where: the sasquatch
who: aaron abernathy (@ghostsbrokenbyfairytales)
They saw him stumbling out of the bar: Aaron. Lincoln's son. Lucy's chest seized up at the sight of him. He looked miserable. Remembering how she'd felt after Lincoln's death, what she'd done back then, she couldn't blame him.
They hurried over, grabbing his side as he lurched to the right. Her tiny frame wasn't strong, but she did her best to keep him upright. They looked up at his face, as she wrapped her arm around his waist.
(continued from here with @ghostsbrokenbyfairytales and @endlessreruns)
Lucy went to the kitchen to get a glass of water, returning and handing it to him before perching awkwardly on the arm of the couch, unsure if she should sit or stand. “My whole family died too,” she told him solemnly. “Lincoln saved my life then took care of me. When he died I tried to go with him. But my friends helped.” They paused, biting their lip. “I can be your friend, if you want. That way you won’t be alone anymore.”
aaron rolled onto his back and closed his eyes for a moment before lucy came back, only sitting up to grab the glass of water and take a small sip from it. "sorry you had to go through that," he mumbled. they looked young, younger than him at least. "you shouldn't be friends with someone like me, i'd just drag you down again and then you're back to square one. trust me it's not worth it."
Lucy tilted her head. “A lot of my friends said that at first,” she admitted. “My boyfriend too. But it hasn’t happened. I’m tougher than I look.” They knew they looked small and fragile, but having been through so much over the years, it really had helped with her mental resolve. “I want to be friends. Lincoln adopted me, and you’re his son, so that makes you my brother.”
aaron could only sip his water again. he wasn't sure what to say because part of him wanted to say no, really emphasize that he wasn't worth the time or energy yet he couldn't bring himself to say it after she mentioned how he was their brother. "okay," he mumbled, "my dad wouldn't want me to push away family and since he considered you family then i guess i'll just have to get used to you." the last part came out as more of a joke, cracking the tiniest of smiles as he looked at her.
Roman knew that sometimes Lucy would be there at the apartment when he wasn't, it was why he'd given her a key to the place so she could have access when he wasn't there. What he hadn't expected was for someone else to be there when he came in for the night. "What the fuck?" Is what immediately makes its way out of his mouth.
Lucy matched Aaron’s tiny smile with one of her own. She was about to stand and find him a blanket, when the door opened and Roman entered. She stood quickly and turned around to face him. “This is Aaron. Aaron, this is Roman. Aaron is Lincoln’s son.” She bit her lip. “He’s drunk.” She hoped that would explain his presence.
aaron didn't look back, only held up his hand and put his finger and thumb close together but didn't make them touch. "just a smidge." then he put his hand back down and leaned back against the couch. "i'm sobering up, sorta."
"I don't care who he is, what's he doing here?" Roman asked, clenching his jaw as he closed his eyes and inhaled, fingers curling up into his palms at his side before stretching back out as he exhaled.
Lucy started to get the feeling Roman was actually angry. They weren’t entirely sure why. She glanced between Aaron and Roman. “He’s drunk,” she said again. “I wanted to help him. He’s my brother.”
aaron looked back from the couch at him now with a raised eyebrow. "chill out dude they were just trying to help." something he probably was not currently doing.
Roman shot Aaron a look as he told him to chill out "dude, I don't fucking know you, so don't tell me to chill out" he snapped at him before looking back at Lucy. "you know how important my space is to me or I thought you did. Maybe I thought wrong"
Lucy bit her lip. “I thought . . .” She glanced between the two again, frowning faintly. “It’s almost dark. I didn’t know if he’d make it to the commune. I thought . . .” It dawned on her that they may have fucked up. “Since he’s my brother . . .” Their gaze fell to the floor. “It’d be okay . . .”
between the look roman shot them, his tone and the way lucy was acting now aaron was getting pissed off himself and the alcohol that was still in him wasn't helping. he set the cup down and got up from the couch to face the other finally. "what's your problem? there's no reason to be a dick when they were just trying to help me."
Roman watched as Aaron stood up, "my problem is there's a fucking stranger in my apartment without my fucking consent" he growled, before taking in a breath to try and not be so heated as he turned back to Lucy "so you didn't take me into consideration at all? That this is my place? How I feel about strangers being in my apartment? I don't even like people that aren't you that aren't strangers being here. You just decided that it would be okay."
Lucy continued to stare at the floor between them. “I’m sorry.” They wanted to remind him that it wasn’t like she could’ve called him to ask for permission, but she didn’t think that would be very productive. Roman seemed really upset and it was her fault. That’s what was most important here.
"aaron, nice to meet you now we're not strangers, better or you still gonna throw a fit?" aaron rolled his eyes as he started laying into her and decided this wasn't worth the headache so headed for the door. "i'll sleep in the hallway since your couch is oh so precious to you that you'd rather accuse her of not thinking of you instead of considering that i don't know, she was just trying to be nice."
Roman clenched down on his jaw again, wanting nothing more than to punch Aaron in the fucking face right now, but refraining from doing so only because of Lucy's presence. "you realize it's not about a fuckin couch, right?" He shook his head. "he can stay the night if you're that worried about him" Roman turned back to Lucy, "but I want my key back." He held his hand out "I don't trust you, and I'll spend the night at Sammie's because I don't want to be here right now."
Lucy lifted her gaze at that, eyes swimming with tears. She held them back as best she could, silently pulling the key out of her pocket and placing it in his hand. She knew there was nothing she could say at this point. Despite wanting to beg him to stay and talk it out, they knew he needed space right now. It hurt, but it wasn’t about her, which was why they were trying so desperately not to cry despite the deep ache in their chest.
"whatever." aaron mumbled still making his way to the door until he heard him say he wanted the key back. "seriously?" he said turning around. "you don't trust her all because she brought someone back here without telling you? please tell me how they're supposed to tell you anyway when we don't have cell phones, not everyone has a radio and you weren't here for them to call on the landline. that's such a bitch move." (i'm wishing aaron a very please shut the fuck up)
Roman stuffed the key into his pocket after she handed it over, and was on his way to the door himself when Aaron had turned back around as well. He still wasn't going to punch him, instead he grabbed his shirt, gripping it tight as he pushed him into the wall by the door. "you really need to shut the fuck up about things that you don't actually fucking know shit about." He narrowed his eyes, a mixture of anger and hurt at the whole situation in them as he released Aaron and slipped out the door, being too upset to even slam it behind him as he did.
Lucy watched him leave, the tears slipping down her cheeks then. They didn't know what to say after all that. What did one say when they thought they'd done the right thing but also the wrong thing at the same time. Sniffling, she quickly wiped the tears away and went to grab a pillow and. blanket from the bedroom, setting them on the couch before looking over at Aaron. "We won't make it to the commune. Sleep here."
aaron didn't care that roman grabbed his shirt and pushed him against the wall, it's not like it hurt or anything plus he deserved it even if he didn't realize that right now. watching him leave he turned back to lucy and felt awkward, rubbing the back of his neck. "i was being serious about sleeping in the hallway, feels like it's more trouble for me to stay here and i'm like... preeeettty sure i just made that worse."
Lucy shook her head. "He's already gone," they said softly. It didn't make sense for him to sleep out in the hallway when she knew Roman wouldn't be back. They weren't sure how to feel. However misguided, Aaron had stuck up for her, which was nice. But Roman was upset and it was her fault. He didn't trust them anymore. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything Aaron could do to fix that.
