Author's Notes: Just a brief thing as I still work out the feelings the third season generated. Don't expect much.

Spoilers for Season 3, specifically S03E03.

You're Still Being Mean To Her

Maeve glanced at Otis walking beside her and realised she couldn't keep quiet about it. She placed herself in front him so they could stop and talk.

"Actually, Otis, I need to talk to you—" she said.

"What are you doing here, cock-biter?" Ruby's voice came from behind her, startling her.

"Don't call her that, please," Otis said to Ruby, annoyed.

"Your girlfriend's charming," Maeve said, glaring at Otis before walking away.

Ruby watched her go indifferently, then flicked her hair.

"What did you wanna talk about?" Otis called after Maeve.

"Don't worry about it," Maeve called back.

Otis pressed his lips together then looked at Ruby, frowning.

"So 6:30 tonight, yeah?" Ruby asked.

"No."

"I'm sure that's the time we-."

"I can't do this. I don't care what you say to me, Ruby, but Maeve did not deserve that."

Ruby looked puzzled.

"I… I have tried to look past it… because I know you're more than this mean girl persona you choose to inhabit… but you're still being mean. I hoped you'd change but you're still being mean."

"OT?"

"I've overlooked it with other people and I shouldn't have but Maeve's my… was my friend. You know that. And she helped you. You know that. And you're still being mean to her. I can't do this anymore."

"What are you saying, OT?"

"We're over. We're done. I can't be with you anymore."

Ruby was too stunned to speak.

"I'm sorry about our date," he said, hurrying away. "I'll let Eric know we're not coming."

Otis began to run, hoping to catch Maeve. When he saw her, he called her name and was relieved to see her stop and turn.

When he reached her, he gazed into her eyes and said, "I'm sorry. She really shouldn't have said that. You deserve to be treated better than that."

"Well, it wasn't you who said it but I can't believe you're with her. That's not the—"

"I'm not."

"What?"

"That's done. We're done. I can't be with her if she's still going to treat you or anybody like that."

"You broke up with her?" Maeve asked, voice soft.

"We were supposed to go on a date with Eric and Adam. I'll have to let Eric know."

"Otis-?" she began, hope rising.

"No, can I… can I say something first?"

"Uh-huh," she said, nodding.

"I know the voicemail is not enough, but could we please just forget all the other stuff I said and just focus on the fact I messed up. I hurt you and I'm sorry and I would like to try to make it up with you because… it's so hard not being even friends with you. That's why I can't do the clinic stuff anymore. Because it hurts too much not doing it with you."

Maeve was silent for a moment, then quietly said, "I didn't get the voicemail."

"What?"

"Isaac deleted it."

"He what?"

"He was trying to protect me from you, apparently. I was really hurt after the party."

"I'm sorry. I wish I could take every word back."

"You had a right to be angry, Otis. I fucked up your relationship with Ola. I just wish… I just wish you had come and talked to me about it. In private. Not in front of everyone."

"I'm sorry. I should have. But I... I have anger issues. I know that. I've got a lot of growing up to do," he said, ruefully.

"What did the voicemail say?"

"That I messed it up and I'm sorry."

"Is that all?"

"The important thing. The rest doesn't matter."

"It matters to me."

Otis stared at her, indecisive for a moment, then began, "It was something like, "Hi, Maeve. I'm watching you on TV right now. And I wanted to let you know how proud I am of you. And about how you saying you had feelings for me was all I ever wanted to hear. 'Cause it's always been you." He hesitated a moment, wondering if he should go on, then said, "I love you."

"Did you mean it?" she asked and when he didn't respond, she repeated it, in a very quiet, hopeful tone. "Did you mean it?"

"Of course I meant it."

Maeve hesitated for a moment then stepped forward, put her hands on his shoulders and reached her head up, lips parting. Otis met her lips with his own and neither could tell how long this moment lasted.

Author's Notes: I had the season playing in the background for most of the first week after it dropped and I'm still feeling melancholic. Publishing this feels like an indulgence.