AN: I lied again, THIS ONE is the shortest but it's also the stupidest. Another tumblr drabble but for the phrase 'tongue tied.' I had so few ideas for this one because I didn't want to do the obvious kissing format and tried something else.


John

"Is it so hard for a guy to get a drink in this place? I'm dying over here." No one entertains Nine as he sits at the head of the table with his own laid in one hand and his elbow planted firmly against the wood. He yawns loudly; I half expect him to kick his feet up. I decide to be the one to act. A big mistake but I am pretty well known for those.

"Is it so hard for you to say please?" I counter a little dry. Nine narrows his blue eyes at me. He lets them drift around, taking in everyone else sitting in the pimp pad's dinning room. Then he smirks.

"That's funny Johnny because you were definitely begging me last night." The room fills with a soft, collective laughter. Everyone has a hearty laugh except for me. Sarah on my right lightly elbows me and struggles to hide her smile. I give her credit for at least trying to help me out. My face feels warm and I hope I'm not blushing. Not because of Nine, but because of the first thought that I visualized and now I'm the center of attention.

I have to make a comeback.

I want a good retort to just pop in my head. There is no way I am letting Nine win. Ever. Even if he usually does. But there's nothing. If I wasn't being watched, I'd actually hit myself in the head. I just let out a quiet groan instead and glare at Nine. He waggles his eyebrows and then, to make it worse, winks at me. I look away.

"Well someone has to." I quietly say in defeat. "You can't flex to yourself in the mirror forever."

"Not your best comeback, Four, you need to brush up, graduate from schoolyard insults, try pull ups." Nine grins in his stupid way and punches me in the arm. "Seeing as you are into it, I do have ways to make you talk."

"Whatever." I mumble, not meeting anyone's eyes. My first instinct with Nine used to be to just slap him in the face and that's what I'm feeling right now.

Nine's hand pushes me again and he whispers under his breath, "just a sissy whatever? You're better than this, Johnny, come on, let me have it."

"In what way?" I retort, the tame, caddy comeback falls off my tongue with ease. Nine laughs at that. At least I have something. "You're on for a lot of things and I might be one of those." I raise my voice a little, hoping someone heard.

"See? Was that hard? You want to punch me in the face, right?"

"So much that sometimes I have to remember you'd break my head with your rock for a head." I let myself show a sheepish grin. Is it bad I'm being honest?

"Then act like it, be the asshole I know and sort of love. Maybe 'really like' is better for me to say." Our voices have gradually states raising, to where, at least I noticed, that most of everyone is paying attention to us talk. Without moving my head, I glance to make sure and feel my smile grow.

"Well… You do really love my asshole, Stanley."

I hear a loud cough, probably from Sam choking on his food, and everyone at the table starts to laugh. That was it. I even threw in the S-word for a good measure. I raise a brow at Nine while he exhales in return. He might be signing but I can hear the soft smile in his response. He's far too good at taking this shit.

"You, my friend, are a little shit."

"Where's my diploma? Or do I have to 'see you after class'?"

"I swear to God, John."