Crumbs (a Tom Hiddleston fanfic)

Red Wine Blush

We stop for a pizza before we go home. Tom orders the biggest pizza our local pizza place, DeNiro’s, has.  He orders everything but mushrooms, because he knows I hate mushrooms.  I hold the box on my lap as we head home, and it’s so hot that it’s nearly burning the tops of my thighs.  I don’t care though.  Nothing could ruin my mood right now.  We make it back to the cottage in record time.  While Tom grabs wine and plates, I grab some blankets and a few candles and go up onto the widow’s walk.  The sun has almost fully set by now, but the sky is still a bit orange and yellow, with the dark blue of the night sky slowly chasing the brighter colors to the horizon. 

I spread out the blankets and light the candles just as Tom comes bounding up the stairs.  His head pokes out the top of the hatch and he smiles brilliantly at me.  He sets our pizza down on the arm of the Adirondack chair, and then pours us each a glass of wine.  Actually, it is more like a mug of wine.  He gets the “World’s Best Grandma” mug again, and I’m pretty sure he’s doing it on purpose now.

“This one has a pretty posh label.  It’s all gold and glittery so it must be good.” He says of the wine choice, and then he nods at me and then we cheers. 

“Slainte.” He says softly, and I take a sip and smile. It is good.  Earthy and rich, and just a little sweet.

“Mmm.” I say softly.

“You like it?” He asks.  I nod.  He sits down cross legged next to me and then grabs the pizza box.  He serves us each a piece on mismatched plastic plates and then we both dig in.  We’re quiet for a good few minutes, because honestly, there’s not much better than a really good slice of pizza.  He’s practically inhales his, and he’s done his first slice in a few bites.  He goes for a second and before I can say no, he’s putting another piece on my plate. I still have half a slice, but I just bump his knee with mine and we keep eating. 

“So do you want to talk about senior or junior first?” He asks after some time, breaking the comfortable silence.  I raise an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“Chase Sr or Chase Jr.” He pulls some napkins out of his pocket, and offers me one. I take it and I set my plate down on the floor.  I take a sip of wine and then shrug.

“I’d rather not talk about either.” I groan.

“Oh, but I think we need to talk about them.” He says with a devilish grin, as if he’s holding onto a huge, juicy secret.  I groan softly and stifle a smile.

“You’re terrible.” I mumble, picking a pepperoni off my pizza.

“I can’t help it, Charlie.  It’s perfect.  It’s like karma came in and just decimated that bloody wanker.” He is using his hands in big sweeping motions.  I admit, it is a little satisfying, hearing that Chase Jr has not been living the perfect, privileged life he has everyone believe.  His family has just been hiding as much as they can.

“I feel bad for his new fiancé.” I say softly. 

“Who? Robo-Charlie?” Tom asks, glancing at me and raising an eyebrow.

“I guess she was a bit like a weird, beauty pageant version of me.” I shrug.  Tom laughs and moves his shoulders.

“Like a creepy, empty Charlie with less personality and…” He fades off.

“Smaller thighs?” I add with a disgruntled sigh.  He scoffs and then looks at me.

“What’s wrong with your thighs?” He asks. 

“Um. Nothing.” I shake my head quickly.  He nods and then he goes for another bite of pizza.

“That’s what I thought.” He mumbles as he takes a big bite.