It's the Little Things. (Cracker x Mute Reader)

Can We Fix This?

The walk home was confusing to say the least. The more you thought about what Peros said the more annoyed and puzzled you became. Cracker wasn't a material person, you knew that by how he lived. He practically told you that as well. He preferred the simple things in life. So Peros explanation, about him risking being cut off from the family business if he stayed with you, didn't make sense. There had to be some other reason to it and Peros knew what it was. He didn't want to tell you though, probably in hopes that you'd talk with his brother.

You weren't looking where you were going when you walked down the hallway to your apartment. You were worrying away at your bottom lip, head held down as you contemplated asking Peros for Cracker's number. You'd erased it after everything went down. You fell onto your ass when you ran into someone, seeing their feet a moment too late.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't see you there." The familiar voice was followed by a familiar hand reaching down to help you up.

You didn't plan on taking the offered hand but Bepo was tugging at the leash, making it hard to get up on your own without him dragging you down again. Begrudgingly, you took his hand and got to your feet, lingering against his warmth as you got Bepo to settle down beside you. Your eyes trailed up his large frame to meet his pastel pink ones. His long hair was pulled back into a messy bun and he was dressed casually, just like normal.

"It's been a while, how've you been?" He spoke softly, carefully.

Well it was now or never. You'd probably never get a chance to talk to him alone like this again.

<Okay I guess. You?>

He scratched the back of his neck and frowned. "I've been better."

<Peros and I talked today.> You wanted to get straight to the point. There was no use beating around the bush.

"Really?" He looked genuinely surprised. "Can I ask what about?" God you missed hearing his voice so much.

<He wanted to tell me why you left me.>

"O-oh." His shoulders dropped. "I tried to tell you, I really did."

<I don't care about that. I just want to know...> You weren't sure what you wanted to know.

"I don't love her if that's what you're wanting to ask. To be honest I can hardly stand her. I've never known a woman who loved the sound of her own voice so much." He blurted out sheepishly.

<Then why couldn't you tell me?>

"I didn't want to lose you, I wanted to keep you for as long as I could. It didn't work out that way though." He shook his head. "I miss you. A lot."

<I miss you too. But you gotta tell me, what was so important that you were willing to change everything for?>

"It's complicated (Y/n)."

<No it's not. You're making it a bigger deal than it really is. If you can't tell me then we're just wasting time here.>

"What momma says goes, you know that."

<So that's going to be your excuse. You're a grown man Cracker, you can make your own choices.> Bepo whined beside you and looked at your apartment, itching to go home and be let off the leash.

"No, you're right, that's only part of it." He crossed his arm and shifted in place. "She threatened to ruin your business and that's something she could easily do. If I didn't listen to her we'd both be broke and unemployed. I couldn't do that to you, I couldn't forgive myself for ruining your life."

<I wouldn't have cared! Things may have been rough for a while but it would've been temporary. I've been through worse.>

"Worse than losing everything and ending up on the streets?" He said angrily. "How could you recover from that?"