Rose Tinted Reality - A Succession Story

Thanks-F***king-Giving

Piper and Roman's dates are usually quiet, the two of them tucked away in quiet corners of the world enjoying each other's company. Piper liked these dates because they were comfortable, while Roman liked them because it meant that there were no prying eyes. No snapshots, no pictures of the two of them plastered across papers. The quietness of their relationship is unusual, but it's something that he wishes to hold on to.

Today she had picked out a greenhouse to go to. Despite the cooling weather outside and the wild plants starting to darken and shrivel, inside the greenhouse fresh flowers and small trees with delicate branches flourish. She flutters between the bushes, not hesitating to touch everything within reach. Roman's own hands stay planted firmly in his pockets as he tiptoes after her, trying to avoid being brushed by vines and sticks. He let her pick their dates because he liked seeing her happy, but that didn't mean that he actually liked most of her choices.

"You couldn't have picked a classier place?" he asks as something snags his shirt. She carefully pulls the twig free, careful with the expensive fabric. Good. She wouldn't hear the end of it had his shirt been torn.

"Next time you can pick," she teases, and the two link arms for the rest of the walk. Her words were just the segway he needed, but he finds himself hesitating to take advantage of it.

"Actually, about that," he starts, words sticking in his throat. Shit. It's just another event, what could be so difficult about asking her to go? She's already been to one.

Of course, that one wasn't Thanksgiving. At that one, she hid at a table in the back the entire time, not speaking a single word to any member of his family. At Thanksgiving she'd have to mingle, he'd have to introduce her as...something. Girlfriend?

"What about that?" she says, her tone dropping and her green eyes filling with dread. He speaks quickly.

"For Thanksgiving, I was hoping you could come to my family's place for the afternoon."

Once the words leave his lips, he wishes he could take them back. Her lips purse, face scrunching as she falls into deep thought, and for a moment he thinks that he's upset her.

"My sister-" she starts, though Roman interrupts her.

"Can come with. Kendall brings his kids every year, she can run around with his little brats," he suggests, glancing away the moment he feels her eyes on him. There's just something about her keen gaze that leaves him unable to look at her.

"You sure that's okay? I mean, I'm just a plus one, and she's not, well, a Roy like those kids are. She's not even my kid, she's my sister. How will that look?" she asks, her tentative words irritating him. He wraps an arm over her shoulder, feeling her warmth against his side as he pulls her close. Almost immediately, she leans against him.

"Yeah, whatever. I'll just say she's yours," he says and, to his surprise, she laughs.

"My sister is fourteen, Roman, there's no way anyone will believe she's mine," Piper retorts. "Just say we're orphans or something. That's almost true, we're halfway there."

Roman chuckles, taking a moment to consider. There are not exactly many other options, other than asking her to leave Juniper home, something he knew she'd refuse. Everything would be so much simpler if she did, though.

"Yeah, we'll just say your guys' dad died," he said, but then Piper shakes her head, apparently unsatisfied with her own plan.

"Wait, that won't work. We have different dads," Piper explains. Before Roman can ask how his family would know that, she adds: "And you can tell by looking."