new chapter of HTTT up tonight probably. we'll see. if i can get the dozens of documents its written on together, it'll be up.

The Challengers - New Pornographers

Marhinki, Iancorn

"David, calm down." Matt laughed, biting into his bagel.

"How am I supposed to calm down? We didn't clean up and everyone is coming over tonight!" He frowned.

"You're so pretentious." Matt rolled his eyes.

"Shut up." He groaned, pushing dozens of plastic cups into the sink, "Aren't you worried about what people think of our house?"

He shrugged, "Only Mari."

David froze, "You still haven't asked her out yet?"

"Look who's talking."

"Hey! That is a completely different situation and you know it." David frowned.

"How is that any different?"

"Because...because Ian is a guy. Plus he has a girlfriend, doesn't he?"

"They broke up like a month ago."

David turned to him, "And you didn't tell me? I could've gone over there and comforted him and in his sadness he could've fucked me!"

"Could you go a day without mentioning sex with Ian?" Matt grinned.

"I blame you for my sex drive." David opened the fridge to look for food.

"You blame me?" Matt faked shock, "Why? It can't possible be because I tease you about it every day since you won't shut up about it."

David rolled his eyes.

"Just ask him out already."

"I'll make you a deal. The day you ask Mari out is the day I'll ask Ian out." David grinned, knowing that would most likely never have to happen and he could live with his not so secret crush on Ian forever.

Matt nodded, "Fair enough."

All day, Matt was anxious about seeing Mari. When she came over almost half an hour early, dressed casually, he realized everything would be okay. She was cool with everything.

"How do I look?" David frowned.

"Totally fuckable." Mari laughed.

He made a face, "I don't want your opinion, woman."

"Oh, so it's because I'm a woman?"

"It's because he needs to make an impression on a certain beardy comedian tonight." Matt whispered.

Mari laughed.

"I heard that." David pointed at him.

"You look fine." Matt said honestly, "I mean it. You look nice."

David seemed satisfied with that, "Good."

He sat with them on the couch.

"David, I think the toilet's broken in the back of the house." Matt said.

He got up immediately and went back.

"Is it really?" Mari grinned.

"He needs to get his mind off things until the party actually starts." Matt shrugged, "Plus I wanted him to leave us alone before he brings up Ian again."

Mari laughed, "Fair enough."

Everyone else arrived and David came back out.

"Matt, what the fuck are you talking about? The toilet is fine..." He slowly stopped talking when he saw Ian.

"Hey, Mari." Matt grinned, turning to her.

"Yes?" She smiled.

"I know we can't tonight, but do you think we could go grab some dinner or something tomorrow night?"

"With everyone?"

David was glaring at Matt.

"No, just the two of us."

"You mean..." She blushed, "Like a date?"

"Bingo." Matt nodded, suddenly becoming very nervous.

"I'd love to." Mari smiled, hugging him.

"Good." Matt hugged her back and gave David a wink.

David just continued to glare at him.

"Your turn." Matt mouthed.

Mari curled up against Matt's side on the couch while they watched a movie. Joshua thought they should start it over and mute it. They played David's music library in the background while Josh and Anthony used funny voices to say what they thought the characters were saying.

Matt noticed David and Ian were sitting next to each other, closer than friends normally would. He wondered if it had happened while he wasn't looking.

"Hey, a romance scene. Iancorn, take over." Anthony grinned.

Ian cracked his knuckles and stretched his arms out, "Fine."

David frowned and flipped Anthony off.

"Oh, darling," Ian feigned a woman's voice, "we're alone."

"That we are." David used Riot Shield Man's voice.

"What should we do?"

"Actually," David grinned, an idea forming, "I made a deal with Matt this morning."

"What kind of deal?" Ian stopped using the female voice, so David stopped his.

"I told him that'd if he asked Mari out," David took a deep breath, "I'd ask you out."

"And?" Ian raised an eyebrow, "You can't back out of a deal like that. People might get upset." He gestured to himself.

David smiled, but he was still extremely nervous, "So, would you maybe want to...go out with me?"

"I would love to." Ian smiled, then turned his attention back to the screen.

"Oh look." Mari laughed, "A kissing scene."

Ian grinned and leaned in, kissing David.

David almost jumped in surprise, but Ian was holding him down. He smiled into it and held him close. Ian seemed to be enjoying himself, but David wasn't entirely sure if he was or not. In fact, he wasn't even sure if Ian thought he was joking.

"Alright. Kiss over. Romance gone. Back to us." Joshua pulled Ian and David apart.

David looked at Ian and lowered his voice, "I'm serious."

"About what?" Ian grinned.

"The whole going out with me thing. That wasn't part of the movie dialogue."

"I know you were being serious. That's why I said yes." Ian smiled, pushing David's hair back, "You just better take me somewhere good for our first date."

"I was thinking just staying here and cooking you something."

"That counts as somewhere good." Ian grinned, then leaned in, "Since you asked me out on this couch, and we kissed on this couch, it's only fair that I fuck you on this couch."

David sat up straight, "You can't say something like that with all these other people around."

"Why not?"

"Because it was hot. And now I'm all hot." He bit his lip, "And bothered."

Ian put his hand on David's face gently before smacking it lightly, "Poor baby."

David made a face and turned back to the movie, "You're a boner kill, you know that?"

"I thought I was the thing that caused it in the first place?"

"Shut up and watch the damn movie." David crossed his arms.

Ian pouted, "How am I supposed to watch a movie with my boyfriend if he won't hold me?"

David shivered at the word and turned back to face Ian, "You little shit. Fine."

He wrapped his arms around Ian and held him close.

"You're the best."

"I know I am."

"Wow, someone's cocky."

David rolled his eyes.

"So are you guys like actually a thing now?" Matt stared at them, "Because I never thought I'd live to see the day."

"I'm not going to back out of a challenge that easily." David grinned.

"Shut up it's not your turn to talk." Josh waved his hand at him.

"Fucking finally you guys are together." Anthony smiled, "Ian's been whining for weeks now."

"I know the feeling." Matt gave Anthony a high-five while grinning at David, "Trust me. This one hasn't shut up either."

David felt embarrassed, but when he realized Ian was too, everything ended up being okay, and David was glad that he never backed out of a challenge.