Past-Part Fills Part 7
!!! Discussion about moving the kink meme to Dreamwidth!!!
Past-Part Fills Part Seven
Fills from past parts can go here!
Fills from the current part (part 22) MUST go in that part's post until it is full.
Link to the original request (and if an ongoing fill, any previous chapters/sections).
Don't forget to link your new fill at the fill ( Read more... )
He had stopped the car outside town limits, staring at the sign which proclaimed 'Welcome to Grimmton', thinking that he probably wouldn’t be welcome. It had been stupid to come. He was tempted to turn the car around and go back home where everything would be comfortably familiar and no one need be the wiser about his little trip.
(His family was under the impression that he was on a job interview and approximately 300 miles from his current location. He didn’t have a lot of practice lying but no one questioned why someone would be looking to hire an English major from so far away).
He decided to drive on. There was still time to change his mind.
The town unfolded before him along the road. It was small and picturesque, a few shops lining what was clearly the main street and a thick forest incasing the entire place. It had been on any maps and Matthew had had to find his way here on hearsay.
He parked in front of a place called “Belle’s” which had a promising coffee cup on the sign. Some coffee might steady his nerves.
His entrance triggered the jangling of a small bell but none of the few patrons turned to look at him, continuing to sip at their drinks or eat their pastries.
He approached the counter, looking around for staff of any kind, and after a minute or two a pretty blonde girl emerged from the back, brushing her hands along her apron.
“Sorry for the wait but you know how it is when I’m here by myself. I never seem to have enough hands.” She laughed, shaking her head. “The usual I assume?”
Matthew blinked, taken aback. “Uh, I don’t…”
Her head jerked at the sound of his voice and she properly looked at him for the first time. She went pale as she examined his features and Matthew wondered if he shouldn’t call for a doctor. “Excuse me, are you alright?”
Her hand covered her mouth for a second before she let it fall, revealing a beaming smile. “I’m so sorry, dear. I thought you were someone else. What can I get you?”
Matthew swore he could see tears in her eyes and wondered who she had mistaken him for. “Um, just a coffee please.”
“How about a slice of salt and honey pie? I make it myself,” she told him.
“You look as though you could use some good food”
Matthew flushed. “Okay.”
She turned to fix his order, tossing over her shoulder. “I’m Belle by the way.”
“Matthew,” he told her.
“You look like a Matthew,” she said with a chiming laugh. “What are you doing in Grimmton?”
“Just passing through,” he said, momentarily realizing how stupid that sounded. Passing through to where?
Luckily Belle didn’t question him, merely handing him his pie and coffee. “Well I hope you enjoy your stay and oh, don’t worry about that, darling. It’s on the house.”
Matthew reluctantly put his wallet back in his pocket.
“I have to step out,” Belle announced to the café before turning back to Matthew. “Just put your plates on the counter when you’re finished.”
She hurried out of the café, the tinkling sound of the doorway’s bell barely faded before she was down the street and out of sight. Matthew, after watching her leave, selected a chair far away from the other customers and polished off his pie and coffee in minutes.
He wondered if he had startled her but she seemed fine, laughing like that. Perhaps she had left a stove on or something.
He carefully placed a ten dollar bill beneath his plate on the counter. He didn’t want to accept free food from a stranger. It felt too much like charity.
Reply
He was so distracted that on his way out he nearly collided with someone coming in. A very tall someone. The giant backed up to be revealed as a man with tired purple eyes and a grim expression.
Usually Matthew would have stuttered out half a dozen apologizes but what he did was much worse than that. He merely stood in silence, gaping up at the man.
The man arched his eyebrows and smiled coldly. “I see you’ve finally learned to shut up,” he murmured, before pushing past Matthew into Belle’s.
Matthew stood there for a moment or two, reeling from the impact of the encounter. It took him a moment but then he realized that Belle had mistaken him for someone else and it was quite possible the giant had as well. Still, the hatred of a stranger was unsettling.
His hands shook as he put his key in the ignition. His day was not improved when his car, instead of starting, gave a loud whirring sound and then a nasty pop before going entirely dead despite his efforts to start it.
“Merde!” he hissed.
His parents must have had the old Ford since the Stone Age and it was as temperamental as anything. He was grateful for the loan, lacking a car of his own, but he hated it. The Ford never failed to break down when he was driving it.
He got of the car popped the hood. He stared uncomprehendingly at the metal beneath. How was he supposed to know what was broken?
“What the fuck are you doing with that piece of shit?” called out a voice.
Matthew turned to see a man with white hair and a wide grin, leaning against a building and watching him.
“I’m driving it,” Matthew said through clenched teeth. Just because he didn’t like the thing didn’t mean others could insult it.
“You’re not doing a very good job of it.” The man cackled at his own joke. “Shouldn’t a mechanic know how to fix his own car?”
“I’m not a mechanic,” Matthew informed him.
The man laughed again. “What are you then? A car whisperer. Seriously, Alfred, stop trying to pretend that fixing cars is some sort of noble profession. You’ll only embarrass yourself.”
“I’m not Alfred,” Matthew said slowly.
The man stilled and peered at him, moving closer. “You’re not Alfred!” he exclaimed, as though arriving at the conclusion himself. “Well then who the hell are you?”
“Matthew Williams.”
“Well Matthew Williams,” the man said, laugh rebooting, “you may not be Alfred but you sure as hell need him. Come on, I’ll walk you to the garage out of the goodness of my heart.”
Matthew followed him, trembling inside. If Alfred was who he thought he was…
Reply
After a moment the door was slowly pulled open and languid figure leaned against the door frame. “Belle, my sweet, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“May I come in?” Belle asked, offering him a charming smile.
His eyes narrowed but he stepped aside. “I would offer you refreshments but I’m afraid there is only wine and I have no intention of sharing.”
“That’s fine,” she told him, settling in on the stiff sofa. “I have no need for refreshments.”
He folded himself into armchair across from her, watching her closely. “You might as well tell me what has you so pleased. You look like a cat that has got a hold of the canary.”
She smiled again, but more aggressively. It was the smile of victor. “He’s here, Francis.”
Francis stilled but his voice betrayed nothing, smooth as silk. “Who’s here, dearest?”
“Matthew,” she said triumphantly.
Francis’ hands clenched the armrests tightly for a moment before relaxing once more. “How very interesting,” he purred.
--
Matthew, unaware that he was a source of any particular interest was busy trying to breathe. Gilbert kept a quick pace and Matthew was already having problems due to the panic hugging his sternum.
“Come on,” Gilbert complained, “you’re really dragging butt back there. I’m beginning to regret my kindness.”
Matthew refrained from pointing out that Gilbert’s kindness had been more than balanced out by the insults he had been leveling at Matthew and his car the whole way.
They walked into the garage which was at capacity with only two cars. An old looking radio was in the corner blasting Journey and tools of all sorts covered the wall along with a tattered Avengers poster.
“Alfred!” Gilbert hollered. “I’ve got a customer for you.”
“Coming!” called a voice from behind the garage.
Matthew swallowed. “So I look like him?” he asked Gilbert.
“What? Oh yeah. It’s totally freaky. You could be twins.”
“He’s not older then?” A furrow appeared between Matthew’s eyes.
“Nah,” Gilbert said dismissively. “He might actually be younger but that could just be the demented comic book obsession making me think that.”
The added emphasis on the last words was obviously meant for the man striding into the garage. He was muscular and vaguely grubby as mechanics always seemed to be. He offered a smile to Gilbert that had a great deal of teeth in it before catching sight of Matthew.
The two stared at each other, Gilbert laughed at their slack-jawed expressions but was silenced when Matthew stepped forward, hand outstretched.
“Hello,” he told Alfred, voice faint but steady. “I’m Matthew Williams and I think I might be your brother.”
This is basically just a prologue. More coming soon. Hope you enjoyed!
Reply
I love both FrUK and RusCan, so I'm excited to see those pairs show up later!
and I also loved the reference to Belle and the chipped cup!
I can't wait to read more of this!
Reply
Also two of my OTP's? And the North American bro's looking to be central characters? Words cannot express how psyched I am.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment