Chapter Two- First Impressions
"What?" Eridan said, looking at Feferi like she was a madwoman. Feferi smiled at him.
"Can Sollux stay with you for a week?" she repeated in the same perky tone she had before. Eridan began to breathe heavily and reached for his pipe.
"Feferi, my wedding is this week. I honestly do-"
"That's even better! He can be your best man. I mean, if you already don't h-" Eridan raised his hand and Feferi stopped talking. Eridan knew it was useless to fight with Feferi. She didn't like to fight. Eridan sighed. He knew that she wouldn't give up until he gave in. He put his pipe back down and stared at her. "Who are you getting married to?"
"Aradia Megido." Sollux's eyes opened wide. Aradia was his best friend. No, no, no.
"NO!" Sollux yelled. "How the hell did the get thtuck with you?"
"Zahhak offered a large dowry for her. He wants to get rid of her, Captor. Don't worry, I don't even like her. She's too poor for my tastes." Eridan smirked. Sollux grabbed the chair, trying not to punch Eridan in the face for what he had just said. "KANAYA!" The red haired maid immediately opened the door and walked in.
"Yes, Mr. Ampora?" she asked, clutching on to her black dress. "Do you need anything?"
"Make sure the guest room is clean and nice. We have someone who will be staying with us for a week." Feferi smiled and rushed over to give him a hug. Eridan moved his hands down to where her bottom was and hugged her back. He smiled when he saw Sollux's annoyed look.
Sollux looked at the guestroom. It was almost as big as the room he shared with Feferi, with purple bedsheets and a large window. Surprisingly, Sollux liked it. Just as he began unpacking, there was a loud knock on the door.
"COME IN!" Sollux yelled. The maid, Kanaya, entered, smiling.
"Mr. Ampora would like you to come down for tea, if you please, of course," she began. "He'd like you to dress in your nicest outfit."
"Tell him I'll be down in a minute." The maid nodded and left him to change. Five minutes and three outfits later, Sollux walked down the stairs and walked into the parlor. Eridan sat next to his father, and a girl sat across the two. Aradia. She was wearing a maroon colored dress and she looked as if she was about to faint. She smiled when Sollux came inside the parlor. Sollux noticed that she didn't look so dead with that smile on her face.
"You must be Mr. Captor," Eridan's father began, standing up and shaking his hand. "I'm Mr. Ampora. Please, have a seat." Sollux sat down next to Aradia. She looked smaller than she had last time. Aradia swallowed back tears and began a small conversation with Eridan. Eridan nodded and said the usual 'uh-huh', but he kept staring at Sollux. Sollux looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
"So, Miss Megido, what's your relationship with Mr. Zahhak?" Mr. Ampora began. Aradia looked at him and her brown eyes widened. She looked as if she was about to claw his eyes out.
"May I be excused?" Aradia asked. Eridan nodded and she immediately ran out. Sollux stared at Eridan. Mr. Ampora slowly walked out of the room, leaving the two alone.
"Your father really knowth how to thtick hith foot in hith mouth," Sollux began. Eridan stared at him, his eyes narrowed. "He made her cry."
"No, he didn't. He simply asked her a question," Eridan began.
"Thhe doethn't want to be your wife, and I can thee why," Sollux replied. Eridan's eyes widened.
"Excuse you, she's going to be lucky enough to even sleep in my bed. Any other lady would be on their knees thanking me." Sollux stood up and walked toward Eridan. He grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up.
"What did you jutht thay?"
"Oh, and another thing, she's the lucky lady that I'm going to... deflower." Eridan laughed at his little joke. "What woman wouldn't want Eridan Ampora to deflower them?" Sollux looked at him, a look of pure hate on his face.
"Thay that again and I will rip your face off."
"Aradia? Aradia?" Mr. Ampora called, trying to look for his son's fiancee. She was sitting on the steps of the large staircase. She looked up and frowned. "Come down, I need to speak to you." Aradia gingerly stood up and walked down the stairs. Mr. Ampora studied her. She was a small thing, five feet at the most, with skinny little arms and the saddest looking face. "Why are you so sad?"
"I'm getting married to your son," she replied, looking at the dark green floor.
"And that bothers you?"
"I don't love him."
"And?"
"I love Equius." Mr. Ampora chuckled and took put a finger under Aradia's chin. She looked up at him from under her long eyelashes.
"Of course you do, darling." He smiled. "Next time, though, realize what you are. You're a maid. And him? Well, he's rich. You obviously weren't good enough for his father. You're not good enough for my son, either." Without thinking, Aradia slapped him in the face. The frown on her face grew and she began breathing heavily. Mr. Ampora blinked twice. "I hope my son makes your life miserable, Megido, because I would."
Equius loved the way she laughed, the way she smiled, and the way she would talk when he wasn't feeling well. But she was going to leave him soon. Against her own will.
Aradia had locked herself inside her room, not even eating dinner. Equius had knocked on the door a few times and his knock had been replied with a loud sob. Equius had been sitting outside of Aradia's room for an hour and a half now. He was sick of it and decided to walk inside the room. He had the master key. He unlocked the door and walked inside the room, only to see Aradia lying on the bed, still sobbing.
Equius slowly walked up to the small, old bed and sat on it. Aradia looked up at him and shook her head. Without warning, she threw her arms around him and began sobbing into his chest.
"I don't want to marry him, Equius, I don't," she said. Equius stroked her dark hair. He had never seen Aradia cry. She put on a brave face and waited until she was at home to show her true colors. But when people were around, she put on a poker face. But right now, she was crying. Crying so hard that Equius wanted to rip his father's throat apart. "Equius, I love you."
"I do, too."
"Then take me away from here. Let's leave."
Eridan looked at his dinner. He knew it was getting cold, but he couldn't bring himself to eat it. Sollux was sitting across him, eating as if he would never see tomorrow. Eridan looked at his the seat where his father should have been sitting, but he was missing. Sollux looked up from his duck and frowned when he saw Eridan.
"Ew," Sollux managed to say. Eridan looked at him, his green eyes narrowed. "Tho, how'th it going with Aradia?"
"Fine," Eridan lied. "We're going for a walk tomorrow to see the roses. Then, we'll have lunch together." Sollux sighed, looking back down at his duck. He poked it with his fork and sighed, putting a small piece of it into his mouth. "Why? Are you jealous?"
"I'm thcared for her. I'm thcared that you'll hurt her."
"I'm not even going to touch her, Captor, so she'll be just fine. I promise you that." Sollux looked at him and managed to give him a small smile. Eridan smiled back. Gosh, Sollux looked so handsome when he smiled.
"Thankth." Eridan nodded. He looked at Sollux, studying his features. That man was handsome. Eridan's smile turned into a frown when he realized what he was thinking. No, he couldn't be attracted to Sollux Captor. That was impossible. His frown grew bigger.
He was attracted to Sollux Captor. And he hated it.
