A/N: yes, yes, little ones, I do realize this story is a total cliché OC story so far, but hey…. As it seems is my fashion, I have to throw a wrench in things. Enjoy the fluff while it lasts, pretties.
Disclaimer: not even going to pretend to own! Only my OC (Liss) is mine and some bits of the plot.
Warning: Strong language, alcohol use, cigarettes, hints at possible light twincest!
A Splintery Cross.
Chapter 2 Food fights.
I sat down warily in the wobbly chair Murphy was holding out to me. The short walk/ stumble over to the kitchen had been a few seconds of hell itself. My brain rammed itself into my solid skull repeatedly, stomach just felt like a gaping, burning hole somewhere in my abdomen, and my legs were a gelatinous excuse for boneless limbs.
Murphy seemed to be aware of my pain and mumbled something to his brother in a strange lilting language. Oh Jeez, thanks guys, yet another group of foreigners excluding me. My bitter self rant was shelved for another time as the overflowing bowl of saucy goodness was laid to rest on the table. Thank the good Lord for Spaghetti-O's and may they rest in peace.
Half the bowl was empty by the time I even realized I had a spoon in my hand. Two sets of true-blues watched me intently, pained smiles rested on nicotine stained lips. More think a bit self-conscious I slowed my ravenous pace and set the bowl aside. If I confined I was certain to hurl.
"So, what do you boys plan to do to me?" I sat back in the chair, crossing my arms, and legs. Might as well skip the nonsense id found my usual brazen tone some how or another.
I didn't want to meet their eyes so my eyes watched the orange little loops slide down the bowl. Neither responded for the longest time t my confusion, forcing me to see what was up. Both men were staring, brows furrowed, ones jaw set the other's agape.
"We said we wouldn't hurt ye.." Murphy was obviously seething at the idea, we. Meant that." his tone was slow and chilling but somewhat reassuring.
"So.." I started, "I don't understand." I was glad they didn't wish me harm, but why was I here?
"Why did you bring me back to your home?" I couldn't avoid the childish tone in my voice or the quake of confusion it held.
"You were hurt." Connor said it wish such finality that It seemed like the most obvious thing in the world.
"S'not like we could leave ye there," Murph snorted battling to light a near dead Zippo grasped tightly near his mouth.
I looked between the two Murphy giving a small cheer when he managed to light the fag and Connor rolling his eyes at his brother. It was all just so… innocent. Good. Kind. I noticed their rosaries- Connor's tucked in his shirt, Murphy's dangling around his chest- and I began to cry.
Maybe it was the feel of freedom , maybe just the events of the past few days finally setting in, but for the first time in a long time, I cried. The first sob escaped my lips and nearly scared the poor boys to death. I did my best to wipe the tears away and bury my hot, painful tears, but I simply couldn't. the brothers looked between each other in horror, Murphy's lit cigarette forgotten and hardly hanging on his lips.
"L-lass, no. Please, please don't cry," Connor pleaded, his hand hovering near my shoulder, uncertain of how to comfort me. I tried to give him a reassuring smile around the wet rivers my cheeks had become, succeeding only in making the tears come faster. On impulse I grabbed his hand, pressing it to my face. The contact with his masculine callused hands was needed and unbelievably calming. I think he smiled but my vision was so shitty I couldn't say for sure.
Murphy's solid hand rested on my shoulder, turning me to him. Were he was kneeling face to face with me. I'm sure he just meant to offer up some kind words and a calming touch, but I needed more. Those true blue deadly weapons of his had me in their spell. He lost his balance when my chest connected with his, arms wrapped tightly around his neck, face hiding in his dark locks. Oops.
Murphy sat there rigidly, legs sprawled under me, one arm supporting him against the floor as the other rubbed reassuring patterns against my sob wrecked back. His was becoming soaked so I sputtered through my tears my apology "It's alright lass," Connor replied from just over my shoulder, "a pretty girl as yerself should never apologize for tackling an Irishman. If ye ask me, Murph there is the lucky one." his eyes shined with laughter.
At first I just stared, turned a bit away from Murphy's hair now looking into his brother's eyes. Then, for the second time that night, I laughed. I laughed until I got the hiccups, sending the boys into a fit of wailing cackles. This was just too much.
My tears finally died away with the laughter, murph brushed away the now drying trails with his capable thumbs then glanced down at his chest and smiled. Strange. I followed his gaze to where my fist was grasped so tightly around his rosary. I hadn't felt the sensation until now but I was so calmed I missed my rosary dearly, but in this moment these would do.
Connor, bless his soul, lifted me from Murphy's arms. I didn't protest, I was exhausted from crying so hard. But my hand did. No matter how I tried I couldn't release the pendant clutched in my hand. Murphy realized this and slipped the loved beads over his head, lending them to me, for just this one night.
I curled up to Connors chest where he had princes lifted me, my heavy head flopping weakly against his shoulder. I was asleep before my body touched the mattress, a prayer of thanks on my lips.
For Thee, my Lord, for Thee.
Waking up isn't easy. It never is. Why leave your warm comforting bed for a cold hard world and its only promise of work? I had always had problems getting out of bed, even as a child. But as I grew older it got more difficult- as it usually does. This morning though, it was an extra excruciating task. This bed was so warm my body so heavy, the suns rays so nice where they lovingly kissed my back. Something was off though. My brain won against my tired both, forcing me into full awakeness.
My sleep crusted eyes eased open to a world that was not my own. Not my bed, not my home, where was home?
I sat up, aware once again of the unfortunate events that had occurred to me and the very unfortunate event that brought me fortune in the name of twins. I looked over to the opposite bed, finding what I sought.. Two muscular, manly, macho, near naked save for gray boxers, Irishmen curled up in bed together, snoring in unison. It had to have been the funniest thing I had ever seen.
Connor was facing me, his hand just under his head, drool dripping into his palm. I noted Murphy's arm slung haphazardly over his brother, and his legs in a jumbled mass with other man's. they seemed to be very close together, with plenty of room to spare on the mattress. How odd… I shrugged it off and stood needing to stretch. They were brothers, most likely twins, I'm sure they had a bond I could never understand, sibling less as I was.
I made my way over to the kitchen, my feet making flapping sounds over the hard concrete. I didn't know exactly what I had come over her to do other than for the purpose of just doing something, but now as I looked over the mountain of decrepit shit, I knew I had to clean. The boys hadn't made a single peep other than their sweet, constant snores and occasional dream whimper out of Murph or a violent twitch out of Connor. I wasn't too concerned that they would wake up before I was done meditating, based on the new tower of empty beer cans. Once I had filled two bags of just crap laying around every surface, the place didn't look quite so frightening. Its smell was another story.
The apartment's smell was in the range of comic-book store (sort of a mildewy papery smell) a brewery (no doubt from years of spilt Guinness) and cigarette factory (Murphy). Some how this mix wasn't so unpleasant but I felt the need to add the lemon cleanser id found under to sink to the mix, running things into a head spinning overwhelm strong cocktail.
My hands welcomed the familiarly pleasant ache that scrubbing every inch of available concrete I could find brought the only protest coming from my wrist but I could live with the pain. Cleaning like this game me time to think. I had managed to annihilate the rank mildew stench after scrubbing the open shower area with added vigor giving me hope in saving the ramshackle flat. I knew I couldn't eliminate the beer or cigarette smell, that was impossible, I accepted, but after beating the couch cushions and fanning the door, a good amount of it went away and my cleaning was done. The apartment was spotless not a speck of dirt to be found, much to my pride.
Now I had a problem. The boys were still out cold, wrapped I one another's arms. In the hour I had been cleaning they had only switched positions, Connor now cradled Murphy's back to his chest, a hand in the darker's locks. Murphy's fingers brushing the newly cleaned floors. It was very cue, but I had expected them up by now. Nothing for me to do. Need to do something. Anything. I was as tempted to wake them, but just couldn't. they had such completely innocent as they slept, Murphy's hair sticking up at strange angles, and Connor clinging to his brother for all he was worth. No way was I breaking that up.
I decided I would make breakfast, it was the least I could do to make up for them saving my ass then comforting me with hugs and Spaghetti-O's. Searching all the cabinets high and low the only breakfast food-basically only food at all Ii could find was an old box of pancake mix. In the near death fridge I found a few eggs and barely enough milk.
I decided I'd have to get creative with making pancakes and omelets, my specialty. And with the only pan the apartment had to offer, I set to work, first making the pancakes quickly with watered down milk, then onto my mutant omelets. I tended to be one to experiment in the kitchen, having been needed to cook from a young age, I'd learned a thing or two. And though it was risky I decided it was the right choice adding a can of peas and carrots along with ham and a slice of cheese id found in eh fridge, my masterpiece was complete. As the smell wafted to the boys' nostrils Murphy shot straight up, rubbing sleep from his eyes with both hands. I giggled lightly as he waved at me still in a deep daze. The table was set, two mismatched plates pilled high, and a third holding only half as much food. Three mugs of a delicious dark black brew rested in front of each plate, a shiny pack of Marlboros played the table's centerpiece.
I was more than a bit proud as I smiled at Murphy who had stumbled to the table, and flopped into char. It wasn't until he had sucked in the days first toxins from his lit cigarette that he took note of the feast set before him.
"Christ girl!" he beamed, fully awake. "you did this?!" he was bouncing in his seat, making a giggle escape from my lips as I sat down to my own plate, waiting expectantly as he shoveled a mouthful of omelet into his open mouth. I was certainly rewarded, his eyes widened and he moaned into eh fork, cigarette all but forgotten as he shoveled another bit into his mouth. "Conn!" he screamed to the still sleeping form in the bed, making me giggle like a school girl, "Conn, get yer lazy ass up!" he emphasized by tossing the Marlboros in his brothers direction, meeting their mark of Connor's forehead.
"What the fuck?!" the man sputtered as he was so rudely awakened, falling bare skin to concrete, making me wince in empathy around my coffee. Connor stayed on the floor a moment, mimicking his brother in rubbing sleep away from his eyes viciously, "smells different," he slurred as he crossed the room, boxers slipping a little lower on his hips, drawing a blush to my face. "Aye," Murphy piped happily between giant mouthfuls of food, I was glad he liked it. "Liss, here decided tah make up a deelish morning meal," he turned from his brother to give me a little boy grin that tugged at my heart.
Connor still didn't seem to quite grasp it with his sleep addled brain, looking to the food then all around the flat, "Where's all tha shit?" he barked, face turned in shock that Murphy mirrored looking away from his food for the first time.
"I-I'm sorry," I hadn't expected that reaction "I just woke up and had to clean. I didn't mean to mess anything up," I trailed off as Connor's brow furrowed in utter bafflement.
"Yah mean tah tell me that you woke up, cleaned, and fixed us a meal?" he was near whispering, I wasn't sure how he felt about all this, but I didn't want on their bad side.
"Yes," I stuttered meekly. Connor whooped and settled into his own chair where Murphy clapped me on the shoulder a smile on both their faces. I was more than a bit lost, confusing seemed to be these twos forte.
"Not that we don't appreciate it." Connor started, seeing my confusion, "But you're our guest. Ye shouldn't a done that." Murphy finished, exiting the widest of smiles. I found their twin antics strange and amusingly perfect.
The rest of breakfast past with smiles, happy moans and one small argument of omelets versus pancakes. Murphy managed to badger his brother into submission and they settled that omelets were indeed the best of breakfast foods. After long moments of watching them, my curiosity got the better of me, and I had to ask the question I had been eating away at me all morning. Who was older? I could make equal argument on both parts. Murphy seemed more muscled and generally the bulkier of the two, but Connor acted more mature. I couldn't figure it out, and gave in. "So guys," both happily shifted their attention away from their banter, "it may not be my business, but I was wondering which of you is older?" like clockwork they answered in unison "I am" Murphy with an overly smug smirk and Connor with a near snarl. Both turning to the other. Looks like I had opened an old wound.
"Pfft, in your dreams." Murphy snorted.
"Is tha right, pony boy," Connor sneered, eliciting a mild gasp from his twin.
"Fuck ye!" he tossed a cigarette butt to the others face, all I could do was watch in shocked amusement, somehow knowing this fight wouldn't get too out of hand
"No fuck ye!" Connor nearly came across the table dragging Murphy from his chair to wrestle one another on the floor, a ball of pale, tan, and tattooed skin, flailing limbs and fists hat didn't quite hit their marks.
"Boys," I called hoping to end their brawl, "Boys" a little louder "BOYS," their rowdiness was making my head pound and I was thankful to se them freeze in place, mirroring each other comically, fists held mid punch. "Now you both are going to stop fighting, give each other a hug, and sit the hell down. BEHAVE" I snarled before I could stop myself. Both men were completely startled, Murphy actually muttered a "Yes, Ma" which made me laugh as the brothers hugged it out and sat civilly in accordance to my snapped demands.
I huffed a sigh as the brothers moped a bit, not really meeting one another's gaze. Maybe I had been wrong to disrupt their fit of 'brotherly love' "So does this happen often?"
"Us taking strange women in, or a breakfast fight?" was Connors quick cunning response, Murph gave him an uncertain look that I couldn't read.
"Well, I meant the second thing, but I would like answers to both question." Murphy became suddenly enthralled by his shiny silver lighter. "No, we don't take in strange women. Yes, we often have a breakfast fight. And a lunch fight and a dinner fight and a snack fight and a-" I raised my hand to cut him off nodding "I get it, I get it, you fight during meals a lot!" the chuckle formed but it never quite made it past my throat, my mood growing solemn. I had questions, they had answers.
"While we're on this whole questions business," I paused, "tell me, why did you kill those Russians?" my voice took on this strangely cold tone, on that could battle Murphy's now staring eyes the two men seated at the table with me were silent making me think I wouldn't get the answers I desperately wanted, but feared. I liked both these men so much. I hardly knew them, we were less than acquaintances really. Yet I was so very drawn to them, and the mysterious aura they carried with them like a thick fog. They seemed deep in some telepathic discussion, Murphy's handsome features marred by a ferocious scowl, Connors nearly blank aside from his pursed lips. The silent conversation ended with a nod from Murphy, they both seemed satisfied with whatever the outcome was. I myself was absolutely lost but once again these were the twins.
Due to the stillness that the small flat had taken over the past few moments, I flinched when Connors large hand reached over the table to me. Seeing my surprise, he smiled an apology that would make anyone's heart palpitate, and continued his action. His fingers brushed the sensitive skin on my neck, and I shivered, nearly moaning. Not a good situation, this was. Me being alone in an apartment with blue and bluer eyes, comforting caresses, and lilting accents. I was doomed.
I prepared myself to bite the metaphorical bullet and go with fate, if they wanted to take me here on the table, I certainly couldn't (wouldn't) stop them. But really it couldn't be that bad. I unconsciously nibbled at my bottom lip, looking into Murphy's smirking eyes, while Connor continued doing whatever he was with my neck. Then he suddenly pulled away, to my surprised, bringing a strong of beads with him. Murphy's rosary.
I hadn't let go of them. Last night but somehow they ended up around my neck. How had I not noticed? Blush swept across my face as I realized that I had mistaken a religious gesture as come form of foreplay. Very smooth Allison.
Connor's gaze was one that demanded attention seemingly to give the information I sought, then forgot. His hand still clutched the borrowed rosary just beneath my chin, his closeness cooling and warming at the same time. "Liss, you have faith, aye? You held on to this all night, and we heard your prayer," he saw my blush resurface and grinned, "Would you believe that murph and I are God's soldiers?" his words were a bit perverse, strange, against what I had been taught. Murphy saw the skepticism in my arched brow so he felt the need to clarify, "Now we aren't a couple of Bible toting do-gooders," he gave a little wink, "No but we do Gods work," both brothers spoke now giving the last statement eerie chill "Destroy all that which is evil, so that that which is good may flourish."
Oh grand, they're crazy. "Uh-huh" I nodded as if I heard this stuff everyday "Now did God speak to you guys?" Connor seemed very enthusiastic to answer an affirmative. "Right. House or cell phone?" I snapped, annoyed they could twist my religion to how they pleased. Connor's head fell and Murphy sort of growled. Maybe I shouldn't have said that, I do have a little problem of not thinking before I speak, and thinking back to the assassination I witness there was a certain holiness to the whole business. The beautiful, lilting prayer spoken in sync. The entire world straining to hear what those two blue eyed angels spoke.
Could god grant such a thing? Something inside me wanted to believe and was crying out with all its might, yelling to all my senses forcing them to succumb. Maybe they weren't angels but they were something. Different. Sacred.
I nodded acceptance just a moment too late, the rosary tumbling from the lighter twins grasp thunking against my chest. He stood and left the apartment, grabbing only his worn jeans on the way, good job. I thought sarcastically to myself.
I looked to Murphy wondering why he hadn't followed suit, but he was smiling to my surprise. What an odd reaction, I had expected to be met with harsh words and stinging blows, but got an apology, "Sorry 'bout Conn," his hand clasped mine on the table running his strong, steady thumb softly over my soft wrist in an utterly amazing sensation. "He takes our work very seriously," he released a worn sigh that could take off years, "We both do. He's just… devoted." he closed his eyes, smiling as if savoring his words as he often did when talking of his brother.
"Will he be okay?" the cold Boston air was nothing to play with, I was a bit worried, but Murphy shook me off.
"Aye, lass, he's a strong man, my brother."
"Stronger than hypothermia?"
"Aye."
Silence fell, awkward but some how light.
"I believe you," I muttered minutes passing "I believe God sent you a mission," hat I had witnessed last night could only be that.
"I know."
"You know."
"Yeah, your eyes give you away."
"What?"
He shrugged, "Can just read em is all," offering his best toothy grin he lifted my hand to his lips, kissing every knuckle. Every kiss left me gasping for air, yet frozen in place as icy pools slipped under my skin, right were it belonged. Leaking into my veins heating things south and chilling things north. The worst part was, this bastard knew exactly what he was doing. He was smirking, dammit. But oh, was it a handsome smirk.
I made to pull my hand away but he wasn't having it, shooting me a glare and tightening his already solid grip. Closer to him, his mouth on my skin, the heat, that tickly scruffle teasing my flesh, those ivory teeth nipping. My world became a complete whirl of everything Murphy, overwhelmingly so. Id never felt this way before, this spinning tilting, blood rush he'd given me, turning me into a sputtering idiot.
Fortunately and unfortunately, Connor chose this second to return bursting into the apartment, bringing a chill with him "Fucking cold!" he yelped as he leaped into a bed, cocooning into a tight bundle. I sighed and met the darker and obviously more dangerous half's laughing gaze. The man gave my hand one last peck, slipped his rosary over my head, and went over to his twin, wrecking the cocoon much to Connor's horror.
There they were, once again grinning stupidly and snuggling to one another like little puppies. I had to admit right there that I was extremely jealous of their relationship. How Murphy could come over, break something, put it all back together and quite a bit of extra. Connor certainly loved it as he nestled deeper into the scratchy wool, huddling under his twin's bare form.
I felt that odd feeling again that these two were different, the one I had felt earlier when I saw them in bed, wrapped together much like now. Maybe they ere more than brothers. As soon as it was whispered a deep blush overtook me completely. How could I possibly think something so perverted? They couldn't possibly be. It just was brotherly love. Maybe not. Why was that idea so appealing? Does forbidden fruit taste the sweetest?
For Thee my Lord, for Thee.
"Are you sure I can stay?" I couldn't help but ask for the umpteenth time tonight my voice carrying an annoying whine that even I couldn't stand. Murphy was with me at the table where he was sketching happily pictures of smoky rooms, and beautifully built women with thick lips and sultry eyes filled his paper.
"Yes, fer tha trillionth time," he smiled around his cigarette which I leaned to be a near constant with him. Murphy and cigarettes. Connor and booze. Its just how they were different but so complementary.
I hadn't seen Connor since earlier when he'd had a heated conversation in some thick sounding language which led to Connor storming off and (according to Murphy) go drown his anger in a pint.
I was fine with just spending some time with one brother. When they were together I was just so much I left me wired but had such a crash. They were worse than a sugar rush with a possibility of whiplash.
I fiddled with one of Murphy's stray pens, unable to hold back in the temptation drawing held, and it seemed such a suitable outlet. A giant weight fled my shoulders as pen dropped line on white, forming shapes. I let my fingers do their will, sticky ink making its way home.
I had been in an entirely different world until more than midway through my drawing did I realize what it was. I had drawn the brothers as I had first seem them, side by side, peas coats, jeans and angel wings. Really it was inexact likeness I had to admit. Though the ink couldn't capture the vibrancy of their eyes I settled on a lighter shading. I was near perfect, so I finished it off with a sigh and set back, dropping the stylus.
The second I was done however, Murphy, energetic, curious child that he was tore it off the table and took in all it had to offer. He stared for a long while, making me nervous, assessing my lines then giving an approving grunt, and smiling broadly.
"Ye actually made Conn not look like an arse-face" he chuckled and I
"Hey, that's your brother you're talking about!" I hummed quietly my mind slipped back to earlier seductive train of though. Dare I bring that up?
"Aye, and he's the most handsome are face on the green Earth," his smile was loaded but I couldn't read it. My brow shot to the top of my sheer bangs.
"Why are you talking about yourself Murph?" Connor stumbled through the door with a very hairy man before I could respond. The hairy man that was supposing most of his weight on Connor perked up when his eyes set on me.
"Hey, whose the broad?" classy. He was met with a palmed hand to the forehead and he sputtered a correction, "Lady! Lady, I meant lady," I giggled, surprised that Connor would take up for me like he had, and for whatever reason this made Murphy laugh and wrap and arm tightly around my shoulders.
"Easy Rocco," the Irish man sniffed my hair "this one's taken." THE HELL?!
"I am?" I somehow squeaked
"Aye," Murphy winked, and jerked his head in Rocco's direction.
"Oh?"
Connor hushed us both for an announcement, "Alright, alright, everyone" he raised his hands, similar to a rock star trying to quiet a roaring crowed, "Now I been doin' some thinkin' an' I've decided that Liss can stay here as long s she needs." he folded his arms across his chest seeming proud.
"Oh? And was there ever the question that she couldn't stay?" Murphy snorted, arm flexing around me. What had I gotten into?
Connor's proud stance faltered as he struggled for his words, alcohol slowing his thought process, "Look, Murph, I know ye like the a girl an all but the oldest I should-" he was cut off by Murphy's thick shoulder connecting to his gust the tow already mid brawl before they his the floor, the warmth of Murphy's strong arm evaporating and leaving a not so pleasant chill.
Rocco took Murphy's place beside me, shifting uncomfortably as we watched the two men on the floor curses and punch and received punch.
"Its best to let them fight it out until they break something," Roc shifted again, "They always beak something," he smiled form under his densely bearded face, I only hope they didn't break each other.
The fight came to a halt when, as predicted, the bedside lamp came crashing to the floor due to a wild punch from Connor. Both mumbled something as they picked up the pieces, but I had last interest in their hunched forms and b brought my attention back to roc who was holding my drawing head tilted.
"Hey , Murph," he called, "this is some really good shit! Why the fuck didn't you draw me in though? You know we totally kick ass as-" his though process fizzled out giving me a concerned glance.
" It's okay Roc, she know." Connor assured the hairy Italian man.
"And I didn't draw that, look at her." Murphy added.
Rocco looked as overwhelmed as I felt and he about blew a gasket, " what do you mean she knows?!" he began his tirade but the boys quickly stopped him before he could get too out of hand, " roc we didn't have a choice to tell her. She fuckin' saw us do one!"
"Aw, you guys went on a mission without me?" he pouted then redirected, "I mean what do you mean she saw?" he raged, " doesn't that make her a lia-fuckin-ability?"
"Roc, calm down. We saved her from some Russian Mafioso's," Murphy spat, "chained her to a fucking radiator."
"Oh," roc muttered apologetically not meeting my eyes not that I cared, I was mildly pissed, "Sorry, didn't realize…"
I got a sudden craving for hard liquor just then. The three men eyed me warily s I banged through the cabinets, searching for the emergency booze stash I knew they had, coming back with a shout of victory and a mostly full bottle of Jameson's. grabbing four mugs I mad my way over to the table, motioning for the twins and Rocco to join me. Murphy was more than happy to plop down in the wobbly chair beside m, slinging an arm around my shoulders and downing his shot s soon as I poured it. Connor seemed concerned, having forgotten his earlier anger at me. "Do you think that's such a good idea?" motioning wildly at me pouring murph another shot then upturning the bottle into o my mouth , forgoing my mug "How old are ye anyways?! Can't be out of high school yet!" his whining was getting on my nerves though his gorgeous eye did still a lot of it.
"I'm twenty-two, asshole." the whiskeys burn gave my voice a strange sultry tone. I had meant my words as playful but the whiskey made it bite. "you aren't supposed tah ask a lady her age anyhow," I drawled the long hit I took flowing to my brain my slight temper rearing its pretty little head.
"Hey girly we ain't looking fer a fight." Murphy squeezed me against his warm side muscles relaxing. I looking around, feeling like an idiot for getting offended and completely embarrassed. A part of me didn't want the twin's friends knowing me as, "the girl who was chained to the radiator" a name like that just made me sound pathetic.
Rocco's eyes had softened and I believed he was genuinely sorry. I was also certain alcohol had loosened his anger and he was quick to jump. Time to make friends.
Sighing I rerouted all my energy into a beaming smile, throwing a hand in Rocco's direction, "Nice to meet you, my name is Allison. You can cal me Liss," he awkwardly took my hand mumbling his own name. Satisfied I began once again downing the bottle but was halted in my efforts Connor pulling the liquor pas my reaching grasp. "Hey what the hell?"
"Aw, come on Conn she said she's twenty-two that's totally legal to drink," his index finger twirled a stray lock of my chestnut hair, "and for other things." he said it so only I could hear. Why did he keep saying things like that? Was he playing with me? My mouth had fallen agape and my face was certainly a lovely shade of tomato, how charming.
"Right," he sighed, "she's just so," he paused to motion along my body then settled onto his own chair, "young!" I couldn't help but giggle then successfully down the bottle to nearly half almost downing and giving Murphy and giggle fit. Soon we were all laughing and drinking, bring merry. I gained a new appreciation for roc as he spilled his heart over his 'druggie bitch ex girl friend the man nearly brought to tears at one point. Both boys were comforting him, and I even smoothed his greasy hair away from his eyes and tilted his head up. Rocco obviously meant the world to his friends and I could see why, though crude, Rocco was a sweet, vulnerable guy.
It was Roc's near beak down that made me decide food was he only remedy for this situation. Getting up from the table was certainly a task, having to remove Murphy's well muscled arm from its firm perch on my shoulder while combating gravity.
"Liss, where are ya going?" the brothers called together in another bizarre twin moment, both raising their hands questioningly, Murphy holding yet another cigarette.
"Don't mind me," I called in a sing song voice, "just keep talking." the boys shrugged it off and Rocco went on with some epic and rather foul mouthed exaggeration of a story that had both twins enthralled.
I was happy to be back in the kitchen, in my element. Drinking with these men had been fun, they had made me welcome, treated me as one of the guys. They had even laughed at my awful attempt at a dirty joke (a dare form Rocco, of course) but I could never be so happy as I was while cooking.
Food in the apartment was still scarce except everything you could can. I decided I would put a stop to that soon. Wit, what? Was I really making decisions on how these boys lived? From my place at he stove I listened to the boys' happy laughter, my hands working in the dough I had put together. They didn't have a woman in their lives k, that much was obvious. These three needed a woman to care for them, mother figure, or otherwise. I could be just he lady to take care of that, and I fully intended to do so.
