January 1, 2012

5:00 pm

Sollux squinted at the television screen, scoping in on his target. He clicked the trigger and watched the player fall down.

10+ Headshot.

"Nice shot, I need your help in the pit, blue is swarming like fucking wasps," Dave said, nudging Sollux softly with his elbow. Sollux smirked and returned the friendly prod before turning his character around and sprinting to the pit. Dave hadn't been kidding, the blue team had pretty much all gathered down in the middle ground trying to recover the tank.

"Only a hundred points to game," Sollux pointed out, jumping over the incoming Ghost.

"Fucking cunt," Dave swore, giving the screen a glare that made Sollux chuckle. "What a little bitch, you think you're sneaky huh? FUCK YOU!" Sollux shook his head and smiled to himself as they finished off the last minute of the round.

Victory.

"Damn right," Dave said proudly, throwing down his Xbox controller. "Red team wins every time."

"Well, considering we're obviously the best fucking players," Sollux mused, setting his controller aside and reclining on the couch.

"True," Dave smirked, flicking the television off and turning in his seat to face Sollux. "Is Eridan ever coming back with your car or what?"

"He said he'd be back in a few hours, what time is it?"

"Time to eat, grab your coat," Dave vaulted himself over the back on the couch in one smooth movement and sauntered down the hall way, looking over his shoulder once to wink at Sollux.

Sollux grinned in response and watched the slender blonde disappear around the corner. As soon as Dave was out of sight his smile fell. It would always be like this, he thought as he rose. One moment he was having a good time with Dave – a magnificent time really. Then the next moment he'd be wondering why he was hanging out with Dave so much in the first place. It wasn't Dave's fault, heck, it wasn't even Sollux's fault.

Sollux shuffled around the couch and over to the doorway where his coat unceremoniously laid on the closet floor. He bent down and plucked it from the hardwood, glancing at the black leather coat underneath. Sollux shrugged on his coat before bending down again to retrieve the other jacket.

It was Eridan's. He must have left it in his hurry to leave earlier. Sollux was trying to determine whether he had scared Eridan off earlier or if that man actually had places to go. Lately things were becoming a bit complicated… All in all Eridan was a pretty cool guy. Sure, they got into some stupid fights but they got along considering the circumstance. Those being "Hi, I'm Sollux and I don't remember a single fucking thing about you!"

Upon spotting an empty hanger Sollux decided to occupy it with Eridan's forgotten coat. He had just returned the hanger with coat attached when Dave made his return.

"McDonalds sound good to you bro? I figured you could walk at least two blocks…" Dave smirked, giving Sollux a once over before sliding his shades onto his face. "I could be wrong." He added teasingly.

"Wow, you really think I'm just going to keel over with asthma or something huh?" Sollux replied, playfully bumping Strider with his hip.

Dave mockingly rubbed his side with a gasp, "Easy there bones! I'm sensitive."

Sollux scoffed as he wiggled his feet into his worn out sneakers. "You can't be saying that when I know very well you aren't."

"You're right," Dave paused with an overdramatic sigh as he opened the door, "I like it rough."

Sollux stepped through the door and silently prayed the hallway was empty and nobody had heard that comment. Luck was not on his side. An older woman with a fucking CROSS hanging off her door was looking right at him. Sollux could feel the stern disapproval wafting in his direction as Dave locked up behind him.

What made matters even worse was that Dave being bold as always – Which could be ravishing at times other than this particular one – promptly smacked Sollux on the arse to propel him towards the elevator. The woman looked mortified.

"Dave, do you ever consider how your actions affect others?" Sollux questioned once they had stepped into the elevator.

"Usually after the fact, why are you filing a complaint? Should I print out a form and hand it out to everyone asking that they formally give me pointers on how to sail the ship of empathy?"

"You're making up long and odd metaphors again Dave."

"Do you need a separate form on that or should it be included?"

"… Neither, just keep up the smooth sailing there champ."

The elevator came to a stop with a slight jerk before the door slid open. Dave led the way as he strode through the opening and down the grand total of five steps to the front doors. Sollux followed with considerably less grace.

"You said McDonalds right?" Sollux asked, barley batting an eye as Dave held open the door for him.

"Sure did, if you got a problem with it then take it up with the administration of 'Striders don't give two fucks united'."

"Let me guess, that would include a grand total of two members?"

"Unless you wanna get married hot buns."

That comment raised a dark brow, "Did you just call me hot buns?"

"I'm not going to deny your fine ass that title."

The two men continued their walk into the busier street of the town and to the lifesaving Golden Arches. After a quick argument over whether they should pay individually or together, which ended with Dave insisting he get it this time, they took their orders.

"Why don't you just order a cock sandwich, Captor, it's pretty much the same thing."

"Don't be dissing my chicken burger, okay?" Sollux jeered, "And if I wanted some real quality cock we both know I'd be talking to you."

Dave grinned and shrugged his shoulders casually. "What can I say, I know how to work the—" Sollux cut him off by forcefully handing him his fountain drink cup. And by handing that meant smacking Dave in the mouth with it. It was only common courtesy seeing as the couple behind them had two kids.

"I know," Sollux said curtly as Dave wrapped his hands around the cup and lowered it from his mouth. "I'm going to fill this up and grab a table," Sollux waved his cup and turned around to find the soda thing tucked in the side of the wall. What were they called again? Soda fountains or something? Drink dispenser?

Who really knows? (They're called soda machines, no need to go google it because I just did that for you. You're welcome. )

Sollux quickly scanned the available drinks, disappointed that there was no Mountain Dew on tap. Instead he settled with a little bit too much ice and some good old Sprite. He picked a booth literally a meter away. Honestly the less effort he exerted today the better. Sollux seated himself on the side that allowed him to watch Dave wait at the counter. As good looking as that man was he quickly became bored and opted to look out the window instead and sip his drink.

Recently him and Dave had been going out to different places or spending a day cooped up in Dave's apartment. Apartment visits were always, ALWAYS, very good. Sollux absently chewed on the end of his straw as he considered this revelation among others. Was it a bad thing that he actually knew for a fact that Dave liked it rough? That Dave wasn't joking with his off-handed sexual comments.

So many people had spoken of Dave as if he were some ethereal wonder. Nobody could figure out his secrets behind that shaded poker face. Nobody could determine whether he was being serious, ironic, or both. Dave Strider had effectively stumped the wider population with his acts of nonchalance.

Everyone except his two closest friends John Egbert and Sollux Captor. They knew that without those aviators Dave was an open book. They knew that almost everything Dave said was to be regarded as important because as much as Dave tried to come off as flippant, there was a hint of truth to everything he said. For some reason no one else understood how easy it was to decode the mask and see the real man underneath. The real Dave was… even more stunning.

How stupid was he? Sollux sighed around his straw and watched as another car drove by. If he couldn't get his thoughts in control then how was he supposed to figure out the emotion behind them all? Sure, Dave was more ways than one a perfect man, but Sollux didn't want to date him. Sollux felt privileged just to be around the guy and the fact that they'd done a lot more than just hanging out was AMAZING.

As much as Sollux tried to justify that he should DTR (Define the Relationship) he just couldn't bring up the topic with Dave. What if Dave actually wanted to get serious and Sollux just came out with a big 'I thought this was casual'. Since the accident, breaking up with Aradia, rediscovering the prospects of being homosexual, and finally have all this sexual tension with Eridan… well… it was safe to say Sollux just wasn't ready to handle a serious relationship.

"Dick burger as requested," Dave announced, sliding the tray onto the table top in front of Sollux. "Eat up."

Sollux dislodged his mouth from the tip of his chewed straw and pulled the ray closer to him.

"You know what they say about people who chew on things?" Dave asked, plucking his Big Mac off the tray, "They say those people missed out on the oral stage when they were a child. I'm not saying I'm an expert but I think I can help you learn a thing or two about oral," Dave winked, chuckling when Sollux almost choked on the bite of his burger he had been about to swallow.

Half an hour of eating and being particularly immature and disturbing customers, the pair found themselves drifting through the streets in fits of laughter until they reached the apartments once again. Dave unlocked the doors for them and let them back into the building.

Once in the elevator Dave propped himself against the wall, his elbows resting comfortably on the railing as he regarded Sollux, his face as blank as every except his smooth eyebrows being drawn in slightly. That look meant he was thinking, or at least that's what Sollux made the expression out to be.

"You're acting different," Dave commented, gesturing at Sollux slightly with his chin. "Well, not so much different as… rare."

"What do you mean?"

"We've been friends for a while now, a considerably long time in my opinion. Since you started up school this year you'd be in certain… moods. I suppose. Sometimes we'd be hanging out and everything would be going smoothly until you thought I wasn't looking…"

Sollux shifted to lean against the back wall opposite the elevator doors. His head tilted back slightly to rest against the wall as he tried to picture it. What life was life before the crash. What he was like.

"What was it like when I thought you weren't looking?" Sollux asked softly, rolling his head against the wall to meet Dave's unwavering gaze.

Dave was silent, calculating as though he needed to pick his words carefully, "You looked sad."

His still did that, Sollux thought. When he thought it was okay and when nobody was looking. Had Dave been able to see the way his smiles would falter or vanish completely when he thought he was alone? How many others had noticed this? How long would it be until it didn't matter anymore?

"You look sad now," Dave murmured. Sollux hadn't realized he had let his gaze slip to the floor until he returned it to Dave's face.

"I know."

And that was the most devastating part of it all. Maybe it would be easier to handle it all if it was something that happened at random.

But it wasn't. Nothing was ever the easy.

Sollux knew he looked sad.

He felt sad.