Chapter Text
It was a relatively short walk to the deli—Theo wished it had taken longer with Mabel’s arm tucked around his.
Theo had Mabel wait at the entrance to the back alley of the deli. She could see him, but none of the cameras could see her from that angle. After checking for anyone lingering in the shadows, Theo picked the lock on the backdoor. He took care not to damage it in the hopes they wouldn’t bother replacing the lock.
Once the door was open, Theo popped open the circuit panel just inside the door. He flicked the switches for the CCTV system and alarm—the alarm was only set for the front door, but it was best to shut it off just in case. Neither switch was labeled, but Theo really had learned a lot about running a deli before the smuggling started. He made a mental note to switch everything back on when they left.
Theo stepped back out into the alley and waved Mabel toward him. A look of fond exasperation came into focus as she approached. Theo held the door open with one hand and made a sweeping gesture with his other to urge Mabel in. She rolled her eyes, but Theo caught the smile on her lips before she turned to enter. He followed behind her, easing the door shut as they went.
The deli was dark, and it would be eerie if there weren’t two of them together. Mabel beelined it to the freezer. The shelves of Ben and Jerry’s had been stocked before the deli closed up for the night. She pointed at a particular container before Theo even had a chance to scan all of them available—Phish Food was in a swirly font on the front. Theo gave Mabel a look as skeptical as he could.
That’s what you want?
Mabel didn’t stick her tongue out again, but it looked like a near thing. She nodded.
What’s wrong with fish food?
Theo schooled his expression as best he could, fondly remembering a time when Mabel didn’t know what the motion for fish actually meant.
We specially order weird flavors from Europe, and you’re going with the most stereotypical—most normal.
It’s good! What are you getting?
Mabel punctuated the question with a raised eyebrow. Theo finished scanning the shelves and felt a rush when he spotted what he hoped for. He pointed at a container dotted with bees.
“Honey[comb]?”
Theo copied Mabel’s signs with a smirk.
It’s good!
Mabel shook her head.
You’re lucky you’re cute.
Theo’s cheeks burned, but at least Mabel looked pleased with herself.
After Theo scribbled a note on the back of a random receipt and left it by the register with twice as much cash as he needed to cover the ice cream, he pulled the two pints out. He took the older containers from the front and pulled the rest forward as best he could to fill the space, all while being careful not to touch anything that would be left behind with his bare hands. When he turned back to Mabel, she was already holding up two plastic spoons. Theo couldn’t do anything but smile at her satisfied expression.
Now that they were settled at a table, it was easy enough for them to lean against each other, shoulders pressed together to combat the chill of the ice cream. Theo offered his pint to Mabel, and she scooped out a chunk of honeycomb that nearly fell on the table. Theo watched her expression light up when it broke and released honey, but she just shrugged nonchalantly. Theo figured Mabel knew she wasn’t fooling him—he couldn’t quite keep the smirk off his face as she continued sneaking more pieces of honeycomb as he uncovered them for her. She didn’t stop him when he started stealing bites of her fish food, so they were probably even.
They were about halfway through both of their pints when Mabel jerked unexpectedly. Theo’s heart rate shot up, and his hand tensed involuntarily around his spoon. Mabel touched his arm lightly and stuck her spoon deep in her ice cream to stand it up. She pulled out her phone, showing Theo the bright screen with a notification across the front. Mabel checked it quickly, an unreadable expression on her face. Theo nudged her gently.
Everything still okay?
Mabel set her phone on the table between their containers of ice cream. A text thread was open.
ALICE (EX): Where are you?
Mabel typed a response with one hand, leaving her phone on the table.
we left
The responses came quickly for their length.
ALICE (EX): Got another buyer who’s not a misogynistic asshole if you’re interested
ALICE (EX): A lady in a green dress with the most gorgeous undercut I’ve ever seen
ALICE (EX): I need to ask for her barber/hairdresser
ALICE (EX): Says she liked the “sapphic undertones” of one portrait ;)
ALICE (EX): She’s offering $6000
ALICE (EX): Shall I accept it on your behalf?
Theo raised his eyebrows. He still didn’t know much about art, but six thousand dollars seemed like an impressive amount for a newly public artist. He looked at Mabel, who seemed to be almost frozen. He nudged her again, and she turned to look at him.
Six thousand dollars was a startlingly high amount compared to the only other offer she’d received—higher than her bar by a significant amount. Theo looked as excited as Mabel thought she should’ve been. She’d faced arrests and kidnappings, corpses and murderers, and it was an amazing offer on her artwork that sent her into some level of shock.
Theo abruptly looked away and pulled a napkin from the dispenser in the middle of the table. He pulled a pen out of his pocket and wrote something hurriedly. He set the pen on top of the napkin before sliding it over to rest just beneath her phone.
ice cream:
[ ] commiseration
or
[ ] celebration
?
Mabel traced the letters with her fingers, feeling the ridges of Theo’s writing. When she lifted her fingers away, one was smudged with ink on the end. Mabel picked up the pen and resolutely ignored the faintest trembling in her hand and the way Theo studied it. She put an X through the box next to celebration and set down the pen. A short affirmative text to Alice sealed the deal, and she got a thumbs-up emoji in response almost instantly.
When Mabel finally looked up at Theo, the only way to describe it was beautiful.