"I'm uncontrollable, emotional, chaotically proportional, I'm visceral, reloadable"

~Twisted (MISSIO)

°~°~°

“I low-key thought this was going to be more public.” Ken announced as he scratched the back of his neck with a nervous laugh.

Bernice had already been seated with the aid of Ken pulling out her chair. Her head only tilted to the side as she glanced up at him whilst he moved to the opposite side of the table, “avoiding a so cold come out article on the tabloids. You might go by he, but they don’t that and I didn’t think you’d want your secret forced out or anything like that.”

“It’s not really a secret to me though.” He explained, taking his seat and brushing his long hair behind his ears, “I let anyone assume whatever they want. I really don’t care, despite me preferring the more masculine term. I could go by they/them. But that sounds grammatically incorrect and I will cringe the hell up.”

Bernice shrugged, “they/them fits. But as I said before gender doesn’t matter to—”

“Miss White… I’m sorry to interrupt, but a Nicholas Smith requests to see you.” Their waiter interrupted with an apologetic tone.

The name instantly rung a bell, the small bubble of excitement had her wanting to give permission for the waiter to get this Nicholas Smith, but keeping in mind she had Ken as her date she turned to him, her hand on his that rested on the table, “is it okay if I invite my old friend for a small chat?”

“No problem. You don’t need to ask.”

Bernice’s lips tilted with a soft smile as she gave the nod to the young man then reverted her attention to Ken, “despite me paying for this, I have to ask. You need to be comfortable too. I’ll try to cut the greetings short then I’m all yours.”

“Okay.” He sighed taking her fingers to his lips for a gentle peck, his thumb unintentionally ran over her wedding band as he pulled the hand away.

Hand back to herself, she began to fiddle with the ring in her lap. That had Ken sighed, knowing all to well what it meant, but he kept his mouth shut as he took his menu in hand and began to read through it.

Seconds later, a man came in. Tall, thickly muscled and a bright charming smile. Not doubt Nicholas at how wide Bernice smiled and greeted, “hey, Nicky. You look as handsome as ever.”

“And you as beautiful as ever, plus pregnant. Wow.” The man bowed to hug her, his Scottish accent coating his words.

As he kissed her cheek, she returned the gesture then reverted their attention to Ken, who remained minding his business, “This is Kenyatta. Kenyatta, this is Nicholas.”

“Kenyatta, nice to meet a friend of Niecy.” The man outstretched his arm towards Ken, his polite smile still in place.

Ken didn’t give much of a smile like the strawberry-blonde next to him, he naturally wasn’t the most friendly guy in the world, and he had no interest in forced a pleasant look on his face. He accepted to handshake though, and have a curt nod, “likewise.”

“You shake firm for a woman.” Nicholas laughed with his pair of eyebrows furrowing as he let go, “Niecy, what are you doing here? And how far are you?”

“Going into my sixth month.” She smiled with her hand on her belly. Keeping in mind she told Ken she would keep this short, she tilted her head to the side peering up at the big man’s apple-green eyes, “how about you give me your number or you take mine? We can catch up some other time. I’m already taken right now.”

“I’m sure Kenyatta wouldn’t mind me even joining. I’m actually here alone.”

This was where Ken cut in, “it’s Ken and assumptions are the mother of all fuck ups.”

“Ken.” Bernice said bowing her head to hide her smiling face from Nicholas.

“Excuse me—” the man went, but Bernice cut him off, placing her hand on his wrist, “as I said we can swap numbers. I made plans for just Ken and I. We can make plans for just you and I some other time. Is that okay?”

Nicholas’ jaw ticked, but his words remained calm, “okay, love. Give me your number. I’ll call you with a set date.”

Nodding, Bernice waited for him to pull out his phone then gave her digits. After giving her an unexpected kiss to the forehead, Nicholas gave it farewells and left.

“That was low-key sexy. Gio had Nicky weasel in on one of our dates some years ago.” She stated, “and just so you know I wouldn’t have allowed him to do that with us today.”

Ken only nodded with a small sigh at the thought of the possessiveness that rose in him not too long ago. He had mentally remind himself this woman said to separate feelings from what they were doing, but it totally pissed him off seeing Nicholas pressing his lips to her cheek and forehead in front of her. Innocent gesture, maybe, but he didn’t like it. Another reason his last and first girlfriend left.

“Are you okay?” Bernice asked with a small frown.

Giving another nod, Ken leaned forward with his fingers beneath her chin and kissed her lightly on the lips, “I’m fine. Promise.”

“Are you sure?”

His fingers only slipped around her throat after that, and as that happened, he took her in for a deeper kiss that evoked a small cry of pleasure from Bernice.

Nicholas, about to return to ask Bernice something pertaining to the restaurant had re-entered the room, but froze in his movements when he saw the two osculating the hell out of each other’s faces. Jaw ticking once more, he left the private room, then pulled out his phone, dialling a number.

As soon as the person answered, his voice held hostility, “I thought you said she was single, Viola.”

“She’s going to divorce Giovanni. That’s what I told you. What’s got your skirt in a twist?”

Running a hand through his short hair, he blew out a breath to calm himself, “she’s sucking face with a woman. I came to one of her restaurants and luckily ran into her. She isn’t alone. She’s clearly on a date with a dyke… when did she even—”

“Giovanni mentioned she cheated with someone, but he did say he was hazy on if it was a guy or girl.” Viola stated with a momentary pause, “okay, listen up. I’m going to find out about the girl. You have a name?”

“Kenyatta. Didn’t get a surname.”

“No problem. I’ll work my magic.”

***

For Sunday, Leanna and Aiden were lounged on her living room floor as they watched their favourite television series, Supernatural. Little Aiden was sure the cartons of ice cream he went through would be his early death. His sugar rush overran him a few times he didn’t care to count, and he just knew the toilet would be his best friend sooner or later.

Being the dramatic child he was her turned his hanging head to his older cousin as her feet swung off the back rest of the couch with a drug-like look in his heterochromia eyes, “is this what alcoholics and addicts go through? I still want more.”

“I’ll give you a cork of castor oil in a few. Just after I can move.” Leanna groaned as her eyes remained shut, but peeked an eye to see Dean Winchester with blood dripping from his face. Another groan left her, “he is so hot! Why can’t I have a man look like that and be all psycho for me? I’m pretty and I can hide dea—” she cut herself off, realizing what her over consumption of liquor on the side of her dairy rampage was causing.

Aiden’s eyes narrowed, “did you watch How To Get Away With Murder, Leanna?”

“You watch that?”

“No.” he sighed with a pout, “mamma blocked it off my devices and accounts. I want to though… Have you ever killed anyone?”

Leanna shook her head, her words slugging as she spoke, “even if I did… I won’t admit to it. No one would… Why you a get dark pon mi like Bernie suh?”

“Mamma has dark thoughts too?” he asked, but he frowned seeing Lea out cold.

Eyes trained on the television, he took in the predicament between the Winchester brother’s on screen, a tiny analysis running throughout his curious mind. How the two always watched out for each other, protected one another, how they would go extreme lengths for their survival, fighting for a happiness they’ve barely had a taste of.

“I want mamma happy.” Aiden whispered to himself. The sudden rise of bile having him fly from the couch, to the adjoined bathroom and released the milky contents of his stomach.

As he wiped his sleeve to clean his mouth, he found himself sitting beside the toilet boil and flushed it, “she’ll be happy. I’ll make sure of it.”

_____________________________________________________

not