Chapter Text
Driver whistled to himself as he walked down the hall. He finished the upgrades the Boss had asked him about already, so he figured he could show him in person and get to annoy the guy a bit at the same time. He paused in the doorway to the common room however, silencing his whistling. He chuckled as he took in the information on his visor- the visor that was reading the general vitals of Cassian, asleep at the table with what was most likely his homework spread about him.
The young vilzone boss was deep in NREM sleep according to the information on his visor, and of course his visor is never wrong. Driver peeked over at his schoolwork. Math and biology, huh? He skimmed over the questions and briefly glanced at Cassian. Surely he wouldn't mind. He pulled out a pencil, erasable and obvious that Cassian himself didn't write it- He noticed that Cassian writes in pen rather than something less permanent. To each their own, he supposed. Driver started marking light suggestions on the worksheets. Cassian would probably be more angry if Driver straight up told him the answers, which Driver liked about the kid. He was honest. Blunt and horribly arrogant, taunting anyone he meets for a fight, but Driver can't deny he is honest about it.
Once he deemed his hints sufficient, Driver went off towards the kitchen. Before he realized he wasn't the greatest option for a cook. His food was edible, he was a self sustaining adult after all, but it would probably be better off ordering some takeout. He pulled out his phone, seeing what places were open to deliveries in the vilzone.
"Oh Driver dear!!!" Crow's familiar cooing took his focus from his phone, a smile on his face.
"Crow. Don't be too loud, we wouldn't want to wake the boss up." He nodded towards Cassian, who had somehow curled in on himself as Driver started ordering from some American fast food chain. He hadn't actually tried their food before, but they sang about their delivery being better than any other, and doubled down on the food being fully free if the delivery can't make it
"Ohhh, is the dark duckling getting so comfortable around us now?" She continued in a quieter teasing voice. "Darling, what are you doing on that phone of yours that you aren't paying attention to me?~" She walked over, draping herself over Driver's shoulder to see his phone's screen. He answers her verbally even though she can see it herself,
"Ordering food for the vilzone. Anyone who finds it in here anyways." He adjusted his stance so Crow could let more of her weight onto him, as she likes to do.
"If you're hungry, I should have just made you my special cookies," She grabbed him gently (for her) by the chin and brought his face towards hers. Her smile was sharp, "Unless you truly don't want any?" The room darkened slightly, but Driver just smiled
"You know I love your cookies, Crow." It was all he needed to say for her to brighten up again, and begin humming to herself.
"Honestly, I'm surprised the dark duckling would sleep here. He seems to have some serious trust issues," She said airily, checking the minimal supplies in the cupboards. She frowned as she didn't see the ingredients she needed. Driver would ignore the irony for now, and he finally finished the order. The estimated time was 45 minutes- Even though the place wasn't super busy at the moment, he ordered enough food for a small army- The vilzone ate like every bite of food was their last.
He set to cleaning the random clutter that has been left on the large counter island throughout the week, enough so that the food will have space to be set on when it does arrive. One of Cassian's papers skittered off the desk and lightly slid onto the floor. Crow and Driver both snapped their attention to the sudden movement, but seeing as the windows had been left open, it was only a breeze. Crow sighed and gracefully went over to pick it up. She scanned over the content on the paper before gently placing it back onto Cassian's scattered mess.
Cassian's arm's almost imperceptible shivered under another stronger breeze. Crow frowned briefly, shrugging off her trademark coat and draping it over him. Unfortunately, touching a sleeping Cassian does not a good idea make. He jumped upright, his claws nearly catching Crow as she backed up, before he froze to stare at her. His papers were even more scattered now, half of them at least landing on the floor.
"well, good morning." Driver smirked a little. He had caught Crow even a little off guard there. What could this kid have gone through that makes a gentle touch while he's sleeping startle him into fight mode like that? He doesn't really want an answer, but his curiosity... He took a quick breath to ebb at his flowing thoughts, refocusing towards Cassian. "You might want to pick up your homework," He gestured at the papers Cassian threw everywhere in his awakening.
Cassian slowly lowered his arms, though his posture remains incredibly tense. His heart rate was still high, he knew from looking at the information on his visor. The boss gained that mildly constipated wet cat look he has mastered wearing when he gets even a little confused or embarrassed. Driver smirked further.
Cassian rubbed his claws against each other, in a soothing fidgeting motion. Driver noticed the kid tended to do that. He bent over a began very slowly, no, carefully angling his clawed gauntlets to slide under a paper. Crow and Driver winced as Cassian glared at the paper, or maybe his own claws as he fumbled to pick up the homework without damaging it. Crow stepped up and started gathering any nearby where she had backed off to earlier. Driver followed suit.
After all the papers were gathered into 2 large piles, (biology and math respectfully,) a hesitant knock sounded from the door. Driver grinned and turned to head towards it.
"Delivery is here!" He said, pulling out his phone and texting the vilzone group chat. Though he figured a few of them already knew the food was here, knowing their feral hunger. The door opened to show a very nervous man with covered in delivery bags. Driver smirked and called out, "You four, come help carry this inside." The delivery man flinched as the idiot trio and shadow ghost immediately snapped to him, grabbing as much food as they could. They probably made it a bet for themselves, honestly.
Driver had paid as he ordered, so once the food was taken the five of them headed inside and the delivery man texted his boss as he headed out of the vilzone's area. Cassian had finished packing all of his schoolwork away by the time all of them came back and had finished clearing off the counter with Crow by the looks of things.
"My lord! I didn't know you were to dine with us today!" Shadow Ghost dropped down to the ground, nearly sacrificing two takeout containers balanced precariously on an overflowing bag. Cassian rolled his eyes.
"It's true though! You never eat with us. You always stay in your gym and leave before we even order food!" Black mask pointed a finger at Cassian, who looked at it with all of his disgruntled wet cat energy. Driver couldn't help but snort, and Crow smirked too.
"I don't eat takeout that much anymore... I mostly cook for myself." He glanced over all the takeout bags and boxes, fidgeting with is fingers again. He cooks his own food? All the time? Shouldn't he have some days to have his parents take care of that? He understands kids cooking for themselves, but not every one of their meals. He shook his head.
"Well you get to eat with us today then Boss. I got us some American food. Ordered some of everything on their menu. Cassian's wet cat vibes ramped up at the mention of food choice. Mumbled something about grease before sighing and his eyes softening for a moment.
"Fine." Cassian started unloading boxes and containers from their bags and soon everyone else followed suit. The idiot trio were trying to get as many containers unloaded on their 'sides' as possible, crow and Shadow ghost were grabbing plates for them, Cassian set every box down gently, similarly to the papers, and Driver went to grab cutlery for everyone. "You won't need cutlery probably." Cassian called to Driver, "Most of the food on their menu is finger food." After a few seconds of staring he gave clawed jazz hands, "finger forks." He smiled briefly, before the wet cat face smothered it out and he returned to his previous task.
"I'm hungry, can we eat already!?" Black hand yelled the moments the last box was placed down. Everyone braced for the food frenzy, as Driver nodded. Hands flew to boxes to pry their Styrofoam lids open and wasted no time grabbing chicken legs, burgers and fries out to be shoved into gaping mouths.
Cassian blinked before shrugging and channeled all the times he had to fight for food at that orphanage to grab dibs on a box of onion rings. If he had a smile the whole time he was chewing and reaching for more food as if it was a game of Dutch blitz, nobody said anything.