Onto the One-Shots

Not So Vanilla

'-------'

"Boys, quick!" The door's bell chimed at the push of your hand. The rain poured down your backs and in your shoes.

"Squishy socks..." Cronus is trying to salvage the curls in his hair to no avail. Eridan rung out his scarf over a conveniently placed drain by the door. You sigh in the thick scent of vanilla and herbs. Seems this is a coffee shop. It's ornery in the way old streamers are hung by the vents. Reminds you of McDonald's runs late at night some summers. Old times; school times. The bell graces your ears again and you hum. You think back to where you are and you shuffle your boys from the entrance.

My it's been... how long since you visited one of these? You've always had coffee delivered to your desk in the mornings. With your new job, a few floors from Abraham's office, things have been getting progressively better. Not the coffee, though: nothing beats Cronus' sweet elixir. You usher the boys to a booth and ask if they want anything while the rain pounds against the rubber awning outside.

"Well, this isn't Starbucks so maybe just a caramel frapp. Can't fuck that up." You give Eridan a stern glance and he clams up. "...sorry..."

"I'll take the triple chocolate drink. That one; there? It has no coffee in it. I just want the chocolate." Cronus rubs his cold hands against his soaked pants. "And a couple of napkins..."

You chuckle and walk over after hanging your coat on the chair beside Eridan. What should you get? You can't ask for coffee the way you do the office floor coffee runner. That thick vanilla in the air is alluring though. You step in line and glance at the menu for a bit. The bell chimes again and you heard this... voice. It made you think of late night McDonald's runs and... sexier times. Vanilla bean and lavendar... You fluster, clutching your purse and trying hard to think of your menu item. No, it's impossible! You moved from your hometown a long, long time ago.

Just as you try stepping towards the counter, something had caught your heel. You stumble, but catch yourself. The voice behind you gasps.

"Oh, hell, I'm sorry lady, I didn't see... you." She's staring at you. Heavenly brown doe eyes gaze into yours and you're caught for words. "____?"

"Tori?" She giddily waits for you to finish ordering and she bade you stay until she was done. Tori was your best friend all throughout middle school and most of high school. You two were inseparable; you even tried matching outfits a few times for fun. Middle school was innocent enough, but by the time high school happened, both of you had changed.

Tori had gotten into this thing called Mary Jane; as interesting as it was, you couldn't attempt it. You had seen some guy nearly choke, he inhaled so bad.  As an aspiring teenager you could barely manage your assignments let alone your birth given right to breathe. You had gotten into parties though; always going for a good time. Drinking was a thing shared between the two of you. When parents were meaner than they needed to be, a good ol' bottle of Jack was there for the both of you to share. Whether you talked on the phone all night, or went to McDonald's at midnight because Tori had the munchies, she was there.

"No, fucking, wayyyy! I can't believe I'm talking with you right now!" She's helping to carry your order back to the booth.

"I'm speechless. You look amazing! You gotta tell me where you work out." Eridan and Cronus look on at you a little confused but they behave around Tori. You introduce them and Tori chuckles.

"Wow, so this is what you've been doing??" She leans close, it gives you goosebumps. She hums a little, just beside your jaw, and whispers. "The taller one looks a little... older. How early did you--?"

"No, hey, now! That's not what this is." You decided to dumb it down to "being their step-mom and loving every bit of it". She cooes and puts a hand to your thigh, earning a sound from you similar to that of a mouse.

"I always knew you were so compliant. Ever the submissive one." Your cheeks are flaring and Eridan is staring bewildered. You tried recovering from it, but decided you'd rather not begin talking. Tori had no problem sipping from her cup and sighing.

"Remember that time we shoved Hillary Locke into the pool after some senior peed in it?" It was so random but the memory sparked laughter in you. The stories continued: that awkward date when both your prom dates ditched you two, the stupid dare at Marina's sleepover party, (You could never believe another girls lips were so soft, but Tori was always a prideful kisser. You didn't think she held any feelings after it.)

Cronus chirps in with, "Ma, you guys seem very intimately inclined." You damn near spit out your drink.

Tori chuckles a little and leans her elbows on the table. "You two of all people couldn't tell she was playing for both teams? I mean, not to offend, but Eridan you should've called it the minute you met her." He flustered but burrowed himself into his scarf.

"Alright, now, Tori. You're acting a little too brazened for my boys. Tone it down." Tori chuckles and hugs you.

"Sorry! It's just... we had so much fun, you know? I don't regret meeting you. As confusing as middle school and high school was, I'm so super glad you were there for me, ____." Tori picks up her vibrating phone and groans. She finished up her coffee and stood up, grabbing her umbrella.

"Gotta head back. Lunch is almost over. We have each others number now; please keep in touch!" She kissed the top of your head and waved to the boys. You stared at her figure and sighed. So many good memories went with that chime of the bell. You chuckle a little. You cannot tell Abraham about Tori. Not just yet.

"Ma?"

"Cronus, we will speak no more of this. My heart is gonna explode." They chuckle but they look pleased.

"You were pretty accepting of us, though," Eridan mutters. "I thought I'd have a better time picking out the gay people once I became one..." You snort and choke a little on your drink.

"Eridan!!"

"Hahaha, you mean a gaydar?!" Cronus is snickering into his elbow and you're flustering.

"It was a fling!!"

"A frequent fling!" Eridan shuffled back to your side and hugged your arm through your attempts at hiding your reddened face. "It's okay though. We know who you love, and you know who loves you."

Cronus stops snickering enough to join the awkward sideways hugs. All you can do is sigh. "You boys will be the death of me."

"Not unless Tori's thighs wanna try the watermelon test on your face." Cronus earned a swift slap to the knee.

"You will not talk to your mother like that!" But through the teasing and your blush, you knew the joking was light. You knew enough dirt on both Cronus and Eridan to bite back harder than you can bark.

'-------'

Requested by:

☆ MarseilleTheBae

The original plan was to have her over for dinner, but I had a hard time trying to put the story's plot in place. I feel this still did it justice. 《!Requests Are Open! Message Me!》