Day 25: Bonfire

Genre: Slice of Life
Universe: QuickSilver
Rating: PG / TW: Alcohol use
 

     Somewhere in the English countryside, William Makhotin was having a wonderful time being surrounded by other Makhotins. It had been several years since he had been able to visit his extended family and his return to the familiar summer fields had been nothing but a wonderful mix of comfort, chaos, and many, many delicious meals. He hadn’t had a moment to himself in days - not that he really minded - but being able to sit down quietly for a few moments at one of the bonfires that lit the grassy spaces between the family’s many caravans was a welcome reprieve. Plus, he had a proper British lager and a sky full of stars to go with this quiet moment. It was a little slice of heaven.  

     "You know, I may never forgive you."

     William looked past the fire to see Atlas approaching. He tried to blink away his confusion as he called out to his cousin. "For what?!"

     Atlas sat down beside him on the log, letting out a deep, dramatic sigh. "You missed my twenty-first birthday."

     William stared at the face of his cousin, a face that all too often even made William feel like he was looking in a mirror. Well, if the mirror softened your edges, retracted a few years and made you a bit more daft. A funhouse mirror, of sorts. William squinted as he tried to discern from Atlas’s expression if he was legitly disappointed or pulling his leg and came to the conclusion that it was somewhere in the middle. “You know I would have, had I not had this pesky thing they refer to as The Atlantic Ocean in the way.”

     A rueful chuckle dropped Atlas’s shoulders. “Tell the truth, Cousin. We all know the ocean wasn’t the only wet thing keeping you on American soil.”

     “Ha, ha, ha,” William’s sarcasm was heavy on each syllable, but he still reached into the ice of the cooler beside himself for another bottle, which he placed into Atlas’s hand. He couldn’t argue Atlas’s point - It was true that his budding relationship with Cole had kept him from visiting the family sooner. “You of all people can't fault me for being predisposed with the company of a lady.”

     “No, no, ‘fraid not,” Atlas conceded alongside the pop of removing the cap from the beer and swigging from it.

     William, wanting to avoid the mood slipping into actual disappointment in his manners, nudged Atlas with his elbow. “I’m sure Willow did a fine job getting you trollied.”

     “My sister did. I was properly pissed by night's end. I think.” Atlas made a face as he thought back. “I don’t remember much past walking into the pub.”

     “Reliable, that Willow.”

     “Yeah.”

     A mostly comfortable silence laid over them as they sipped their beers and watched the fire dance. William wanted to move his thoughts onto other veins of conversation, but a tiny thorn remained lodged in his consciousness. It forced him to consider if an actual apology was needed at this point. After a while and too much nagging by his own thoughts, William chose to err on the side of caution. “Sorry I missed your twenty-first, mate.”

     Atlas shrugged. “Bah, I was just joshing you, William.”

     “Now listen.” William turned to face Atlas. “I slighted you.”

     Atlas shook his head, “Come’on, don’t--”

     Closing his eyes, William placed a hand over his heart and raised the other as if he was about to swear on a family member’s grave. “We shall deal with this as we did as children.”

     Atlas snickered. “By scrap’n until one of us gives up crying?”

     One of William’s eyes cracked open. “What? No.”

     “Wait.” Atlas’s eyes widened as old memories of fixed fights resurfaced from the depths of his mind. “Doubles?”

     “Doubles.” William confirmed, in reference to their childhood tradition of how they would fix a situation if it got mucked up: They’d try again, and make it twice as good. If Willow had really gotten her little brother completely carparked on his first go, this only boded well for a second try at it.

     Atlas couldn’t contain his excitement. “Oh, ho ho hoooo! I’m gonna die, this is ACES!”

     William laughed and raised his bottle. “Cheers to that.”