Chapter Text
“Live wire! Welcome back, It is so nice to see you, my dear!”
You smile as you’re greeted by Volt, “Hey! You know I could never stay away from the two of you!”
“Well, it’s always a pleasure when you come by,” Volt replies, kissing your temple before taking you by your waist and starting to lead you to your table, you try to stop him before he can get too far.
“I was actually gonna go to the bar tonight! I wanna try some more of Eddie’s drinks.”
“I see,” Volt smiles, pivoting to go towards the bar instead, “Well, let us make haste! We shouldn’t keep our Eddie waiting. I'm sure he’ll be happy to see you!”
Right.
Perhaps you’re imagining things. Perhaps you’re insecure. All you know is that for the most part, you feel.. Off in your relationship with Eddie and Volt.
Don’t get the wrong idea! You love the boys very much, and you have been with them for about three months now, so in theory they should love you too! It’s just.. different. So to speak.
You aren’t exactly used to this kind of relationship. In the past, you’ve mostly just earned love through small favors. It was like that with parents and exes alike. It was what you imagined to be ‘love’ because it’s all you had known and what you had gotten used to. You would do a favor, they would love you in return.
Eddie and Volt though… Your relationship with them started because of a favor you did for them. You still do them favors, yes, but they also give favors back. It’s.. strange to you. Foreign.
You also have noticed the difference in how they treat each other compared to how they treat you. It’s not by a large difference, but you can’t help but feel like you’re imposing on a perfectly fine relationship. You worry that because they think they owe you something, that they feel trapped with you. You often fear that you are just an extra burden for them, especially considering how much free stuff they give you.
The two men you love, unable to be in love as they want to be, all because of a favor you did for them.
How awful of you.
“Hey, live wire. It’s good to see you.”
“Oh- hi, Eddie!” You blurt out, snapping out of your thoughts as you realize that you had arrived at the bar. Eddie looks at you with a soft yet tired smile.
When did..?
“Alright you two, I will return later! Be safe now!” Volt says, before departing to do his job.
You notice the affectionate glance he gave Eddie before walking away.
But you fail to notice the one he gives to you.
“So, live wire, what can I get you tonight? On the house, of course,” Eddie says, pulling you from your thoughts again. You give him a smile.
“Whiskey sour, please!”
Whenever he has a moment, he comes around to talk to you. Eddie reaches to mess with your fingers as you talk. It makes you feel a little better about yourself.
—————
You swirled the drink in your glass. It was yet another whiskey sour. You’re probably on your fifth one? Maybe? Regardless, you simply watched Eddie working the bar from afar. At some point, you walked over to the table that was deemed ‘yours’ by the two of them. It was quieter in the corner where you were, obviously because you were sitting by yourself.
Your mind has wondered a lot since you moved, only amplified by the addition of alcohol in your system. You just feel so.. insecure.
Volt hasn’t come back since he left, busy entertaining guests. That’s fine, that’s his job after all. He probably didn’t see you move to your table anyway. Eddie didn’t really seem phased when you walked off, just giving a short ‘alright’ when you told him where you were going, but you also weren’t paying too much attention and were tipsy enough that each step you took was technically classified as a risk. Your mind starts to swirl again, just like the drink in your glass. Do they wish it was just the two of them again? Are you just in the way of their love? Did you misinterpret Eddie’s and Volt’s feelings? Do they feel like they owe you a favor?
Or maybe…
“Live wire?” Volt’s voice interrupted your thoughts, making you jolt.
“Ah! Uh- yes? What’s up?” You straighten up. You don’t know it, but your words are slurring.
Volt chuckles, sliding into the booth, right beside you. “You seemed a bit lost in thought there!” He brings a hand up to cup your chin, “I’m just a bit curious why you moved. I’m sure Eddie would’ve preferred you stayed up there with him with all the drinks you’ve had.”
You laugh pathetically, “I doubt that… I’m sure you guys just still feel you owe me a favor...” you think.
A pause.
“What?”
Wait. No.
“I… uh…” you laugh awkwardly.
“Do you genuinely feel that way, live wire?” Volt looks at you with a mix of concern and hurt as his hand falls from your face.
You just said that out loud. To Volt. To his face.
“I- well uh.. no.. I mean..” you move to stand up, stumbling and almost tipping over, “I should probably get going! See you tomorrow!” You call, starting to rush toward the door. A hand on your wrist stops you, however.
“Darling, please. Let’s talk about this.”
You swallow. Volt doesn’t sound particularly happy. You turn and slowly move closer to him, not looking him in the eye. He sighs, not letting go of your wrist.
“Where did that come from? Why do you think that?”
“Nothing. I’m just.. I’m insecure, that’s all. It doesn’t matter.” You wince as he tightens his grip.
“No, it does matter. If you are upset about something because of me and Eddie, we should talk about it.”
“Please let go of my wrist, that hurts.”
Volt instantly lets go after you tell him it hurts. You bring your hand to your chest, rubbing your wrist with your other hand.
“My.. my apologies, live wire.. I didn’t mean to harm you.”
“It’s fine. It doesn’t matter,” you claim, your nails digging into your wrists.
“Please, talk to me, my dear. You shouldn’t feel like that.. at all..” he looks at you, his eyes seeming to fill with something akin to regret or guilt, “Is it something we did? Did we upset or offend you somehow? Whatever it is, please tell us so we can make it right..”
“No.. no, it’s not you..! It’s..” you trail off.
“It’s..?”
You still, taking a breath. You still don’t look at Volt. “I just.. I sometimes feel like you guys love each other more than you love me.. And I kinda wonder if you guys just think you owe me a favor and that's why you asked me out..” you feel your nails dig harder.
Volt pauses, taking in your words, “Well.. we’ve been together for longer.. so.. yes it may be a bit different.. Eddie and I have discussed that actually…” Volt confesses, sounding like he’s trying to tread carefully, “But we aren't with you because of some ‘favor’ at all, we love you! Genuinely!”
“Yeah... I know... But I just can't help but think that way.” Slurred words start to pour from your mouth before you can really think about them, “I mean, I wouldn’t know because this is honestly my first relationship where I get what I give but what if the two of you just think I did a huge enough favor that warrants a relationship and other favors such as free drinks or my own personal table!?” Your nails break the skin, and your wrist starts bleeding. You aren't being loud so much as your voice’s pitch seems to get higher, like you were panicking.
“Wait, what? Live wire what do you—”
“What is it? Am I not doing enough? Did I do too much?” You choke on your words, finally taking your hand away from your wrist, pressing your palm to your chest as your form basically crumbles, “Did you two just see how taken I was with you and that’s why you invited me into the relationship?” You start to cry, “Am I part of the relationship or am I just someone you guys can rely on? I don’t wanna get in the way if I’m just—”
“Live wire, you’re being ridiculous! We love you! We love you so, so very much! We talk about you all the time when you aren’t around! Even to patrons, you can ask them,” Volt tries to assure you. Unfortunately, in your spiraling mind, his voice seems annoyed and irritated, so it doesn’t work.
“I don’t..”
“What’s going on?”
Dammit, he’s here too. You whip your head around, hot tears running down your face, your breathing shaky. His eyes widen at your expression before drifting to your injured wrist. His brows furrow and he reaches out to touch it.
“Hey, your arm—”
“Don’t touch me!” You shout, shoving Eddie hard enough to make him stumble. “I don’t want you guys to feel like you owe me any favors.. I know I’m in the way, I know I’m not worth—”
“Live wire, that is enough! Snap out of it!” Volt calls, trying to grab your shoulder. You shake him off and stumble away from him.
“Stop it! Don’t touch me!” You sob, staring down at your hands, realizing what you’re doing. You’re being the inconvenience you already thought you were being. “I.. I have to go..” You sob, starting to stumble backwards and away from them.
“Hey! Just wait a sec—”
“No!” You shout, rushing out of the bar.