Title: A is for Apple
Author: Leela (leela_cat)
Pairing/Characters: Adam/Tommy
Rating: PG
Word Count: 5x100
Content/Warning(s): AU
Author's notes: Written for glam_100, prompt #054: Ink. Many thanks to the_minx_17 for the preread.

This continues from last week's drabble-set, By Request.


"Hey." Leo curls around on the couch when Tommy walks through the door. "Everything okay?"

"You're supposed to be in bed, you know." Once his guitar's put away, Tommy kicks off his Chucks and drops his keys and wallet on the kitchen counter next to the jar. After a pause, he slides the card and its promise in purple ink into his back pocket.

Leo flips him off with casual grace. "There aren't enough cracks in the bedroom walls and ceiling to distract me for a whole day. Even daytime soaps and reruns of bad comedies are better than that."

.o0O0o.

"We haven't, like, hocked all the DVDs." Tommy sits on the couch and ruffles his hand through Leo's spiky red hair. "And you're warm."

"Oh fuck off. I couldn't stand the mother I had. I don't need another one." Leo shoves at Tommy, then groans. "Fuck that was stupid."

"Yup."

"Asshole."

"Yup."

Tommy can't help it; he totally cracks up at the look on Leo's face.

"God, you're such a bitch. Remind me why I put up with you again?"

"Because even a big dyke like you can't resist my flat ass and sweet face?"

Leo shakes her head. "Idiot."

.o0O0o.

"Seriously," Tommy says, pressing his hand against Leo's forehead, "you okay?"

"I'm okay, mom."

"Now who's the bitch?"

"Yeah, all right, that was low." Leo sighs and then says, "I haven't tossed my cookies for a few hours, but I think it'll be years before my gut forgives me for the past couple of days."

"You should go to the clinic."

"With what? They don't take IOUs."

"Made decent money today." Tommy sucks on his lower lip, plays with the rip in his jeans. Shit's feeling real, and he suddenly hasn't a fucking clue how to talk about the audition.

.o0O0o.

After a few seconds, Leo pushes herself upright with a sharp intake of air. "And?"

"And some dude left a card for me."

"A card?"

He nods slowly. "Yeah."

"Hey, I'm a juggler not a mind-reader," Leo says, slapping Tommy lightly on the shoulder. "Talk to me."

Tommy pulls the card out of his back pocket. He runs a finger over the raised letters on the front, reads the words inked on the back. His heart speeds up, and a smile curves his lips.

"There was this guy," he says. "Dumped some big bills in the jar and, like, this."

.o0O0o.

"Jesus," Leo says, not taking her eyes off the card. "This looks like the real thing. Any idea who AML is?"

"Dude looked kinda familiar. Like I should know him, but fuck if I do." Tommy's fingers twitch as he resists the urge to snatch the card back. "Had on sunglasses and a baseball cap pulled down low."

"A... M... L..." Leo scrubs the back of her neck. "It's right at the tip of my tongue, you know?"

"Yeah."

"A is for—"

When Leo doesn't finish, Tommy says, "Apple."

"Dork." Leo gives him the card back. "Call him. Find out."

Promises in Purple Ink continues in Call Waiting.


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