Alec Elliot

As soon as the words had left her mouth, she knew it had been the wrong thing to say. She shouldn’t yell at him, it’d only make him feel worse. Fuck. As she listened to his apology, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I know, I know you’re sorry…” she said softly. She had half the heart to sooth him and tell him that it was okay but she just couldn’t. She’d done that so many times before and she just couldn’t muster the words this time. Still, she could hear him breaking on the other end of the line and it was killing her. She breathed a sigh of relief when he confirmed that he was safe. “Oh, thank god.” I actually thought… She waited for him to finish but he was silent. “You thought what?…” She wasn’t sure exactly where he was sleeping but if it wasn’t safe in their warm bed, it wasn’t good enough as far as she was concerned. “Then come home. Alec, I miss you…” she said, her voice cracking. Please keep it together, she told herself. “You’ll be safer at home. There’s a bed and food here…” And I’m here. “Besides, it’s getting cold… Please, Alec.” Truth be told, she wasn’t sure where her marriage stood right now or where she even wanted it to stand–still, none of that mattered if Alec wasn’t safe. Sure, he said he was safe today but what about tomorrow? She needed to see him and know for herself that he was out of harm’s way–besides, they had a lot to discuss and just the thought of it was making Alice antsy.

The softness of her voice was a long-awaited comfort and Alec sunk into that feeling like it was the spot on the couch where he’d held his wife and kissed her face so gently. “I thought you were in danger. I know I was wrong. I just, honestly, thought it. Remember when we were in Glendale, and I was detoxin’, and I was convinced the staff were tryin’ to poison me or somethin’? I didn’t eat for weeks... I got locked up over it... But I was so sure. It was like that again. But this time I really thought someone was after us and that I was puttin’ you in danger by bein’ there.” She told you it was in your head. Hosea had been right. Alec hadn’t listened to her. He was an idiot. If he’d stayed and listened, or if he’d told her the first moment he started thinking these things instead of waiting for it to build... maybe it would’ve been different.

Then come home, Alec. I miss you. The blonde bit the inside of his cheek until he could taste the pain and the ting of copper on his tongue. He didn’t deserve someone as kind as Alice. The way she said his name was so forgiving. The promised warmth of her embrace was more alluring than the bed and food, but god, she painted an image of heaven before him and Alec couldn’t think straight. “I miss you too, Al.” He choked. His tongue ran across his teeth as he tried to control the lump in his throat. “But listen... I’m not right in the head still. And I’ve been drinkin... I can’t come home like this. Not tonight. In the mornin’ though, when I don’t look so rough.” What was he afraid of? Hadn’t she seen him at his worst? What was one more night of coming home half drunk with a week’s worth of dirt on his face? “I’m sorry I put you through this, Alice. I know I’ve hurt you, and I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to.” Alec’s voice had tapered off into a murmur thick with tears. “None of this... for the last year. It wasn’t what you deserved. I meant to be better. I really did.”

“Thanks.” He said in return truly appreciating it. It was nice getting compliments for who he was and not who he pretended to be. Nancy did it occasionally but he thought she was only making offhand comments and just being nice because they were coworkers. It made him feel like he actually mattered outside those nude scenes. The odds of him meeting this guy again was pretty slim since he didn’t like he belonged here. Maybe a traveler or just someone who came in and went like the wind. He was mysterious and Thomas wasn’t sure if he should be asking too many questions though he was curious. He chuckled when he asked if he was a model. It made him feel a little shy. “Not exactly…. I’m an actor for…. Um. Adult videos.” A pornstar was the quickest term but he wanted to sound less cheap. “I hope so. I haven’t had any luck in awhile. Hard to get a good time when people expect you to act exactly like who you portray on screen.” He shrugged. Master Bates. He was growing tired of it. He frowned hearing his story. “Shit man. That’s really harsh.” He said. “Sorry to hear that. You got no place to stay?” He asked. “I’m Thomas. It’s nice to meet you too.” 

Not an actor. A pornstar. Alec would’ve choked on his drink if he weren’t already so jaded by all the excitement of the evening. Having a calm conversation with a handsome adult talent was the most civilized thing to happen to him in 48 hours. He welcomed it. “Don’t sound so timid, man. Nothin’ to be ashamed of. Hell, I was strippin’ for a hot minute a couple years ago. Seems like that’s the true industry of the city. Sex an’ drugs. That’s all it is.” Even the business men had baggies of white in their Armani suit pockets. “You’re tellin’ me it’s hard for you to get laid?” Alec chuckled. “I guess that’s fair. The ladies probably think you’re a playboy or somethin’.” The blonde watched the man’s expression carefully. It had been easy to tell when Chris was hitting on him. Chris had been shameless and the two of them had been in constant close proximity. But Alec had no recent experience. He wasn’t used to being on his own. “Yeah, it was harsh, but well deserved. ‘m not the best guy. She deserves better.” He shrugged. He had no reason to be dishonest. “I mean, I’ve got the same place I’ve been sleepin’ lately. You know the Chase bank on 31st? The one with the 24 hour ATM lobby? It’s decent. No cops so far.” Alec raised his glass to his lips. His duffel bag was tucked away on a side street nearby. It was a familiar routine by now. “Thomas the huntsman. Cheers.” He tipped the rum back and drained the inch left in the glass. “You want another round? I’m buyin’ since its free.”

“I think it really suits you.” Thomas said with a gentle smile that did not match his burly appearance. Thomas was a teddy bear at heart even when he had to put a persona on screen when he was supposed to be this sensual kink master that could lay someone real good. He wasn’t anything like that counterpart of his at all. He chuckled when the guy started guessing his costume. “It’s the Huntsman. From the Snow White movie…. Movies. The guy who was ordered to capture the princess but ends up helping her instead.” He laughed shaking his head. “I got this from my costume trailer. We were having a special Halloween shoot so there was a lot of options there.” Sure they would just take them off anyway but it was still adorable. He nodded his head bringing his glass up to meet his. “I’m planning to have fun tonight. Get shitfaced maybe bring someone home. What about you? What makes you look so gloomy?” 

“Thanks.” Alec smiled hesitantly. He wasn’t used to being flattered. He’d been living on the streets of Queens for the last six weeks, so his features were a bit sharper than usual. He figured he looked pretty rough, but the compliment from the stranger went a long way and Alec’s demeanor softened. “Ah, yeah I think I’ve seen the trailer for one of those.” He nodded. “You definitely pull it off.” Alec’s head tilted slightly at the mention of the Halloween shoot. “You a model?” He asked, drawl cutting into his enunciation as usual. “You’re the right type for it.” Their glasses met and Alec took a heavy drink from his. He was trying to wash the earlier part of the evening out of his brain. “Sounds like a good fuckin’ night.” The blonde chuckled. The smile on his face cut off pretty quick when he considered Thomas’ question. “It’s a long story.” He shrugged. “The last chapter involves me havin’ no place to stay and my marriage lastin’ less than a year. So... I’m that guy now. Nice to meet ya. ‘m Alec.”

Thomas came in as The Huntsman. It wasn’t a hard choice and it’s not like his crew had not given him all the wardrobes he needed for a costume change later. Working at the porn industry does have its perks. They keep him supplied with everything he needs even when it implies that he might need to work doubles for their shoot later. Still it was nice of them to let him borrow the costume. Thomas walked around the party while scrubbing on his growing beard. He probably had to shave soon but he wanted to keep it to complete his get up. A drink on his rather large hand he made a stop when he saw a guy all by his lonesome. That’s a bit weird. A lot of the guest were accompanied today or at least if they came alone they were all having a blast. He looked sad. He decided to walk up to him then sat down on the log. Giving a friendly smile Thomas thought they could share the bond of coming here by themselves. “Hello there. Green Arrow?” He asked curiously. He wasn’t caught up with the modern television just yet. “Damn. It looks perfect on you.”

“Yeah,” Alec nodded, looking up. “Perfect ain’t the right word for it, but it got me into the party.” The well-built blonde sitting across from him was dressed in what appeared to be a professional level costume. It looked killer on him, but Alec had no clue who he was. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know your costume. It reads a bit military, but the fantasy sort. Tolkien or somethin’... but ‘m not sure.” Alec had never read the books, but he’d seen a movie or two. The fire was a nice compliment to the stranger’s look. “Looks good though.” He drawled with a soft smile. He glanced down at the drink in the stranger’s hand. “You drinkin’ the rum drink? It’s fruity, but its strong.” He lifted his glass in a ‘cheers’ motion.  

Eisley was getting away, used to late nights but not ones that were also chilly and outside. Dark hair fell around her face, piecey and thick as she avoided eye contact. It was too easy for her to feel out of place, especially without pockets to bury her hands in. Costumes were rarely practical. She got a drink, thin fingers wrapped around the glass like a safety net. Drinking had never been her thing but it wasn’t unheard of either, and the inside out burn that liquor gave her made her feel comfortable. Heavy boots and bare legs made soft hollow thumps as she sat down, glanced up at the sky briefly before dark eyes settled on the man in front of her. “Hi, sorry was someone else sitting here?” She questioned, brows pulled together in concern, immediately shifted her weight back to both feet, ready to stand if asked. The flicker of the fire both disguised and revealed the flush that spread over her face almost immediately, constantly unsure of herself. 

“No, that seat’s for you.” Alec reassured the stranger. Her eyes were dark enough to reflect the gold from the bonfire and he noticed the warmth that it brought to her cheeks. Alec wondered for a moment if he was coming off as too imposing. He didn’t want to make the woman uncomfortable. He eased the hood back from his face enough to show the softness on his gaunt features and the quiet, tired depths of his blue eyes. “Are you havin’ a good time at the party?” He asked, lifting his glass a few inches. “These folks sure know how to put together an event.”

With her wife off on the other side of the party with Junior and Uncle Hosea, she had decided it would be relaxing to mosey about the open establishment to sort of observe what was happening, an age-old habit that had been magnified ever since she started working security, culling on even the littlest hints of a possible mishap. It was a bit funny doing that whilst sporting her Poison Ivy costume, one that Ana had suggested - something quite new, out of her comfort zone, which the previously-numbed adventurous side of hers silently appreciated. After she managed to score a wolf plushie for them to take home, she wandered over to where the bonfire was located, eagle-eye coming into a halt when a certain Green Arrow situated himself down, the solemn expression too familiar for her to not notice. Not a lot had changed. It was almost impossible not to when the very same daunted gaze had accompanied her years ago, in the alleyways and warehouses of Chicago, constantly in paranoia of what was lurking in the shadows. It took everything in her power not to grab him by his hood and drag him to wherever Alice was right now for causing her tears, however, stoic-shouldered, Heather decided to approach him for now. Figure if his old demons had made a return. “I know it’s you, Edmund. Didn’t spend a couple of years being stuck with your bony ass on the streets to not recognize your voice.” Compared to the raucous girl Alec had met a long time ago in the warehouse and to her brother’s, Hosea, vibrant fire, she was a lot more quiet in this state - yet no less lethal, a ticking bomb, a knife ready to lacerate if held wrong. “I saw Alice a while back. What,” her voice was low, but grating, “in the hell, is going on. Who’s after you?” 

Alec bristled at the sudden mention of his middle name. He recognized Heather’s voice and looked up to see her in perhaps the most fitting costume that Alec could’ve imagined. A villain, or perhaps an anti-hero, it made sense to him now. None of them were the good guy in this story, him least of all. The way Heather said Alice’s name made Alec want to disappear back out into the anonymous streets of the city. Heather’s eyes were staring through him like she could see every self-deception he’d layered upon himself in the last month and a half. “No one.” He finally replied, exhaling the words like he’d been holding that breath for ages. “At least... I don’t think so.” He pulled his hood off, no longer concerned with keeping himself concealed. Heather was too keen. “I was certain back then though. I was workin’ at the hardware store still, an’ I kept seein’ this guy... starin’ at me from across the street. Same guy. For days. I was seein’ him in the bodega, seein’ him out my window... Everywhere. I thought... I don’t know why but I thought he was tailin’ me for this distributor I’d worked for.” Alec sighed and took a drink of the liquor in his glass. He blamed himself now for leaving her, but back then he’d felt like he had no choice. As pointless as it was, he hated himself for the things that he hadn’t known then. “Thanks for takin’ care of Al.” He murmured, shame staining his voice. “You’ve shouldn’t’ve had to... I never should’ve left her like that.”

Two hotheads at a fucking Halloween party, the worst idea the God he almost didn’t believe in had to date given the situation surrounding the rage boiling in his own chest, bubbling up his throat like a pool of lava. Nevertheless, he had taught himself how to soften his edges when he must over the past year, how to wedge the knife and bury it in his gut– in this case, he never raised his voice and though gritted, and grating, in its presentation, he wasn’t stupid enough to yell or raise his voice with a baby attached to him. While yelling in a public place was definitely a feat he had exposed himself to plenty of times over, this was not one of them; the little girl depending on him was far more of a priority than his seething anger. Hence, when he sensed the other man’s fury, mismatched eyes narrowed into slits and, after pushing down a prideful desire to hold his ground, he took a few shuffling steps back and warned lowly, “You touch me and you’re fuckin’ dead, man.” Said the musician who was practically rendered a walking death wish in the here and now, a hollowed husk abandoned to a realm of reality once more with an extra responsibility to bear. He wasn’t the reckless twenty-some-year-old who could drink it off, slum it at parties, forget that the all-consuming grief he felt existed. No, he had to experience it in full force, and pretend it didn’t exist by putting away every sign of life that tainted his apartment until his home was minimalist, as if he were still residing on the tour bus. Practically devoid of human sentiment, pictures removed off the walls. And yet, in the face of a moment like this, like the night he’d found himself trapped in a black truck going God knows fucking where, Hosea was met with a very painful, conflicting realization that he was still going to fight tooth and nail, no matter what. It went without saying that he respected Alice enough that he would never dare to lay a hand on Alec unless he was hit first, but he wasn’t entirely certain with that look in those blue eyes that the sentiment was reciprocated. What do you mean Alice is your sister? The snarl curling the corners of porcelain teeth were withdrawn after a moment, brows furrowing and hands remaining clenched and tucked away in his pockets. “Did I stutter?” The snark was uncalled for to a genuine question, taking him a moment to reel in his flagrant cynicism to the other’s own emotions. Olive skin peering from the top of his coat quivered with a wash of autumn chill, running down his spine. Hosea sucked in a deep breath, continuing, “It means that she’s kinda adopted. As in, she’s my fuckin’ sister, my mum is her mum. As in, I’m the bastard that took care of her when she was as tiny as my fuckin’ baby and taught her how to crawl around on the shitty stained-ass carpet in Greece. She’s my sister, man. What the fuck did you think I was doin’ on her birthday, takin’ her out on a date? After my wife died? Jesus.” Perking his pierced eyebrow, a huff escaped him. “Yeah, she’s my sister. I had an inklin’ and found out at my wife’s… kinda-funeral.” Not really a funeral, so much as a memorial. He didn’t want her buried in Greece– he didn’t want her buried in South Korea. He wanted her here, where he could come talk to her, come bring her flowers. “Half-sister, but it doesn’t fuckin’ matter to me. It’s not like I never knew she existed.” Better his father wasn’t her father, anyway; he could bring her to Sao Paolo without anyone questioning what’s your pai gotten into this time.

“I wouldn’t touch you with your baby strapped to your chest.” Alec growled back. “You’re makin’ it real hard, but ‘m not an animal.” He had been though. At times in his life, he had broken his knuckles over less. They hadn’t looked like people to him then. They’d just looked like threats, faceless, loud, and asking for a fight. Cyrek couldn’t be that if he tried. Alec knew how important he was to Alice. Even if the kids weren’t here, he couldn’t spark a fight with Cyrek. Alec was already so far out in the dog house that he’d probably be living on the street permanently. He didn’t need to add assault of a close friend to the list of reasons for his wife to hate him. 

Still, Cyrek never did himself any favors. Even an honest question was met with more hostility than Alec had seen between gang members. Maybe Cyrek just honestly hated him. It would certainly explain his need to talk down to Alec like he was a child that the education system couldn’t leave behind but wanted to. “She’s your fuckin’ sister. Got it.” Alec drawled, imitating Cyrek’s clipped tone. “You know, I’ve been wanderin’ ‘round tryin’ to figure out what’s real an’ what’s not. Thinkin’ Alice and I were in danger...An’ you can think whatever you want about that. Blame me for makin’ the wrong choice when I wan’t thinkin’ straight. Whatever makes you feel better than me, man. But, you don’t have to talk to me like I’m an idiot for missin’ the bus on your family reunion. I asked a question. Maybe lose the act.”

“Then what are you doin’ here? What bullshit are you gonna feed me?” The ire grated through his tone like nails down chalkboard, mismatched gaze tinted with the reflection of the flames. His eyes were searching his face, skeptical of the mere denial of the claim, and nearly inclined to ignore it altogether. When the baby began to turn her head away, he straightened his posture to set the bottle aside and hoist his baby girl against his shoulder and pat her on the back. Cy, I’m sorry– “Do not call me that,” the musician snapped without hesitation, disdaining the idea of that name that might as well be from another lifetime spilling forth from anyone he deemed less than acceptable of it. He didn’t need another reminder of the shit he should have going for him right now, bracelets jingling with every pat and rub along Amaris’ back. His eyes followed Alec’s movements like he was waiting for him to make a misstep, narrowed into feral slits from the squint upon his countenance and watching him fall, hopelessly, over the side of the bench. Holy shit, he’s a hot mess. “I am not the person you should be apologizin’ to,” Hosea spoke lowly, reeling in his own fury to resist the emotion affecting the baby on his shoulder that he wanted to go back to sleep when she’d been burped, possibly spat up on him. Coward, coward, coward. The word announced in lashing tongues, swarming around his brain like angry bees stirred within a hive, jostling his senses as angrily as an earthquake with tectonic plates bound to break apart and scrape together. “You just– oh my God, Alec.” His eyes rolled up to the darkened sky, teeth gritted in totalistic agitation. His brother dealt with it all the time, he’d never run off the way Alec had. Standing up on his feet when he’d successfully finished his task and settled the baby back into the blanket and secured it over his free shoulder, zipping up his fur-lined jacket halfway, the older male stepped forward. “So what, you get paranoid out your ass and go back to livin’ on the streets instead of listenin’ to her when she was tryin’ to come up with solutions to keep you both safe? Instead of talkin’ to her and trustin’ that she knows what the fuck she is doin’? A part of marriage is she’s supposed to love your dumb ass through sickness and health, and she told me you wouldn’t fuckin’ listen, not even a lil’ bit. Not to mention you never even fuckin’ talked to her about that shit you pulled with the dealin’, you never once talked to her about your fuckin’ feelings, I don’t care if you think you’re jack shit as a husband or not, there’s a fuckin’ line between feelin’ like you’re not good enough and never communicatin’.” Stopping when the bench separated them, he cocked his head with furrowed brows and his features wrinkling, lifting a hand and forcing himself to jut his index finger– somewhere, anywhere. “Alice was willin’ to do whatever the fuck you wanted and turn tricks for you, and you need to work as a fuckin’ team. Instead you abandoned her, and you told her you were leavin’, and you’re here, talkin’ to my dumb ass, while she’s somewhere not fuckin’ knowin’ if you’re gonna come back, if you’re fuckin’ okay, thinkin’ you don’t fuckin’ love her. She’s heartbroken, and you can see that you made a mistake now, but you and I both know you didn’t fuckin’ go home because I’m the one that took her out for her fuckin’ birthday yesterday ‘cause you weren’t there.” Searching his eyes, Hosea took a step backward and lowered his hand, balling both into fists and shoving them into his pockets. Every synapse in him screamed for a cigarette but he saw hide nor hare of Heather to pass Amaris off to temporarily. “She’s my fuckin’ sister, Alec, and if you keep breakin’ her trust over and over, then yeah, she does deserve better than you,” the male concluded, “What does it make you look like, that you’re here now instead of goin’ home and ownin’ up to your shit? ‘Cause right now, she thinks you don’t want her anymore.” Rolling his shoulders, he let out an exhale that resembled a sigh and lifted his brows, blinking at him in placid, unnerving calmness now. “From the view up here, I don’t fuckin’ disagree.”

Do not call me that.

What? Alec felt like he was losing it. Cyrek... didn’t want to be called that anymore? A wash of guilt flashed over the man and he wondered what else he’d missed in the last month or so. His life had continued to change and he had come untethered from any of the people he’d previously been anchored to. Now he was just lost and adrift. But he’d done it to himself. Cyrek was right. 

It sounded like the musician knew every dirty detail of the ways that Alec had betrayed his wife. The thought made him sick to his stomach. While he was trying to sort out his life, Cyrek was there to take his wife out for her birthday and tell her what a paranoid dumb ass her husband was. 

“I get it. I fuckin’ get it, man.” Alec growled, “You were there. I wasn’t.” 

The other man was lucky he had a baby strapped to him. Alec’s temper had always been short, but now he was reaching a dangerous peak of being publicly screamed at and shamed by another man combined with a deep self-loathing that was aching to be diverted. She’s my fucking sister. Alec’s eyes flew open wide and he stopped dead. His fists were clenched by his side, but the animal anger in his eyes had suddenly been subdued. “... what?” 

Alec cast aside all the venom on his tongue and just stared at the man. “What do you mean Alice is your sister?” The jealousy he’d held onto felt misplaced and foolish now. Cyrek had taken his sister out for her birthday. That made sense. Alice hadn’t replaced him. She’d just found someone to lean on.