Sell My Soul, Steal My Heart (Sir Pentious x Reader)

Chapter 21: Let's Start with a Bang (By Preventing One)

I watched as Charlie's jaw dropped, shortly followed by mine. The thought had fluttered into my head during more than one occasion, but I didn't actually think- couldn't quite believe-

"Welcome to the family!" Charlie pounced into action with a vengeance, excitedly flinging her arms in the air before she ushered me inside as well, somewhat corralling us into giving her our full attention.

"We'll have to set you up a room and get your key and sign you in and-" she jumped up and down, suddenly seized by a thought as her mouth formed a small o in her epiphany. "This is perfect! Now Y/N can stay here around the clock with us. We'll have to get you settled in, too."

Pentious was obviously uncomfortable from the frantic attention, looking as if he wasn't quite sold on all of this sudden movement, sudden planning, sudden change. I coyly elbowed him, flashing him the biggest smile he'd probably ever seen me have. He seemed to melt at that, frazzled expression softening into something more resolved

"Yes, well," he spoke up, clasping me by my shoulder like an old friend, "You're very lucky to have her, aren't you?" The pride in his voice was unmistakable, "As-s-s for the arrangements of my settling in, I'll need a few days to-"

"Did I really just hear what I thought I heard from across the hotel?"

Vaggie stomped toward us in all her glory, complete with an unamused frown and all, but surprisingly less angry looking than I expected, given her last encounter with Pentious, which maybe lowered my expectations if only a pinch.

In a flash, Charlie had zoomed to her side, grinning so wide that even Vaggie couldn't help but soften her features, lower her ever-raised guard.

"Our second resident, Vaggie!" Charlie lifted two fingers into the other girl's face for emphasis, "Wow, right?"

"Charlie," Vaggie smiled back, even though her eyes were only filled with worry and her voice had the strain of someone purposefully trying to sound calm, "Remember when Pentious blew a hole into the hotel and then attacked us? Can we really be sure that he's not going to do that again?"

"Oh, ho, ho," Pentious piped in a bit too loudly, "that is where you are wrong," he squinted as if trying to remember something, "Baggie!" I slapped a hand to my face when he addressed her incorrectly with such brazen confidence.

"I solemnly s-s-swear not to explode anything (in the hotel)  again. You have my word," he placed a hand to his chest as if performing an oath, plastering what I guessed to be a very trustworthy expression on his face but only succeeding in looking as if he had heartburn.

"See Vaggie? He swears," Charlie placed her hands on her hips as if that settled it, thoroughly appeased. Vaggie's response was instantaneous.

"Not good enough."

Pentious raised a finger as if he were about to bring up a very groundbreaking objection, but I butted in before he had the chance of pissing Vaggie off more than was necessary or warranted.

"You guys are still having problems with that hole in the wall, right?" I clasped my hands together sagely. Well, technically, it was more like a large, gaping crater, but I thought maybe now wasn't the best time to be explicit on such details.

I cleared my throat, donning a pragmatic tone. "I'm sure Pentious would love to fix it for you guys, as an apology, that is. Wouldn't that show you how serious he is about this?" I glanced up at him, pleading with my eyes to go along with my idea.

Pentious, for a fraction of a second, seemed to want to protest, but he quickly, albeit begrudgingly, nodded his head slowly.

"Yes-s-s," he mumbled sarcastically, "I am simply adamant about fixing that pesky dent. Honestly, I didn't even tear down any of the s-s-support beams. How in Hell did you not fix the problem alrea-" I nudged him, brows furrowed. "I mean, life happens, right?" He smiled ruefully, lacing his fingers together as I watched him forcibly restrain himself from rolling his eyes. I hummed lightly to myself, realizing that this might be harder than I thought.