Friends (Pico x Nene)

Chapter 2

Pico came back in a while later with the most haphazardly put together peanutbutter and jelly sandwich, a sprite and something that smelt like peppermint tea. It was laid out on a large rolling tin.

“You’ve gotta eat something toots, I can tell it’s been a while and you look exhausted. When you’re ready to talk I’ll be out in the living room.”

Nene let him walk away and began eating the food, drinking the tea, she was surprised at how good everything was, it really had been a while.

Nene wasn’t entirely sure how but it was a few weeks later and she was still at Pico’s. They had spent days doing the absolute least, the same ritual, they'd wake up in the morning he’d throw together some breakfast, she would break down again and he’d move her back and forth between the couch and the bed, cleaning each in between to make sure she was always comfortable.

He would leave every now and then, the length of times he'd be gone varying, always saying he had business or had to pickup some more supplies. It didn’t bother her, it gave her time to rest.

He never asked her for a single thing, didn’t pressure her to talk unless she wanted to, and didn’t rush her into leave or to get better.

He would talk about his own loss, never giving too much information but it was obvious he was hurting. He listened to her talk for hours about her problems. He brought up funny conversations or moments he had with her and Darnell, slowly but surely she felt herself start to come back.

One day, who knows how long later, Nene woke up and Pico was off on a run. She got up, realized she hadn’t showered in a disgusting amount of time and didn’t have much of her own belongings with her.

Nene dug around his room, surprised how clean and tidy everything was. It had that obvious disarray that a man’s room typically does, but in a neat and put together sort of way. Everything had a place and a purpose. She chose an oversized t-shirt and some boxers (that she prayed would fit her frame) and walked into the bathroom.

The bathroom was relatively small but held a large claw foot tub in immaculate condition, a small standup shower, a little area for the toilet and a decently large sink and counter area. In the shower Nene was pleased to see he used more than just those 5 in 1 soaps that she had expected to find.

There were some fancy looking brands of soaps and shampoos, all of which had a wonderful scent to them. It explained his signature smell of almost sweet bourbon and sage (and weed.) Nene turned the water as hot as she could stand it and showered until it ran cold. It was cathartic in a way, letting the past days (weeks? Months?) wash away.

When she was done, she dried off for a while, wiped the mist from the mirror and got dressed. Nene came out and almost stepped right on a small try with water and a small salad from her favorite take out on it.

Nene took them into the kitchen and saw Pico, who was passed out on the couch, looking a little rugged. Feeling a little guilty about using up all the hot water, she ate quickly and began tidying up around him.

At one point she dropped a fork and he shot up, looking alarmed. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you awake!.” He calmed, “It’s alright toots, I didn’t hear you come out. I’m glad to see you up.” He began almost sheepishly adjusting himself and regaining his composure.

“I went to the store and got some more stuff, I guess I wanted to surprise you with something a little better, I know pb&j and frozen dinners have to be getting old. I’m sorry I don’t have more right now." He stumbled over the words a little.

She walked over and hugged him,
“it’s fine, it’s been great, and I appreciate everything more than I can put in words, I know I’ve probably been miserable to be around.” She whispered.

He sighed, looking her in the eyes like he was searching for something.

“Do you think I’d have let you mope around here for all that time if I didn’t want to be here for you?”

Nene didn’t know why, but it tugged at her a bit, so she didn’t say anything and just went back to cleaning.