They sat in silence for a few minutes, gazing up at the stars.
"Do you think he'll come back soon?"
She nodded and shivered.
"He knows I vouched for him."
Freddy didn't ask if she'd lied. Part of him hoped that she had, if it meant that it would protect Larry.
~*~
They'd lived in Baltimore for almost two years, but Freddy had never actually made the trip to his mom's office; it was almost mythological to him. He'd formed a mental picture based on her anecdotes, both complimentary and damning. Her co-workers existed as vague, patchwork-formed ideas in his imagination. Towering above them, monolithic in his reputation, was Gus, the recalcitrant defense attorney. Of course, he'd seen Gus' cap-toothed image on bus stop benches and billboards and the back cover of the Yellow Pages, but Freddy hadn't had the privilege of meeting the man who both paid their bills and made his mom work inhuman hours.
At first glance, it was apparent that Gus was good at his job. The place was swanky, but not too stylish. It had a homey look; lots of solid oak paneling, original oil paintings, the odd brass spittoon... Freddy felt like he'd been sucked into a vortex and deposited somewhere in Oklahoma.
"Can I help you, young man?"
The receptionist was a fecund matriarch with smooth ebony skin and the most infectious smile Freddy had ever seen. He grinned wide and loped over, hands shoved into the pockets of his wind-breaker.
"Hi, uh, you must be Cecile. I'm Freddy. Olivia's son."
"Oh my Lord," she gasped, "why, aren't you a gorgeous young thing. Turn around, let me drink you in. Just a few sips, I promise."
He laughed and obliged, bashfully seeking refuge behind his bangs. She hummed in appreciation.
"What color are your eyes? They're like verdigris on copper. I've never seen anything like it."
"Thank you, ma'am," he paused awkwardly, "is my mom here?"
"I'm sorry dear, she just stepped out for a late lunch. Is there a message I can relate?"
Freddy felt buoyed by a sudden boldness and spoke before he had a chance to regret it.
"Actually, I'm here to speak to Gus. Is he available?"
Her eyes widened and she pursed her lips, considering him silently.
"He's in between appointments right now, it so happens. Would you like for me to buzz him first? I know you wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. Your mother isn't capable of raising a fool."
"Yes, please. Thank you," he stammered, nerves finally catching up with him.
"You'd better go in now, while you still can," she encouraged gently.
He nodded in gratitude and walked down the corridor, mentally reciting the words he knew he had to say.
Re: Orange/White: Daddy Kink AU: Untitled (23b/?)
"Do you think he'll come back soon?"
She nodded and shivered.
"He knows I vouched for him."
Freddy didn't ask if she'd lied. Part of him hoped that she had, if it meant that it would protect Larry.
They'd lived in Baltimore for almost two years, but Freddy had never actually made the trip to his mom's office; it was almost mythological to him. He'd formed a mental picture based on her anecdotes, both complimentary and damning. Her co-workers existed as vague, patchwork-formed ideas in his imagination. Towering above them, monolithic in his reputation, was Gus, the recalcitrant defense attorney. Of course, he'd seen Gus' cap-toothed image on bus stop benches and billboards and the back cover of the Yellow Pages, but Freddy hadn't had the privilege of meeting the man who both paid their bills and made his mom work inhuman hours.
At first glance, it was apparent that Gus was good at his job. The place was swanky, but not too stylish. It had a homey look; lots of solid oak paneling, original oil paintings, the odd brass spittoon... Freddy felt like he'd been sucked into a vortex and deposited somewhere in Oklahoma.
"Can I help you, young man?"
The receptionist was a fecund matriarch with smooth ebony skin and the most infectious smile Freddy had ever seen. He grinned wide and loped over, hands shoved into the pockets of his wind-breaker.
"Hi, uh, you must be Cecile. I'm Freddy. Olivia's son."
"Oh my Lord," she gasped, "why, aren't you a gorgeous young thing. Turn around, let me drink you in. Just a few sips, I promise."
He laughed and obliged, bashfully seeking refuge behind his bangs. She hummed in appreciation.
"What color are your eyes? They're like verdigris on copper. I've never seen anything like it."
"Thank you, ma'am," he paused awkwardly, "is my mom here?"
"I'm sorry dear, she just stepped out for a late lunch. Is there a message I can relate?"
Freddy felt buoyed by a sudden boldness and spoke before he had a chance to regret it.
"Actually, I'm here to speak to Gus. Is he available?"
Her eyes widened and she pursed her lips, considering him silently.
"He's in between appointments right now, it so happens. Would you like for me to buzz him first? I know you wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. Your mother isn't capable of raising a fool."
"Yes, please. Thank you," he stammered, nerves finally catching up with him.
"You'd better go in now, while you still can," she encouraged gently.
He nodded in gratitude and walked down the corridor, mentally reciting the words he knew he had to say.