InsaneJournal

who ? pippa flint and terence higgs
when ? friday morning, 2nd december
where ? the higgs-flint house
what ? coffee and conversation
status ? complete



Higgs had to admit that his Thursday evening had gone very differently from how he had originally envisioned it. For one, Higgs had mostly assumed he’d just go to the pub and get drunk and hopefully forget what a weird day it was. The fact that he hadn’t actually drank more than a pint and half of beer was oddly satisfying. Probably because he didn’t have a hangover. More than just the lack of alcohol, though, Higgs’ evening had gone... unexpectedly. He certainly didn’t regret going home with Penelope, they’d had a rather nice time. Higgs hadn’t stayed over, but that was mostly down to his unwillingness to share a bed with someone he didn’t know. Hell, he could hardly share a bed with someone he did know. He had apparated home around 2am and headed straight for his bed, collapsing into it with a very, very satisfying sense of exhaustion.

The next morning, when Higgs’ alarm went off to remind him that he had to go to work in a bit, Higgs stretched, finding a particular type of soreness in his muscles that only came with a good, long shag. He’d missed it. Then, with a long and put upon sigh, Higgs got up, heading for the kitchen to get some coffee started. He stopped in his tracks walking through the living room, finding Pippa asleep on the sofa. Frowning, Higgs approached her carefully, kneeling down in front of her and reaching out to brush a strand of hair off her face.

“Hey, Pippin,” he said gently. “Why are you sleeping on the sofa?” He asked with a slight tone of concern in his voice. Pippa had a bedroom in the house, and even if she hadn’t, there were plenty of spare bedrooms, Higgs wasn’t quite sure why she’d opt for the sofa instead.

--

Phillipa had stayed awake as long as she could, waiting for him to come home. Nerves and concern had twisted knots in her stomach, knowing his divorce had been finalized and it was a day he had his meeting. She'd wanted to offer to go with him but he'd been going on his own and she hadn't wanted to imply he wouldn't be able to handle it alone. So she'd waited at the house for him, figuring they could debrief like they'd always done over drinks after, but then he hadn't come home. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, it had just happened.

Stirring from the touch against her face, Phillipa blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to being open, focusing on him there in front of her. Part of her wanted to reach out and flick his ear or something else equally harmless but showing her annoyance, but the part of her that was relieved to see him won out. Her voice came out rough from sleep, brow furrowed as she studied him. “Where were you?”

--

Higgs was somewhat surprised by the question and it took him a moment to realise that perhaps Pippa was asleep on the sofa because of him. Stupidly, Higgs hadn’t really considered the fact that Pippa might want to check in on him. Of course she would’ve wanted to check in on him. She’d known how important the day was. Or was supposed to be, anyway, since Higgs still wasn’t convinced it had felt in any way different. He would’ve wanted to check in on Pippa if their roles were reversed. “I’m sorry,” he offered honestly, before standing back up.

“Do you want coffee?” Higgs asked because he did. “Come on, come to the kitchen so I can make coffee. And maybe a bagel? Do you want a bagel?” Higgs said already walking towards the kitchen, happy to get distracted with coffee and food. Though, he did know better than to think that Pippa would let him get distracted. “I went out last night,” he said over his shoulder since there was very little point in not telling her. Pippa, Higgs had no doubt, would get the truth out one way or another, so he really might as well just make it easier on himself. “I didn’t go to my meeting because I truly forgot until I was already at the pub,” he explained putting the coffee machine on.

--

Her gaze followed him as he stood, and Phillipa did her best to focus on the fact that he was there and clearly in one piece so he was fine. She slowly got up, shifting the blanket off of her and getting to her feet so she could follow him into the kitchen. Coffee sounded perfect, along with talking to find out exactly what had happened.

“Okay,” she said slowly, hoisting herself up to sit on the counter as she watched him get the coffee started. “Are you alright?”

--

“Yes,” Higgs confirmed when Pippa asked if he was alright. “I’m sorry if I worried you,” Higgs added getting some mugs out of the shelf before leaning against the counter next to the coffee machine as he waited for it to finish brewing. “I went to the pub after work. It was a weird day,” he said with a small shake of his head. “I don’t know what I expected but it just didn’t feel... different, I guess,” which was pretty much what he’d said to Penelope, too. It had been a strange day. That was kind of it. Higgs had just expected it to be more than strange.

The coffee machine clicked and Higgs reached to pour himself and Pippa a mug. “Here,” he said putting hers down on the table, before taking a seat across from Pippa. “And I was going to come home after a few drinks but then--” Well. Taking a small sip of his coffee, Higgs gave a shrug. “I went home with somebody,” he told Pippa honestly. “Didn’t get in until after two in the morning. I should’ve thought that you’d come to see me,” he admitted with an apologetic look.

--

It was true, she had been worried. That was a feeling that was only dissipating with having him there in front of her where she could see he was in one piece and not looking particularly undone in any way. Phillipa gave a hum of acknowledgement when he mentioned the day had been weird, because she could only imagine.

With the coffee done, she slid down from the counter and took the seat where he'd set her coffee, tilting her head as he went on. An eyebrow raised when he mentioned going home with someone, and she took a slow sip of her coffee as she processed that. “I was worried is all,” she said, shaking her head. “I knew it was… a day for you.” Taking another drink, she considered him a moment. “You went home with someone?”

--

Higgs bit his lips so he wouldn’t apologise again, because it was going to get rather tiresome if he carried on. He was sure that Pippa knew Higgs would never intentionally do something to worry her. Truthfully, he really should’ve realised that Pippa would come and see him, check up on him. But as much as he would’ve rather she not had to spend the night on a sofa, at least Higgs genuinely did feel alright. Probably much better than he would right now if he had just stayed at the pub the whole night.

“Yeah,” he nodded when Pippa repeated his words. “Met her at the pub, went home with her,” Higgs explained, taking a sip of his coffee. “I’m sure you’re old enough to fill the rest of that story yourself,” he added smirking against the rim of his mug.

--

Phillipa felt an odd sort of feeling at the news, though it was hardly a bad one. She couldn't tell if it was more happy for or proud of him, but definitely a mixture of both. Considering how things with Alicia had gone, she'd assumed he hadn't been getting any for quite a while, and it was good to know that had been remedied.

“Oh, I’m sure I am,” she replied with a smirk, resting her arms against the table and leaning against them. “Look at you, first day as a bachelor and already living it up. I’m quite happy for you,” she added, in case there was any question. “I hope she was incredibly pretty and made you forget all about your strange day for a bit.”

--

Higgs couldn’t help but laugh when Pippa said he was doing well at his newfound status as a bachelor. “Thanks,” he offered teasingly. In the time him and Alicia had been separated, Higgs had had sex with other people, it hadn’t really been something he even remotely felt bad about since they hadn’t been together. But then, after he’d come back and they’d attempted to go their marriage another go, Higgs had been careful not to push. Careful to let them deal with their feelings before involving sex into it. Which in turn meant that it had been a really rather long time since he’d had sex. He hadn’t quite realised just how much he’d needed to get laid until he finally had.

“She was incredibly pretty and did a very good job at distracting me from my strange day,” Higgs confirmed with a nod. It wasn’t untrue, either. Penelope had both been very attractive and a very good distraction. Higgs had certainly enjoyed himself, had told her as much, too. “It still feels weird,” he told Pippa. “The divorce, not the one night stand,” Higgs clarified. “That mostly was just a really good shag,” he concluded with a shrug, taking another sip of his coffee.

--

Phillipa brought a hand up to tuck her hair behind her ear, getting it out of her face as she grinned. It was much easier to let her worry for him slip away considering he was in front of her seeming fine and also having gotten laid. That was a perfectly acceptable reason not to come home at a reasonable hour.

“Good, I should send her a fruit basket for that,” she said teasingly, though if she knew who it was she might actually. “You deserved a really good shag.” She paused to take a sip of her coffee before shrugging a shoulder. “Well of course it feels weird. It's a divorce. Isn't it meant to feel weird?”

--

Higgs genuinely didn’t doubt that Pippa would send a fruit basket if he was foolish enough to give her the name of a recipient. “With a lovely note that says ‘thanks for shagging my friend’?” He asked, the tone as teasing as hers had been. Though, Higgs couldn’t deny that Penelope probably did deserve a fruit basket, were such a thing socially acceptable. As it was, he’d left her with a kiss and a thanks and that probably was sufficient.

“I don’t know, I’ve never gotten divorced before,” Higgs replied with a smirk, before shaking his head. “No, you’re right,” he said more seriously. “It’s not meant to feel great and it doesn’t. I hardly expected to feel ecstatic about the whole thing when it finally came through.” He really hardly had. Necessary, yes, but not gratifying.

--

“Yes, that would be the gist of the note,” Phillipa confirmed. “Well done, beautiful lady, you did a good thing and I thank you for it.” She laughed lightly and scrunched her nose at him. “I mean, I could hardly be the one to give you a good divorce shag, I can't even kiss you without you making me sick. It would be a disaster.”

She reached over to give his hand a squeeze. “No, it's not meant to feel great. But it's one of those things that goes away with time, I think. It would have to. So yesterday was rough, today and tomorrow and who knows how many days after might be, but you've got the rest of your life ahead of you.”

--

Higgs snorted at the clarification regarding what Pippa would put in the note. “Please, make it sound more like I’m a charitable act and we all appreciate someone agreeing to have sex with me,” he told her mockingly. Higgs didn’t feel like he’d been a terrible choice either, to be fair. Then again, he supposed he wouldn’t know until a fruit basket with a thank you note arrived. Pippa’s proclamation of how she could hardly be the one to offer him a good divorce shag made Higgs shake his head. “I love you dearly, Pippin, but I do not want to fuck you,” he told her. Apart from one awkward teenage kiss that had concluded with both of them being sick, Higgs felt it was safe to say neither held any interest in having sex with the other.

The squeeze Pippa gave Higgs’ hand made him smile softly at her. “You’re a good friend,” he told her honestly. Higgs did truly appreciate all the support Pippa had offered him throughout both their lives but also specifically in the past few months. Looking around, Higgs gave her a smile. “Do you want me to reward it with some food? I have to go to work soon,” he told her, recalling mentioning bagels.

--

“Oh you know that's not how I meant it,” Phillipa said, rolling her eyes. “I appreciate her for giving you a good time, not because I don't think someone else would have.” She gave a shake of her head. “Well I don't want to fuck you either. It would be a mess of vomit and unhappiness, because of the vomit, and a bad time all around. This is why she should get a fruit basket!”

A soft smile spread across her features at what he said. “Well I certainly try to be. And yes, I would like a reward in the form of food. I am quite hungry and believe I was promised a bagel.”

--

“Not all women want to vomit when they kiss me, Pippin,” Higgs informed her seriously. “Hard to believe, I know,” he added more teasingly. “But nonetheless true,” Higgs assured Pippa as he stood up, taking his coffee mug with him to locate where the bagels he’d promised her were.

Finding couple of plates, Higgs got some toppings out of the fridge for the bagels. “How are you, by the way?” He asked realising he hadn’t yet, which was really rather rude of him. “Apart from having shitty friends who don’t come home when you expect them to,” he clarified jokingly.

--

“I’m not sure I believe that,” Phillipa replied teasingly, though she knew it was true. Theirs was a particular instance of bad judgement and choices that had led to much sickness. Other people were less likely to have the same results.

“Me? I’m fine.” She shrugged and sat back in her chair with her coffee to watch him. “Yes, my friends are horrible like that, but they make up for it in other ways.” Taking a sip of her coffee, she considered if she had much else going on. “My life has become boring, I think. Not a bad boring, but boring nonetheless.”

--

Making the bagels, Higgs glanced at Pippa over his shoulder, frowning slightly when she said her life had become boring. “I don’t believe it,” he told her. “Pippa Flint does not lead a boring life,” he informed her seriously, before finishing off the bagels and taking them back over to the table, offering Pippa a plate.

“Are you happy with the boring, though?” Higgs asked more seriously, since that was the important bit. She’d said that it wasn’t bad boring, so Higgs figured that was a good indication about it not making her unhappy. “Maybe we need to do something to spice your life up,” he suggested. “Albeit, I have no suggestions just right this second,” Higgs admitted.

--

Phillipa frowned to herself as she considered it. She hadn't quite realized how run of the mill things had gotten in her life until they were sitting there talking about it, but it could hardly be denied. Terence was right, she didn't lead a boring life - but the problem seemed to be that somehow she was.

“I mean, I’m happy,” she said, taking a bite of her bagel and chewing it over as she thought. “I don't know if it's with the boring or just in general. It's weird, right? When did I become boring?” Something obviously needed to be done about it, but just like him she had no ideas. “Shit.”

--

It was very hard not to laugh at Pippa’s question, so Higgs didn’t really try to stop himself. “I think, maybe you’re just old,” he told her unkindly, but also very amused. “Face it, Pippin, your life has just reached a stage where things and nice and solid and calm,” he informed her. “Because you’re a grown-up,” Higgs added definitely rubbing it in at this point.

“But,” he said more seriously, after taking a bite of his bagel. “If you’re happy, then does it really matter?” Because Higgs didn’t think it did. For as long as Pippa didn’t feel like she needed a more exciting life, then there was no problem.

--

Scrunching her nose again, Phillipa stuck her tongue out at him. Because clearly that was what grown ups did. “I've been a grown up for years and never been this boring,” she pointed out, still frowning. “Somehow I became the Flint with the least going on as well. Marcus is all engaged and Lucas is going to have a baby… what on earth is happening.”

She sighed, taking a slow drink of her coffee. “No, I am happy. It's just all so strange.”

--

“Well, you could always get engaged and have a baby,” Higgs teased Pippa, washing his food down with a sip of coffee. “I’m not sure whether that necessarily counts as not being boring, though,” he added more thoughtfully. Perhaps the baby having, that was quite life changing. The engagement probably was, too, but Higgs hadn’t heard anything about wedding planning yet, so it mostly was just a lot like dating.

He smiled when Pippa said that she was happy. “We’ll do something exciting, I promise,” Higgs told her with a grin. He honestly had no idea what, but Higgs was sure they could come up with something.

--

“Absolutely not,” Phillipa said instantly, a brief flicker of horror passing over her features. She knew he was joking but that still wasn't something she particularly wanted to think about. Of course she was with Viktor but that hardly meant engagement was coming - marriage had always been contentious in her mind and that hadn't changed, and the thought of having a baby was simply not one she would entertain. Lucas having one was drama enough.

“I’ll hold you to that,” she replied, nipping at the inside of her lip and giving him a smile. “Don't let me get too boring, Terence.”

--

Higgs laughed at the outrage with which Pippa turned down his suggestion. Downing his coffee, he gave her a nod. “I shall never let you get boring, Pippin, I promise,” he said standing up and taking his empty plate to the sink. “Now, however, I need to go and be boring myself, because I’ve got to get to work,” he informed her. “Sorry for making you fall asleep on the sofa,” Higgs apologised again. “And thank you for coming to check on me,” he added, since he was thankful, even if he had also originally been absent.