AN: Shoutout to the fam!
Southern
By: anybodihearme
Originally Uploaded: Thursday, June 29, 2017
"Close that damn door!" Edward screams over his shoulder with his arms elbow deep in a sink full of soapy water. "Were you raised in a barn!" He screams more than questions.
"Sorry Uncle Eddward!" Tommy yells back as he runs out the side door for the fifteenth time that day followed by a giggling Connie May.
"Close the screen!" Eddward hollers but it all falls on deaf ears for Tommy and Connie May both are halfway across the yard playing an old game of tag. Rolling his eyes, Eddward shakes his hands free of water and stalks over to the screen door and closes it shut, mumbling to himself the entire way about stirring gravy. Taking a deep breath, Eddward returns to the sink to finish washing the dishes; however, that plan fails altogether when he hears the sound of the screen door opening once more and slamming roughly against the wall he just scrubbed not too long ago. "You're either in or out!" Eddward yells. "Pick one!" He bellows as he slams his hands down on the counter before whirling around to scold Tommy and Connie Mat but instead blushes when he realizes it's Kevin standing in the doorway, with dirt on covering parts of his face and hands, instead of the heathens.
"For the record," Kevin begins. "They are technically being raised in a barn," he
chuckles. "In fact," he wiggles his eyebrows as he walks across the kitchen and wraps his hands around Eddward's waist. "I was raised in a barn." Kevin hums as he gently pulls Eddward against him and places a chaste kiss on his forehead. "You live in a barn too," he adds as an afterthought which only results in Eddward smacking him with the wet washcloth and turning back to the dishes.
"I know," Eddward rolls his eyes and Kevin can't help but laugh at the animosity in his voice.
"Too country for you?" Kevin jokes and Eddward grumbles to himself as he turns the faucet off and pulls the plug in the sink to drain the water.
"Never," he lies as he remembers the "thrill" he had all those years ago when he agreed to move to the south with Kevin in order for them to actually start living their lives together. Given the fact that Kevin is a coal miner and Eddward is a columnist, it only made sense for Eddward to relocate to the south rather than Kevin to the north; however, on days like this, Eddward regrets his decision.
It's not the "country life" per se that puts him on edge, it's Kevin's occupation instead. With the dangers that encompasses being a miner, Eddward can't help but worry every second of every day about Kevin's wellbeing; especially when he leaves early in the mornings to only return late in the evenings covered in coal and only God knows what else. It's just something that Eddward can't get used to but it's also something Kevin can't give up for the simple fact that Kevin was born into a mining family.
"I love you," Kevin whispers when he senses the sudden change in the atmosphere.
"I love you too," Eddward automatically whispers back.
"Don't let a redneck like me put a damper in your mood," he hums as he wraps his hands back around Eddward.
"Never," Eddward laughs at Kevin's colloquialism. "Besides, it'll take more than a few specks of coal to turn me away."
"Is that so?" Kevin raises his eyebrows as he pulls away.
"It most definitely is," Eddward begins as he looks Kevin up and down but suddenly stops and pales when he looks down at Kevin's feet. "Where are your shoes!" Eddward screeches and stares Kevin in the eyes with so much confusion and dread that it honestly scares and entertains Kevin enough that he can't help but laugh. Looking down at his bare feet, which are in fact covered in coal, Kevin shakes his head and wiggles a foot towards Eddward. Screeching, Eddward jumps back and whacks Kevin with the washcloth.
"You know you're country when you go to work with no shoes!" Sam yells from the porch and Eddward pales as he watches Tommy and Connie May run into the house with no shoes and dirty feet. Running his fingers through his hair, Eddward mumbles incoherently before throwing the washcloth on the counter and running upstairs to the bathroom most likely with the sound of Kevin's laughter trailing after him.
Maybe the "country life" is too much for him.