Ficlet: Sour Grapes
Dec. 24th, 2011 05:20 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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shelter_dinerTitle: Sour Grapes
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dawning_star
Fandom: Shelter
Pairing: Zach/Shaun
Disclaimer: I do not own Shelter or any characters named within this story. Not even The Ex.
Note: For![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
shelter_diner's Holiday Fest 2011. Prompt: Shaun's ex shows up over the holidays.
Summary: "So, you must be the new boy toy."
“You must be Shaun’s boy toy.”
The brusque words made Zach raise his head from perusing his sketchbook. A small café near his home in Valencia provided a calm enough ambience to let his mind (and his hands) wander at will across paper or whatever project he had to finish for school.
The man standing before him was someone he had never met in person, but Shaun had told him enough about The Ex to recognize him on sight.
He was right about one thing – asshole behavior is not attractive whatsoever.
“I’m Zach,” he said mildly, refusing to rise to the bait. Wouldn’t have been the first time someone erroneously interpreted or labeled his and Shaun’s relationship.
“I know who you are,” the other man huffed, annoyed at Zach’s lack of response.
“And I know who you are,” he returned evenly. “So what do you want?” There wasn’t any question in Zach’s heart over whether or not Shaun was pining for his ex. Kisses pressed to the back of his neck whenever he crawled into their bed, seeing Shaun’s very being relax when Zach walked in the door, and the seamless way their lives had intertwined told him that much.
His internal voices, ones that taunted him in Jeanne’s voice, calling him poor, nobody, useless weren’t as strong as they had been a year ago.
A year ago, he would have, at bare minimum, freaked the hell out, assumed everything was imploding, and shoved Shaun away.
This year, however, all he wanted to do was roll his eyes at the scene the other man was trying to cause.
“Just to see what he’s wasting his time on now,” The Ex sneered.
Zach began chuckling. “Is that the best you can do? ‘Cause I have to admit I’m a little disappointed; you could at least try to be creative with your bullshit.” He flipped his sketchpad closed and slid it into his bag. “Not that I really care to keep listening.”
“You’ll be out the door soon enough,” Ex continued. Dimly, the entrance to the café chimed, announcing someone entering the building. “I put up with him for three years---“
“I’m pretty sure it was the other way around.” Shaun’s voice broke in, Zach’s face broke out with a huge smile, and The Ex’s face broke out in a sweat. I’m definitely calling Tori after this – this is so much better than TV.
“Shaun---“
“Shut the fuck up. And leave us the fuck alone.” Shaun’s tone could have been called pleasant by any other observer, but Zach was well enough attuned to hear the muted fury and protective vibe. He stepped past his unwelcome visitor and met Shaun with a brief kiss. “Hey.”
Shaun moved them past the other table and out of the café. “Jesus Christ, I can't believe that prick actually showed up here. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Zach threaded their fingers together. “He was just spouting shit.” He nudged Shaun’s ribs. “Sounded jealous to be honest.”
“Well, it’s very much his loss.” They both climbed into Shaun’s car. “And definitely my gain.”
“I think that’s my line.” Zach leaned across the center console to kiss him again. “Ready to go get Cody?”
“Absolutely. I’ve got the stuff for---“
“—don’t forget the chocolate chip pancakes.”
They started to laugh and kept laughing on their drive to pick up their son.
~
~
The Ex watched the two drive off, and sighed. “Merry Christmas,” he muttered to himself. It’d clearly been a bad idea to return to Valencia.
//end//
Author:
dawning_starFandom: Shelter
Pairing: Zach/Shaun
Disclaimer: I do not own Shelter or any characters named within this story. Not even The Ex.
Note: For
shelter_diner's Holiday Fest 2011. Prompt: Shaun's ex shows up over the holidays.Summary: "So, you must be the new boy toy."
“You must be Shaun’s boy toy.”
The brusque words made Zach raise his head from perusing his sketchbook. A small café near his home in Valencia provided a calm enough ambience to let his mind (and his hands) wander at will across paper or whatever project he had to finish for school.
The man standing before him was someone he had never met in person, but Shaun had told him enough about The Ex to recognize him on sight.
He was right about one thing – asshole behavior is not attractive whatsoever.
“I’m Zach,” he said mildly, refusing to rise to the bait. Wouldn’t have been the first time someone erroneously interpreted or labeled his and Shaun’s relationship.
“I know who you are,” the other man huffed, annoyed at Zach’s lack of response.
“And I know who you are,” he returned evenly. “So what do you want?” There wasn’t any question in Zach’s heart over whether or not Shaun was pining for his ex. Kisses pressed to the back of his neck whenever he crawled into their bed, seeing Shaun’s very being relax when Zach walked in the door, and the seamless way their lives had intertwined told him that much.
His internal voices, ones that taunted him in Jeanne’s voice, calling him poor, nobody, useless weren’t as strong as they had been a year ago.
A year ago, he would have, at bare minimum, freaked the hell out, assumed everything was imploding, and shoved Shaun away.
This year, however, all he wanted to do was roll his eyes at the scene the other man was trying to cause.
“Just to see what he’s wasting his time on now,” The Ex sneered.
Zach began chuckling. “Is that the best you can do? ‘Cause I have to admit I’m a little disappointed; you could at least try to be creative with your bullshit.” He flipped his sketchpad closed and slid it into his bag. “Not that I really care to keep listening.”
“You’ll be out the door soon enough,” Ex continued. Dimly, the entrance to the café chimed, announcing someone entering the building. “I put up with him for three years---“
“I’m pretty sure it was the other way around.” Shaun’s voice broke in, Zach’s face broke out with a huge smile, and The Ex’s face broke out in a sweat. I’m definitely calling Tori after this – this is so much better than TV.
“Shaun---“
“Shut the fuck up. And leave us the fuck alone.” Shaun’s tone could have been called pleasant by any other observer, but Zach was well enough attuned to hear the muted fury and protective vibe. He stepped past his unwelcome visitor and met Shaun with a brief kiss. “Hey.”
Shaun moved them past the other table and out of the café. “Jesus Christ, I can't believe that prick actually showed up here. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Zach threaded their fingers together. “He was just spouting shit.” He nudged Shaun’s ribs. “Sounded jealous to be honest.”
“Well, it’s very much his loss.” They both climbed into Shaun’s car. “And definitely my gain.”
“I think that’s my line.” Zach leaned across the center console to kiss him again. “Ready to go get Cody?”
“Absolutely. I’ve got the stuff for---“
“—don’t forget the chocolate chip pancakes.”
They started to laugh and kept laughing on their drive to pick up their son.
~
~
The Ex watched the two drive off, and sighed. “Merry Christmas,” he muttered to himself. It’d clearly been a bad idea to return to Valencia.
//end//
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no subject
Date: 2011-12-24 11:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-24 11:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-24 11:40 pm (UTC)Absolutely so much love for this!
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Date: 2011-12-24 11:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-24 11:40 pm (UTC)Happy Holidays!
no subject
Date: 2011-12-24 11:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 01:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 08:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 07:41 am (UTC)Happy Holidays!
no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 08:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 08:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 08:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 01:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-25 08:03 pm (UTC)Zach: *bitch-please*
Heee. Thanks for reading!
no subject
Date: 2011-12-26 01:02 pm (UTC)I can "see" the point of Shaun's ex... realizing what he had lost in leaving Shaun - well that must be a shock!!!
Zach began chuckling. “Is that the best you can do? ‘Cause I have to admit I’m a little disappointed; you could at least try to be creative with your bullshit.”
--->Fabulous!
no subject
Date: 2011-12-30 11:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-30 11:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-30 11:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-31 03:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-31 03:12 am (UTC)Thanks for reading! :D
no subject
Date: 2012-01-02 07:57 pm (UTC)