[right][sub][color=lightgray]Timestamp: Four weeks after the Boston restaurant fiasco
in alignment to Cece/Mika's recent collabs. [/color]
[@BrutalBx] & [@LovelyComplex][/sub][/right]
[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220413/0fb4fc94a75cf22005aba0aa848d6f13.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/pa1ym0z.png[/img]
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[color=lightgray][indent][indent]It was Clay’s favourite time of the day; Lunch. Or specifically in this instance it was technically breakfast.

The rookie police officer had been on the evening shift the previous night with his boy Sly. The duo had unfortunately pulled the Southside card and spent the twilight hours roaming the streets between Carlisle and Bulger. Further to their unlucky patrol draw, they had a busy evening. There was an attempted break in at the Coven, which Clay did not even know existed, though the girls working there were kinda babes so he’d likely return. Next on the agenda was a royal rumble that had erupted outside the Lost Souls, apparently caused by, of all things, a burnt Pop Tart. Like what the actual fuck? And then the rest of the evening was the usual mix of gang related activity and badly veiled threats from ReyRey Gonzalez himself.

God he loved this town.

When his watch ended, Clay returned to his lonely and empty apartment and crashed out on the couch. At present he didn’t even own a bed. Between already being overworked by his day job with the police since they had like six honest cops in the entire goddamn town and his other job working with the Scooby Crew of Wes and Kylee, God’s favourite idiot was exhausted. He had found very little time for himself or to do any of the none crime related things he loved. Hell, he hadn’t even managed to get a booty call done in like six days! Like what the hell Eden?! 

Still, during that time he had successfully managed to finally get Kylee and Wes to put the Do Not Disturb sign on the door and do the good bad thing. Clay had promised Roddy before he left that he would watch out for Kylee and he was doing just that. He still didn’t fully trust the reporter but something about him made the Grimm heiress smile and she had a gorgeous smile, so if being with him made her happy, then Clay would see to it that it would happen. At this point she was basically his kid sister or at least his other one; he really needed to get in touch with Lamb soon. Clay hadn’t talked to his twin in over three months and she only lived in Pinehurst. There was a lot to unpack there.

After a good few hours of a power nap, an energy drink and a brief game of hoops with Rhett, the big tuna was ready to tackle his day off with aplomb and to do that, he needed food and the only food he wanted was from his favourite place, the Godmothers. Not only was every sandwich there to die for but it was also the best place for him to catch sight of the woman he had adored and crushed and loved since he was twelve years old, Cat Belmonte. Sure she was ten years older than him but what’s age in this day and age? As long as it was legal. She was everything that a man could want, she was beautiful, intelligent, thicc with all the c’s and that smoky film noir voice, goddamn. He had grew up on cop shows and crime movies and Catarina was his own personal femme fatale.

Clay had to do a double take as he entered the promised land of the Godmothers, passing by what looked like Rhett’s little sister Caitlin and…Mika? Well that was some tea that Kylee would just love. He walked up to the counter top where only a guy whose name he didn’t know but referred to as The Lad, was standing.

[color=BCDD81]“My man, Lad. How you be? Who you do? All that jazz. Can I get the Clay Costigan special, extra chilli flakes today and can I….wait, where is my good lady? How can she not be here? It’s lunchtime?”[/color]

“Just about,” The young lad boredly responded as he started to make Clay his special, “She’s in her office getting ready to leave. You might be our last customer for the day because she’s in a mood.” The part timer gathered all the ingredients he needed, cut the meat, sliced a loaf of bread, and so on, so forth. “Oh shit, I forgot. Do you have exact cash? She’s already closed the register.”

[color=9f1b3e]“No need.”[/color] The woman of the hour had her back facing the two boys as she locked her office. In casual clothes, mama jeans, a black tee, and patterned converse shoes, Caterina turned around with her purse hanging over her left arm and a tote in her right hand. Scanning the two boys, the woman of Clay’s dreams gave a half smile before dismissing her staff, [color=9f1b3e]“Get out of here, kid. I’ll finish the rest.”[/color] The lad wasn’t one to disagree, especially if he was allowed to enjoy the rest of his day. 

After a quick victory fist pump, the lad rushed to the small locker/staff break room to take off his apron and get his belongings. As the boy disappeared, Cat placed her things down on a sitting table and went behind the counter, [color=9f1b3e]“Good to see you, Clay.”[/color] Once her hands were washed, she slipped on nitrile gloves and continued to make the rest of Costigan’s sandwich. [color=9f1b3e]“How’s things at work? Hectic, I imagine.”[/color]

[color=BCDD81]“Same as ever, the world is on fire and this place is eating itself alive,”[/color] Clay removed his sunglasses and stuffed them in his shirt pocket whilst whipping his luxurious hair back, it was a killer move. He then leaned down on the counter too, Cool Hand Clay style as he watched the woman make his tasty tasty snack. 

Cat was good at conversations, whether it was idle chatter or a heart-to-heart. The eldest Belmonte daughter was a conversationalist and thrived in social settings, but today? Today she was ‘off’. She wasn’t as upbeat or spunky as her usual self. Her demeanour wasn’t as confident, proud, and flirtatious as Clay knew her to be. There was a dark cloud that lurked over her. If anything was clear, especially to those that had a keen eye when it came to her, Cat was simply going with the motions not even trying to hide her exhaustion and frustration behind a smile. 

Looking up from the sandwich, she met Clay’s stare, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. Seems like she wasn’t the only one unable to sleep. Then again, he was a cop. An occupation like that was so demanding, she bet none of the cops in Edenridge got much sleep. 

Caterina didn’t want to assume what she heard at a distance when it came to Clay’s order so she asked for clarification,  [color=9f1b3e]“Extra chilli flakes?”[/color]

[color=BCDD81]“Erm yeah, yes please.”[/color]

He wasn’t really sure what was happening. This wasn’t the Cat that he knew. She seemed defeated somehow. Like her energy had been taken and thrown into the trash like yesterday's leftover sausage. He let his dark eyes dance around the room a little, taking in that now they were the only two left in the building. He couldn’t lie and say he hadn’t fantasised about this very scenario since he realised what sex actually was but it definitely wasn’t like this. It wasn’t with this version of Cat. Clay’s love for the elder Belmonte woman was very swiftly replaced by concern. This wasn’t even cop Clay concern, this was just Clay.

[color=BCDD81]“Hey, Miss Kitty Cat you OK? You don’t seem yourself,”[/color] He reached over the counter, taboo in too many senses of that word and gently put his hand onto her arm. 

Not thinking too much into the gesture, since this was Clay and he usually did things like this, Cat shrugged as she continued to make his sandwich, [color=9f1b3e]“I can’t say I am doing okay.”[/color] If there was anything that would make her feel better, it would be a drink. [color=9f1b3e]“I have things going on in the background that are keeping my mind a bit preoccupied. Sorry if this is bringing you down.”[/color] Finishing his sandwich, she wrapped it in butcher paper sheet, stepped back causing Clay’s hand to no longer be on her, and put the goods in a plastic bag for him. Offering him the bag from over the counter, she gave a maternal yet joyless smile to her younger companion, [color=9f1b3e]“Want to go for a walk? It’s a nice day out.”[/color]

Clay took a hold of the sandwich, which at this point felt needless as he had lost his appetite. Seeing Cat be this way did not sit right with him in the slightest. For someone so full of life to be so void of it was a travesty. [color=BCDD81]“Sure, I’ve got the day off. I’ve got all the time in the world.”[/color] It was strange that Cat, a known gossip, would be willing to be seen in public with Clay outside of his uniform because the boy had a reputation. At least if he was on the job there would be an excuse. People would probably get the wrong idea but perhaps in her current state that didn’t matter and that’s what worried him the most. [color=BCDD81]“I know a nice place down by the lake, we can go there and chill.”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]“Perfect,”[/color] With quick ease, Cat cleaned up the rest of her shop, left her place of business, and locked things up. [color=9f1b3e]“Lead the way, Casanova.”[/color]

After a short and quiet walk through town, Clay had led Cat through the pristine roads of Scott Street and onto a short path behind the O’Hara family home. There were too many times in his childhood where he had found himself walking or running down that little passage with his friends, the Elite or at least that’s what people cursed them as. The duo reached a small clearing, with a single makeshift picnic bench sitting by a gap in the tree line which overlooked the lake and had a clear view of the Elder Tree and downtown. [color=BCDD81]“Welcome to my secret lair, it’s not quite the Batcave but it’ll do.”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]“Hm,”[/color] Cat muttered as she observed the view. Leisurely, she strolled in front of her companion and brought herself to the bench. Taking a seat, she placed her bags to the side and took in the sight. [color=9f1b3e]“It’s beautiful.”[/color] She admitted, giving credit where credit was due. Her hazel eyes trailing from the lake to the Elder Tree. It was nice to know a spot like this existed here in this little town of Edenridge. The eldest Belmonte daughter sat on the picnic bench hugging her pulled up leg. This was calm and peaceful, something she so desperately needed. [color=9f1b3e]“Sometimes life is just a pain in the ass. Far too heavy to carry… especially alone.”[/color] Her smoky voice dropped an octave as she whispered, [color=9f1b3e]“I’m tired, Clay.”[/color]

There was so much pressure with being the eldest of seven. So many things that the younger ones weren’t aware of and so many things that even her two closest sisters wouldn’t understand, especially since Nina’s heart was too soft to handle such burdens and Elisa’s mental state, even if she covered it up well, was not doing so great. There was pressure with being a good mother when all her kids were acting out because they knew their parents could no longer pretend to love each other. There was the pressure of being the only one her dad trusted enough to take care of all things medical when it came to her mother, from doctor’s visits to keeping the bills in check to simply being the bearer of bad news, telling her whole family that Silvia’s life expectancy was no more than three months. There was the pressure of spending all her life as the fuck up, having sought love in all the wrong places, just to realize that aside from her family, she had no purpose. 

Sure, she had the Godmother but even then she was getting bored with it. Her family was all she had and it was obvious that the house her father built had cracks. The Belmontes always had cracks, even in their days in New York. Yet, this seemed worse, like a slow, painful death. Long and drawn out. Just like her mother’s health. Slowly but surely, the Belmonte family would collapse. Cat knew she needed to think of something, she needed to help rebuild the house but she was tired. 

[color=9f1b3e]“Really fucking tired.”[/color]

Alone? How could Cat ever feel like she was alone? The Belmonte’s were arguably the largest family in the area that wasn’t a founder. Didn’t she have like twenty brothers and sisters, kids and a douchey husband? Then again, Clay knew exactly what it felt like to be alone in a crowded room. From the minute he was born, the pressure of being a foundling was not lost in him. Then there was being an Elite. Fran, Russ, David, they ate that shit up, they took the ball that was given to them and ran with it. Clay, on the other hand, dropped it and went to go buy a sandwich that the beautiful woman in front of him probably made. He was not built the same way as his peers, he always wanted more but found what he wanted immensely unattainable.

There was an inherent disconnect with his family. His father never seemed to ever actually be home, always off chartering in the Caribbean or Australia to wherever the rich bitches wanted him to take them. God bless his mother, she tried, she really did. But Mama Costigan was a space case manager it’s little in the way of parenting skills. Clay had often heard of that magical twin sense, where those born together could often sense or feel what the other did. He saw it with David and Jamie. Yet he and Lamb never had that. With them, what it was, it simply wasn’t there.

Love was what he craved, to love and be loved in that special way that gives life to the heart. Clay was a serial lover, not one woman he had been with could say he was anything other than unabashedly him. He was a gentleman, kind and thoughtful. He didn’t brag because he made it clear from the off, there was an invisible warning sign flashing above his head. Clay was searching for love because he was a lonely fool for it.

Moving over to the sandwich shop owner, Clay knelt down in front of her so as to catch her gaze with his own. [color=BCDD81]“Hey,”[/color] He offered her a simple smile. [color=BCDD81]“Tell me what you need. You want to talk? You want me to listen? Or do you just want to sit and be? Whatever you need.”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]“Well,”[/color] Cat smiled at him, even going the extra mile to boop his nose, [color=9f1b3e]“Sitting on the bench so you’re not blocking the view would be a good start.”[/color] She teased her younger friend that she watched grow up all these years. Clay was an idiot but he always meant well. He wasn’t a gossip like her. He wasn’t a troublemaker like her nephew Carlo. He wasn’t self absorbed like her little sister Viv. He was a good kid and she enjoyed his company.

[color=BCDD81]“Yes ma’am,”[/color] Clay climbed up to his feet and slid onto the bench next to her. He was trying to avoid the flushing heat that was hitting his body as he remained close to his childhood crush. This wasn’t about that, as much as he would’ve loved it to be. This was about Cat, just needing somebody there with her.

At first, she found Clayton incredibly annoying especially in her early twenties. Cat thought him to be a pest that seized every opportunity to see her. She was fifteen when she moved to Edenridge. She doubts he remembered how much of a whore she was and how much she played the part that was given to her after someone spread an unflattering nude picture of her from a party, giving her the tramp stamp ‘Eden’s Deep Throat Kitty Girl or ‘Deep Throat’ for short. Over the years, she’s learned to use it as a term of endearment. Regardless, it’s long forgotten. There’s a lot that’s happened between her being fifteen to present. A lot more pressing matters than a slut of the past.

It wasn’t like she could live up to her reputation because she got knocked up at 17, gave birth at 18, and had a shotgun wedding with Tommy. Taz continues to make sure to remind her every chance he gets how much she ruined her life by getting pregnant so young. Though, she is baffled at how biassed he is because Nina also got pregnant young. She just played by the rules and got knocked up by a man that was already destined to be her future husband. 

Fucking bullshit.

It’s incredible really, how dumb she was and how stupid she reacted to everything her father threw at her. A dimwitted teen with major daddy issues. A teen that started to think sex was the answer to all her issues. A teen that had far too many responsibilities when all she wanted to be was young and free. A teen that wanted to feel loved and appreciated. A dumb teen. 

Tommaso was, and still is, self-sufficient, driven, and so, so, so good with words. Six years her age too. He was simply passing by when she met him, originally from NY, and knew her father through business. He’s charming, incredibly good looking, and knows his way around a bedroom. Maybe there was a time she actually cared about him, but then again, she barely knew him and part of her feels she still didn’t know him. 

[color=9f1b3e]“Do you remember when we first met?”[/color] Cat released her leg and adjusted her position so her body was facing Clay on the bench. [color=9f1b3e]“And I don’t mean when you were five. I doubt you even remember any of that. I mean when you first decided to be a thorn in my side.”[/color] She poked fun at the young cop, slowly but surely getting in a better mood simply by him being there with her. 

[color=BCDD81]“Course I do, best day of my life,”[/color] Clay grinned his stupid goofy smile before he brushed a hand through his hair. [color=BCDD81]“I would’ve been twelve, you twenty two. It was the summer, hot as hell if I recall. My Dad was home from charter so Lamby and I were down on his boat, soaking in the rays. Then I remember looking across the bay and your family yacht being there too. I remember seeing you, in this red bikini coming out of the water, full on slow mo Fast Times at Ridgemont High style. You took my breath away even then.”[/color] His chocolate eyes were a little glassy as he became lost in memory. [color=BCDD81]“Lamby dared me to streak across your boat. So I stealthily swam over to your yacht, took my shorts off and ran straight into your Dad.”[/color]

Clay laughed as he thought back to that day. It was always a fond memory regardless of the fact that he was grounded for weeks. That summer was probably the last time he spent any time with his family as a full unit. Even though his parents are still together to this day, things seemed to change after that heat wave. It was like all the love in the family had burned away.

[color=BCDD81]“It was the best day.”[/color]

[color=9f1b3e]“Damn that brings me back.”[/color] Cat looked towards the water once more as she recalled her own perspective of that day. [color=9f1b3e]“I’m honored you still found me attractive because taking off that baby weight from Dani took fucking forever.”[/color] She chuckled to herself, remembering how absolutely famished she was with her middle child. [color=9f1b3e]“I remembered mom holding Dani, who was so peaceful in the sun, and Sofi trying to chase the twins - both little shits at the time - throughout the boat. Nina was a doting mother, taking Carlo around in the water in his tiger baby float. Viv, I think, is only a year younger than you. She was already showing signs of being an absolute diva. Sunbathing and taking selfies.”[/color] Cat rolled her eyes, but in her expression there was nothing but love for her family, [color=9f1b3e]“Mira sat on Elisa’s lap as they read The Very Hungry Caterpillar. And then you came in, with a stupid goofy grin, and not only did you run into the cooler but you crashed into dad who was getting lunch ready. You were so red, it was absolutely adorable.”[/color] Taking a moment to laugh, Cat shook her head, [color=9f1b3e]“You’re lucky I saved you that day, who knows what would’ve happened.”[/color] She stuck her tongue out at Clay. It was obvious he did what he needed to do. Get her mind off of her problems. 

[color=BCDD81]“Listen, love makes us do crazy things. I ran naked into your Dad. You carried me back to mine for an ass whooping. Whatever works right?”[/color] It was nice to see that bright smile again. Cat obviously just needed to forget about whatever was going on in her life and if for nothing else, as he had learned through his many escapades and adventures, Clay was a perfect distraction. [color=BCDD81]“Surprised that your Dad didn’t just induct me into the family then and there. Make me his consigliere and force me into an arranged marriage to Viv.”[/color]

Clay did remember Cat being his saving grace that day. Wrapping him in a towel and carrying him across the piercing hot dock and back to his fathers yacht. Lamb was beside herself with laughter and Francis and little Roddy had just arrived and soon joined her cackling. Clay didn’t care though because he was in the arms of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. 

[color=BCDD81]“Life always has a strange way of throwing us the things we need without us ever realising it until it’s too late. On that day, I was thrown into Taz to bring you some levity and you saved me so that I could be there to grow this amazing hair.”[/color]

Nudging him by her arm, Cat snorted in amusement, [color=9f1b3e]“You’re foolish.”[/color] Clay was always one to crack jokes. Still, it was refreshing, like the water they were looking at. This felt nice, relaxing, and gave her hope for the future and her family. For a brief moment, it put her spirit at peace. 

To be honest, Viv getting with Clay would’ve been a better deal than her current situation. Now her little sister and Taz were not on speaking terms and Vivia was living with the leader of the serpents. Cat couldn’t judge her sister though. No matter how much she wanted to protect her. If she were in the same shoes, Cat might’ve done the same thing. Not out of love but to make a statement. To rebel because she simply wanted to just be. [color=9f1b3e]“If only we could rewrite the past, then you and my sister could have cute babies with the most luscious of hair.”[/color] 

[color=BCDD81]“I mean you’re not lying but…”[/color] Clay leaned back against the picnic table that he and David had built many moons ago and looked out at the water. [color=BCDD81]“You already know Viv wouldn’t be my Belmonte sister of choice,”[/color] His eyes fell to the floor and he chuckled a little. [color=BCDD81]“I know there’s a very small chance that you’ll ever see me like I have seen you all my life and that’s ok. I’ve made my peace with that, won’t stop me from trying cos you’re like the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life but still.”[/color] Clay looked at her and saw her, really saw her and smiled. [color=BCDD81]“Whenever you need anything, Cat, I’m here. Always.”[/color]

These words that he preached fell on deaf ears because these were things he had told her for as long as he knew what attraction was. Cat believed it was only a kid crush he hadn’t let go yet. [color=9f1b3e]“I appreciate it, and if you need someone you know where to find me. Also hush you, you have all the options in the world. You’re young. Enjoy it while you can.”[/color] 

She was an old hen with three kids on the verge of a divorce. She was the eldest of a large Italian family trying to figure out how the void of the matriarch's death would be filled. She was a woman who needed to believe in herself because she spent so much of her life for everyone but herself. Caterina wasn’t worth this adoration, but she appreciated it all the same. Like her siblings did with her, she casually leaned her head on Clay’s shoulder and whispered, [color=9f1b3e]“Thank you. I shouldn’t be depending on you like this but it really means a lot.”[/color] Even a strong woman like Cat needs a lifeboat. Whether it was coincidental or simply happenstance, Clay caught her when she felt like she was sinking. He was good at that.   

[color=BCDD81]“Anytime,”[/color] Clay leaned his head onto hers as they gazed out upon Lake Eden. He couldn’t help how he felt but if he had ever learned anything from his old man it was how to compartmentalise. He sighed out of his nose, even managing to put his arm around the older woman with a gut full of nerves. 

[color=BCDD81]“My sandwich is probably really soggy by now.”[/color][/indent][/indent][/color]