#sadithur

The apartment wasn’t much to look at. The floors creaked with every step, the walls were a patchwork of faded paint, and the smell of stale air always seemed to linger, no matter how much they tried to air it out. It was small—barely enough space for two—but it was theirs. Arthur had never been picky when it came to where he lived. After everything that had happened, the apartment was a blessing in itself. It was enough for him and John.

They had what mattered: a roof over their heads, a place to call home, even if it wasn’t much. The building was a relic of the past, an old, worn-down complex in a part of Blackwater that most people avoided. It was cheap, which was why they were there. The rent was low enough that Arthur could afford it with his two jobs, and it helped that John wasn’t particularly demanding.

The neighborhood wasn’t exactly safe, and the building wasn’t much better. Their neighbors were a mix of quiet tenants who kept to themselves, and others who lived their lives in a haze of late-night noise and drunken arguments. But that didn’t bother Arthur. He’d lived in worse, and his priorities had always been clear: John needed stability.

Arthur worked long hours at Bessie’s, a small greasy spoon diner that was almost as rundown as the building they lived in. The job didn’t come with much in the way of perks, but it paid the bills. It helped that his boss, Hosea, was generally understanding, and the rest of the staff, though a little rough around the edges, had become a makeshift family of sorts.

Still, it wasn’t enough to make Arthur feel financially comfortable enough. So, on weekends, he worked a second job with Mrs. Grimshaw, who kept the building running. He did odd jobs for her, and in return she paid him under the table for it. She wasn’t easy to please, but Arthur respected her for it. At least she wasn’t someone who pretended to care, using the empty words people often used to sugarcoat their lives.

Life hadn’t been kind to either of them. Dutch’s arrest had upended everything. John looked at him like he was the only thing standing between him and a world that had too often been cruel. And that was enough to keep Arthur going.

The evening had a lazy feel to it, the kind of night where the air still held onto a bit of warmth despite the sun having set a while ago. Arthur had gotten off work early, and John was in one of his moods, bouncing around the apartment, trying to figure out what to do with the hours stretching out before bedtime.

Arthur sat at the worn-out kitchen table, nursing a glass of water, watching John pace back and forth like a maniac. The two of them had a routine by now, but every once in a while, the quiet would stretch into something a little more playful, a little less structured.

“What do you want for dinner?” John asked, hands on his hips as if it were some sort of critical decision.

Arthur took a slow drink from his glass, squinting at him like he didn’t quite hear the question. “What do I want? What do you want?”

John sighed dramatically, slumping into a chair across from him. “You’re supposed to tell me, Arthur.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were the one who didn’t like making decisions.”

“Yeah, well, that was before you made me eat five nights of your spaghetti.” John shot him a look, half amused, half exasperated.

Arthur chuckled, setting his glass down with a soft clink. "Five nights of spaghetti wasn't that bad," he teased, leaning back in his chair, "You just don't know good food when you see it."

John crossed his arms, his face scrunched in mock disdain. "It ain’t that. I just think we could have a little variety."

Arthur gave a dramatic sigh, "Alright, what do you want, then? You pick this time."

John's eyes lit up, and he sat up straight. "Mac and cheese," he said, his voice filled with self-satisfaction.

Arthur couldn’t help but laugh at the way John’s face lit up with such excitement over something so simple. "Mac and cheese, huh? You sure?"

"Yeah, it’s easy, and you said I could pick." John shot him a grin, clearly pleased with his choice.

Arthur shook his head but smiled. "Alright, kid. Mac and cheese it is." He got up slowly, stretching his arms over his head with a groan. “Guess we gotta hit the store. You got everything you need?”

John hopped to his feet and grabbed his jacket from the chair, swinging it over his shoulder. “Yes, now come on, I’m hungry,” he urged.

Arthur made no effort to hurry his pace, purely just to annoy his little brother.

The old building’s hallway echoed softly as they made their way to the door. The creaking floorboards beneath their feet seemed to always announce their every move, a reminder that this building had been around far longer than either of them. Arthur opened the door to the hallway and stepped out, John right behind him, still muttering about his mac and cheese plans.

But as they walked past the faded bulletin board by the stairs, Arthur’s attention was drawn to a new figure at the far end of the hall. A woman, carrying a stack of boxes, struggling to maneuver the piles as she balanced them in her arms. She looked slightly out of place— and more out of breath than she probably wanted to admit, judging by her expression—but the scene made sense enough. A new neighbor.

She noticed them at the same time, her face brightening with a half-smile despite the evident effort. “Oh, hey, sorry. Didn’t mean to block the hall.” Her voice was strong, a bit raspy but not unkind.

Arthur gave a polite nod, stepping aside to give her room. “No problem. You’re new around here?”

“Yeah,” she said, puffing out a breath as she shifted one of the boxes under her arm. “Just moved in. Name’s Sadie.” She wiped her brow with the back of her hand, giving a half-laugh. “Guess I’m a bit of a mess right now.”

Arthur nodded again, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he observed her. She was a little disheveled—her hair, a tousled mess of dirty blonde, framed a face that was still youthful but seemed hardened in a way. She wore a simple yellow jacket, faded jeans, and a pair of sneakers that looked like they'd been through the ringer. Despite the sweat and the disarray, there was something about her that seemed to fit right into the building—someone who could hold her own.

“Nice to meet you, Sadie,” Arthur said, stepping out of the way yet again as she fumbled with another box. She huffed out a breath, placing the boxes down, clearly in need of a break.

Beside him, John was eyeing the cat she had perched on top of one of the boxes. The creature was oddly calm, tail swishing lazily. “That your cat?” he asked, pointing toward the fluffy gray tabby that was watching them intently.

Sadie glanced down and smiled. “Yeah, that’s Bob. He’s, uh, a little odd, but he’s mine.”

John beamed, his mood clearly shifting. “Can I pet him?,” he asked, practically bouncing on his heels.

Sadie chuckled, a more genuine laugh this time, her posture relaxing a little. “Yeah, sure, but I can’t promise he’ll be into it. He’s a bit… picky.”

Arthur watched John move forward, his hand outstretched toward the cat, already distracted. He turned his attention back to Sadie.

“Looks like you’ve got a lot to move,” Arthur said, gesturing to the boxes. “Need a hand?”

She sighed and made a motion of dusting off her hands on her jeans. “No, I don’t have much left,” She hefted another box up, “‘Preciate the offer, though.”

Arthur gave a small nod, not sure what to say next. At this point in most conversations, he would have felt the awkwardness creeping in. But there was something about her—something that made the brief conversation easy, even if it was fleeting.

“Alright then,” Arthur said, “Hope the move goes smooth.”

He grasped John by the collar of his shirt and gently urged him away from the cat, despite the latter’s protests.

She nodded, flashing another quick smile before turning back to her boxes. “Thanks. See you around.”

With that, Arthur and John continued on their way down the hall, and Arthur felt a small sense of curiosity about this new neighbor. The building was always full of strange faces, but there was something different about Sadie.

“So, the new neighbor,” John said, glancing up at Arthur. “She’s pretty cool. You think she’ll let me play with Bob?”

“Don’t go bothering her too much, alright?”

John grinned. "But the cat likes me. And besides, you’ll get to talk to Sadie again." He shot Arthur a sly look.

Arthur shrugged, trying to play it cool, but his thoughts briefly flickered back to their encounter in the hallway. "We’ll see," he finally muttered, more to himself than John.

As they made their way out onto the street, the neighborhood felt even quieter than usual. The small store was a few blocks away, nestled between a run-down laundromat and an old barber shop. It wasn’t much, but it had everything they needed—assuming you weren’t picky about your groceries. In most situations, he would have just taken his truck, but he was low on gas, and filling up the tank would have to wait until payday. It wasn’t too far of a walk, anyway, and the fresh air would do the both of them some good.

Arthur stuffed his hands deeper into his jacket pockets, his gaze darting toward the faded storefronts as they passed. John walked a little ahead, humming under his breath as he seemed lost in his own world. It was moments like these when Arthur remembered how young he was—how much weight the kid still had left to bear.

They reached the store, and Arthur pushed open the door, the familiar chime sounding as they stepped inside. The air was stale with the scent of cleaning supplies, the aisles a little cramped, but it had everything required for their simple dinner. Arthur grabbed a basket, tossing it in John’s direction. “Alright, kid. Lead the way.”

It was Friday evening when John burst through the apartment door, his sneakers squeaking against the worn linoleum floor. He was laughing at something Sean had said—or maybe done—and Sean was trailing right behind him, his arms flailing dramatically.

"I'm tellin' you, John, if you didn't act like such a scaredy-cat, we would’a won!" Sean shouted, his voice already high-pitched and excited.

"I’m not scared, I just got strategy, unlike you." John shot back, kicking his shoes off and tossing them in the general direction of the door.

Sean scoffed. "I’m fast! You’re just actin’ like a baby. Besides, Javier was bein’ a chicken, too.”

Arthur, half-sitting on the couch with his feet up, raised an eyebrow but stayed out of it. He had learned long ago that those two could argue for hours, especially over Fortnite.

"Hey, don’t bring me into this," Javier said with a small chuckle, stepping into the apartment more carefully than the others. He took the time to politely place his shoes in the corner, a habit Arthur quietly appreciated.

Javier didn’t say much most of the time, but when he did, it was usually enough to cut through the chaos. His English was coming along, though the phrases he picked up from John and Sean were... less than ideal. Arthur could only hope Javier wasn’t planning on using terms like "noob" and "sus" in any serious conversation.

"You’re part of the team, Javi," John said, grinning. "We all pull our weight. Well, except Sean."

"Excuse me!" Sean shot up from his spot on the couch. "I’m the backbone of this operation. The backbone!

Javier rolled his eyes but didn’t respond, taking a seat on the chair, his usual calm smile on his face. While he was already the oldest of the group, sometimes, he acted older than he really was.

John collapsed onto the couch next to Sean. "You gotta stop yellin’ so loud, dude, we’re gonna make the whole building angry."

Arthur gave a quiet snort of laughter, taking another sip of his beer. "You two are somethin’ else."

Before Sean could get any louder, the doorbell rang with a sharp, insistent buzz.

"John!" a voice called from the hallway. "Open the door, or I’ll kick it down!"

John jumped up. "Hang on, Abby, I’m comin’!"

When he swung it open, Abigail was standing there, arms crossed and scowling like she was gearing up for a fight. She was small, wiry, and had a tendency to puff herself up when she was annoyed—like a sparrow trying to intimidate a hawk.

"Did you guys just forget about me?" she demanded, eyeing John. “I told you, I had to get my stuff from Mr. Ricketts’ classroom, and when I came back, y’all were literally gone.”

"Well, we were gonna wait!" John said, holding his hands up in defense. "Sean’s the one—"

"Don’t blame me!" Sean interrupted, flopping back onto the couch like it was some sort of dramatic gesture.

Abigail just rolled her eyes. "You guys are impossible," she muttered, pushing past John and into the apartment. "You’re lucky I still bothered to come over," she added, tossing a crumpled sheet of paper onto the counter. "Oh, and, you forgot your homework again, idiot."

John groaned loudly, running a hand through his hair. "Aw, crap, I knew I forgot something."

Abigail shot him a look, crossing her arms. "Yeah, well, next time, maybe don’t leave it in the lunchroom."

"I owe you," John said, his voice a little sheepish.

"You owe me big time," she shot back, her eyes narrowing with playful mischief. "And I’m gonna collect."

Sean, ever the opportunist, leaned over the back of the couch. "Hey, Abby, you wanna help me win a bet? I’m about to eat a whole pizza by myself."

Abigail raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You can’t even finish a small one, Sean."

"Yes I can!" he argued loudly, pointing a finger at her. "You just watch me!"

Arthur stood up, silently amused at the chaos. This was what it was like when the kids got together. Loud, messy, and full of nonsense. Still, they were good kids, each in their own way. Abigail kept them grounded, Sean kept them entertained, and Javier brought a steady, calming presence that Arthur appreciated more than he’d admit.

For all their nonsense, they made John’s world feel a little bigger. And really, that was all Arthur wanted for him.

He stepped into the hallway, leaving the chaos of John and his friends behind. The apartment had become a battleground of playful arguments over pizza toppings, with no one willing to compromise. He couldn’t focus on their bickering while trying to place the order, so he stepped into the hallway, phone in hand.

As he dialed the number, he heard the familiar ruckus through the thin walls—John’s voice raised high, Sean’s laughter echoing through the apartment, and Abigail’s voice cutting in with some reason that only a kid could pull off.

When he hung up, he slipped his phone into his pocket and turned toward the stairs—only to bump into Sadie, who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, walking briskly toward her apartment across the hall. She had a paper grocery bag on her arm and her purse on the other.

“Hey, Arthur,” Sadie greeted with a casual wave.

“Hey, Sadie. How’s the move-in going?”

She let out a tired sigh, shifting the bag in her hands. “Mostly done. Just gotta finish organizing. You know how it goes.” She gave a small shrug, as if the moving process had drained all her energy. “At least I’m finally starting to feel settled.”

Arthur chuckled softly. “I get it. Takes a minute to get back into a routine,”

“Yeah, I’m still tryin’ to find my bearings,” Sadie agreed with a laugh. “But it’s home, that’s what matters.”

Arthur glanced at the worn-out walls of the building. Despite the peeling paint and creaky floors, it was a roof over their heads, and that was what mattered. “Gets the job done, I suppose.”

Sadie smiled, shifting again, then glanced down at the ground for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts. “I don’t suppose you’re headed out for a smoke or anything?” she asked, gesturing to the pack of cigarettes in his hand. Her tone was light, but with a hint of exhaustion behind it.

Arthur raised an eyebrow, looking at her for a second before nodding. “Yeah, I was actually about to. You wanna come with?” Smoking was a habit he generally tried to avoid, but there were moments here and there where he inevitably went back to it.

“Sure, why not,” Sadie said with a small grin. She stepped aside to let him pass and followed him up the stairs.

They made their way to the side of the building, where the cool night air greeted them, offering a welcome reprieve from the stale indoor air of the building. Arthur took a deep breath, appreciating the quiet of the street. It was rare to find any peace in the chaos that was his everyday life, and even rarer to have someone to share it with.

He pulled out a cigarette, offering one to Sadie, who accepted with a nod. They lit up in comfortable silence, leaning against the wall of the building.

“So,” Arthur began, his voice casual, “how’s it feel, settling in here?”

Sadie exhaled a plume of smoke and shrugged. “It’s not so bad. The place isn’t great, but it’s quiet, at least. Could be worse.”

Arthur nodded. “Yeah. It ain’t the Four Seasons, but at least it’s a roof over our heads.”

She gave him a sidelong glance. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”

Arthur didn’t answer right away. Instead, he took another drag from his cigarette, watching the smoke curl into the night air. He’d spent most of his life trying to make do with less than he wanted, and he supposed it was something he’d gotten used to.

“You could say that,” he finally said, looking over at her. “It’s been a while since I’ve had much to call mine.”

Sadie didn’t prod, but she did give a small, understanding nod. “Guess we’re all just gettin’ by,”

Arthur glanced at her again, her casual demeanor hiding something he couldn’t quite place. “I’d reckon so,” he said after a beat, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Sadie met his gaze and smiled back, something more genuine in her expression this time.

They both took another drag from their cigarettes, the smoke curling around them like the silence that had settled between them. For a moment, they didn’t need to fill the space with words. It was enough just to be there, together, in the quiet of the night.

Sadie was interesting; she was easy to talk to, and she had this sort of air around her that made Arthur want to spend more time in her presence.

When he finished his cigarette, he flicked it to the ground and glanced up at the building. “Better head back before the kids tear the place apart.”

Sadie laughed softly. “Yeah, wouldn’t want to miss that. You’re the peacemaker, right?”

Arthur grinned. “Nah. Ain’t always successful, but someone’s gotta try.”

a/n: hi everyone! this was originally meant to be posted around christmas. then i had a seizure on xmas eve, was in the hospital, and kind of had to scrape myself together again. yippee!