'Chelle turns enough to look at him and explains where they're going. It's on a council estate rather than the suburb 'Chelle and her Dad live in.

"I probably don't need to say this, but if things aren't quite right with the house, don't mention it, we're here to irritate Teo, not insult him."

"I am usually good at that sort thing. Don't worry."

"Teo can be touchy sometimes, but don't worry, we've all fucked up, he forgives us."

And not too long later: they're here!

Pulling up outside another semi-detached house, this one smaller than Aaren and 'Chelle's, and looking a lot more tired.

'Chelle's out of the car almost before it stops, and skipping up the path to knock on the door, Lan right on her heels.

Alain's a bit slower, shutting off the car, and obviously trying to ignore the spike of anxiety and worry that's going through him as he gets out of the car.

Percy pats Alain on the back absently. Which isn't to say that he is being absent-minded while doing it, that's just the quality of the pat when observed.

"Don't worry," he whispers and quickens the pace so he matches 'Chelle and Lan.

Alain follows him up the path.

The door's opening just as they reach it.

"Uh- Hi, guys, what're you-"

Beat, and he's covering nervousness with false bravado and an easy smirk.

"'Chelle, just where do you keep finding all these cute guys?"

"Dad found this one. Percy, Teo, Teo, Percy. You gonna let us in?"

Percy takes a long look at Lan and 'Chelle.

"It's a pleasure to meet you fellow cute guy," Percy says... in a way that's oddly Lan-like, but hard to pin down how. Except how it's obviously flirty.

"I'm more curious about how I manage to surround myself with guys who aren't entirely straight."

Lan drapes his arm around her shoulders as they step into the house past Teo. "That's just good taste, besides, if we're all busy flirting with each other, we don't flirt with you."

Teo smirks. "Welcome to my humble abode, Percy," Teo ushers Percy in to follow Lan and 'Chelle. "-is that take-out from your Dad, 'Chelle, really?"

"Uh, yeah. We'll get it put away."

"Thank you for having me over."

Percy gets inside and looks around.

"You're welcome," Teo says with a nod, turning to Alain.

The inside of the house is tired as well, in need of a fresh coat of paint - in part to cover the recently patched hole in the wall - and new light bulbs in the hall light. But it's clean.

Behind him, taking advantage of his apparent distraction, Alain's taken Teo's hand. "You okay, Anima?" he asks quietly.

Both of them seem to relax a bit at the contact.

"Come on, let's go drag Lan and 'Chelle out back. Nero's still sleeping."

Teo lets go of Alain's hand and steps past Percy, gesturing for both of them to follow.

"Who is Nero?" Percy asks Lan.

"Teo's younger brother," Lan supplies, following Alain and Teo out the back door. "Cute kid."

"Awww," Percy reacts like he is seeing the kid right now.

The back yard is entirely paved, but there's some beaten up lawn furniture that Alain and Teo have dropped into.

"So, where you been? You know better than to not answer my texts." His tone manages to be teasing, to mostly conceal the continued concern.

"Yeeeeah," Teo draws out. "Funny thing. Dad took off, and it turns out I dropped my phone in the car." (He seems to be saying something there that he isn't actually saying.)

'Chelle pushes Lan and Percy towards seats. "You're making the place look untidy."

Percy sits and observes.

Trouble in the family? that much is obvious and those are not the right set of emotions for "can't access my phone". There is some plan involved. Maybe.

Paradoxically, Percy is curious about what happened, but in a way where he doesn't find the thing on itself interesting like other people would.

"You want some help?"