Chapter Text
Balthazar took the turn to his brother alley and glanced with a disappointed frown at the beige car already parked in front of the house. He came here early hoping to witness his brother walk of shame and welcome him with a celebration breakfast but it seems like Cassie slept here.
The cats gathered behind the front door and meowed when he sneaked inside. Besides the sound of the shower from the bathroom, the house was completely silent. At least Cassie wasn’t whipping in his bed, that was a good start. Balthazar moved away two potted plants and what seemed to be a stain-glass textbook to make room for the donuts and the coffee cups. He was getting comfy in the couch, reading a two-month-old newspaper that was laying there while sipping on his coffee when Cassie entered the living room and yelped.
- Good morning, Cassie darling !
- … What are you doing here ?
- And what are you wearing ?!
Balthazar had always loved a bold outfit but he was not sure about the ratty flower kimono paired with cats print pajamas bottom. Cassie tightened the lapels of his kimono on his chest and casted him an infuriated look.
- I wear what I want, it is my house. What are you doing here ?
- I brought you breakfast for comfort. Well, at first, I mostly wanted to be there for your walk of shame but it seems that you slept here. So, comfort breakfast it is.
- What is a wa…You know what ? I cannot deal with your nonsense first thing in the morning.
Cassie just threw both his hands up and let himself fall down the couch. Balthazar took the extra cup of coffee, held it out to him but withdrew his hand a bit when his brother tried to grab it. This coffee wouldn’t come for free.
- So… what went wrong ?
- You really want to hear how much I suffered, don’t you ?
- Not at all, I came here to support you !
- You came here to make fun of me because you thought I had intercourse.
- Well, it would have been a nice change. I usually make fun of you because you don’t.
Apparently, Cassie’s sense of humor was even worst in the morning, because he didn’t laugh. He leaned close enough to steal the coffee cup quite angrily and grabbed a donut from the box, muttering something about how no one in this family had a filter. After that, he decided to have his breakfast in complete silence and Balthazar had to find another tactic. He held out the box.
- Here, take another one. It’s ok to stress eat when your date goes wrong.
- Nothing went wrong. We told each other how crappy we are and then we kissed. Several times. It was nice.
Balthazar nearly dropped the box on the couch. What the fuck ? But when he looked at his brother’s face, all he saw was a half-smile and a proud look. He suddenly was at a loss for words. He had actually imagined two possibilities, either Cassie would have had a crazy hot night, either it would have been a total train wreck. The nice make out session didn’t even cross his mind. Cassie just shrugged at his bewildered face. Man, how can two consenting adults around forty could even CHOSE to spend the evening just kissing ? Balthazar raised an eyebrow.
- You didn’t have condoms, did you ?
- Please, just don’t.
- Ok, ok. I guess that means I don’t get to see naked pictures of this vigour…
- Balthazar !
- Hey, chill ! I was only asking that to get a chance to see regular pictures.
- You are impossible.
Balthazar had to make puppy eyes for five minutes before he agreed to show him. And he was the impossible one ? He grabbed Cassie’s phone and blinked at the screen several time. Then he looked to his brother. And back to the screen. And to his brother again. He never saw him looking this smug in forty years of existence. Balthazar cleared his throat, whipped an imaginary tear, put his free hand on his heart and chose his best trembling voice to say :
- Cassie dearest, I’m so proud of you.
- Okay, that is enough. Don’t you have anywhere else you need to be ?