Alex walked into the record store, adjusting the strap of the backpack slung over her shoulder as she headed toward the radio booth. She moved to stand in front of the window, watching Steph fiddle with the sound equipment with a small smile playing across her face.
Steph grabbed two records from the table, glancing at each one before she looked up, grinning as soon as she saw Alex. She flipped the records in her hands around, holding them up to the glass so Alex could see the covers.
Alex's smile widened as she stepped closer to the glass to examine the records. After a few seconds, she pointed to the one on the right. Steph pulled the records back from the window and set up the one Alex had chosen on the turntable before stepping up to the microphone.
"Good afternoon, citizens of Haven Springs! You just heard "Smile," from Wolf Alice. Up next, a very special request from…" Steph glanced at Alex and winked. "My amazingly hot girlfriend."
Alex laughed and shook her head as she set her backpack on the ground, straightening up just as Steph stepped out of the booth. Steph quickly closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around Alex and lifting her up as she spun around.
Alex grabbed Steph's shoulders, grinning as Steph set her back on the ground. "You seem happy to see me."
"Yeah, dude, of course I am." Steph kissed Alex's forehead before pulling back slightly. "It's your first day back in the store and you're…" She glanced at the clock on the wall above the door, her eyes widening slightly. "Wow, you're fifteen minutes early."
Alex shrugged. "I figured I had some time to make up since I was late so much at first."
"You don't have to do that. Just being on time is plenty."
"I know. But I wanted to make sure I got off on the right foot this time. And I have something for you." Alex stepped back from Steph, crouching down to rummage in the backpack at her feet. She pulled out a brown paper bag and an empty bottle before standing up. "Here," she said, offering the bag to Steph. "I know you forgot your lunch, so I made you one."
Steph smiled as she took the bag from Alex. "Thanks, dude. I really appreciate it." She glanced at the bottle in Alex's hand. "What's that?"
"This is a present." Alex held the bottle out with both hands, spinning it around so Steph could see the front.
"It's…" Steph squinted at it for a second and then laughed. "It's a whiskey bottle with the label from a package of bologna stuck to it. Is it my depression meal trophy?" she asked, laughing again when Alex nodded. She took the bottle and walked over to set it on the shelf behind the register. She turned to Alex and gestured toward the shelf. "How does it look?"
"It looks fine, but are you sure you want to display it there? You might have to explain to customers what it's for."
"Uh, yeah, I'm sure," Steph said as she moved to stand next to Alex again. "Because I can tell them it's a present from my wonderful girlfriend." She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Wait, you had stuff to make me lunch and a package of bologna to get that label from? Does that mean you did your own grocery shopping?"
"I did, yeah."
"So, you went grocery shopping and showed up early for your shift?" Steph pulled Alex into another hug and pressed a kiss to the side of her head. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you. I'm…proud of me, too." Alex pulled back from the hug but kept her arms around Steph. "Yeah, I am proud of myself."
Steph leaned down to kiss her, breaking away after a moment to bump their foreheads together. "I have to get back to the booth, but I'll be done in, like, half an hour. After that, I can just put on a playlist, and we can eat lunch together."
"Sounds good." Alex squeezed her arms around Steph one last time before letting her go.
Once Steph was back in the radio booth, Alex went to check the to do list waiting for her next to the register. She set about her tasks, singing along to the songs Steph had playing as she moved around the store. Every time she passed in front of the radio booth window, she danced with exaggerated movements until she got Steph to laugh.
About twenty minutes later, Alex brought two boxes to the table across from the door, opening them to pull out records and comic books to add to the display. She heard the bell on the door chime and turned around to greet whoever had come inside. Her smile instantly fell from her face when she saw the person standing in the doorway.
Mac Loudon walked slowly into the store, glaring at Alex as his hands clenched into fists at his sides. A red aura flashed and twisted around him, his anger surging ahead of him like a tidal wave.
Alex staggered back against the table, knocking one of the boxes to the floor as her hands scrambled to grip the wooden edge. "Mac," she said through gritted teeth. "Unless you want the shit beaten out of you again, this is a really bad idea."
Mac let out a bitter laugh and took half a step forward, grinning wolfishly when Alex flinched away. "What makes you think you'd win this time, huh?"
Alex could smell the alcohol on his breath even from a few feet away. His anger was still tearing through her veins, screaming at her to take the first hit before he could get the advantage. She could feel fear flickering through the edges of his anger, partially subdued by the beers he had downed before coming over here, but still enough to hold him back from attacking her. "Mac, just leave before this gets any worse."
Mac clenched his jaw and took another step forward. "No. No, you're not getting rid of me that easily. You ruined my life!"
Alex scoffed. "You didn't need me for that. You're pretty good at making your own stupid choices."
"Fuck you," Mac growled. He closed the distance between them, jabbing his finger into Alex's chest. "Everything's gone to shit for me since you came here. Riley broke up with me, half the town still thinks I killed Gabe, and I can't find work since I lost my job. I have nothing left and everyone thinks you're the hero for taking down Typhon."
Alex took a deep breath, her knuckles going white as she gripped the edge of the table. "Mac, seriously, I can't—"
Mac sneered and leaned in even closer. "Everyone else might love you, but I know the truth. You're still just some fucking psycho loser. That's never going to change."
Alex squeezed her eyes shut as Mac's anger roared through her again. It felt like holding boiling water in her hands, the water bubbling and thrashing as it seared her flesh. She tried to bear the pain without absorbing the anger, but it was too much, the feeling was seeping into her skin to scorch her bones and she couldn't hold it back any longer…until she opened her fingers and let the water fall through them.
Mac's rage was still there. She could still feel it, but it was like watching that boiling water run in rivulets on the ground. It was there, still trying to get to her, but she could step back, and it wouldn't touch her, wouldn't pull her down until she was helplessly drowning in it.
Alex opened her eyes and held Mac's gaze as she let out a long exhale. Then she stepped to the side, knocking his hand away from her. "Your life sucks because of your choices, dumbass, and I don't have time to deal with your tantrum. Go bother someone else."
She started to walk away but stopped when Mac grabbed her upper arm. She turned to look back at him, glancing down at his hand before meeting his eyes again. "Let go of me." She could feel fear prickling the back of his neck, but he still didn't release her. "Mac, I'm not gonna ask again. Let go of me."
Before Mac could respond, Steph appeared next to Alex, ripping his hand away and shoving him back several steps. Alex froze as Steph's anger erupted next to her, focusing on taking deep breaths until she was able to let it go the same way as Mac's.
Mac staggered back a few steps before lunging forward with his arms outstretched. Steph moved to meet him, punching him in the jaw hard enough to spin him around. Mac collapsed onto the back of the chair at the listening station before sliding to the floor.
Steph took a step toward him, but Alex moved to grab her shoulder.
"Steph," Alex said, tightening her grip when Steph tried to throw off her hand. She stepped in front of Steph, blocking her view of Mac. "Steph, stop. He's not worth it."
Steph's glare softened as she met Alex's eyes. "Right, you're right." She exhaled sharply and took a step back.
"You're all fucking psychos!" Mac yelled as he struggled to his feet.
Alex turned around to face at him. "I'd rather be a psycho than an asshole. Get out. And don't come back."
Mac glared at both of them, his jaw working as his hands balled into fists. He opened his mouth to argue but shut it again when Steph took half a step toward him. Then his hands relaxed, and he turned to head out the door.
Once Mac was outside, Steph rushed over to Alex. "Are you okay? He was so angry and you—" She jerked back several steps, her eyes going wide. "Shit, I'm angry, I shouldn't—"
Alex stepped closer to Steph and took both of her hands. "I'm fine. Thanks for getting rid of him."
Steph nodded, her eyes searching Alex's face. "You sure you're okay? It looked like he was about to hurt you. And he was so pissed."
"Yeah, I'm sure. I think I figured out a way to feel his anger without it taking over."
Steph gaped at her. "You did? That's…" She shook her head and let out a breathy laugh. "That's amazing. You're amazing. I love you."
They both froze, staring at each other as Steph's face flushed.
"I…I-I mean, uh..." Steph dropped her eyes to the floor as she rubbed the back of her neck. "Sorry, I think it's the adrenaline, I just—"
Alex went up on her toes and pulled Steph into a kiss. She broke away a moment later to smile at Steph. "It's okay. I've been hearing it since you started saying it in your head a week ago. But it's nice to hear it out loud."
Steph blushed even harder as she grinned. "I don't know how I keep forgetting that you can do that." Her smile widened when Alex laughed. "You don't have to say it back yet. If you're not ready, I mean. I don't—" She stopped when Alex reached up to caress her cheek.
Alex held Steph's gaze for a moment, slowly running her thumb back and forth across Steph's cheek. "I love you, too." She smiled up at Steph, her expression growing concerned when Steph swayed slightly. "You okay?" she asked, moving her hands to Steph's waist to steady her.
Steph let out another breathy laugh. "Yeah, I'm good. But I think I need to lay down."
Alex laughed as Steph lowered herself to the ground and laid on her back with her limbs splayed out around her. She sat down on the floor next to her, watching Steph carefully. "You gonna make it?"
"Yeah," Steph said, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "I'm just very gay and in love with my girlfriend."
Alex hummed in response. "I hear that's a very serious condition. Completely incurable."
Steph opened her eyes and tilted her head to the side to look at Alex. "I sure fucking hope so."
"Side effects include blushing, breathlessness, and looking amazingly hot while punching some asshole for your girlfriend."
"Dude, I would punch so many people for you." Steph grimaced as she shook her hand back and forth. "But maybe not a for a while. That really hurt my hand."
Alex took her injured hand and gently kissed the back of it. "Any better?"
"Yep, all better. Still super gay and in love though."
"Perfect."
