she hasn't talked about him much. he'd seen her face when he'd texted her before and the face thereafter when she'd ignored him. and he hadn't prodded, hadn't asked, mostly because he wasn't really sure how. should he be worried about this guy? he can gather that they're friends, but the hold he has over her is...worrisome. 

so he's a bit of a mess when she leaves after she'd locked herself in the bathroom and went fucking batshit for a spell. he does what usually calms him down and does some katas with remus, but the apartment is cramped, even though it's so big and lonely without her in it. 

his phone's right beside him and it flashes when she texts him to say she's almost done. he wants to call, ask for more than that, but she'll be here soon. and she'll need him then. 

and need him she does. he pokes his head around the door, hair slick by his temples from his sweat. he approaches warily, but slides down beside her, holding an arm out in case she wants to snuggle close. 

"warning: i'm a bit ripe." he waits. "how'd it go?"

Eden

☉

she leans into him and all is right with the world. except, of course, it's not. because even though she's back, it doesn't look like she's made it back in one piece. it makes him want to punch the asshat himself. what's one more bruise? 

but he holds his tongue and his fantasies and eden a little closer, too. "it was hard to see him like that," he says. "it's okay." he's not good at this. he's not good at 'talking through feelings' and almost wants to offer if she wants to do some katas with him. 

but then he relents, because she'd already sunk to her knees in front of their door. his brows furrow and he wraps his other arm around her. 

"hey now, don't do that. you had to go help a friend. i get it. i just want you to be okay, princess. so tell me how to help."

Eden

☉

he isn't so sure. does he want to talk about him? if this guy is going to come back into eden's life, surely he should at least have some idea of who he is. but getting called out of the blue because your face is fucking smashed in isn't really the best look. and it raises a lot of red flags for august. 

he's not gonna tell her she can't see him, of course, but he's not gonna like it. 

she seems to want to talk about it though, so he indulges her. because she seems to be relaxing a bit so it could be helping. 

"do you think you're gonna see him again?" he asks. he tucks a lock of her hair behind her ear. brushes away the wetness under her eyes. 

Eden

☉

he'd better ask to see her again. he'd better reach out. because he can tell that eden wants to see him again - not all fucked up and split open. but the broken parts of their relationship are still jagged and that's not something even her nimble fingers can stitch back together. 

he's about to say that maybe he'll come around and then he stiffens. huh. he wants to ask what happened. when did she say no? when did he come onto her? ( because there's no fucking way anyone would turn eden away. ) 

there's a bad taste in his mouth. it's jealousy, he knows, but eden's still a frail thing in his arms and he doesn't want to upset her. he softens when she keeps speaking. 

"i'm never gonna ask you for too much. i promise." he kisses her back, arm tightening around her, free hand holding her cheek.

Eden

☉

oh. ohhh. ohhhh. he gets it, but also he doesn't really get it. because eden's drop-dead gorgeous and how could any guy, no matter how gay they think they are, not want her? especially if he's into her in the 'hey i want to be around you' kind of way. he doesn't voice his inner disbelief, though, just thinks on it while he cradles her. 

"oh, do i now?" he says and bows his head, holding her tight so she can't get away while he shakes his hair around her. sweat flies and he really does stink. 

"and you might be a hot mess, but you're my hot mess, got it? even if this guy gets knocked on the head and realizes what an idiot he is. he had his chance." 

Eden

☉

"not a shower. anything but a shower," he says as she scampers away from. he lets her go, lets her disappear into the bathroom, before he gets to his feet and goes bounding after her like a dog might. 

when the water starts running, he goes to open the door, only to find it locked. 

"are you punishing me now?" he says with a dumb grin on his face. 

Eden

☉

"the password?" he tries the door again, but it's still locked (obviously). so he jiggles it again and he knocks at the door, and he tries everything under the sun except for saying anything else. until finally, he steps back, tiptoeing away from the door and back against the wall.

then he shouts and says, "well, if you won't let me in, guess i gotta make your sheets all stinky," before pretending to take off at a run.

Eden

☉