townes zamoras. 18.

late january, 89 add.

morning.

He woke up in a bed that was not his, and it took him a moment to remember how he got there.

Oh.

He pushed himself to a sitting position, cracking his neck as he adjusted, and brushed a finger against his cheekbone with a wince. He got out of bed and cracked the door open, listening to see if anyone was up, and the pair of voices drifting up the stairs confirmed there was. He sighed and made his way to the bathroom, brushing his teeth before heading downstairs. He found Esper and Rhylee in the kitchen.

"Good morning," Rhylee greeted him from the counter.

Esper's back was to him, focusing on something on the stove, and he looked over his shoulder at him. "Morning," he said. "Sleep okay?"

"Like a rock," Townes answered.

"Is that a good thing?" Rhylee asked.

"That's how Ryden sleeps," Esper pointed out.

"True."

"What?" Townes asked.

"It's ridiculous," Esper said, looking back at the stove. From what Townes could tell, he was making pancakes. "He can fall asleep anywhere, anytime. And it's impossible to wake him up once he's out."

"You sure he's related to you?"

"Weren't you the one who was convinced he was my clone?" Esper asked.

"Wait, you thought he was Esper's clone?" Rhylee asked, smiling.

"It was a joke," Townes said, defending himself. "Mostly. I still haven't seen proof otherwise."

"He's six years younger than me," Esper said, flipping a pancake. "So either I cloned myself when I was six, or he would be the same age as me. Isn't that proof?"

"Rhylee, how old are you again?" Townes asked.

"Fourteen," she answered.

"Okay. I need you to think very, very hard about when you were two years old, and try to remember if Esper cloned himself."

She laughed. "I don't remember. I was two!"

"There's your proof," Esper said, sliding the pancake onto a plate and reaching to pour more batter.

"So you're saying you were too young to remember?" Townes asked her.

"Yeah."

"That's not proof of anything!" Townes said. "What if she just forgot?"

"Oh, come on-"

"I don't get why you're trying to deny it so much, Esper," Rhylee said. "Wouldn't that mean you're a genius or something, if you actually managed to clone yourself? Especially if you were only six?"

Ryden walked in, rubbing his eyes, bedhead yet untamed. His eyes flew open once he spotted Townes. "What are you doing here-?"

"Quick, Ryden," Townes interrupted, "I have a really important question for you."

"What is it?"

"Are you Esper's clone?"

Ryden's confusion morphed into a slightly less confused grin. "I don't think so."

"So you don't know? You can't say for sure?"

"But wouldn't I know?"

"Would you?"

Esper started on another pancake. "Townes, I swear-"

"Really," Ryden said, looking thoughtful, "I'd be pretty shocked to find out cloning technology existed. So if it did, I think everyone would know about it, right?"

"That's your hangup?" Rhylee asked.

"We probably should have seen that one coming," Esper said.

"I didn't know you were here," Ryden said. He glanced at Townes' pajamas, which he'd found in a dresser drawer the night prior. "Did you sleep over?"

There was no hiding that. "Yeah," Townes answered.

"How come no one told me?" Ryden asked.

Townes glanced at Esper, who was sliding another pancake onto his growing stack. He turned around and caught Townes' eye before looking at his brother. "He didn't get here until late," he explained. "And we had to work on class stuff. It was boring. But you get to see him now. Want pancakes?"

"Yeah," Ryden nodded.

"Townes?"

"Oh, no, that's okay," Townes said. "I should probably be going, anyway."

"If you don't have any, there'll be leftovers," Esper said.

"Stay!" Ryden said.

Townes looked at Esper again.

(He wore an old sweatshirt, soft and gray. His wavy brown hair was tucked behind his ears while he worked. The morning light was soft, easing the ever-present shadows that never seemed to leave his undereyes, and his eyes… were looking back at him. Not glaring, or squinting, or judging, or rolling with irritation. Just watching and waiting for an answer.

He looked more than decent.)

"Okay," Townes relented.

"Cool!" Ryden said, smiling.

"But if you think you can eat more pancakes than me, you're wrong."

Rhylee shook her head. "You're gonna make yourselves sick."

Esper sighed. "They'll run out of pancakes by then, hopefully. Rhylee, do you want some?"

"Yes, please."

later that week.

early february.

afternoon.

"Shit."

Esper glanced over at him. "What?"

Their last class of the day was letting out around them- this one was in one of the bigger lecture halls, and the shuffling of feet and coats was joined by the knocking of the wooden desktops as they slid back into place. Esper had just shrugged on his coat, and reached for his backpack as he waited for Townes' response.

"We never actually did those chapter questions over the weekend," Townes said.

"Oh, fuck," Esper said.

"And it's Wednesday."

"Yeah."

"And they're due Friday."

"I know."

"I'm free right now," Townes offered. "Unless tomorrow works better."

"Tomorrow is better," Esper said. "I promised Rhylee I'd look over her English paper today."

"That's fine. Coffee place after class?"

"Sure," he said.

"Great. See you tomorrow, then?" Townes made a mental note to make his usual calls for the tabloids. It had been a while since their last one, and he needed evidence for his father that he was at least trying. Besides, Esper had started reacting to them again- a camera flash usually managed to elicit an eyeroll at minimum- and he thought that was funny.

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

After making a quick call, Townes found a spot alone in the library for the rest of the afternoon. He had his laptop with him- neither he or Esper used them in class, because writing out notes was better for recall- and as he worked, he got a notification.

It was a headline.

Stelvio Accuses Zamoras of Voter Fraud

He opened it, his heart sinking as he read the article. He'd been hoping it would frame Stelvio as jealous, or irrelevant, but the businessman was too well-respected for that. As he read on, it became increasingly clear that he had been busy in the time since the election ended, and that his claims were not entirely unfounded. There were still missing pieces, and unknowns… but it wasn't nothing.

(Townes knew he'd been too defensive that night. He shouldn't have asked the question, and he'd known he would react badly, but not that badly… It was always when his father was stressed about work that he lashed out the most. He'd just expected that once he was solidly in office again, that sense of security would temper him. It hadn't, and paranoia about voter fraud… that would explain it, wouldn't it?

So yeah. He believed it.)

Townes sighed and finished reading the article. Then, he returned to his homework, working until the library closed.

Thankfully, he arrive home before his father that night. He grabbed some food and retreated to his room, and his father was out so late- at the office, most likely- that Townes fell asleep before he came home.

the next afternoon.

"Still good for this afternoon?" Townes asked after class.

"Yeah," Esper said, zipping his bag shut. "We kind of have to, don't we?"

"Well… yeah. I was just checking."

Esper hefted his bag over one shoulder. "Yeah. Are you coming or not?"

Townes reached for his backpack. "I'm coming, I'm coming-"

"I don't mind doing it myself."

"Yeah, I'm aware of that. It's not happening."

"Then hurry up."

"I'm coming! Relax!" Esper started walking, and Townes hurried after him. "Why are you in such a rush?"

Esper sighed. "I haven't actually started them, either."

"Oh, fuck, you actually have to work with me?" he teased.

"Shut up. I was busy."

"You're always busy."

"Yeah, so?"

"I was just saying."

They left the building, the cold winter breeze ruffling Esper's hair. "And you're always just saying," Esper countered. "Has anyone told you that you talk too much?"

"They've tried."

"Interesting. I wouldn't have guessed."

"Because I'm so good at talking?"

"No, not that."

"That's the only explanation I can think of."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out someday."

"Me, too. Did you know I'm actually the top student in this class?"

Esper raised an eyebrow. "Which class?"

"Good question. Every class I'm in, actually."

"Well, that can't be true."

"Why? Is there someone else you had in mind?"

"Not in particular. There's just no way it's you."

"Ouch. Isn't that kind of hurtful?" Townes asked.

"If you're going to start pouting, I don't want to hear it."

"I'm not pouting, I'm voicing my feelings."

"Well, I'm not listening."

"Forget your hearing aid again?"

"If only."

They arrived at the coffee shop. Townes opened the door for him. "After you."

Esper rolled his eyes and stepped through the door. Townes followed. "You grab a table, I'll get drinks?"

"You always get drinks."

"Yeah, because I need to make sure my order is right."

Esper frowned. "What's the order?"

"Chai latte."

"Do you really think I'd mess that up?" Esper asked.

"I'm not done," Townes said. "Chai latte with oat milk and two shots of espresso, three packets of stevia, a pump of vanilla syrup- sugar-free- and light foam."

"Holy fuck."

"And in a mug, not those paper cups," he added.

"That might be the most pretentious thing I've ever heard," Esper said, staring at him.

"Thanks."

"How do you… how do you even know you like that?"

"Trial and error."

"You're fucking insane."

"So I'll go order, then?"

"Yeah. You can go order." Esper headed deeper into the café, and Townes caught another "holy fuck" muttered under his breath as he headed off.

When he brought the drinks over to Esper, the other boy had his computer out, and he was typing furiously. Townes set them down.

"I don't get the mug thing," Esper said, looking up.

"What, you're trying to kill the environment?" Townes asked.

"You're actually ridiculous."

"I thought you said I was insane."

"You can be both."

"I don't know. I think you should make up your mind."

"If it bothers you that much, then I won't," Esper said.

"I'm not bothered," Townes said, pulling out a chair. "I think you're bothered, actually."

"What?"

"Your face is all red," he pointed out.

"It was cold outside."

"Convenient excuse." Townes reached for his mug, taking a long sip of his latte.

Esper watched, smirking. "Did they get your order right?"

He set the mug down. "Of course they did," he said. "I've been recommending this place all year. You think I'd waste my time at a shitty café?"

"You waste my time all the time."

"Yeah, because that's funny."

"I would have this first question done by now, honestly, if you hadn't interrupted me."

"With coffee. Which you're welcome for, by the way."

"You're the one who won't let me pay for mine."

"It's blood money."

"Is that so much worse than daddy's money?"

"Uh, yeah, definitely," Townes said. "And again, because you can't seem to get this straight- father. Not daddy."

Esper took a sip of his own drink. When he set his mug down, he said, "I saw the news yesterday, by the way."

"Good for you."

Esper raised his eyebrows. "Yeah? That's all you have to say on that?"

"What am I supposed to say?"

"I don't know. You're the one who never shuts up."

Townes sighed. "I found out about it over the weekend."

Esper's eyes widened. "Wait, really? Like, he actually-"

"No, that Stelvio was going to say something about the election results," Townes said.

"Oh, okay."

"Yeah."

"Over the weekend?"

Townes looked away. "Yeah." He reached for his coffee again.

"Ryden didn't stop talking about it after you left, by the way," Esper said.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. He liked seeing you. Oh- he asked me if you could bring that game over sometime. Something about bricks…?"

"I know what he means," Townes said.

Esper shrugged. "His birthday's coming up."

"Is it now."

"The twenty-fifth. Couple weeks away."

"Good to know…"

Esper sighed. "He'll be thirteen. It's so weird."

"What, that he'll be a teenager?"

"Yeah, that."

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Townes said.

"I hope so." Esper took another sip from his mug. "Anyway. I almost finished the first question. Give me one more minute."

"Okay. Sixty, fifty-nine, fifty-eight…"

"I didn't mean literally, you idiot."

"Fifty-four, fifty-three…"

By the time they finished the assignment, the sun had almost set, and their coffee was long gone. Esper shut his laptop with a sigh.

"I should-"

"Go home?"

"Don't interrupt me."

"Bit late for that."

"Well, I'm reminding you," Esper said. "Do we just… give the mugs back?"

"That's the whole point of being environmentally friendly," Townes said. "That we don't throw them away. Are you, like, pro-killing the planet or something?"

"Of course not. That would be crazy."

"I've heard you say crazier things."

"Like what?"

"Like that I talk too much. Isn't that crazy?"

Esper scoffed, gathering their mugs and bringing them back up to the counter. Townes continued packing up to leave as Esper returned and shrugged on his coat.

As they headed out the door, Esper gave him a sideways glance. "Where are you going?"

"What do you mean?"

Outside, the last bits of light were fading from Six's extensive skyline as dusk settled into night.

"You've never actually said," Esper pointed out. "I say I'm going home, and then we both leave."

"I mean, it depends," Townes said. "Home. Or the library. Or sometimes I stay here and get another coffee."

Esper wrinkled his nose. "Do those things have actual coffee in them at that point?"

"Of course they do! That's what a latte is. You should try one sometime."

"They sound disgusting."

"Says the person who drinks black coffee."

"It's effective," Esper argued. "It has a shit ton of caffeine, it's cheap, you can make it fast-"

"And it tastes like shit."

"What happened to not interrupting me?"

"Oops. Must have forgotten."

"You really are an idiot."

"And somehow, still the top student in this class," Townes reminded him.

"That's not true."

"Where's the proof otherwise?"

"You always do this. You say something totally wrong, and demand to be proven wrong, and when anyone even hesitates, that means you're right? What the fuck is that?" Esper asked.

"A tried and true method!"

"Method of what?"

"Being right!"

"Please. You're never right."

"I'm right all the time. Ryden would agree."

"Rhylee wouldn't."

"I think she would too, honestly."

"She has better things to do than listen to your bullshit."

"Maybe. You clearly don't, though."

"I'm literally leaving right now."

"But you haven't yet," Townes said, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Are you sure you're going to?"

"I will."

"I don't know…"

Esper stepped closer to him with a glare. "I can leave anytime I want."

"Then do it."

"I am. Right now."

"You're not. You're just standing here."

"I'm proving a point."

"It's a stupid point."

"You're a stupid point."

Esper stepped even closer. "That doesn't make sense."

"You don't make sense."

(It was true. Esper didn't make sense to Townes.

He'd spent weeks last summer watching him, pretending to root for him, as he violated every moral Townes knew to be right- he killed. He lied. He betrayed. And he'd been rewarded for it, and then he'd come back and stood in front of Townes without an ounce of respect and called him out. He was bitter and scarred and irritable and annoying as fuck, and every assignment together had been a nightmare.

Right?

He hated spending time with this boy who bickered endlessly, who loved his family, who provided safety, right?

He hated this boy with soft brown hair and clever blue eyes and self-important smirks, right?)

"You're doing it again," Esper said.

"Doing what?"

"Staring at me."

"Oh."

A breath of silence.

"What, no comeback?"

(He did have a comeback.)

Townes leaned in and kissed him. The night didn't feel cold anymore as all he could think about was Esper's mouth on his, and Esper's hand slid up and around his neck and he was kissing back, and oh, god, he was kissing back, and Townes took that as permission to wind his arms around Esper's waist, pulling him close-

Click.

Esper jerked back as the camera flashed, its light blinding as dusk ended, his eyes wide. He looked toward the source of the flash, stepping further away from him, and again-

Click.

His face twisted into a scowl, and Townes was too caught up in the moment to understand why- it was so much colder now without him-

"I should have known," he spat.

"What?"

Click.

"That!" he shouted, pointing towards Benz or Rolly or whoever it was Townes had called. He didn't remember. It didn't matter. "I should've known this was one of your fucking setups!"

"I- oh my god-"

"Was it?" he demanded.

Click.

"I…"

(He did call them. He did- he'd just forgotten-)

As Townes struggled to deny it, Esper's frown deepened, struggling to hide his hurt. "I should have fucking known."

"I- wait-"

But Esper squeezed his eyes shut and turned on his heel, almost running as he fled, disappearing down the sidewalk.

Townes watched him go, still stunned.

Click.

(And he knew, with absolute certainty, that he'd never fucked up so badly in his life.)