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Eddie's feet hit the pavement her long Strides carrying her far away from her friends outraged shrieks as a bucket of water was surreptitiously. dumped on their heads. It really was stupid hilarious but Eddie had the presence of mind to know with every fiber in her body that they would absolutely murder her if they got their hands on her, even if they were all currently in a public swimming pool.
All that is, except Eddie.
"EDDIE YOU GET BACK HERE" screamed the outraged voices of her precious friends. They were great honestly, couldn't be better friends, she still wouldn't trust her neck in their hands after the amount of water she'd dumped on them. Eddie's braincells may have issues getting together but even they knew not to get in the way of her friends angry. Especially if she just so happened to be the targetof their anger. They would make her clean something. They knew all her weak spots and for his transgression the ultimate price would have to be paid. Cleaning.
Of course that didn't stop her from cackling gleefully in response. Eddie had what her friends called a withcy laugh. Witch of the West and all that. On Eddie's personal opinion her laugh was precious so their teasing never made even a scratch on her self value. She knew for a fact that her laugh was what convinced them to laugh when they had personal issues.
The only issue with it was that cackling and running as fast as she was tended to be difficult. She was so out of shape it wasn't even funny anymore, like seriously, Mabs her fat cat was in better shape than her and Mabs didn't even bother to get up for food. She was going to start going to the gym tomorrow. First she needed to hide from her friends wrath but then she'd go to the gym. Pinky promise.
Huffing and puffing Eddie grabbed onto the edge of a brick corner and using her momentum threw herself into the dark alleyway. It smelled to high heaven too. Suspicious alleyways needed cleaners, not just the prissy streets. Every alley deserved to cleaner. But back to business, Eddie slammed herself into what she thought was a wall. By the thud and the muffled grunt of pain that she guessed that she might have been a teensy bit wrong about the alleyway only being brick. Or solid wall. Apparently people lived here too.
Well, really muscly, slightly scarred, glasses wearing, cute, people. He was frowning too. Well, maybe it was more a look of concentration. Still, a face as beautiful as that really should not have been frowning. The smile lines were her reasoning for that, with the amount he had Frowning was obviously not his natural state and so therefore she deserved to see what must have been a stunning smile. Once he recovered from her throwing herself at him. Of course.
Groaning as he rubbed the back of his head he turned his gaze on her "Why did you fling yourself at me?"
A thought occurred to Eddie "Why where you just standing in a dark alleway?" Her pointed look made a blush crawl up his neck as he stood up.
Dusting himself off he pointed out something vitally important "I was the one who got barreled into" pushing his glasses up he gave her a what Eddie felt was a rather pointed look. Squirming really was not a good look for her.
However, a rather reasonable solution offered her an out and she gripped it so hard her knuckles almost went white with the force as she argued "But you forget that I wouldn't have crashed into you if you hadn't been in the dark alleway" emphasis on dark.
The uncomfortable look on his handsome face was quickly covered up and a calm composed look took its place with an efficiency that surprised her "I was in here for personal reason" was his cool reply.
Crossing her arms Eddie glared at him, before nodding slowly "Valid" she muttered and the look of satisfaction that crossed his face currently fueled all her frustrations. But she did suppose that she could let it go for the sole reason of the thud her friends footsteps made as they approached. No doubt they were still seething over her little prank. They would probably get over it. Hopefully.
The hunted look on her face seemed to draw the big man in "Who did you prank?" The surprised look on her face gave the jig up, if there had ever been one to begin with. Man was too smart, especially for a red head "I know it was a prank because I have seen that look one too many times"
Her arms uncrossed themselves and Eddie positively squirmed. This man unsettled her while at the same time making her feel comfortable in a way not many could. An example would be that usually she would run by now, screaming about a strange man in the alleyway. Yet here she stood, arguing with the damn thing "What if it's none of your business?" She asked defiantly. Chin up. Profoundly grateful that as he opened his mouth to answer ger friends found her.
"There you are Ed!" The raven haired girls arm waved widely above her head to signal the others. She ran in and grabbed Eddie by the wrist saying determinedly "You're going to wash all the clothes you ruined with your little prank!" The lilt in her voice promised it. You see, you simply didn't argue with Ravena once that tone made its way into her normally serious voice. Especially not when it was backed up with all of Eddie's other friends wo may or may not have also suffered at the hands of one of her pranks. Resigned to her fate Eddie gave a singular wave to the big man. Actually, as he stepped into the sun Eddie witnessed just how glorious he actually was, big, round glasses, and a full head of thick red hair. An impish smile finally showing off his natural beauty to its full extent.
Though the effect was slightly spoiled once she realized that he was only smiling -even if it was the most imp like one she'd ever personally seen- because she was currently being hauled by the ear to the terrible fate of laundry duty.
Thoigh it really wasnt so terrible when the thoughts of the big man accompanied her. They were emotional support ok?
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The morning dawned far to bright and far to fluffy. Cat hair was in her mouth and her nose and probably evrywhere else she could think of. It was an infestation, she still loved Mabs, she really did, but sometims the cat hair got to you. Just a bit. Though Mab usually didnt deign to climb up onto the bed nowadays, old joints and all that.
Maybe Mab just needed some food. It usually wasnt anymore serious than that but Mab would only go do long before resorting to more vocal means to get her way. With a groan Eddie blearily stumbled out of bed. Rubbing her eyes with one hand and covering her mouth as she yawned with the other. Groping for the rather unecessary light switch as natural light already streamed in through the kitchen windows. Dragging her feet towards the food cabinet as Mab ran in between and round her feet meowing with growing interest as the moment she would receive her food grew closer and closer.
Opening the cainet grabbing the foof and dumping what suprisingly little was left into the food bowl Lucia decided that she may need to get some more food or else Mab may just have a conniption by the time dinner rolled around. Nap first though. Shed probably buy a steak thinking it was just the deluxe version of cat food is she didnt. Well, in a way it was. Her wallet just couldnt accomodate it, not with all her other expenses. Prank supply expenses, that is.
The emptiness of the cabinet stared at Eddie and Eddie stared back. She was out. It was horrible and horryfing all at once. She was officially out of both cat food and her precious prank supplies. No glitterbombs in sight. No balloon packages in the vicinity and definitely no hand shock things. She'd never actually learned their name and it left her in a state of sorrow. A resupply would be necssary as soon as possible. A day without even the most necessary prank supplies was too terrible to even bear thinking about. In fact, it was so terrible that Eddie decided to find a place to resupply immediately.
A half hour drive later had Eddie pulling up and parking beside a small out of the way store. It was so inconspicuous that for a moment she doubted wheter it would have what she needed or not. Hopefully it did because Mab didnt like to be left alone for too long and she still had to go pick up some more cat food. Finding this place had been difficult enoiugh. She'd gotten lost or taken the wrong turn at least three times but after the second pne Eddie had decided that the GPS was the one at fault. She had a wonderful sense of direction so she was obviously innocent.
Stepping out of the car Eddie closed its door softly and locked it. The beep was almot reassuring, which was absolute madness but by this point Eddie had just resigned herself to it being what it was. No big deal. It had always just made her a bit nervous to go out somewhere where she'd never been before for the first time. She'd get over it soon ebough the first time just gave her jitters on pure principle. It did ease her anxieth a bit when shenoticed all the cats. The place was positively crawling with them which automatically made it a safe spot.
Briskly walling up to the shop Eddie opened the door. To be greeted by an array of colors and a vibrancy you just couldnt find anywhere else. They didnt even use the horrible big light that other shops used. This place made use of any natural lighting possible and small lamps herr and there. There were so many prank supplies she could have gotten lost for the next millenium. There were even some she'd never seen or even heard of before. There were sections. It immediately became her favorite place on earth.
Abandoning her suspicions Eddie started to explore this wonderful place. It had a central circular area with a high domed glass roof that opened up into a multitude of smaller pathways. In fact, this shop had so many alcoves and different sections that at some point it transitioned into an almost grocery like area. Full with veggies, meat, bread, drinks, even the occasional sweet. Littered with so many plants it almost felt like as if she had stepped into a dreamland of sorts. Alcoves and nooks hidden everywhere, plants almost hiding them from sight but the comforting light that shone from their doorways gave away the secret. One of them held a small library, another a tucked away petting zoo. Each and every alcove had different almost magical qualities that drew Eddie in even more with each new one she discovered. Hidden in one such alcove a coffee bar catered to customers already. Which surprised her because the sun almost hadnt risen yet. As she explored this new world that seened bigger than the small entrance had suggested Eddie stumbled upon a nook hidden in such a way that it seemed like as if no one had wanted this particular one to be found. Like how every other nook had been hidden in such a way that you almost couldnt help but be drawn to them. Your eyes naturally searched them out while this one obviously differed with the simple fact that it had been in hidden in such a way that said no one would be welcomed, intruders kicked out, and fellow pranksters condemned.
Naturally Eddies only course of action was to go in without a moments second thought.
What she saw amazed her to the core. Maybe it warmed her a bit too but she wasnt quite ready to admit to it yet. Drawings of mythical creatures littered the walls and small crafts or pranking ideas in progress were being created. A young man -really he looked more her age but Eddie stuck to her guns-
hunched over one such project, scribbling notes on a random piece of paper and scrunching his nose every few seconds to keep the glasses up. As Eddie looked closer she realized just how much he resembled the man from yesterday. Odd. Very odd. Maybe they were related? No that couldn't be possible. You didn't just crash into someone in an alleyway yesterday then see their relative the next on a random supply run. It had to just be a crazy coincidence.
The young man sighed deeply before closing his eyes and scrubbing his face with his rather lovely hands. His glasses getting pushed up to his forhead as he did so before he finally just took them off and set them down on the table. He looked bone tired and suddenly Eddie remembered that he was not yet aware of her presence and that she might be intruding on a rather personal moment. Turning on her heel as quietly as she possibly could she whirled to leave. Social awkwardness and guilt dribingher on cruel masters as they were.
A hand came down heavily onto her right shoulder just as she had turned her back and no, she most certainly did not squeal in surprise. Or jump for that matter. The strange man leaned down, clearly expecting her to keep on doing whaever she'd been doing and started to play with her hair, poking and prodding at her clothes. His muttering honestly resembled that of someone slightly deranged and Eddie had finally had enough of this strange man who would not stop poking her clothes and muttering about how odd 'muggle fabric' was "Please stop poking meits very uncomfortable." Eddie demanded in her most respectful tone. If this man did hust so happen to be related to the one in the alleyway chances were that he would also happen to be strong to some extent.
Her voice seemed to shock the man so severely that he stumbled back, eyes wide open, mouth agape "You can see me?" His shocked tone confused her but he did stop touching her even if he didn't seem too inclined to leave her personal space shocked as he had been by her voice. His own showcased just how intrigued he was by another human seeing him which was an oddity in itself "Well of course you can see me," he leaned in making sure to keep his hands securely clasped behind his back. Chattering at her the entire time "Georgie told me about you" Seeing the look of absolute confusion on Eddies face and then proceeding to ignore it in favor of finding something else for his hands to do. Maming a messy bun seemed to be his go to option "You met him in the alleyway, said you were a bit odd" looking Eddie up and down critically he continued almost mindlessly. Like as if this was the first time in a while that someone else had actually stopped and paid attention to his words, no matter how confused they were by them "Wasn't wrong."
Eddies offended noise drew out a grin that should have been illegal on a face like that. However, it did mean that the smile slid from his face and back into obscurity as he turned, still muttering to himself. Seemingly done with her for the time being. Seeing an out Eddie grabbed it and ran. Well, tried to run. She ran for a short while before skidding to a stop less than two steps outside of the nook nearly crashing into another human. Bothersome things. Always standing right where you wanted to run. The issue with this one -besides it beingin her direct run path- was that it just so happened to be the big man from the alleyway and at the moment he didn't look so happy with her "What are you doing here?"He asked. His brows furrowed, hands clasped tightly behind his back.
Her mind scrambled for a halfway decent excuse and Eddie knew for a fact that she probably looked like an absolute moron with the look of shock on her face. It did however, dawn on her that she had a legitimate reason for being here "Shopping??" Lifting up her basket to adequately showcase that exact reason. If he happened to be a visual learner or something along those lines.
The bright red blush spreading up his neck to his cheeks truly was a sight worth seeing as he flustered a bit nervously. Precious really, how awkward he was. Rubbing the back of his head with one hand he offered her a nervous smile "Would you like me to check it out for you or are you still looking around?"
Taking it for the peace offering it was Eddie nodded and followed him to the checkout counter. But it was only when he was waiting for her to pay did it fully sink in that he worked here "Oh you work here" she deadpanned.
The confident smug expression on the handsome mans face would actually kill her one day "I own here" it had to be sinful how well confidence suited him. The confirmation did however leave Eddie with an embarrased blush that died down as she payed. However, no matter how embarrased Eddie was she would never not notice the ugly look the man threw over her shoulder. Her braincells may have had difficulties holding large gatherings over two braincells but every once in a while things worked up there. Glancing over her shoulder in the general direction the big man had looked in Eddie startled to see the same odd man from the nook standing right behind her. Personal space bedammed.
Hoping that maybe ignoring the strange man would be the right way to go Eddie draggd her attention back to paying for her items. She'd even been able to find cat food of all things. Apparently ignoring the man had not been the right choice seeing as he immediately walked around her to get into her line of sight. It wasnt that she didn't like him or anything. He seemed endearing just a bit odd and Eddie just wasn't someone who knew him. Until she did this seemed like her best option. But, if she didnt try to get to know him she might never get around to it. Chronic procatinator. Taking a breath she leveled them both with a glare demanding explanations.
Rubbing the back of his head the big man sighed and asked "You can see him?" Pointing at the young man behind him "Right?" The utter weariness in his tone touched something in Eddie. She may have been a prankster to the core but she understood the bone deep tiredness emanating from every pore of this man.
Gaze turning suspicious she glanced at the younger man "Why couldn't I see him?" Mistrust laced her voice. Big man chuckled a tired chuckle and a look of... hope? Crossed the younger ones face, tugging on the other ones sleeve. Seeing just how much they resembled each other Eddie cautiously ventured "Are you two related?"
Their eyes drew to hers immediately and they boy nodded in affirmation. The big man gestured to the smaller one "This is Fred"
Fred bowed dramatically "I am at your service" a decided twinkle in his eye that Eddie decided she rather liked. It looked like the look in Mabs eye when she schemed for more treats.
Fred straighteend a grin on his face and gestured dramatically at the other man. Jazz hands and all "And this is my twin George"
Eddie laughed out loud "That explains a lot" She'd decided that jazz hands and her might get along after all.
Especialy with the injured look that was currently occupying his face"He always forgets to mention the twin part" Fred mimed a tear rolling down his cheek "Its like he's ashamed of me"
George hit Fred over the head a small tired smile gracing his features before he turned towards Eddie. His head full of mock admonishemnt that was most likely all directed at the younger red head "Twenty-five years and he still has absolutey no manners" ruffling Freds hair while simultaneously ignoring Freds many vocal protests. Glancing at Eddie conspiratorially "Kids these days"
Eddie giggled "I know right" picking up her bags "Absolutely no respect nowadays" turning to leave she graced them with a genuine smile and waved "Bye boys" blowing a kiss their way as she left.