Archive of Our Own ^beta

The oven lets out a high pitched beep and Cameron whirls around to catch the door. His sleeves are rolled to his elbows, arms seasoned by flower and an array of spices. “Meeks I could really use a hand!” he calls from the kitchen.

His pleas are met with unrelated laughter from the others in the living room. Inside resides Knox, Neil, Todd, Meeks, and Pitts. The gangs all here! minus Charlie, who had uncharacteristically not yet made an appearance. The others had bounced speculations on the boy’s whereabouts off each other but ultimately settled on a separate more simple topic. The football game on TV.

Neil and Todd are relaxed against each other on the couch, soft giggles filling the space between them. Beside them; Meeks rubs Pitts back apologetically as the opposing team recovers a fumble, muttering sweet condolences into his ear. And adjacent to the two couples sits Knox alone, watching the TV absently. Without his companion to occupy his time he finds himself half zoned half bored out of his gob. When Cameron calls he snaps out of his daydream and glances in the sounds direction unsure he heard anything at all. That is until he calls again.

“Steven?? I have to get this turkey in now i need a hand!” Cameron demands a bit more urgently.

The second attempt grabs the attention of the other ginger in the form of him perking up. “coming!” he calls back, patting Pitts firmly before standing and rushing to the others aid.

The kitchen is a wreck, things thrown about with half made dishes lining the counter. Camerons now at the sink wringing his hands of excess water. “Great, you’re here.” he glances over his shoulder. “Todd’s sweet potatoes are ready to go in, turkey’s seasoned, the hams also almost ready to go in, Knox’s casserole is in the oven, and-“

“what kind?” Meeks cuts his list off mid way.

“What kind of,, what?”

“casserole.”

“Green Bean?”

Theres a pause as Meeks nods with a satisfied expression.
“That- it doesn’t matter just- start moving things in and out of the oven please. Whatever's in the oven is ready the timer I set went off.”

Meeks nods, “Right- got it.” He picks things up in stride, grabbing the sweet potato dish and opening the oven.

Cameron is back to prepping, covering the ham dish in foil and moving it closer to the oven for Meeks. “Shit the potatoes, where are they?” He does a short spin as he looks around the kitchen. Eyes scanning the counter tops.

“No idea.” Meeks replies absently, lowering the ham into the oven.

“Helpful.” Cameron groans, “So helpful.”