at her. Y/N put her palm to her face, groaning. The note had been terribly out of character. “I just wanted to know what it was like to be girly. Once.” Her embarrassment had quickly faded, though, and she said, “I promise I’ll tell you everything tonight.”

The rest of work went by uneventfully, with her back to preparing the firm's family cases. They were a gallery of dysfunction. There had been a rise in children being taken from their parents due to substance abuse disorder after budget cuts had stopped their treatment. And there was a stack of protection from abuse orders, including pictures of bruises and other injuries. The occasional petty divorce filings were a nice break. She would sometimes reread the best complaints when she needed a chuckle. Though the work wasn’t difficult, by early afternoon she was exhausted and trying not to nod off at her desk.

She left early, then, and made her way to the Gotham Bureau of Corporations to try to find more information on Renew Corp. It turned out it had been registered as a limited liability corporation. As a result, their annual reports and registered agents were openly available. The photocopies she made cost her $2.35 at five cents a page. Sitting on the floor at her coffee table, she reviewed the reports. Most of them were about profits and projects, which didn't interest her. She already knew the addresses they were after. The list of registered agents intrigued her, though. She'd have to go over her plan with Patricia.

But first she had to figure out how to explain what she thought was happening in a way that didn't make her sound crazy. Who would believe that Gotham's largest philanthropic organization was responsible for a third-party harassing poor people instead of helping them? She'd find it hard to believe herself if she hadn't taken a closer look. But she was at a loss as to what other conclusion could be drawn.

~~~~~

When Y/N told Patricia her general theory, she'd been skeptical. But once the shoe boxes of letters tenants were getting were pulled out, Patricia's eyes widened. "You coming over here with the file was a risk," Y/N told her, putting the folder on the table. "It means a lot. I don't want you to do anything else that could get you in trouble."

Patricia shook her head. "I've been there forever. Matt won't ask questions. The only reason you got caught was your big mouth and bad luck."

Taking out a plate for the scones she’d picked up, Y/N smirked in response.

Patricia grabbed one of the pastries and took a bite. "Before we start work, I need to know what on earth is going on with you and this guy you're dating." Despite the exasperation in her voice, she looked amused. "You're glowing."

After putting on the kettle, Y/N boosted herself up on the counter next to the stove. She crossed her ankles. "His name's Arthur Fleck. He's a performer - he's sometimes a clown at the children's hospital. He’s an aspiring stand-up. I think he's a little older than me. Early to mid-forties?"

"This is the-" Patricia made air quotes "'-good looking pie guy,' right?" she asked. "How did you meet?"

Grinning, Y/N went into how they'd kept meeting serendipitously. That he was gentle with her, something she hadn't experienced much in her life. (Given her assertive personality, most people appeared to think she never wanted or needed it.) She flushed at the memories. "I think he's the last gentleman in Gotham. He holds the door open for me. He helps me with my coat." She wished he was there, right now, with his arm slung about her waist, hearing all the compliments she was giving him.

"We talk on the phone every night," Y/N continued, "and I look forward to those few minutes the whole day. He tells me jokes. Even when they're terrible, I love them." Shaking her head, she said, "He sometimes misunderstands what I say and doesn't know how to respond.” Her eyes fluttered shut as she breathed the rest. “He seems a little left footed with the world. But I’ve fallen in love with him, anyways."

It took a few seconds before Patricia spoke. "Already?"

Y/N folded her arms over her chest. "How long did it take before you knew you loved Robert?"

"I knew Robert and I were going to get married after our first date thirty years ago." Patricia stood and stretched her arms. "But sometimes I regret accepting his second invitation."

That prompted a snort from Y/N. "On our second date, I got wine-drunk and had a mini-breakdown on the sofa. Arthur didn't try to take advantage or leave. He just listened and tried to make me feel better."

The tea kettle started whistling, interrupting her train of thought. She hopped off the counter and started filling their cups. "I think the biggest thing we have in common is taking care of ailing parents - he cares for his mother." After sitting at the table, she dunked the teabag a few times. "It's rare to find someone who understands how hard that can be." A smile appeared on her face. "He gets it. He gets me. And I think I get him."

"Tell me three negative things about him," Patricia said.

Y/N cocked her head. "He smokes like a chimney - I don't know how he hasn't gotten cancer already. He's too unsure of himself." She scrunched up her face, remembering how he'd told her to leave after his mother had wounded him. "And he's too self-reliant. He thinks I don't notice, but I do."

Before asking her next question, Patricia took a long sip. "Have you slept with him?"

"Last night,” Y/N answered without hesitation. “This morning," She smirked. "I’m bone-tired, but hopefully tonight."

Patricia stared at her, then burst out laughing. "Jesus, Y/N."

Y/N cracked-up at her reaction, playfully smacking her arm. "Hey, I'm turning forty in April. If I see something I want, I'm going to grab it." She pointed at Patricia to emphasize what she said next. "And I can tell you, in his own words, he did not mind."

"Does he know how you feel?"

Y/N put down her teacup. "It's hard for me to open myself up. I'd shut that off for so long.” A sigh left her as she leaned back against the chair. “I know it doesn't make sense, but going to bed with him is easier than saying anything."

"He sounds like a decent man," Patricia said. "There aren't many in Gotham."

"There aren't many anywhere." After some silence, Y/N furrowed her brow. "He’s wonderful. But I can tell he has difficulties. Or at least he has in the past."

Patricia's eyebrows knit together. "Legal trouble?"

"No, nothing like that." Y/N adjusted her legs. How much information could she share without crossing a line? Maybe disclosing his affliction would be all right - he did have laminated cards he handed out. "He has a neurological condition that makes him laugh. It doesn't happen often, but I've seen it when he's nervous. It's been hard for him." She studied her tea, thinking of his notebook and all his medication.

And she felt shame, remembering how she'd shut him down like a coward when it'd seemed he was going to tell her everything.

"Do you want me to do a background check on him?" Patricia spoke quietly, her concern obvious.

Y/N waved the idea away. "No. There’s no reason.” Then she blushed. “I don’t even know why I told you. But," she smiled, "I appreciate you caring enough to ask." Pointing at the nearby folder, she said, “Now let’s get this over with so I can call him.”

They started on the file, then, sorting through the motions, writing down the day each one was filed with the court. Opening all the letters was a pain in the ass - Y/N was relieved she only got a couple of paper cuts. The dates on those were analyzed, too, and put onto a parallel list next to those of the filings. When they were finished, an hour or so later, they were able to confirm the motions and letters had started during the same time period.

Patricia sipped her tea, shrugging. "It could be a coincidence."

"Of course it could. That's why I got the list of registered agents with Renew Corp." Y/N got up and grabbed the reports she'd copied from the counter next to the stove. "I'm supposed to have the Wayne Foundation tax returns on Friday. I'll see if Renew Corp. is listed anywhere on there."

"Actually, I have a better idea." Patricia crossed her legs and indicated the reports with her pen. "The tax filings will have all the Wayne Foundation employees listed on one of the schedules. You can see if any of the names match the agents on the Renew reports."

Y/N leaned back against the counter. "I can't believe I didn't think of that." Frowning, she mentally went over the dates they’d written. “Did I see that a new motion was filed on Monday? Do you have it?”

“Yeah, we got our copy today. Why?” Patricia dug through the file until finding it, then handed it to her.

“When I looked through the file, nothing indicated a new motion was needed.” She started to scan it. It was a motion to amend the original filing, which meant addresses could either be added or taken off. This one added a few in order to, according to the summary, allow the building of an additional medical clinic wing. She didn’t recognize most of them: a residential building on Cortelyou Road, an empty lot on Sutter Avenue, a commercial area on Rockaway Boulevard. An apartment complex at 225a Anderson Avenue.

Her breath halted. 225a Anderson Avenue.

It made sense. Despite the heaviness forming in her stomach, and her inability to take in any air, it was perfectly logical. Ms. McPhee’s building was on the same block as Arthur’s, on a perpendicular street. Y/N closed her eyes, reaching back to grasp the counter.

“Y/N, what’s wrong?”

Heat rose from Y/N’s shoulders, through her neck, to her face. “Arthur… Arthur’s address is included.” She held out the paper to Patricia. “How am I supposed to tell him?”

Standing, Patricia put her hands on Y/N’s shoulders. “This is going to take months and months. And you’re trying to stop it.”

“I know, but-” Y/N started.

“Does he know the details of what you’re working on?” After Y/N shook her head, Patricia continued. “It’s not going to do any good to say anything.”

“I just told you I love him. How can I-”

The blaring sound of the phone interrupted her. After another couple rings, she went to grab the beige receiver from the wall next to the kitchen entrance. "Hello?"

"Hi. It's Arthur."

Y/N checked the clock - it was after seven. He'd probably expected her to call by now. Pointing at the receiver, she turned around and looked at Patricia. "Arthur, I'm sorry I haven't called yet. I was just talking about you." She took a breath, trying to keep her voice from reflecting the anger simmering inside her. "Why don't you come over now? You can meet Patricia before she-"

His voice was strained when he interrupted her. "No. I can't. Is there anyway you can come to the hospital?"

That was unexpected. She felt worry cross her face. "Are you all right?"

"It's my mother. We just got here. I don't know what's wrong. There was an ambulance when I got home from..." His tone lowered, sounding a little embarrassed. "Can you please come? I don't understand all the paperwork." A pause, then. “I don’t mean to bother you.”

"You’re never a bother. I'll be right there. Which hospital?" Y/N watched as Patricia rose from her chair and started packing up the file she'd brought.

"Gotham General. In the emergency room," he answered.

"I'm on my way." She grabbed her coat and purse as she hung up. "Arthur's mother's in the ER. I gotta grab a cab."

Patricia took her jacket. "I brought my car. I'll take you."

Y/N gave Patricia a good, long hug, something she rarely did. "I owe you. Thank you for helping me."

"Anytime. Arthur's not the only one who's too self-reliant."

Y/N rolled her eyes at Patricia and squeezed her arm as she lead them both into the hallway, then locked the door.

Tag list (Let me know if you want to be added!): @harmonioussolve​ @clowndaddyfleck​ @sweet-nothings04​ @stephieraptorr​ @rommies​ @invisiblewispofwhimsey @let-the-stars-fall-in-the-abyss​

[geisterwrites]

Fear Is a Liar

My secret santa gift for Neka, I’m sorry it took so long, the final scene was fighting me so hard ;;__;; Hope you enjoy!

When Keith is dragged out to a lunapark by Shiro and Adam, he meets a certain boy, he definitely did not thought would be his reason to return to the lunapark again and again and again. At least until the day he meets his girlfriend...

4294 words

“Shiro, there really is no reason to.” Keith, standing at the counter and twirling a teabag in hot water, didn’t look back at his friend as he spoke. His eyes were glued to the screen of his phone instead, following the flowing words each time he swiped his thumb.

“Oh, come on, Keith. You’ve moved here what, five, almost six year ago and you have never visited it. I think it’s about time you fix that.”

“I thought it was just a tourist attraction the locals didn’t care about. So why, as a local, would I need to visit?” Keith pressed the excess water into his cup before he threw the teabag into the trash, an automated action he didn’t pay any attention to anymore - just like to Shiro’s tries to convince him.

“The tourists are more interested in the historical city center, since it’s unique. They can visit a lunapark anywhere else. So it’s not solemnly a tourist attraction.”

Keith looked up as the new voice rang too close to his ear and watched Adam peek over his shoulder, reading what was on his phone. He swiped it off.

“Do you mind?”

“And do you?” Adam looked at him with a grin on his lips. “I thought you read strictly non-fiction books?”

“It was a recommendation from Pidge.” Keith shrugged, rubbing his thumb over a piece of dirt stuck to the screen. “It’s quite nice. The main character-”

“Hey, don’t go skipping the subject.” Shiro stood up from the couch and moved towards the two of them. “We are still talking about you going with us to the lunapark, Keith.”

Keith grabbed his cup and turned around to face Shiro. There was no hurry in his movements. They were languid and slow as he held a spoon between two of his fingers and stirred his tea two times around the whole cup before he took a sip.

“Are we?” He looked at Shiro, who sighed and opened his mouth, but Keith jumped in before he could get any word out. “If we are still talking about me going to the lunapark, then please give me one good reason why should I be interested in going and playing the third wheel on your lunapark date.” With satisfaction Keith watched a soft pink layer appear on Shiro’s cheeks.

“You won’t be a third wheel. There will be more people than the three of us.” Shiro crossed his arms over his chest and gave Keith a look like this was the argument Keith wouldn’t be able to throw anything against.

“No really. It’s a lunapark, Shiro. It’s kind of given that there will be more people.”

Shiro groaned, in that exasperated kind of way when something drove him up the wall and for once Keith enjoyed playing the dumb one.

“What I meant-”

“I know, what you meant. But I still don’t understand, why us going in a group of ten people instead of just the three of us, should convince me to come along.” Keith took another sip of his black tea. If anything, it was the opposite - a larger group of people was one more reason for him to stay at home. “Are you having fun?” He side-eyed Adam, who stood next to them, hip leaning against the counter and listened to Keith’s and Shiro’s exchange in silence.

“Oh, I do. Quite a bit.” Adam grinned, his eyes flicking in Shiro’s direction, who was glaring at him as if to say ‘This is not why I brought you along, you were supposed to help.’

To say the truth, the situation was quite amusing for Keith as well. Perhaps a bit annoying, but mostly amusing. In the five, almost six years, Keith had lived in this city, he had found exactly four friends - Shiro, his boyfriend Adam, Shiro’s friend Matt and Matt’s sister Pidge. Which was more than enough for Keith, thank you very much. Shiro seemed to disagree on that point. With the infamous ‘You should find more friends of your age.’ one would hear  from an over-concerned parent, Shiro constantly dragged Keith to various gatherings or places with higher concentration of people. Most times Keith at least humored him - for a bit before he slipped off to be a hermit in his own apartment again, curled on the couch with a book and a cup of tea in his lap.

Keith studied Shiro’s expression, the little pout he was still directing at Adam, knowing he would yield this time as well. It was difficult to say a complete no to Shiro, considered all he had done for Keith.

“Fine, I will go.” Shiro’s little “Yes!” at Keith’s response was almost adorable. “However,” Keith slid in before Shiro could start to celebrate. “You will leave me out of social gatherings for at least the next three months.” Keith sipped his tea with a smirk while Adam’s laugh rang through the apartment.

=

The lunapark was, as Keith had expected, loud and crowded. At least the early summer brought a weather that wasn’t too hot yet, which made the lunapark ordeal a bit more bearable. But comfortable weather couldn’t save everything.

The three of them met up with about eight other people in front of the lunapark’s gate. There were people of Shiro’s and Adam’s age, but also people of Keith’s age, as he had expected. He had been ready - for most things at least. He was not ready for this Mark guy, a friend of Shiro’s friend, who had missed the definition of personal space and was face-slapping obviously trying to hit on Keith. And right now Keith was really not in the mood for that.

Luckily, in all those years, Keith had also master the skill of unnoticed abscond. After about half an hour of listening to this guy’s uneducated advances, Keith had accidentally lost the group. The moment they were out of sight he also turned his cell phone off - a message for Shiro to not go looking for him.

The first option Keith had was to just go home. Easy and desirable, right? Even if he did not feel like turning his phone back on to continue the book from today morning, there was a large enough pile for him to pick from. But when Keith looked around the less crowded part of the lunapark he had wandered into, he admitted to himself, he had been quite curious about the lunapark - everyone always talked about it. Keith had just never found the drive for a visit on his own accord. But now he was already here, right? So it would not hurt to look around - as long as he avoided the group, of course.

The attractions in this part of the lunapark looked well used and quite old-fashioned, compared to the more modern part close to the entrance. It was probably the reason why there weren’t as many people around here. Keith only welcomed that - looking around without having to fight his way through a crowd was giving him a bit less of a headache. Or it would, would it not be for the loud, boisterous voice that boomed around here and of which he still haven’t found the source of. He seemed to be getting closer now, though, because the unintelligible jumble of words was getting clearer with every step.

When Keith stopped in the vicinity of a small booth, the voice was inviting him to come and try if today was his lucky shooting day. Well, not him personally, but a young man with a bright smile was trying to attract people to his ‘Galaxy Shooting Game’. He was prancing around with a toy gun in hands.

“Come closer to try your luck with this beautiful girl, there is no other like her. Just two dollars a shot. What about you, wanna check how good your aim is today?”

Keith crossed his arms over his chest - and this was what he was trying to find? So not worthy. Maybe it was about time he went back home.

“Hey, stop right there, Mullet! Where do you think you are going without stopping at the best booth of this lunapark?”

The voice bounced louder the moment Keith turned around and he rolled his eyes. *Someone should go try his stupid game just to shut him up.* With the next step the voice called out louder. And louder. With the third step Keith couldn’t but glance back to see, whom that person was trying to lure to his booth. Only to find out the guy was staring at him. Keith’s eyes widened when he was met with a teasing grin.

“I knew you wanted to try, come on, come closer, don’t be shy.”

*Would flipping the guy off be considered an appropriate reaction?* Keith frowned in the direction of the booth. He would not be swayed by the stupid challenge etched into that stupid grin. No way. No. Then why the hell was he walking closer?

“Hey, glad you made up your mind. The sparks in your eyes, about how you wanted to give this a try, were hard to overlook.”

“You can’t even recognize the eye color at such distance,” Keith deadpanned, only now noticing the piercing blue of the guy’s eyes, “let alone some non-existent sparks.”

“Oh, do not underestimate my sharpshooter eyes, they see what stays hidden from other people! So, how many shots do you think you will need to hit jackpot?”

“I… uhm, so I try to hit that target back there and…?” Keith’s eyes roamed over the interior of the booth.

“Never played the famous shooting game here? Now, let the great Lance explain and initiate you. You wouldn’t find a better shooting teacher.”

Keith rubbed at his nose. All he thought was he might get a quick in and quick out to wipe off that annoying smirk, but the way this guy was starting to explain things, this would take hours.

=

Keith didn’t know how long it all took, but it was dark when he was leaving the lunapark. He was about 30 dollars lighter and all the prizes were mocking him from their shelves at the booth. Considered the circumstance, this should have been Keith’s one and only visit to the lunapark.

Keith had no clue why he kept coming back. The lunapark was loud and the guy was obnoxious. He couldn’t get rid of the grating voice even as he tossed and turned in his bed at night.

But aside from being obnoxious, the guy was also funny. At least moderately so, since he managed to make Keith laugh a few times. He was also patient when he was teaching Keith how to shoot. And actually not so bad to talk to once he stopped yelling around to attract people and settled into a lower tone to converse with Keith.

Somewhere along the way of Keith coming back, the obnoxious guy has shifted into Lance and Keith’s heart has shifted into dangerous territory. He noticed it every time Lance smiled at him now. Noticed it every time Lance leaned in closer to gossip about a passer-by, his warm breath fanning over Keith’s cheek. Noticed it in how fast his heart started to beat when their hands brushed and how deliberately he was trying to make their hands brush. And noticed it especially once he went to consult with Shiro if it would be worth a shot to try asking Lance out.

=

Keith’s heart was pounding the moment he set a foot out of his apartment that day and he expected it to burst out of his chest once he passed the lunapark gate. *I have nothing to lose. I have nothing to lose.* He repeated Shiro’s words, his brain trying to yell louder than his heart did, but it was futile. Keith’s nervosity and fear spurred his heart on and he was sure Lance would her it once he was hundred meters away from the booth. Well, Keith was not sure if Lance heard that, but he definitely must have heard Keith’s heart cracking several minutes later.

Keith saw the girl at the booth from afar. That was nothing new, of course, as the point of the booth was that people came closer. Lance’s flirting wasn’t new either, he did throw sugar coated words left and right for his customers, no matter their gender. His smile… while it wasn’t new on itself, Lance using it outside of private moments with people he knew was definitely new. Keith saw Lance smile like that at his best friend Hunk, who came by a few times while Keith was there. Keith himself needed several weeks of talking to Lance to catch a glimpse of it thrown at him for the first time. There was more honesty etched into it than in the smiles Lance offered to the customers.

It made Keith waver as he came closer, noticing other things that were also new. The arm around the girl’s shoulder was. Fingers playing with her hair, strand after strand twirled around Lance’s fingers. Lance not trying to persuade her to a game - he still was attempting that with Keith after three months. But this, this definitely wasn’t a scene of Lance talking to a customer. Keith faltered with his next step. Maybe he should just go home, like he should have on his first day in the lunapark. Maybe he would, if Lance hadn’t spotted him and waved at him like the biggest goofball, with the widest grin Keith ever saw him make.

“Keith! Glad you made it today. I’m happy you can meet Allura, she is the most important person in the whole world to me.”

With teeth digging deep into his lower lip, Keith watched Lance lean over the counter and press a kiss into Allura’s nose. The most important person in the whole world. Keith bit his teeth together so hard his gums ached.

“Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Allura.”

The girl was sweet. Her voice was sweet, her smile was sweet and the handshake Keith accepted seemed to leave a sweet, sticky residue on his fingers as well. Everything was so sweet his stomach churned, as Keith tried not to pin any blame on her. His feelings were not Allura’s fault.

“Nice to meet you too, Allura.” It was nice. It really was. It was nice to get to know Lance’s girlfriend before Keith made an idiot out of himself by asking Lance out. He cursed himself stupid for never considering that, because of course someone like Lance would already have someone.

“Keith?”

Keith snapped out of his thoughts when Lance addressed him. On the verge of his mind he did register that Lance was talking, but he had no clue what it was about.

“Sorry, I got a bit lost in my thoughts. What was it?” Keith forced on a smile.

“I was just wondering… if you’d want to grab dinner with us later.”

Keith was sure something was wrong with his hearing. Why would Lance want him to tag along on the dinner-date with his girlfriend?

“Yeah, I would love to get to know the Keith, Lance can’t stop mentioning, a bit better.”

Lance opened his mouth, but snapped it close when Keith looked at him. It made Keith aware he was glaring, but he couldn’t help himself. It was nice of Lance as well to talk about him to his girlfriend, but never mentioning her when talking to Keith.

*Well, why should he? It’s not like you two are extraordinarily close.* Keith’s mind supplied helpfully, making him more and more uncomfortable with this whole situation.

“I already have plans for tonight, sorry.” It consumed a lot of Keith’s willpower to force his expression to be less sour. His mind was right - it wasn’t like Lance had been giving him any hints or hopes during Keith’s visits. It was Keith himself who had tripped and fallen deep. “Actually, I have to go already. Just wanted to stop by today and say a short hi.”

Under the scrutinizing looks of both of them, Keith wanted nothing else but leave. “It was nice meeting you, Allura. Lance.” He didn’t give them the chance to say goodbye before he took off, pushing his way through the crowd that has gathered on this unusually warm autumn day. The sun felt like it forgot what season it was and got lost in summer thoughts. Keith hated it. Hated the warmth pouring down on his skin, making the freezing cold chills that danced through him more pronounced.

=

“You haven’t been to the lunapark for quite a while.”

Keith wished he could ignore Shiro’s voice and pretend his apartment was still silent and his reading undisturbed. But he knew that once Shiro started… “Hmm.” He gave a short nod, not taking his eyes away from his phone and hoping for the best. What came, was the worst.

“Did something happen with Lance? Did he turn you down when you asked him out?”

How should he answer that? That a turn down wouldn’t be as bad? Keith swiped his phone off, but instead of looking at Shiro, who was sitting on the couch across him, Keith looked at the poor excuse of a plant he was keeping. He had never been good at taking care of plants, but this one gift from Pidge somehow had enough willpower to linger on even under Keith’s horrible care. He should probably water it soon. How long has it been since the last time? A month or so? A month since he had visited the lunapark for the last time.

“Keith?”

Keith’s eyes flicked to Shiro and the attempt to swallow words stuck in his throat failed. Instead they bubbled out.

“I met Lance’s girlfriend.” At least he didn’t have a thing for over-dramatizing, spilling how he was introduced to her the day he gathered his courage to ask Lance out.

“Oh Keith, I’m so sorry.” The palm on his shoulder made Keith realize that he had spilled just that. Damn. Definitely not something Shiro needed to know.

“It’s okay, Shiro. It was just a stupid crush, it will pass.” Keith shrugged, fiddling with his phone. At the moment the tight feeling that had settled around his heart a month ago didn’t feel like it would ever go away.

The silence had returned to Keith’s apartment. Several minutes of absolute silence in which Keith concentrated on taking deep breaths. They weren’t calming at all, just game more room for thoughts.

“What about we head to the Christmas market?”

Keith scrunched his face. “Considered the result of the last time you had taken me out to a place with a huge amount of people, no thank you.”

“Come on, Keith. We will go to the one at the castle’s yard. It’s smaller, not so full. Some fresh air, waffles and Christmas punch. I’m sure it will do you good.”

Keith looked up to Shiro, ready to argue that he was not setting a foot out of his apartment to go to Christmas market, but the emotions swirling in Shiro’s eyes stopped him from saying any words. This stupid crush was sitting deeper than Keith was ready to admit and Shiro seemed to feel that. He also felt that it wouldn’t go away until Keith actively helped it along, which Keith knew himself. He just lingered on, like the goddamn plant chocking down any nutrients that were left in the soil.

“Fine. Just let me water my plant first.”

=

“Okay, so you go get the waffles and I will bring the punch. I swear that booth over there sells the best punch you can find in this whole city.”

With a sigh Keith watched Shiro trot off, eyes flicking to the queue at the booth. If that was any indication how good the punch was, then it must really taste godly. Wasn’t Shiro talking about there being less people here? Seemed they all had gathered around that Christmas punch booth. Keith shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his jacket and walked over to get the waffles. Aside from punch booths, this was the only food booth in the yard, but through some miracle there weren’t that many people here. At least he could quickly grab the waffles and station himself somewhere aside from this commotion, which reminded him of the lunapark with all the noise and all the talking.

“Hey, one chocolate and one strawberry waffle, please.” Keith glanced over the menu before he pulled out a palm full of coins from his pocket and started to gather the right amount.

“Hey, did you come here today to check how good your aim is?”

Keith’s head shot up at the words, at the voice, and all of his change fell into the mess of trampled snow at his feet. Confronted with the sight of Lance with a white and red striped apron over his thick winter sweater, grinning at him from inside the booth, Keith was speechless. He opened and closed his mouth several times before he finally stuttered.

“Lance? What… What are you doing here?”

“I’m usually helping Hunk with his booth once the Christmas markets start.” Nonchalant as ever, acting as if he had told Keith many times before, but Keith just hadn’t remembered.

“Oh.”

*Very eloquent, Keith.* But he just couldn’t bring out more than that. No other words were coming and even if his brain tried to put together a few sentences, they dissipated before they reached Keith’s mouth. The silence between them stretched into an uncomfortable length.

“Hey, Keith! Nice to see you again.”

Keith had registered the flash of white hair from the corner of his eye, but hadn’t paid it any attention until Allura’s cheerful voice ripped the awkward silence into pieces. He blinked when he saw her elbowing Lance in the side and Lance clear his throat and shift on the spot.

“Uh, hi Allura.”

“How have you been? Lance had totally-” Lance’s hand pressed against Allura’s mouth and pushing her away stopped her from talking further.

“Keith wants two waffles. Go, go, that’s your job.”

Right, the waffles. The money. Keith looked at the coins strewn around his feet and cursed. Picking them up would be fun.

“Do you need help?”

Keith looked up from where he had squatted down at Lance’s head peeking over the counter. He grabbed a fistful of coins along with snow and everything and just barely didn’t knock Lance out as he shot back to his feet.

“No, no, I got this. H-how much are the two waffles?” Keith flicked bits of snow out of his palm when he caught a sight that almost made him drop the coins again. Allura, who was manning the waffle iron, had a blond girl draped over herself and they were talking, laughing and kissing. His eyes went from the pair to Lance and back multiple times, confusion not elevated in the slightest when they settled on Lance.

“Are you in a poly relationship or what?” Keith blurted out before he could stop himself, stunning Lance into silence.

“I… what?” were the only two words Lance was capable of.

“I mean you, and Allura and that…” Keith’s voice drifted off when Lance looked around and started to laugh.

“Me with these two? Keith, Allura and Romelle were in a relationship since they were what, sixteen?”

“But back at the lunapark… you said Allura is the most important person in the whole world.” Keith’s emotions were so mixed right now he couldn’t pick them apart no matter how he tried.

“And she is! She is my best friend. Did you thought she was my girlfriend?”

Was the ground opening right under his feet? Keith wished it would do that and he would disappear. This was the most embarrassing moment he had ever been in. Lance was gawking at him like he had grown a second head and Keith deserved that. He had just accepted the fact that Allura was Lance’s girlfriend by himself and didn’t let Lance introduce her fully.

“Keith… that isn’t why you didn’t come to the lunapark for a month, or?”

Keith bit into his lip. How could he answer this question without making an even bigger idiot out of himself? He had… shot without considering and completely missed the big red target that was his chance. He averted his eyes and looked at his feet.

“I’ve missed you.”

Keith’s heart went from zero to hundred under one second and heat crept up his neck when he heard those words. Lance was looking at him with a shy smile, a smile Keith had never seen before, and his cheeks were also dusted in pink.

“I was wondering the whole time what I did wrong that you haven’t stopped by after that day. If I made you uncomfortable with the dinner question. And the whole time you were…”

“Please stop rubbing more salt into the wound,” Keith groaned, the shame still burning the tips of his ears.

“Only if you accept that dinner offer. I’m sure you will love both Allura and Romelle, or if you would prefer… it could be just us two.”

Keith shivered, his eyes staring deep into Lance’s to find a hint that his offer was… yes, yes it was. Lance’s arm was outstretched, his palm ready to accept the coins Keith wanted to pay with, so Keith did. He dropped all the snow-free coins into the waiting palm. Except this time he was not even pretending their fingers brushed by accident, as he let them linger in Lance’s palm.

“I would love… a dinner for two.”  

[wariskind-rpg]

Edgar Bones

Age/Year: 22/23; Hufflepuff 1974 Affiliation: Order of the Phoenix Blood Status: Pureblood Occupation: Owner of Rosa Lee Teabag/Tea Maker FC: Richard Madden

TRAITS

+ resourceful; practical; humorous – compulsive; inappropriate; truculent

BIOGRAPHY

UP TO PLAYER

PLOT POINTS

I. There was much worry for the Bones where Edgar was concerned. While most of the family aspired to achieve within the confines of politics and the Ministry (always for the sake of others, of course), Edgar’s focus always seemed to be— well, literally anywhere else. His marks were at least passing, but he never showed much interest in putting his lessons towards anything practical. He was much more content to use magic for fun and enrichment than he was to use it in everyday matters (though he certainly uses every shortcut he’s ever come across). When Edgar announced to his family that he had developed a line of herbal teas and was pursuing the business seriously, their concern for his future reached an all time high. A few short years have since passed, but the business is still booming. Edgar is even developing teas that he hopes will one day make it into the DMLE— teas laced with veritaserum, sleeping potions, and other useful bits. First, he’s allowing the Order to test them (and hoping that nothing goes terribly wrong as they do). That’s not the only way he’s using his business to help the Order, either. With the success of his tea brand on the up and up, Edgar decided it would be foolish not to add another, far more elaborate branch to his business: he opened a tea shop called Rosa Lee Teabag in Diagon Alley. Rosa Lee has become a classic stop for many witches and wizards who pass through the alley, and an employer to people like Hestia Jones, even though it’s only been open for a few short years. Rosa Lee hasn’t only become a hot spot for dates and window shoppers, though; its cellar is witness to most Order of the Phoenix meetings, which Edgar gladly hosts whenever he can.

II. Edgar tries to keep his life separate his family members careers, but the one he couldn’t walk away from was his Aunt Carrigan’s nonprofit business. As a business that helps Muggleborn witches and wizards locate safe and stable careers in the Wizarding world, it seemed stupid to Edgar not to invest his time and hard earned money in Common Sense Careers. The trick is this: to be as helpful and involved as possible without it being known. Luckily, his cousin, Bertie Higgs, has agreed to help him there, putting Edgar’s mind at ease---or rather, as close to at ease as it can be in times such as these.

OTHER CONNECTIONS

Amelia Bones: With quick tempers and an annoyance for all things asinine, it’s clear that these two share the renowned Bones genetics. But just because they’re only two years apart and share similar traits doesn’t mean they get along steadily all the time. The pair is known to butt heads and have clashing ideas on most occasions. However, at the end of the day, they’re able to shake hands and agree to disagree like any close siblings should. Edgar has always been protective of his little sister, although over the years he’s learned that she’s perfectly capable of looking after herself. He respects her for wanting to follow in their parents’ footsteps along with their eldest brother, and he’s relieved to know she respects him just as much for deciding to go in his own direction.

Evan Rosier: There’s nothing about Evan Rosier that Edgar can stand. From his pompous air, to his sleazy snicker, to his blood supremacy propaganda... Everything about him has always made Edgar’s stomach churn in a near painful way. It was an argument with Rosier in second year that gave Edgar his first detention, an impromptu boxing match with him in third year that gave him his second, and a duel in the Charms corridor sixth year that nearly got him kicked off the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. While Evan made it clear that the Rosiers considered the Bones family blood traitors, Edgar wasn’t shy about letting him know that the Bones thought even less of the Rosier family. Edgar hasn’t seen much of Rosier since Hogwarts, but he’s definitely heard more than his fair share of rumors about him—the sort of rumors that make him more uneasy about those fights now than he ever was while he was at Hogwarts, especially now that he has a family of his own to protect from him.

Janet Howard: Not only is Edgar an outlier in his family where his ambitions are concerned, but the blossoms on his branch of the Bones family tree are blooming in a nontraditional manner. When Janet discovered she was pregnant with Edgar’s child a few years ago, the two barely knew each other, and the pregnancy didn’t urge them to speed things up, either. If anything, they slowed it down, focusing on bringing their child into the world and nothing more. If Edgar could go back in time, he wouldn’t do it any differently. He’s happy with Janet, who is not only expecting their second child, but working hard to launch another branch of their business: the Lumos Nox Brewery in Tutshill. As he finally considers settling down with the love of his life, Edgar is grateful every day that, for once, he didn’t rush into things and let his emotions take control.

FATE

Edgar DOES NOT SURVIVE the FIRST WIZARDING WAR.

Edgar Bones is OPEN.