A NedDen chapter, for a change. It'll get back to the SuFin next time, whenever I get round to writing that. This chapter is a little shorter than I'm happy with, though. But I'm also a little shorter than I'm happy with. Things happen.

Warning for alcohol and drugs.

"So, you're just gonna stand over me while I get ready? Like a creep? Like a creepy watching creep?" Gunner elbowed his cousin away from the mirror, then went back to straightening his hair, trying to get the angle it stuck up at just right, like it would remain that way for long. He wanted to at least start the night looking like an absolute sex machine.

Berwald just nodded. Then he stood right back behind him and messed his hair up.

"Cunt! Cause I did it to you?"

Another nod. Gunner smoothed out his stupid Hawaiian shirt and went back to fixing his hair, chucking his gel on his bed, along with rejected Hawaiian shirts and cheap cologne. Berwald untucked his shirt.

"Will you leave me alone? I'm not even going on a date," he said, sticking out his tongue. He paraded about the main room, checking how his ass looked in his jeans. Perfect, as always. "Just going for a drink. No need to try and ruin everything, you sad, pathetic man. Got nothing better to do?"

"L'ser."

"I only hang out with you cause you can sing."

"And y'love me."

"Shut up," he flicked him, "maybe, if you could act like a person, your boyfriend would've known you were dating."

"Adriaan kn'w you're dating?"

"We're not! Sex isn't dating; if it was, I'd be dating your mum."

"Which 'ne?"

"The hot one. Whichever one you're thinking of, you just called hot. You called your mum hot. That's weird."

Berwald blinked at him, debating on whether or not he should even respond to Gunner's middle school-level attempts at trolling. "We're cousins. Yer weird."

"Not interested in some sweet home Valhallabama?"

"My mums aren't interested in men. 'Specially their nephew."

Gunner shrugged. "I know. But that pun." Berwald gave him a very concerned look. "Please don't tell Auntie Sofia and Krissie," Gunner whined, "I want to be invited round for Christmas."

"Gonna text 'em now." Gunner gave a whine, trying to swat his phone away, but Berwald fought him off. "Text 'em."

"You're a prick!"

"Joking," Berwald gave a rare grin, "tol' Tino I hoped he w's having a good night."

"I hate you. I hope Tino's dog shits on your bed."

He grunted in response. Gunner looked at him.

"By the way, have you told Tino about all your… stuff?"

"M'huge dick?"

"Yeah, right. You know what I'm talking about."

Berwald shook his head, squirming. "Third date st'ff."

"No, that's fingering," said Gunner. "Look, he's not gonna judge you, and if he does, I'll get the band to beat him up."

"Dun do that," he played with his jumper, kneading the fabric.

"Hey, any guy would be lucky to have you." Gunner lightly nudged his shoulder. "And Tino seems to like you. He's not gonna be a dick."

Berwald didn't look convinced. "Y'told Adriaan y'have feelings fer him?"

"Don't try and change the subject when I'm trying to have a moment with you. And I don't! No stoner with a jumbo guitar's gonna tie me down."

Berwald looked at him, raising an eyebrow.

Gunner shook his head. "Whatever. I'm going out!"

"Not picking y'up."

"Won't need it," he put on his coat and straightened his tie, "just going for a few drinks, then back home before your bedtime."

It was never a few drinks with Gunner, and, at 2am, he found himself in the snow outside the bar, ignored by the few people smoking outside. In fact, everyone seemed to be giving him a wide berth. He'd just been dumped there after throwing up on the pool table, and got to work making snow angels, giggling the whole time.

He probably needed an angel of his own to get him home. For the time being, he felt like a baby, content in just lying on his back and moving his hands. He carried on like that, thinking jumbled, broken thoughts for a hour or so, until the street slowly grew deserted.

When it was starting to get less comfortable to be lying on the road, he scrambled for his phone, distracted by the stars. Or the street lamps. One of them, but they were shining prettily above his head like spaceships. Maybe it was all of them. Was he about to be abducted? He could go for some probing. He smiled like a baby at the lights.

He finally found his phone, hiding at the bottom of his jeans pocket. Who could he call to come get him this time? Not Berwald, he'd just be mean, and was probably already in bed. He tried to get to sleep by 8 like a granddad. Tolli was probably asleep too, or jacking off to Sportarobbie fanfiction, Vidar would watch the phone ringing and not bother picking up and Gilbert was probably also in bed, ready for church the next day. Luca had blocked his number after Gunner had accidentally sent him a dick pic meant for his brother. And Gunner would take his chances in a Saw movie before getting into a car with Tino.

Adriaan it was.

He sent him a text that he hoped was legible, then hauled himself up to wait. He leaned against the pub wall, not liking how the snow was now soaked into his jeans, but not having the presence of mind to do anything about it. He just wallowed in his moist misery.

After five seconds of nothing, he typed out a poorly-worded plea, then settled down to wait.

Adriaan took his sweet, sweet time.

He eventually rolled into view, on his bike. Not even a tandem for them both, but a regular bike Gunner had to somehow get on. He got up from his snow-chair, giving a whine.

"Why'd you bring your bike?" Gunner leaned against a lamppost. Adriaan stared at him. "Dude."

"Huh?"

"The bike?"

He shrugged. "Don't wanna IDC."

"What?"

"DUI. I said… DUI."

"Oh, you're stoned."

"Are you surprised?" Adriaan broke into a grin. His high grins were always unnerving, not like his genuine ones. Not that Gunner often had the privileged of seeing Adriaan smile. His chiselled face and blunt tendencies weren't the only stony things about him.

"Guess not. Do I- do I get on front?" He staggered over to the bike and climbed onto the handlebars.

Adriaan shrugged. "Do what you want. I'm just here to "pock you ip, okease?"."

"Shut up!" He turned around and kissed him. "Onwards, Bike-man!"

"Don't call me that, pisshead."

"Bike-chan?"

"Weed."

"You mean weeb?"

Adriaan paused. "Yeah." He got cycling, through the tourist-filled streets, ignored by everyone else, also staggering home. Gunner gave a whoop as they turned a corner. Lights blurred past him, expanding and criss-crossing in front of his eyes. He thought he would throw up. Then he just felt tired. He grinned like an idiot. He leaned against Adriaan's chest, and Adriaan pushed him forward.

"I'm trying to drive," he grumbled.

"Drive me to Germany! I don't wanna pay Swedish prices anymore!"

Adriaan looked at him. "You just did. All night."

"Boo! Wanna go to the park?" asked Gunner, ignoring him, "come on there it is!"

Adriaan brought the bike to a halt. "It's a roundabout."

"I wanna stargaze!" Gunner rolled off the handlebars and kissed Adriaan's cheek. "Let's lay on the grass and look at the stars! Gays gaze at the stars!"

Luckily, there weren't any cars using the roundabout, as Gunner didn't even bother to check before stumbling out onto the road. Adriaan followed him on bike, more aware of his surroundings, but only barely. Gunner watched Adriaan park his bike, then lie down in the snow next to him. There was no one about, just them and the stars that battled their way through the light pollution of the street lamp a few metres away.

"I think I can see All-Iron!" He pointed up at the blurred trio of stars. "Or is that the Plough? I wanna plow you later."

"Be free, grasses."

Gunner sat up to find Adriaan wiping at the snow next to him. The frozen grass below didn't look too free, but Adriaan seemed happy with himself nonetheless.

"Good idea, babe." Gunner grinned and began making snow angels. They were a little lopsided, and he ended up kicking Adriaan in the ankle. Adriaan grunted, but didn't react otherwise.

"Sorry Adi. Ryan. Addi Reean."

"Gun man."

Gunner smiled. It was perfect. Everything was perfect with Adriaan, it always was. He was a dick, but there was a gem inside. A dick gem. A dickjazzle. He was always there for Gunner, maybe a little reluctantly, but he'd bring his bike and a few beers and a joke for him. Berwald's words were squirming around in the back of his head.

"Hey, Weed Man?" He turned to him. Adriaan glanced back.

After a pause, he remembered to reply. "Yeah?"

"Are we dating?"

After an excruciating moment of silence, as Adriaan tried his best to think, he shrugged. "Dunno. Are we?"

"You tell me."

"Do you… wanna?"

"Date? Maybe. Might be fun." Maybe Gunner really, really wanted to. But Adriaan was hard to read, even after all these years. Friends with benefits seemed like the best it was gonna get, the closest he could ever be to Adriaan. Could they actually become a couple? Would that ruin everything? Would it make everything way, way better?

"I'm gonna kiss you now, if that's okay."

Adriaan nodded. Gunner, grinning, leaned over and gave him an awkward peck on the lips, Adriaan's nose poking his cheek. He looked down to find Adriaan smiling back. They kissed again, just a second longer, but just as magical.

"I like kissing you," Gunner said, feeling like an idiot. "You're cute. You're a bastard, but you're cute."

"You after a few, then?"

"I'm fucking cunted, mate." He rested his head on his chest. "And you… you came to my rescue. I fucking love you, man."

Adriaan looked at him for a long moment. Had Gunner gone too far? He wasn't sober enough to care past a niggling concern, but Adriaan wasn't replying. Eventually, he gave a cough.

"Thanks."