In A Different Time
Chapter 2: Alarms, Drool & Exams
Brweeee.
Brweeee.
Brweeee. Brweeee. Brweeee.
The annoying, monotone buzz was slowly getting louder. Or maybe it wasn't. Maybe he was just slowly waking up. Way too slowly. Because he was still very much asleep. And he really didn't want to wake up anymore. He just wanted to stay exactly where he was, wherever he was, and sleep. For just a few more hours. Or maybe a few days.
Brweeee.
But there was something nagging at him in the back of his mind as the buzz started to penetrate the fog that was his mind.
Brweeee. Brweeee.
He was certain there was a reason he was supposed to be up. There was probably a reason for the annoying, sleep hating buzzer. There had to be! Because he wouldn't set an alarm without a reason. Gordon might, and then laugh. Maybe it was Gordon. Maybe the redhead was paying some lame joke. Or something.
Brweeee.
But as the minutes ticked by and the alarm continued to go off, Ed began to become aware of several things. First was the pounding in his head. Had they been out drinking? Probably. They were always out drinking. Maybe they had a problem. Maybe they should slow down. But they were still young and both were still best in their classes. So he didn't really care.
Brweeee.
Second was the hard floor beneath him. Obviously he wasn't in his bed. Or even his bedroom. He had a thick, plush carpet beside his bed. Because he'd fallen out of bed too many times and just slept on the floor. But why wasn't he in his bed? Or hell, even on the carpet on the floor? He'd definitely drunk too much if he passed out on the living room floor.
Brweeee.
Third, and what really should have been first, was the weight against and half on him. An arm across him. Legs intertwined with his. A very loud, snoring head against his bare chest. He knew it was Gordon instantly. He could feel the scratchy hairs of his bread against him. And he was pretty sure said friend was drooling on him a bit. And he was very aware of how naked they both were. And then vague memories from the last several hours came to him.
Brweeee.
Including the meaning of the incessant noise. Because they had a very important exam today. Early. This morning. "Fuck." Ed breathed out and finally opened his eyes fully. He blinked in the darkness. "Lights." He said, his throat a bit raw and scratchy. The lights snapped on and Ed quickly snapped his eyes shut. That was way too bright! But bright was probably good. Because he needed to be up. They both needed to be up. "Time?"
"8:23." A robotic voice answered.
That woke him up. Ed snapped up, pushing Gordon off him. Gordon flopped over and let out a groan. Ed quickly adverted his eyes and stood up. "Gordon." He said loudly. "Wake up."
Gordon yawned widely and stretched his arms up over his head as he sat up. He tilted his head to the side, stretching his neck. Then he looked over at Ed and frowned. "You're naked." He stated, a bit surprised.
Ed glanced back, his face red, and quickly looked away again. "You are, too." He mumbled. Then he practically ran from the room, towards his.
Gordon frowned for a moment, watching. Then he shrugged slightly and became aware of the slight pain in his ass and weakness in his legs. "Huh." That was new. He shrugged again to himself and slowly stood up. He wavered a bit for a moment and put his arms out to steady himself.
"We're a half hour late for our exam." Ed called out.
Gordon's eyes widened. "Shit!"
Ten minutes later and both boys were showered, dressed in their uniforms, and hastily drinking an awful hangover cure that they specifically told the food synthesizer not to tell them what was in it. Because honestly, having a raging hangover had to be better than chugging down whatever that evil thing had concocted for them. But they both still downed the horrid drinks in entirety and then were racing out the door and down the hall. They skirted around the corner and nearly collided with a Moclan and a human, chatting idly in the hall. Ed slowed to apologize to the men but Gordon grabbed his hand and tugged him down the hall with a shouted sorry. They didn't have time to stop. They were now well over a half hour late.
Gordon stumbled onto the elevator behind Ed and leaned against the wall as his friend hit the buttons. He took a deep breath and gripped the handrail tightly. His legs were still a bit shaky and he really wanted to sit down. Gently. "Fuck me." He mumbled under his breath.
Ed's eyes widened a bit and he pointedly looked at the floor as the elevator zipped off. He wasn't going to say anything. He was probably never going to say anything. Ever again. Because he was beyond mortified. It wasn't the whole sex with a guy thing. That he really didn't care about. It wasn't something he'd done before but from what he remembered, he certainly hadn't minded. He hadn't stopped. He hadn't even hesitated at all! Not for a single second! Well maybe for a second. Because it was Gordon! Gordon, his best friend! His awkward-with-girls, inappropriate, penis drawing, probably alcoholic friend. Gordon, who was always there for him, who helped him study and kept him motivated with telling him how awesome he was. Gordon, who always was up for distracting him when there was something on Ed's mind. Gordon, who the moment Ed came home crying about Kelly (because yeah, he cried), Gordon had called her a stuck up bitch and suggested they go break into the Admiral's hanger.
Gordon cleared his throat loudly.
Ed glanced over at him for a second and quickly looked back at the very interesting floor. On which, in the corner, was doodled a small penis. He had no clue when Gordon had done that. Ed was pretty sure he hadn't been with him for it.
"Hey... uh... Ed..." Gordon scratched at the back of his neck awkwardly as he started and paused. "Uh... you... okay?"
Ed nodded his head quickly, his eyes still on the tiny penis in the corner and his face red. No, he wasn't okay. But he wasn't going to think about it now. They had an exam to beg for. Because it was a great possibility they wouldn't be allowed to take it or retake it and would tank the whole year. And that was certainly more important than the maybe butterflies he was feeling in his stomach right then.
"Ed." Gordon said the name louder and reached out to touch his shoulder. But Ed turned slightly and shied away from the touch. Gordon frowned and pulled his hand back. He held both up and shrugged. "Hey, man. It's cool." He said quickly. "We can uh... just forget it ever happened."
Ed glanced up at him. "We can?"
Gordon nodded and leaned back against the wall again. "Nothing happened." He said, nodding again. "Just uh... got drunk and... uh..." Gordon shrugged again and dropped his gaze to the floor. "Wanted to make you forget about her." He sneered, mumbling under his breath. He wouldn't even say her name. Because he hated her. And maybe he was just a little jealous.
Ed stared at Gordon a moment longer, as the elevator came to a stop. The doors open and he breathed out and shook his head. "Nothing happened." He repeated, a slight edge to his voice. "That's all it was to you. Just a drunken way to get me to stop crying." He turned towards the door and stomped out, making a bit more noise than necessary.
Gordon's mouth dropped open and he blinked for a few several seconds as Ed's retreating form left his periphery. "The fuck..." He recovered and hurried off the elevator. "Wait! Ed!"
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Author's Notes: 8D Chapter 2! Yay! Omg! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED I AM!