In a different life.

[theexterminator]

Fet got a new job from his boss when he was still dusty from the first. He brushed off the mess before getting back into his car. He opened the report and glanced over the complaint. Scratches in the walls, gnaw marks on the doors and molding. He flipped the page over, getting the address. He knew New York like the back of his hand. He could get there in ten minutes. He pushed his coat back and checked his watch. If he could get in and get out in under half an hour he could go home in time for the game. How complicated could it be?

"Dutch," he said aloud after seeing the name of the renter. Who named their kid Dutch? Was she dutch or did the parents just like how it sounded? Maybe she was foreign and in her country this was normal. Tons of kids named America and England running around too. He huffed at the idea, amusing himself.

He drove to the apartments, found parking and got out. He stood in front of the building, looking it over. It was one of the older estates. He swatted down in front of the grassy patch out front and watched the grass. There were obvious rat runs parting the grass like knife cuts in a jello mold. This might not be a twenty minute job, but it was only supposed to be a consultation.

Walking up to the door, he buzzed the manager. He stated his business and then went up. He talked to the landlord for a moment and the man was pretty certain the woman was home. That wasn't Fet's favorite way to do business, but he could work around her. He was given the green light and went to the right apartment.

He knocked, leaning on the doorway and looking oddly unprofessional. He didn't do this for the people, he did this for the hunt. He wasn't here to make small talk and he hoped miss complainer would stay out of his way.

Comments

[theexterminator]

He'd do better work the next time he came over. He'd set up poisons. The rats were invasive to her home yet and they wouldn't hurt her. He didn't have to feel guilty about doing the job half assed today. She'd distracted him after all. He'd remind her of that if she gave him a hard time.

"In my work clothes? I don't mind, if you don't," he said not sure what else he had. He might have a tux in the back his closet, but that would be overkill for a bar. Best he didn't go home to get changed.

"Only if you want. Friends tend to call me Fet. Just easier to say."

[curiousnotmalicious]

Dutch was far too laid back to give him a hard time. That and on some level she knew that she’d distracted him. She could have stood back, asking only a few, vital questions, but instead she’d enjoyed chatting him up. And look where it had led them! No, Dutch would never consider getting closer to her exterminator a mistake.

She turned to face him, taking slow backwards steps. “You look fine. I was on the floor, too, so we’ll both be a little dusty.” A smile spread across her face. “Don’t worry. This isn’t exactly the swankiest bar in Brooklyn. We’ll fit in just fine.”

“Fet.” She nodded. It was simple and she liked it. “Perfect. And you can call me Dutch.” Her lips curled into a smile and she turned back around, walking forward once again. “Unless you’ve got a clever nickname for me, of course.” She laughed a little at the suggestion. They’d just met. It wasn’t time for friendly nicknames just yet.

[theexterminator]

Well, if they were together more than he could get the rats for good. He wouldn't need to get paid to do it. He'd do it for her. Hell, if she asked right now he'd do it. If that was her goal, than he was already on board.

"Dutch," he said letting the sound roll of his tongue. It wasn't a normal name, hell it might not be her real name, but it didn't matter.

"Not yet, but spunky is up there," Fet teased, hoping to get a feel for her personality. He knew so little about her, but he'd already fall her like a puppy if she asked him too.

[curiousnotmalicious]

The sound of her name on his lips was actually something that Dutch found she liked a great deal. It brought a smile to her lips, but she said nothing on the matter. When he suggested ‘spunky’ as a nickname she chuckled.

“Not the first time I’ve been called spunky.” Dutch shook her head. It wasn’t the first word that came to mind when she thought of how she might describe herself, but she’d heard it enough for her to accept it as a trait of hers. “Must be some truth to it then, yeah?”

She led him around a corner and there it was - Just a humble, family owned place that was slightly rough around the edges. Dutch opened the door for Fet with a smile on her face. “Here we are.”

[theexterminator]

He wasn't surprised someone else had called her spunky. She was a ball of energy and mischief. It was something he already liked about her, but he wasn't about to start dealing out compliments. He didn't want to make a fool out of himself.

"Looks like somewhere I would go," he said once they arrived at the bar. He liked it. It was anonymous and dark. He was glad they had similar taste. He wasn't dressed for a cocktail lounge.

He opened the door for her, ignoring how close they were going to be. He wasn't fifteen.

[curiousnotmalicious]

A smile formed on her face upon hearing his comment regarding the bar. She was glad he liked it. This was where she hung out when she wasn’t holed up in her apartment with her laptop. The atmosphere was friendly enough and not elitist like so many of the swanky bars in New York City were.

She slipped inside, just barely brushing against him as she did so. “It’s fun. They’ve even got a pool table, but I’m crap at the game so I usually just watch the more adventurous patrons playing.”

Thinking nothing of it, Dutch took Fet’s hand in hers, leading him to the bar where she released him from her grip.

“What’ll it be? First round’s on me like I’d promised.”

[theexterminator]

Fet didn't touch. He was a big guy, but he rarely bumped into anyone. He kept a personal bubble that no one tried to break through. So, when she took his hand Fet almost pulled away. He didn't know what to do with that touch. He felt like electricity was flowing through his arm. She'd been so casual about it that he felt silly for going stiff and awkward as she pulled him.

"Borbon," he suggested his breathing still a bit uneven, "Straight for me, but you can mix it with whatever you like. It's a bit harsh."

[curiousnotmalicious]

Dutch had absolutely no trouble at all waving the bartender down as she took a seat. He knew her, but even if she hadn’t she hardly ever had any trouble catching people’s attention. It was a curse and a blessing.

“Two straight bourbons.” She flashed a winning smile at the man behind the bar as he set to work, pouring their drinks. He slid two glasses over to Fet and Dutch and Dutch took a sip, raising her eyebrows in approval.

“I don’t usually get mixed drinks.” Dutch admitted with a shrug of her shoulders. “I mean, I’m not all that picky, but...” She sighed.

“So, Fet,” She smiled at him. “What part of New York are you from?”

[theexterminator]

He was impressed by her drink choice. He didn't know a lot of women that could drink straight booze. Then again he didn't know a lot of women and saw more of them on TV than in real life. Not that he planned on telling Dutch that just yet.

The question about where he lived sent off alarm bells. Was she trying to break into his place? Find a sugar daddy to live with. He felt stupid a second later. She wasn't coming onto him for any particular reason. She was just...bored maybe.

"Are you trying to place the accent?" he asked raising a brow at her, "Because it's not all New York."

[curiousnotmalicious]

“I was,” She confessed with a smile. “I’m usually pretty good at figuring accents out, but yours is a little different.” Dutch leaned a little closer, propping her elbow up on the bar and taking another small sip from her glass.

“What’s in that voice of yours besides a touch of New York, then, hmm?” Dutch raised her eyebrows slightly. She’d invited him out for drinks to learn more about him and she was going to do just that. It was clear to her that Fet was a man with layers to be discovered. That made her feel like a bit of an explorer.

[theexterminator]

It took him a moment. He was deciding rather he should tell the truth or not. It wouldn't matter anyways. She didn't know the politics and his parents were here to breath down his neck. She wasn't going to look up his family and find his grandfather's sins.

"Ukraine," he admitted, "Plus a few other languages. Learned them young. All the kids did where I was from. Tradition. Americans really miss out. Learning at fifteen is much harder than at five. Czy to prawda, piękne?*"

His Polish was a bit rough, but she wouldn't hear the mispronunciation.

"What about you? That's...London I would guess."

*Isn't that right, beautiful.

[curiousnotmalicious]

Dutch nodded. She’d heard that what he’d just said about learning languages was true. Her eyebrows wrinkled at the statement in Polish, though. It wasn’t a language she even came close to speaking. On a good day she could order a cup of coffee in French. Dutch had never had much of a need for anything other than English and various forms of computer code. “What did you just say?” She eyed him curiously, a tiny smile playing on her lips.

“London is correct. Moved there when I was fifteen. Picked up an accent and a love for Cadbury chocolate.” She smiled, waves of nostalgia washing over her. Living in England had been a good period for Dutch. She’d just escaped that asshole her mother had married and was finding her way on her own. Independence was a good thing for her. She’d thrived on her own. It was only a few years ago that she’d found herself missing New York City and moved back. If only there was a way to spend a week in London and the next in NYC without breaking the bank.

[theexterminator]

"Nothing," he said not willing to admit the pet name he used on her. It wasn't the first time he'd flirted with a girl unknowingly in other languages. Maybe that was why they never knew he was interested. Americans just didn't know enough languages.

"My parents drank a lot of tea. Not sure where that came from, but they gave me a taste. I get a good black imported from England every month. Keeps me warm in the winter especially," he said wondering if they could really connect over something so basic. People did it all the time. He watched it, but on the outside. It didn't happen to him.

"Could give you some if you liked."

[curiousnotmalicious]

She eyed him skeptically, smiling all the while. She’d have to try and figure out how to spell what he’d just said so she could Google translate it later that evening. If she remembered, that was. Sometimes her memory failed her when she got started drinking. There was no guarantee that she’d be spending her evening alone at home by her computer, either.

“Tea!” Dutch grinned. “Oh, that’s one custom I really did enjoy. Just sitting down with a hot cup of tea with maybe a biscuit or two.” She sighed, remembering her afternoons in London. There was less time spent drinking tea in New York. It was available, of course, but there was less time for it. “People in this country don’t know what they’re missing.” She half-joked, smirking as she took another sip of bourbon.

"You'd really share with me?" She smiled a little bit. Of course she would like that.

[theexterminator]

He hoped she didn't remember. He'd be humiliated if she did. Although in his mind she was definitely going home to her computer. Girls didn't exactly jump all over him. Girls like her never did. She was just bored, like a housewife with nothing better to do.

"Yeah, I'd share. I got biscuits too. I'll bring them over on my next round. I'll make sure to hand them over before I touch any rats alive or otherwise," Fet told her with a half grin. He was sure she was going to wince and look disgusted. Most women did when he talked about work. Maybe he was pushing her just a little bit, but he was getting curious as to what sort of woman wanted to be around him so much.

He ordered another borbon and started sipping it down.

[curiousnotmalicious]

There was a laugh at what he said. “Yes, please share the tea and biscuits before handling the rat shit and poison. Some things are best not eaten.” She smirked at her own comment, taking one last sip of her bourbon. Dutch quietly flagged down the bartender, ordering another drink.

“What’s it like, anyway? Your job, I mean. What does it entail?” Dutch had a vague idea of what exterminators do. She’d even gotten a tiny glimpse of what Fet was doing with her specific case. There had to be more to it, though. He had to have a story or two to tell, right? “I feel like my job must be boring in comparison. You get out, see the city, and I stay cooped up inside.”