L E B H A F T

nellie had spent a good chunk of her evening at rendezvous, but really who could’ve expected anything less of her ? she wasn’t drunk by any means, but she was certainly past the point of sober & so she was tolerating the company of a random guy a little more than she usually would’ve. she was almost grateful as zeke appeared out of nowhere, sitting himself between the two of them. “ not at all. jake — josh ? whatever. was just telling me that he’s like an architect, or something. or was it an archaeologist ? i don’t know. ” she shrugged it off, glancing over at the guy briefly before turning her full attention to zeke. “ oh, like so many times, but i never get tired of hearing it, so tell me again. ” she grinned at him, now realising that perhaps she was a little more drunk than she’d thought. “ what do you want ? ”

“One of those is more interesting than the other.” He would’ve asked the guy which it was just for the hell of it but by the time he turned over to look at him, the guy was already moving on. It only made Zeke smile, turning back to look at her. “One time is good enough.” His eyes did a quick once over before looking around for a particular face around Rendezvous but when he didn’t spot it he gave her his full attention again. “I need to make a drop but I need a pretty face to go with me.” That was when he should’ve coughed up more information as to why he needed a girl specifically to accompany him but he figured he’d save his breath if she was going to immediately shoot the idea down. “I’ll give you a quarter of whatever I make.” He also figured she wasn’t about to do it out of the goodness of her heart. 

honestly dahlia didn’t care that he was being less than positive. she just had to give him shit for it because that was what she was. she was shrugging as she looked over at him,” uh huh.” she didn’t care about the fact that she was pulling off her shirt. mostly because she had a tank top on and she had never been one to care about showing skin. she was rolling her eyes at him,” in your dreams.” she was shoving the basically ruined shirt into her bag. she was shrugging as she glanced over at him,” well see the difference so i can at least punch you without losing my job but them? can’t do that.” she was glancing around and glancing back over at him,” that is probably the most exciting thing so far,” she paused,” but you never know with your friends and the devils being here.” 

“Correct.” He chuckled at his own response though his amused expression quickly turned into one of offense. It didn’t last for very long, shrugging after giving it some thought. “I’d be honored to get punched by you.” He was joking, mostly. It just made him curious how hard she’d actually hit if given the opportunity but he’d prefer not to be on the receiving end of it. “And I don’t know, if you wanted to punch any of them, I’d be willing to take the fall for it.” He enjoyed the extra cash from bartending but his pockets weren’t exactly hurting with his main source of income. Sighing once she mentioned the devils he looked around, tossing the rag onto the counter as he moved to wash his hands now. “What? You don’t think they’ll be holding hands by the end of the night.” That would be hilarious but something that would only live in his mind as a stupid thought. While normally he just flipped them off and went about his own business without giving them much thought, it was a little hard to do so now. So much so that if one of their prospects wanted to get mouthy, then he might just land into a fight - not stupid enough to go for one twice his size or one with a patch with a clear identifier. He may have the idiot act down but it didn’t mean he actually was. “You say devils like they aren’t your friends.”

“Yeah, that’s it, I carry antifreeze in my back pocket.” she quipped, sarcasm clear in her tone, even despite the narrowing of her eyes as if she’s insulted by what he was accusing her of. Though make it be known that she wasn’t actually offended. It was feigned and she was joking. She took his response as yeah, he did have trust issues and she quirked her brow. It’s as if she’s trying to see if he was messing or not, but when she realises that maybe he wasn’t, she chooses not to make a comment that could be seen as harsh. Or more, it’s a twist in the way she usually acted towards him. Whilst she wasn’t expecting him to actually change his mind, she didn’t backtrack her offer, she was more or less now waiting for him to take one and it wasn’t until he stepped forward with that good citizen comment that she scoffed. “Please,” cue her eye roll, “Bet you haven’t even done anything today to make you deserve one..” there she was, back at it again with the little digs. Watching him take some her eyes widened a little at the cream cake, “Not that one.” It wasn’t for her, per say, it was one she got her brother purely because the cream was way past the expiry date to the point the woman was going to chuck it away. Call her being a ‘good’ sibling and wanting to see Cain’s reaction as he spat it out.

"I could see it.” He was just fucking with her, the smirk pulling at his lips evidence of that and holy hell did she make any expression look good enough for him to want to kiss her for it. Seemingly annoyed by him and he was ready to get down on one knee to propose, nothing knew when it came to Zeke. “The hell?” Brows furrowed as he stared at her as if in disbelief by what she had said. “I helped a cat out of a tree. Helped an old lady cross a street. Picked up a car all by myself before it crushed someone flat.” Breaking into a smile he looked down, almost letting them all go to hold his arms up innocently but remembered that he would be dropping them all before he had the chance to do it. “Now I’m helping you carry these all the way home. Think that all is deserving.” He definitely didn’t want to give her a reason to walk off angrily, despite that usually being how things went for him. “Not really my taste, so don’t worry I won’t bite into it.” Not that he really had the chance with his hands full. “So what way we headed?”

There’s a frown on his face as he puts the key in the door only to find it unlocked. Instantly suspicious, a cautious, silent hand pushed the door open and stepped inside. “Jesus,” he scoffed under his breath as he rolled his eyes towards the back of his brothers head. Riley kicked the door shut and walked closer, brow raised as he looks at the chaos all over the table. “Please, let yourself in, brother, help yourself and make a mess.” He’s a little amused as he drops down on the chair, shaking his head with a wave of his hand. “I’m not hungry.” Green eyes looked towards Zeke, it wasn’t hard to recognise someone with the munchies and all it did was make him laugh. “You did not eat all of that by yourself…” Pointing to the empty trays, he leaned forward to pick a couple up, tossing them out the way to inspect the others. “How many different deliveries are here, three? You’re gonna shit out an actual nine pound baby in the morning. Make sure it’s in your own toilet.”

“I thought I already did.” He looked around only to shrug it off all while resisting the urge to laugh despite finding no real amusement out of it. “Alright, good, ‘cause there’s only really scraps here.” He motioned towards the boxes as he leaned back. “My own? I have my own bathroom here.” Referring to the bathroom connected to his old room, giving a little loophole there since he figured he was talking about the one at his own place. “I was going to crash here tonight. ‘Less you got company coming over then I’m outta here.” Typically with what he was on, Zeke would’ve been out the door by ten pm, looking to land at the best party of the night but he wasn’t so in the mood to be around others currently. He just wanted to relax and the only real place he could do that at or with was with Riley, so there he was. “Did your mom call you?” Funny how he referred to her as if she wasn’t his too. “I have like four missed calls from her.” 

There’s a look of judgement from her, it’s one that doesn’t understand why he was passing on free food. It’s all most as if she’s silently telling him that was the wrong answer. Purely because if roles were flipped, she’d jump for free food. Who wouldn’t? Her brother had well and truly influenced her at this point. “You think I’m that desperate?” her tone would apply she was offended but she wasn’t, though she was clearly picking at the fact he was saying she’d go as far as body checking someone to get food. Which she actually found funny to the point that when she’d get home, she’d ask her mom if that was something she could see her doing. She already knew her answer, but that wasn’t the point. “and no it’s not just for me,” she’s finally catching up with what he had actually asked her. “One could have been for you but.. you know,” she pulls a face, still apparently judging his decision. “Do you have trust issues or something?” she was joking yet asking seriously. 

“Well...” He trailed off with a quick shrug, implying that made he did think that but whether he actually did? That was up in the air. Still, he found the idea of that and the mental image he got because of it amusing which had him grinning. “Why? You’re just going to give it away for free? Did you poison it or something?” Now he laughed. “Oh you’ve got no fucking idea.” He said as he breathed out. He could thank his parents for the lack of trust he had in others. It wasn’t exactly like they did anything to him but enough that affected him in ways he liked to laugh at. “Okay I’ll take one.” Yes, he was changing his mind now and fully expecting to get one although he wouldn’t be surprised if she now denied him it. They seemed to like to get in each other’s way, more him in his really. “It’ll be my reward for being a good citizen.” Yeah, definitely full of shit there but he stepped toward her only to grab onto some and take them from her arms without allowing her the chance to protest it. 

It didn’t surprise her in the least that Zeke was confused at her interest in needing to talk, because she knew what seeing her meant. For most people it meant they were in trouble with the law in some degree. For others it meant she was sticking her nose into yet again someone’s life who didn’t ask for it. “Yes you, silly.” Rolling her eyes but instantly laughing as she changed her demeanor. All she wanted to do was check in on the kid for now. He was safe and she’d even hold her tongue on whatever lecture she was sure would come to mind given his responses. A travesty had just occurred in town and everyone was affected by it one way or another.

“And how many redbulls is it today?” Following the other as he started down for the store and noticing the bluish bags under his eyes. That couldn’t be a good sign. “Just checking in is all. Seeing how you’re holding up after the masquerade.” Pointing out the real reason for her interruption in his regularly scheduled program. “Did you know Katrina well?” Turning to look at him as they walked.

♔

“Just like one...” He tried shrugging it off. “Plus two.” Zeke muttered under his breath, though he knew from his first answer she wouldn’t believe it. Scratching the side of his head, his gaze fell down to the pavement as the two walked and she mentioned Katrina. “I knew her enough.” Enough to feel the loss and want nothing to do with those feelings. Riley knew better than anyone how deeply Zeke could feel things and yet seem to be able to wash everything off like it was the easiest thing. Instead the Braxton’s seemed to turn to other things to deal with their issues, whether they acknowledged it or not. Either way, he wasn’t exactly sure how much he was meant to say about her when it came to Adrianna. However he felt about her, there was always the reminder of what she did for a living.

“I’m fine though, you know, shit never stops around here.” That and they were all being watched closely. Everyone was looking around at each other probably more than ready to point fingers the first chance they got. All Zeke could do was lay low...well, his version of it and wait to see how things played out. “Do you have any idea what happened to her or..what was the guys name?” He knew it, but Zeke often played dumb for a reason. “Crazy how it all happened without no one seeing a thing, huh.”

“So am I the only one who wasn’t at this Masquerade ball?” He was on his phone reading an article on the deaths. Things had gotten… bad around here. Everyone seemed to hate everyone and honestly he was just happy he had Zeke and Lu here to take his mind off of it. Right now Zeke a little more than Lu, no matter how much she… stayed on his mind, Zeke was one of the wolves and he’d known Katrina too. “This is just crazy.” Putting his phone away he looked back at the other man. @zekebraxton​

“Probably, which I don’t even get. Should’ve put you in a suit like I did with Riley.” He remarked shaking his head a little as he sent off a text. The fact that something like that had happened to someone he knew. How did Zeke deal with the bit of chaos that was looming over the town?  Drinks, of course which was a problem in itself but it was doing the trick. That and staying with business. Come rain or shine or dead bodies it seemed, people wanted their drugs so he delivered, probably more than usual. “You think it was them?” As in the Devil’s. It made the most sense, when one of their own was the first to go, quick retaliation but at the same time, did it? It was way above his pay grade. “And to think I was,” he held up his hand, his index finger and thumb nearly touching. “This close to popping some tires that night. Where were you anyway? Or should I be asking who were you with?”

it was clearly going to be a very long night and dahlia knew it. she was doing her best to keep her temper in check. mostly because she knew that everyone was on edge. she was about to snap back at them until she heard zeke’s voice. her head tilting when she realized exactly what he was doing. she was sighing as she watched the idiots instantly disperse when they realized their little game was ruined. she was going back to attempting to clean up the mess that she had created,” shit.” she was not at all surprised by the fact that zeke was clearly in a mood. she didn’t protest when he practically ripped the rag from her grasp,” are you going to be this cheery all night?” she honestly couldn’t help herself sometimes. plus it was strange to see zeke acting the way that he was,” because i don’t know if i can handle it,” she said before unceremoniously pulling off her top to show the plain solid black tank top beneath it,” thank you for getting rid of the asshats.” 

With the tv on, glasses scattered around the table and along with food, anyone who walked in might’ve thought they were about to find Zeke with some company. Instead he had let himself into his brothers place, served himself a variety of drinks until he settled on what hit the spot and had food delivered from multiple places just because he could. He was also a little high, which definitely contributed to the level of cravings he had. Typically when he rolled one and smoked, he didn’t like being around Riley. Even with what they did, seeing his brother have himself handled while there was so much temptation with the kind of life they lived, he still didn’t like waving it around in his face himself. For whatever reason, today’s activities only led him to land at his brothers without thought to it. “Oh, dude,” he looked around at the different things in front of him once he heard Riley walk in. “I bought you some-” Brows furrowed he shook his head. Replacing the confused look with a smile he looked over at him. “Shit, I ate it. There’s still some fries.” 

Walking through Rendezvous, he had only arrived five minutes prior and was already two shots in with another drink in hand, careful that he didn’t spill a single drop as he maneuvered through the crowd. Once he spotted Nellie, he practically made a beeline towards her, not at all caring about the guy that was more than likely trying to make a move on her. No, instead of casually approaching Zeke inserted himself, literally, sitting himself down right in between them. “Just the girl I was looking for, I ain’t interrupting am I?” They both knew he didn’t care if he was. “I ever tell you how fucking beautiful you are?” He couldn’t make it any more obvious by his choice of words along with the smile he was sporting that he was just buttering her up before whatever came next from his mouth. 

[text] roger that

[text] should i break something as a distraction?