#volt date everything

Eddie: "If I go outside and all the beer mugs and glasses are on the lawn, you're sleeping on the sofa"

Thank you for tagging me @thosegayoldmen, @loki-is-my-kink-awakening, and @mobiusismycomfortcharacter!

Continuing from the little tease I posted on Monday...

A more difficult undertaking than it sounded, as it turned out. Like Eddie had told Volt, this would not be the first time he'd be sharing his home. It may have been decades ago, but Beverly had stayed with him, and for quite a long time at that. Where she had slept was on a couch in the back room, so, understandably, that very same couch was the first thing Eddie thought of. It didn't take long to discover that the thought was not going to pan out. Once upon a time, the couch had been soft and comfortable, a perfectly reasonable place to sleep. This was no longer the case. Over the years, the support it had once provided had practically disintegrated, so settled in on itself that the cushions were nearly worn through. It was fine to sit on for a brief time, but to sleep on it? Eddie wouldn't even offer it as a bed to any of the inanimals roaming around the house, let alone subject Volt to it. Besides, even if the couch were still in perfect condition, the size would have been a problem. Bev had fit on it just fine, but Volt was a very tall man. His legs would dangle right off the end of it, or he'd have to scrunch up in an uncomfortable ball to try to fit. In short, there was no way Eddie was about to ask Volt to sleep on this couch. They'd just have to move on to his next idea. Except…he didn't have any other ideas. Glaring down at the worn-out, too-short couch with his hands on his hips, Eddie blew out a long breath, then cursed. "Shit."

Oh darn, what to do? 👀

Eddie: He splashed some water this way earlier, I meant to clean it up. I got careless. Volt: You'll have to forgive him, he's been a bit overworked as of late. Arma: Putting water and electricity together is usually a bad idea. Player: I'll say! Almost burned the house down! Eddie: I'm sorry. Volt: Don't be so hard on yourself! Mistakes happen.

Can we just. talk about this scene. The way Volt leads with understanding, compassion, and patience rather than judgement, disappointment, or blame.

Not "He said he was sorry." Not "He'll remember to keep an eye on these things." Not "He'll do better in the future." No.

"Forgive him. He's having a hard time right now and has too many things on his plate."

It's clear he cares about Eddie, and wants to return all the provision Eddie's work offers them (maintaining the club, fixing wiring systems to allow Volt more power, trying to catch up on work so Volt has everything he needs to do his job, etc). It's Volt's sacred and cherished duty to provide for and protect Eddie in return.

And his response when Arma tells them to be more careful?

"I'm on it."

Volt: Cross my circuits. I'd hate to cause any more trouble for the poor thing.

Meeting Volt's eye, he gestured toward the back rooms with a nod. "Come on," he invited, "Let's figure out where you can sleep."

I mean, they know of it--Rudy and his buddies used to throw it around, back when Rudy still lived there. But they don't know what it means. So they ask Live Wire.

And Live Wire is horrified.

Between learning of that word and knowing the other insults some of the other former objects have been called that Volt has also been called, the two of them are fucking over it. Volt is tired. Eddie is mad. Eddie finds Volt starfished on their bed, and sets aside his protective anger to cuddle his partner.

They go to Pride the next month, where they meet some drag queens who instantly hit it off with Volt. They aren't so different from him, he finds, and he has missed performing... The queens write down the address of the restaurant they have monthly brunches at and the address of their club.

Eddie loves seeing Volt performing again. The next time anyone calls Eddie a slur, they get a stiletto in their eye.