— TOO SWEET .

sometimes going to a meeting was only worth it for the free donuts, and it was really feeling that way tonight. caleb was likely the first person out of the building, roughly shouldering open a side door that he and joey had claimed as their own some months back. it opened out into a dead-end alleyway, complete with a stinky dumpster and nonsensical fire escapes, and they always had to remember to wedge something in the door so they weren't locked out (learned that one the hard way), but what mattered most was that it was private. it was away from their fellow addicts who favored going out front for smoke breaks, harmless small talk always devolving into another depressing tale that caleb usually couldn't stomach.

especially not tonight, he really couldn't do it, an inexplainable and unnerving energy buzzing beneath his skin as he exhaled a crass chuckle into the balmy air, "whew!" caleb's head shook in private disbelief, unlit camel already bobbing between his lips. he took a second to light it, inhaling gratefully before he was finally able to rest his back against the nearby brick wall. "you think everyone's actually buying their own bullshit in there?" he asked joey, playful in his negativity, as he often was.

maybe it was the cynicism installed in them from birth, or the way life proved time and time again that some things couldn't be changed that prevented them for truly believing. perhaps, if they were a little more honest with themselves (and they often weren't, ignorance is bliss and all) the theme laid on their self-esteem and that wasn't something they were ready to acknowledge so often times they'd just sit and let the burning sensation in their stomach overshadow the rest while wondering if caleb could feel it too, if it overwhelmed him as much as it did them and if it burned his esophagus for days, too. if the first breath of fresh air also made him choke.

jo listened to his question, resting on the opposite side of the building to get a good read on him while they spoke. "i mean, chemically induced cognitive dysfunction man. it makes people believe they are fucking invincible. how i got a pretty cool scar on my leg for thinking i was tony hawk" they shrugged, eyes cast forward as they tried to deal with the now expected acid reflux. it was the venom in their voice as it came out that made them stop in their tracks and sigh deeply. "i think they want to, at least. can be fucking bleak when you don't. would trade ignorant bliss to nothingness in a heartbeat" cynicism strong in their tone. "do you?" a pause. "believe it, i mean. are we actually redeemable and worthy of good things after all the shit we've done? or does the bad outweighs whatever good may still be there?"

she laughed, shaking her head. “you know you really should write me a song one day and serenade me with it. i could be your muse.” at the mention of getting a pet, mackenzie nodded her head. “a fish is easy. all you gotta do is put fresh water in their bowl and feed them like once a day. an iguana seems like it would try and bite you and you’re too pretty to get bitten by such an animal.” she grabbed her glass of wine and took another sip. “but for real. I can’t wait to hear what you’ve been working on music wise. i’m already your number one fan and i can even plan your like release party event too. i’ll even give you the family discount.”

as the subject shifted to one of his favorite subjects, joey couldn't help but beam. "who says i haven't yet, you just don't know it yet?" they questioned, playfully winking at their friend as a chuckle errupted from their lips. "or you could help me write something. we could write something for ki. or use it to try and exorcise our demons, it's surprisingly a great therapy. it's gonna sound fucked up but i wrote my best shit when i was at my lowest. haven't even come close since" they shrugged lightly. aside from the last statement it wasn't a bad idea— catharsis through music. "you play any instruments? i can teach you" and then, a lightbulb. "wait, will you tell me to fuck off if i buy ki an instrument? i'll have that girl playing drums before she learns how to read full sentences, mack."

in response to dallas story, jo nods understandingly. "haven't you heard you have to find the strongest there and just pound them? we would make it out but fair, i can do with seance to talk to prince. a marriage is a compromise." the joking demeanor in their features dissolves as they hear dallas' question, a small and quick frown taking over before being replaced with a vehement look. "i mean. i am biased because we are friends or whatever" they roll their eyes dramatically before looking at the other, a small shrug falling from their shoulders mixed with a genuine small grin. "but— i do. i've met many assholes in my lifetime who think being dickhead equals funny. and that's why they never get far. you need brain and heart to do comedy that connects with people. and i'll deny saying this but you, loverboy? you've got too much of both" a pause as a thought crosses their mind. "we can always bet on it. if you don't absolutely kill it up there, you can have an 'i owe you' from me. that’s fucking powerful, i hate owing people shit so i don't give those out often."

WHY  DID  SEBASTIAN  HAVE  TO  BE  SO  NICE  ABOUT  EVERYTHING?  Nice  and  sweet  and  understanding.  Dante  would  have  been  better  off  if  the  other  man  had  yelled  and  told  him  to  fuck  off  or  something.  And  yet,  the  way  those  big  blue  eyes  watched  him  from  where  Seb  sat,  a  hint  of  worry  etched  onto  them,  almost  made  the  older  man  forget  about  what  he’d  first  thought  of  saying.  ❝  Of  course  you’d  be  the  one  using  ‘post-coitus’  in  a  sentence.  You  know…  I’m  the  one  with  a  masters  in  English,  Sebastian.  ❞  Dante  mumbled,  mostly  to  himself  as  he  reached  over  and  cupped  the  other  man’s  face  between  his,  then  pressed  their  lips  together.  Yes,  he  was  utterly  confusing,  wasn’t  he?  But  then  again,  Sebastian  had  a  way  of  making  him  feel  like  he  wasn’t  always  screwing  things  up  left  and  right.  There  was  hope  in  his  smile,  warmth  in  his  dimples,  care  in  his  fingertips.  Even  if  the  type  of  relationship  they  had  was  purely  physical. Besides  Amara,  he  hadn’t  noticed  anyone  being  this  worried  about  how  he  felt—well,  scratch  that.  He  hadn’t  allowed  himself  to  notice  anyone  worrying  about  him  in  that  way.  Unless  they  were  either  friends  or  family,  of  course.  But  potential  lovers?  Sexual  partners?  Not  really.  He  had  once  grown  too  attached  to  people,  dove  head-first  into  an  ocean  of  emotions  and  feelings  and  he  had  loved…  my  God  he  had  loved  until  his  chest  felt  numb  from  it,  but  to  this  day,  he  didn’t  know  if  it  had  been  too  much  or  if  it  hadn’t  been  enough.  So,  Dante  forced  himself  to  build  a  fortress  around  his  heart,  because  he  didn’t  want  to  go  back  to  that  place  of  misery  that  he  was  stationed  all  those  years  ago. ❝  I  wish  you  weren’t  this  nice,  Seb.  ❞  Dante  sighed.  His  dark  hues  ran  along  Sebastian’s  face,  down  his  square  jaw,  the  delicate  curls  of  his  brown  hair.  He  looked  a  lot  like  Maggie.  Same  smile,  same  curly  hair,  same  pointy  nose.  ❝  I’m  okay,  I’m  just…  I  don’t  know…  I  felt  bad.  ❞  Again,  Dante  sighed,  rubbing  his  hand  over  his  face.  He  then  laid  back  down  on  Sebastian’s  bed  and  looked  up  at  the  chef’s  ceiling.  ❝  I  know  we  didn’t  promise  each  other  anything,  so  I'm  not  assuming  you  have  feelings  for  me  or  anything,  but…  I  ran  into  someone  of  my  past  and  I  didn’t  want  to  be  alone.  So  I  came  here.  ❞  Even  though  they  hadn’t  hooked  up  in  a  while,  even  though  they  still  didn’t  have  any  strings  attached.  Dante  could’ve  come  and  gone  without  saying  a  word.  He  could’ve  gone  there,  had  his  fun  and  then  moved  on  with  his  life  or  something.  ❝  It  kind  of  felt  like  I  was  using  you  or  something,  you  know?  Just  someone  I  get  to  hook  up  with  so  that  I  don't  feel  lonely  anymore.  That’s  why  it  felt  like  a  mistake.  ❞  He  would  have  to  elaborate  more  if  he  wanted  the  other  to  understand,  and  maybe  he  should,  but  not  tonight. 

then, dante spoke again and he felt his muscles clench in response. there was a time, many moons ago, where he had let spite and anger control him after seeing his family go through an unfathomable amount of pain for a mistake none of them committed— and he had hated every minute of it. so he had decided he had no use for any of those feelings in his life and moved on to bigger and brighter things, promising himself to never go back. "i wasn't really being nice though. just worried about a person i just spent time with, that's basic human decency" sebastian argued back weakly. as he prepared himself to explain what he meant, dante spoke again which made him silence himself and listen, giving away an understanding nod every once in a while to let the other know he was in fact, listening. "dante, you don't have to worry about me" sebastian started his response, giving the man on his side a soft arm squeeze. "as great as you are and believe me, you are, i'm not developing any feelings so you can be at ease on that regard" the chef tried to bring the other some peace with his words, an earnest smile stretching through his features. "and even if i was— i'm a grown man. i can handle myself if things were any different" his callous hand, previously resting on dante's bicep traveled then to the other's cheek tenderly. "you are sweet for worrying, there's just no reason to."

sebastian considered his next statement, pursing his lips every so slightly at how shitty the realization makes him feel, too. "if it helps make you feel better about yourself— in a way i guess i used you, too. life's stressful sometimes and you happen to be a fun way to unwind" a beat. "I am sorry you felt lonely and i'm sorry for whatever happened that made you feel that way, but if this" the blue-eyed gestured around "helped you in any way, i'm not sorry in my involvement. we all have our ways to get through the tough times."

the chef studied his companion briefly, tilting his head to the side as he listened to his line of questioning. in response, one of his own hands traveled to dante's nape while the other cupped his cheek, purposely tender. "no feelings are involved. if anything were to change you would be the first one to know. you carry a world on your shoulders, don't let this add weight when it has no reason to" he asked.

the youngest tried then to choose his wording very carefully, not wanting to overstep in any way. "you know we could just— talk. if it'll make you feel more at ease" he suggested. it was the complete opposite of everything they'd ever known but it was the least he could do for anyone going through whatever was making dante as concerned as he looked now. "we don't have to if you don't want, we can go our own merry ways and let it go. but if you need an ear or a shoulder" a pause as sebastian nudged the other with his shoulder in a playful manner. "i can behave like a civil human being if i really set my mind to it and even keep my clothes on. offer you some coffee or tea, i always have some baked bgoods and enough stuff on my fridge for the world-renowned 'bell breakfast sandwich'" a pause as he studied the other. "all i'm saying is; if you ever need to talk, i can be a good listener. as a friend."

THERE   WAS   SOMETHING   ABOUT   THE   WAY   SEBASTIAN   SAID   HER   NAME,   that   made   Erika   smirk   internally.   Granted,   she   would   rather   have   him   saying   it   in   another   way,   much   more   casual   and   preferably   either   on   his   or   her   bed,   but   beggars   could   not   be   choosers   (and   if   there   was   a   place   where   Erika   would   beg,   it   would   be   the   bed).   Probably   the   only   place   it   would   happen.   Alas,   she   pushed   those   thoughts   aside   and   focused   on   the   tall,   blue-eyed   man   ahead   of   her;   simply   because   she   could   not   and   would   not   allow   for   her   personal   endeavors   to   get   mixed   with   her   professional   life,   and   she   was   glad   that   it   seemed   to   be   the   same   with   Sebastian   Bell.   His   handshake   was   firm,   precise,   and   gentle   at   the   same   time.   His   fingertips   ghosting   against   the   exposed   skin   of   her   wrist   barely   did   the   trick   to   have   her   lower   her   walls,   but   Erika   smiled.   Like   she   always   did:   diplomatic,   proper,   satisfied. ❝   It’s   always   a   pleasure   to   see   you,   Mr.   Bell.   ❞   Her   thumb   drew   circles   on   his   hand,   as   she   held   him   there   for   an   extra   heartbeat   than   she   would   have   held   anyone   else,   and   then,   she   let   go   of   him.   ❝   Thanks   to   your   impeccable   service,   everyone   left   satisfied.   ❞   Was   he   stalling?   Most   catering   services   she   had   worked   with   before   in   D.C.   would   have   left   by   now.   They   usually   did   once   dessert   was   served,   leaving   behind   only   the   servers   and   cleaners,   but   not   Sebastian.   As   a   matter   of   fact,   their   little   encounters   had   happened because   he   had   stayed   longer.   ❝   I   mean,   my   feet   could   definitely   use   a   massage   from   walking   around   all   day   in   these—   ❞   Erika   motioned   to   the   high   heels   on   her   feet   and   continued.   ❝   But   I’ll   get   that   fixed   tomorrow   at   the   spa.   ❞ Still,   her   gaze   didn’t   leave   his   face.   There   were   hints   of   a   light   stubble   growing   and   she   wondered   if   he   had   decided   to   change   his   clean,   baby-face   into   a   gruffer   demeanor.   He   hadn’t   asked   her,   but   Erika   actually   liked   it.   ❝   Did   you   drive   here?   I   could   give   a   ride   if   you’d   like.   ❞

he grinned at her words, his hand dropping to the side as he bowed his head every so slightly, bashfully. "happy to see you enjoyed it. as you know, i aim to please" the chef responded with a cordial tone, any lewd intentions hidden in plain sight, but it didn't make his statement any less truthful in every sense there was.

most of the times he'd stayed behind after a service, it had not been with ulterior motives in mind. the chef aimed to have each and every of his services exceeding expectations and as much trust as he had for his subordinates to make everything work as smoothly as it did, he often overstayed his visit just to make sure. that's how it all had started— most servers gone, the lullaby of plates being stacked and moved to clean and small chit-chatting in an empty room. exchanged pleasantries and honest flattery, followed by an offer for a ride and sebastian hadn't been able to help himself, not when she had been distractingly commanding all evening long.

blue eyes traveled from the other's features to her feet, nodding along jerkingly. many responses flooded his mind, raging from the promises of aiding with her predicament to comments about how good said heels made her legs look and then a few more indecent ones; none proper enough to be said to the deputy mayor while still on the clock. when he looked up, there was a glint in his eyes "hope you can find someone to take good care of that for you, ma'am" the chef said, bowing his head and shoving his callous hands inside his pockets.

COLORADO WAS A BIG CHANGE FROM CALIFORNIA, but, oddly enough, Aeri hadn’t felt alone or left out in a while now. Perhaps it had everything to do with moving to a smaller town and finding a little family to call her own in the form of friends. She had fallen in and out of love—sadly, more in than out— and she had been able to secure a name for herself while working for the Dallas Post. Aeri no longer felt like her life was in danger, even if she kept pressing dangerous people and digging up the truth left and right in the big state of Colorado. Now, being in the same town as Seb again, it felt like a nice blast from the past, so she was more than happy to realize that fate had once again brought her close friend back into her life like that. As the sun began hiding behind the clouds that spring early evening, the short-haired brunette was glad that Sebastian had invited her to this ‘book picnic’ as he’d called it. It was a nice way to both catch up with her reading and with a good friend. ❝ To Cali? ❞ She asked, almost immediately as he said it himself. She lowered her Kindle and rested it on her flat stomach. She tilted her head up to try and catch his gaze from where she was laying, with her head resting between his ribs and hip bone. ❝ I haven’t really thought much of going back. Of course I miss some things about the west coast, but… I don’t know. I think I like it here. ❞ Aeri said, before she mimicked his move and reached for some green grapes. ❝ I think that I’ve been able to build consistent things here. My job in Denver is good, I’m respected there, I have trusting friends here… plus, rent is way cheaper, too. ❞ She chuckled at that last comment because rising rent prices was something the duo was always complaining about while they still live in LA, and that last year she spent without Seb’s monthly share was painful, because she was left with some untrustworthy roommates. ❝ What about you? I know that your sister is here, but… What’s changed from LA Seb to DV Seb? ❞ Despite their constant chats, Aeri didn’t think she’d asked him this before. One more grape was popped into her mouth before Seb asked about the book she was reading and my God, did she want to talk about this one. ❝ Okay, so hear me out.” The journalist smiled as she sat up on the picnic blanket, pulling the attention of Pollux, who basically jumped on her lap and stole a sweet laugh from Aeri’s lips. ❝ Oh, someone wants to hear this, too, I see.” The journalist set her Kindle aside and moved both hands to the labradoodle’s head, scratching behind his ears. ❝ You want to hear about Dianna too, Luxie? Yes, you do. Of course you do. ❞ For a moment there, there were only the two of them in the world, while Aeri scratched Pollux’s head and planted kisses on the dog’s face. Finally, she was able to focus on Seb again—although, she refused to let Pollux go. ❝ Alright, hear me out. They are actually enemies. Not that usual silly enemies-to-lovers authors usually write, where they secretly have always wanted to bang each other. No. They actually hated each other. And she is the morally gray FMC. And the yearn? Seb… oof… I can’t with the yearn this man has been doing in book two. ❞ Which was the one she was currently reading. Book five was going to be released this year, so she knew she was way behind with her reading. ❝ It’s got gods and monsters, none of the main characters are white—no offense, ❞ She added casually, before continuing. ❝ And… the spice? Ooof! ❞ Aeri giggled as she fanned herself. ❝ It’s not different, but at the same time it is? Book one is called The Book of Azrael and I’m not lying when I tell you I read it in two days. ❞ But then again, that had happened during a long weekend. ❝ What about yours? What are you currently reading? ❞

new york and texas, that was a different story. each city represented a dream and an unfinished dream for the chef and he would be lying if he said moving to either city had never crossed his mind in the last five years. sebastian had always had a fascination with new york and although it had been the loneliest and hardest period of his life, it had also turned into the most formative experience and more often than not, he wondered what it would be like going back with the knowledge and tools he now had. and texas ran in his bloodstream. part of him knew at some point he would return.

"i like colorado aeri. don't get me wrong, i liked cali aeri too. you are the best roommate i've ever had" the chef pointed out earnestly. "but colorado aeri has something about her in didn't get to see back then so i'm glad you think that way. it looks good on you" he grinned down at his friend. seeing her grow into the person and professional she now was was nothing short of thrilling and for that, he would always be an avid fan. after considering his own answer for a short period, sebastian simply shrugged. "there's nothing for me in california. i learned a lot more in some of those kitchens in cali than i'm willing to admit as someone who went to culinary school and almost went in debt because of it" a chuckle. "but— i don't know, it never felt like me. in here i finally feel like things make sense, you know? i did come here to help maggie and i'm thankful to have her and the kids but it's much more than that" a soft sigh escaped him, eyes cast to the sky. "i feel at home here."

the blue-eyed nodded along with his friend's description of the book she had decided to read, making a small note on the tittle and the names mentioned. just like cooking, sebastian bell believed sharing and exchanging literature was a nice way to maintain a good relationship of any kind so he took every suggestion at heart and always read each one with an open mind. his features softened at pollux's reaction to aeri's enthusiasm as they both listened to the store his friend had to tell. "it's not real enemies to lovers if one of them hasn't plan the other's murder at least once" he granted with a solemn nod, an amused grin taking over his features as her tale went on and at her jab of the main white character, he laughed loudly. "none taken, when you are right you are right. i do like some pining and yearning in my stories so i will keep it mind next time i'm buying books, give me a month and i'll report back" he could always count on aeri to have an entertaining book one could lose themselves into. "would you say it's your favorite?"

his gaze then traveled to the book now resting on his lap. the chef has order it the week of it's release after a friend from new york working in the editorial had recommended it to him but hadn't had much time to read it until now and he was still trying to get into it with the same passion he'd done so many of it's nature. in response to her question, he extended his book at her. "the age of calamities" he read the title to her, stretching his limbs to untangle them from their past position as gently as he could to not disturb his two companions. "came out like three months ago so i'm still figuring it out. it was recommended to me by a friend after i told them one of my favorite books is a 'her body and other parties' and mentioned it being similar. a bunch of short fictional stories but these ones are about historical figures having some weird stuff happening. in one of the stories anne boylene keeps resurrecting and can't die, there's one with a dinner turned mystery party with queen victoria and marilyn monroe. it's bonkers but it is fun." not his usual genre to look through. more often times his time was divided between non-fiction and novels so it was a welcomed change to have everything he knew challenged in reading form.

FORGET.   Fuck,   he   needed   to   forget.   The   whole   ‘Eternal   Sunshine   of   Spotless   Mind’   sort   of   forget.   Sebastian   had   been   a   good   distraction   throughout   the   years.   A   nice,   no-string-attached,   ‘fuck   me   and   I’ll   fuck   you'   sort   of   deal   until   Dante   noticed   (and   by   chance,   to   say   the   least)   the   subtle   interactions   between   Seb   and   Marcus'   friend.   It   was   none   of   his   business   and   the   duo   were   definitely   not   exclusive—not   to   mention,   in   a   town   as   small   as   Deer   Valley,   if   you   weren't   hooking   up   with   tourists,   you   were   bound   to   overlap   some   lovers   with   some   people,   but…   it   just   felt   weird.   These   three   had   all   sort   of   grown   up   together,   and   even   though   he   had   no   strong   attachments   with   the   Nwaeze   family,   it   still   felt   like   he   was   hooking   up   with   his   cousin’s   boyfriend   or   something.   So,   he   kept   his   distance   and   decided   to   find   other   ways   to   occupy   his   mind   that   didn’t   involve   ending   up   naked   in   Sebastian’s   bed. That   evening,   however,   after   seeing   Amara   and   being   washed   over   with   the   cold   reality   of   what   he’d   been   trying   to   deny   for   the   last   six   years,   he   knew   he   needed   the   warmth   of   the   chef’s   embrace.  If   only   Dante   would   allow   himself   to   accept   more   than   that   nowadays.   If   only   he   would   allow   his   heart   to   give   people   genuine   chances   at   winning   him   over…   then   maybe   this,   whatever   this   was,   that   happened   when   the   two   men   were   together,   could   have   meant   more   than   just   a   quick   fix   to   deny   the   loneliness.   Hopefully   it   was   the   same   to   him.   Hopefully,   Dante   wasn’t   leading   anyone   on,   because…   shit—that   was   the   last   thing   he   wanted. Restless,   he   let   that   thought   sink   in   as   he   sat   on   Sebastian’s   bed.   His   skin   was   still   coated   with   a   thin   layer   of   sweat   as   the   sheets   covered   their   lower   halves.   His   hands   raked   through   his   short   hair   and   the   teacher   drew   in   a   breath.  ❝   How   shitty   would   I   be   if   I   said   I   shouldn’t   have   come?   ❞   Again,   he   sighed,   before   looking   over   his   shoulder   to   catch   Sebastian’s   gaze.   ❝   Because…   as   much   as   this   was   fun—I   mean…   it   always   is   with   us,   but…   I   think…   I   don’t   think   I   should’ve   come.   ❞

sebastian's chest fell and rose in synchronicity with the sounds from outside, lulled to tranquility by post-bliss and the scent of a candle burning bright on his nightstand, mind half on the bed and half making plans for the next day. the chef loved his work, lived for expressing himself through his cooking and learning about life and earth through every single recipe that was trusted to him by friends, acquaintances and the ocassional nice stranger willing to share a piece of their history, life or culture through food. but even he had to accept that sometimes, it was hard.

emotions, egos and ideals often ran wild in a kitchen and it had a way to break even the most dedicated. it was stressful work to achieve the quality he demanded of himself and his team so tension loomed over him on a daily, threatening to break him. enter dante macallister and the voice like butter that often had the power to make him forget the most stressful weeks, if even for a few hours. it was something he was deeply thankful for, something he appreciated of his casual companion.

it took dante's voice to get him out of his thoughts, as it often did before the chef opened his eyes to the world again. the man's words, in the lavender haze of it all, muffled at the very beginning.

"why does it feel like you're breaking up with me post-coitus?" sebastian jested lightheartedly before sitting upright, letting the sheets cover languishly his bottom half. it was just then that he sense the uneasiness coming from the other, his own brow immediately frowning with concern for a million different reasons.

"oh shit. okay i see— are you alright?" doubt began to settle then as he wondered if the whole ordeal had caused any distress in the man next to him, if he had done something wrong by not noticing any signs before. "i don't care if it's fucked up, if that's how you feel then that's all that truly matters" his voice, laced with worry was tender then as he tried to search for answers on dante's face. in their encounters, him and sebastian had never cared much for any connection beyond physical. it had sparked off a silly crush for someone sebastian admired and had snowballed to what it was now. yet sensing the other as afflicted as he was given their current situation, he couldn't help but want to dig in a tad more, if anything to be sure the other was alright.

“  define  good... ”  because  her  judgment's  always  been  skewed.  “ i  guess  we  can  pop  some  melatonin  gummies,  get  matching  ugly  sweaters  and  sit  on  the  front  porch  until  one  of  us  falls  asleep  first,  like  true  old  folks.  ”  isn't  that  the  worst?  the  notion  that  she  wouldn't  mind  it.  no,  of  course.  the  worst  part  is  that  she'd  love  it.  a  beat  later,  tongue  meets  spoon  in  one  fluid  motion,  making  her  forget  the  very  thing  she  was  about  to  say.  “  this  is  divine,  by  the  way,   ”  she  sighs,  pauses,  reluctantly  lowering  the  spoon  into  the  sink,  no  better  than  a  spoiled  child  who's  just  been  given  spun  sugar.  “ you  got  the  new  cherry  soda?  you  remembered? ”  her  smile  underlines  the  question,  dark  eyes  widening  as  if  to  embellish  her  surprise,  but  instead  of  the  fridge,  she  finds  herself  reaching  to  open  one  of  the  kitchen  cabinets,  somewhat  assured  that  she  knows  where  all  the  plates  are  kept.  “  let  me  set  the  table  at  least.  can't  have  you  doing  all  the  work.   ”

a big, humorous laugh escapes him then at the proposition as he finishes the last details on the dishes he'd been working on the past couple hours. "don't threaten me with a good time, ma'am. ugly sweaters are my thing so how can i really can't say no to that? we need to circle back to your sleeping schedule though, is it work?" he makes a mental note then to buy the gummies later that night, genuine worry for güneș impossible to avoid. and, if he happens to peruse the ugly sweaters section of the online store, that will remain between his phone, himself and the postal service. güneș approves of his creation and in return he bows his head excitedly. "glad you like it, i made extra for you to take home" sebastian notes, pointing at the second glass container cooling down. he observes her then, circumnavigate his kitchen with ease and familiarity, smiling. "of course i remembered" the chef nods vehemently as he takes her shoulders gently and guides her to the dinning table, for once thankful for the open space concept in his home, the wooden floor creaks beneath their feet as they walk. "as much as i appreciate it, my ma would be disappointed in me if she knew i'm letting you move a finger. you know the rule, i've got you, maybe when it's time for the dishes" sebastian promises, carefully guiding her towards her usual seat on the table before returning to the fridge to take out a soda can and a bottle of beer, bringing them to the table. "you can tell me about your week. saved any lives?"

it pained joey to recognize the fear in mackenzie's eyes as she spoke. it was a feeling they were all too familiar with and wouldn't wish upon their worst enemy, less alone someone they cared as much as they did mackenzie. jo considered what to say next, how to handle best what they could imagine their friend was feeling and at last, decided to level the ground. "i ran away once, you know? well, half ran half was kicked out but— i did end up running away. not really the same stakes as you but it's safe to say, it was a shit show. because i wasn't running towards something but away from something and when it got me, it really bit me in the ass, hard" a bitter grin stretched through their features as memories of everything they'd lost washed them over like a bucket of ice water. "i fucked up. in a million ways. i lost everything including myself and it was fucking scary" they cleaned their throat "but i learned, and worked hard to build something again. and it's not easy but it's an on-going project and i'm goddamn proud of that and now i'm here, who knows where i would be if i hadn't fucked up" jo turned to face the other again, forehead against forehead. "what i'm saying is, mathematically speaking, there's a chance it could be bad and that it'll hurt, i'm not gonna bullshit and say everything will be perfect. but there's also a chance it'll be so good one day the what-ifs and doubt will look so far away a bad probability will look unthinkable. and at the end of the day, i know you will work to give ki and yourself the life you two deserve like you've been doing all along. just dont be so hard on yourself" they shrugged lightly.

SUNDAY   LUNCH   AT   THE   MACALLISTERS   WAS   ONE   OF   THOSE   TRADITIONS   HARD   TO   BREAK.   Not   that   Dante   was   trying   to,   because   it   was   nice   knowing   that   no   matter   what   happened,   he   had   plans   on   Sunday   afternoon.   When   he   was   still   married   to   Amara,   she   would   join   them,   sometimes,   Jo   would   too   and   for   the   days   the   brunette   couldn’t,   Dante   would   stop   by   with   a   tupperware   filled   with   leftovers   that   could   last   for   at   least   a   couple   of   days.   Suffice   to   say,   Mama   Macallister   loved   that   child   as   if   they   were   her   own—even   though   Jo   had   never   been   a   child   since   they   started   frequenting   the   ranch. Still,   that’s   why   Dante   was   standing   outside   of   the   brunette’s   door   with   a   takeout   bag,   and   inside,   there   were   three   tupperware   containers,   including   the   key   lime   pie   that   they’d   bought   from   Care   For   You,   too.   He   knocked   a   few   times   and   waited   until   Joey’s   sleepy   face   appeared   on   the   other   side   of   the   door. ❝   You   were   missed   today,   kid.   ❞   Dante   smiled.   It   never   seemed   too   forced   when   around   Jo.   Despite   their   age   difference,   Dante   assumed   that   the   duo   always   saw   eye   to   eye.   ❝   Ma   sent   you   some   spaghetti   pie,   some   ribs   and   key   lime   pie.   ❞   He   stepped   further   into   their   apartment   and   made   his   way   to   the   kitchen.   ❝   Long   night?   You   want   some   coffee?   ❞   Maybe,   if   he   kept   talking   and   kept   them   distracted,   Joey   wouldn’t   know   things   had   been   upside   down   in   his   life   lately.   Dante   had   promised   not   to   drown   his   sorrows   in   alcohol   like   when   he   was   first   dumped   by   Amara,   which   was   the   reason   why   he’d   been   avoiding   Joey’s   shifts   at   the   bar.   What   they   didn’t   know,   couldn’t   hurt   them.

alas to say, as thankful as they were to be invited to the macallisters for lunch (and they always were. more than they cared to admit; just the memories of the times spent in the warm household were enough to get the bartender out of the darkest times. the love and care dante's mother would show them, a complete stranger the moment they first entered the door was enough to make them weep whenever they thought about it for a long period of time), having them be a witness of what they had become the past couple of days was simply unthinkable, reason why they had declined the invitation in the first place.

of course, jo should've expected dante's visit. it was dante & joey's 101 when the other couldn't make it to whatever they had planned for the day and yet, they couldn't help the small surprise to see him on their door. blame the doped up brain.

"don't look at me while you say that or i will cry" was their response at the food offering, the kindness often oozed out of the pores of the macallisters once again making their throat pipe shut. a soft "thank you" was given then, followed by an earnest "i missed you guys, too" while closing the door behind them and going back to their safe space: their beloved couch.

then, at their friend's offer, jo shook their head. "appreciate the sentiment but i'm not selling my soul to some hollywood record label to produce a mid song used in some movie. now trying to talk to prince's ghost or punch dj khaled in the face? i'll sell both our souls for that. we'll be married after all" a grin. "but i mean it about laugh factory. maybe i'm biased but you've got talent, kid. you may be the funniest person i know."