Work Text:
The night started how it normally did - dull, boring, and lonely. Rue had requested Lexi go with her to another random house party. It was a recurring question, one often asked by Cassie, but her friend had surprised her that night. Naturally, her automatic response would be no, but she desperately wanted to be seen by Rue. It was pathetic, yes, Lexi knew that much, but she didn't care. She would accept her attention in any way it was given. Even if that meant enduring another pointless experience.
Fezco had advised against going, suggesting instead they stay home and finish their movie marathon, she declined him instead, before practically skipping off to their now shared bedroom. She picked a plain black dress that had miniature butterflies printed on it - sticking with her taste to keep things simple. Despite her average attire, Fezco still couldn’t resist salivating over her, his jaw practically on the floor. Ever since they started dating, she felt like a whole new person altogether. He made her feel wanted and desired, a feeling that was foreign to her.
Fezco pushed aside his disappointment of her not staying in favor of kissing her sweetly on the cheek, not missing the chance to check out her ass when she walked out the door.
—- ϟ —-
As soon as they arrived to the party, Lexi immediately regretted her decision of not staying home. Rue had gone off the moment they walked through the door and Lexi could already feel her heartbeat thrumming in her ears, that funny feeling sinking in. Considering how fast Rue sped off, it could only really mean one thing. Lexi was a mere step in Rue’s recovering process. Ever since she went to rehab, Rue had been making small efforts to hang out with her, but Lexi could always see how anxious she was to leave, as if she were counting how many minutes they were spending together.
How naive could she be? In one of their more heated fights, Fezco had ranted about how often she let people walk over her, how she let everyone in her life use her. He’d apologized instantly, of course, but the words stuck as they always did. She knew she couldn’t be mad, not when what he was saying was all too true.
Lexi tried to have a good time, pushing herself beyond her limits, but eventually she ended up sitting on a couch in the corner, nervously pressing her lips together as she debated on going home or not. Ultimately, she decided on leaving. Forcing herself up from the rather comfy seat, she pushed past gyrating bodies, doing her best to follow the path she saw Rue take.
It led her to a random door at the end of a long hallway. She could hear commotionation coming from the other side, making her want to turn the other way and just call Fez to pick her up rather than walking all the way home. Going against her own wishes, she quickly reminded herself that she had to warn Rue she was leaving, in case she suddenly did decide to care. Her hand hovered over the door handle only for a moment before she shook her ridiculous nerves away and pushed it open. The sight she saw was one she knew would linger, would burn behind her eyelids and haunt her dreams.
She blinked, stupid to think she could erase the image of Rue, bent over a laundry machine as she injected a needle into her arm, the bright smiley face on the tourniquet was a sickening mockery. Rue’s veins were discolored, her skin raw and bruised from previous track marks. Mist blanketed Lexi’s eyes and she felt faint as she felt the trauma left over by her father suddenly make itself known.
There was a tense silence when Rue and a man she’d never seen before looked up, their expressions completely blank, their eyes hazy. Lexi struggled to keep herself upright when a shiver washed through her, bringing her back to reality. The hurt was heavy on her shoulders as she took one step backward, the door slamming loudly on the hinges when she figured she’d seen enough.
Her mascara dripped onto her cheek and she brought a shaky hand up to wipe the depressing sight away. She moved slowly through the crowd this time, barely noticing when people bumped into her left and right. She was used to it - feeling invisible.
The cool, night breeze greeted her as she stepped outside and her brain somehow felt more crowded with the quiet, basically begging for some extra space to think. She stepped off the curb and onto the pavement, which was still wet from the evening rain. Remembering her phone was still clutched in her hand, she unlocked it sluggishly, scrolling through her short contact list until she found his name.
She moved the way she would in a dream as she held the device up to her ear, and in some ways, the moment didn’t feel real. But rather than a dream, it seemed as though she were trapped in a nightmare.
It rang for a few moments before he picked up, speaking her name a few times before her dry mouth finally opened, and she forced herself to at least try and articulate a sentence. “Fez,” her voice was airy, barely present.
“Everything good, baby?” His drawl was comforting, and if she listened closely, she could hear the tv blaring in the background, most likely a violent movie Ash picked since she’d bailed on him.
“Oh um, no, not really.” She willed her voice to stay steady but it was no use as it faltered, cracking towards the end. “I saw Rue like, injecting something. Can you just come get me, please?” Her bottom lip quivered and she moved further down the driveway when more and more people poured from the house.
“Like fucking needles?” He seemed more alert and she could hear the background noise stop. “I’m comin, wait inside though, s’fuckin freezing.” Although it was summer, the rain had made for a chill wind which was circling around her, causing her teeth to chatter, but still, she’d rather freeze than go back inside that house.
“Just hurry, please.” She didn’t sound impatient in her request, just upset and worn down.
“I just left, you want me to stay on the phone wit you?”
She shook her head even though he couldn’t see her, before giving a verbal response. “I’m okay.”
Fezco didn’t say anything to that because he knew for a fact that she wasn’t. They exchanged quick goodbyes and she crossed the lawn until she found a rusted bench, smoothing her dress beneath her before she sat down.
It felt like hours until the headlights of his cadillac lit up the dark, but she still couldn’t find the strength to pull herself up and greet him. Thankfully, she didn’t need to when he stepped out of the car and hurried over to her, slipping easily through a group of teenagers. Fezco’s least favorite thing was Lexi crying and he could almost feel his heart stutter at the sight of puffy eyes and red cheeks. When she still didn’t stand or talk, he eased himself down next to her, frowning when her head collapsed onto his chest, hiding her face completely. His arm wrapped around her shaking shoulders as he maneuvered his way out of his thick sweater without moving her. He lifted her off him only for a second to let the fabric envelop her, before letting her relax against him once more.
They sat for a while, not one word passing between them as her quiet sobs filled the silence. Fez was no stanger to Rue’s addiction problems. Since that day with Mouse, he’d cut her off completely but she still managed to find what she needed, what she craved. He couldn’t stop her no matter how hard he tried. That being said, that was being he knew she was shooting fucking heroin.
Rubbing her arm gently, he carefully helped Lexi sit up and pulled her off the bench, sighing quietly when she attached herself back to him the second they stood up. ‘M’gonna go see Rue,” he muttered, her hair tickling his chin when she shook her head against him.
“Don’t make a scene-”
“I won’t, you wanna wait in the car?” Lexi pondered to herself before shaking her head, still reluctant about going back into the house but she didn’t really feel like being away from him.
He nodded once and gripped her hand in his, dragging them both towards the entrance. The music hit her instantly, the sound thunderous as she trudged through the living room, directing him down the same hallway as earlier.
She felt childish when she shut her eyes as he opened the door to the laundry room, his own eyes landing on Rue who was slouched against the floor, her skin pale, the tourniquet still wrapped around her arm. Fezco squeezed her hand lightly before he let it go to step further into the room.
“Rue,” He nudged her foot with his, his forehead creasing when she looked up at him with a dopey smile. Lexi watched from a distance, her nails digging into the doorframe when she made accidental eye contact with the same man from earlier, her gaze stopping on his face tattoos.
Fezco kneeled down and slowly snapped the band away from her arm, rolling her sleeve back down, a mournful sigh leaving his parted lips. It was then that the girl seemed to snap back to reality, anger falling over her face as she shoved him away from her. “What’d you do, fucking snitch on me Lexi? Run to your drug dealing boyfriend?”
It was a sudden switch that startled everyone in the room. “I see the way you fucking look at me, always judging. Acting like you’re better than me.” Rue regained her strength and pushed herself up from the floor, shoving past Fez who was clearly biting his tongue to avoid saying something he’d later regret.
“I don’t fucking need you in my business. And snitching on me? Jesus, how old are you?” With each hateful word, she stepped closer, getting in her face to intimidate her. Lexi stared at her, eyes searching for just a sliver of the person she used to be. All that looked back at her were unfamiliar eyes, pupils dilated as she continued to spew poison.
She was grateful Fez tugged Rue away from her when he did, his grip on her arm strong but not tight enough to hurt her as he hauled her from the room, ignoring her shouting protests. Lexi dug her nails into her own arm as she followed the pair until they found themselves outside. She could see Fezco lifting his phone to his ear, most likely calling Rue’s mother. As they waited for Leslie to show, Fezco didn’t loosen his hold once as he kept their friend in place, ignoring even when she spat on his shoes.
It was such vicious behavior that Lexi could barely believe this was the girl who’d spend every day of summer with her, eating ice cream on the roof of Fezco’s store until their stomachs hurt so badly they almost puked on the way home.
She pushed the bittersweet memories to the back of her mind when Leslie pulled into the driveway, her expression unreadable when she walked up the small group. Rue didn’t put up as big of a fight as Lexi thought she would, only arguing slightly before agreeing to go home.
Once they were gone, Lexi ignored Fezco’s concerned calling of her name when she slid into the front seat of his caddy, aching to go home.
She didn’t talk on the drive back, even when he held her hand to comfort her, his tumb rubbing across her knuckles. She knew he was worried for her by the way he kept side-eyeing her, his touch not faltering except to use both hands to turn.
When they were back at his house, he tried to cheer her up by making stupid jokes, but she didn’t even crack a smile. Regardless, she still clung to him, her fingers slipping between his belt loops, leaning against him as he took his time unlocking the front door.
“Yo, where the fuck did you go? Missed the whole damn movie.” Ashtray huffed from his place on the couch, one arm thrown across the back. His lips curled into a taunting smirk when he spotted her smeared makeup and flushed skin. “Damn, you look like shit.” It was meant to be a joke and deep down, she knew that, but that didn't stop the mess of emotions that flooded her. She breathed through her stuffy nose, her eyes beginning to water.
“Shut the fuck up Ash, for real. Go to bed.” Fezco snapped, his tone serious as he watched Ash roll his eyes and shut off the television.
He led her to their room, his hand resting on her lower back. Flicking the light on, he left her for a second as he disappeared into the bathroom. Lexi took the time to slither out of his sweater and her dress, her hooded eyes searching the floor for something to wear. She found one of his shirts on the floor and barely tugged it over her head before he appeared, his gaze sticking to her body. Once she was dressed, she turned around and fell back onto the bed, smiling gently when he sat beside her.
“Maybe I should stop going to parties.” She blurted and they finally, finally shared a laugh, the mood easing up a bit. Something damp touched her face and she flinched before she realized it was one of her makeup wipes. He dragged the cloth against her skin, taking his time when he got to her eyes, the eyeliner there was particularly caked on. She relaxed into the sensation, blushing prettily when he leaned down to plant a long kiss on her lips. Fezco brushed her hair back, enjoying the soft slide of it through his fingers as he breathed in the scent of her vanilla soap.
He knew she was tired but he reluctantly separated himself from her anyway, walking quickly out of the room before reappearing a few minutes later with two ice cream cones. They could hear the rain fall in thick, heavy drops, the persistent wind rattling the shudders on the window. Lexi sat up, snuggling into his side when he handed her the cone. They ripped the wrappers away at the same time, the cool, chocolatey taste flooding their mouths when they took a bite. They shared a kiss, the desert sticky between their lips. She felt a sharp pang in her chest as she anticipated the words that had yet to be spoken but that she knew were coming. He whispered it to her, the quiet ‘I love you’ floating through her ears and washing over her body.
She repeated the words back to him easily with a simple kiss and her heart felt heavy, fit for bursting as her worries floated away.