InsaneJournal

While there were plans in place for Christmas Eve with the Ceredigs, and then over Christmas Evie was going to be with them, there was no reason why Tuck couldn't spend the night of the 23rd finally casing Codeine's penthouse. There had been a bunch of reasons it had been pushed back, but when Ciaran had messaged Tuck to see if he was available, Tuck had jumped on the opportunity.

The plans were to go out for dinner, but Codeine had asked Tuck to meet him at his penthouse and Tuck had an inkling that what Codeine really wanted, was to fuck first and then head out. He was proven right when he was greeted at the door, lips first. The pair of them fell into bed, and then Tuck took a shower first.

The second Ciaran closed himself away to shower, Tuck abandoned his clothes, and he explored the entire place on foot, clad only in his boxers and socks. He knew he likely only had about ten minutes, so he had his phone with him, recording the little tour around the penthouse. There would be time to actually take the floorplan in and sort everything out later.

He wound his way around the grand hallways to the entry way, when he was surprised by the front door opening. Tuck was so shocked he didn't even think to hide, so he stood there in his underwear, phone out, frozen in place when in walked Lachlan Blackwood.

Lachlan blinked at Tuck and he raised a hand in greeting. "Uh...hey, Friar," he said, just as shocked to see Tuck there as Tuck was to see Lachlan.

Lachlan had been a regular helper on Francis' breadline, so Tuck had gotten to know him, at least a little, over the years. Lachlan had even invited Tuck along to a few NA meetings with him, once he had learned that Tuck was an addict too. So it was understandable, when Tuck's brow furrowed in worry. "Lachlan," he said, his voice full of concern, "do you know whose house this is?" If Lachlan had fallen off the wagon-

After a second's hesitation, and a quick glance up and down to see that Tuck was in his underwear, Lachlan groaned, "mine. It's my house, Friar. I live here."

Now it was Tuck's turn to blink in confusion. "W-what?"

Tuck watched as Lachlan's shoulders drooped and he said, in a tone that meant he already knew the answer, "he's cheating on me, isn't he?"

And clad there, in his underwear, his hair wet from the shower which was obviously post-coital, it wasn't like Tuck could refute that. He did glance at his phone when he realised it was still recording, and switch it off. God this was horrible, and no one needed a fucking record of it. "I- I didn't know he- Fuck, I'm sorry."

"He didn't tell you about me?" Lachlan asked, his voice low.

"He didn't tell me about anyone. Lachlan-" Tuck took a step towards the young man, and he was relieved when Lachlan didn't back away, "how uhm- How at risk are you of using? I'm sorry to be so blunt, but-"

Lachlan ignored the question completely, and he pointed to the phone, "what were you doing? Were you recording?"

Tuck felt his belly ice over, shivers creeping up his spine. Oh god, was he going to be arrested right now? Did Lachlan know- "Nothing!" he said, far too quickly.

"O-oh my god," Lachlan said, and then he wheezed out a laugh, "you're totally casing the joint! That's what you do right, rob from the rich?"

"L-look, please," Tuck put his hands in the air and backed off, horrified. He was going to end up in prison and Will would leave him and he wouldn't see his baby girl again until she was in university and what about Dan and Michaela, oh god- Dread stole into his heart, and Tuck was more afraid than he had been in a long time. "I'll just go," Tuck promised, his voice low, "and I won't ever come back. I won't- This is all a mistake, please."

Lachlan glanced around the place, and then he looked back at Tuck, who was staring back at him with his eyes blown wide. "None of the best stuff is even out in the open. What you want is the safe in that room behind the Rembrandt," Lachlan said, his tone dark. "And I will fucking help you get it. Because fuck this. Fuck him."

"-no, Lachlan, you're not-"

"You better go get dressed or he'll know," Lachlan interrupted him. "Act like it's all fine, and I will tell you what to take. Hell, I'll let you in the front fucking door. Don't tell him you saw me. Can you do that."

Could Tuck do that? Of course he fucking could, but he wasn't sure Lachlan was thinking clearly. "Just- Just do me a favour and go to my church. You remember where it is?" Lachlan nodded, and Tuck continued, "I'll fake feeling sick and get out of this as soon as I can, okay? I'll join you there soon. Lachlan? You didn't answer my question-"

"I'll meet you there," Lachlan said, heading for the door again. "You'd better hurry back."

Tuck chewed on his lip as he watched Lachlan leave, and he groaned. Well, fuck. His plans to rob from the rich and give to the poor had ruined one relationship and it might even fuck up someone's sobriety. Well great. But he wasn't headed to prison so that was something?

Feeling like a massive prick, Tuck rushed back to the bedroom and he was just buttoning up his shirt when Ciaran emerged from the shower. "Ah, much better," Ciaran said, grinning at Tuck. "You ready for dinner?"

"I'm starved," Tuck said, flashing a winning smile.

It took about an hour to get through some appetizers, and then fake feeling like shit so he could make his leave. He rushed the entire way home, and burst into the chapel of Sacred Heart probably a lot more dramatically than he meant to. Lachlan was there, seated on the front pew, staring up at Jesus there on the cross. Relieved to see that Lachlan was at least present, Tuck made his way up the aisle more slowly, before taking a seat beside the other man, and gazing up at Jesus as well. "Hey."

Lachlan glanced over at Tuck and offered him a tiny, half-smile. "My parents used to drag us to church every weekend," he said, his gaze going back to the pulpit. "Said we needed to be saved. Which was bullshit because the people we really needed to be saved from was them. Addicts, both of em. Cared more about the drugs than us. You'd think I would see that as a warning and stay away from the shit myself, but-" Lachlan shrugged. "Ciaran saved me. Helped me kick everything for good. Made me think I'd finally found someone in my life who gave half a shit, but he was fucking someone else." Lachlan let out a heavy sigh, and he finally looked over at Tuck properly. "I didn't use. All drugs ever do is hurt people. All they have ever done is hurt me. My entire life. And I still- God, I'm an idiot."

"No, no, you're not," Tuck was quick to say. And god was he relieved to hear Lachlan hadn't fallen off the wagon. "You said he helped you."

"Maybe. Maybe all it ever was was a trick to get me to-" Lachlan shook his head firmly. "Forget it."

Tuck reached over and slowly he placed a hand on Lachlan's back. Lachlan turned and for a second Tuck thought he was about to get hit, but instead Lachlan inserted himself into Tuck's arms, clinging sadly. "Oh, Lachlan-" Tuck said sadly, holding him tight. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault," Lachlan sniffled, muffled into Tuck's shoulder. "You don't owe me anything. He on the other hand- Five years. We've been together for five years- FUCK." Lachlan pulled back and he groaned, "I want to help you," he repeated.

"Let's just- Why don't you come into the parsonage, okay? We can talk about this. Have you eaten?"

"I feel sick."

"Well let's try to get something into you anyway," Tuck said, rising from the pew. He extended a hand to Lachlan, who hesitated before taking it and walking with Tuck away from the church and to the parsonage.

Tuck knew Will wasn't expecting him for a while, so he announced himself loudly as he walked through the door. "Sweetheart, I'm home!" he said, stepping into the parsonage. It was decorated cheerfully for Christmas, both Will and Tuck wanting to go all out because their memory of the Christmas lost was still so fresh in their minds. Tuck shucked his jacket and he helped Lachlan out of his. "We have a guest!"