Anonymous asked:

Duke Universe prompt. Rachelle and Duke meet after Duke finds out Rose is cheating.

That's an interesting duo

Warnings for this one: infidelity mentions, written on my phone.

Rachelle walked into the cafe, immediately spotting Duke hunched over at one of the tables. She sat down across from him, not wanting to stay long enough to order a coffee. She wasn't even sure what she was doing here.

"Hello, Duke," Rachelle said carefully. She'd always liked Duke, always thought that he and Rose were a good fit. The first time she'd met him, she'd told Rose that she was going to steal Duke away, because he was the last good man on Earth. The memory seemed tasteless now.

"Rachelle, thanks for coming. I didn't know if you would."

"Well, you were my brother in law for years. I've always liked you, Duke, but I'm not really sure what I'm doing here."

"You know Rose better than anyone and I was hoping, I suppose, for insight. For something. There has to be a reason but she won't tell me."

Rachelle hesitated, toying with her watch rather than looking at him. There was a reason but it was so crazy and fantastical that Rose hadn't even told Rachelle about it right away.

"If she won't tell you, I can't. It's not my place."

"Did she tell you she was sleeping with him? Did you know what she was doing and not tell me?"

The pain on Duke's face pierced Rachelle. She wasn't heartless and she had accepted Duke like a brother. She knew what Rose had done wasn't and never would be the correct option. But, she couldn't make Rose's decisions for her.

"It wasn't my place."

"What a cop out,", Duke scoffed. "She was my wife! I deserved the truth!"

"That's true."

"Adela just calls her names and tells me that I should forget about her."

"You're allowed to be angry," Rachelle agreed, "but even though I don't agree with her choices, she's still my sister, and I don't want to sit here and listen to you rant about her."

"I know."

"Then why am I here?" Rachelle asked. "I don't think I'm the person to help you."

Duke shook his head and wrapped his hands around his coffee mug. "I don't know. I guess I just wanted … Something. Understanding."

"We aren't the same," Rachelle said, "I'm not the person who can give you answers."

"It seems that there is no one who will give me answers."

"Adela is right that you have to move on," Rachelle said. "It's a marriage, I get that it's not easy to just leave it behind, and I don't want to be insensitive, but, she has moved on. She's not coming back."

Duke nodded. "I suppose that's what I was expecting. I just don't know how to start."

"I would ask Adela about that," Rachelle said. She reached out and she patted Duke's hand. "Take care, Duke."

"You too," he whispered.

Rachelle left as quickly as she'd walked in, wanting to put the image of misery out of her mind.