Forbidden Appetite (Rody × Vince)

Lies

Vince hummed to himself as he readied the pan in La Gueule de Saturne's kitchen. Herbs and steak tossed around until reaching his personal criteria before placing on two different plates with cutlery and sauce.

Tired eyes fixed on the clock fixed on the southern wall above the kitchen door, watching the minutes tick away with rhythmic taps of his finger against the counter, truly Rody couldn't take that long to get ready for breakfast.

Shock was written all over Rody's face as the familiar picture and cold metal rested in his open palm. He had no words yet a million thoughts coursing through his head.

With swift movements, Rody began to take books off the shelf, looking for the missing half with Manon's picture.

Sobs echoed off the walls as Rody sat in the middle of a mess of books, wailing and breaking down when he couldn't find her half.

Downstairs, Vince had heard the thudding of objects hitting the floor coming from upstairs. Concerned, he left the prepared food on the counter and left La Gueule de Saturne to once again make the trek up to his apartment.

The door creaked open, casting a yellow light directly upon Rody's hunched over form who slowly looked up at Vince.

"Rody? What the hell are you-" Vince began, stopping when he saw the mess of the books and Rody's white knuckles as he tightly held something close to his chest.

Rody's voice was unstable, breaking as he choked words out. "What did you do to her?" He asked, the sound barely coming out of his strained vocal chords.

Silence filled the air as they stared at eachother, Vince's mind was scrambled, not having expected Rody to actually find the half of the locket.

"Rody... L-Listen... I can explain..." Vince stuttered out, taking slow steps towards Rody.

"Don't!" Rody shuffled backwards with his feet as he was sitting on the floor. "Don't get closer."

Vince swallowed the lump in his throat. "Rody please... Listen" He added, still walking closer slowly and kneeling down. "Give me the locket."

Rody shook his head, looking down at the books around him and picking one up in case he had to throw it at Vince.

"Put the book down, Rody." Vince requested. "Let's talk like adults..."

Rody kept his stance. "Why do you have this? How do you know Manon?"

Vince inched closer. "Marieanne and I were dating." He said, trying to keep his voice calm.

"Dating?! You... But she and I..." The words died in Rody's throat, remembering the love letters he found in the trash of Vince's office and the fact he never asked for more information about her whenever they talked of her, as if he already knew her.

"She didn't tell me she had been dating you. I only realized a few days ago when I hid that locket there." Vince added, inching forward again.

"Why do you have it?" Was all Rody could mutter out next, the book in his hand falling to the ground once again as well as tears that spilled over his cheeks.

"She... She asked me to... Said she didn't want to remember." Vince didn't like lying to Rody, but he couldn't have Rody being mad at him. Besides, it wasn't too much of a lie, when Manon was still alive she had told Vince she didn't want to remember Rody while they were together. "And when I realized it was you, I hid it in that bookshelf, I didn't want you to find it, I didn't want this to happen"

Rody could barely process all of this, eyes searching Vince's face as if he might have the words he desperately wanted to find.

"Marieanne told me things about you, vile things I won't repeat to you because I know the love you still hold for her.. but she didn't deserve you, Rody." Vince said, now kneeled right in front of Rody.

His fingers reached out and slowly took the locket from Rody's hand, putting it to the side on the floor before reaching a hand up towards Rody's face.

There was a small flinch that came in response to the contact, Vince's fingers brushing away the tear that was halfway down Rody's cheek.

"I'm sorry" Vince whispered, and he was. He was sorry for being stupid enough to let Rody find out, sorry for having to be involved like this, sorry for making him cry. But he could never be sorry for Manon, not when he had seen her as a clingy waste of air that was only good for causing problems.

Rody struggled against arms that wrapped around his shaking form, he could have easily overpowered Vince if he wanted to, he knew he was capable of it with his strength.

Perhaps the struggle was simply for the theatrics, only lasting a bit before he clung tightly to Vince's shirt, needing to get comforted by a familiar figure amidst all of this mess even if Rody himself couldn't come to a conclusion of his feelings.

Did he hate himself? Why? Was he not good enough for Manon? What did he do that was so bad she said vile things of him to Vince? Was he truly not worth loving?

Did he hate Vince? No. Surely it wasn't his fault, they hadn't even met when all this with Manon happened, and he had always been there to console him.

Did he hate Manon? No.. he loved her... right? She was always... No. She wasn't always there for him.

Those thoughts seemed to drown Rody, making his brain a jumbled mess that could barely work.

"Shh... You're okay... I'm right here" Vince whispered into Rody's hair, holding him tightly.

The familiar voice seemed to ground Rody once more, especially when he inhaled the familiar scent that he had even remembered surrounded him in his sleep the night before. It was comforting, so much so that he forgot to think of anything else, simply letting himself be held.