Step-by-step (Book 1. Of The Fumes Series)

~Chapter eight~

⚠️NSFW/SMUTT⚠️

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It's later that night. The bar has drawn a little dead. The music on a slow classical Playlist. Toxic and marly chat while nelli services other people at the bar. Her tail curled slightly at her feet every now and then. Toxic kept an eye on her and her interactions with the other people at the bar. Not wanting anyone to hurt her or making her feel unpleasant. He keeps eye contact with Marly as well though. Every 2-3 minutes he'd look away from Marly to watch Nelli for a few seconds before returning his full attention to his friend. Marly didn't mind tho. He knew toxic enough to understand why he does what he does. And he knows well enough that toxic won't stand for women who are being abused and picked on by men who think they have a chance with the girl. He's always been that way though. Protective of any female but nelli was different now that they were together. He had another motive to keep men away from her. Marly has seen him with his past relationships. All of which ended terribly. One of which he ended simply because he couldn't take it anymore. The verbal abuse. He couldn't bite his tongue any longer otherwise he would have bitten it cleen off. 

Quick story time, in his other relationship with a female by the name of London. She made him out to be the bad guy. Even after he offered to pay for her college fees to help out. He doesn't make much at the shop considering Al uses most of the money they get to keep the shop up and running. Anyway, London constantly used his name against him. Telling him his name had to mean something seeing as he's toxic just being himself. Connecting his name to his behavior, but his behavior wasn't bad. He treated her like a queen. Like all women should be treated. Like a queen. But when it came to an away job. Toxic whent to help Al's friend tiff at an auto shop a ways away. London got skeptical, accusing toxic of cheating because he wasn't texting her back. A couple days later. Toxic couldn't handle it. Getting falsely accused of cheating. That night he broke things off. London begged for him not to but toxic stood his ground. 

“Toxic, how about another round.”

Toxic shakes his head snapping out of a daze he wasn't really aware he was in. 

“What..”

“Another round. Me and u pal. Common.”

Toxic not thinking clearly he rubs his face

“Uh sure. Another.”

Marly smiles and Nelli gets them another round. Placing small glasses filled with the yellow-orange liquid in front of them. They bump the glasses and down them. Toxic shook his head slightly and marly hissed low.

“Strong shit.”

Toxic shrugs and washes down the taste with his beer. Marly looks around. 

“So what are your plans with nelli.”

Toxic looks at marly

“What do you mean plans?”

“Well you love her, don't u. What about getting a house together or-”

“Woah. Easy there.. I do love her. But I'm not trying to rush anything. I don't want this to end up like my relationship with london.”

“You think she's gonna be like london. Are you kidding?”

Toxics ears turn and he looks away staying quiet. Marly shakes his head.

“You don't know how she's gonna be.”

“Exactly why I want to take my time with her, Marly. I don't wanna screw this up like I did with London-”