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Good Thing by Zedd Kehlani
*Chapter 204*
Although loud, dim and noisy, the group of six hovered in an open-aired, reserved area of the gritty bar and grill they had sunken into. Full of food and drinks and well on their way to round two, the group noisily chattered with each other amidst the second story loft, roped off for protection against the hoard of a crowd that had gathered for autographs, pictures and anything in between. Although previously on the verge of hyperventilating due to his second exposure to the public, the group made sure Turbo kept a drink in hand to ease his nerves. Stationed at a cozy table amidst the worn, creaky wooden floors and musty walls of harbored smoke, from both bar-goers and the constant presence of grilled food, the group easily unwound from the typical, pristine touches of their lovely palace life, a proverbial way to relax and let their hair down, the strict lifestyle of concert and castle life and constant cues and marks to hit, the six easily lived up the urge to just be free and let loose.
Not entirely alone up in the burger place's wide, opened loft of a second story sitting area, only a very select few other guests sat about them and ate, leaving the group in complete peace. Though the surrounding parties still ogled and looked on in star-struck curiosity, the group of six were grateful the majority of the chaos was downstairs, where they didn't have to fight crowds of fans, for the time being. Well aware that leaving the establishment would require a few moments of loving on fans, they soaked up the freedom they currently had. With maybe half a dozen tables, alongside a billiards and ping pong table, the group settled in and was prepared to stay for at least a few hours, enjoy a few rounds of drinks, as well as maybe a few competitive games provided. With Turbo, Berri, Wren and Throttle properly paired off and sat close, they still did everything to remain dispersed and keep an easy-going, balanced air about the group; this notion was only silently put-forth due to the amount of nervous tension between Tatum and Theo, something so palpable, Turbo knew he likely needed to eventually pull Theo aside and give him a few pointers.
"Alright, alright, so y'got red for anger, blue for sadness," Wren listed on his fingers, he eyed Throttle in hard suspicion and loudly muttered a cute conclusion, "I only, TONIGHT, was able to see peach, outta yah."
"It's not easy being comfortable with your mood on display, twenty four seven," Throttle defended as he loosely clutched his collar, "I had to teach students younger than me, I had to be an example. I can't be up there, teaching extensive core coding, all moody and on display. No one ELSE has that problem, except us Turbotime guys."
"Ahem," Berri quipped as she raised her eyebrows an daintily took a sip of her frosty margarita, Throttle waggled his hand towards her in playful annoyance.
"Turbotime guys and gal," Throttle corrected, Turbo snorted a laugh and looked off.
"So, what, Berri and Turbo swap and they fall into a healthy rhythm of expressing more emotion, surely you and Wren can jump on board?" Tatum cutely pressed with a shrug of her shoulders, Wren firmly raised his eyebrows and gave Throttle a sassy, annoyed grin, to which Throttle grumbled something under his breath and shot Turbo a cranky look of mild desperation.
"I'm not bailing you out of this one," Turbo blurt a hard laugh, to which everyone easily joined; Throttle finally cracked a cranky smile and looked down to his twiddling fingers, on the glossy red table they lazily sat at, "Just start small, we talked about this. The alcohol is a nice ice-breaker, why not try showing a different mood, now?"
"You want ME to be the guinea pig? Me, the Academy professor, the one who should be teaching all of YOU this crap," Throttle prod in hot annoyance, though his bashful smile never wavered with the group's loving, good intentions.
"Yeah, show us what you know," Turbo prod cutely with a shrug of his masculine shoulders, he shot Throttle a kind look of brotherly challenge, something the group was beginning to pick up on steady rhythms of, as the night progressed, "You're in a safe group, y'know?"
"Alright, I'll teach yah," Throttle cleared his throat and sat up a little bit, he eyed Turbo in a reserved show of brotherly dominance he was entirely ready to splay all over Turbo's due-to shrinking demeanor. Throttle knew to go easy on Turbo, due to the fragile predicament of him being comfortable about in public, though he was excited to possibly bring Turbo down a peg. Well aware the alcohol was fueling the feud, he rode off of this dominant high and inhaled a deep, readied breath, "So, in this lesson, we'll cover three basic moods. Turbo, why don't you recall your's and Berri's very first swap. What time of the day was it?"
"I-I... I-It was like..." Turbo suddenly staggered, in an attempt to try and figure out this sudden reversal Throttle had deployed, Turbo furrowed his eyebrows and sharply caught eyes with Berri. He cleared his throat, sat back in his chair, lofted his masculine arm about the back of Berri's chair and desperately tried to come across as relaxed. In an adamant attempt to keep the high ground, Turbo shrugged with nonchalance and only glanced to Berri's eyes, once more, upon warily gaining eye contact with his big brother, "Eleven in the morning, or so... I don't know, dude, pretty sure my brain wasn't on the time."
"No, but surely you can remember little details about your surroundings, maybe... What were you both wearing?" Throttle dared cutely, an innocent shrug of his shoulders; Wren raised his eyebrows in blistered confusion, looked down to his empty plate, grappled his beer bottle and brought it to his lips, as if to wholly portray he was definitely staying out of this sass-fest.
"I-I was wearing... My sweats, and..." Turbo swallowed hard and glossed his curious eyes back to Berri's, now a dwindling show of uncertainty; to reveal the shreds of their beloved, fragile first swap, or immediately lose this battle and opt out. The group began to coo cute, loud notions towards Turbo the second his eyes began to very slowly dip to that of a peachy, bashful glow. Berri raised her eyebrows in stern, smiling cuteness and shook her head, alongside a nonchalant shrug and a gesture to Turbo's older brother.
"Oh, by all means, your highness, go on, give everyone ALL the details," Berri bobbed a nod and allowed her Queenly gaze to stab into Turbo's in teasing, girly delight, "Tell him, and everyone listening, just what I was wearing. Better yet, tell them our WHOLE conversation!"
"You're an asshole," Turbo muttered to Throttle as he finally sagged his arm off of Berri's chair, slumped his shoulders and pierced his irritated, relentlessly peach eyes tight to Throttle's, though everyone hovered in Throttle's dominant presence as he gently leaned forward, for emphasis, and pressed Turbo a firm challenge.
"Don't. Try. Me," Throttle cutely stabbed with precise consonants, and though the group riled into nervous laughter, for Turbo's sake, Wren raised his eyebrows in sharp delight and continued to sip his beer in a superficial show of a non-problematic, dainty stance.
"I didn't even have to say anything," Wren chimed with a hard laugh as Theo and Tatum were equally as lost in laughter.
"I'll get you back," Turbo nodded to Throttle in confirmation, he now proudly kept the peachy glow of his eyes tight to Throttle's white, glowing gaze. Throttle furrowed his black brows and gave Turbo a dull look of irritation, though Turbo smiled Berri a sweet, glancing side-eye and shrugged, "So what, the whole table knows I find my bride attractive. Oh no. Secret's out."
"What about me, Tee?" Wren complained in a teasing show of now wanting to jump into the drama, though Throttle firmly pressed his hands into his face and loudly groaned a noise of whole irritation; the group howled with laughter.
"ALRIGHT, aren't you glad we're the fifth and sixth wheel, here?" Tatum chimed playfully to Theo, she lovingly tapped her fingertips to the broad of Theo's larger forearm. In a dainty swipe, she felt the softness of his emerald-colored arm hair and flashed him a cute smile, though she finally gestured to Berri and Wren, "Why don't we play a round of pool? Gives time to let these boys discover just which one is the most expressive?"
"Yeah, get me outta here, I'm about to cause a lot of trouble," Wren choked a laugh and firmly stood, causing Throttle to flinch in surprise, though Turbo also jolted in curiosity the second Berri came to a stand, as well.
"Alright, rock-paper-scissors who hits first," Berri cutely chimed as she stood, she flicked her beautiful blue hair, neatly strung into a high ponytail, though in absolutely no time, Tatum, Wren and Berri easily crossed the dim loft area and approached the more well lit pool table just two dozen feet off; with Turbo stewing in peachy irritation, Throttle in hot, confused defeat and Theo in stunned, unassuming conflict, all three men finally dart their flustered gazes to one another across their now quiet, messy table.
"Okay, so YOU are in trouble for almost spoiling the intimate details of your's and Berri's swap... I'M in trouble for not showing off, like you are, and..." Throttle carried on as him and Turbo brought their attention to Theo's plucked, dewy, concerned face in further stewing irritation, "And YOU hopefully caught on to the neon lights sent your way, just now?"
"... Wait, what?" Theo barked in a soft tone of doomed apology, Turbo and Throttle were rocketed into boisterous laughter with one another.
"Hoo Theo, c'mon... Let's go get another drink, we got a bit to talk about," Turbo instructed delicately, he brought himself to a stand, in which Throttle followed suit; Theo raised his eyebrows in boyish concern and clumsily got to a stand as well.
"Wh-what do you mean, c'mon guys, I'm just trying to be easy-going and relaxed, I don't want this night to be hard," Theo whined as the three boys sauntered over to the bar area, lightly littered with a few people, and although said few people ogled and looked on in star-struck delight, the three boys were left alone, for the most part.
"Okay, be honest, you like Tatum, don't you?" Turbo questioned gently, the group in question was far out of ear shot above the bar's chatter and music; Turbo gently held his hand to the back of Theo's neck and hovered with him in brotherly camaraderie as they pressed closer to the bar.
"So much," Theo mumbled in defeat, his glorious, emerald colored eyes pierced the bar front as they approached; Throttle lovingly nudged his arm.
"It's obvious to us, but to Tatum," Throttle scrunched his face in a tight wince and gave Theo an apologetic smile, to which Theo bashfully rolled his eyes and looked off.
"Sue me, I've never done this before," Theo muttered, though he huffed an annoyed grunt as he slouched a little, onto the bar counter; Turbo gingerly pointed his hand over the top of Theo's head and hooked eyes with the bartender, across the way.
"Lovesick, in a rut, confidence booster," Turbo playfully instructed; the bartender choked an almost annoyed laugh and began to mix up a concoction for Turbo's adjectives.
"I don't need a spotlight, guys," Theo quietly stated, not so much in irritation, though more so in deflated exhaustion, as if to prove he maybe wasn't worth their time.
"You don't need a spotlight, you ARE the spotlight," Throttle grunted as he got comfortable to Theo's left, "It's clear you're trying to lift yourself of that dreaded virginity. I don't blame you."
"Hey, together, Throttle and I have a decent amount of experience, in the realm of women," Turbo stated in kind confidence, he leaned on the counter and was thrilled Throttle kindly joined him in sandwiching Theo between the both of them, at the bar front. Theo firmly furrowed his eyebrows in hot confusion and shot Throttle a bewildered look, due to Turbo's statement.
"Before Wren, I briefly saw someone whilst I was a professor at End of Line," Throttle muttered in irritation, though he lit up as a short glass full of ice and some form of strong liquor was swiftly slid their way; Throttle quickly caught said sliding glass and cutely handed it to Theo with a perk of a sly smile, "I'm thankful for her. She helped me discover that I was, indeed, not sexually attracted to women."
"Damn," Theo muttered with a small chuckle, he took a swig of his drink in a grimace of almost desired disgust, caught his breath and shook his head. Upon gained eye contact with Throttle, once more, he pressed on in cute inquiry, "And, before her?"
"Was my first girlfriend when we lived in Vidrix," Throttle bobbed a nod and lofted his cute gaze to Turbo's assured stare.
"You already know my mess of a drama with Libby and now Berri," Turbo clutched his chest and was glad Theo turned to give his attention now to Turbo, "Look, we may not be experts, but we both can tell you, point blank, that Tatum has been giving off very clear neon lights... All night long."
"ALL night long, Ted," Throttle repeated with emphasis, both him and Turbo fell into cute laughter as Theo looked forward in begrudged, hot irritation.
"Figures, of course I'm too stupid to catch on," Theo muttered, he took another swig of his drank and crowned the same, familiar grimace of said delirious, delightful disgust.
"You're not stupid, you're just inexperienced, look... We're here to help you," Turbo mumbled warmly, he gestured his hands a little and tilted his head in kind understanding, "Every single little notion she's made about you and her being the 'fifth and sixth wheel'?"
"Yeah? It's true," Theo wondered innocently, Turbo lulled his eyes closed and choked a laugh.
"She's hoping you'll get the hint and pair off with her," Turbo revealed, Theo sharply furrowed his eyebrows in cute disbelief.
"That's what that means?" Theo wondered softly, he shrugged and looked off in bashful bewilderment, "I thought she was just stating the obvious."
"... No, the OBVIOUS would be 'hey, Berri and Turbo are together, as well as Wren and Throttle. Why don't you and I do the same?'," Throttle quickly listed on his fingers, Turbo grinned and bobbed a nod.
"She's touched your forearm, in a lingering way, at least five times tonight, from what I've counted," Turbo pressed, his strong fingers tapped the back of Theo's bigger wrist; Theo raised his eyebrows and eagerly tuned in to their plentiful observations, "Every time she laughs, she looks at you first."
"She gives you this insane amount of prolonged eye contact," Throttle volleyed with a nod, Turbo inhaled a confident breath and didn't miss a beat.
"Don't even get me started on the subtle hovering," Turbo mumbled deeply, he hooked eyes with Theo and cocked an eyebrow, "It's blatant she wants your opinion and yours only."
"She whispered something in your ear, earlier," Throttle coyly stated as he bobbed a nod and looked off in knowing delight, Theo's face immediately turned red.
"What'd she say?" Turbo calmly prod, to which Theo huffed a shaky chuckle and looked down at his rapidly disappearing drink.
"Sh-she asked me why I was hiding my smile," Theo mumbled cutely, said smile wanted to burst forth, though he concealed in a bashful show of his finger running the wet rim of his glass, "She complimented my eyes."
Throttle and Turbo firmly furrowed their brows, stared each other down in sharp, boyish irritation and finally stabbed their authoritative, brotherly gaze straight into Theo's wavering little soul. Both Turbo and Throttle burst out into knowing laughter which caused Theo to jolt in soft surprise and eye both guys in nervous, sheepish defense. Throttle heaved a loud, irritated sigh, rested his elbow on the bar, planted his chin into his hand and looked off in defeated agony. Turbo grinned and shook his head as Theo's defeated, sheepish eyes peered firmly to Turbo's in a show of mild desperation.
"Bud, you're set up for success, what is holding you back?" Turbo chuckled, he gave Theo a warm smile of encouraging and lovingly pat his back, "Make a move, it's obvious. She's making this REALLY easy for you."
"I-I guess I just don't know where to start," Theo mumbled in sorrowful concern, to which Throttle and Turbo perked up in readiness, "Should I just compliment her?"
"Alright, class is in session, take it from us," Throttle instructed as he pressed his pointer finger into the glossy wood they lounged at; Theo raised his eyebrows in dewy curiosity and honed his eyes tight to Throttle's, "Women don't want you to shower them in empty compliments right off the bat. You have to work your way up to compliments. An amateur move is to give that first in a full-course meal."
"Compliments are dessert," Turbo's crackly voice mumbled in delight.
"You have to make it so compliments have weight, don't just throw any old thing out there and hope she won't see through your fishing attempt. You have to have stronger, better bait," Turbo instructed gently as Theo quickly turned to peer into Turbo's eyes, "Women want you to be relatable. They want to be understood, they want to be listened to."
"Build a trust, be a shoulder," Throttle listed, Theo quickly whirled his attention to Throttle, certain that this was due to giving him some form of whiplash, "Subtleties... Make her feel safe, you're clearly doing something right, with how much she's pawing for your attention."
"And give it to her," Turbo chimed with a firm shrug and a gesture outwards, "Make her the center of your attention, women want to be appreciated, spoiled... The key is to not start with her looks. Start with the words coming out of her mouth."
"Make clear to her that her ideas and the words coming out of her mouth are important," Throttle cued, Turbo bobbed a nod in agreeing, "Then? Once you've built her up, you've made her feel like gold, that her words mean the world..."
"Lay a compliment," Turbo dutifully instructed, he rested his hand on his chest in tenderness and softened for example, "'You're very beautiful.'"
"Or, 'your smile is contagious'," Throttle added, Turbo nodded in urgent agreeing.
"'There's something about you'... Leads to great follow up conversation," Turbo began to lazily count on his fingers.
"'I like your style'," Throttle quickly added with a gesture of his hand to the chest of his shirt.
"Don't use words like 'I think' or 'I just'," Turbo instructed as Theo firmly hooked his eyes to Turbo's in a show of rising confidence, something both Throttle and Turbo were eager to see unfold, "Speak with your chest. Use gentleness... But be confident in your words. If you show her you're sure of yourself, she'll fall into it. But, above ALL else..."
"Be yourself," Both Turbo and Throttle rattled in firm unison, to which Theo finally grinned in mild irritation and looked down to his drink with a small nod.
"Thanks, guys, I'll... Do my best," Theo mumbled cutely, to which Turbo raised an eyebrow and caught sight with Berri, Wren and Tatum; they loudly laughed and continued on with their game of pool, far across the stretch, "This is a lot to take in..."
"You'll be just fine... Pay attention when she talks, don't speak over her, inquire her ideas and be open to full conversation," Turbo gently guided, he gestured down to the almost finished drink in Theo's larger hands and blurt a chuckle, "Surely this amount of liquid confidence will help you along, no?"
"I'm praying," Theo muttered as he finally shot the last sip and set his empty glass down, "I just don't want to make a fool of myself."
"Oh, you will, it's not up to us guys to determine it, either," Throttle mumbled in hot irritation as the group of three men slowly turned to peer back at their three gems, far across the way, "You'll say something with whole certainty, to which they deem silly, and they won't let you live it down."
"Been there," Turbo huffed a laugh and pat Theo's back, "You'll be just fine. Y'got two experienced wing men, here. Sure, you gotta do the leg work, but we're here to make sure you're on the right path for said run. Tatum's a great woman, good head on her shoulders. She won't let you down."
"Thanks, guys," Theo stated with a sigh of refreshed confidence, albeit with a nervous inhale and a puff of his broad chest. Theo bobbed a nod and prepared to step out, with Turbo and Throttle on his heels, "Here goes nothing..."
