𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚆𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 || 𝙰𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗 𝙱𝚞𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚛

05 - Fix-It Pancakes

𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚛
𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚍

Song suggestion: Pancakes for Dinner – Lizzy McAlpine

ELSIE

A sweet smell softly lulled me out of sleep. My heart skipped a beat when I realized I wasn't home. I rubbed my eyes for a moment trying to remember where I was.

The forest green sheets, the black duvet, the tufted headboard. I knew where I was. His familiar scent filled my nose.

Spreading my arm across the large bed I attempted to find any trace of him. He wasn't there. The bed wasn't even warm.

"What the fuck." I muttered sitting up, not quite remembering how I got ended up there. As much as I wanted to stay under his heavy black duvet, I needed to find him.

I stumbled my way out of the bedroom door into the small New York loft. The potent midday sun shined through the curtainless floor-to-ceiling windows. I brought a hand up to shield my eyes.

"Good morning!" Austin chirped from the kitchen, "I'm making pancakes."

Pancakes were our 'fix it' food— post hangover, post breakup, post breakdown, etc. You name it, pancakes fixed it. We would take turns making them, depending on who was hurting. Sometimes we helped each other if we were both down.

I lugged myself up onto a metal stool in front of the kitchen bar. The cold from the metal on my legs and the granite on my arms sent a chill down my body. I wrapped around my body to keep warm.

When he turned around, I immediately spotted the deep blue purple circle around his eye. Everything came rushing back—at least from the fight. A slight gasp left my mouth when I saw just how bad the bruise was.

"Aus-" I began before he cut me off.

"You want chocolate chips? I think I have blueberries too?" He had a habit of doing this, he was a master at changing the subject. Especially when he was trying to cheer me up or avoid a topic.

I was too exhausted to fight him over it right now. I didn't really want to talk about it anyway, too scared of follow up questions.

"Blueberries please." I mustered any molecule of happiness to form a gentle smile.

"Thanks, Aus"

He just nodded.

-

While I did unfortunately remember the fight, I did not remember how I ended up at Austin's. Maybe I had been drunker than I thought.

Amidst fully waking up and racking my brain for answers, I had somehow missed that his chest was bare. And he was only in sweatpants. I couldn't help but follow the accentuated muscles down his broad, tan back. Still on the band of his grey sweatpants, he turned around and gave me a much better view. I didn't need to see him naked to know that he was... gifted.

I quickly snapped my eyes up to meet his hoping to play it off as me being lost in a daze. Although, I'm pretty sure he had caught it.

He placed the pancakes on the gray granite bar and sat next to me with maple syrup. His pancakes where my favorite, even if he burnt them sometimes.

"So, um—" Unsure of where my confused mind was going, "I don't remember much from yesterday."

I watched him carefully to see his response.

His pink lips pressed together as he took in what I said and tucked a chunk of long golden hair behind his ear. His expression was indiscernible. Confused, sad, lost, apathetic, I couldn't tell which one it was.

"Well, I brought you to my apartment because you had a panic attack after...everything and then we came back here, and... passed out because you know... hungover."

"Got it."

I wasn't going to bring anything up. If he wanted to forget about it, so did I.

Thick sugary syrup slowly spread across my pancakes, pooling over the edges.

"I let you have the bed, I slept on the couch." He clarified, though I wasn't sure I needed that detail. I wished he had been there. You know, for warmth.

"Oh. I don't remember any of that but thank you."

I cut a slice from the perfectly golden stack. When I took a bite, my taste buds lit up. It wasn't until then that I realized I hadn't eaten in over 24 hours. Hastily taking another bite, in that moment it tasted like the best thing I'd ever had. A slight moan involuntarily rolled from my throat.

My eyes suddenly rounded. I didn't mean for that to happen. An embarrassed flush fell across my cheeks. I could feel his eyes on me.

"Enjoying your pancakes are you?" He teased. His voice slightly lower than normal. It twisted my stomach.

I gulped what was left of the pancakes sitting in my mouth.

"Yeah, they're really good." I brought up a napkin to my mouth, seemingly to wipe it clean. But really it was a cover to hide from him.

He must've felt the uncomfortable thickness in the air because he went silent for a beat.

"How are the chocolate chips? Did they melt alright?" His voice lighter now.

Before I went to answer, I realized something off.

"Chocolate chips? They're blueberries silly." Nudging my shoulder against him.

"Stop messing with me," He bumped me back, "Those are chocolate chips in there."

Austin normally had good memory. The chocolate vs blueberry decision happened not even 15 minutes ago. But he seemed adamant.

I scrunched my eyebrows, my eyes bouncing from him to my plate. I took my fork and butter knife to spread open the round slice.

"See, blueberries." I chuckled cautiously, "Are you feeling okay?"

He eyed the stack carefully. His gaze reminded me of someone analyzing a word search.

"Oh oh, yeah. Duh." He jokingly smacked his forehead with his palm. "I must still be hungover or something."

I couldn't explain it, but it just felt odd. It almost seemed like he was... lying to me? But what the fuck would he have to lie to me about pancakes.

I cleared my throat, "Um, do you think I could stay here for a couple days? Just until... he cools off."

"Yeah of course, you're always welcome here. You know that." He replied instantly.

Bringing his hand to my arm, he gave it a little squeeze. His touch flashed memories from yesterday across my mind. His voice, his fist against Nox, him defending me. Sweet, soft, shy Austin. Protective over me.

That's natural though right? Friends stand up for one another. And Nox did have me by the throat. I suppose it'd be pretty shitty if he hadn't at least tried to stop him.

Nonetheless, his deep assertive voice rang in my mind like an echo. I'd never heard him like that. I wanted to hear it again.

"Thanks- I really appreciate it." I smiled up at him. There was so much gentleness to his eyes. No matter what he said, his eyes were always so kind.

"Don't worry, I'll take the couch this time." I teased elbowing his arm.

-

The mood soon lightened as the 'fix it' pancake magic began to kick in.