mila (listentoteeth) wrote in shadows_rpg, @ 2019-02-27 09:47:00 |
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Entry tags: | #december 2017, #group scene, aaron, gavin, mila |
Who: Gavin, Mila, & Aaron
When: afternoon, Sunday, Dec 3rd
Where: Mila and Aaron’s place
Status: Complete
It had been a tiring few days. Aaron had stayed by Mila’s side as much as he could, driving her to and from work whenever he could, arranging things with Caden and Gavin so they were working as close a schedule as possible. He hadn’t had the heart to try and get Roxy’s help -- from what Mila had said, she had enough on her plate, though Aaron hadn’t heard about that particular situation blowing up yet. And blow up it would, because it involved Caden.
He’d been nervously waiting to hear from Gavin, to see if he’d talked to whoever it was he was going to talk to. He’d seemed reluctant to share details with Aaron, which was understandable but frustrating at the same time. He felt kept in the dark ... which wasn’t exactly new for him, but it made him antsy when it was about something like this. He and Mila had both worked late the night before, and she didn’t want to go to church in the morning, so Aaron got up a bit late, shuffling into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee a little after eleven. He checked his phone for the millionth time, hoping that Gavin would text him after church or something, but there was nothing yet.
Mila was still in bed when Aaron started the coffee. She could hear him moving around, but there was really no part of her that wanted to get up. Her bones felt heavy, her muscles achy. Mila knew she should try and make something of the day since she wasn't working, but maybe there was a tiny, paranoid part of her mind that worried if she got up and got moving, she would lose herself again. Mila didn't think Aaron was scared of her, but she was scared of herself, especially when she was alone with him. But she felt okay now and maybe that was good enough.
She waited until she could smell the coffee brewing before finally finding the energy to push the blankets off of her body and slip out of bed. She had comfortable pajamas on, but she was still cold so she grabbed her robe and pulled it on to try and warm herself up. Mila padded down the hall to the kitchen where she found Aaron looking at his phone. "Everything okay?" she asked, her voice still hoarse with sleep.
Aaron looked up at the sound of Mila’s voice, startled for a quick second, then gave her a brief, tiny smile. “Hey, uh ... yeah, it’s fine, just checking,” he said, slipping his phone back into the pocket of his flannel pants. He moved in closer while the coffee maker did its thing, giving Mila a gentle hug and a kiss on the forehead. “Mornin’,” he murmured. “You want breakfast? I can try not to burn some eggs.” As he’d been doing often lately, Aaron searched her face and eyes, subconsciously looking for something else behind them. He wasn’t quite afraid of her, but he was trying to be aware of when she might not be fully herself.
Mila reveled in the hug, finding she always felt a little bit better with the physical affection. She wished she could just cling to Aaron for the rest of the day. She wasn't really hungry but Mila nodded anyway, knowing Aaron might feel better with something to do. "If you don't mind," Mila told him, pressing a soft kiss to his chin before she pulled back. "Just remember if you start seeing brown, then they're definitely done." Brown usually meant burnt, but a little burnt was much better than wholly burnt. "I can always make them if you want." Not that Mila was any better in the kitchen, especially lately. She tended to forget when things were actually cooking until the smoke start to fill the area.
Aaron gave her a bit of an easier smile. “If it’s brown, turn it down ... or, y’know, off, but that doesn’t rhyme.” He chuckled as he gave her hand a little squeeze before moving away toward the fridge. “I got it, just have a cup of coffee and relax,” he added as he started pulling ingredients out to make some scrambled eggs. Scrambled was the only way Aaron could cook them, but he did like to add in some sausage and onion and cheese in to give them some taste. Mila was right that he needed something to do that wasn’t checking his phone every five minutes. He couldn’t do much for her, but he could feed her.
Gavin had hoped Monday really would be the latest Reagan could help him, that she would show up with her husband far sooner than that but so far there was no sign of them. He didn't want to push his luck by pestering her, the last thing he needed was for the only person he knew could help to decide not to because he annoyed her away. He still felt like he needed to check up on Aaron and Mila, with or without Reagan, make sure things hadn't escalated. Aaron hadn't shown up for mass and that was unlike him so it didn't exactly inspire confidence. He decided to drop by at Seaview after church, just a casual and brief drop-in to see for himself and to reassure his brother.
He wasn't dying to see Mila, guilt was already gnawing at him for his part in the loss of her baby and with a dark spirit within her, who knew if she might not get to hear all about it. He had plausible deniability, of course, but still. His arrival was obvious by the rumble of is truck engine and he spotted Aaron by the kitchen window as he walked up so he gave him an awkward little wave.
Aaron looked up at the sound of the truck and watched Gavin pull in. His stomach gave a flip-flop in his body and Aaron’s heart started beating harder. Gavin got out of the truck alone, but Aaron still hoped he had good news. Leaving the cracked eggs in the bowl on the counter, Aaron started toward the front door to let his brother in. “It’s Gavin,” he told Mila, probably unnecessarily. His gaze lingered on her an extra second as he passed, hoping she would think that was good news. He opened the door as Gavin reached it and nodded him inside. “Hey ...” he greeted. “You want some eggs?”
Mila was sitting at the small kitchen table sipping her coffee when she heard the truck pull up out front. She assumed it was either Caden or Gavin, both possibilities causing her to tense slightly. She wasn't thinking about good or bad news, only that Gavin was there and she really didn't want him to be. At least he was alone. Her hands wrapped more tightly around her coffee cup as she lowered it to the table. There was an uncomfortable prickling down her spine as soon as Gavin stepped inside, but she kept herself seated despite the urge to flee. She said nothing, but watched the two men as Aaron greeted him and offered him breakfast. With any luck Gavin wouldn't be staying long enough to eat.
"Hey," Gavin muttered with a little wave at Mila before he turned his side to her and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, no... I ate. Thanks. Coffee maybe?" He was here for Mila, to see for himself how she was doing, but now that he was here it was hard to look at her. He was itching for another cigarette already, wishing he wasn't there at all. "How are you kids holding up?"
“Just made a fresh pot,” Aaron murmured. It was a little weird, having Gavin there in Mila’s house. Their house, he supposed. But it had never happened before, as far as Aaron knew. He was dying to hear some news, some good news, but he didn’t want to immediately launch into an interrogation. He shuffled back toward the kitchen counter to grab another mug and pour Gavin a cup. “C’mon in, have a seat. We’re uh, doin’ okay,” he offered, glancing over at Mila for her to confirm or deny.
Kids. Mila found that particular phrase to be kind of amusing, but her lips merely twitched. She could feel Aaron's eyes on her, waiting for her to speak up, but her mouth seemed to have difficulty catching up to her brain. So she merely nodded, her own gaze locked on Gavin, even if he wasn't looking at her. There was something about him that was making her uncomfortable like she was about to start squirming in her chair. "What are you doing here?" Mila asked finally, only somewhat surprised by her own question. He was supposed to maybe help them, so that was probably why he was there. Still... no, she didn't really like having him in her house at the moment.
Gavin finally sat down, even if that meant facing Mila directly. He too was a little surprised by the question. If things weren't what they were then maybe it was a little weird for him to be stopping by but Aaron had asked for his help. Had he not told Mila? "I uh, I found a witch who might be able to help us," he said. "I was hoping she'd check in sooner but she said Monday. At the latest. I uh, wanted to check in. Make sure you're both okay." He found himself fiddling with the cross around his neck, watching Mila for any sign of discomfort, as if that would tell him a damn thing. "You weren't at church this morning."
Once it was ready, Aaron brought Gavin the mug of coffee and set it down in front of him. He knew how Gavin took it from years of working at the bar together. Then he went back to spoon-whisking the eggs and turned the stove top on. He’d still told Mila he would make breakfast, and in spite of everything, he was hungry. “Really?” he asked, glancing over at his brother. “Who is it? We haven’t heard from anybody yet ...” Gavin hadn’t been specific about his contacts yet, but if someone was actually going to come help them, they were going to find out soon enough anyway. Aaron didn’t address the church bit, since that had been Mila’s call, but he looked at her curiously too.
She didn't like them both looking at her that way. Like she was going to start breathing fire and crab walking across the ceiling. Her gaze ticked briefly to the way Gavin was fingering the cross at his neck. It didn't bother her. Something did, but it wasn't that. She took another sip of coffee, though it tasted bland on her tongue. The ache in her bones felt heavier and Mila lowered her head briefly to stretch out a sore muscle in her neck. "We're fine," she said finally, looking up again at Gavin. Her hands remained curled around the cup in her hands while she studied Aaron's brother. "Is she going to try and exorcise me? Bring a Bible and a cross even though she's not a holy person? She doesn't even go to church." Mila spoke casually, like they were discussing the weather instead of demonic possession. She was well aware that Gavin hadn't even told them who it was yet, but she didn't need him to say the name.
Gavin regarded her coldly, irked by her words and her attitude. "I don't fucking know, Mila," he said. "What do you think will work?" They were not fine, that much was plenty clear, and Aaron was worried sick about her and knowing that made her attitude annoy Gavin even more. He couldn't help but wonder if that was really Mila talking though, or if it was something dark in her, challenging and snarking. "If you ask me I don't think a witch uses much godly power but yeah, she'll probably exorcise you somehow, if she thinks you're not just crazy."
Aaron’s heart twisted uncomfortably at Gavin’s tone, and he looked sharply around at his brother. Mila was obviously not feeling her best, and her temper was ... different, and Aaron was honestly a little scared to piss her off. “She’s not crazy,” he said flatly, turning back to the eggs. “I heard and felt that shit at the tunnel too. I just ... got lucky, I guess.” He kept thinking of it as something having latched onto Mila but not him. Some monkey on her back that followed her out and wouldn’t let go. “We’re all on the same side here.” Gavin hadn’t answered his question, but Aaron didn’t ask again.
Her lips twitched but Mila held back on telling Gavin that she didn't think anything would work. There was maybe only one witch in town with the kind of power needed to hurt what was inside of her, and Mila felt deep in her bones that he might actually leave her be to do what she wanted. He wasn't so different than she was after all. "He just got lucky," Mila repeated, tapping her fingernail lightly against her coffee mug. "He is lucky, isn't he?" She was breathing a little heavier now, watching Gavin with a calm, but dark expression. "Having a brother that cares so much. A priest might be cheaper though. Witches can be rather expensive, depending on what you're asking for."
Gavin felt like there was an accusation in those words and his gut twisted uncomfortably. He rested his arms on the table, leaning closer to her as he thought of the tattoos he had that were supposed to repel evil. Maybe Mila wasn't evil, or maybe whatever had her wasn't out to cause him harm, but he was curious to see whether their presence had any effect on her at all. "It's hard to find a priest who does this sort of work, it's not sanctioned by the church. We'll pay what we need to get you right again."
Aaron felt a familiar brand of confusion wash over him, like his brother and girlfriend were having two conversations at once and he was only tuned into one of them. He often felt like that when he was listening to people who were smarter than him talk to one another, and it was always sadly frustrating. He tried not to let it get to him currently, just focused on pushing the eggs around in the pan and adding some shredded cheese into them. He didn’t feel very lucky at the moment. He could only do the small things, and making breakfast was one of them, even if it was really lunchtime.
When Gavin leaned in toward her, Mila felt her entire body tense and she instinctively moved back against her chair, her gaze narrowing at him briefly. She wanted him to leave, yet at the same time, Mila wished he would stay longer. Not for her, but for Aaron. And she wished she could explain to Gavin how she felt split in the middle, but she wasn't sure he would understand. Or even care. Her hands had tightened painfully around her coffee cup and she forced herself to let go, a soft breath slipping past her lips. "It must be difficult, being the one everyone always depends on," Mila told Gavin, her tone less icy. "It's not really fair to you to have to take care of everyone."
Gavin wondered if that was another trick. She didn't sound sarcastic about it but it was definitely something he suspected could be used against him in some mind-fuckery kind of way. Make him resent his family, get under his skin about his unwanted children. "It is what it is," he muttered and took a sip of his coffee, though he kept his gaze steadily on Mila. "I think Aaron should take the evening off and stay with you, we don't really trust that you won't hurt yourself." And to think he'd considered cutting down on his drinking. This whole situation just made him want to drink more if anything.
Even with his back to them, Aaron’s cheeks burned a little. He did rely on Gavin a lot, didn’t he? Wasn’t that the main reason his brothers hadn’t wanted him to have the baby with Mila in the first place, because he was incapable of being a real adult? Aaron still didn’t know if he agreed with that, but this situation had him feeling particularly useless and small and scared, so he didn’t know in more of a despairing way. Maybe he would’ve been a shitty dad after all. He couldn’t take care of Mila when she needed him, right? Swallowing the lump in his throat and trying not to feel so useless, Aaron put the eggs on two plates, grabbed a couple of forks, and brought it all to the table. He set one plate down in front of Mila and sat down with his own, though he honestly wasn’t very hungry anymore. “Just worried about you,” he muttered, not looking at his girlfriend yet.
Mila wondered if Gavin was really worried about her hurting herself, or hurting Aaron. She was more concerned with the latter and she almost wished Aaron would go to work, where he would be safe. It was an awful feeling, one that made her eyes water and she wiped at them impatiently before Aaron set the food down. She wasn't hungry either, but he had gone to the trouble of making breakfast so she picked up a fork, pushing the eggs around a bit on her plate. Gavin's presence was making her feel irritable and nauseous and she gave thought to jabbing her fork into his eye. Her fingers tightened around the silverware before she dropped it with a clang to the plate. "Can you go?" she asked Gavin sharply. "I don't like your tattoos. They make me feel like scratching my skin off. You need to leave."
Gavin stared at her in open-mouthed surprise and with mixed emotions. On one hand it felt vindicating to know his tattoos worked, on the other... Well, that was just a clearer indication that she was possessed by something evil. Clamping his lips together to keep from looking like fish out of water he glanced at Aaron, pulling back enough that his arms were no longer on the table. He wondered briefly if he should stay, let whatever had Mila squirm a bit, but then these tattoos were meant to keep things at bay, not cure a possessed person. He might do more harm than good and it was probably better to leave it to the witches to try to get rid of this presence. "I can go," he agreed. "I wouldn't want you to scratch your skin off." He picked up his cup and took another sip before he got to his feet and went to drink it over by the counter, giving her a little more space. "I will be in touch. To check up on you both."
Aaron looked up from his food with some alarm at Mila’s little outburst as well, his wide blue eyes ticking between her face and Gavin’s. He got that creepy-crawly feeling between his shoulder blades again, and the sense that Mila was only half there. The other half was ... something else. It made him afraid to be alone with her, but he swallowed back a protest at Gavin leaving. It wasn’t like his brother could do anything directly to help anyway. He just had to keep his head down and try to stay on the demon-or-whatever’s good side. “Yeah ... let us know,” he said to Gavin needlessly, for lack of anything better to say.
Mila huffed softly, the ache in her bones easing a bit when Gavin moved away from her. He would check up on Aaron. She knew Gavin wasn't fond of her, probably hadn't been before this mess, considering he thought she was helping ruin Aaron's life by wanting to keep the baby. She felt like a problem now, maybe not even good enough for Aaron, given how Gavin and Caden talked to her. Sometimes the voice in her head whispered that Aaron didn't even want her anymore. He felt obligated to stay. Mila closed her eyes to try and turn off her mind, her hand coming up to rub the ache in her neck. "Is Reagan Kelly the witch coming over?" she asked Gavin, her eyes still closed. "The one you buy things from?"
Gavin regretted not leaving as cold weight seemed to form in his gut, sending unpleasant little shivers through him. He didn't want to talk about Reagan or let Mila keep talking. She wasn't supposed to know this and Gavin had a feeling she knew more than that, things she really could never know. He turned to look at her, brows furrowed. No use denying it, but if she kept talking he'd have to convince both her and Aaron that this thing was telling lies. "You know her?" he asked and did his best to smother the panic building in his chest.
Mila opened her eyes and looked over at Gavin. She knew things. Or, it felt like she should know them, but they were just hidden from her. Things that felt important, especially now. But Mila herself couldn't quite put her finger on what they were. It was like losing time all over again, like something was blocking her from parts of her life. She didn't want to fight it then, too tired to care. Deep in her gut she felt like whatever it was would be something they couldn't come back from, and she didn't want to deal with it. "Everyone knows her," Mila said. She rubbed her hand against her temple. "We went to school together. You hear things about people." She felt like herself again, but only just and Mila looked a bit desperately towards Aaron. "I think I might go lay down. I'm not feeling very good right now."
Aaron knew who Reagan Kelly was, from school and just around. When you live in a place this small for so long, it was hard not to know people. He knew the rumors too, and by the look on Gavin’s face, they were true. That was the least weird thing he’d learned recently, so it didn’t phase him. What made him feel like his chest was imploding was that look on Mila’s face. Like she was lost and needed him, but he couldn’t reach her. “Sure, baby, yeah,” he murmured gently, covering her hand with his for a soft squeeze. “I’ll be in to check on you in a few, I’m gonna walk Gavin out.”
Gavin watched Mila head out of the kitchen and then patted Aaron's arm gesturing toward where Mila had gone to with a nod of his head. "I'll see myself out," he muttered. Bad things happened fast, he knew that too well, so it was better if Aaron stayed with Mila and didn't leave her by herself in a house full of sharp things. It was a morbid way to think but then this was a morbid situation to deal with. "I'll call you as soon as I know something," he promised and made his own way out of there. He was definitely relieved to get out but it didn't cut too deep since his brother was still left there to deal with Mila. He could only hope Reagan would call them today at the latest so they could (hopefully) clear all of it up.