Chapter Text
A key, turning in the lock.
The click of a deadbolt.
The front door, swinging open to let in the crisp breeze that comes after a short rain.
“You’ll love the place, I promise,” a voice says, as two people push through the open door. First, a woman, then a man. A third person, another man, slips in after both of them, furtively shutting the door behind them. He holds the keys to the house in his hands.
They all scuff the water and mud off their shoes on the cheap mat in front of the door.
“You know I’m not strictly supposed to even be showing you this, but I had to,” the man with the keys says.
“Thank you Poe,” the woman says. “We really appreciate it.”
“So, as you know,” Poe says, gesturing at the walls, the space. “These are post-war, mid-century townhomes, originally built to be rentals for government workers or veterans. This was one of many such communities in the area. These were refurbished in the 1970’s and then sold individually.”
They walk from the entryway into the living room, taking in the well-lit space. The back door opens onto a nice patio, a fenced-in garden. The rooms are empty, but the walls are painted nicely -- a soft grey that someone with a good eye must have chosen.
“I gotta ask -- why’s this in foreclosure?” The first man asks. “This isn’t really what I expected of a foreclosure -- it’s so nice .”
The woman pushes at his shoulder. “ Finn ,” she warns. “That’s probably confidential.”
“Sorry,” Finn says.
“Nah, buddy, it’s fine. It’s actually not confidential,” Poe explains. “But let me show you the place, and then I’ll explain. It’s kind of a long story.”
They start in the living room, moving around the cozy, but bright space. Poe points out where the dining space is usually kept in these houses, how people typically set up their couches and televisions. They glance out the wide back windows and through the door at the patio, at the overgrown garden with so much potential.
“Rey, you’d love working this garden. I can see it now: so many flowers. Oh, and I could plant some vegetables,” Finn says.
The woman, Rey, grins.
From there, they go upstairs. There are three bedrooms to explore and a small, but sufficient bathroom.
“The master bedroom is on the smaller side, but it’s still pretty average for homes of this era,” Poe says. “The other two bedrooms are noticeably small, I’m not going to lie. But they get great light and are certainly workable. Some of the houses have knocked out the wall between the two smaller rooms and made one larger bedroom, but most people use them as either studies or nurseries.”
Rey laughs at the last bit, and so does Finn. “Well, that’s a ways away.”
They each duck into the bathroom. There’s really only space for one person, but it’s just fine.
“This house has good bones,” Finn says at the top of the stairs. He puts a hand on the wall, feeling it underneath his flat palm. “It’s very quiet in here. Still. I like it.”
“I like it too,” Rey says.
“Come on,” Poe says, clapping them both on the shoulders. “You haven’t even seen the kitchen or the basement.
The kitchen is newly remodeled.“Right before the last owner bought the place,” Poe tells them. It’s on the smaller side, but functional and airy. It’s definitely enough space for two cooks to try and butt heads, if needs be. They funnel into the basement after Poe, eager to find places for storage. Before she descends the stairs, Rey glances around the kitchen, imagining a life in this place. It isn’t hard. She smiles, turns, and then follows Finn and Poe down the stairs.
The basement is average -- nothing to write home about -- but finished, and nice. Dry, too. Beige and boring in a pleasant sort of way, and perfect for storage. Finn suggests putting a couch down there and Poe recommends making it a big one, great for parties. It’s a good plan.
Rey leads the way upstairs, but pauses in the doorway at the top of the steps, eyes on something in the kitchen.
“Rey?” Finn asks from behind her, concern evident in his voice.
“It’s fine,” she says, softer than usual. Finn and Poe shift behind her, anxious.
“Hello,” Rey says, creeping forward past the doorway and into the kitchen.
When Finn makes it past the door, moving slow and carefully because Rey had, he spots what has her attention. A small tabby cat, sitting square in the middle of the kitchen. Rey is in a squat, hand outstretched toward the cat.
“How did you get in here?” Rey asks the cat in the same soft voice.
When Poe makes it to the top of the stairs, he just laughs, leaning against the counter. “Oh, the cat. Yeah, she just -- ends up in here sometimes, apparently. She belonged to the previous owner.”
The cat moves forward, butting her head against Rey’s hand. “You’re very soft,” Rey says, running a hand over the cat’s coat. “And clean, for a stray.”
“You said you’d tell us about the previous owner,” Finn says, turning his attention to Poe.
“Oh,” Poe says, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah. Well, it’s kind of a mystery. The previous owner just up and disappeared. He was a contractor for the government and was always prompt with his bills. He seemed very on top of things, from what everyone has said. Very involved with the house, too. He took really great care of it. Until -- well, apparently he just started not being around. He started working sporadically, being away for long periods of time, and generally being uncontactable. And then, one day, he just stopped. He stopped showing up at work, stopped answering his emails or his phone, and stopped paying his bills. No one’s seen hide nor hair of him since. The bank repossessed his house, took all of his things. There’s currently a missing persons case out on him, but no one expects to see him ever again. He’s just -- gone.”
Both Finn and Rey are looking at Poe now, mouths agape. The cat meows.
“If you’re interested in the place, you’ll hear more about it at the auction. It’s something that the bank has an obligation to tell the future owners -- in case the guy does show up, one day. It happens, but it’s rare.”
“Makes sense,” Rey says.
Finn continues to make a face.
“No foul play suspected,” Poe reassures. “Sometimes people just disappear. Maybe he’ll show up one day, but honestly? He probably lives hundreds of miles away by now, happily, under an alias.”
Finn nods, slowly. “Alright. I’m just saying, I’m not having someone show up at my my house in the middle of the night, demanding that it’s theirs.”
“You gotta win the auction first, buddy. Then, you can worry about that all you want.” Poe grins, then loops an arm around Finn’s shoulders, “but I promise it’ll be fine. You’ll never see the guy, I’d bet my everything on that. Really, other than that little mystery, this house is perfect for you guys.”
“It really is,” Rey agrees. She reaches down, scratching at the tabby’s head once again. “Does it come with the cat,” she asks.
“Maybe,” Finn says. “I guess we’ll find out.”