Really?

Hyacinth hadn’t found Emilia yet but she eventually spotted Tony coming back in from outside, she wondered if he hadn’t completely given up smoking. Hyacinth and Erebus made their way over to the hot tub Tony was in, Hyacinth had to admit she was surprised Tony had taken his shirt off, before tell Erebus to lay at the edge since it was too hot for him. Hyacinth chuckled softly at Tony’s ‘question’. “If you’d be so kind as to give me a hand climbing in I’ll put in a good word with your wife.” She teased.

-

Usually he wouldn’t have taken the shirt off with so many people around to see the raised flesh that marred his back, but he could ignore a handful of stares better than he could the frigid cold outside if the cotton of his shirt didn’t dry fully before they left. Hearing Hyacinth’s voice, he peaked one eye open at her, offering a small smile. “I suppose I can offer you that hand, only on the promise of putting in a good word with Emilia.” He smirked, chuckling once. He shifted his weight, sitting up a bit straighter and offered his hand up to her. 

Hyacinth shook head head slowly “Of course not, I was only teasing you.” She kissed the tip of Abel’s nose. “Though I do enjoy spending time with you in the jacuzzi.” She winked. “Oh shh, you’re still the original Babyface.” Hyacinth moves some of Abel’s wet hair out of his face. “I’m really happy right now, thank you.” She wrapped her arms back around Abel’s neck before hugging him tightly and pressing a single soft kiss to the side of Abel’s neck since they were still at the Ball. Hyacinth leaned her head against Abel “Swimming is tiring.” She smirked since Abel was doing all the treading work.

Hyacinth hadn’t even realized she had broken the rules until after the fact but she smirked knowing that Abel probably let it slide. Hyacinth saw the surprise on Abel’s face. Her stomach dropped as she assumed the worse. Now he was stuttering, Hyacinth wasn’t sure she had ever heard Abel stutter around her before. Hyacinth gave a small nod “Your turn.” She replied as if everything was fine, like everything was normal. Maybe it was for the best, there’s no way Abel would have still loved her after she told him about Ben after all this time.

“I decided to give you a break.” She winked “Nooooo!” It was now Hyacinth’s turn to pout. “Whose jacuzzi would I use if you never spoke to me again?” She teased back. Hyacinth grinned “You better keep up, wouldn’t want me thinking you’re old, now would you.” Her nose wrinkling with how she was smiling.

Hyacinth’s eyes widened, eyebrows rising as a grin formed. She’d have to ask about the one later when the games rules didn’t apply. “Hmm” Hyacinth thought for a moment. “Give Pumpkin extra treats after I said he had enough.” She gave him a pointed look. “Oh yes, I know, you’re not nearly as sneaky as you think.” She burst into laughter. Hyacinth eventually quieted down and chewed her bottom lip nervously. “Did you mean it when you told me you loved me as you were falling asleep the other night?” She asked softly, afraid for his answer.

Hyacinth had excused herself from Abel when she had spotted Satchel on the side of the pool, holding onto the handle on Erebus’ shark life jacket as her helper swam towards Satchel. Letting go and doing her best to tread like Kai had accidently taught her, Hyacinth splashed some water softly at Satchel’s legs. “Finally someone that sounds just as unhappy about the pool as me!”

Satchel was glad to see her and Erebus. “He swims better than I do,” he said, gesturing to the dog. “I normally love a theme but I also love sleep, and I haven’t gotten that in awhile with preparing outfits for this thing.” He gestured around them, at all the scantily clad people. He loved to show skin, of course, but his gowns – as well as Abel’s tux – had certainly taken a lot more time to craft than a swimsuit would have.

Despite the darkness to Abel’s joke, Hyacinth laughed, she enjoyed Abel’s outlook on life and the things he had been through. “I just know you like your meat.” She teased. Hyacinth grinned as she listened to Abel laugh, he made her forget everything and everyone else when she was with him. At Abel’s next question, Hyacinth rolled her eyes. “Duhhh” She laughed as she thought back to Surya’s bachelorette party in Four. “Have you ever gotten a bedroom-related injury?” She asked with a smirk. 

Abel almost spat out his drink, but kept himself together enough to swallow. It was just the way she said it that sent him over the edge. He didn’t even really eat meat until moving to the capitol, his aunt never having enough money for those luxuries.

Abel laughed again, she was a lot better at this game than he was. He nodded in response, thinking back to the time where he full on broke his wrist after being tackled to the floor in a heated kiss. He could laugh about it now, but at the time, it was terribly embarrassing. “Do I do anything that annoys you?” He asked, sipping on his drink.

Hyacinth and Erebus had headed towards the bar to get a drink while Abel talked with some ‘fans’. She had also made it to the line for the bat before someone bumped into Hyacinth. Stumbling back slightly since she still didn’t have her prosethic on since she had been swimming, Hyacinth was thankful for Erebus. Hyacinth looked up once she had recovered quickly and saw Orpheus offer her a drink. Hyacinth raised a brow as she took the drink “I feel like everytime I see you, you’re drunk or have alcohol.” Hyacinth took a sip of the peace offering “Mmm, what is this?”

She looked up, pulled from her mental count when she heard Hyacinth. She smiled softly at her friend, grateful to see her. “Thanks, Ive been sticking to bottled water just to make sure.” She wasn’t even sure she trusted the bartenders. At least the bottles of water were sealed. 

Hyacinth smiled softly “Good, don’t let one bad person and experience ruin all your friendships.” Hyacinth couldn’t help but feel like it always seemed like something came up before she could tell Abel about saying goodbye to Ben and she knew the longer it went on the worse Abel’s reaction would be. Hyacinth just didn’t want to mess what they had up but she knew she needed to tell him. “Yeah…” she got out softly in response to Abel’s question.