Who: Rocco, Gabe and Nina When: January Where: Gabe's place What: Best friend meets best friend's fiancee Rating/Warnings: Low Status: Complete.
To tell the truth Rocket hadn’t entirely believed Gabe when he said that he had a girlfriend. Sure, the big guy met women all the time. He was big and muscly and a lot of chicks dug that, but for some reason it just never clicked in Rocket’s mind that this was a serious thing. So when the name was mentioned he brushed it off in the same manner that someone did when dust gathered on them.
But then he mentioned the name again. And then the word fiancee was with it, and Rocket found himself sitting in his apartment with his mouth gaped open. He looked around for anyone to meet his gaze and to relate to what he was feeling, but he was alone and this wasn’t some sitcom that had a camera there to capture the moments of shock and awe.
And now this was happening where he actually would meet said “Nina” (if that was even her name - Rocket was going to do a little digging) and see if she was actually good enough for his best friend. And who was this chick anyway thinking she could come between two grown men that had known each other their whole lives? Did she think she was going to suddenly be that third wheel that got to hang out on their adventures? No way, Jose! Rocket never liked tricycles anyway (they were too infantile for his tastes even when he was a kid).
But he was gonna be as polite. Or try to be, at least.
Knock knock knock
He rapped on the door and waited. Geez, how long did it take to answer a door, anyway? Forever… leave it to Gabe to take his sweet time.
Gabe had been excited for Nina to finally meet Rocco - or well Rocket as he liked being called by a select few. He'd lost count how many stories or quips of his he'd told her. It'd been rough for him when Rocco decided to head back East - without him. Meeting Nina and settling into the OC had taken the edge off but all the same he'd missed his loudmouth childhood buddy. So for his best friend to show up out of the blue had been the most amazing news. But as the time approached, he found himself a bit anxious, pacing the living room, briefing Nina on aspects of Rocco's personality he'd kinda glossed over when regaling her with tales of their childhood misadventures.
“Just um... don't take anything he says too personally.” He was saying to her when he heard the knock on the door. He hesitated a moment, casting an anxious glance at his fiancee and then the door. “Ready?”
Heading to the door he swung it open and Rocco's sturdy frame stood before him, giving him 'that look’ because he'd taken too long to get to the door.
“Well damn, there goes the neighborhood.” He snarked. “Nina,” he called teasingly over his shoulder, “I think we're gonna have to sell the house and get outta dodge.” He then gave Rocco his big goofy Groot grin before pulling him into a big bro hug. “Damn it's good to see your sorry ass again!” He laughed.
Nina was a strange mix of excited and anxious about meeting Gabe’s best friend, she’d heard so much about it that it wasn’t like he was a complete stranger but from the sounds of it anything Gabe had told him about her hadn’t been something he’d considered important enough to remember.
“Don’t worry so much” Nina told him, going up on tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his lips, “Open the door and let him in” she smiled watching as Gabe did just that.
The door opened (finally) and Rocket couldn’t help the smile that grew on his face. He rolled his eyes at Gabe, and nodded his head impatiently as he waited for the whole spiel to be finished. “Yeah yeah yeah,” he said in that second before Gabe pulled him in for a hug. He let out a soft oof (the guy was big and he hugged hard!), and then patted his best friends back.
“This neighborhood is better off with someone like me in it,” he said when he pulled away. Damn it was good to see the big guy. Rocket remembered when they were kids and Gabe used to tower over him. He was always so much bigger than the other kids in the neighborhood, and it was the biggest reason that Rocket started hanging out with him. He was the brawn to his brains. Besides, he was a scrawny kid from Jersey that hadn’t grown into his mouth until he was older. He needed the protection.
“I see you still got that goofy-ass grin.” Rocket stepped through the door and looked around. Not bad, not bad. Gabe was doing good for himself. Now for the girl.
“So uh, where’s this dame of yours?”
Gabe chuckled and closed the door before trailing after Rocco as he took in his home. He nearly winced however when he said with his thick Jersey/New York accent, 'dame’. Rocco had the tendency to talk like a gangster from the forties sometimes which had been funny as hell when they were younger but now…
“Nina,” he stressed, “Is in the living room.” And moved to lead the way as if somehow he were running point to protect Nina from whatever other statements might slip out of his friend's mouth in the next fifteen feet.
They entered the decently sized living room with its warm grey and earth tones, various potted plants scattered about at window sills, and one large comfy leather couch that sat directly across a huge flat panel television. Gabe moved over to Nina and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Nina, meet Rocco. Rocco, Nina.” He could already tell that Rocco wasn't terribly comfortable with the idea of him having a girlfriend let alone a fiancee; over-protectiveness or possessiveness happens when you're middle school buddies. He held his breath a little, praying to God his friend behaved himself.
Gabe didn’t need to worry as Nina found it quite amusing that Rocco had called her a ‘dame’, his accent was more obvious than Gabe’s was and she definitely thought he sounded like a gangster from old films. Leaning into Gabe briefly she smiled at Rocco, “It’s nice to meet you at last, I’ve heard a lot about you and the adventures you guys have had”
Rocco’s ma didn’t raise a fool, and she definitely didn’t raise him to be impolite. He grinned at Nina ready to at least give her a chance. “Don’t believe a word this guy tells ya,” he teased. “Everything was his idea.” He winked at Nina, a sign of camaraderie to show that he was teasing, and bounced his brows at his best friend in a playful manner. Still, he extended a hand to the woman, calloused as they were from the work he did. “It’s nice to meet you, too.” He’d say that he heard a lot about her from Gabe, but the truth was… well, he didn’t really remember it. Whoops? He just never thought it was serious.
Oh, but it was. He could see it in the way the big guy put his arm around her. He ain’t never seen him be like that with any broad, ever.
“So.. uh, congrats on the engagement. Come on, let me see the rock he got ya. He better not have skimped.”
At least he could still put Gabe on the spot just like the good ole days.
Gabe chuckled and rolled his eyes. That was Rocco in a nutshell, all mouth and jokes. It was something he clearly hadn’t outgrown, not even his stint with the military, which was good because Gabe wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
The diamond ring was nowhere near cheap, but Gabe was a saver and really didn’t do much or go anywhere, so he’d had plenty of money to work with. With Nina’s nursing schedule, and his now steady job at the cannabis shop, vacations were a rarity. But when they did seize the opportunity, he was ready to spoil her and splurge for a memorable time. The same went with the engagement ring. It was a full carat in a cut that sparkled brilliantly regardless of the lighting. He stood proudly by as his best friend inspected it.
“Need jeweler’s glasses?” he snarked at him, smirking.
Nina happily held out her hand for Rocco to see after thanking him for the congratulations, anything Gabe gave her would have been perfect no matter the cost but it was obvious this was an impressive ring. “It’s perfect. I was nervous wearing it at work to begin with but I can’t deny showing it off and saying I’m now a fiancee is still pretty exciting” she said looking at Gabe happily.
“I would if it were any smaller.” His tone was light and easy, and when Nina held out her hand well Rocco took it in his. They were rough, sure, his job didn’t really leave any time for pedicures or anything so metrosexual, but he was gentle. He delicately moved her hand to arch the knuckles upward so he could see the ring fully.
“It’s a good one,” he said with a grin before he let her hand slip out of his. “Congrats, really. I’m happy for you both.” And deep down he was. There was a slight tinge of sadness, one that felt like maybe he was losing his best friend. And Rocco was never the optimist of the pair - that was always Gabe - and yeah, it felt like this was it. No more late nights out at the bars or getting into trouble. He had to be on the straight and narrow, even if the straight and narrow meant dealing cannabis.
“So uh… did you guys wanna get food or something?” He cocked his thumb over his shoulder toward the door. “Because I’m starvin’. My treat, to celebrate the happy engagement.”
Gabe grinned. “Thanks, man. And yeah, food sounds great.” He then smirked at looked at Nina, tugging her against his hip playfully. “Hm, it’s his treat. Let’s pick the most expensive place possible. Sanducci’s?” He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.
Nina wasn’t the sort to stop Gabe going out and having a good time with his friends, they would both still have nights out with the respective friends. Being a couple didn’t mean having to do everything together, in fact Nina thought the most successful relationships allowed that time apart and differing interests.
“Food sounds great” she agreed before laughing and shaking her head at Gabe, “Stop winding him up” she said with a roll of her eyes but a smile for him.
“Hey if that’s where you want to go,” Rocco said with a shrug. He wasn’t rich my any means, but he was comfortable. The tours to Iraq and Afghanistan paid well - it was why many soldiers were eager to go - but Rocco went for the thrill. Sure, the money was good and he had a good start on a nest egg, but there was nothing quite like blowing shit up in his eyes.
“We can go to Sanducci’s. I ain’t ever been,” he said with a shake of his head. “What kind of food is it? And don’t you dare say “good food, Rocco” otherwise I will clock ya.” He was teasing again, and chuckled heartily under his breath. When he was done he crooked out an arm to Nina, and winked at Gabe. “Now I’m gonna need some alone time with your fiance. You know, so I can tell her all the stories from when we were kids.”
“It’s good food, Rocco.” Gabe immediately said with the most mischievous grin on his face that only Rocket brought out in him. “It’s Italian. And I was joking. The place is expensive. How about Joe’s Crab Shack? Food’s good and they got alcohol.” He knew wherever there was booze, there Rocco would be.
“Oh no you don’t!” Gabe laughed and wedged between them, playfully grabbing Rocco in a hold with his big arms, pretending to wrestle him away from Nina. “She doesn’t need to hear any of that!”
“Pick the Crab Shack” Nina told Rocco, “It’s good food, good drink and a good place to hang out” Laughing when Gabe got hold of his friend she put on a pout, “Oh no, no fair. I want to hear all the stories!” she told them, “You and me definitely need to talk” she winked at Rocco.
Rocco could tell he was going to like this girl Gabe had picked out. She could take a joke which was important especially since Rocco was always joking around. Sometimes his mouth could start yapping before his brain caught up to what he was saying, but he took extra caution to be careful today. He liked to tease Gabe, sure, but he wasn’t about to insult the woman the big guy decided to marry. His brain took a minute to catch up to that idea of Gabe and marriage. It was a lot to take in, but he could dissect it later when he was alone. Now he was taking the happy couple out to eat.
“Sure, I can do seafood. Think crab tastes different on the West Coast than it does on the East?” Living near the ocean meant fresh seafood all the time, and he almost forgot that California had an ocean as well. Just a different one. Maybe it did make a difference.
“Let’s get outta here then otherwise I’m gonna faint and Gabe’s gonna have to carry my sorry ass.” He was teasing, of course, but he was hungry and they’d be able to continue with stories on the way there. Besides, he knew this wouldn’t be the last time they all got together. They were family, after all.