He felt sick, dizzy. Like he's going to blow chunks from lunch. Just because he could remember every meal he ate for lunch, doesn't mean he wants to see it.
He looks up from the sink and at his reflection. God, his face was glowing red.
It's not his first time drinking. He knew his limits and was careful to not render himself incapable. He couldn't afford to let himself be defenseless among people he couldn't trust.
Ugh, he should have known better than to join that pointless drinking contest. He even promised himself that he was just here for the free food and drinks. One of his classmate invited a bunch of people to a party at one of the many bars in downtown.
However, he got to ambitious and prideful. There were some people out there belittling his intelligence and ability to drink. He would have ignored them because he wasn't one to draw attention. It's just that they were discriminating others and not just him. He really wanted to wipe the smirks off their face. Which he successfully did and did a few more things that hurt their ego.
He splashes the cool water onto his face and gives himself a pep talk. "Alright Ling, who can do this? You. You'll be okay. All you need to do is get to the exit and call a taxi home. No problem." He'd call Greed, but his brother was out of the house with his friends. He didn't want to bother him… okay, he doesn't want to call Greed because his brother had warned him to not get into any trouble at the bar.
Arguments and fights are natural at this bar. They overlook these things as long as nothing escalates out of hand. As a result, this bar is one of the more fun and popular places to go to. The downside is, there's a lot of shady people and business here.
He bumps into someone and stumbles, almost falling, but two hands grab a hold of him. "M'hm, sorry."
"Whoa, you okay miss?"
Ling frowns, he was only slightly drunk and pushes the man. "I'm a guy."
"Hmm." The man was contemplating something.
There were sirens blaring in his head, warning he should leave as soon as possible. He didn't like the way he heard that "hmm." He heads for the door, but a hand snatches his wrist.
"Guy, girl, doesn't matter. They're all the same as long it's fun."
Great. Just what he needs, a disgusting pervert. "You should let go or you'll regret it."
"No need to be hostile or anything." The pervert smiles, a fake and sincere one.
Everything moved so fast.
Ling pulls his hand free and moves back, dodging the incoming hand striking towards him. He ducks down when the other fist aims towards, but the sudden movement rises the bile up to his throat. He can't do this. He needs to run to the crowd and lose this pervert.
Ling's mind is out of it, but not enough that he can't figure out an escape plan. He grabs the trash can and flings it towards the pervert and he countdowns to five. That was all the time he has to run and how he didn't waste any time.
He overlooks the throbbing in his head to scramble outside and to get rid of the pervert in the restroom. Half through the crowd, he loses his balance and bumps into one of men at one of the many tables. The man turns and stands up, his tall figure looming over Ling. Ling isn't tall, but not short like a certain blonde. Out of all the men he bumps into, it has to be a threatening one. The amount of bandages, the long beard, and frownie face practically screams "stay away, do not feed."
Ling mutters quietly to myself. "It's not my night." Right about now, it sound real good to lay down somewhere warm and soft… preferably his bed. He gasps surprise when his feet is no longer touching the floor.
"Sorry?" Please accept it so he could go out and throw up… the man doesn't and he thrown towards the wall. The only nice part of this was that he finally threw up and felt a tiny bit relieved. He stands, but the relief didn't last long when his whole body suddenly feels lethargic. He leans his back against the cool wall, it's kind of comfy. Despite his precarious situation, he should flee… hmm, but his body didn't want to obey him. Standing alone requires a lot of concentration and willpower from him.
The club was noisy and despite all the colorful lights, it was still dark inside. The patrons of the clubs were in a lively mood and they didn't care too much of the fight happening. These small fights adds to the liveliness and excitement.
Footsteps becomes louder, the cheers and hushes become intense, louder.
The last thing he hears before deciding to clock out is a gasp and a deep baritone voice.
XXXXXXX
"He looks just like him!" A girl giggles.
Another girl exclaims in awe. "Wow, you didn't lie when you said he does!"
"Ah, he's so cute."
A different voice joins in. "Cute? He looks like the boss, the boss ain't cute."
The girl corrects him. "No wrong."
Ling stirs and he could feel whoever it is poking him, examining him like a specimen on a petri dish. More importantly, he should wake up to find out where he was and if he was kidnapped or not.
The man's voice rings out irritably. "Alright, get out of here. I'm suppose to watch over so no one's bugging him while he sleeps!"
The girl's jeer as their high heels clack onto the floor. "Better run before Dolcetto bites us!"
"Shut up!" Dolcetto barks and something crashes.
How can anyone stay asleep with all this noise? It made the pounding in his head worse. Ling's already sitting up on the couch during their bickering.
When Dolcetto turns to return to his post, he's startle to find the boy awake and grumbles. "Damn girls."
"Uhm, hi?" Ling begins unclear of his situation.
"How you feelin'?" Dolcetto asks, nonchalantly as he sits on table with his legs crossed together, 'Need some aspirin?"
Ling hesitates, naturally.
"Relax, we aren't going to do anything to you, boss said so."
Well that's enough for him to accept the painkillers. He raises an eyebrow at who this boss was. Why would a boss treat him courteously? As if on cue, multiple footsteps came towards them and the man perks up.
"Hey boss!"
Ling eyes widen in shock and his jaw slacks as the boss emerges from the shadow along with the familiar over-confident grin on his face.
"Boss Greed is here!" Greed seats himself in a grandiose manner next to Ling and pats his shock stricken face. "Surprise?"
Ling swats his hand away and crosses his arm in thought. He was trying to piece the information together to what happened last night and how does he end here with his brother here. Also… "They call you boss?"
"Jealous?"
Ling rolls his eyes. "No, your ego is huge enough."
Greed winks at him. "And among many other things."
"So where are we?" Ling asks as he scans his surrounding.
"The Devil's Nest. A bar that we frequently hang out at." Dolcetto answers.
Ling couldn't even be surprise that his twin sole choice in hang out spots is at a bar. A dangerous and shady place. Geez, what does Greed do in his free time? The people must be the same in some ways, but Greed trusts them so they must not all be terrible?
Greed waves his hand to change the topic and gazes at the small group of people around the room. "Meet my piss ant brother, Ling. You've met Dolcetto here, this big guy is Roa, that fine lady over there is Martel, and the last but not least our buddy Bido!"
Everyone around the room greets him and remarks in amazement at the similarity between the two.
"There's more of us, but this was all that could come last night on such short notice." Roa .comments.
More? They were here last night when they didn't have to be? Which means they told to come here… by the boss.
"Hey boss, you never explained why you wanted us here last night?" Dolcetto asks as he remembers the urgent meeting last night.
Bido nods in agreement. "Mr. Greed really wanted to find you."
Find? Ling doesn't recall much from the incident last night, but he knows before the incident, Greed told him he had plans. Plans already made to spend time with his friends that wasn't at a bar. He sees Greed face palming.
Martel shakes her head and smacks all three of the men. "You morons, remember what Greed told us?"
The three males looked at each other and realize their mistakes.
"Oh."
"Whoops."
"Sorry, boss."
Martel pushes everyone out and she hums knowingly. "We'll leave you two, so you can have a moment together."
An awkward stillness engulfs the atmosphere and Ling muses on where should he start.
"Geez, I'm going to yell at those guys later." Greed sighs, stretching his limbs all over the couch and placing his feet on the table. "So, still feeling like shit?"
"Did you follow me last night?"
"Heh, straight to the point."
Ling shrugs. "There's no point in punching the shrubs."
"Beating the bushes."
"Same difference." Ling gaze falls onto his twin brother and urges for Greed to explain. He got the general gist, but he wants to hear it. He wants to see the struggle. "Soooo?"
Greed scowls, miffed at being backed into a corner. "So what if I did? I knew an idiot pampered prince like you would get into trouble in an area like this."
Usually Ling would be upset with those rich boys jabs because he did come from a wealthy family. However, he knows Greed's joking and he's grown accustomed to the defense mechanism Greed had when things weren't going his way. Jokes and denial. Still... just because he came from a wealthy family doesn't mean he was sheltered! "Ah, so you were worried about me?"
Greed grasps Ling's ponytail without warning and drags him down to his lap. "You know for someone that got himself shit faced drunk, you're awfully chipper."
"I was not!" Ling objects, but is promptly silenced when he feels feels fingers stroking through the strands of his hair. He could feel his muscles relax and any complaints he had in store, forgotten.
"Good right?"
"Hmm, yea. Except you messed up my ponytail now." Ling manages to quip.
"Meh, a necessary evil."
Ling wonders why is his vision gradually becoming darker and darker?
"I got you, so sleep. "
