I felt you in my life before I ever thought to

[neither_a_nor_b]

When she’d woken up on the morning of the 22nd and found herself still in one place, Bay had breathed a sigh of relief. The last couple birthdays had been kind of a crapshoot for her and Daphne, ending up in a new dimension every other year so it was nice to actually make it a year in one place.

Sure, it was almost Halloween and sure something was probably doomed to go to hell before the end of the month, but not today. Today Daphne had made a cake and some mexican rice and was planning a shrimp taco spread. Bay was cooking up some ground beef with spices while the contents of the alcohol cabinet waited for her to do some mixing later. They’d sent out invitations to their friends via text, and both were looking forward to a chill, low-key birthday party for their 19th.

Daphne had made sure not to book any catering jobs for today, but she still had her daily orders for some of the local coffee shops and service stations in the city. She’d gotten those taken care of, then come home and baked and frosted the cake and helped Bay clean and decorate. If she wanted to last more than 20 minutes at her own party, though, she’d decided a nap was a good idea.

She woke feeling much more refreshed and coherent and wandered out to find Bay cooking up ground beef for the red meat eaters that would be attending. “Hey,” she greeted her sister, peering over Bay’s shoulder into the pan before stepping back. “I’m going to get changed while you finish that up, then I’ll get the shrimp cooking while you get ready. Sound good?”

“Yeah, sounds good. I just got a slew of ‘on my way’ texts but the taco filling is ready.” Proving her point, she took the beef off the stove and tipped all of it into a serving bowl. “I’m gonna stick it in the microwave, so we can nuke it if we need.”

“Actually, I’ve got a better idea.” Daphne grinned and ducked into her room, coming back out with a large box. “I bought myself a birthday present, sort of,” she explained, opening one end of the box and starting to pull out the pieces to the new electronic warmer she’d picked up yesterday. “Just give the dishes a quick wash and we should be good to go. This should keep the food warm through the whole party. Beef in one, shrimp in one, and rice in the third?” She shoved the packing materials back into the box, ready to tuck into her closet just in case something went wrong and she needed to return it.

“That is so fancy,” Bay said, genuinely impressed as she scraped the beef into the first dish. “Okay, you change, I’ll clean.”

“Okay.” Daphne went back into her room, stashed the box and quickly changed, then stopped in the bathroom to pull her hair back and put a little makeup on before taking over in the kitchen so Bay could get ready, getting her shrimp cooking as she made sure all of the food and mixers were ready for people’s arrival.

It didn’t take much time for her to get ready. Bay took a quick shower to get the smell of food out of her hair and off her skin. By the time she was finished blow-drying, Bay heard the first knock on the door. The party had started.

Comments

[plaguedrat]

"Having fun?" Rat's given his greetings, but he doesn't know many people here.e prefers, he thinks, to keep an arm around Grey while he eats.

[silenttrainbaby]

Already, then, Grey feels more at ease, his shoulders unbunching just a little. He isn't sure what fun is, still, but it's not terrible. He just doesn't know many people and this environment is foreign. He shrugs.

[plaguedrat]

"Just be your charming self and they won't notice the asshole who followed you in," Rat assures him, kissing Grey's temple.

[silenttrainbaby]

Even Grey knows he's not charming and Rat isn't an asshole. He clicks his tongue; not funny. Even now, moves closer, seeking warmth that's external and internal.

[plaguedrat]

Rat would disagree. He's not nice or charming and is, in fact, an asshole. It is merely that Grey is an exception. Still, he understands the gesture and kisses his temple again.

[silenttrainbaby]

Plucking a piece of lettuce from the plate, Grey holds it up for Rat to eat. Green food, meh. He remembers what Bay had asked, his thoughts to the answer. Perhaps he is "crazy" for Rat. He likes this feeling, being with him just like this.

[plaguedrat]

Grinning, Rat folds some of the taco fillings into the lettuce, turning it into the wrap and taking a bite. "They can cook that's for sure."

[silenttrainbaby]

But so can Rat. Grey is content to eat what someone else cooks and he takes a piece of shell to nibble on.

[plaguedrat]

"Maybe we'll just pick a birthday for you," Rat teases. "Just to throw a party."

[silenttrainbaby]

Like this? For him?!

Grey looks around, at the people, the food, the decorations. Who would come? Grey would feel so self-conscious, people being there for him. And presents?

The doubt shows clearly on his face; no, he doesn't think so.

[plaguedrat]

"We don't have to." Smoothing Grey's hair, he slips away to get them some more food. "They've been kind to you, those girls?" he asks on returning.

[silenttrainbaby]

A quick nod to that; yes. Very kind and very patient. Grey knows Bay wants him to learn sign language; he's resistant. It feels like a betrayal of Gilliam, of what he's done his entire life.

But he touches Rat's chest, over his heart with a tiny smile, nodding toward Bay. She asked about Rat.

[plaguedrat]

Rat can see where it's useful, but he already knows that there's no good in pushing if Grey isn't interested.

"I don't know her. Just Daphne."

[silenttrainbaby]

Grey's finger taps, then he taps his own chest. He mouths the word, then, as he had before. Boyfriends.

[plaguedrat]

"Us? Yeah. Yeah we are," Rat says, tapping Grey's chest too.

[silenttrainbaby]

Taking Rat's palm, Grey spells C-R-A-Z-Y, then gestures between them. Crazy for each other?

[plaguedrat]

"No we're not...I mean. I'm crazy for you, but we're not crazy." Well, maybe they are. But for unrelated reasons.

[silenttrainbaby]

Rat is? Grey searches his face; that has to mean something, right? If Bay said and now Rat says it. Is Crazy good?

[plaguedrat]

"In this case," he clarifies, seeing Grey's confusion. "It means devoted."

[silenttrainbaby]

Ohhhhh. Well, then Grey is crazy, yes. Devoted.

He touches Rat's cheek, brushing his knuckles there. Yes.

[plaguedrat]

Rat leans his head against Grey's smiling. Crazy. They both are. He didn't mean for it to happen but there they are.

[silenttrainbaby]

When there's cake, Grey goes to get them a piece. Even though he'd gotten sick on the red velvet, he did like cake.

He doesn't have a fork, though, content to eat with his fingers.

[plaguedrat]

Rat steals a bit with his fingers as well, seeing now why Daphne had asked him about cakes when they first met. Hers is definitely superior.

[silenttrainbaby]

It's sweet, too, and Grey lets it dissolve on his tongue, coating it before he swallows. Rat doesn't have to steal; he can have all he wants.

[plaguedrat]

It's good, easy, for them to sit together like this, sharing, being together.

Maybe there are reasons to like this place.