Summary: you have a late night snack outside, because the fight left you without dinner.
Pairing: Poly!TF141 x reader.
Warnings/tags: minors DNI, fem!reader, no use of y/n, argument, cussing, hurt/comfort, fluff, English is not my first language.
A/N: might be one of my favorite ideas.
Yelling in the house in the woods continued for at least an hour. It all happened suddenly, with no warning. A simple disagreement escalated into a massive scandal with the speed of an avalanche. Accusations, insults, grievances, words they couldn't take back. And you listened to every single one, taking everything said to your heart, as if it were addressed to you. At the start of your boyfriends' argument, you retreated to your bedroom, but you heard everything.
Two hours and 37 minutes had passed since the last door slammed. Outside the open window, it was completely dark, somewhere far owls and wild ducks chirped faintly. You still hadn't gotten up from the floor, sitting with your back to the door, hugging your knees. The tears had long since dried, and that blissful feeling of relief and indifference that comes after a good cry had set in. Somewhere inside, you were angry that the boys had let all their pent-up emotions spill out like that, but you'd had time to convince yourself it wasn't your fault. After all, you'd been nothing but a bystander in this catastrophe, and your timid attempts to reason with your loved ones had resulted in all three of them lashing out at you. You couldn't help but wonder what Simon would do: join in the argument or nip it in the bud?
Ghost was supposed to be the last to arrive at your country house due to circumstances that kept him late at work. Maybe it was a good thing he didn't see it. You felt lonely in the silence, and yet, all the raging feelings inside you were overshadowed by one thing.
Hunger. You'd missed dinner.
Meal had been forgotten in the moment of confrontation, and you wouldn't have felt comfortable sticking your nose into the living room storm to sneak into the kitchen and, as if nothing had happened, start frying eggs.
You stood up, testing your weight on your own two feet. Carefully pressing the doorknob, you stepped into the spacious living room. The glass doors were uncurtained, the trees beyond swaying in the wind, casting long, crooked shadows. You stepped softly, avoiding the floorboards you knew would creak. Kyle decided to spent the night on the couch in this very room where the argument had taken place. He was curled up on the couch, covering himself with his jacket, his breathing alternating between loud sniffles and soft snores. Guided only by the faint moonlight and muscle memory, you found the kitchen doorway.
The refrigerator greeted you with a friendly artificial glow, illuminating your face. The shelves were full of ingredients, but almost nothing edible: no leftovers, no snacks, no processed foods. You put a boiled egg into your pocket, tucked an ancient jar of pickles under your arm, and grabbed a box of crackers forgotten on the counter. There was also a can of anchovies, but you weren't that desperate, so you closed the refrigerator and tiptoed outside in your underwear, slippers, and a sweater twice your size.
The night was warm, the kind that late summer offers often, but the wind blew a chill. You walked along the path to the backyard, branches of the fruit trees tangled overhead. You reached up and plucked a large apple, nearly breaking the jar of pickles in the process, and put it in your pocket with the egg.
A cozy old gazebo stood among the wild blackberries and rhododendron bushes. The build looked gracefully aged and even a little neglected, but you knew for sure that the inside was clean, warm, and, most importantly, treated from insects. You laid out your impromptu picnic on the table in the center and sat cross-legged on the bench.
There was something very sentimental about this setting. You couldn't tear your gaze away from the starry sky above, like diamonds scattered across dark velvet. Thoughtfully arranging them into constellations, you listened to the chirping of cicadas and the occasional chatter of nocturnal birds. A pickle crunched between your teeth. Girl dinner at it's finest.
A strange sound shattered the idyll. You tensed for a second, listening intently. Footsteps: long and heavy, yet quiet. Your shoulders relaxed as you unmistakably recognized the owner of that gait. At first, the footsteps retreated past the gazebo, but they hesitated and returned warily, as if suspecting something strange.
Simon appeared at the threshold of your truly royal snacking. He hid the view to the constellations, still wearing his work uniform and a simple black balaclava. The man looked puzzled.
"Hello, baby," you smiled, your eyes sparkling with joy. You took a generous bite of apple and immediately grimaced, setting the fruit aside—it was unripe.
"What's goin' on, lovie?"
His shoulders were tense, eyes warily scanning his surroundings. He was expecting a catch, a problem that had driven you out into the wild in the middle of the night. You shrugged.
"Nothing, just having a snack."
"Where are the others?" His voice was strained.
"Sleeping," you replied casually. Simon took a step inside, ducking his head under the wooden arch. He sat down next to you, took off his jacket, and covered your shoulders.
You snuggled deeper into his jacket, the fabric was soaking with his warmth and the scent of his aftershave. Taking a pickle out of the jar, you admitted sullenly.
"They had a fight. There was no dinner," you tried to say casually, but your eyes burned traitorously from the echo of hurtful words spoken to you in the heat of a moment.
You whispered, "Didn't want to leave my room."
Simon's jaw tightened, he sat silently with his arms crossed over his chest, staring at the floor with an angry frown. You shifted uncomfortably in your seat. Glancing at him warily, you moved closer, questioningly tugging at the hem of his balaclava. Ghost immediately softened when his gaze met yours, and he pulled his mask off his head. With one hand, he gripped your bare thigh and pulled your leg over his, making you straddle him. Surprised, you braced your hands on his chest for balance.
"What was the fight about?" He asked, now calm, his breath tickling your lips.
You lowered your gaze, settling more comfortably on his lap. "It's a small thing, really, but a long explanation."
"Luckily for us, I'm not goin' anywhere," he tugged the hem of your sweater lower over your exposed thigh. "I need to know how dysfunctional my household gets when I'm not here."
"Don't call it that," you pouted.
Simon cupped your face and placed a soft kiss on your temple. "Deal. Now start talkin'".
You wanted to feel guilty for being a snitch, but the hurt still lingered inside. It hurt you that your cozy little world had been cracked, and you had to address it somehow. Even if you tried to hide something or smooth things over, Simon saw right through you, and it was essential for him to know every motive and every line.
When every detail of the disaster came together, you fell silent, catching your breath. A thoughtful crease formed between Simon's brows.
"Are you mad?" you whispered.
"Why would I be mad at you, sweetheart?"
"Don't be mad at them either."
The request softened his expression. Ghost slid one arm under your butt and wrapped the second one around your waist. Before you could react, he stood up and carried you out of the gazebo.
You weren't about to object. Your body went limp, pliantly clinging to the heat radiating from his strong chest. You wrapped your arms around his neck, pressing your cheek against his cheekbone.
"Are you still hungry, love?" Ghost asked quietly. You shook your head.
"No. A bit thirsty, though."
"Want some tea?" His fingers squeezed the hair at the back of your head comfortingly, taking a moment to massage your scalp.
You hesitated: you really wanted something warm to drink, but the kettle and the clatter of dishes would probably disturb the boys' sleep...
"I'm good," you mumbled into Simon's shoulder. He gave you a sceptical hum and, with you in his arms, stepped inside the house.
It was obviously quiet. Johnny was snoring upstairs, Kyle had rolled over on the living room couch, and John had left the light on in his bathroom.
Simon carefully sat you down on the edge of a kitchen counter, you stopped him for an extra kiss. Without breaking the contact, he put the kettle on the stove, and it slowly began to hum.
"What are you doing?! You'll wake everyone up!" You gasped, but Simon silenced you with an extra peck.
Ghost turned on the lamp over the counter, illuminating the small island where you sat. He made a point of loudly clattering the dishes and slamming the drawers and cabinets.
"You wanna hear a joke?" Simon asked, without lowering his voice.
You swung your legs in the air, sitting on the edge of the counter next to the sugar bowl he was filling with white crystals.
"Only if 'half of a dog' isn't part of it," you grinned.
"Mm," he shook his head to hide his amusement, "every good joke has that part."
You heard creaking of the sofa in the living room, but then John appeared in the doorway. He looked tired, the skin under his eyes reminded of dark crescents in the dim light. He looked around the kitchen with confusion.
"You're back," he registered hoarsely. "What are you doing?"
Simon stood with his back to John, focused on slicing bread. He didn't hesitate for a second before replying, "Makin' our woman some tea since y'all were too busy for a proper dinner."
You looked down at the floor, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. Kyle's buzz cut appeared behind John.
"Couldn't you have been any louder?" He rubbed his eyes sullenly.
You blushed, glancing sheepishly at Simon. The man looked as unbothered as they get. He placed a basket of sliced bread and bagels, a plate of cheese and ham, and a freshly filled teapot on the table.
By then, the kettle on the stove had boiled and began whistling so loudly that you grimaced, but Ghost, for some reason, ignored the noise. When it became clear Simon had no intention of removing the kettle from the fire, you made at attempt to climb down from the counter, but he nonchalantly sat you back, as if you were a doll.
"I know, baby, thank you."
Kyle and John exchanged glances. Your boyfriend seemed to be waiting for something as the whistling grew louder and louder.
But about 20 seconds later, a crash was heard on the second floor, as if something heavy had rolled down the stairs. Johnny burst into the kitchen, pushing aside his two men at the entrance. He looked comfortably rumpled, squinting against the light in the room. The strands of his mohawk stuck out wildly in all directions.
"What in a fooking Mad Tea Party is goin on?" He pouted, rubbing the back of his neck.
Simon didn't answer, but removed the kettle from the heat and poured boiling water into five mugs on the table. "Put your arses in place, the water's gonna be cold."
In a surprised silence, everyone sat down at the table. Your stomach growled, and you hoped the others didn't notice. Johnny, Kyle, and John glanced at each other warily, you watched their tense muscles and stiff movements.
Simon raised an eyebrow, and Price looked at him questioningly.
"I believe you could have stepped in as the responsible one and expressed your regret for what happened earlier."
"The responsible one, my arse," Soap rolled his eyes.
"Johnny!" You chided him quietly, and he obediently fell silent.
Price ran a hand over his face with a loud sigh. He paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "I didn't want this to escalate into a conflict. I should have addressed the matter more calmly in the first place."
You extended your hand across the table, and John took it without hesitation, intertwined his fingers with yours, squeezing gratefully.
Kyle pursed his lips, clasping his hands tighter. This didn't escape Simon's notice, he nodded toward Gaz. "You're next, sweetheart."
"I... I'm sorry for... I shouldn't have said what I said," he took a shaky breath and looked at you from under his eyelashes. "And I don't know why I snapped at you, dolly, I didn't mean it, I'm sorry."
You smiled at him and wiggled your fingers for him to place his hand on top of yours and John's on the table. He did.
The four of you turned your heads to Johnny, who was stubbornly staring at the steam above his mug of tea. He frowned, defiantly silent.
"Johnny," you said softly, "no one here is mad at you."
It made Soap's lower lip tremble. He angrily wiped his eyes with his fist and slammed a hand on top of yours. Simon covered that tower with his warm palm, making it complete.
"Ah still love ye all, unfortunately," he choked. A chorus of similar words poured out in response.
Kyle asked impatiently, "Whose bed are we sleeping in tonight?"
"Mine!" You squealed. "And I'm sleeping in the middle!"
All five of them rose from the table, not moving more than a step apart.
"You always sleep in the middle," John smiled.
"I'm asserting my dominance," you yawned. "Just in case something's changed."
Simon turned off the kitchen light and smirked to himself, "Nothing's changed for us."