WILDFRIRE

Elliot is the younger brother of Hunter and he’s incredibly close to his brother and the found family they have from the Southside. When you think of wasted potential, he’s probably the poster child. A brilliant mind, squandered talent and a dozen vices, Elliot never planned on getting far in life but he still can’t help but feel like a burden to his family, especially after a stint in prison. He’s not a bad guy but he carries a lot of self loathing and doubt inside, he just happens to posture and pretend like he’s more okay than he is. 

“Oh my God, you are twisting my words Elliot.” Danny replied with a defiant passion, hitting one of his hands into the other and then using their praying position to point towards his friend. “I never said I was the same but we fucking look alike! It’s like…a hint, alright? If I could afford dumb suits and shit, I’d be him whatever he’s fucking called.” he calmed back down again, trying to resume an aloofness to the whole thing that he obviously didn’t embody. “Nah-uh, I don’t want fucking…pity agreement, Cross.” he then uttered, scowling.

“Yeah yeah, laugh it up. I fucking heard it, man.” he waved a dismissive hand to Elliot, turning his back slightly to him to hide his own laughter even though his shoulders were moving. Once again a decorated finger was raised at Elliot by the time Danny swung back around. “It’s like you don’t even listen to me. Me and Aiyla kissed whether you wanna accept that or not but I, because I’m a nice guy, stopped it from being anything else.” he then touched his own chest, truly a signal of his pride and humility. “Em is just Em, leave her out of this.” he waved his hand again, trying to move on so he didn’t have to explain that it was something else he fucked up. Not even the first time with Emira either. “Uhuh, well you sound like you wanna marry her. Give her some trailer kids, huh?” he teased, following suit by pushing off the wall and finishing his cigarette. “Not serious is just your code for she’s still hung up on Danny.” he laughed.

•

Elliot doesn’t even try not to laugh. Danny’s his best friend but he’s also a fucking idiot. He cackles at his protests and holds up his hands in a show of innocence, “what pity?” But he’s grinning, “you look just like him. Hell, you don’t even need the suit.” Another snicker as he nods his head in mock-seriousness, “you look more like him than he probably does in real life.” Elliot moves out of the way before Danny can get a hit in.

He doesn’t need Danny to tell him to laugh because already his shoulders are shaking and he does his best to catch his breath. Danny’s idiocy never fails to amuse him. They were like night and day but somehow they didn’t mind too much, their humors overlapping where it counted and that’s about as much as you needed to be friends growing up on the Southside. “Sorry, I’m not even hung up on the fact that you and Aiyla maybe kissed,” Elliot explains, “but the fact that you,” he points at Danny, “say you’re the one who stopped it.” Another burst of laughter escapes at the thought of Danny exercising any self-control. “I was just saying,” he shrugs, taking another swig of his beer, finishing it up, “if she’s on the apps, means she’s fair game, right?” He raises a brow, wondering what Danny would say to that before rolling his eyes at his teasing. “Shut up, dickhead. The amount you bring her up, I think you’re the one who’s still hung up on her.”

Hunter was too busy laughing to talk properly, but he joined in with making a punch into Elliot’s other side and then giving Wolf one too, right in the ribs. “Yeah right, you were still tunneling your way out. Whole place is gonna be crawling with cops looking for you.” he jested. He was cackling at the same time, clipping Elliot on the ear with a little slap. “Shut up man, I can write. I just don’t do all the weird-ass fancy flowery shit you do. And you.” he looked between them both but was happy Elliot finally had someone who he could talk smart with again and he had someone he could randomly fight people with. Best of both worlds with their brother. He dodged out of the way from being pushed into Elliot’s face and grabbed his tobacco to start making them some smokes. “Yeah, let’s head to The Phoenix or something first before we get everyone over excited at Boots. You’d probably be useful at the junk ranch with me and Finn. Or just go instead of me when I got a hangover from hell.” @wolff-cross​

There’s playful punches going every which way, but Wolf is just grateful to be back with his brothers. Even if he shows the affection by ruffling their hair, or roughhousing them like he did when they were kids. “I’m stupid about a lot of things but I’d never bring cops back here. Or do the whole drug thing in there.” he laughs gallantly about it before his laughter teeters off into a childish giggle as he points at Hunter. “It was colored in too, everything scribbled in outside the lines. And It said Hun’er on the back.” he joins in, laying his hand flat into the middle brother’s face to give a playful push. He does the exact same to the youngest then, pulling the material of his own shirt to give it a large whiff through his nose. “Smell just fine. Besides, you two had a working and less predator stalked shower this whole time so what’s your excuse?” Wolf beams and while he does this, he starts shimmying backwards towards the truck. “Come on then, all this talk of drinks but you’re just standing around like the Augustus of Prima Porta. I’m broke as fuck bitches so you’re paying and you can’t back track now.” @elliotxcross​

•

Elliot elbows Hunter, a scoff escaping as he listens to his brothers talk. It’s always been the three of them, that’s how it was meant to be and now that Wolf is back, things feel right again. “Just break into a house for a card,” Elliot snickers because the dumbest shit usually affected them the most. Wolf committing a b & e with a gun on him had to be up there with the most idiotic things a Cross has done. It doesn’t matter though because his brother is out. The youngest Cross cackles at Hunter’s protest and shrugs, “pretty sure I had to fix the address before it went out,” he lies, head tipped back with laughter as Wolf joins in. “Next time just ask me to write it for you.” Elliot offers with a hand to his heart in mock sincerity, “I don’t mind helping.” He shoves Wolf’s hand away and sniffs his own shirt after just to make sure. “Maybe Stevie will give you a welcome back round,” he suggests the Phoenix inadvertently, digging his keys out of his pocket. “Or she might make you pay your tab. With inflation that should only be…what? Couple thousand?” @hunter-cross​

“Well she was poor, wasn’t she? So yes?” Aiyla shrugged, watching each subtle expression change over Elliot’s features. She wished he’d stop being such a stubborn man but she had no room to judge. Aiyla was sitting gleefully watching the table at every chance she had and then giving a not so subtle glance to the time. It didn’t bother her that while she was smug about Elliot’s date clearly disappearing, hers hadn’t even showed up but he didn’t need to know she was waiting for one.

Due to her attention being closely focused on Elliot, her eyes followed his and spotted the same faces she had seen before. Immediately, she scoffed and held up her hand to Elliot’s face to try and get him to be quiet. “Do you need chaperones and failed to mention it to me?” she quipped, slowly looking back at him with a look of dismay. “Everywhere you go, those two seem to be very close behind and I’m starting to think it’s some sick joke.” she scolded Elliot. “Let me guess, let’s see who can scare the rich pretty girl, hm? Is that some game you all like to play? Or see if you have what it takes to make me fall for you or something? Why are they always there!?”

•

“Why does it matter to you?” He returns pointedly. Elliot doesn’t get annoyed easily (or so he says), but it seems like Aiyla always knows what to do or say to get under his skin. Like a splinter, she’s a constant, irritating presence that he can’t seem to ignore. But his annoyance is quickly replaced by confusion at her presumption, refusing to look back at his brother or best friend and remain focused on her. “What are you talking about?” He scoffs, almost laughing at the thought. “They’re fucking annoying is why they’re here.” Elliot waves a hand, as though dismissing their very presence. 

“Besides, you’ve made it pretty clear you’re not interested.” He leans back now, too close for comfort as he shrugs, “Now you’re just being an asshole, sending drinks and shit. It’s fine. I get it.” Elliot is surprised by the bitterness that slips into his voice, “this,” he gestures between them, “isn’t gonna happen.” Because he’s just trailer park trash and she’s…well, she’s her. His mood has soured and he wonders what he’s even doing here. He can’t even afford this place. “Message received. I hope your date shows up,” he lies, already backing away, his own date completely forgotten as he avoids eye contact with his brother and Danny and heads to the exit. 

Hunter didn’t know when women started to become shaped like wisdom teeth, but the more he was forced to watch Leeching with the Sanitarians he could suddenly see why Elliot was obsessed with Aiyla. “Scott always tells ‘em but they don’t wanna hear it.” Hunter grumbled, torn away from the fuzzy T.V screen when he heard a God Damn British accent. He turned just in time for the food to hit him in the face but he burst into laughter. “Wolf!?” he followed after the eldest, and suddenly the trailer felt full again. Him and Elliot could handle life just fine without their older brother, but that was it. Just fine, Wolf was always a ray of weird sunshine. “We were hoping we’d get a few more weeks of peace man, the fuck did you do? Bribe the officers with a shiny rock or something?” he pulled Wolf into a hug but then stepped back so he could place his hands on both of his brother’s shoulders. “Fuck finding a job, Wolf. We need to drink.” @wolff-cross·

“They told me yesterday but I thought ah, why bother the lazy asses I call brothers to come get me?” he teases Elliot with a laugh, jabbing a weak punch into his stomach before accepting the much needed hug. “Get on in here.” he then calls to Hunter, waving the other blond misfit into the pile. “No, no bribing. Just good old fashioned good behavior. One of the old timers had a heart attack and I took over the library trolley, been wanting that job since the last time I was in there. You can always tell when someone doesn’t give a fuck about books. It was the most organized it has ever been with me.” he explains away the life that he focused on for the previous five years. “You both gotta tell me everything. Everything you missed out in the letters and phone calls.” Wolf says excitedly, placing each of his hands on either side of his brother’s faces to try and knock their heads together. “Look at you both! Look at us three! Ugly motherfuckers.” @elliotxcross·

•

“You’re such a fucking cunt,” Elliot returns, jabbing him in the shoulder before giving him a squeeze. “I would’ve gotten you,” he doesn’t speak for Hunter though it’s clear they both would’ve been there to welcome their older brother back to the outside world. “Still find it hard to believe,” Elliot snorts, “had to be a trade involved. You running drugs on the inside?” He wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case, though he’ll give Wolf the benefit of the doubt this time. “This asshole wrote you letters?” He gestures at Hunter, skeptical like if Wolf was saying the sky was green. “What’d it say? Things good here?” he mocks in a cave-man voice before pulling a face as Wolf manhandles him.  “Shit, man, let’s just get drinks and then we’ll talk,” Elliot says, pushing Wolf’s hands from his face but not before pulling him in for another bro-hug. “Speak for yourself, Wolf – you’re the one who looks like you haven’t showered weeks.” he sniffs, “smell like it too.” @hunter-cross·

Fuck yeah, a date with a figure skater. Danny even wore one of his best shirts, the word pussy across his chest with the u made of two fingers in a v and a tongue through it. Nothing was going to stop his excitement, even knowing the high prices at the resort bar didn’t sour his mood. The only thing that did manage to stop his high was a text from Lily. “Hi, sorry. I think this was a mistake. You’re DJ’s brother?” Fucking DJ. Of course the shortest Anderson had to pick fights with the tallest guy to exist. Why did Lily care though? Fucking bitch. Now he could see why so many people hated her, and maybe she really did bash that other skater’s knee in. Foul was one way to describe Danny’s mood as he got to the bar, but it changed into curiousness when he saw Hunter. He nodded a quick greeting but then followed the man’s eyes to Elliot. With fucking Aiyla. Could this night get any worse? Wait were they fighting? Danny was intrigued, leaning on the bar with a little grin to himself. I told you so was definitely on his mind but he wasn’t going to interrupt. Wait…was this how they fucking flirted?

;

“You seem very excited about her getting back…so quickly.” Aiyla mentioned, looking to the table again and then back again, only to discover he has loomed into her space even more. The annoying thing about it was that she liked it. And the fact that she found herself wanting his attention but then when she had it, she became infuriated by it. Instead of leaning away, she leaned one elbow on the bar and subtly angled herself more to him, purposely crossing her legs so one of her bare ones brushed against him quickly with the motion.

“Couples that I think make a good match, Elliot. I’m generous, you see. Which you’d probably know if you…” Asked her on a date? She took a sip of her drink to stop herself admitting the jealousy that wasn’t even jealousy. She didn’t care. Aiyla made a point to glance at her bracelet watch before looking to the table, another grin rising on her face. “Well, I’m sure I can pre-warn him that I’m a biter. He might even be into it.” she suggested smoothly, taking another sip of her drink and her eyebrows raising at him. “You seem very interested in who I’m waiting to meet, is she not engaging enough for you?”

•

Elliot could easily forget his date’s name if Aiyla would just admit she wished she’d texted him back sooner. That’s what this is, isn’t it? He hadn’t waited around. In the same vein, he could admit that he wanted to see who she was waiting for but actually hoped they didn’t show up at all. Why? Because he was selfish and preferred her attention on him. The brush of her leg doesn’t go unnoticed but his smirk turns to genuine amusement before snickering. “Oh, right, you give Mother Teresa a run for her money, Aiyla.” He doesn’t bring up the $7 water bottle he’d bought at the skating rink that wasn’t up to her standards because the last thing he needs is to give her more fuel.

Raking his hair back, Elliot shrugs, glancing around them before a scowl nearly works its way onto his face, catching sight of two familiar faces that didn’t belong in a place this nice. Well, neither did Elliot but his date is his excuse…if she’d return. Clearing his throat, the younger Cross gives her a sardonic look, blue trailing from her eyes to her lips and back. “He might also head-but you. People are known to do that when someone tries to bite off their tongue.” It seems like every opportunity he’s had to make a move gets unceremoniously interrupted, like it’s an act of God intervening and maybe it was. Maybe Danny’s right (he shudders at the thought) and maybe Aiyla was crazy and Elliot would be better off letting sleeping dogs lie. “I just feel like warning the poor bastard is the decent thing to do. And I am. Decent that is.” In case she wants to say he’s the poor bastard (they already know that).

“I never said it wasn’t a word,” He did. “I just said it isn’t real. Like how can someone make you think something did or didn’t happen? If that was real, they’d be famous on fucking T.V or something.” Danny ranted, before staring at Elliot with a furrowed brow. His head shook a bit, more of an offended movement and mocking his friend than anything else. “Uh, yeah. I know he’s not fucking real, asshole. The dude who’s Ken looks like me and you’re a fucking blind piece of shit. All of you are, for not seeing it.” he was on the verge of losing his cool but quickly settled back down again.

“I know for a fact you wouldn’t have posted that photo of you in the hat if it wasn’t for me so shut the fuck up. You should thank me for the pussy.” He had no idea how strange that phrase sounded until it was already said, and he held a faded tattooed palm up into Elliot’s face. “I fucking heard it, alright?” he almost yelled, stopping Elliot form getting there first. The mention of Emira being on there made his hand drop, but then in true Danny fashion he shrugged his shoulder. “I’m on there too.” he mumbled petulantly and a little sour. Had she blocked him and that’s why she wasn’t coming up as near her? “I got a date too, only fucking downloaded it the other day. That DuPont girl, who bashed a knee or something.” Danny was up for a challenge most times, as long as he knew he’d win, otherwise he’d call the challenge stupid. Which was exactly why he scoffed in Elliot’s face about Aiyla. “Already had her on my couch in my t-shirt so I’m winning. Plus, she’s bat shit crazy like that bitch.” he gestured to the couple. “So, if you wanna be that dude then go for it. But you won’t get far.”

•

Elliot doesn’t think Danny’s pea brain could comprehend that he was currently trying to gaslight in his definition of gaslighting. So he waves a hand at his oldest friend, as though shooing away a fly. “Or maybe they’d just wanna just be left alone so they don’t have to deal with idiots,” he snickers, rolling his eyes at Danny. “The guy who’s Ken is like on magazines, dickhead. You’re not the same,” he shakes his head solemnly, clapping Danny on the shoulder patronizingly. “But if it makes you feel better. Sure, Danny. You look just like him.” accompanied but dramatic emphasis and air quotes to mock him. 

“I should thank you for the ––” he’s cackling at how stupid Danny sounds, even as his friend cuts him off because he can make fun of him further. “You’re a fucking idiot,” Elliot shakes his head dismissively before arching a brow as Danny asserts his own dating app activity. “Oh yeah?” Snorting, he takes another swig of his drink and pushes off from the wall. “You’ve got a real winning streak with rich chicks. First you think Aiyla likes you, then whatever the hell Emira is these days, but oh no, you’ll definitely get lucky with a DuPont.” Weren’t they fucking kajillionaires? “She’s not that crazy,” Elliot defends without knowing why, before shrugging, “besides, it’s not even that serious.” Especially not since she won’t fucking text him back, “not like I’m trying to marry her or anything.” The thought is almost laughable considering the type of ring Aiyla probably expects would cost more than Elliot makes in a year. And, like he said, he’s not trying to marry her or anything. Just get her to admit she liked him, trailer trash and all.

“I am, thanks for noticing.” Aiyla quipped, angling her head slightly higher because he was taller than her as she was sitting. She looked to the table as he gestured and rolled her eyes to look back at him. Was it just her being hopeful or was this date taking a while to get back to him? “Obviously, preoccupied enough to be here talking to me.” she said flatly, gesturing between them. God, he was so annoying. Even more annoying when Elliot not so subtly reminded her that she was waiting for a date, and had been sat there watching him like a strange person. Who even did that? Definitely not her. “You’re so funny Elliot. A girl can be at a bar for many reasons, not just waiting for a man. You’re not an important part of why we do things.” she pointed. Which was true in many cases but it didn’t exactly apply currently. “I think you’re hoping I’ve been stood up, aren’t you?” she glared, just like she was hoping his date didn’t return. Aiyla then daintily pointed back towards his table, that was still empty. “There must be a line.” she mentioned softly, even with a smug grin threatening. There wasn’t much she could say to Elliot’s annoyingly quick comeback and she scoffed, trying her best to not sound offended before she laughed. “Well, I’m happy for you.” she said begrudgingly. “I hope for your sake, she’s happy with a man who headbutts people he kisses.” 

•

Elliot bites back a grin at her snappy words. He thinks she’s easy to annoy which is both entertaining and frustrating depending on the day. He’s sure he can just be standing there and she’d find something to pick at. But at the same time, he likes knowing he can get under her skin. “She’ll be back,” he says off-handedly, as if to say that the moment his date walks back through the doors, Aiyla will be a distant memory. If only it were that easy. She’s like a virus he can’t seem to shake. He rests a hand on the bar now, angling himself so he’s blocking most of her view past him. 

“You just don’t seem the type to idle, Aiyla,” he can’t help the slight twitch of his lips, blue eyes full of smugness as he raises a brow, “Or do you usually sit at bars and send top shelf wine to random couples?” He scans her face before glancing over his shoulder and then back at her. “Probably,” Elliot agrees, resisting the urge to text his date in front of Aiyla as the minutes go by and she’s still not returned. Because his idea of just passing by her at the bar until his date returned isn’t looking so great if he’s caught waiting indefinitely. “Are you?” he laughs, “because you look about as happy as a funeral,” Elliot quips before his eyes narrow. “And hopefully your date doesn’t care that you nearly bite people’s tongues clean off.” And yet...given the chance...Elliot can’t say he wouldn’t kiss her again. 

Elliot’s temper wasn’t as quick to ignite as Hunter’s and sometimes Hunter believed that made him more capable. The advantage of the unexpected gave Elliot a upper hand whereas everybody expected Hunter to succumb to rage. If Jeffrey Cross did return to Lockwood, it’d be Elliot who made it the last thing he did. Hunter was sure of it. “I know, I don’t pay much attention because it makes no difference.” he said in agreement, treating himself as fatherless since the moment he was pushed to leave. “We dragged ourselves up anyways.” Hunter added with a hint of pride. They weren’t impressive human beings but they were alive, and that sometimes was the main thing. “Ah fuck you, I’m not that bad. Just don’t see the point in giving someone something that dies.” his laugh grumbled, knocking back a few more swigs of his beer as he relaxed. “Adele?” Hunter grimaced with confusion, slowly moving his head side to side. “You know I don’t know what the fuck anything is. I mean the fucking Stanley gal. Or…think they like being called a them too.” Hunter shrugged, not understanding but not disrespecting. Whatever floated your coat, or whatever.

Hunter had no idea what Elliot was referring to and looked at his brother with disdain before he wiped his hand over his own face. “Got what going on, asshole? If you put your ear to the wind every once and while you’ll hear how much of a slut I am. Only thing people say about you is that you don’t know what blue is.” Hunter didn’t understand that reference either but it sounded like an insult, so he’d use it too. He nodded about Tyler though, shrugging. “Fucker is sneaky with it, kinda like that Kas Morrison. But, I learned the hard way I guess.” Not about lending money but about walking into Boots thinking there wouldn’t be a fight. “Yeah well don’t go saying you’re me, fuck head. I don’t need people calling me a slut and a flower shop worker.” he gestured. “That place is great for you but people thinking it’s me won’t be good for your business.”

•

“If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll stay dead.” Whatever that looks like for Jeffrey. Whether it’s being six feet under or staying the hell away from Lockwood. Elliot’s control over his own life has grown over the years but it could take something as simple as his fucking father coming back to snap it in two. “Fuck Jeff,” he says derisively, lifting his second bottle to his brother’s words. They’d picked themselves up. They’d survived. They’d done it all no thanks to him. “Yeah, sure you’re not. And I’m the fucking president.” Elliot scoffs and rolls is eyes before his brows are furrowed. “Stanley girl....them...I don’t – what are you talking about, Hunt?” He arches his brows now, wondering if his brother had taken a few too many hits to the head. “You sound like you’re just saying words. I’m impressed you know so many, though.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Elliot chides, irritated. “I know what blue is. I just said there’s no real blue flowers that are actually blue.” He holds up a hand before Hunter can get into it, “I’m not doing this, bro.” He takes another swig of his beer and shakes his head. “But I know what fucking blue is, fuck you.” Aiyla had probably misquoted him to every person she knew and probably asked them to pass it along so the entire city thought he was an idiot. But at least he’s not loaning money to the same people who refuse to pay up. “Yeah, except everyone knows not to lend Kas fucking Morrison any fucking money,” he snickers. Hunter is a lot of things but he’s not exactly known for being the sharpest tool in the shed. “People assume, sue me.” He’d stopped correcting them a long time ago, knowing that for every person he told he’s not his brother, there’d be someone else who thinks it. “What does being a slut gotta do with being a flower shop worker. You can be both.” As if to say maybe he was, though between the two of them, they know who’s the real hoe. “Well, it hasn’t happened yet but you don’t exactly help when we’ve got this problem.” He gestures at his face, also indicating Hunter’s since it’s exactly the same. Stupid genetics. 

Ken-Gate was the icing on the cake to Danny’s already shit life. Not only did he cut it off with Emira, his dad was sleeping on his couch but now none of his so called friends could see obvious fucking similarities to the new movie. “You know what, this is the shit girls say is a word. Gaslighting or whatever.” he glared at Elliot. “You’re tryin’ to fuck around with me and I’m not in the mood. He’s literally me but dumber.” Danny defended himself, strangely passionate for such a small concept. He tried to enjoy his cigarette as much as he could with Elliot in his ear, puffing the smoke out into his friend’s face quickly. “Fuck you man, I help people. I helped you and your freakin’ Tinder shit and I know for sure it’s worked because you’re suddenly real busy on Saturdays.” he countered, smug grin waiting for Elliot to see once the smoke had cleared. 

The arguing couple take most of the bite away from their conversation, Danny watching the woman closely who’s almost red in the face. His mind doesn’t travel to what the man could have done to deserve it, but instead he grinned thinking he had dodged a bullet from letting himself venture into any serious relationships. “Sure, how about you call me when you finally take Aiyla to bed, huh? ‘Cause then I’ll believe you don’t need help.” he laughed, looking at Elliot once over. “You know she likes rich guys, right?”

•

Elliot snickers at Danny’s protest, raising a brow. “Gaslighting is a word, dipshit,” he’s trying not to laugh because his best friend is clearly going through it but he can’t help it when the other keeps insisting he’s like a fucking Barbie doll. “You know Ken isn’t real, right?” Elliot raises his brow at him. “Like you know he’s a toy, Danny…” Maybe he thinks Ken is some sort of historical figure, but he’s pretty sure the only historical figure Danny might know is Marilyn Monroe. Possibly Pamela Anderson if they count the past thirty years. 

Elliot waves away the smoke and flips Danny off before rolling his eyes.“Yeah, I am actually, no thanks to you.” Because it’s his pictures that people are swiping on. Not Danny’s. Blowing out a puff of smoke, he casts a glance in Danny’s direction, adding innocently, “think Emira is too. Saw her picture the other day.” He’s known better than to ask about whatever the fuck Danny’s gotten himself into but if he’s gonna give him a hard time about Aiyla, it’s only fair he return the favor. Elliot intentionally doesn’t say whether they matched or not. Or that he did swipe right on her but nothing happened. He’s momentarily distracted from these thoughts by the arguing couple now passing them, the woman looking like she might explode or cry and honestly, Elliot doesn’t envy the man because if being around Aiyla has taught him anything, it’s that women aren’t logical. “If that’s true, you really think you’d have a better chance than me?” He snorts, watching as the woman stops walking and bursts into tears, screaming even louder at him and something about picking up clothes off the bathroom floor? Yeah. Women make no sense. Like how Aiyla will jump his bones at the most random times and then not answer his texts for days. 

Hunter grunted about the comparison to their father, one that was easy to make. He never quite made the connection when he was younger but now it made sense why he hated Bobby so much too. He was just like their old man. “I heard, got Kenzie wondering if little Koda is safe going to see him.” he elaborated, because one thing about Southside was that they all came together when it was needed. “You ever think Jeff will try to?” Hunter asked directly, half curious as he glared at the door. “Last I heard he was on the streets in Denver, then sometimes I hear he’s dead.” Hunter can’t keep up with the stories, figuring they all change by the time they get to him anyways. He hoped dead, so long as the weird shadow Stanley didn’t try and communicate with the other side. He really needed to text them, ever since the drinks with Finn. “You think I’m gonna show up and give someone flowers?” he laughed before his thoughts won. “You know a Del? Stanley?” he asked his brother, not wanting to admit he convinced himself the author wasn’t real.

Sighing, Hunter tried the best he could to relax into the seat and nodded. “Got that right. Better keep your nose out of trouble too, they might think you’re with us.” Hunter said with light concern for his brother. Elliot could handle his own and was doing a good job at avoiding trouble but that could all change if survival was on the line. “He’s a shit talking piece of shit.” he eloquently explained. “He’s always owing money. A while back it was Spence now it’s me. Right hooked me out of nowhere in Boots the other night, didn’t even see it coming. Asshole. Pussy. Bitch.” Hunter scowled, cussing casually.

•

People can talk a lot of shit about Southside but at least they can’t say it’s not consistent. Not where producing shitty fathers is concerned. It seems like you can’t go half a block without running into at least two of them. There are more but Elliot just remember growing up in the shadow of Jeffrey Cross and going across the street only to encounter Bobby fucking Anderson. “Not if he knows what’s good for him,” Elliot says with an uncharacteristically dark undertone as he takes another sip of his beer, fingers gripping the neck of the bottle a bit tighter. “Doesn’t matter to me, Hunt – he’s as good as dead either way.” Because he’s spent years digging himself out of a hole and doesn’t want to think of falling back in if their dad is still alive and decides to revisit his old stomping grounds. Leaning back, Elliot cackles, shaking his head, “nah, that’s the day the world freezes over. Would think aliens or something took over.” The thought almost unnerves him but before he can think too long on it, Hunter’s switching topics again. “Adele? Isn’t that a singer?”

He nods at Hunter’s advice, knowing full well that if the tides turn, his life can easily change. His status is solid only as long as he’s not needed. But if things do get heated, not even Hunter can keep him out of it for long. Finishing his bottle and reaching for another, he pries off the cap and snickers. “That why you’ve got that,” he gestures at his face, indicating his brother’s own, “going on?” He smirks, amusement coloring his features now. “Think it’s the only way people can tell us apart these days.” People often got him and Hunter confused by the nature of their copy and pasted features but they usually could assume Hunter was the one rocking the bruises now that Elliot was “out” of the business. “Why not cut him off?”  There are some people who bring something to the table that keeping them around was worth the trouble and others who just caused more problems. “Doubt he’ll walk into Grove anytime soon but if he does, he’ll probably just think you’re fucking everywhere these days,” Elliot snorts at the thought. They’ve unsettled more than a few people that way – when someone’s convinced they’ve seen the other just a few minutes ago.