YOU | 1.02 “The Last Nice Guy In New York”

closed starter: @blakemadden​ location: subway station

Leo craned his neck to hear the muffled yet echoed sound of the announcement of the train’s stop. In doing so, it brought his gaze up and straight at a face he thought he knew, but onto a shape, he didn’t. So Leo looked away not fully believing it to be Blake. No, he had just seen her. Another train stop was chimed out loud. Brought he his eyes back to the woman again, she does seriously look like Blake.. Leo’s legs began to beeline to her. The whites of Leo’s eyes get wider and wider as she shape of Blake’s belly appears as if it’s growing with every step he took. He looked downright frightened seeing how her clothes stretched upon a rounded belly. 

Penn Badgley on Instagram

renfarber​:

The pangs of missing Max were hitting her again. She knew it was normal - this child had been a part of her for so long, of course it felt unnatural being away from him now - but her fierce independence had been part of her for much longer. She needed to find a balance between being a mother and being who she’d always been.

Her eyes turned to Leo’s when he said Max’s name, and she noticed then how close their faces were. This seemed so familiar, being alone in the dark with Leo, that for a second she forgot that any time had passed at all. Like he’d always been here, and she’d always been his, and everything that had happened between then and now had just been a dream. Like maybe this was who she’d always been.

Of course, then he said the word married, which did the trick of snapping her out of that. She sat back, clearing her throat, and put her phone back in her pocket. She hated her own heart for beating so quickly, and tried to turn her attention to the film. Which worked… for about thirty seconds.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted out, “…for what I did to you. Did I ever tell you that?”

-

Leo had read her body language as an offense of what he had said. He pulled away and sat back in his seat, his jaw visibly flexing as he tried to figure out what he said wrong. It made him realize that perhaps complimenting her appearance was too forward. But even after all these years, she was far more beautiful than the first time he laid eyes on her. Leo bit his bottom lip, chewing once before speaking, “Uh… I mean you tried to.” He looked down at his lap as he tried to collect his thoughts on the past. Plenty of images of him shutting her out in anger and sadness flashed in his mind. “I wasn’t really receptive to your apology while I was thinking about how you could possibly wanna fuck anyone else than me.” Leo said looking back up at her with a mischievous grin. Then he winked to look as attractive as he could in that moment as if to prove his point.

After a beat, he brought his hands up in lighthearted defense as he laughed at his stupid and blunt way of bringing up their past. “It was a long time ago. I get it now. It’s silly to expect that kind of commitment, especially at that age.” His shoulders lifted once and he popped a kernel or two of popcorn into his mouth. “I mean, change is inevitable, I can’t expect anyone or anything to stay stagnant.” He swallowed before looking at her pointedly. “I mean especially you. You don’t need anyone.” His voice deepened at the end of his thought with darkened eyes. 

averydawson​:

Avery climbed out of her hot shower and changed into something more cozy before she made herself comfortable on her couch with a cup of wine. Grabbing her laptop, she continuing working on the photos she started before her shower. Lifting the glass to her sip, she froze in place when she heard her name being sung outside her apartment. Terribly. Setting her laptop and wine on the table, she got up and walked over to her door. Opening it, she found a very drunk Leo on the ground singing. The more he sang, the more she knew there was going to be complaints from her neighbors. “Okay time to go inside.” She pulled him up, guides him inside and sat him down on the couch. She hurries to grab a cup of water then returns. “What is going on?” She asked curious as to why he was so drunk and showed up at her place, placing the water in his hand to drink. “Drink up.”

-

Leo would never singing while drunk. He never did. Though there was one instance with some modern Hugh Hefner at the drive bar on the ninth. But that's another story.  Suddenly in the middle of his performance, he saw the inside of Avery’s apartment; though it was upset down. He grumbled since his loud singing no longer tickling his fuzzy mind. “Avery!” He exclaimed as she pulled him upright, barely recognizing her presence. He smiled following her with remissed moment. He fell carelessly onto the couch but he practically melted into the cushions. “Nothing much.” He responded with a burp just as she left him. Leo takes the glass and drinks it, expecting the clear liquid to be vodka. He made a face after his sip of water. “Gross,” He breathed when he realized it was water.

Text !! Nate & Leo

Nate: no but it's weird seeing you use them

Nate: so it's sorta working!

Nate: it's good! I really really prefer it that way. It's the best way to learn, right?

Nate: like, I never did ballet theory. Doesn't make sense

Nate: nooo Leo! You're so so kind, thank you! I really don't deserve it

Nate: And I swear I'll find ways to repay you!!

Leo: I need to be like this in everyone's contacts: 🦁 Look at the little guy.

Leo: Thanks, I agree it is, and you're catching on so quick.

Leo: Oh, I know you will. I don't know when but I'll definitely be calling in a favor.

closed starter: @blakemadden​ where: blake and reece’s apartment

Leonardo Anthony Davis has had the craziest week of his life, and it wasn’t yet through. This was not an event that he would soon forget like a drunken night at the dive bar on the ninth. No, this event will stick to him for life. It’s taken the foundations of the earth beneath him and what once felt like cement was now sand. He was in this forever. He was now a father.  A part of him will now survive in this world with or without him. 

“One pappardelle with arrabiata and burrata for Leo.” His order being read outloud to him for clarification went in one ear and out the other. He looked at the woman blankly, his head still lost in the thought that he was about to go see the mother of his child and his child while his wife was at work. “Are you okay?” The blonde woman asked. Leo shook his head and then did that charming thing where he smiled and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, I spaced out for a second. But yes, I’m Leo and that is my order.” He watched as the woman’s attitude towards him warmed up and she handed him the bag with his order. “You have a good night, Leo.” She said with more than polite smile. Leo smiled back and nodded a silent thanks before leaving The Soleil. 

But once back on his walk to Blake and Reece’s apartment, his thoughts came back again. This time they were centered around Serenity. He hadn’t seen her since Mira was welcomed into the world. Ah, then there was Mira, his little miracle--she’s the reason why nothing has been said because once Leo and Blake were in a room with her all they could do was dote on her. Crazy to think the new mom and dad hadn’t had a real conversation for days. But all that had to change. He took a breath before knocking on the door with his free hand. 

Text !! Nate & Leo

Nate: If I said that I liked the last class would it be a compliment or really really creepy?

Nate: cause it's definitely not creepy!!

Nate: is it creepy that I started this conversation?

Nate: okay but forget it

Nate: sorry sorry sorry!

Nate: don't kick me out :(

Nate: I was just complimenting your teaching and acting abilities and nothing more!!

Leo: Is this your way of confessing your love for me?

Leo: You needa lay off whatever your vices are, kid, but I'll take this as a compliment.

Is there anyone out there? Cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe

joey teaching an acting class

renfarber​:

She laughed, the sound of it bouncing off the walls, even with the eerie theme music of the film playing. “Yeah, dude. I made a whole human. Wild, right?” She shook her head. Being pregnant and giving birth and taking care of a whole human child were the scariest, most painful, disgusting things that had ever happened to her. But unconditional love was always kind of like that.

Her nose scrunched at the word ‘boyfriend’ and she shook her head again. “Nah, it’s… it’s just me.” It sounded kind of sad when she said it like that, but Ren preferred it this way. Having Max all to herself. It was selfish, of course, but when had Ren ever done anything that wasn’t? Leo knew that more than most. “Do you… want to see a picture of him? You can say no, I know not everybody likes babies.”

-

 Leo smiled again hearing that melodic laugh. His mind had selected her voice above the film. wild, indeed. he began feeling the true weight of time once again. he hadn’t been there for any of the changes time had brought her, and vice versa. but had enough time past that he didn’t view her as the first and only woman to break his heart? 

Just you, he thought, repeating it to himself in a sad tone. Leo knew being a parent wasn’t easy. Hell, one of his parents passed away and the other gave him up to stop being his parents. How she was doing it on her own was hard for him to wrap his head around. Especially when he was the type to not even have a pet. He looked at her with this admirable look on his face. She was always so independent. “Yeah, show me,” he as his curiosity began to grow. Maybe seeing her son would actually help the reality that she was a parent click in his thick skull. “You’re the first person I know to have a kid.” He added, letting her know this was a new experience for him.