PERVERSE - Apply Fic

19

In only a few days, they are midway through the trudge that is October. It is becoming too cold to spend nights outside, wandering the streets. In fact, even loitering by the park or in the convenience store parking lot is awfully cold. Once, Barry stood outside and nearly asked Eva for a dart, a disgusting sign of the debauchery they are forced to experience every week.

On Sunday, they are still in the church during service. Many of them leave during this time, since they have to be quiet. Few of the dead would have predicted that Leo would intend on staying. Certainly, Nico hadn't expected it. Even Ambrose had left, and he usually sits near the top of the basement stairs, an ear pressed to the door, feeling the hum of hymns and prayers reverberating through the wood.

Leo did want to stay, and so Nico offered to join him.'

Ajay stayed as well. He remembers sitting in the pews during a service, watching the pastor. That day, he gave himself away to Audrey. The mistake no longer lingers in the room, like the smell of the body that she removed.

They have mostly been quiet. It's a shame, since Este has not betrayed him. As Ajay sits with Leo at the fold-out table in the basement, he thinks of her. He thinks of something she said, something about helping Eva solve their financial problems.

It would be helpful, since Nico is cooking brunch and is using the last of the eggs. They have to eat so many non-perishables given that one fridge is not designed to store enough food for twelve people.

Surprisingly, Nico can almost cook. They often find meals with multiple components quite distracting, but eggs and sausages and toast aren't all that complicated. Nico looks over their shoulder, but they can't quite see Leo from this angle.

"I'm doing overhard," Nico calls out. "Hope that's okay, Leo."

Leo nods. Above him, he can hear the muffled voice of the pastor. He stares forward at the wall, looking at a crack in the paint. If they are lucky, it goes through into the foundation and the church will fall down on top of them all.

Ajay leans forward, resting on his elbows at the table. He whispers so only Leo can hear him, "it's not too late to go to the police."

They replaced the lockbox. It likely won't have the pastor's fingerprints on it. No, they cannot go to the police. It has been weeks and the police have never followed up with them, and Leo has a prickling sense of fear on the back of his neck. He feels like a sitting duck here.

"I can do sunny-side up," Nico calls out to Leo.

They just want to get the cooking over with, and to look Leo in the face and tell him that it's perfectly normal that things aren't okay. Nico knows that this church basement does Leo no good. They just want to be someone who does something good for Leo.

Nico does not like feeling the buzz of service above their heads. They feel like Judas. Their treason could also begin with a kiss.

"Listen," Ajay swallows. He looks at Leo, "people are relying on you, Leo. You've got to turn this pain into power. People are going to start freaking out if you don't keep it together."

It's Leo's fault. Everything is always Leo's fault. They are going to panic because they are afraid of him. They have no reason not to fear him.

Nico turns off the burner. The eggs are barely over easy, but it will have to do, because Leo can hear Ajay whispering and doesn't know what he's saying. So, Nico plates three plates quickly, and stacks them on their arms quickly. They were a barista in Montreal part-time, and a model of course, but never a server. Nico manages to make it into the room.