27: Two of cups

Hellbent

Chapter 27

Two of cups

Ashley felt like a lost stray cat as he wandered through the streets of Swanton alone. He was dressed in his father’s faux fur coat and carried his suitcase and cat carrier. He felt like ‘The Hermit’ holding his lantern with the beaming star to guide his path. Her cat carrier was his lantern and she was his star.

Keke meowed, drawing his attention to a fancy-looking black brick building with gold trim on the roof, wooden doors with windows and gold handles, gold trim on the windows, and hanging plants from the poles outside. Over the door was a circular black canopy with flowers on the trim. It was so fancy and luxurious.

He looked inside to see crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, dim lighting, tables with linen clothes, gold cutlery, and cloth napkins folded neatly into the wine glasses. The walls had fresco with gold trim and there was a cherub fountain in the centre of the restaurant.

Ashley clutched his growling stomach as he felt the pang of hunger strike him again.

Ashley: “I know… I’m hungry too, girl, but this place is too expensive for us.”

He said to his cat.

Ashley: “We’ll find something to eat at a Voyage Burger or something.”

He assured her.

Sitting on one of the loveseats outside, was a young Greek man who stood at five feet and eight inches sat smoking a cigarillo. His long straight blue-black hair cascaded down his back and he had a swarthy complexion. Square glasses over his aquiline nose and his half-lidded dark violet eyes. He wore a white chef’s coat, white apron, white gloves, black pants, and black loafers with a gold clasp.

Man: “Well, hello there, you seem… lonely and lost. Would you care to have something to eat?”

He smiled and inhaled a drag of his cigarillo. Ashley fixed his gaze to the man.

Ashley: “I am lost and lonely…”

He sighed and embraced himself. The man gazed at him sympathetically.

Ashley: “I’d love to, but I can’t afford to eat here… I’m totally broke.”

He sighed, thinking of how Maxx left him broke and broken.

Man: “I wouldn’t have offered if you were paying. It’s on me. I’m just a chef working here temporarily. I implore you to join me. I think… we both could use it.”

He smirked tightly and rose, dropping his cigarillo to the ground and scraping it with his toe.

Man: “Nothing fixes all life’s problems like a good meal.”

He said softly with a gleam in his eyes. Ashley’s cerulean eyes sparkled and his face brightened.

Ashley: “R-REALLY?! Y-you wanna feed a stray cat?! Thank you so much! Haha yes, nothing beats a good meal!”

He clasped his hands.

Man: “Hm, you’re not a stray cat. I’m taking care of you now.”

He said gently and opened the door for him. Ashley gasped.

Ashley: “W-wow, no one has ever held the door open for me before! Thank you!”

He beamed at him, opening the door for him.

Man: “By the way, I’m Lazaros… Lazaros Katsaros.”

He pinned him with his half-lidded dark violet eyes. Ashley reddened, shyly looking away at his feet.

Ashley: “I’m Ashley… Ashley Sabatini.”

He giggled.

Lazaros: “Nice to meet you, Ashley… Come.”

He led him to a table and pulled out a chair for him. Ashley’s eyes sparkled.

Ashley: “O-oh wow and you pull a chair out for me too?!”

He gasped.

Lazaros: “Of course, why wouldn’t I?”

He smiled and tilted his head. He placed lit candles on the table and a basket full of freshly baked bread with some olive oil. Ashley beamed and took a slice of bread, dipping it in olive oil and sea salt.

Lazaros patted his shoulder and left to go into the kitchen. Ashley shivered to his touch and observed his surroundings. He glanced down at his cat on his lap.

Ashley: “Wow… this is so amazing… things are finally looking up for us, Ke.”

He sighed happily, stroking his cat.

Ashley’s eyes lit up when he saw Lazaros return with plates of food. There was lasagne, chicken fettuccine alfredo, strombolis, spaghetti bolognese, mushroom ravioli, and a Caesar salad. He sat with him and eyed him up. Ashley reddened when Lazaros sat with him and locked his violet gaze on him.

Lazaros: “This is all yours. Please, eat it up.”

He rested his hand on his head, gazing at him with a big grin. Ashley shivered and reddened to his touch.

Ashley: “Wow… really?! ALL of this?!”

He cupped his mouth. Lazaros swallowed and nodded.

Lazaros: “Yes…”

He placed his hand on Ashley’s arm. Ashley flicked his gaze down to his hand on his arm and swallowed hard.

Lazaros: “All of it.”

He bit his bottom lip. Ashley reddened.

Ashley: “Wow… no one has EVER cooked me a whole restaurant before!”

He laughed. His laughter shifted to crying.

Ashley: “...No one has EVER cooked for me before! Except my mum and she’s gone now!”

He cried and started sobbing into his hands. Lazaros knit his eyebrows and clasped his hand.

Ashley: “I-I’m sorry for putting this onto you!”

He waved his face, trying to fan his tears and stop crying.

Lazaros: “Let it out. Feel your feelings. You’ve been needing to release and now you can. You’re safe with me.”

He smiled tenderly. Ashley wiped his tears and smiled at him.

Ashley: “R-really?! Y-You’re so nice! Thank you!”

He cried and dug into his mushroom ravioli. Lazaros’ smile widened, showing his even white teeth.

Lazaros: “And if you want to tell me your story, I shall listen. I could tell you were carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

He leaned back and smiled. Ashley felt his tears coming on again as his words resonated with him and hit him right in the heart.

Ashley: “I totally was carrying the weight of the world on me!”

He cried, digging into his lasagne. Lazaros’ breathing hitched.

Lazaros: “You were bottling up a lot and now you can let it out… It’s just us. We all have our stories.”

He smiled sadly. Ashley glanced at him and smiled.

Ashley: “Thank you… it’s a really looooooooong story.”

He sighed, taking another bite of lasagne. Lazaros licked his lips.

Lazaros: “It’s okay. I have all the time in the world.”

He pursed his lips. Ashley drew a long breath as he paced himself.

Ashley: “Well… it all started when I picked up this hitchhiker… I thought he was a lost circus clown.”

He began, laughing bitterly and eating another mouthful of food.

~

An hour later, Ashley had ravaged his dishes as he explained the events of his life over the past six months to Lazaros.

Ashley: “And then I ended up here with you now… eating your delicious food, haha…”

He sighed, finishing off his plate and putting down his fork.

Ashley: “I’m so satis-filled now, thank you!”

He sighed happily, smiling at him and patting his tummy. Lazaros cupped his mouth and cleared his throat.

Lazaros: “Well, Ashley, it sounds like you’ve been through quite the ordeal. I knew something was amiss…”

He drummed his fingers on the table. Ashley sighed and bowed his head.

Lazaros: “Well, one door closes, another opens.”

He smiled. Ashley flicked his gaze to him.

Ashley: “More like three doors closed.”

He pouted.

Lazaros: “I am sorry Maxx blackmailed you not to bake. I would love to sample your baking and implore you to resume baking. It brings you joy. You don’t need him around. You don’t need any of those people. They’re all inferior to you.”

He said loftily and took his hand in his hands. Ashley’s eyes widened.

Ashley: “R-really?! You want me to bake for you?!”

He beamed. Lazaros nodded.

Ashley: “Inferior to me?”

He laughed, tilting his head. Lazaros grinned and nodded.

Lazaros: “The power is yours, Ashley. Now without those rocks weighing you down, you’re free to be the beautiful person that is you.”

He said softly. Ashley blushed, getting flustered.

Ashley: “Aww, that’s so sweet! Thank you so much! You’re so nice, Lazaros!”

He beamed, leaning forward and hugging him. Lazaros hugged him back.

Ashley: “If there’s anything I can do to repay you for all your kindness, lettuce me know!”

He beamed.

Lazaros: “Come back with me to my room.”

He began. Ashley’s eyes widened and his heart thundered in his chest.

Lazaros: “It doesn’t have to be sexual. I understand that but I would love to have a companion. I am not going to be staying here long. I have to return to Selene Valley soon and would love some company.”

He smiled warmly.

Ashley: “R-Really?! Me too!”

He exclaimed.

Ashley: “I-I would like to have some company too… and I have to return to Selene Valley, too.”

He said softly.

Lazaros: “That makes the two of us then…”

He held his hand gazing at him. Ashley reddened and giggled when he felt his hand on him.

~

They arrived at a five-star hotel in the heart of Swanton. The Royal Queen Swanton Hotel. Lazaros let Ashley into their hotel suite. It was like an apartment. It had a kitchen, dining room, bathroom, a jacuzzi in the living room, a king size bed, and another room with a double bed. Ashley’s eyes sparkled.

Ashley: “O-oh my stars! I feel like I’m in a castle!”

He cupped his cheeks.

Ashley: “And no stupid hamburgers everywhere!”

He pouted bitterly.

Lazaros: “You’re with an equal now, Ashley. Not an inferior. This is why!”

He spread his arms out and grinned. Ashley cupped his mouth and giggled.

Ashley: “W-wow… you see me as your equal?! But you’re so…Sexy– I-I mean Successful! And cool!”

He then cupped his mouth and reddened. Lazaros grinned as he laid the praise on thick.

Ashley: “S-Sorry for being awkward and weird.”

Lazaros waved his hand.

Lazaros: “Not at all! This is foreign to you! You’re so used to being around losers that you don’t know something good when you see it but I am here to guide you! You’re my equal, Ashley!”

He flipped his hair. Ashley was taken by surprise by his response and reaction. He was so used to Maxx insulting his “weirdness.”

Ashley: “Haha… you’re right, Maxx was a total loser.”

He laughed bitterly.

Ashley: “Wow… I can’t believe I’m equal to someone like you…”

He reddened. Ashley glanced over at the bathroom.

Ashley: “Do you mind if I have a shower?”

He awkwardly scratched his head, wanting this filthy pool water off of him.

Lazaros: “Goodness no! Go ahead!”

He smiled and handed him a white Turkish towel.

~

Later, Ashley showered and dressed in fresh, clean clothes, sauntering into the room wearing his cat onesie pajamas. Lazaros was sitting on the couch and clasped his cheeks and squealed.

Lazaros: “I always wanted my own kitty and now? I have them!”

He giggled. Ashley reddened, getting flustered, grabbing his tail.

Ashley: “Hehehe, meow!”

Ashley sauntered over to him and sat down on the couch with him.

Ashley: “So… what’s your story, Lazaros?”

He pressed him with intrigue.

Lazaros: “I come from Pink Top City. I wasn’t born there but was raised there. I travel a lot. I have a fraternal twin brother named Deimos. My parents are traveling on cruises.”

He explained and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Ashley’s eyes widened. He recalled Blake was going to run off there when they were younger.

Ashley: “Oh wow! You have a twin?! I have a brother too, but he’s not my twin. He doesn’t even look like me. He’s hella manly and I’m just… not, haha.”

He explained, glancing down at his soft body and unisex clothing.

Lazaros: “Oh, I thought you were nonbinary.”

He laughed. Ashley tilted his head.

Lazaros: “My mistake!”

Ashley gaped at him owlishly.

Ashley: “Nonbinary? What’s that?”

He asked.

Lazaros: “Oh, it means you don’t feel like you’re a man or a woman. You don’t feel comfortable as either. It’s something in between or neither at all. It basically means you’re gender-neutral.”

He explained. Ashley paused and felt like all the pieces of the puzzle were finally clicking.

Ashley: “...Y-You mean… other people feel that way, too and there’s a name for it!?”

He gasped.

Lazaros: “Absolutely. It’s mostly normal where I come from.”

He smiled and nodded.

Ashley: “I… never felt like a man. Back in Sunshire, I wanted to cook and make crafts, not build things… but I wasn’t allowed because I wasn’t a woman. I didn’t feel like a woman either, but I wasn’t like the other men I knew. I could never grow a beard and didn’t want one and now I know why I was so uncomfortable when Yvette tried to dress me as that Varg Viking man…”

He embraced himself. Lazaros held him close. Ashley hugged him back and sighed.

Lazaros: “That explains my intuition then. You’re nonbinary. This is why you don’t feel comfortable being called a man or a woman, and that’s totally cool.”

He smiled. Ashley nodded and pursed his lips.

Ashley: “...Yvette saw me as a man and a protector, but I’m not that… and Makayla saw me as a woman to be protected… but she was the one I needed protecting from…”

His voice trailed off as it dawned on him.

Lazaros: “I see you as someone who is gender noncomforming who needs to be protected by your equal. Inferiors cannot protect you.”

He smiled at him. Ashley smiled at him and chuckled.

Ashley: “Hehe, I see you as someone who is an amazing cook and an amazing person!”

He beamed.

Ashley: “It’s funny, I only just met you but you’ve helped me so much and been so much kinder to me than they ever were…”

He sighed.

Lazaros: “I keep telling you… I am your equal! So I take it your pronouns are also gender-neutral or does that not matter?’

He asked and fixed his gaze on Ashley. Ashley reddened to his gaze, locking his eyes on him.

Ashley: “...Wow, I can change my pronouns?!”

He gasped.

Lazaros: “I don’t see why not?”

He shrugged and smiled.

Lazaros: “Go with what resonates with YOU.”

He pointed to Ashley’s tummy. Ashley flicked his gaze to him and shivered all over when he touched him there.

Ashley: “I-I…”

He swallowed hard, feeling flustered.

Ashley: “I want to be called them and they. I don’t want to be called he/him or she/her anymore.”

They declared as their face lit up.

Lazaros: “Then I shall honor that.”

He smiled at them. Ashley flicked their gaze to him.

Ashley: “Thank you, Lazaros.”

They wrapped their arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug.

Ashley: “Thank you for making my Christmas better…”

They sighed happily, closing their eyes and drifting off in his arms. They finally felt like they were in a safe place to rest.

Lazaros: “Shall I lead you to your bed?”

He asked them.

Ashley: “Mmm?”

Lazaros: “I mean, I would love this but it will make your back sore and we need to be well-rested to be on the road tomorrow.”

He chuckled. Ashley groggily laughed.

Ashley: “Oh, a road trip sounds fun!”

They flopped on the couch, limp with exhaustion. Lazaros lifted them up and carried them to the king size bed. Ashley was breath taken when Lazaors carried them in his arms as if they were light as a feather. Am I dreaming? I never want to wake up from this dream. They thought, gazing up at Lazaros.

Lazaros laid them down, pulled the blanket up, and tucked them in.

Lazaros: “I’ll sleep in the guest room. Sweet dreams.”

He smiled at them.

Ashley: “Buonanotte, Lazaros.”

They smiled and drifted off to sleep.

~

The following day, they were back on the road as Lazaros drove them in his Purple Ferrari 328 GTS. Ashley held their cat on their lap and smiled as they passed the sign that said “Now leaving Swanton” they felt happy leaving Swanton behind them, leaving their old life behind. They shifted glances at Lazaros. Admiring him as his midnight tresses blew through the breeze. Lazaros was smoking a cigarillo as he drove.

Lazaros: “So, do you still want to be around me?”

He grinned. Ashley’s eyes widened, taken aback by his question.

Ashley: “What? Why wouldn't I want to be around you? You're amazing!”

They beamed at him.

Lazaros: “I am staying at a nice hotel in Selene Valley! I’d love to see you more. I’d love for others to sample your baked goods.”

Ashley brightened.

Ashley: “Oh! You can stay with me if you want!”

They innocently offered.

Ashley: “I don't know if my baking is that good, haha, your cooking is so… chefs kiss!”

They exclaimed, making a kissing gesture with their hand like a chef. Lazaros relished in all of their compliments.

Lazaros: “I’d love to stay with you. I bet your baking is exquisite.”

He beamed. Ashley smiled at him.

Ashley: “I'd love to bake for you and try more of your cooking!”

They beamed.

Lazaros: “And I’d be delighted to see you eat those.”

He grinned. Ashley smiled and laughed.

Lazaros: “Where shall I sleep should I stay with you?”

Ashley paused.

Ashley: “Well… Maxx is not coming back, so I'll clear his room for you…”

Their voice trailed off. Oh god, I can't put him in that tiny pink room, he's too good for that, they thought.

Lazaros: “I guess I better buy some furniture.”

He said as his voice trailed off. Ashley turned to him.

Ashley: “Oh? Why is that?”

They titled their head.

Lazaros: “I don’t want to sleep where that thing slept. I need QUALITY beds.”

He flipped his hair.

Ashley: “Yeah… I'm throwing that mattress bed out…”

They twisted their mouth. Lazaros made a disgusted face. He mouthed “mattress bed…”

Lazaros: “And a drawer, nightstand and a mirror to look at the most handsome man in the city.”

He winked. Ashley turned to Lazaros and blushed.

Ashley: “Hehe, that's another thing Maxx lied about. He said he was sexy but he was gross! You're not lying about being handsome! You're telling the truth!”

They giggled.

Lazaros: “Why would I lie?”

He laughed. Ashley smiled at him, happy to hear those words.

~

After hours of driving, they finally arrived in Selene Valley. Ashley sighed happily, finally being home again.

Lazaros: “I need you to tell me where your house is.”

He said gently. Ashley gaped at the abandoned Nuklear Intoxikation house that was now boarded up with smashed windows and graffiti.

Ashley: “Wow… a lot has changed since I've been gone.”

He mumbled.

Lazaros: “My God, what a dive.”

He chuckled and drove on.

Ashley: “Yeah…”

They pursed their lips.

They turned onto the main road, driving past the Voyage Burger. Ashley frowned at it.

Lazaros: “Ugh, that place is disgusting. Who would want to eat there?”

He laughed. Ashley pursed his lips.

Ashley: “Yeah…”

Lazaros: “Nothing beats a good home-grilled burger.”

He nodded. Ashley smiled at him.

Ashley: “Ooh, I'd love to try your homemade burgers!”

They beamed.

Lazaros: “You will be blown away!”

He grinned.

Ashley led them down a tree-lined street, trailing down Heathervale Lake Park, leading them to windy bushland road, taking them to the property surrounded by a green picket fence with bushes and trees obscuring the green weatherboard cottage down the end of a long driveway. Lazaros drove down and parked the car in the driveway. He smiled at their place.

Lazaros: “This is nice. Very quaint.”

He said softly. Ashley was pleasantly surprised by his reaction.

Ashley: “T-Thank you.”

They smiled at him.

Andreas and Blake glanced out the window, stunned to see the purple Ferrari in their driveway.

Blake: “Who the fuck is that?!”

He gawked with a bewildered look on his face, trying to rack his brain.

Blake: “Is that… ASHLEY?!”

He rose to his feet.

Andreas: “Hmm…”

He glanced down at Ashley’s reading from last night, tapping on ‘The Two of Cups’ and ‘The Chariot’.

Lazaros opened the door and got out.

Lazaros: “So…, I get to meet your brother?”

He wrung his hands with a wide grin.

Ashley: “Yeah…”

Ashley’s smile dipped when they nervously thought of how hostile Blake was towards everyone else they brought here, except for Yvette, who was just as bad as them. But Lazaros was nothing like them, he was better, so it’ll be fine, they thought. The door swung open, and Blake stepped out onto the veranda with Andreas.

Blake: “Ashley?! Who is this?”

He exclaimed. Ashley turned to Blake.

Ashley: “Hi, Blake! This is Lazaros!”

They beamed, putting their arm around Lazaros.

Lazaros: “Greetings, gentlemen. I’m Lazaros Katsaros. It’s a pleasure to be acquainted with you.”

He bowed and spread his arms out. Andreas placed his hand on Blake’s shoulder.

Andreas: “Hello, Lazaros. Nice to meet you! I’m Andreas Ødegaard. Thank you for bringing Ashley home.”

He smiled.

Lazaros: “You are welcome!”

He smiled tightly.

Blake: “I’m Blake, but you already know that.”

He examined Lazaros’ Ferrari, expensive flamboyant clothing, and classy demeanor. What is a guy like him doing with Ashley?! I’m not buying it. What is he up to? He pondered.

Blake: “What happened to Yvette?!”

He knit his eyebrows, looking concerned.

Blake: “ Where is… that clown?!”

He frowned. Ashley’s expression soured.

Ashley: “I left them back in Swanton.”

They pouted, folding their arms across their chest. Blake’s jaw dropped.

Blake: “What?! What happened?!”

He gaped at Ashley.

Lazaros: “They all treated Ashley terribly because this is how they deal with being inferior. Ashley is above those. They’re equal to me!”

He smiled at Ashley. Blake quirked an eyebrow at him, looking dubious.

Blake: “Ok, yeah, the clown, but Yvette?!”

He gaped disbelievingly.

Lazaros: “Yes, she used Ashley to get to her former fiancé.”

He inhaled sharply and wrung his hands. Blake gave him a dubious look.

Blake: “Really now?”

He said disbelievingly, swinging his gaze to Ashley for their side of the story.

Ashley: “YES! That Jaxon guy Maxx was looking for! Turns out he’s her ex-fiance, Jiro!”

They exclaimed, throwing their arms up. Blake and Andreas gaped at Ashley.

Ashley: “She used me to get to him! She’s just as BAD as Maxx! She gave me a WORSE Christmas gift than Maxx did! S-She tried to make me wear a beard and dress up like Varg the Viking.”

They bawled onto Lazaros. Lazaros held them close.

Blake: “What’s so bad about wearing a beard and dressing like a Viking?”

He queried. Ashley pursed his lips.

Ashley: “Because… I don’t want to be a man… I’m NOT a man! And I’m NOT a woman either! I’m neither of them! But I’m also both of them!”

They confessed to him, crying their heart out.

Lazaros: “Ashley is gender-neutral. They don’t want to dress like a man, especially something as distasteful as Varg the Viking. My brother is into the foot and tickling kink and he hates Varg the Viking, and his boyfriend who is also into it feels the same!”

He smiled. Blake and Andreas exchanged a look.

Blake: “That… makes sense.”

Ashley’s eyes widened, surprised by his reaction, or lack thereof.

Ashley: “W-what? Hating Varg the Viking even if you have a tickling kink?”

They tilted their head. Blake and Andreas reddened and shifted their eyes.

Blake: “NO! You not being male… or female. The signs were there all along… and Andreas helped me realise this.”

He explained, placing his hand on Andreas’ shoulder. Andreas smiled at them. Ashley’s eyes sparkled.

Ashley: “R-Really?! This doesn’t bother you?!”

They cried. Lazaros smiled at Ashley.

Blake: “Why would it? This is who you are and how you’ve always been.”

He nodded. Ashley beamed and ran up to Blake, hugging him.

Ashley: “Thank you for accepting me, Blake…”

They smiled up at him.

Blake: “I always did, just as you always accepted me.”

Lazaros clasped his hands as his dark violet eyes sparkled.

Lazaros: “I am delighted for you, Ashley!”

Ashley smiled at Lazaros and turned to him.

Ashley: “Thank you for all your help, Lazaros! Wanna have some tea and cookies?”

They beamed. He nodded.

Ashley: “Do you like tea?”

Lazaros: “Yes, I love tea!”

Ashley gasped and excitedly took his hand, leading him inside the house with him.

Lazaros followed them.

Ashley: “Oh my stars! Wait until you see my tea collection!”

They beamed.

Blake went to follow them inside to say something, but Andreas placed his hand over his mouth, pulling him back onto the veranda with him.

Andreas: “Don’t interfere, Blake. Leave them be.”

He said firmly, whispering in his ear. Blake shivered.

Blake: “I don’t trust him, Andreas.”

He whispered back to them.

Andreas: “I do.”

Blake gaped at him.

Blake: “WHAT?! How could you trust him?”

He huffed.

Andreas: “Call it a hunch?”

He shrugged.

Blake: “Come on, Andreas, a sharp-dressed man in a Ferrari shows up with Ashley, and you don’t find that suspicious?! What would he want with Ash?!”

He challenged.

Andreas: “My intuitions and readings are never wrong, Blake. I foresaw this.”

He said firmly. Blake laughed.

Blake: “I’m sorry, Andreas, but you can’t ignore solid evidence in front of you.”

He gestured to Lazaros’ Ferrari. Andreas frowned at his dismissive response.

Andreas: “Things aren’t always what they seem, Blake. You thought Yvette was a ‘nice wholesome’ girl because of the ‘solid evidence’ in front of you.”

He huffed bitterly. Blake pursed his lips.

Blake: “I know… she fooled us all.”

Andreas shook his head.

Andreas: “I told you I got an off vibe about her, but you ignored that… I thought maybe you trusted my insight… especially after that…”

He embraced himself and turned away from him. Blake pursed his lips.

Blake: “I’m sorry, it’s not that I don’t trust you. I don’t trust him.”

He flicked his gaze to Lazaros through the window. Andreas shook his head.

Andreas: “You don’t trust ANYONE in Ashley’s life. I don’t think you trust Ashley… I don’t think you trust anyone.”

He pursed his lips. Blake bowed his head.

Blake: “That’s not true… you and Ashley are the ONLY people I trust!”

He declared.

Andreas: “Then, in that case, I think you should take me home…”

He pursed his lips.

Blake: “W-what? Why?”

Andreas: “I need to be alone right now, and I think Ashley does, too.”

He nodded to Ashley and Lazaros through the kitchen window.

Blake: “You want me to leave Ashley alone here with this strange man in our house?!”

He gasped. Andreas drew a breath and shook his head.

Andreas: “I thought you trusted me and Ashley…”

He challenged.

Blake: “I DO!”

Andreas: “Then trust my insight and trust their judgment!”

He said firmly. Blake drew a breath and pursed his lips. Do I take this leap of fate?

Blake: “...I’ll go get the keys.”

He said with strain, marching inside. Andreas’ eyebrows rose surprisingly.

Blake entered the house, grabbing the keys off the hook. He looked through the kitchen archway and saw Ashley pulling out freshly baked cookies for the first time in months. They nervously presented Lazaros with their cookies. Lazaros beamed at them, taking them and biting them. He hummed with delight and gave a chef’s kiss.

Ashley: “S-so what do you think? You’re not on the floor dying, haha…”

They laughed bitterly.

Lazaros: “I could die of happiness!”

He said breathlessly. Ashley giggled. Blake smiled a bit.

They were interrupted by Blake clearing his throat as he entered the kitchen.

Blake: “I’m going to take Andreas home…”

He said calmly. Ashley turned to him, taken by surprise.

Ashley: “Oh, sure! Do you want some cookies for the road?”

They beamed, presenting him with the tray of cookies.

Blake: “Actually… I do. I’m glad you’re baking again, Ash...”

He smiled a bit, taking a couple of cookies for himself and Andreas.

Ashley: “Me too…”

They smiled, glancing up at Lazaros. Lazaros smiled back and patted their head.