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It had been a couple months since Player had come to live with them, but Zack was loving it. While he usually wasn’t at HQ because of missions, it made the time he spent there even better, knowing that he got to hang with Player. The two of them had been playing tons of racing games together and, to be completely honest, Player was the only one who could really keep up with Zack’s wicked moves. Ivy and Carm were great, but Player’s quick typing skills carried over into video games and he was seriously scary sometimes.
Plus, it was good for Player to be around people more. Zack could tell that the kid didn’t get out much, and he certainly couldn’t anymore. The team being home was good for him.
Around a month ago, Carmen had gotten super sick and had to be hospitalized by ACME. The whole ordeal had been really rough on Player, although Zack wasn’t completely sure why. Well, he knew that Carm was basically Player’s sister, so it made sense, but he still felt like he was missing something.
He had asked Ivy about it a couple weeks after it happened. All she said was, “I think it’s just that they’re super close. She wasn’t waking up, remember?”
So that’s that. He couldn’t help if he didn’t know what was going on.
What he did know was he wanted Player to let loose more.
Tonight, Zack was going on a solo mission. Carmen wanted him to keep appearing at rich people events, to keep up the pretense of the Duke of Vermeer. He was headed to a fancy restaurant in the Île-de-France region to chat it up with the business folk. Actually, quite the opposite. Carmen specifically told him to avoid talking as much as possible, or people might sniff him out as a fake.
Zack didn’t know what possessed him to say it, but as they were planning the mission he blurted out, “Player should come with me. He can help with final details and stuff and then we can hang out the day after!”
Player looked perturbed. “Isn’t that a terrible idea? What if VILE saw us and found out about me because of it?”
Zack groaned. “See, this is exactly why you need to go! You’re always stuck in your little cave hunched over the computer. You need some fresh air. See the sights of Paris, man.”
Player looked less concerned now and more doubtful. He turned to Carm, seeking her opinion.
She looked divided, but finally said, “I think Zack’s right, Player. This’ll be good for you. We’ll just get you good disguises.”
Player looked like he was going to protest more, but Carmen shut him up. “You deserve to be a kid for once. Go have fun.”
Sighing, Player responded, “Fineeee. I guess it’ll be nice to spend time away from this place.”
And that’s how Player and Zack ended up booking a hotel room and preparing Zack for the formal event.
Driving up to the event, Zack had to remind himself of the etiquette at these things. At least the event was a wine tasting, so he could lay back a little. Zack stepped out of the car and confidently walked to the doors. One of the men standing by the doors stopped him, and for a moment Zack thought he might have been found out. Instead, he gestured to his head. It took Zack a moment to realize he was trying to hang up his hat. As the man took the hat, he said a firm, “amusez-vous bien.”
Zack tried to recall any French knowledge he had, which was very little. It sure would be useful to have a little Player in his ear now, but they’d agreed that this mission didn’t need any support. He stammered out a hesitant, “Merci. Bonsoir.”
Although the man was clearly judging him, he wasn’t stopping him from entering. Zack speed-walked into the lobby of the large building.
The rest of the night was spent at random tables, sipping alcohol and politely speaking with people. There were several photographers roaming around, and Zack made sure to get some pictures that would surely be posted somewhere. As long as VILE saw them, it was worth it.
It was nearing ten pm when Zack’s car arrived and he was able to leave. He grabbed the complementary bottle of wine on his way out, cradling it on his lap in the car. He was feeling a bit tipsy, but overall could still focus on the world around him. Walking up to the hotel room, he couldn’t wait to settle under the cozy sheets and pass out. Zack pressed his key card to the door and it unlocked with a click. Once inside, he called out to Player, “Hey, I’m back!”
Player was sitting in bed, already in his pajamas, reading a book. Zack smiled softly at the sight, calling out, “of course you’re reading, smart little nerd.”
Player looked up from his book, saying, “Why thank you, I-”
Player started stammering as his eyes honed in on the bottle of wine in Zack’s hands. “I, uhm, I just was going to say, uhm, thanks. That’s it.”
Zack was confused and concerned. Walking over to where Player was sitting, he asked, “Hey, what’s wrong?”
Player stiffened as he approached, eyes trained on the bottle. He took a deep breath in through his nose, but this only made his panic worse. He pressed himself as far back into the bed as he could, squeezing his eyes shut and clamping his hands over his mouth.
Zack watched all of this in silent horror. As soon as Player had looked at the alcohol, Zack knew he made a mistake bringing it back. He was so stupid. Bringing home the one thing that he knew Player had been hurt by so many times. At this point, Player probably wasn’t seeing Zack, but rather his step-father prepared to hurl the bottle at him.
Zack quickly walked away from Player’s bed. He grabbed his pajamas and ran to the bathroom. His current clothes smelled too much like alcohol. As he was changing into pajamas, he found a breath mint in his suit pocket. Thanking whatever gods were out there, he popped it into his mouth and finished changing. He took a couple sniffs of the air and, spotting the febreze on the bathroom countertop, sprayed it on himself.
Zack exited the bathroom, putting his suit in a zippered pocket of his suitcase that couldn’t be seen or smelt. The couple minutes spent in the bathroom had Player off the bed and huddled in the corner of the room. He was watching Zack’s movements with anxiety and still glancing over to the alcohol.
Making a quick - and maybe stupid - decision, Zack opened the window of the hotel room. Glancing at the street below and determining it was all clear, he dropped the bottle out the window.
Player flinched at the sound of breaking glass, but ultimately his posture relaxed. Zack went over to sit in front of him. Quietly, Zack said, “Player, look at me. I’m not him. I’m not your step-father. It’s Zack, okay?”
Player’s breathing was starting to slow again. Just in case, Zack took a deep breath and, as he suspected, Player copied him. The two of them sat like that for a while, just breathing.
After a few minutes, Player suddenly launched forward, hugging Zack. He sniffled and quietly said, “I’m sorry.”
Zack hugged him back firmly, responding gently. “What do you have to be sorry for?”
“I panicked over just seeing a bottle, even though I know you’re not him and you’d never hurt me. And I made you waste perfectly good alcohol.”
“You didn’t panic over nothing. I’m the one who was a little drunk and wasn’t thinking about how scary alcohol is to you. You had every right to react the way you did based on your past with that man. I hope you know I would never blame you for a trauma response. And as for the bottle, I’m not upset at all. I wouldn’t have drunk it anyway because it clearly affects you.”
Player looked up at him, scrunching his face when he said, “I don’t wanna be the reason you can’t drink anymore, if you enjoy it.”
Zack just smiled. “Honestly, it’s better for me not to drink it anyways. And I promise I like your happiness and safety much more than I like drinking.”
“Okay.”
Zack and Player stayed like that for at least ten more minutes before Zack groaned, “alright, kid. You gotta get up so we can both go to bed.”
Player stood up, stretching. A devious smile came onto his face, “Y’know one way you could reimburse me for all this trauma?”
Zack rolled his eyes, flopping on his bed. “Yeah, what’s that?”
“Buy me some really good french pastries tomorrow!”
“Kid, c’mon. I was already going to get us both some wicked croissants. It’s like you don’t even know me.”
“Ooh or we could get pain au chocolat!”
“I’ll get you anything you want if you shut up and let me sleep.”
“Okay, shutting up now.”