Vox x Reader

The Calm After a Storm

"Tell you... about Orion?" Steve repeats my words. His face holding suspicion, confused why I'd be asking. He glances at the table between us, running a hand through his hair. His dark red hair was snarly, he had been neglecting it just like his sleep from what I could see. 

"Yes, you two knew each other alive, right?" I ask. I'm still careful with my tone, it was hard to get someone such as Steve to open up. It reminded me of Vox honestly. Someone with walls built all around, only allowing some people to get pass. I was that one for Vox, Orion for Steve. Which makes me question their relation with one another... 

"Yeah, we uh... we did know each other." He mumbles. I could see he wanted to reflect on these memories, the good ones. 

"Yeah?" I chime in, as an offer for him to continue. Steve meets my gaze with his own. He shuffles in his seat. 

"Mhm. He was still a great person back then too." There we go. I smile.

"I bet he was. How'd you two meet?" I see his posture loosen, although this wasn't a clear sign things were all better, it was a sign we were getting somewhere. 

"We actually met through this one guy. Tosh. He sold us stuff. Tosh and I had grown up together, so I was with him one day Orion stopped by." He paused, "Really not a good first impression on him, but Orion was still nice." Steve seemed to be reminding himself more than telling me. But that was okay. I just wanted to make sure he'd be okay. Orion would've done the same for him. I know how it feels to lose someone you love. But he'll never get to see him again like I got to see Vox. 

"Orion told me you helped with his sister?" Steve nod, almost smiling.

"Yeah, Evelyn. She was a great kid." I smile. "Orion's parents had died soon after Evelyn was born, he had tried to parent her his whole life. I helped babysit her if he was busy. I don't know if it was smart having her around the people she was...but she turned out great."

"I do have a question," Steve looks at me showing me to keep going. "After Orion died, what happened with Evelyn?" 

"She didn't have any family left, she went into the foster system. I used to..." he trails off, not wanting to continue. "I visited her as much as I was allowed to. I couldn't adopt her though. Legally wasn't allowed. I was such a shitty person. Even more than I am now." he thinks, "Orion's old teacher, Evelyn's too, had adopted her in the end. I think that was for the best." He sighs. I couldn't exactly tell from what. Maybe he wishes he had gotten the chance to adopt her instead.

I take a moment to think. This entire time I thought Steve was an asshole to Orion, and Orion's talk of paying him back was complete bullshit. But now I see Steve did help. He helped with the one thing that mattered to Orion. 

The conversation trailed on. Steve opened up some more, not about his past, but who he was as a person. We eventually decided it was time to go. As we left, we decided we should stay in touch. Steve seemed hesitant on the idea but gave in. We said goodbye and I was on my way home. Vox had text me a few times, asking how it was going, when I'd be back.

Today had carried the stress of past events, but here, right now, in the end of things, it felt peaceful. The hardship had passed. Here came the sun. Right?

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