"Twins," Tessa repeated. "The worst kind of enemy." She handed Zeus his phone back. "Now if you don't mind…"
Her brother got the hint and rolled his eyes. "Don't mind me. I'll be leaving soon anyway. Mom wants a family get together." He gave Tess a pointed look. She didn't look pleased.
"Sounds important." He looked down at Tess to see what she was going to do.
"Tell her i said thanks, but no thanks."
"But–"
"Alex hates me and it'll just be a living nightmare."
"Tess–"
"No."
Runner just looked back and forth between to two, turning his attention to whoever was speaking at that moment.
Zeus sighed and ran his fingers through his mud-brown hair. "Fine. I'll tell her you're thinking about it." Before she could protest, he left the house.
Runner frowned. "I have a feeling I haven't been told everything about your family."
Tess sighed. "It's complicated."
"I've got time." He offered an attempt at an encouraging smile.
She sat up and faced way from Runner. "Hi know I was in the foster care system since I was born. But why i was there was because the doctor that had delivered me set up a scheme that made my mom look unfit to csre for me so that he could foster me and raise me as his own. Yadda yadda yadda, lots of homes and abuse, crime drugs, Cin, kicking ass, all that good stuff. Anyway, my mom hooked up with Zeus's Dr for some time, but they foot divorced because he was just too busy as a doctor and didn't want that kind of stress on her or Zeus. Then she married my step father, who's acting as a mole for my Mafia family in the government–his choice, I didn't corrupt him. They had two kids together. Alex and Angel. Alex is older and hates me with a burning passion." She laughed humorlessly. "I am a murderer after all. Angel adores me and sees me as a hero thanks to stories my mom and step father tell her. Alex does all he can to keep me away from her."
Runner sat up with her, frowning as she told her story. I'd like to meet her parents, but it sounds like a hot mess.
"I can understand not wanting to go, but people want you there, Tess. You can't let one fuckwad take your family away. Zeus will be there to keep things in check."
(Tori?)
(Imao getting roleplays mixed up here)
(Lol, okay)
She sighed and cool her her fingers through her tangled hair. "I dunno. I guess I've just never had a family so I don't really desire one, y'know?"
Runner thought for a moment.
"Well….hugging my mom for the first time….it's hard to explain. She's a total stranger, yet she's so damn familiar. I bawled like a baby, just 'cause of how good it felt. Sure, maybe she wasn't there for me when I was younger, but now she's an active part of my life." He smiled lightly. "Hell, we actually got through an entire conversation without crying last time we talked. And now, you have the same thing waiting for you." He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in before adding, "I think you should go."
She shook her head. "I've already met them. Several times. It's just… Weird. Except Angel. She's a doll."
He simply shrugged, even through she couldn't see him. "I told you what I think, love. It's your choice, though."
"Love," she turned to him, eyes bright with amusement. "That's new."
"Well," he said with a smile. "I gotta have something else to call you other than Tess, right?"
She was changing the subject, hoping he would drop it. She leaned forward so their faces were mere inches apart. "I recall you saying 'sadly' to Zeus's comment." She tilted her head. "Am I wrong?"
Hus smile grew slightly. "Nope. What about it?"
She bit her lip to suppress a smile. "Well, Runner. You've experienced first hand where my mind goes…" She trailed off, letting him speculate from there.
"Ah, but you got a reunion to go to. And maybe…just maybe, when you get back, you'll get, like….5 minutes of whatever you want." He grinned devilishly. Two can play it this game.
She raised a brow. "Only five minutes? And I never said I was going."
"But you will now, since that offers on the plate, right?" He tilted his head as he waited for a response.
She scowled at him and pulled back. "No kisses or cuddles for you."
"Tess, I'm serious. Zeus, for once, is right. This is something you should go to." He reached out for her hand.
True to her word, she prevented touch as she stood. "Suppose I should get some jeans," she muttered.
Runner blinked a few times, then nodded.
"Probably, yeah." I hate it when she acts like this. I'm only trying to help.
When she was halfway up the stairs, she yelled, "You should change too! There's no way in Hell I'm going without you!"
"I have no cl- oh yeah." He followed her up the stairs and entered his room, sorting through the limited selection in his closet. "How nice is this supposed to be?"