Chocolate #20, Amaretto #22, Vinegar #4
Title: A Change in Circumstances
Prompts: Chocolate #20: caution, Amaretto #22: wake-up call, Vinegar #4: extremely flammable
Rating: PG13 for language
Characters: Firebird Blaze, Edan Blaze, Paul Robinson, Alicia Montgomery
Summary: One week after Atlas’ death. I finally get to introduce Edan! Edan Blaze is Firebird’s half-brother and Atlas’ only other progeny by his second wife, Alicia. For reasons explained later, Edan is not really like them, he’s much softer and kinder, and both Atlas and Firebird agreed that he would never be introduced into the family business. Firebird goes out of her way to take care of Edan and protect him from any ugliness that the Blazes may create because he’s the last of her immediate family, and she loves him the most out of all of her family.
And I suppose it’s only right that I prepare you for Alicia. Firebird and Alicia have had an antagonistic relationship from the very beginning. Firebird did not like the idea of someone replacing her mother, and Alicia didn’t like that she had to compete with Firebird for Atlas’ attention. Atlas divorced her a little over a year after they were married because of Edan-related events, but Alicia was certain that Firebird helped poison her dad’s mind against her. Alicia was right.
Firebird had barely gotten out of the car before she had a six year old attached to her waist.
“Edan? What’s wrong?” she asked, holding him.
“Nothin’,” Edan said into Firebird’s shirt. It didn’t escape her notice how tightly his wiry thin arms were wrapped around her waist or that his voice was a little teary. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” Firebird said. She pulled Edan away from her then crouched down so she could see his face. “Edan, baby, did something happen? You sounded unhappy when you called me.”
Edan shook his head but he was looking down at his shoes while he did it, a sure sign that he was lying.
“Edan, what happened?”
“Nothin’,” he said, sticking to his denial. He couldn’t lie like a Blaze but he could be just as stubborn as any of them when he wanted to be. “I just wanna go home with you, okay?”
“Of course. You can stay at the villa all weekend if you like.”
Edan nodded, still looking at his shoes. He looked so miserable that Firebird couldn’t help but to bring him close and hug him again. “It’ll be okay,” she promised him. “I’ll take care of you.”
Edan nodded against her neck then pulled away. “I’m ready to go. I packed myself.” He turned so she could see his bulging dinosaur backpack.
“That’s perfect. You get in the car. I’ve got to talk to your mom for just a minute.”
“No!” Edan said, his eyes going big. “I just wanna go now.”
Firebird’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Why? Did she do something to you?”
“No. She didn’t do anything. Please, Firebird, I just wanna go.”
Firebird kissed Edan’s forehead. “Baby, I have to talk to her for just a little bit. Wait in the car for me, okay?”
“No,” Edan said, shaking his head and looking back down at his shoes. Both his eyes and his voice were full of tears.
“Edan,” Firebird brushed back his hair. “Let’s make a deal, okay? Paul will wait with you in the car,” Firebird saw Paul shift out of the corner of her eye. He didn’t like that but he wasn’t the one that Firebird was worried about. “I will be inside for just five minutes, then we’ll leave for the whole weekend and I’ll take you to school on Monday.”
“One minute,” Edan said, holding up one finger.
Firebird laughed a little. “I can’t talk that fast, baby.” She held up three fingers. “Three minutes.”
Edan thought about it for a short moment then nodded a little. “Three minutes.”
Firebird kissed his forehead again and stood up. “Get in the car.” She held open the back door while he scrambled inside, and Paul leaned in to murmur his opinion.
“I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“It’s the best one I’ve got,” Firebird said bluntly. “Watch Edan.”
“Right,” Nicky said on a sigh, then slid into the back seat beside the six year old.
Firebird looked into the car at her brother. “You can time me on Paul’s watch.”
“Three minutes,” Edan reminded her.
“I promise,” Firebird said, then turned and clipped her way up to the sprawling ranch house like a woman on a mission.
She didn’t bother knocking. Her father had bought it for Alicia after the divorce, which made it hers now that she’d inherited all of his assets. “Alicia?” Firebird called.
“Oh good,” Alicia’s smooth feminine voice filtered down the entryway from the kitchen. “The prodigal child has taken time out of her oh so important day to visit little old me.”
Firebird strode into the kitchen and was unsurprised to find Alicia dressed to the nines in full makeup and a short designer sundress. Alicia made her living off her looks after all. Firebird’s eyes narrowed. Alicia was busy pouring herself a glass of wine from a bottle that was already two thirds empty.
“How many of those have you had?” Firebird asked. Alicia’s drinking had always been a source of contention between Atlas and Firebird. Atlas hadn’t liked it but he hadn’t curtailed it because Alicia stuck to wine and didn’t get drunk, just remained in a lightly buzzed state from the afternoon on. Firebird didn’t care if Alicia could really be classified as a drunk or not, she wanted none of that around her little brother. Alicia had a sharp tongue and Edan’s soft heart didn’t have a strong enough shield to withstand her barbed remarks.
“Not enough to get me through one of your lovely visits,” Alicia replied. Unfortunately for Alicia, she wasn’t afraid of Firebird. She had no problem snapping right back at her ex-stepdaughter.
“Why is Edan so upset?” Firebird asked, getting to the real reason why she overcame her extreme dislike for this woman to come talk to her.
“Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps because his father was gunned down in a barbershop a week ago?” Alicia swirled her wine and looked at Firebird with thinly veiled contempt. “This may come as a shock to you, but most people actually show emotion when a parent dies.”
Firebird’s lips lifted in a humorless smile. “You want me to show emotion?”
Without any further warning, Firebird snatched the wine glass out of Alicia’s loose grip and threw it at the kitchen wall. The expensive glass shattered, splattering the red wine everywhere.
“What the hell?” Alicia snapped but didn’t get any further because Firebird talked right over her in a tone that convinced even Alicia that she would not be ignored.
“I don’t have the time to deal with your chronic stupidity so I’ll just tell you what your new situation is.” Firebird stepped into Alicia’s personal space. “Daddy’s dead, and that little act you used to pull where you’d bat your eyelashes and put your hand down his pants to get what you want won’t work on the new Boss.”
“You sure about that?” Alicia asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I didn’t say you could speak.” Firebird cut in. “I’m the one holding the purse strings now. You will do what I tell you.”
Alicia’s eyes narrowed but she kept her mouth shut. Firebird knew exactly what made her evil stepmother tick, and it sure as hell wasn’t love for her son. But the means to live the lavish lifestyle Alicia desired so intensely were meted out by Firebird, and Firebird would do everything within her power to give Edan the best mother that Alicia could possibly be.
“Good,” Firebird thrust the wine bottle on the counter into Alicia’s chest. “I suggest you spend this weekend getting as drunk as you possibly can because it’s your last chance. Come Monday, you start your clean and sober life.”
“What?” Alicia snapped indignantly, “Why?”
“Because Edan doesn’t like it.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I don’t get to have a glass of wine every now and then because of a six year old?”
“Yes. The only use you are to me is as a means for keeping Edan happy and safe. You will not get your undeservedly large allowance and I will not pay any of your ridiculous bills if you don’t meet those two requirements. Do you understand me?”
Firebird didn’t wait for an answer. She glanced at her wristwatch then turned on her heels and walked out of the kitchen.
“You are such a bitch,” Alicia lashed out.
“You’re damn right I am,” Firebird called back from the entryway. “Do something smart for once in your life and don’t push me. You don’t want to know just of how big of a bitch I can be.”
Firebird stepped out of the house over to the car as quickly as her skirt and heels would allow. Paul unfolded himself out of the backseat and Firebird slid in beside her brother.
“How was that, baby?” she asked.
Edan showed her Paul’s watch. “Two minutes and forty one seconds.”
“Perfect.” Firebird took the watch from Edan and handed it up to Paul in the driver’s seat, then she pulled Edan close and kissed the top of his head. “Let’s go home.”
Prompts: Chocolate #20: caution, Amaretto #22: wake-up call, Vinegar #4: extremely flammable
Rating: PG13 for language
Characters: Firebird Blaze, Edan Blaze, Paul Robinson, Alicia Montgomery
Summary: One week after Atlas’ death. I finally get to introduce Edan! Edan Blaze is Firebird’s half-brother and Atlas’ only other progeny by his second wife, Alicia. For reasons explained later, Edan is not really like them, he’s much softer and kinder, and both Atlas and Firebird agreed that he would never be introduced into the family business. Firebird goes out of her way to take care of Edan and protect him from any ugliness that the Blazes may create because he’s the last of her immediate family, and she loves him the most out of all of her family.
And I suppose it’s only right that I prepare you for Alicia. Firebird and Alicia have had an antagonistic relationship from the very beginning. Firebird did not like the idea of someone replacing her mother, and Alicia didn’t like that she had to compete with Firebird for Atlas’ attention. Atlas divorced her a little over a year after they were married because of Edan-related events, but Alicia was certain that Firebird helped poison her dad’s mind against her. Alicia was right.
Firebird had barely gotten out of the car before she had a six year old attached to her waist.
“Edan? What’s wrong?” she asked, holding him.
“Nothin’,” Edan said into Firebird’s shirt. It didn’t escape her notice how tightly his wiry thin arms were wrapped around her waist or that his voice was a little teary. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” Firebird said. She pulled Edan away from her then crouched down so she could see his face. “Edan, baby, did something happen? You sounded unhappy when you called me.”
Edan shook his head but he was looking down at his shoes while he did it, a sure sign that he was lying.
“Edan, what happened?”
“Nothin’,” he said, sticking to his denial. He couldn’t lie like a Blaze but he could be just as stubborn as any of them when he wanted to be. “I just wanna go home with you, okay?”
“Of course. You can stay at the villa all weekend if you like.”
Edan nodded, still looking at his shoes. He looked so miserable that Firebird couldn’t help but to bring him close and hug him again. “It’ll be okay,” she promised him. “I’ll take care of you.”
Edan nodded against her neck then pulled away. “I’m ready to go. I packed myself.” He turned so she could see his bulging dinosaur backpack.
“That’s perfect. You get in the car. I’ve got to talk to your mom for just a minute.”
“No!” Edan said, his eyes going big. “I just wanna go now.”
Firebird’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Why? Did she do something to you?”
“No. She didn’t do anything. Please, Firebird, I just wanna go.”
Firebird kissed Edan’s forehead. “Baby, I have to talk to her for just a little bit. Wait in the car for me, okay?”
“No,” Edan said, shaking his head and looking back down at his shoes. Both his eyes and his voice were full of tears.
“Edan,” Firebird brushed back his hair. “Let’s make a deal, okay? Paul will wait with you in the car,” Firebird saw Paul shift out of the corner of her eye. He didn’t like that but he wasn’t the one that Firebird was worried about. “I will be inside for just five minutes, then we’ll leave for the whole weekend and I’ll take you to school on Monday.”
“One minute,” Edan said, holding up one finger.
Firebird laughed a little. “I can’t talk that fast, baby.” She held up three fingers. “Three minutes.”
Edan thought about it for a short moment then nodded a little. “Three minutes.”
Firebird kissed his forehead again and stood up. “Get in the car.” She held open the back door while he scrambled inside, and Paul leaned in to murmur his opinion.
“I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“It’s the best one I’ve got,” Firebird said bluntly. “Watch Edan.”
“Right,” Nicky said on a sigh, then slid into the back seat beside the six year old.
Firebird looked into the car at her brother. “You can time me on Paul’s watch.”
“Three minutes,” Edan reminded her.
“I promise,” Firebird said, then turned and clipped her way up to the sprawling ranch house like a woman on a mission.
She didn’t bother knocking. Her father had bought it for Alicia after the divorce, which made it hers now that she’d inherited all of his assets. “Alicia?” Firebird called.
“Oh good,” Alicia’s smooth feminine voice filtered down the entryway from the kitchen. “The prodigal child has taken time out of her oh so important day to visit little old me.”
Firebird strode into the kitchen and was unsurprised to find Alicia dressed to the nines in full makeup and a short designer sundress. Alicia made her living off her looks after all. Firebird’s eyes narrowed. Alicia was busy pouring herself a glass of wine from a bottle that was already two thirds empty.
“How many of those have you had?” Firebird asked. Alicia’s drinking had always been a source of contention between Atlas and Firebird. Atlas hadn’t liked it but he hadn’t curtailed it because Alicia stuck to wine and didn’t get drunk, just remained in a lightly buzzed state from the afternoon on. Firebird didn’t care if Alicia could really be classified as a drunk or not, she wanted none of that around her little brother. Alicia had a sharp tongue and Edan’s soft heart didn’t have a strong enough shield to withstand her barbed remarks.
“Not enough to get me through one of your lovely visits,” Alicia replied. Unfortunately for Alicia, she wasn’t afraid of Firebird. She had no problem snapping right back at her ex-stepdaughter.
“Why is Edan so upset?” Firebird asked, getting to the real reason why she overcame her extreme dislike for this woman to come talk to her.
“Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps because his father was gunned down in a barbershop a week ago?” Alicia swirled her wine and looked at Firebird with thinly veiled contempt. “This may come as a shock to you, but most people actually show emotion when a parent dies.”
Firebird’s lips lifted in a humorless smile. “You want me to show emotion?”
Without any further warning, Firebird snatched the wine glass out of Alicia’s loose grip and threw it at the kitchen wall. The expensive glass shattered, splattering the red wine everywhere.
“What the hell?” Alicia snapped but didn’t get any further because Firebird talked right over her in a tone that convinced even Alicia that she would not be ignored.
“I don’t have the time to deal with your chronic stupidity so I’ll just tell you what your new situation is.” Firebird stepped into Alicia’s personal space. “Daddy’s dead, and that little act you used to pull where you’d bat your eyelashes and put your hand down his pants to get what you want won’t work on the new Boss.”
“You sure about that?” Alicia asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I didn’t say you could speak.” Firebird cut in. “I’m the one holding the purse strings now. You will do what I tell you.”
Alicia’s eyes narrowed but she kept her mouth shut. Firebird knew exactly what made her evil stepmother tick, and it sure as hell wasn’t love for her son. But the means to live the lavish lifestyle Alicia desired so intensely were meted out by Firebird, and Firebird would do everything within her power to give Edan the best mother that Alicia could possibly be.
“Good,” Firebird thrust the wine bottle on the counter into Alicia’s chest. “I suggest you spend this weekend getting as drunk as you possibly can because it’s your last chance. Come Monday, you start your clean and sober life.”
“What?” Alicia snapped indignantly, “Why?”
“Because Edan doesn’t like it.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I don’t get to have a glass of wine every now and then because of a six year old?”
“Yes. The only use you are to me is as a means for keeping Edan happy and safe. You will not get your undeservedly large allowance and I will not pay any of your ridiculous bills if you don’t meet those two requirements. Do you understand me?”
Firebird didn’t wait for an answer. She glanced at her wristwatch then turned on her heels and walked out of the kitchen.
“You are such a bitch,” Alicia lashed out.
“You’re damn right I am,” Firebird called back from the entryway. “Do something smart for once in your life and don’t push me. You don’t want to know just of how big of a bitch I can be.”
Firebird stepped out of the house over to the car as quickly as her skirt and heels would allow. Paul unfolded himself out of the backseat and Firebird slid in beside her brother.
“How was that, baby?” she asked.
Edan showed her Paul’s watch. “Two minutes and forty one seconds.”
“Perfect.” Firebird took the watch from Edan and handed it up to Paul in the driver’s seat, then she pulled Edan close and kissed the top of his head. “Let’s go home.”