“I’m happy you’re getting along with your sibling again and all that but did you have to invite them over for the holidays?” Phyrrhus complains, joining her in the kitchen.
“Good morning to you too.” Is all Ari says, giving a quick kiss before checking on the various food that had been made the night before. Phyrrhus leans on one of the counters as toast pops up, startling Ari out of her preoperational haze.
“And his girlfriend too? The very one who tried to publish that very false article about me not having a medical license?”
“I wouldn’t call her that to their faces. It’s been.. testy in their relationship right now.” Ari passes him a cup of coffee, sighing. “It’s been years since E and I were on good enough terms to actually do a holiday together. It’s nice to be on speaking terms and I really wanted to do something nice.”
“Nice is like a once off dinner or something. Not spending our one shared day off this week with people who hate me.” Phyrrhus looks at Ari, pouting.
“They promised to be on their best behaviour, so you better be as well..” Ari warns playfully, before disappearing into their bedroom. “And maybe try not to mention the whole ‘I’m your sworn enemy and my best friend lowkey wants you dead’ thing. It’d really ruin the vibe I’m going for.”
Phyrrhus huffs, only annoyed for show. He could never really be angry at her, especially not for something as petty as this. He turns on the fairy lights sprinkled around the apartment, lights a candle, and takes a deep breath before going to take a shower.
E and Bee arrive right on time, bringing semi forced smiles and good quality wine. Ari hides a pointed look towards Phyrrhus, who only then gets up and greets E and Bee with the enthusiasm of a little kid forced to interact with annoying relatives.
“Be nice. Or else.” Ari whispers as they give E a hug, offering a polite smile and nothing more to Bee. They loop an arm around Phyrrhus’ waist as everyone positions themselves around the table, starting to completely regret this trainwreck of an idea.
Bee and E sit slightly apart, the change so minor only those looking for it would notice a difference. Both Ari and Phyrrhus catch on at different moments, neither bringing it up.
There’s only polite small talk, everyone trying their best to keep the conversation away from anything to do with the vigilante news that had enveloped the city. Everything was going well. Too well… until work got brought up.
“How’s work?” E had asked, a perfectly innocent question that Ari was all too happy to answer kindly. It was only when she asked the same to the other two did they think it could lead to something bad.
“Spread any lies recently?” Phyrrhus asks before Ari can stop him, turning to Bee with a polite expression on his face. Bee opened her mouth to argue back and Ari decides that maybe this is a fight that needs to happen.
“It’s not like you came off any worse from that article. And I wrote the truth, there’s no record of you ever going to med school.” Bee huffs from across the table.
“I just went to school somewhere outside of the Valley. And had an internal review take place. You’re lucky I didn’t take The Magazine to court over it.” It was an empty threat, but Phyrrhus enjoyed making it.
Ari looks at their sibling, hoping her face reminds them of their promise. Even though it had been made over a week ago, E still semi delirious from injury, it was still a promise between the two of them. And if anything were to be true of the siblings, they were always sure to to honour their promises.
E gives a look to Bee, who ignores him, instead looking across the table with a look that said she was ready to fight. Ari quickly interrupts before the fight can progress any further, looking at E directly as they talk.
“Pass me that dish over there won’t you?” They gesture to the dish to his left, making the next grave decision of the day. In their worried state, Ari had forgotten to remove a key piece of jewellery. As they go to grab the dish, the ring on their index finger catches the light and E immediately stops what he’s doing, the dish almost landing in his lap.
“What’s that?” He asks, face starting to get warm. Ari swallows a sarcastic retort, instead deciding to be diplomatic in their response. Speaking before Phyrrhus, who was currently hiding a smile, has a chance, Ari answers calmly with a shaky smile.
“A ring.”
“Is it.. Any special type of ring?”
“It’s an engagement ring.” Ari’s eyes are closed as they answer, E already standing by the time they flutter open. She’s also standing in moments, leaving their significant others to sit at the table, bracing for whatever impact was to come.
E opens their mouth, takes a breath and closes it again, before tucking in their chair and turning towards Bee, who has been typing furiously on their phone.
“I think we should go.”
“Most people would offer some kind of congratulations in this situation E. Aren’t you happy for your sister?” Phyrrhus says from the table, smiling innocently despite the verbal bomb he has just dropped onto the room. Ari shoots him a dirty look as E stops, mere steps away from the door.
“I would be happy for her if she was going to marry…” E looks like he’s about to choke on the word, a hand covering his mouth before they can continue their sentence. “Anyone… normal. Someone who wasn’t a murder apologist. Someone who…”
“That's enough!” Ari’s voice carries across the room, effectively cutting E off. “I will not have you insult my fiance, especially not in front of me. I don’t care what you think, you will not fight in my house.”
Hurt and annoyance fills Ari, the best things in their life overlapping to create a situation of their worst nightmares.
“Just leave. I’m not going to try and reason with you like this.”
E looks like they’re going to argue but before they can open their mouth, Ari’s turned away, blinking back the tears that threaten to spill over.
Bee and E leave, the door slamming behind them, leaving Ari and Phyrrhus alone in their apartment once more.
As soon as the door closes, Phyrrhus arms go around Ari’s waist, head resting on their shoulder.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist… I hate the way he looks at me like they’re too good for me… like you are too…” Phyrrhus’ apology is met with a soft kiss to his cheek, Ari pointedly ignoring their buzzing phone.
“It’s ok… he had no right saying those things to you. They shouldn’t have reacted that way.” Ari is staring into space as they talk, allowing themselves to be pulled onto the couch. The constant contact is comforting, and Phyrrhus' voice helps drown out their phone as it continues to buzz for a few more minutes before falling silent once more.