Phoenix noted that she had been keeping her gaze down, and seemed really quiet. Gently he wrapped his arm back around her to pull her close. "Is there any way it can be fixed by tomorrow? We both have college classes on Monday, down state." He told the man, gently rubbing Cicada's shoulder. "I honestly don't know. I need to take a better look at the problem. I'll have one of our best mechanics come and take a look at it as soon as possible. Don't count on going back for a day or so, in all honesty."
Cicada was really wound up and relaxed a little at his slight touch only to wind back up again hearing that they would be here for a day, maybe two. She, fuck, fuck fuck fuck! This couldn't be happening! She could feel a panic attack start to well up before forcing it back down. She couldn't do this now, not next to Phoenix. Nothing was wrong, everything was fine. Everything would be fine.
Phoenix could feel her tense up next to him, and glanced over to her. Something was up that she wasn't telling him. Unless it was just the fact that they'd be stuck there, that he understood. But he had a pretty simple solution to it, he could propose later. "Right. Is there paper work you need me to fill out?" He asked softly, trying to relax Cicada by rubbing her shoulders once more. "Mm, not until later. All I need is a phone number, until I get this figured out." The other man replied, shutting the car before pulling a pad of paper. "And maybe a name." Phoenix reached out, and neatly wrote his name and number down. "Right, thank you sir. I'm assuming we can leave this here, then?" He asked, handing the paper back before reaching for his keys.
Cicada relaxed a little before burying her head into his side and letting out a long breath. She just, she just needed to relax. Just because she was in her old town, with her old college that has her old friends and her ex, doesn't mean she would run into any of them. Her eyes closed and she attempted to focus on the moment though her mind was racing with worries.
Phoenix continued to rub her shoulder, not really bothered by her cuddliness. Though now was a decently inconvenient time. "Yeah, 'course you can. I can take your keys, and move it into the shop. If you have anything in there you need, I'd suggest getting it. We're suppose to lock up in a couple of hours." He told Phoenix in a light hum, reaching out for the keys. Phoenix handed them over, and nodded. "Thank you, sir." He nodded lightly, watching the other man walk off. "Alright, let's grab your bag. I need to grab a couple things, too."
"Um, yeah," Cicada responded softly as she reached to open the door pulling away from Phoenix only slightly. She hated how she felt at the moment, but it would go away. Eventually. Taking a deep breath she grabbed her bag and slung it around her shoulder glancing around trying, and praying, not to see her ex around here, "Do you, uh, want to find a hotel before we wander and go to the restaurant?"
Phoenix pulled what he needed from the car, giving her a soft look. "If that's what you want, then of course." He told her softly, tipping her chin up just slightly. "I want to make sure you're alright. If that means we don't go to dinner, and just order a pizza in, I'm fine with that." He replied softly, kissing her forehead before reaching for her hand.
Cicada let out a soft breath as a smile tugged on her lips. She looked down once more after a good moment and then forced herself to look back up at him. This wasn't Breck, Breck had no idea she was in town Hahaha no sweety. Her smile turned a little lopsided, "I don't want to ruin the date any more than it already is, buuuut. If that's what you want to do I don't mind doing that instead."
"Clearly something is bugging you. I don't want to make you go out if you're not ready. I'm happy to just chill around the hotel room." Phoenix replied still in a soft tone. He gave her a small smile, lacing their fingers together before starting to walk down the sidewalk. "Do you wanna pull up one of those hotels, and find a phone number to call?"
"Um, yeah I can do that," Cicada pulled out her phone happy she had a task to do. She could focus on that instead of, well, everything else. Being a former native, she knew exactly which hotel to pick and it wasn't that far from the repair shop. Which was a plus, and also a minus since it was close to her exes place. She found the hotel's number and glanced to Phoenix, "I found one, and it's close by. Do you want to call or should I?"
“If you’re comfortable calling, it’ll be easier if you do.” Phoenix replies in a soft tone. He kept a tight hold on her, trying to get a feel for the new town. He knew they weren’t staying long, but he liked the idea of knowing where they were going. At least to be able to tell Savanna where to meet them at, assuming she’d come if he asked. “But I can, if you want me to.”
"No I," Cicada started before she froze in her tracks. Even if Phoenix kept walking she wasn't moving as her blood turned cold. Fuck. Fuck! There coming towards them was a more skinny boy, no older than Cicada, with a mop (it was really the only appropriate term) of black hair. Her ex, Brecken. She prayed he didn't recognize her, but given the fact he had diverted from going to the repair shop and was now approaching them with that stupid coy smile of his, she figured that prayer was lost.
"Hello there Cicada, darling, and acquaintance," he said as he walked up. He glanced down at the pair holding hands and she could see the hint of disgust that formed knowing that his 'princess' was holding hands with another person. Didn't matter who, "I'm so glad you finally returned back to me, though why are you, boy, holding hands with my lovely Cicada?"
Phoenix was listening to her, feeling his arm being yanked when she stopped in her tracks. "Hey, everything-" He got cut off when he saw the other approaching. When he greeted them in a very unpleasant tone.
"Um… because she's my girlfriend?" Phoenix offered awkwardly, not really sure what to do. Whoever this was, he knew Cicada, which definitely set him on edge. That could explain why she was so nervous earlier. "Can we help you? If not, I think we'll be going."
Cicada's heart was racing now. Brecken still thought her as his, even though she had been very clear (she ran away and left a note goddammit!) that they were no longer a thing. She should have told Phoenix something sooner, and now she didn't have the voice to say anything. Instead, Brecken did all the explaining she needed to do, "You're mistaken. She's my girlfriend and I've missed her so very dearly."
Phoenix stepped forward, trying to put more distance between this lunatic and his girlfriend. He wanted to say something about Cicada not even mentioning the other existed, but he bet that would set him off very quickly. And he didn't want to deal with that. "I'm sorry to say, I think you've had one too many drinks of something. If you don't need anything from us, we will be going."
Cicada tried to open her mouth to explain or attempt to maybe calm the situation. But her mouth seemed sealed shut and unmoving like the rest of her. Brecken frowned and stepped towards them in an aggressive manner. He seemed to be reaching out towards Cicada, "I am very much sober. And that is my girlfriend Cicada Ari Flare, we've been dating since senior year of high school which we went to together. And as far as I'm concerned she is not going anywhere, with you!"
He then lunged out trying to grab at the still frozen Cicada.
Phoenix was on edge, and didn't even think as he swept the other's feet from under himself. It was a matter of seconds before Phoenix had Brecken pinned to the ground under him. His face was dead serious as he kept his knee on his chest, and a hand pinning down his shoulders. "Then stop being concerned. She is going to come with me, and you're going to leave me and her alone. Alright?" He snapped a little, his head hung lower so he was only about a foot away from his face.
Brecken hadn't expected that and even had the wind knocked out of him. Cicada hadn't expected it either, but she was grateful that it had happened. Brecken looked at the boy in front of him before looking past him at Cicada causing her to freeze again. Oh, he better not. Brecken finally caught his breath and spat at Phoenix, "I'll do what I fucking want."
Phoenix glanced up to Cicada, before fully focusing on Brecken. He pinned one of his hands down with his other knee, trying not to let him get up. "Will you now? Because I can also play that game. I suggest you back off, before things get worse for you." He replied, not seeming to do as much as blink. With his gaze trained on Brecken, he started speaking to Cicada. "Why don't you go ahead to dinner, Cicada. I'll meet you there." He told her lightly, trying to not mention where they were actually headed.
Cicada started to unfreeze, though her body still wasn't letting her move. She took a deep breath and forced herself to move and speak. Her voice, while strong, was also shakey, "Um, yeah. I'll, I'll go do that."
She wanted to run, but forced herself to walk. Just a block. Get out of sight, She told herself. Brecken seemed to grow silent seeing Cicada leave before he snarled at Phoenix, "Fine. But don't think I'm giving up."
"Give up at what?" Phoenix asked simply, starting to ease off when he couldn't hear her footsteps anymore. He didn't actually want to hurt Brecken, only wanted to keep him in place long enough for her to get away. He would figure out where she was later. "It seems silly to persist at something that clearly isn't going to work out. Why not just leave her alone? If she doesn't love you, why do you even care?"
Brecken didn't give an answer to that and only snarled back at him. At least he had eased up on Brecken slightly, most likely since Cicada had left to somwhere. The boy wouldn't understand how deep their love ran and how Cicada would soon see that she needed Brecken. She needed him just as much as he needed her. He eventually responded with a low, "You know nothing about our relationship."
"That, that's true. Just add the word almost." Phoenix responded simply, not standing up yet. "I know almost nothing about your relationship. All I know is that she clearly disappeared for a reason." He finished, his voice soft as he delivered his sentences. "I don't know anything else. I won't ask about it. But you need to leave her alone."
Brecken had no intention of doing that, but there was reason to tell him that. He relaxed only slightly as he continued to glare at Phoenix. With a softer snarl as he spat out, "Fine. I'll leave her alone."
“Truly? You’ll really truly leave her alone?” Phoenix asked in a stern but soft tone. He couldn’t exactly come off as cold, because he was Phoenix. But it wasn’t exactly the comforting tone he used when around Cicada. “I’m not leaving until you promise me.”
“I promise,” Brecken replied lying through his teeth. His voice was still cold and snippy. He continued to half glare at Phoenix as pain radiated through his limbs, “Now let me go.”
Phoenix hesitated, before pushing off of Brecken. “Right.” He stated simply, standing up and brushing himself off. “If that’ll be all, I shall be going to catch up to Cicada.” He hummed, lifting his head to look at the other.
Brecken sat up his body protesting slightly as he did so. He glared up at Phoenix before pushing himself to stand up. No words were said as he silently stalked off towards the repair shop.
Phoenix watched Brecken go, and quickly pulled his phone out before heading off in the same direction as Cicada. He called her, and listened to the dial tone as he waited for her to pick up.
Cicada picked up having not gone that far. In the time she had disappeared she had sat down against a building to calm her nerves and managed not to have a panic attack. Her voice was still a little shakey, "Hey there. Sorry for, uh, not warning you?"
