After a million years, here is an update or (ten million) for Pathways.

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Ringing of his cell phone was enough to knock Eddie from a solid sleep, but not enough to move him as he gave a grumpy groan. The black haired man grabbing a pillow and covering his face with it for a ring or two. Eventually relenting as he snatched out his hand in the direction of his cell phone, bringing it to his ear.

"You haven't been leaving me messages have you?" Sasha's voice startled Eddie out of the sleepy stupor he had been in, "If you have I haven't gotten any of them."

"Seriously?" He questioned back, tiredly blinking as he rubbed at his eyes. The roadie twisting around in his bed as he tried to remember what time he went to bed the night before. "And- hi, Sasha. What's up?"

"Yes, seriously. I misplaced my phone on the train. I'm thankful someone returned it," Eddie could hear the touch of a smile in Sasha's voice, "I'm coming home in a few days is what is up, Mr. Riggs,"

"Seriously?"

"Yes, and you need to expand your vocabulary,"

"Owch, Sasha." He laughed back as he coaxed his hand through his hair. "So, you up for lunch when you get back?"

Sasha's laugh was something more wondrous than Eddie thought it could be. The rich baritone just making the roadie smile. "Yes, yes I am,"

#####

"I wonder if they'll ever fix this place up?" The swing creaked under her as Ophelia easily moved to stand up on the seat instead of sit on it. Her hands grabbing onto the old metal chains somehow still holding the swing together. She balanced herself easily as she moved to herself back and forth slowly but surely, building momentum.

Eddie shrugged in turn, staying seated on his own swing as he watched Ophelia from the corner of his eye. "Probably not, this isn't really a good neighborhood,"

"Still, there are plenty of kids here, beautifying it couldn't hurt,"

"They still use this place, Ophs. It doesn't need to be beautiful to be loved,"

Ophelia paused, still swinging slightly as she spared her friend a glance. "That has to be the most poetic thing you've ever said, Eddie."

"Shit, I better cut that out or I'll start spoutin' poetry at you," He laughed back as leaned against the chain in his grasp. "Promise me, if I start screeching about how people don't understand how deep and meaningful my rhyme scheme is, you'll kill me,"

"Promise," She easily called back as she started to really move forward. "I'll relish killing you as you whine and cry over your utter deepness,"

"Good, you got yourself some straight ass priorities," He snapped a playful salute back at Ophelia, the brunette woman laughing softly at that. She eventually getting the momentum she wanted and leaping off of the swing. Eddie wasn't exactly surprised by the fact she landed on her feet, he clapping easily back as she bowed.

"Thank you, thank you, I'm here all day,"

"I hope you aren't, stayin' here all day would be super shitty,"

"It could be worse, there's a swing set, a jungle gym, a merry go round, all in all it's a fun place."

"If not creepy as shit when you're out here alone." Eddie dryly offered as he tilted his head back, eyes closing for a moment. He able to hear Ophelia moving around in the sandy pit that made up the area around the swing set. She kicking around sand easily before flopping back onto the swing she had been sitting on.

"You say I'm negative?" She scoffed simply back as she started working on her momentum again, Eddie figuring she would do another mighty leap to prove her prowess as queen of the jungle before she relaxed. Ophelia was still adjusting to being home again if anything, she had gotten used to being cramped up on a tour bus often enough that this freedom was just odd for her. She had more energy to burn off than anyone the roadie had ever known. Back in the old days, he certainly had more ways to help her get rid of that energy. Now all he could do was watch her jump around a jungle gym like a monkey on speed.

"Yes, yes I do. Negative Nancy,"

"Well, Positive Percy, you need to have a more realistic view," She reached out to poke his leg with the toe of her sneaker. "Especially since I think you're going to be late for something,"

"Late?" He blinked his eyes open at that, patting his pocket for his phone to check the time. "Shit- time went by fast!"

"You better get going, Percy." She dryly offered back as she watched Eddie jump up onto his feet.

"I am, I am! I'll see you later, Ophs!" He called back to her as he made his way back to where he parked his car. Ophelia was content to stay where she was and swing for awhile, more than happy to actually just walk home.

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"Burgers, really?" Sasha eyed the dark haired man as Eddie grinned warmly back. He gently nudging Sasha forward further into the relatively quaint burger place as Sasha hesitated fro a moment. Eddie calmly chuckled back at that, he taking the initiative and heading in first. "Well, yeah, burgers are always excellent,"

"Don't mind if I don't disagree with you on that."

"Ey, you asked me to take you some place new, and I did just that, Mr. Nein." He playfully winked back at Sasha as he grabbed a table. The german man took a seat across from the taller man, resting his hands on the table as he eyed the 50's style diner for a moment. The set up was surprisingly faithful unlike most would be faux diners. Eddie could tell Sasha liked it from the quirk of his lips and slow nod. It was nice to actually see that again.

"And that you did, good choice. We had burgers yesterday though."

"There is more than burgers, so you'll be alright."

"If you're wrong, you pay for lunch." The German man dryly offered back, reaching out to pick up one of the menus. Eddie picking up one of his own, his gaze briefly drifting over to Sasha's hands, the slim fingers held onto the menu surprisingly delicately.

"Yeah, yeah." Eddie opened his menu, easily going over it, just deciding on a burger. He peering over his menu a little as Sasha quietly took his time, he resting his knuckles lightly against his lips in thought. Grey eyes flickering across the words printed across the paper covered by plastic.

"I might go for the chicken salad, it sounds good."

"And it is, man. I'm pretty sure you'll dig it."

"You said that about moshing as well, Mr. Riggs."

"You'll never let me live that down will you?"

"Never."

"But I paid it off with beer."

"Beer cannot sedate my inner rage." Sasha offered dryly back as he placed the menu down onto the table again. Eddie had to laugh at the German man's words, he leaning a little back into his chair as he toyed with the fraying plastic on the edges of the menu. "Oh man, can't let that inner rage get outer you know."

The German man's lips quirked upwards somewhat. "Bribing helps ease the pain you know."

"I'll keep that in mind, I'd rather not see the rage seep out." Eddie laughed again, he releasing the menu onto the table, trying to stop himself from picking at the plastic any further. He liked this place so destroying the menus wouldn't exactly be helpful.

"It would be bad for the rest of the world."

He teased simply back, resting his hand on the table, briefly oblivious to how close his hand was to Sasha's own. "I can guess, you're a terrifyin' force."

"Only you would say that about a man like me, Mr. Riggs."

"I think anyone would if they knew all the heavy metal badassery under those sunglasses."

Eddie wasn't quite sure what to make of Sasha's expression as the German man shifted in his seat, his tone slightly stiff as he answered back. "Ah, thank you."

"You're welcome," Eddie sat up a little, half afraid he made Sasha uncomfortable as he brought his hand closer to the edge of the table where he sat. Before he could ask Sasha how he was feeling, the German man cut him off at the pass. "What are you going to get?"

"A double cheese burger, cause I need double the burger and cheese." Sasha snorted quietly back at that, tension easing from his body language as he shook his head. "Only you would, Eddie."

"Nu-uh." He stuck his tongue back at out at Sasha, startled when the German man immediately reached out to grab it. He actually seizing it with his fingertips with a playful smirk on his features. The two men both blinking in confusion as what happened set in, Sasha going bright red as he snapped his hand back over to press it against his chest. His sunglasses slid down the bridge of his nose revealing his widened gray eyes.

"Oh my god, I- I'm so sorry."

Eddie uncertainly sat up as he rubbed his fingers against his lips warily. Trying to wait out the uncomfortable tingling that came with having one's tongue grabbed. "Hey, hey, uh, it's okay."

"This is so embarrassing." Sasha covered his face with his hands, he just resting his head on the table between them. "I do that with my niece- it's automatic."

The roadie's brows knit together as he reached out to gently pat Sasha on the back comfortingly. "Hey, it's okay, I'll remember not to stick my tongue out at you anymore."

All Eddie got in response was a muffled. "Just kill me."

"Just order a milkshake and I'll pay for it."

"Just drown me in the milkshake."

"I'm not gonna drown you in the milkshake."

"Drown me, bury me in a sea of dairy by products."

"Just eat your food, you dork." Eddie laughed back, amusement clear in his features, just very happy to have Sasha home again. The warmth flooding his chest just- was something Eddie wasn't going to deal with now. Maybe, maybe later.