#murphy mason

『••✎••』

“Felix…?” You practically froze at the spot, quickly shielding the flowerpot in your hands from his view. You weren’t expecting him to be there, like at all. You expected him to be getting drunk at the Karaoke bar. Of course, it wasn’t necessarily his idea of fun, but Jess and Murph seemingly made everything and anything more enjoyable.

You didn’t have much money, hence the reason you took on three job opportunities — including Guiding Hope, so you didn’t waste time getting him a fancy present that meant nothing. Instead, you gave him a sweet birthday card and decided to use the time that he was out and busy to clean up the facility since it was one of the things he cherished most. Two gifts straight from the heart.

But that plan was immediately thrown out the window when you noticed him looking like a depressed puppy on Murphy’s unclaimed but claimed bench.

“Oh, hey…” Felix glanced up at you only for a second, as if to let you know he was listening. He didn’t even bother with the obvious plant you hid behind your back. “Didn’t see you there.”

“What’re you doing here? I thought you were celebrating with Jess and Murphy?”

By his mannerisms, it seemed as though he didn’t even have one drink. The poor guy probably left sober when things weren’t looking in his favor. Felix had always been such a chipper guy, either beaming excitement, being cocky with his Harvard detective skills or panicking about something that isn’t much to panic about.

The last time you ever saw him this upset, however, was when his uncle passed. He was torn up about it for weeks and the stunt that Jess and Murph pulled on him the day of wasn’t very comforting.

“Oh, you know… I was but then the usual thing those two do happen.” His head was low and he refused to look at you, opting to stare at the well-maintained grass instead; however, a slight smile resided upon his lips as realization hit that he didn’t mow this week.

Turns out, mowing the grass was the only thing that you had got done in his hour's absence. And he both knew it and appreciated it. Felix scooted over slightly as you walked to his side, allowing you to sit beside him as he told you the story.

“We didn’t even get inside.” He scoffed, taking a swig of the plastic water bottle he had in his hands. “That cop guy called again, another Tyson update or whatever and then they… uh, were gone.”

“I get Murph and her attachment to Tyson, but Jess? She didn’t stay with you either? I hardly believe that.” You questioned, copying his gaze out into the landmine of dog turds.

“Nope.” He smacked his lips together, dragging out the articulation in a mocking manner. It was clear he was fed up and you didn’t blame him. You’d feel the same way. “She wanted to, but Murphy forced her to drive her, and then they just… you know, left. Didn’t ask me to go, didn’t say goodbye, just… left.”

“Felix, I— I’m sorry… that’s awful.” You pushed the plant beside you, folding your hands into your lap. He only shrugged in response, taking another sip, before hopping off the bench swiftly.

His old converse made squeaks as he planted onto the fresh grass, spinning on his heel to face you finally.

Not a smile could be seen on him. “Thanks for mowing and you know, actually listening, but I’m going to go get this place cleaned up for work tomorrow.“

Felix turned to head inside, his hand pushing back his brown locks away from his eyes, but you caught up to him before he could.

With a tug on his arm, he turned back around to look at you with puzzlement. It, however, only made you more confident with your idea. “Why don’t I take you somewhere instead? You shouldn’t spend the rest of the night cleaning and going to the dump, especially when it’s still your birthday.”

“It’s ten o’clock at night and I seriously doubt anything is even open except the bars which after tonight, I don’t feel like going to another one.”

“Wrong.” You told him with a smile, “I know the perfect place that’s not a bar and it closes at midnight.”

He looked at you suspiciously but you ended up smiling in accomplishment as you were able to shove Felix into the passenger seat of your car. He was clearly doubtful of your abilities to lighten up his mood, but you knew the second you’d arrive he’d change his mind.

He was going to love it.

“Bingo?” He deadpanned, slowly sliding his bag off his shoulder. He was clearly not amused. “You took me to play bingo?”

Your confidence in picking the perfect place was shot down immediately as you both walked in together. Inside were tables amongst tables with elderly women and men fighting for their pennies.

You rose an eyebrow at him, slightly offended by his tone. “What’s wrong with bingo?”

“Everything. Everything is wrong with bingo.” He sighed, glancing at all the people at their tables. Their daubers ready to smash all those numbers. “I mean, of all things, why bingo?”

“Well… I just— I just figured that this was much more your speed. You don’t seem like the going out clubbing and getting drunk type of dude.”

“But gambling with grandmas and grandpas is? Wow, am I that transparent?” He points at the crowd, watching them slowly stamp down the current numbers. You actually didn’t plan on him acting this way. It was like he had a personal hatred towards it.

“Felix, I just—“

“Does anyone relevant even like bingo nowadays?”

“I like it...” You muttered just loud enough for him to hear. You wanted to speak it with annoyance and anger as bingo was one of the things you loved to do — mostly because it required little money to get started — but your tone came out fragile and shameful. The complete opposite of what you wanted.

He looked down at you, eyes squinting as his brain processed your conversations up until this point. He was annoyed by Murphy and Jess, clearly, but a part of that attitude was being launched onto you. And you didn’t deserve it.

To put it shortly, he was pulling a Murphy and being a complete dick. It was one of the main reasons why he dumped Harvard Law in the first place. He hated being an asshole and yet here was being one to you. He had a shit birthday — his friends abandoned him, one of the dogs puked on his favorite shirt, and even his own mother never called him.

You, and only you, had at least made an effort to make it better by bringing him to a place where you loved. Of course, why have bingo when card games exist, but you didn’t bring him to L.A. You brought him here to play a simple, short, and cheap game. And you were right, he hated partying. He was always the sober one around a bunch of drunks.

So, after a long and intense stare showdown as Felix didn’t say a single word for minutes, he finally tore his eyes off you and glanced at his watch. 10:31.

“On second thought,” He tore his eyes away from his watch, shoving his hands into his pockets. “A quick game wouldn’t hurt, I guess.”

During the game, his mind will be thinking of all the possibilities of good apologies to use later, but at the moment seeing you smile at the successfulness of your plan was enough for him.

And smile you did. You were quite relieved that he hadn’t forced you to drive him back to the sulking bench. You might’ve found out at the moment that Felix hated bingo — which is a major shame — but at least he had a buddy to celebrate his last few hours of bliss before the world kicked back up again.

“Okay! I’ll go get us some cards."