Chapter Text
Frannie, Yev, and Riley had spent the whole day together at the park, hanging out, before they had to attend the family dinner congratulating Yev and Riley on their relationship. It was the most cringe-worthy thing in the world, and Riley wanted to throw up just at the thought — hence why they didn’t drink or smoke anything all day since that usually made Riley a little more sensitive.
It was an hour before everyone was going to turn up and the trio were wandering home, Yev and Frannie desperately reassuring Riley that everything would be fine. Riley envied the two for their positivity that he, himself, could not quite gasp. The only pro of the night is how Yev looked. He had slightly dressed up with his black jeans with only one rip and his white button-down. He looked handsome as fuck and was possibly the only thing that was going to get Riley through this shit.
‘Can you please stop riding that damn thing? You’re making me dizzy,’ Riley groaned, rubbing his forehead.
‘Sorry,’ Yev said and stopped his skateboard, picking it up and tucking it under his arm. Tucking Riley under his other arm and dropping a smooch onto his temple, he began attempting his reassurances again. ‘Look, everyone’s cool with it. We just have to really tell my mom, and she can get over herself.’
‘Yeah, if she doesn’t mean you to death with a claw hammer first,’ Frannie teased and Yev shot her a glare, pinching her arm. ‘Ouch! Fuck off, dickbrain.’
‘Well, stop teasing, douchebag,’ Yev snapped.
‘Both of you stop,’ Riley sighed as they finally reached the gate of the Gallagher house.
The trio stared up at the house, for once it seemed imposing and intimidating as it towered over them. They definitely had a challenge ahead of them. Frannie was the first to puff out a breath and shove the gate open.
‘Alright, you first, lovebirds,’ Frannie said. ‘Might as well get this shit over with.’
Yev and Riley exchanged a look before walking through the gates, Frannie following after them. They entered the house to find an enormous fucking table stretched through the kitchen into the lounge room, which had been cleared out a bit. The family dinner usually meant a tight squeeze. Tonight there would be fifteen attendees, and so far only six were there. Well, now nine.
Fiona was humming in the kitchen as she cooked the huge meal for everyone, Debbie and Mandy helping, Carl and Lip were already sitting at the table and sharing a beer, and Liam was crowded in the corner of the living room and playing a video game with the rest of the furniture packed around him.
‘Hey!’ Fiona cried out, rushing over to wrap her arms around the couple. ‘Here’s the guests of honour!’
‘What am I, chopped liver?’ Frannie quipped, heading over with a roll of her eyes when Debbie shot her a look to help her. ‘I’m fucking coming, Mom; stop giving me that look!’
Fiona rolled her eyes and leant back, a hand on each boy’s shoulder as she grinned down at them. ‘Don’t be nervous, guys! Everyone’s cool with you, and, well…Svetlana will get over it!’ Patting their shoulders, she headed back over to the kitchen.
‘Yeah, I feel like that’s going to be a running theme tonight,’ Yev muttered to Riley as Fiona walked away. He seemed to notice Riley was beginning to tense up with anxiety, he immediately tugged him by the hand up the stairs and into Riley’s room.
They both sat down on Riley’s bed and practised breathing exercises together until Riley felt better. It didn’t help too much, though; Riley knew he wouldn’t feel better until this was all over. Afterwards Yev talked, but Riley could hardly listen as the blood pounded in his ears. He jumped about a foot in the air when a few voices grew louder. More people were obviously coming in.
There were footsteps coming up the stairs towards Riley’s room and Riley immediately ripped his hand out of Yev’s, ignoring his hurt look and trying to focus on breathing. Who knew who it was? Sure, it could probably be one of the other twelve people here that were okay with them, but it could also be Svetlana. Riley just didn’t know how he was going to get through this without hurting Yev’s feelings.
He finally exhaled, heart slowing down as Ian and Mickey entered the room. Yev looked at Riley for a moment, seeming to not know what to do. As Riley stared back at Yev, he wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do either. Yev seemed to settle it by running a hand through his hair and getting up, manoeuvring around Ian and Mickey as he left.
‘What the fuck was that about?’ Mickey asked, eyebrows arched.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ Riley mumbled, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes to wipe away the tears.
‘That’s familiar,’ Ian murmured in a soft voice. Before Riley could even look up, Ian and Mickey were knelt in front of him. ‘C’mon, get those hands off your eyes, bud, and look at us.’
Riley huffed, removing his hands and blinking at them. ‘Is this an intervention?’
‘Fuck yes,’ Mickey laughed. ‘Yev got one from us when you had that fight about Emma, and now you’re gonna get one. Look, we get it’s tough for your family…well, Svetlana, to find out about you guys, especially when you have anxiety…’
‘But it’ll be fine!’ Ian finished. ‘Svetlana will never not love Yev, and deep down she knows that you’re good for him, but you know Svet…No one’s gonna be good enough for Yev.’
‘I feel really optimistic now, thanks,’ Riley scoffed.
‘Don’t do that, man, c’mon,’ Mickey said. ‘What we mean is that you can’t waste all your energy on someone who’s fuckin’…illogical and will never let you live up to her standards. You love Yev, Yev loves you — that’s all that matters. At least you don’t have fuckin’ Terry chasing you down.’
‘God, now I feel so fuckin’ stupid,’ Riley sniffed. ‘Here I am worrying about Svetlana, when you went through what—.’
‘Come on, Riles, that’s not what Mick meant,’ Ian interrupted. ‘It’s not about you being stupid or trivialising what you’re going through. We’re just trying to get you to see that it’s not life or death. I know you know that and it doesn’t really help your anxiety, but we’re trying, Riles. No matter what happens, we support you and Yev, okay?’
‘Okay,’ Riley breathed, nodding his head and sniffing.
‘Zhenya!’ a female voice cried out and they all held their breaths as Svetlana went around greeting everyone.
They started their way downstairs, Riley between Ian and Mickey as they reached the first floor. Svetlana was chatting with Giovanna, eyes wandering the crowd. As soon as she spotted Riley, they hardened slightly. Riley thought he might faint.
‘C’mon, everyone!’ Fiona announced as Iggy hugged Riley hello. ‘Dinner’s ready!’
As Riley sat down at his designated spot between Frannie and Yev, and across from Svetlana, he took a deep breath. His chest loosened a little as Yev slipped his hand into his own under the table. He gave Yev a soft smile before facing Svetlana.
Here we go.