#secundus

Victor looked up to see Alice watching them from the hall doorway, Chester on her hip. “I presume picking up said other person is why it took so long,” she added, tilting her head at Smiler – Chester copied her, expression so serious Victor had to bite back a giggle. “Hello, and you are?”

“Smiler Alton!” Smiler said, popping up like a jack-in-the-box and heading toward her with their brightest smile, hand extended. “You must be Alice, Victor’s wife – and this must be Chester!” they added, turning their grin on the baby. “Hi there! You’re definitely your father’s child, aren’t you?”

Chester stared at them – then giggled and waved. “He certainly is – which means he’s normally much shier around strangers,” Alice said, looking between her son and Smiler with a curious frown.

“Oh, I just have a knack for getting people to like me, at least for a little while,” Smiler told her, pulling a silly face at Chester and making him giggle again. “Comes in handy as a traveling salesperson.”

“Yes, they’re new to the city,” Victor explained to Alice, standing up – Lightning whined at the sudden lack of pets. “I met them when I was coming back with the flour – they tried to sell me some of their wares, and I thought I’d better ask if they had a permit.”

“Which I didn’t, so I’m very glad your husband stopped,” Smiler nodded. “He was nice enough to walk me to the town hall so I could apply for one!”

“I see.” Alice tilted her head in the other direction. “Forgive me for asking, but – they? Are you more than one person?”

“Oh – no, just, ah, someone who knows they’re not a man or a woman and thus doesn’t like ‘he’ or ‘she,’” Smiler explained, rubbing the back of their head. “Kind of like your friend Richard?”

“Ooooh, that sort of thing...well, I suppose Richard will be pleased to know he’s not the only one around with an odd relationship with gender,” Alice commented, adjusting her grip on Chester. She looked at Victor. “Is that why you brought them round here?”

“Ah – not exactly,” Victor said, swallowing. “Just – um – well–”

“I may have had to admit I’ve been sleeping on the street when the form asked for an address,” Smiler cut in, expression just a touch awkward. “Your husband was rather insistent I come back with him for at least a cup of tea after learning that.”

“Ah.” Alice grimaced, bouncing Chester as Lightning padded up to her and began begging for attention. “Just a moment, you...I see. Well, let’s get a pot on, and then we can figure out what to do with that information.”

“Oh, let me do it,” Smiler insisted. “It’s the least I can do to thank you for letting me into your home.”

Alice raised an eyebrow. “Feels a bit odd to let the guest make the tea...”

“I know, but – trust me.” Smiler grinned that winning grin of theirs. “You’ll have never tasted tea so good.”

--

Basically, this one came about because Gigs said "If anything you can continue Smiler-In-Secundus" when I asked her about Christmas gift fic ideas, and I immediately went "well, she'd probably like them meeting Lighting" (as she's extremely fond of the dog). XD So this sequel to the birthday fic was born, with Smiler coming home with Victor to meet his corgi, wife, and child! And immediately make a good impression on the first and the third -- Alice is still a little "???" about this new "stray" Victor's picked up, but she's willing to be convinced. At the very least, she's taking the "they" thing in stride (again, thank you Richard) -- and trust me, once she has some of Smiler's tea, she'll DEFINITELY feel more fondly toward them. XD Smiler not actually have a place to stay was kind of a spontaneous decision to help further justify Victor taking this person he'd just met back to his house -- I figured, as someone who was reliant on a friend's couch for somewhere to sleep during HIS first few months in the city, Victor would sympathize with Smiler's situation and feel like he had to offer them SOMETHING. The way I'm picturing this version of the verse going, Smiler would end up in a spare room, or sleeping on the Van Dort couch...and, you know, just never leave. :p