Unexpected

Part 1

"Oi!" Ste called out towards the black coated man whom was walking up the streets of the village, John Paul McQueen. "I want a word with you." He sneered, actually at the brim of anger. Him and John Paul had been enemies for years now, and only recently had they began seeing eye to eye, as little as they could manage.

"Not after the day I've had." John Paul shook his head with a forced sigh, not in any mood to argue with Ste of all people, he was genuinely exhausted and any little fuse could make him blow up, and he tried walking straight past him. Of course, Ste stopped him. Great.

"No you listen to me." Ste spat, teeth gritting at the sheer sight of the other man. "You stay away from my family right?" He raised a threatening eyebrow, just waiting for that petty comeback from John Paul, which he got.

"Your family?" John Paul scoffed, clearly amused. "No, you're just someone that they can't get rid of!" He exclaimed. "You know? Like herpes." He remarked nastily, pursing his lips.

"Oh how does it feel, ey? To be 'me dad's little rent boy!" His voice raised as his blood boiled more, only to receive a forced, bitter laugh from John Paul's lips.

"Yeah I saw your little ad in the paper? Loser seeks moustached man to knock him about!" He teased, only saying half the things because Ste knew how to rile him up.

"What about you? Defrocked any priests lately?!" He stood up to him a little. "Or is it married men you go for now?" Ste spat out, rather impressed with his comebacks today. He was ready for it.

"Yep. Because I'm going to take morality advice from someone who faked his own daughters leukaemia!" He stepped forward, challenging him as his eyes burned with anger, he could actually feel his hands shake.

"He's got a wife and kids he doesn't need you messing with that!" He fought, not wanting to bring his children into the conversation.

"He has! Why am I the bad guy?" He asked, pressing his palms to his own chest, defending himself for once.

"Do you really think he's going to choose you over Sam?! You're pathetic!" He shouted, and John Paul seemed to retaliate a bit, like he was hurt. He just looked down and went a bit quiet. He knew Ste was right. Who'd choose him over a proper family? Ste just began to walk up to the deli.

Swallowing down his upset, John Paul once again turned it into anger and spat back. "Yeah well maybe you should've taken your own advice when it came to Doug!"

"What?" Ste turned around, the other man having gotten his attention again. "Right and what's that supposed to mean?" He said walking back close to him.

"Well how does it feel? Knowing that if you'd of left him alone, he might still be alive." John Paul said sarcastically.

The end of the straw was there for Ste, and his temper out roared his dignity, as he swung out his arm and punched John Paul forcefully. "Now that is your last warning! Stay away!" He shouted.

John Paul held his wounded face and cowered away from Ste a little bit, frowning deeply. He had kind of asked for it. But this didn't stop the male as he stormed after him, grabbing his arm and punching him back so he fell onto the bench, and they helplessly wrestled with eachother. It was pathetic really. Neither of them stronger than the other.

Ste tried pushing and shoving him off, slapping his body a few times as he heard his sisters and Ziggy run over, pulling him off. They were all flouncing and Ste rolled his eyes. "Just shut up right?! Leave me alone." And he stormed into the deli, Tegan running after him.

John Paul just turned to walk away, part of him glad he'd got out his anger, the other part of him wishing he'd of just let it go. His face really hurt, and strangely his heart did too.

Ste just sat on a chair in the deli, taking deep breaths and trying to calm himself down. "I'm fine." He looked up at Tegan, a hurt look in his eyes.

"I thought he was your fella?" She asked and raised a brow, obviously not letting this go easily.

"Er, no. He will never be my 'fella', have you seen the state of him?" He grimaced, shaking his head. "He just..winds me up that's all. He was asking for it."

"Well no more fights yeah? Just ignore him if it annoys you that much." She squeezed his hand and went back to Leela who was shouting her to hurry up.

Ste looked down at his bloody knuckles, and felt his lip which was bleeding too. He wondered how bad John Paul was cut up, but rid his body of the thought of him. "Idiot." Ste muttered to himself and went to run his hand under the water. Maybe some of the things he'd said were harsh, but they were enemies right?

Once home, John Paul sat on the couch and immediately thought of going back and seeing Ste, to apologise, he was just that sort of down to earth guy, even though he hated him. He heard Nanna coming downstairs and he dashed out before she could see him and fuss over his cuts she needed to "kiss better."

Ste was dabbing his lip wound when he heard the sound of the door open, and he frowned, seeing it was John Paul. "What do you want?" He said, and didn't mean for it to come out as rude as it did.

John Paul took a deep breath, the sight of Ste in pain making him feel..guilty? Wow. He actually felt sorry for this guy. He mentally kicked himself, nodded, and said; "To thank you."

And they both locked eyes, something sincere coming out of the both of them. "For not telling Sam the truth last night. And I'm sorry, for what I said about Doug." He sighed.

Would they actually talk this out? The sheer thought scared them both, actually being in a room together. But it felt okay. Rather fine actually.