Homecoming (redletalis x soldmysoul)

[soldmysoul]

She covered her own face with her hands at the story, chuckling a bit, "Oh my God, I'm so sorry." She could only imagine why someone like Steven would have kept coming back to her when most boys would have just run for their lives without ever looking back. "He's smart for not telling me that one either, then again I was what- like 11 at the time?" That put things in perspective, they really had known each other a long time, it was such a shame that things were they way they were now.


Quinn's mind then started to wander all the way back to the first time they met, it was when she was in 2nd grade, sitting in the lunchroom all alone was Steven, she hadn't noticed him before and he was most likely new. Carrying her pink ladybug lunch box over, she quietly took the unoccupied seat across from the lonely boy. The next thing she remembered was offering this boy one of her chocolate chip cookies in which he seemed greatly obliged to take.


"My name is Quinn and you can have a cookie" That was the only words she remembered being exchanged that day except for maybe a 'thank you' from young Steven. For the rest of the school year she would share lunchtime with the boy, a friendship surely blossoming.


She was caught off guard by Steven's apology, and although she never held all of the shit Steven had done in the past against him, it was nice to finally hear it because she knew that she deserved it. It was surprising that she didn't jump up and throw her arms around him but there was a sleeping creature on her lap. Instead, she smiled with a nod, "it means a lot more than you think to hear you say that. I knew you were better than all the terrible things you did and you too deserved more than you got."

 

[redletalis]

Steven snorted. "No, not really. I was a bratty, idiotic little hell-raiser and you know it. I deserved every single punishment, I earned them. Kinda felt proud of my reputation, too, idiot that I was. You shouldn't forgive me that easily, your father certainly won't when he finds out that I'm back. I'm kind of afraid of meeting up with him. I don't want to be known as Apple Cheeks again."


Not to forget their last meeting when Quinn's father had been the one to ship Steven off to the military. At that point his aunt had been all for sending him to an orphanage if he hadn't been too old, or just throwing him outside to the wolves for all that she cared, so Quinn's father had saved him that fate. Probably saved his life. But it certainly hadn't felt like that at the time. There had been a lot of words said that day. Really bad words.


"Listen, can I borrow your toilet for a moment? I want to change out of these wet clothes?" he asked and motioned to his wet sweater. He needed to get out of it. And he needed a little bit of a break from walking down memory lane, otherwise he would bring up a topic that was too sore to be brought up quite yet.

 

[soldmysoul]

"I don't just mean the punishments- trust me, I know you deserved those. I mean in other ways though, with your aunt and all the other awful things you may not have particularly asked for." Steven had a less-than-happy childhood, not that she was making excuses, but no wonder he did the things he did. Psychologically, it could have been due to the fact that he was seeking any attention, positive or negative, that he could get because of the overall lack of attention he received in general. In other ways, maybe he just did those things because he grew up with no one teaching him right from wrong.


"I'll be sure to invite Sergeant Russo over for a family reunion." She added, jokingly of course. What else could her father possibly have done to poor adolescent Steven, she wasn't sure if she even wanted to know anymore. "Thanks for not hating me because of him, I'd be scared to even talk to me again."


"And yes, you don't even have to ask," she replied in response to Steven's question. "Down that hall and it's the first door on your right."

 

[redletalis]

"Thanks, and just warn me before you do so that I can arrange being on the other side of the country," Steven grinned because it was funny that even after having survived the army, he was still utterly terrified of meeting Quinn's father once more. He thought that the man would always terrify him. Steven picked up his cane, supporting himself heavily on it, waiting a moment or two to let his leg get used to his weight again before he shuffled down the corridor. He picked up his bag and brought it into the toilet with him.


It was a nice bathroom, not too big and not too small, and full of feminine scents and products. There was also the occasional male product - a deodorant, a razor, shaving cream - but they were few compared to how much he had expected when she told him that she was going steady with someone for a long time. Shaking off those thoughts, Steven made use of the toilet before washing his hands and rooting through his dufflebag for something that was relatively clean and not too reminiscent of the army.


"Could I hang up my shirt to dry a little bit?!" he called out to Quinn through the door, a habit that he had never been able to break himself of.

 

[soldmysoul]

Sprinkles, for some reason, jumped down from Quinn's lap, following after the ex-soldier. Now that her lap was no longer being used as a bed, she would make her way over to the bathroom at the sound of Steven calling her. "Here," she held out a hand, "I can toss it in the dryer with the rest of your damp clothes if you'd like. Do you have something comfortable to change into or do you want me to see if I can find you something?"


Despite the fact that the apartment was quite humble, in other words, small and fit for one- maybe two people, there was an in-unit washer and dryer installed behind some closet doors in the kitchen. "I can wash them too if you want- any any other dirty clothes that I'm sure you have shoved carelessly in there."


She laughed a little at the sight of Sprinkles through the cracked door, perched up on the side of the bathtub as if she were waiting for Steven. "I think she likes you. It's weird though, I always thought she hated men, she hides from my dad and my boyfriend all the time."

 

[redletalis]

"I can understand about your father, he is scarier than my old drill sargeant." Steven muttered and opened the door fully to let her in if she wanted to and to keep from shouting through the wood. He was naked down to the waist, revealing dog-tags hanging around his neck and well muscled arms and chest that was littered with old scars. A very few were new and in the last stages of healing. Obviously they didn't bother him at all as he pulled out an army-green t-shirt, sniffed it quickly, shrugged and put it on.


He turned to look at Quinn. "Don't worry about it. I'll drop by the laundromat tomorrow- there is still a laundromat in town, right? I just need to get these to dry at least a little bit before I pack them down. And for your information, missy, there is no such thing as 'shoved carelessly' in the army. And if there is they certainly beat it out of you right quick. Now, do you or don't you have a hanger to lend to this old war veteran?"

 

[soldmysoul]

"He's a big teddy bear from what I know. As long as you behave you have nothing to worry about." She joked, smiling a bit, leaning on the door frame, holding out both arms. "Now, I suggest you start piling those sweat infused clothes in my hand, I'm washing them. You know, even though I pretend to give you a choice on whether I take care of you or not, you actually don't have one." She knew he was being polite and trying to not seem needy but he made his point, he was now a guest in her house and she would treat him as such. "And no one ever used that filthy place and I think the health department actually helped shut them down. In other word's, no the laundromat no longer exists."


There she was, getting caught of guard by the marks covering Steven's body and even though she knew about the near fatal explosion, her worrisome instincts still kicked in regardless. She made her way closer, examining the healing wounds, "you really did get beat up, didn't you." She sighed at the left over scars before, taking on of the dog tags in between her thumb and forefinger, reading the engraved print. "Why don't you take a nice hot shower?" She offered softly, still playing with the metal tags, "I'm keeping you here overnight."

 

[redletalis]

"Most of these aren't from the IED - I was in the second vehicle in line. We were thrown around and I was just unlucky. A piece of shrapnel to the leg, but all personel survived. Don't worry about it." He shook his head and swallowed and pressed his lips together, but he didn't push her away or even step away himself. Instead he let her even touch his dog-tags. The talking about silly idiocy from childhood had helped to calm him, had started to dig her under his skin and he didn't truly feel his PTSD acting up for now. As long as she kept her movements slow and non-threatening they would be fine.


In an attempt to lift the mood, he smirked again. "Are you saying that I stink? For shame, Quinn, you've become really rude since last we met. What would your father say? Forget him trying to emasculate me, he'd have you grounded for longer than the time when I tried to insist that we run away and we spent two days lost in the woods in the next valley over." That had been totally embarrassing. They hadbeen so close to home and yet so hopelessly lost. Steven had never been good at reading maps back then.

 

[soldmysoul]

"I thought you knew never to bring that up again!" It was a dumb decision she had made and after trying helplessly to convince Steven otherwise. He was insistent that they go, and would have done so with or without her, she figured he wouldn't last on his own and tagged along to make sure that Steven wouldn't get in any more deep. "I'm not sure if I cried more those last hours in the woods after realizing that you had no idea where we were or in the car ride home with my parents and brother. I think I might have actually been more mad at you than they were that time." Her older brother, Carson, now attending medical school in Baltimore, Maryland, had been Steven's age. "Just out of curiosity, how many times did Carson actually end up kicking your ass?"


Quinn let the dog tags fall back to his chest, going over to the linen closet, removing two freshly cleaned towels. "Here," she set them on the empty space next to the sink, "please, rid yourself of that awful stench. Just set your clothes out in the hallway before you get in."

 

[redletalis]

"I lost count after eight." He admitted. Steven had always been a fighter, but he had never had to fight an overprotective, pissed older brother on the warpath until then. He hadn't stood a chance at all, especially since Carson had already had an interest in biology and the human body, and knew exactly where and how to hit in order to make the most of it even if he didn't have the same strength as Steven.


He ran a hand through his hair nad admitted that, yeah, it needed a wash, frowning slightly as he looked closely at Quinn.


"Are you certain? If you take my clothes now then I won't have anything to wear after this shower, and I can't ask you to provide that as well." He had been a soldier, he had gone for days without showering during missions so this was nothing for him, but if she really wanted him to bathe then he would since it was her home and her furniture and her everything. He wasn't going to scent mark her home as his territory like a tomcat. He would simply keep back the least dirty clothes to dress in if she insisted.

 

[soldmysoul]

"Ooh, rough. Don't think he held back when it came to you, at least not after the third out fourth time." Quinn leaned over, picking up Sprinkles from the edge of the bath tub. "And until I can get you clothes cleaned you can wear whatever of yours happens to be the cleanest. And I was only joking about you smelling, you have another day or two before an odor states developing."


She walked with her pet back out into the hallway, setting her down, pulling the door closed behind her. From there she walked back over to the linen closet that was positioned directly across from the bathroom, taking out a blanket and a pillow and carrying them into the living room. Thankfully she had been assured that the couch was long enough for Steven, even if he stretched his leg out, he could prop it up in the armrest if he had too. Neatly she placed the thick, warm down comforter over the back of the couch, Stevens bed for the night. Next to be placed was the pillow, the white lace case gave it quite the feminine touch.


It was then that she took a seat in the same spot as earlier, staring at the blank television before taking out her cell phone, seeing a missed call from Zayn, however, she made the decision not to return his call. If he had anything important to say, he would have left a voicemail.

 

[redletalis]

Giving in to what was obviously inevitable, Steven waited until she was gone before he started stripping completely. The last to go were the bandages around his wounded leg, on his thigh. The wound was still red and aching but the stitches were out and it was healing. He kept the bandage on mostly as a "psychological crutch" as the psychiatrist had said, but Steven figured that it couldn't really hurt to keep it on for a while longer just in case. He didn't lock the door to the bathroom. Quinn knew that he was in there, after all, and if his leg gave away and he fell and hit himself and needed help - which, as much as he hated to admit, might happen - then she needed to have some sort of way of reaching him without having to break down the door.


He sighed and entered the bathtub carefully before he pulled the curtain to keep the water from going everywhere and grabbed for the shower head. The water was easy to adjust to his preferred temperature and it felt good to wash off days of exhaustion and travel and sleeping in terminals and on old buses. The body washes and the soaps had a distinct feminine flair as expected, but he did find a more neutral one at the very back - probably used by that boyfriend of hers whenever he was over. Figuring the boyfriend wouldn't mind or even notice the use, Steven finished his shower quickly.


Grabbing the first of the towels to use on his hair, he started to towel himself dry before he carefully stepped out again, using the sink for stability. Figuring that he was as dry as he would ever be, Steven eyed the bandages and decided that they were too soiled to be put back on. One night without bandages couldn't hurt, he could get new ones in town tomorrow. He pulled on underwear and pants, and then turned to clean up the bathtub a little bit.


"What do you want me to do with the towels?" he asked as he opened the door and allowed the steam to escape, and fresh air to enter.

 

[soldmysoul]

"There's a laundry basket in the hallway, you can toss them along with your clothes in there." Getting up, she made her way over to where said laundry basket was standing. "Feel better?" She asked st the sight of him in the bathroom doorway. Personally, she would have felt a hundred times better, there weren't many things as shooting and relaxing as a hot shower after, most likely, not having had one in quite some time.


"I went ahead and set up the couch for you to sleep on and left the remote to the television on the coffee table. I was going to go ahead and get some laundry done unless you could think of anything else you needed at the moment." She felt like a lonely grandmother that was having her only grandchild over to visit. Anything that he needed, she would get and she would do it, not only because she was polite and simply being hospitable, but because she enjoyed it. It felt a little pathetic to be honest.


From inside the other room she could here her phone ringing softly, but she didn't feel obligated in the slightest bit to answer it.

 

[redletalis]

"Where-? Ah, never mind, I see it." Steven dropped the towels into the laundry basket, but hesitated with his own clothes and instead ended up stuffing it all right back into his dufflebag. "I'll stuff them into your machine so you don't have to do it. Not the cleanliest things around, I'm afraid. Probably written up as biohazard or something." Besides, it was embarrassing to have Quinn of all people touching his dirty clothes for some reason.


And then his stomach rumbled - hungrily, loudly demanding food now please, thank you - and Steven found a whole new thing to be embarrassed about.


"Er... sorry..." he muttered, suddenly finding himself very busy with pulling on a t-shirt. It was army green and tight enought o show off his physique without being utterly ridiculous. Steven wasn't the biggest or most muscled man, but he was well-trained and this shirt showed it off. It was something he had used sometimes to lure in women, but right now he wasn't thinking about such things. He was far more focused on trying to shut up his stomach that was holding a concerto now that the flood gates were open, and it refused to shut the fuck up. "Alright, alright! I give up! My own stomach has betrayed me. I'm sorry, but I'm going to ask if you have some food in the house. A sandwich or something should be enough to shut this thing up."

 

[soldmysoul]

"If you insist, the washer and dryer are stowed away behind the closet doors in the kitchen." There, let him do his own laundry, stop pushing so much or you might make things very uncomfortable, after all, he isn't an invalid.


She laughed at the sounds of his grumbling stomach. Everyone who experienced hunger knew the embarrassment of being in a silent room as your stomach decides it's the perfect time to demonstrate how loud it actually can be. "Come on, I'll make you something while you toss your clothes into the wash."


Quinn headed towards the kitchen, expecting Steven to follow. After taking the ingredients from the refrigerator, Quinn began to make her poor, obviously starving host guest a much needed sandwich. The finished product was placed on a white plate and a side of chips was added. Voila. "What do you want to drink with it? I have water and iced tea and.... looks like that's it."

 

[redletalis]

"Thanks." Steven said as he picked up his cane and followed her with his dufflebag and found the doors hiding the washer and the dryer. He started stuffing everything into the washer, leaning the cane against the counter as he needed both hands for this. He didn't have much stuff, really, but it was enough for a decent load and it needed to be washed. He searched around until he found the detergents and poured in the necessary amount. A quick twist and a push of a button and the washer was started, its sounds filling the room.


"You needn't have done this, any of this. Once again you're taking care of me. Thank you." He said upon seeing the sandwitch and chips, his stomach rumbling again either in agreement or simply demanding the food. "I didn't come here to try to rely on that, I hope you realise that?"

 

[soldmysoul]

"And I should let you know that I don't think you're incapable of any of these things but I do enjoy doing them. I don't want you to think I'm too pushy either, but if you do, don't hesitate to say." She offered a smile before cleaning up the small mess she had made, returning the ingredients to their rightful places in the refrigerator. "But just to warn you, I might never let you leave. In all realness though, I would hate to have to live with the fact knowing that you're home with no where to stay and you're more then welcome here."


Hadn't he had anything? He never had much to begin with but the fact that he was coming home to nothing didn't sit well with her. Most likely, his ex took everything they had in the divorce, but that was none of her business anyway. The sound of the door to the apartment instantly grabbed her attention. Fuck.

 

[redletalis]

Steven smiled slightly, crossing his arms and facing her full on. "Still, it has to be said because I distinctly remember a little girl who didn't feel comfortable with saying 'no' even if it brought her into really deep trouble. That time I dragged you along to stealing sweets from the general store comes to mind. Or the time I convinced you to sneak with me into school after dark because I was certain that the janitor was an alien. Or the time you wanted to read for that one test and I instead dragged you out to drive around aimlessly the entire night without telling your parents. Or the time I-"


He stopped at the sound of the door, and blinked. The humour disappeared and he felt awkwardness descend upon him like a tonne of bricks.


"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were expecting someone. Do you want me to leave? I can take a walk around town or just go to the hotel or something." Steven cast a look at the working washer. It would be awkward to carry around half-washed clothes, but if she gave him some plastic bags then he could take them to the laundromat and finish the wash there. "I didn't mean to intrude, you should have said something."

 

[soldmysoul]

As soon as Steven started listing off all the stupid things that he had somehow convinced her to participate it she was bracing herself. Covering her face with her hands as she laughed, Quinn just shook her head at the oh so embarrassing memories. Despite the fact that Quinn was a smart, good child, she could never really tell you why she followed Steven in everything he did, even when she knew it would end her up in hot water. There were few things she actually ended up getting away with, her parents would find out one way or another. But hey, at least she turned out decent. In fact, she could have eloped, turned to drugs, or even suffered the teen pregnancy flu that seemed to be going around her highschool at the time.


That's when the door was being pushed open, the man Steven had unfortunately encountered earlier stepping inside. "No, Steven, you're fine. You're not intruding on anything at all." She said loud enough for Steven to hear, but soft enough so that Zayn wouldn't.


The tall, well-dressed gentleman stopped at the sight of Steven. "What the fuck are you doing here Daniels?" He then turned his attention to Quinn, "did you really invite this prick here?"


'Yes I did, although I am certain it is you that is the prick. This is my house so you can leave if you have a problem with it.' Of course she didn't say that.


"Yeah. He just got into town and I offered him a place to stay." Thankfully she avoid stuttering out her words despite the fact she was practically falling over them in her mind. As if she really had to defend herself in her own home. It's not like she was doing anything wrong.


"Well, his invitation to stay has officially expired. You can leave Daniels." There it was, the controlling, more dominant side of Zayn. There was no reason for him to be getting upset, it's not like Quinn had some random man over and they were caught undressed together in bed, it was Steven. Of course, Zayn hated the thought of Quinn talking to another man, he even got on her about when she would talk to other females. Zayn knew the history that existed between Steven and Quinn and was most likely jealous of the way she would smile at the stories she told of the two. In addition, he was probably worried that with Steven around, Quinn might start paying less attention to him and focusing on Steven, the poor war vet.

 

[redletalis]

Zayn?! Zayn was her boyfriend?! Steven couldn't help looking bewildered at that, casting a confused look at Quinn, because he remembered Quinn ranting about Zayn more than once when they were younger. If Zayn had actually changed throughout the years then, yes, perhaps he could see the attraction; but Zayn was still Zayn - all domineering, demanding and narcissistic enough to make Narcissus himself jealous - and Steven just couldn't imagine Quinn with someone like that and have it actually last as long as she claimed that it had.


Well, it was her choice and she was a grown woman able to make it and all that, but still Zayn?! Seriously?!


Although, the way Quinn now looked with hi discomfort written all over her face and in the way she held her body, the relationship might not be going as well as she would have others believe. Steven's eyes flickered between Zayn and Quinn, and in the end he decided to do as he had always and would always do: he sided with Quinn and backed her up.


"Ah, well, might be a bit difficult," he said, putting on an easy smile that was utterly fake. "My clothes are in the washer. I'll have to stay here until they're done at least. It is good to see you again, Zayn. We didn't exactly have time to catch up earlier today. Tell me, did your meeting go well?"


His cane was easily within reaching distance and if he wanted to he could grab it and whack Zayne over the head with it. Satisfying thought all around really.

 

[soldmysoul]

A look of surprise crossed her face, although in previous years Steven would have stood his ground, she wasn't so sure about now, but he came through! Silently she cheered Steven on in her but as much as she wanted Zayn to give up and leave, he didn't. The immature little shit wouldn't.





Zayn approached the other male, perhaps it was the fact that Steven seemed slightly incapacitated that gave him the courage, otherwise Zayn simply would not have the balls. No, he wasn't stick thin, but as far as muscle mass and combat training, he wasn't quite 'up to par'. However, he insisted on moving forward, stopping directly in front of Steven, where he would continue to assert himself in the most domineering way possible.


"I don't know who you think you're talking to like that but you can forget about your fucking clothes and leave before I make you."


Ha! Good one! Quinn had always known Zayn to be nothing but talk, a blessing in her case, but she was highly amused at this alpha male facade in which he decided to display.

 

[redletalis]

Zayn was actually a couple of inches taller than Steven, but even standing right in front of him going all RAWR-ME-ALPHA Steven couldn't find it in himself to be intimidated at all. In fact, he was rather amused and had to struggle to keep from snickering. It was a bit of a ridiculous sight really, and anything but intimidating. After the people in the army and after combat experience that Steven unfortunately had too much of, Zayn's attempt kind of just fell. Flat. On its face. Yeah.


Still amusing as all hell though.


"But you see, it's not only the clothing. Quinn was kind enough to make me a sandwich, and I don't want to insult her by not eating it. I'm sorry, I'll be gone as soon as the clothes and the food are done." He said and gestured to the food that still stood untouched on the counter. Steven kept the friendly look on his face - though his smile turned more real as amusement ran through him - keeping his voice calm and easy. In his teenage years he would have already punched Zayn, but the army had a way of changing the way one reacted to things, ones need to assert oneself. It was a damn painful way, but it worked.


As long as Zayn didn't do anything rash this should work out surprisingly peacefully.

 

[soldmysoul]

For your own good Zayn, just back down already. Your pride will heal.


"Zayn, you're taking things and throwing them out of proportion. Let's be real, he did nothing wrong to your and you're coming on to him with no purpose in mind other than to prove yourself." She reached out to put a hand on his shoulder and hopefully get him to take a step back. Instead, Zayn angrily shoved her arm away. Okay, there was simply no reasoning with him, something she should have known from previous experiences.


Zayns fists remained down at his side, clenched tightly as if he were using all he had to hold back. He was the biggest fool in the room and maybe that's what caused his ego to be so butt-hurt. "Daniels, I'm going to be firm and offer you one more chance to hightail your army ass out of here."


Wow! So kind of you for that offer! You really are the bigger person here!

 

[redletalis]

Steven could understand it. He understood the want and need to stand up to a childhood bully, or to confront someone who was seen as higher up in the social hierarchy for whatever reason. The army was full of such people, especially amongst the recruits when they first started out and started clashing with the older recruits as they tried to establish the same pecking order in the army as they knew from their home towns. Steven had done that himself, all brash confidence in his own skills and his own place in the world. It hadn't worked out, but he understood the need so he could kind of understand where Zayn was coming from with this domineering act he had going on.


Still, it didn't mean that he was going to simply roll over and play dead either.


"Now, please, let's calm down and act like grownups here." He put his hands up in the universal sign to calm down - and that also put his arms up high enough to defend himself if Zayn did the really stupid thing and threw a punch. "Please, I said I'll be gone soon enough. I'll just sit here and be quiet and wait for my wash to finish and you won't even notice me. Or you can tell me what you have been doing since I left. By the cut and material of your suit it seems like your family is still doing very well?"

 

[soldmysoul]

Zayn froze for a moment, completely unsure of his own next move, Steven wasn't acting according to plan. According to plan, Steven would have already given him a good, hearty fist to the face and Zany would win the affection of the compassionate lady. Instead of prying at Steven once more, Zayn simply adjusted his tie at the mention of his suit. "From what I've come to know of you in the past, you wouldn't know a good suit if it hit you in the face. But yes, this is one of my favorites, spent a small fortune to attain."


Quinn rolled her eyes, here we go.


"So what does your wife think of you being here? Oh- that's right, I'm sorry, she left you. You really are pathetic and lonely."


Quinn could only assume that after the rub in between the two men earlier that Zayn has frivolously gone on a spree to find out more information about Steven in case of situations like these. Low blows were fuel for the fire within.