Gavin Lucas (viciouscircle) wrote in shadows_rpg, @ 2017-12-23 18:14:00 |
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Entry tags: | #september 2017, aaron, aaron x gavin, gavin |
Who: Aaron & Gavin
What: Taking a ride to Kmart
Where: Local Kmart
When: Saturday afternoon 9/23
Status: Complete
Warning: Some violent content, language
Gavin had not forgotten the shit Jasper had told him about Ollie having a 'boyfriend'. He'd been doing his homework, asking around, snooping and the most likely suspect right now was a Jason Randall, twenty-nine year old cart attendant at K-Mart. Ollie sure had picked a winner there. The idiot had no idea what he was getting himself into and that didn't even include the good old Lucas rage coming his way. Gavin thought maybe he should leave him alone because the asshole was already in for a world of hurt just fucking around with Ollie, but pride dictated that he had to do something about it because she was still his fucking wife. Part of it was frustration too, he was trapped in this marriage after his lawyer warned him just how badly Ollie could fuck him over if they got a divorce. If he could punch his way out, he would. In a way it felt like maybe this was a way to do it.
He opened the bar on Saturday morning, listened to the first customers chatter idly about the weird events of the night before, cars getting broken into or damaged or some shit, but his mind was elsewhere. He kept thinking about going to Charlie's to finish up the porch and actually see her again but Jason Randall kept getting in the damn way in his head. By the time Roxy came in for work he asked her to look after the bar while he and Aaron took a little ride. It was just a recon mission, he wasn't exactly planning on anything but then he rarely did plan for these things. He just needed to get the guy out of the way so he could focus on better things.
"Need you to come with me," he muttered to Aaron as he headed to the back, leaving Roxy at the bar. "I gotta talk to someone."
It had been a normal enough day so far for Aaron. He’d come in to help open as usual, kind of sleepy in a comfortably way, and looking forward to seeing Mila later that day. Working with Gavin on Charlie’s porch had been kind of fun, though he’d been careful not to rib Gavin too much about it on their way home. That had been what started the fight between him and Caden, after all. Not that Aaron ever pushed his brother’s buttons the way Caden did. Caden had an innate talent for it, it seemed like. But the thought of Gavin having a crush on some lady and vice versa was delightful, so he couldn’t keep his mouth completely shut, but it had all been good natured.
Completely oblivious to what was going on with Ollie, Aaron was surprised when Gavin said he needed him. He of course dropped what he was doing, wiping his hands off on the towel stuck in his back pocket as he followed the eldest Lucas toward the back. He needed Aaron with him to ‘talk’ to someone? That set off some red flags. But Aaron didn’t question it, just grabbed his jacket from the back and went where Gavin led. If he was needed, he was needed.
Gavin wasn't even feeling very angry at the moment. This felt more like business, something he needed to take care of before he could go on with his day. Aaron was the better choice for backup as he wasn't going to run his mouth like Caden, the last thing Gavin needed was to get pestered about how he should have divorced Ollie years ago. He didn't really want Aaron to go into this blind so while he didn't particularly feel like chatting about it he decided to fill him in on what was going on. It wasn't a long drive but long enough that they could talk a while.
"Ollie's been seeing some Kmart punk," he muttered. "Finally found out who he is. Jason Randall, that name ring a bell?" Randall was closer to Aaron in age than Gavin which somehow made it worse. Ollie getting it on with someone younger than her. Gavin wouldn't have been able to put into words why it bothered him so much but it did.
Aaron hadn’t been positive that an explanation would come, but he wasn’t surprised when Gavin started giving him one. He grunted a bit at the first statement, not entirely surprised by that either. Aaron tried not to hassle him about it like Caden did, but he was also of the mind that Gavin should’ve divorced Ollie a long time ago. She was kind of a piece of shit to him, so Aaron wasn’t surprised she’d found somebody else to fuck while Gavin had lived like a monk for years. He squinted thoughtfully through the windshield. “Kinda, a little? I don’t like, know him, though,” he said, his tone a bit grim. “Fuckin’ ... KMart? Really? That’s fucked up.”
Gavin wasn't sure why it was more or less fucked up that the guy worked at Kmart but he grunted in agreement anyway. The important part was that Aaron didn't know the guy though it probably wouldn't have made much difference if he did. He was fucking Gavin's wife, he could have been Aaron's best friend and it wouldn't have made a lick of difference.
The Kmart wasn't too far away which was a good thing as Gavin wasn't very chatty. He'd entered that state of mind where he might as well have blinders on, his focus solely on getting this out of the way and once they were parked his attention was fixed on the building where Jason Randall worked.
He honestly thought they would be there for a while or have to come back later but the cart receptacle was full and there were carts all over the damn place so maybe not. He opened his window and lit up a cigarette, offering one to Aaron.
It was clear to Aaron now that they weren’t here to talk. It made sense now, and it was easy for him to slip into the mindset of ‘ready to do it without question.’ He may not have wanted his brothers to fight each other, but Aaron was definitely on board with fighting other people. Especially stupid assholes who deserved it. He wasn’t sure if Gavin would just want him to keep watch or actually participate, but he would happily do either one. Both, maybe. It was Gavin’s beef to take care of, but Aaron would do whatever he needed for him to do. He accepted the cigarette wordlessly and lit it, keeping his eyes peeled. He was fairly certain he remembered what Jason Randall looked like -- enough to pick him out of the parking lot, at least.
They smoked in silence for a bit until Jason Randall finally came out to do his damn job. It was unmistakably him, if not from the ratty hair then by the way he stiffened up when Gavin got out of the car. He obviously knew who he was and why he was there, Gavin wasn't really putting much effort into being intimidating so that reaction told him plenty. To his credit Jason didn't run away though he looked like he might for a second or two. When Gavin strolled closer with Aaron at his back Jason took a step back and held his hands up in a pacifying manner.
"Look dude, I've got no quarrel with you," he said and Gavin felt like laughing. The guy was fucking his wife, that was quarrel in any and every book on the thing. You did not fuck another man's wife, separated or not.
"Walk with me," he said quietly and the unwritten rule here was that Jason would take what was coming to him. He didn't. Instead he crossed his arms and shook his head.
"Dude, this is between you and Olivia, this... Whatever this is, okay? She told me you guys were separated."
Gavin tossed his cigarette and glanced back at Aaron with a 'what the hell' look while Jason kept talking. Why was he talking so much?
"Jason," he muttered. "You've been with my wife. You expect me to just let that go?"
The answer was not yes but Jason thought it was and the guy kept yapping on about it, how they weren't technically together, how he wasn't at fault here, how Gavin really needed to talk to Ollie and how he really didn't want any trouble. It was exhausting and weird and Gavin shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I didn't know Ollie was into women now," he muttered more to himself than anyone else though it was a clear dig at Jason who had to have some damn semblance of pride going on somewhere underneath his pussy demeanor. If he did, being called a chick didn't touch on it and finally Gavin gave up and took a swift step forward and giving Jason a well placed blow in the that sweet spot that knocked the air out of him.
"You talk too much," he muttered as he crouched down when Jason crumbled to his knees, wheezing. "I was gonna really hurt you today, Jason, but you're kinda not worth it so listen up. You listening? Good. You stay the fuck away from Ollie, you never go to my house, you never go near my kids. Are you listening?"
Jason nodded, still wheezing and Gavin was at a loss for what to do with a guy who didn't even try to fight back. It felt like hitting a woman, or a disabled person or something... It didn't feel right. Still. Jason needed something to show for it so he punched his face as he got up, busting his lip. He had a feeling he was the first guy to ever do that and if that was the case this guy was not going to handle Ollie well at all. Maybe Gavin was doing him a favor.
Aaron did his job and hung back, keeping an eye out for witnesses who might get a hero complex or something. A few people passing by glanced their way, especially when Jason hit his knees and Gavin crouched next to him, but after a bit of staring from Aaron, they scurried off. The dude might try to press charges later on, but Aaron knew Gavin wouldn’t care. If he tried, he would just be in for another beating from a different direction. No man with balls pressed charges when he was just getting what was coming to him.
Aaron smirked faintly at the comment about Ollie being into women now, and listened passively to the rest of it, not feeling any need to add anything but his presence to this little encounter. The noise Jason made when Gavin punched him again was pretty funny, and Aaron didn’t hold back his snicker. He tucked his hands into his jacket pockets and waited to escort his big brother back to his truck. Hopefully Jason would get the message and keep his distance now.
Gavin needlessly fixed his jacket and cleared his throat, frowning down at Jason before turning to walk back to the truck. Once they were inside he shook his head and glanced at Aaron. "That... was not very satisfying," he muttered, watching as Jason unsteadily wobbled his way back to the store. "Waste of gas."
Aaron was watching him too, wondering idly if he was going to call the cops or whatever. If he was still walking and talking, Gavin hadn’t hurt him too badly. He’d gone easy on him. So Aaron didn’t expect much trouble from it. Not legal trouble, anyway. Olivia was going to be fit to be tied when she heard about it, Aaron was sure. But Gavin would deal with her too, just like he always did. Aaron glanced over at his brother and gave a faint chuckle that wasn’t terribly amused. “Didn’t look like it,” he murmured. “What a putz.”
"Yeah," Gavin huffed and it made no sense to him why Ollie would be fucking around with this guy. Maybe she needed someone who was easier to boss around but damn, she was going to break this guy. He tutted and shook his head as he started the car. "Thanks for coming," he muttered, even if Aaron hadn't really needed to be there - maybe especially because he hadn't needed to be there. It was such a waste of time, though Gavin had a feeling that Jason was going to tell Ollie all about what had happened and that'd show her. He wasn't even sure what he was trying to show her but 'don't fuck around while you're married' was a good start.
Aaron had been cheated on by girlfriends before, but it was different with a wife. Especially when that wife was pretty much the only woman you’d ever been with, like in Gavin’s case. Aaron had never outright asked him, but he’d had a long-standing suspicion that Gavin had never even slept with anybody but Ollie. Which was a damn tragedy, if you asked Aaron. Maybe now he would start. “Anytime, man,” he murmured, resettling in his seat a bit. Once they were on the road, Aaron glanced over at his big brother again. “You gonna think more about divorce now, maybe?” he asked after a moment, the question as neutral-sounding as he could make it.
"Don't you start," Gavin muttered and he really didn't feel like getting into all the reasons why he was still married to what should be his ex. In all honesty divorce had been on his mind for years now but it felt like too big of a gamble, he still had some control over what he gave Ollie while they were still married. Aaron was right though, there were new elements in play, new pieces on the chessboard, both of them hard to ignore. If Ollie wanted to fuck around with other guys they couldn't stay married. "We'll see," he muttered since he didn't want to be an ass to his brother after wasting his time.
It wasn’t really Aaron’s business ... but at the same time, it was. He didn’t try to boss people in the family around like Caden did, mostly because he was the youngest brother and an idiot, as some people liked to remind him. But some things did affect all of them, and Gavin’s shitty marriage to Olivia had been one of those things for a lot of years now. Aaron pursed his lips to one side and considered keeping his mouth shut, but he did that a lot and sometimes it wasn’t the time for it. “I’m just gonna say, you deserve better than to stay chained up to someone like her,” he offered, quiet and even. “I know it’s complicated, but ... she’s doin’ nothin’ but using you, Gav. It’s past time to cut her loose, for better or worse. You oughta be free. Is all I’m sayin’.”
"I know," Gavin muttered and it was easier to hear it from Aaron than it was from Caden who always seemed to revel in delivering bad news. Gavin knew he didn't, but negativity and Caden often appeared to be close friends and it was hard to talk to him sometimes because of it. Aaron was the opposite and the way he put it, that Gavin needed to be free... It made sense. He wasn't sure what price he was willing to pay for his freedom, that was the problem. Maybe any price was worth it as long as he had enough to keep himself and the dogs alive and as long as Ollie didn't try to take Amelia away. Jasper was a grown man now, surreal as that was, and he wouldn't go anywhere with his mother but Amelia was too young to have a say in anything and that was definitely a factor in how Gavin kept placating Ollie. But she had violated this contract between them, not Gavin. He'd been celibate all these years. His lawyer would no doubt tell him it didn't matter, the courts always sided with the mother. It was still something to consider. Maybe he could even negotiate with her, let her keep the house, pay alimony... It wasn't the first time he thought about these things and it wasn't going to be the last and every single time he let himself go there it just stirred up that pit of anxiety in his gut.
Aaron was dimly aware of the hassles of divorce, having a couple of friends who had been through it already. He knew that no matter what happened, even if Ollie tried to take him for all he was worth, the family would rally around Gavin and the kids and take care of them. There would be some roadblocks, sure -- stories of Gavin’s temper probably among them -- but he was pretty sure it would work out in the end. It had to, right? Aaron stared at Gavin’s profile for another minute or two, not really expecting him to say anything more, but waiting just the same. When, predictably, nothing came, he let the subject drop. Aaron looked out the window and fished his cigarettes out of his pocket to shake one loose. He hadn’t been needed on this little excursion, but it was a nice way to break up the day anyway.