nik hustled out the door, jogging back to tessa's place to wait for her. he was excited to tell her the news, and anxious to meet connor. damn.
group
It didn't take them long to get back to Tessa's place. She had a hold of the front of Connor's shirt as she dragged him across the street, jaywalking without shame while Connor sputtered and protested at almost dying at her hands. Because he was at a solid height of six-foot, he had to bed down some because of her grasp on his shirt.
he turned when he heard footsteps, smiling when he saw tessa.
"bonjour, mon amour. how did it go? i assume the guy you have in tow is connor?"
group
Connor huffed and freed himself from Tessa's grasp as she loosened it. "Yeah, I'm Connor. I take it you're the friend getting the interview for us?"
Tessa smiled back at Nik and came over to his side. "He's in, just as long as I do most of the talking."
"I'm right here and have a mouth."
"Sadly."
"amory smith, at your service." when connor straightened, nik's smile became slightly nervous. fuckin tall ass bastard.
"the interview is tomorrow at 3:00 pm. i hope thats enough time to get your bearings."
group
Connor shrugged and looked up at the building, brow raised. "I think I'll be good. Winging it is how I've survived. You sure this place is livable? It looks a little…" He poked the ivy-covered wall. "Leafy."
Tessa rolled her eyes and shot Nik a 'he's a fucking idiot' look.
"mhm. leaves are good for you. don't be afraid of a little ivy." he leaned against said wall, idly running his hand through the greenery.
group
"Oh, I'm not afraid. I'm just concerned about the state of this building." Connor picked off a leaf and spun it between his fingers, head tilted slightly.
Tess raised a brow at the two boys messing with the plants, her arms folded over her chest.
nik raised his eyebrows at connor.
"just you wait and see, pal. tess, care to introduce him to your height of luxury?" he pushed off the wall, going to dramatically lean on her shoulder.
group
She grinned sweetly at Connor's raised brows when she didn't shy away from Nik or deny his words. "Oh come on," he complained, shooting Tess a look, "You're rich? And didn't tell me? How could you? We had a bro code."
nik snorted. "bro code, indeed."
group
"You're such a child," Tessa said, rolling her eyes. She lightly nudged Nik and waved for Connor to go on in. "Alright, find an empty room to crash in, Con. I'll meet you there in a sec." He huffed but went inside.
he took the cue, and moved off of her to put his hands in his pockets.
"so, what's up?"
group
Tessa folded her arms over her chest again and stared Nik down. "I said it before and I'll say it again: You look like shit." Before he could argue his case, she plowed on. "You've helped me, so let me help you at least get back to looking like you're not two seconds from being six feet under."
he immediately flushed.
"uh! well. thanks, tess, i really… i can take care of myself, you don't have to, you don't have to help, in fact i was 'bout to be on my way!" he gave a nervous, rattling laugh, shoving his hands further into his hoodie pocket. nik was… thoroughly embarrassed, and he usually didn't get offered help.
goddamn, i could use it, considering the only food i've had today is coffee, but… i'm not codependent. i'm not a burden. i'll be fine.
group
Tess flicked her brows up when Nik flushed, not expecting that reaction from him. "Look, I'm totally being a hypocrite right now, but some help isn't all that bad, especially when you're about to drop dead any second. Just give me until either tomorrow morning or tonight, and then you can go on your merry way."
he stepped back.
"i…"
he chuckled.
"i am, indeed, about to drop dead. i… appreciate the hospitality." he ducked his head, to show gratitude and also to hide his red face.
you fucking idiot.
curse my german genes.
group
She ducked her head as well to look at his face, brows still raised. "So is that a yes or no? I might be stubborn but I can feel eyes on the back of my skull, so I'm not gonna drag you in there against your will."
It took a bit of work, but she managed to keep her lips from twitching up into a half-smile.
he coughed.
"i'm going to abandon my pride and say yes, because rather shamefully i actually haven't eaten at all today. and i see you trying to look at me, please don't."
he shook his head roughly, trying to shake off the embarrassment.
"i'd say this is the most flustered anyone has had me in about a year, so congrats." he straightened up, still pink from the initial surprise.
"where-where to, boss?"
group
"It's a skill," Tess said, lifting her head when he asked her to not look at him. She took a step back to give him some more space, sweeping a hand over towards the door. "Just like I told Con—pick an empty room and crash. I'll bring up some food for you and anything else you want."
"…thank you."
he took his hands out of his pocket to shake them out, and cautiously entered the building.
nik knew generally where the rooms were, so he headed over and wandered until he found a room with a cracked door. he peeked inside, and finding it empty and neat, dared to venture further.
damn, this is nice. didn't even have to fuck anyone to be here, just… did my job for a friend. new experience.
group
There was thumping of, not necessarily heavy feet, but definitely ones on a mission, heading towards Nik's door. Almost immediately after they got near, Tess shouted, "Leave him alone, Rae! He's mine!"
A haughty female voice scoffed from the other side of Nik's door. "Am I not allowed to make sure my cousin isn't galavanting around with unworthy men?"
"Oh, so now I'm your cousin?" Tess retorted sarcastically from her room, getting on her knees to grab the snack stash trunk.
The other female scoffed in answer, but didn't enter Nik's room.
nik jumped when he heard the running and voices, bending over and wheezing to keep from hyperventilating.
what the FUCK.
he stood up fully again, going to the door and opening it fully. he only managed to give a weak "…hi?" to the person on the other side of the door.
group
It was a woman with narrow amber-colored eyes and straight, bright red hair cut to her shoulders. She had to look up at Nik slightly, being just a tad shorter than him, but the way she held herself made her seem…bigger…than she actually was.
She eyed Nik up and down, arms crossed over her chest. "You look like you crawled into, through, and out of Hell."
"i…"
usually he'd have a quick-tongued responsed, but he just shrugged sheepishly.
"i've been corralling a public scandal for the past week. it takes a toll on you. i normally look quite a bit more kempt."
group
Tessa showed up, trunk in hand, and scowled at the woman. "Buzz off, Rae. Go bother Tamaki or something." Rae rolled her eyes and headed back downstairs without another word.
Tess offered Nik an apologetic look. "Sorry about her. Apparently, she's attempting to be a 'good cousin' for once."
"cousin?" he raised an eyebrow.
"i'm not even gonna ask what the 'for once' alludes to, but i didn't know you lived with a cousin." he leaned on the doorframe, coming down from the spook named rae.
group
"She pops in every now and again, like the others," she said with a shrug. "Sometimes denies that we're even related. Sometimes acknowledges our relation. Depends on her mood. We're both moody. I'm blaming our fathers."
"yeah, that's fair. and uh, out of curiosity, what's the trunk for?" he leaned over to get a closer look, raising an eyebrow at tess when he leaned back up.
group
Tess hefted up the truck with a grin. "I come bearing food. Snacks, more specifically. Just until Cin finishes cooking actual food."
