"Yeah FF, classes are fine," Sollux drawled, dragging his washcloth over the wooden bar counter.
He was holding his cell phone against his ear with his shoulder, putting glasses away as he cleaned the bar. It was pretty dead around this time. Everyone was off in the grill section, and the noise level was fairly low. He would prefer to talk to Fef when he wasn't at work, but this was the best time for her due to the non-correlating time zones.
She laughed at his tone, and he couldn't help but to smile faintly. He really missed her laugh. He really missed her, actually. It had only been a couple weeks, but that was still a long time for Sollux to go without seeing her.
"Are you still majoring in Computer Science?" Fef asked, making Sollux roll his eyes with a slightly wider smile.
"Of course I am, FF. It's only been about a month, I've barely had time to get used to my classes, let alone change my major. And what else am I good at other than Computer Programming and Applications Development?" He asked with a laugh.
She laughed too as Sollux began to grab the glasses and wipe them down.
"Oh, you're good at plenty of things, Sollux! You're amazing with computers, but you're still good at plenty!" She exclaimed, making him smile once again.
"What about you? Are you going to college in Cali while you take care of your mom? Oh, speaking of which, how is she?" He asked, setting one glass down and picking up another. Feferi sighed.
"She's doing alright, I suppose. We um. We still don't know what's wrong, so. Anyways, yeah, I'm going to college here. I'm majoring in Marine Biology, so my classes should be fun!" She said, her voice picking up as soon as it dropped into a sadder tone. He nodded, his smile reforming as soon as her excited tone was back.
"That sounds perfect for you," he replied with a laugh, picking up and cleaning off another glass.
It was silent for a while, and Sollux furrowed his eyebrows in a slight confusion. Just as he was about to ask if she was still there, she spoke up. Her tone was one that Sollux couldn't read, and he didn't know whether to be worried or suspicious.
"So um. How's Eridan?" She asked, causing Sollux to purse his lips. He put the glass and cloth down as he turned, leaning his back against the bar, grabbing the phone and holding it with his hand.
"Eridan's doing pretty well. He just got a job as a lifeguard, which I suppose fits him. He also just recently started classes, so now he's got a new thing to complain about," Sollux informed, confused as to why she would ask him instead of just calling Eridan and catching up.
"And what about you two?" She asked, leading him to bite his bottom lip. "Are you two getting along?"
Are we getting along? Well, funny you asked…
"You don't have to worry about us, FF, we're not going to rip each others heads off," he replied. He was met with a long silence, and he knew that his answer wasn't the one that she wanted to hear. He furrowed his eyebrows further than they already were, the suspicion growing.
"I mean, do you guys, like. What I'm trying to say is that-…Um. He's better from high school, isn't he? Like, easier to be around? Actually kind of…Likeable? What I mean is-"
"Feferi, are you asking me if I like Eridan Ampora?" He interrupted, tired of this, beating around the bush, crap. He was met with another long silence before she replied.
"You know, a lot of us thought that you may have liked each other in high school. That's why I wasn't so worried when I suggested that Eridan moved in with you since I was leaving. I figured that you two would get along, maybe even more so than you two might have thought," she explained, and an annoyance spread through Sollux as she did.
"You know, KK had the same crazy idea. I really have no idea where everyone is getting this from, but-…"
"Don't worry about it, Sollux. I wont bring it up again if you want. I called to catch up, not to prod into your love life. If you don't want to talk to me about it, that's okay," she interrupted quickly, not wanting anything awkward to come between them.
He bit his lip hard once again. Should he tell her? God, then she might tell Eridan. No, Feferi wouldn't do something like that, but that would be rather awkward. Especially if Karkat was, of course, right again, and Feferi did have feelings for Sollux too.
The thing that really confused Sollux was simply the matter of Feferi and Eridan. Since when was Sollux even likeable? He had a complete distaste for people and anything that involved getting off of his ass and going outside, what made him even the least bit desirable?
"FF, you didn't let me finish," he started. "What I was going to say was that although I have no idea where you guys got your suspicions from about Eridan and I-…" He looked down at his shoes. "-…I think you're right. I think that… That I may like him, a lot more than I want to," he admitted, sliding down the bar corner and onto the floor. He was once again, met by a slight silence before she spoke.
"Oh is that so?" She asked, the tone of her voice insinuating that she was smiling. "And whatever is it that makes him so attractive to the straight boy who only likes chicks?" She teased. He groaned in reply, closing his eyes and running his hand over his face, causing his glasses to slip down his nose.
"I don't know, FF. He's such an obnoxious, annoying little prick who complains about everything and can get on every single one of my nerves," he nearly growled. He then sighed, relaxing as he looked up at the ceiling, head leaning against one of the shelves on the inside of the bar.
"But he's also…Cute. He's kind of sweet, in his own annoying way. He's really smart, although he doesn't know it, which makes it kind of endearing. He's so passionate about everything that he does, and he works so hard to be his own person because that's what he want's most, and, God, I don't even know. I just don't know, FF. Ever since I talked to KK about him and about high school and just the possibilities…I've just had this growing fondness for him that I cant help. I'm literally being swallowed whole by this, and I can't escape it. Tell me what to do?" He begged, holding the phone harder against his ear.
"Tell you what to do? Oh no. This is all you, Sollux. You are so totally into him, obviously, and now your choice is the one that counts," she laughed, obviously pleased with what was going on here. Sollux groaned once again. Thanks a bunch, FF.
It was then that his boss stepped out of the back room, causing Sollux's eyes to widen. He scrambled up, holding his phone on the other side of his face so that his boss couldn't see it.
"I have to talk to you later, FF, I'm about to get busted. Thanks for the help that you didn't provide!" He snapped, making her laugh once again as he hung up and shoved his phone into his pocket. He grabbed the glasses again, wiping them over with a sigh of relief as his boss walked past him.
He worked hard through his shift, trying to keep his mind occupied. Of course, the giant problem that's been lingering on his mind always managed to sneak into his thoughts, and the frustration was unavoidable.
Damn that fucking northern priss. What the hell was Sollux going to do? He couldn't keep thinking that he was one-hundred percent straight, because he obviously wasn't. The more he thought about Eridan, the more he wanted him, and the more frustrated he became.
Could something work between them? He was pretty sure that Eridan liked him as well, especially after the moment they shared just the other afternoon. They really hadn't spoken since, but Sollux couldn't pretend that he didn't notice the longing looks that he was receiving any time that him and Eridan were in the same room.
Now that the scene was on his mind, he couldn't help but to feel a bit bad about it. He just left abruptly, and he was sure that his action didn't make Eridan feel too great. Especially after Sollux totally eyed his roommate's completely flawless lips…
He really was perfect. His eyes were just so deep and gorgeous, and his lashes were just so fucking long and his hair was literally perfect and his body was just…So fucking hot, with his toned muscles and his irresistible ass. He had these long, amazing fingers and these perfectly broad shoulders, and these great legs that…Just walked through the door.
His eyes widened as he looked at Eridan beyond the bar, making his way through the crowd and sliding in between the bunch of people that usually showed up on a Friday night. He nearly dropped the glass that he was holding, shocked to see Eridan walk up to his bar and slide into a stool. He looked around a moment before his eye caught Sollux, and his full, pink lips pulled up into a smile.
"Hey Sol," he called, and Sollux just looked at him in surprise.
He walked over to Eridan, stepping around his coworker as he stopped in front of his roommate, still holding his glass. After the thoughts that he was just having about Eridan, and the look that Eridan was giving him right at this moment, Sollux couldn't have been more thankful that there was a bar in between him and his blushing crush.
"I'll…I'll take you up on that drink offer, now," he said, smiling bashfully as he looked up at Sollux. Sollux's eyebrow rose as he looked over Eridan.
"Is that so? I thought you didn't drink, ED. I certainly didn't expect to see you strutting in here any time soon," Sollux admitted, crossing his arms as he looked at his roommate, who shook his head.
"I don't usually drink, but tonight's different, I guess," he said with a shrug. He then looked over Sollux, then back up at his eyes with a slight smile. "Unless, you don't want to serve me anymore," he added.
Sollux looked over him as well, for the second time, this time really just to check him out. He then met his gaze. To serve, or not to serve? He really had a bad feeling about mixing Eridan and alcohol together. But hey, what the hell. He leaned onto the bar, setting the glass that he was holding down in front of Eridan as a smile played on his own lips.
"That depends. Can I see some ID?" He teased, causing Eridan's smile to widen slightly.
They shared a smile for a moment before Sollux pulled back, wiping his hands on a cloth that he pulled out from beneath the bar.
"What can I get you, sir?"
Eridan blushed slightly, looking down at his glass, then back up to Sollux.
"I really don't care," he admitted, and Sollux raised his eyebrows.
"That's never safe to say in a bar, ED," Sollux said with a laugh. He turned around and grabbed a bottle, turning back and pouring Eridan a glass of Jack Daniels.
"This is what I usually drink," he informed, which seemed to be enough for Eridan. He watched as Eridan picked up the glass and sipped it, which earned him a laugh from Sollux as Eridan winced.
"Did you walk or drive here, Eridan? I don't know how much it takes for you, but either way, I'm driving you home," he said with another laugh. Eridan furrowed his eyebrows at Sollux.
"Fuckin' rude. I walked here. Good thing this town is so damn small. Nothin' like New York," he replied, drinking more of his drink as Sollux smiled at him.
It wasn't long at all before Eridan began talking, and couldn't stop. Sollux tried to be annoyed, but really he was just amused with Eridan's behavior. Eridan talked with his hands, going on and on about New York and New York bars and New York drinks and New York cabs and New York, New York, New York. It was obvious how much he loved it there, which made Sollux feel a bit bad that he had to leave it.
Nevertheless, Eridan kept talking. And talking, and talking, and talking. Sollux wouldn't let him have more drinks than was good for him, which really only should have been one. He was rather relieved when his shift was over and he could take Eridan home. Meanwhile, Eridan didn't think for a second that he could have been annoying as he continued to talk as they walked out of the bar, got into the car, and drove back to the apartment. He talked all the way up the stairs and into the apartment as well.
As soon as they got inside, Sollux sat Eridan down on the couch. Eridan curled up immediately after taking off his shoes, just as Sollux kicked his shoes off and propped his feet up on the coffee table. He sighed and leaned back, closing his eyes and relaxing after the long day. He remained in that position for a few moments before he realized that Eridan had stopped talking. He opened his eyes, looking over at Eridan to find that Eridan was staring at him silently. He rose an eyebrow, looking at Eridan curiously.
"What's up? You tired yet?" He asked, although he could see the exhaustion in Eridan's eyes. Eridan just looked at him a moment before he glanced away, looking at the coffee table as he lazily and clumsily played with the rings on his fingers.
"Do you like me, Sol?" He slurred quietly. Sollux froze. Fuck.
"Well, I don't hate you, if that's what you're asking," Sollux replied, though he knew very well that his answer was not the one that Eridan wanted. Eridan uncurled himself as he scooted closer to Sollux, making Sollux's eyes widen and causing his heart to pound hard.
"Because I like you, Sol," he admitted, scooting over until his hip bumped into Sollux's.
Sollux slid his feet off of the coffee table as he contemplated moving away. He stiffened in his place, looking at Eridan cautiously as Eridan's eyes slowly trailed over Sollux's body. Sollux's heart sped slightly, and he could feel a blush rising to his cheeks.
"You're wasted, Eridan. Like, you're seriously hammered," Sollux said with a slight laugh, and Eridan furrowed his eyebrows defensively.
"I'm not w-wasted, Sol. W-what? Can't I admit that I like you w-without bein' fuckin' w-wasted?" He slurred, causing Sollux to slowly relax. He looked at Eridan, almost guiltily as Eridan looked back at him.
"Eridan, did you get drunk so that-…"
"Yeah, Sol," Eridan interrupted, almost angrily. "Yeah, okay, I admit it. I w-wanted to get drunk so that I'd hav-ve enough fuckin' courage to tell you that I liked you. Alw-ways fuckin' hav-ve. Since fuckin' high school, w-when you w-were so damn cute and funny and-…"
"Okay, Eridan! Okay!" Sollux interrupted back, his eyes wide and his cheeks flushed deeply. "Aright, I get it. You um…You like me. And I'm flattered, but…Honestly, I've never really been into guys, Eridan," Sollux replied. It wasn't a total lie. He never was, before Eridan.
Eridan just looked at him, his expression unreadable.
"Nev-ver…Into guys?" He asked slowly, as if he didn't get it. Sollux swallowed hard before he replied, scooting slightly away from his drunk roommate.
"Yeah. Never into guys. I've never really been attracted to dudes, Eridan. I don't know how else to say it," Sollux said, only receiving a few slow blinks from Eridan.
There was a silence that couldn't be filled, and Sollux felt his anxiety begin to rise as neither he nor Eridan spoke. He actually almost got up and left the room, before Eridan did something that Sollux would have never, ever seen coming.
Eridan moved quickly, throwing a leg over Sollux as Sollux let out a gasp. Eridan draped his arms over Sollux's shoulders, straddling his legs as both of his knees pressed against the sides of Sollux's hips. Sollux looked up at Eridan in pure and utter shock, staring at him in disbelief as Eridan leaned close to him.
"So you're tellin' me that in this moment, right here, right now-w…You don't w-want me?" Eridan asked, voice low and so fucking alluring despite the fact that he was hella drunk.
Sollux just looked up at him, at a complete loss for words. His palms were pressed downwards on the cushion of the couch, his entire body completely tense beneath Eridan's. Having Eridan on his lap and having Eridan's face so close to his own sent a warmth through Sollux that he certainly would have preferred not to feel at the moment, or frankly at all around Eridan.
His breathing had deepened and he knew that his cheeks had flushed further as he looked into Eridan's half lidded blue eyes. They sparkled in the dim light of the room as they slowly moved back and forth, looking at each of Sollux's eyes.
"Can I kiss you, Sol?" Eridan asked slowly.
Oh my God yes. Yes, please kiss me, Eridan. Please kiss me, please touch me, please…
"No," Sollux said, making Eridan's eyes widen. Eridan quickly leaned back, looking as though Sollux had just punched him across the face. Sollux's heart was pounding harder than it had in a long, long time, and he couldn't believe that he had the strength to reject Eridan at this time.
"…No?" Eridan asked slowly.
"No," Sollux repeated, keeping the shaky tone out of his voice. "No, Eridan. I don't want our first kiss to be while you're drunk."
Eridan, who had looked about five seconds away from bursting into tears, couldn't help as his eyes widened further. He looked at Sollux in surprise, unsure what to make of the comment that Sollux had just made.
"W-wait…Are you insinuatin' that you w-want there to be more than one kiss?" He asked slowly, words slurring with drunken hope.
Sollux sighed. Was he really about to do this? He just started liking the guy, was he even sure that any of this was legit?
No. I haven't just started liking him. I've always liked him. I'm only just realizing it.
"Yes, that's what I'm insinuating, Eridan. I do like you, you jackass, but I'm not letting you do anything that you might not want to do while your drunk, okay?" Sollux said slowly, his eyes jetting down to their position, which made the warmth spread further through him. He looked back up at Eridan, concentrating on the others eyes, which were lit with happiness.
"I w-wouldn't regret anythin' that I did, Sol," he assured. "But okay."
He slid off of Sollux, allowing Sollux to slowly exhale a long sigh of relief. He was relieved, he really was, but he couldn't deny that he was also disappointed. Eridan certainly did not make that moment easy, and Sollux was still surprised in himself that he was able to deny Eridan as smoothly as he did.
"You should sleep, Eridan," Sollux said softly, and Eridan nodded.
Eridan slid off of the couch, swaying slightly as he rose to his feet. Sollux smiled fondly as he joined Eridan, sliding an arm around him to steady him and keep him from falling over. He helped Eridan to his room and into his bed, running a hand through Eridan's hair as Eridan slid off his glasses and got comfortable against his pillows. Sollux smiled once more at him as he turned around, walking out of Eridan's room quietly.
"Good night, Sol," Eridan called weakly. Sollux stopped in the hallway, turning and looking into Eridan's room through his open door.
"Good night, Eri," he replied, slipping right into the nickname as though he had called Eridan that since the day they met.
Sollux then turned, walking to his own room. He took his phone, wallet, and keys out of his pocket, setting them on the bedside table as he removed his jacket and his shirt. He slid into bed in his jeans, sliding his glasses off as well and setting them aside before he relaxed into bed. His heart was still pounding a mile a minute, but that didn't stop him from falling asleep with a smile on his face.
