Fin ignored the playful accusations and Bren's overall dramatics as they all fussed about Pugsley's ultimate betrayal. Seeing Claire still sprawled out and breathing a bit heavily nearby, he basically army crawled over, not wanting to bring a bunch of attention if it isn't needed. "Hey, you okay?" He asked softly.
"Y-Yeah. Asthma. It's not to bad, just going to need an extra minute. I left my inhaler in my bag."
"Oh, we can get that for you." He assured.
"I'll be fine-"
"I trust that you know your limits. I'd just be more comfortable knowing you had it for the rest of the night. I didn't warn you how intense this group can get, my bad."
"It would just be a hassle for everyone. Plus it won't fit in my pocket." She admitted, her sweet tone edged with a slight wheeze that concerned him.
"Well, I've got pockets you can borrow. Is it okay if I send someone to get it?" After a moment, she gave in with another shaky breath, nodding. "Thank you." Finally raising his voice, he yelled for what he knew would guarantee the quickest retrieval. "Fester!"
It looks mere moments before he lumbered in, beelining for him. "What is it, Fin? You never yell." He demanded as Fin kept calm and ignored the others finally catching on to something being wrong.
"We need Claire's bag." He informed. "She's okay right now, but she needs her inhaler, just in case things get a bit too much again." Fester's brow immediately furrowed in determination and Fin knew it was as good as here.
"Right away!" Fester assured sincerely before disappearing again.
"Fuck, Claire! You should have said something!" Bren scolded, surprising Fin at the specific sort of tenderness to the firm tone. "You need to use that shit when you're breathing like that! Fin, we need her elevated, it makes breathing easier if she's not flat." They insisted. Fin arched a brow, keeping his voice calm.
"Bren, the concern is appreciated, but you need to take a moment. She already assured me she'll be okay, but thank you for reminding us about elevation helping. I'll handle it from here, if everyone could just give us space." Flicking his gaze to catch April's, he gave her a look that she thankfully caught quickly. Going over to distract Bren a bit and get everyone to back off as he refocused on Claire.
"They've got a good point. Are you good to sit up on your own, or do you want help?" She hesitated, big grey eyes full of conflict before the storm calmed.
"I...I could use a bit of help. I can do it, but..."
"No explanation needed. You can lean on me until Fester is back, if you want." At another nod, he carefully helped sit her up before slipping in behind her, settling his long legs to either side of her before letting her lean back against him. Once she seemed settled, he listened closely. "Your breathing is a bit better sounding. Just relax as much as you can, okay? No one's in a rush." Slowly, he felt more of her weight settle back on him as her muscles somewhat uncoiled.
About that time, Fester burst back in, Gomez and Grandmama hot on his heels as both men came burdened with bags.
"Claire! We weren't sure which bag was yours!" Gomez fretted, setting his armload down to rush them, only slowing at Fin's cautionary hand. He could tell she was reaching her limit on all this chaos.
"Green with the frogs, yeah?" He murmured. At her nod, he spoke up a bit more.
"Frog bag, please. If you'll just bring it here?" Gomez and Fester immediately scrambled to locate it and bring it over while Claire started looking like she wanted to hide. Without thinking, he took the arms that he'd been leaning back on and brought them around to hug her gently. "Don't worry, they're always this manic about things. Like overactive Huskies. They like having a job." He joked softly, earning a soft smile. Soon it was set beside him and Grandmama settled with it as she shooed off Gomez and Fester a bit.
"Want me to get it out for you, dear?" She asked Claire. "That way you can keep resting." At a hesitant nod, Grandmama unzipped the bag. "Fin, no peeking in her bag."
"Wouldn't dream of it." He hummed, focusing on Claire's breathing to listen for any changes.
"Front right pocket." Claire informed softly, eliciting a hum from Grandmama before he heard another zipping sound and saw a liver-spotted hand in his peripheral. Claire accepted the inhaler with a quiet thanks, and he clocked the slight shaking in her hand. Thankfully, so did Grandmama.
"Okay, dear. Go ahead and take your medicine or this old lady won't be able to rest easy." She insisted firmly. "I don't like that wheezing." He let out a silent sigh of relief as Claire complied, taking the first puff. As he felt her holding her breath, he mouthed a thank you to Grandmama, who simply patted his knee with a knowing glint in her eyes.
"Thank you. Now you just relax until you feel better, hm? I'm sure Fin won't mind staying with you." He flushed slightly, but nodded.
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"I'm here as long as you need." He hummed, still holding her close. Gomez approached again, on the phone with someone. The insanely long land line to some old, ornate rotary phone he was holding snaking along behind him.
"I'll ask." He assured jovially before kneeling next to them. "Claire, do you mind showing me your inhaler for a moment?" Once in hand, he studied it for a moment. "Yes... Albuterol Sulfate, 90gmc...Yes. Two, please." Catching on, Fin spoke without hesitation.
"Three."
"Make that three...Brilliant!...Much appreciated my good man!" He returned the inhaler as he tossed aside the phone, which somehow slithered off on its own. "Extras will be here in an hour! Marvelous how efficient things are these days!" He declared before beaming down at Claire. "We'll have more on hand next time! Can't have such charming entrepreneurial minds such as yours struggling to breathe! Only good fun when it's drowning or strangling. Have you considered standing on your head? Marvelous for blood flow to the brain!" His attention was quickly grabbed by a thankfully observant Purnima, and he gave her head a pat before trotting off.
Soon, they were alone...sorta. Though she was still tense, the wheezing had basically gone away, thankfully.
"Why don't you put your headset on for a bit?" He suggested gently. "I think Purnima is winding them all up for another round. I'll let you know when we're moving on to something else."
"I don't want to ruin the fun."
"You won't." He assured. "I could also use a minute." At her nod, he pulled her bag closer, fishing them out of the side pocket he'd noticed them peeking out of. Once she settled them on, he felt the tension begin to unwind bit by bit until she melted fully into him once more. "Better?" She nodded and he simply gave her a soft squeeze before simply enjoying the chaos unfolding before them.
Morticia came a bit later, taking in a euphorious Gomez leaping down from the chandelier onto his brother, thing observing from his perch on her shoulder.
"Oh it is so lovely seeing everyone enjoy themselves." She mused with a happy sigh, unphazed at the sudden ringing of the gong shaking the house. Once it faded, she smiled at her suddenly rather attentive audience. "Dinnertimes, my darlings! Fester, Gomez, after dinner it will be time to clean up your little games."
"Tish, we are having such fun!" Gomez insisted from his perch on Fester's shoulders, mid strangle with a pillow.
"Gomez, the children need time to settle before bed." She insisted firmly as Fester managed to grab Gomez and throw him to the floor. "Dinner, then tidying."
"As you command, Cara Mia!"
"Come along, children! Dinner is nice and chilled for you." She assured sweetly, leading the way back to the first floor where the dining room was still in it's usual state. Though Fin noticed Grandmama seemed disappointed.
"Is something wrong?" He asked, worried. A sigh left her.
"I mixed up my cauldrons and chilled the tea and boiled the soup instead of the other way around." She admitted reluctantly. "I just hope your friends aren't disappointed."
"I'm sure they'll love it. Everything you make is amazing." He assured, fighting a chuckle. Sure enough, once everyone was seated and served by Lurch, the compliments came pouring in. Well, after the guests finished the initial poking at of the strange, unidentifiable bits, of course. Dinner was cozy, everyone taking turns exaggerating feats and failures throughout the evening as he and Claire quietly listened, her headphones still taking off the edge of the excited chatter. Even Cleopatra seemed in especially high spirits as Jace fed her meatballs with awed excitement.
After dinner, Gomez and Fester disappeared for cleanup as Morticia herded them to the main room of house, getting everyone settled as Chad, Lurch, and Kazarious discussed musical options. In record time, Gomez returned, kissing Morticia's cheek as he did.
"Just in time, Bubela! The performance will be starting soon." She cooed happily.
Sure enough, in short order Lurch was almost giddily, in his own way, playing accompaniment for some Operatic pieces as Kazarious and Chad took turns with a few solos and duets.
"They're really good." Claire said softly, earning a hum of agreement from Fin. They had settled in the same position as ealier in a slightly quieter corner of the room with the addition of Kitty having snuck over and thrown himself in Claire's lap. Fin certainly hadn't minded being pulled down and cuddled into, and Claire had been thrilled to finally get to pet Kitty.
"Chad's dedicated to his art, makes sense he'd make friends with others who are just as dedicated." He mused. "I'll have to ask when their next public performance is. Would you want to go?"
"...a-as a date?" He hesitated, not having expected that, considering they went to events and on outings all the time together as friends.
"Um, well, I wasn't intending it as one-"
"Forget I asked! I, um, I don't even know why I'd ask such a silly question!" Fin sighed, letting his head fall back to lightly hit against the wall.
"I should've just been smooth and played it off like I had." He muttered.
"You- What?"
"I'm sorry, I'm way out of my element here and the more I try to be smooth and suave the more of a mess I become in my head. I'm just not a Gomez, never gonna be." He admitted, too nervous to look at her expression in case she was disgusted. "I really tried tonight but only managed a half-decent line once or twice while just screaming in my head the rest of the evening. No, I didn't ask thinking of it being a date when I asked but I would be absolutely thrilled if it was. I just...I really like you, Claire. I'm awkward and quiet and bad at socializing but you make me feel like I'd be willing to go to a party full of extroverted strangers as long as you were there. Not terribly romantic, I know, but that's the highest praise I've got." He finished, feeling himself slowly dying inside as the current song dramatically filled the silence between them for a long moment.
"So you were flirting with me!" Despite his nerves, he chuckled.
"Yes. Terribly, apparently."
"Well, I'm not any better. I've been hardcore flirting for like a month." He instantly looked down at her in shock, seeing her nervously running her fingers through Kitty's fur.
"Wait, what? You have?" She nodded, cheeks bright red as he fought a giddy laugh. "I must be the world's biggest idiot to miss that. I'm sorry, that must have been frustrating."
"Yeah, well, I'll try not hold it against you. So...about that date?"
"Yes. Yes, I'd love nothing more than to go on a date with you. To the Opera or anywhere else." She hummed happily before speaking up.
"So are we just kinda casual dating or put a label on it, exclusive dating?"
"Honestly, we've spent so much time with each other that casual dating seems a bit redundant." He admitted. "However, it's fine by me if you'd prefer keeping it casual for now."
"No." She said a bit firmly, settling further into his arms. "I waited this long, I'm not willing to wait any longer to tell people who my boyfriend is." He grinned, kissing the top of her head.
"Sounds perfect to me."