Unexpected Circumstances
SICK OF THIS SHIT
MT we have a bit of an issue
SleevesRBS what happened
MT enzo
MT enzo fuckin happened
DarkAngel Now what?
MT apparently made some comment about fjords ginger whore
MT asking if his romantic ways bored him yet and hes hungry for better
SleevesRBS sorry what
ItsYaBoi To Fjord? Is he suicidal?
MT nah
MT to me
MT which brings us to our issue
MT can someone pick me up from the ER and tell fjord it was a bar fight
SleevesRBS ill be right fuckin there
Beau pulled up and stormed into the waiting room where Molly was waiting placidly for her. He knew that scowl on her face was a front to hide the genuine concern. She had tells, first off. Her brows were too tight and her mouth wasn’t closed tight. Her eyes were too wet to be angry—she was not the crying type when mad. Molly offered an apologetic smile at her, which was only scoffed at as she stuck her hand out for the release paperwork. Cad had gotten into the chat not long after and demanded someone read over them lest Molly toss them out and get worse because of a concussion. Her icy eyes flicked over the pages as she went with the frown getting deeper. He had the good grace to be quiet and look apologetic when her eyes finally snapped at him. He was in a state, after all. For a wiry, wily fighter like he could be, there was no real balancing factor to a large, angry man who wanted nothing more than to break something.
That thing happened to be Molly’s face. Which was a shame, because it was his money maker after all. He winced at his own thought. Thinking hurt too much right now.
“You look like shit,” Beau informed him as she thrust the paper into his chest and turned on her heel.
Ah, shit. She was really worried then. He followed along sheepishly as Beau’s strides were lengthened with frustration and the desperate need to hide her emotions. He did feel bad about that. She was not one who wore then on her sleeve as he did. She was reserved, more so than Yasha, and aggressively so. It had been one of their biggest hang ups when they first became friends. Or, rather when they first began circling each other reluctantly through mutual friends. She was so closed off and almost vicious in her refusal to open up that Molly poked it constantly. Almost to the point of fights and arguments because of it. He learned, slowly and through a lot of fucking up as was his style, that she simply was never sure if her emotions were wanted. If her feelings were welcomed. And in a way, he had been a strange method to break it down.
They fought and bickered. The two were as antagonistic as they got, but now he knew Beau cared for him a lot. And she showed it in weird ways. In her actions. Studying a subject with him so she could help Molly pass a test. Staying up when she was exhausted because his anxiety and depression had his insomnia acting up. Skipping her religiously kept workout schedule to pick him up from the ER with a face that said she had been at least close to tears with panic. They loved. And they loved fiercely.
Even if they showed it differently.
“The fuck happened,” she asked after five minutes of near silence.
Molly had been admiring the split eyebrow where his piercing had been, his bruised cheekbone, and swollen eye. The eyeball itself was reddened from burst blood vessels, but the doctor said there was no permanent damage. He just had eye drops and needed to keep a look out for thick discharge, which just sounded gross. With a flair and a dramatic sigh, he flipped the mirror cover down and the visor up. Beau was watching the road, but she had a near white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel.
“He was in the parking lot fucking dogging me like always. He saw Cay at the game last week and when the usual digs didn’t work, he struck for that one and I fucking snapped. Went off about him being… fuck… an ogre, a creep, a bigot, other less savory things I don’t remember specifically but were spewed. And he shot back that it was only a matter of time before Fjord’s bitch ass lost another redhead to him which means…”
“He’s the one Ava was cheating on him with…” Beau finished with a snarl.
“So I fucking lost it and punched him. Next thing I fucking know, I’m getting kicked to shit when Keg and the second floor RA Nila showed up with Gunther and pulled him off. Keg dragged my ass to the ER and I don’t even fuckin know what happened to Enzo, but.”
“But,” she parroted with a heavy sigh.
Silence fell over them again.
“Molly,” She started.
“I know,” he cut her off. Because he did. He was a danger to himself. His mouth was always running and getting him in trouble.
“Promise me you two will get a request for a room change,” she stated rather than pursue the original topic.
“I promise,” he grumbled.
“And you need to tell Fjord,” she continued, then louder to drown out Molly’s protests. “Nope! Nah, nah, nah. Not everything but what happened so he can submit a proper complaint.”
There was a pause and they both sighed. Beau continued in a softer tone.
“You can’t protect him forever.”
“I know.”
“He doesn’t need it.”
“I know.” Molly sighed and looked out the window. The frost had begun to tint the grassy spots white. It’d snow later. “Where are we going?”
“Your brother’s,” Beau stated casually. “He is watching you tonight.”
“Beau!”
“Sorry, doctor’s orders.”
“He’s not even done with his MD!” Molly groaned and tossed himself against the seat dramatically.
DM: DarkAngel and GreenTea
DarkAngel Please take away his phone before someone kills him.
Molly TeaClay @Mollymauking
@Wulfstar wanna play a game
Molly TeaClay @Mollymauking
@Wulftstar by game I mean play nice
Eadwulf @Wulfstar
@MollyMauking Are you serious?
Molly TeaClay @MollyMauking
@Wulfstar and obnoxious I know
Molly TeaClay @MollyMauking
@Wulfstar unrelated game night
Molly TeaClay @MollyMauking
@Wulfstar look at this bird I found!
[Image Attached]
Molly TeaClay @MollyMauking
@Wulfstar I am excited to finally catch up on shows now that I am not allowed to sleep until my concussion is cleared
Molly TeaClay @MollyMauking
@Wulfstar brother brought home indian food like a king. He pities his brother
Eadwulf @Wulfstar
@MollyMauking IF I ACCEPT THE FUCKING GAME INVITE WILL YOU STOP TAGGING ME IN EVERYTHING
Astrid (5:07pm): You’re so dramatic. He won’t even be there tonight because he can’t have too much blue light
Wulfie (5:07pm): Twenty-seven tweets he tagged me in. Twenty. Seven. In an hour.
Wulfie (5:08pm): My phone was half dead when he was done.
Astrid (5:09pm): Lmao, he’s persistent. It’s a chill group tonight, I promise. Just Yasha, Bryce, Fjord, Caleb, and Nott. The two troublemakers aren’t even around.
Astrid (5:10pm): Just try to behave? You keep saying you miss Caleb. Show him that rather than bullying him into paying attention.
Wulfie (5:15pm): I don’t bully him.
Astrid (5:15pm): Sure, Jan.
GAME HOES
SoullessWonder I think what bothers me most is I cannot even yell at Molly as he is not on for once.
ItsYaBoi Come on, it was fucking funny.
SoullessWonder I am so glad you and Astrid are in agreeance on that, for she was cackling.
SassyWitch A lady does not cackle
SoullessWonder Alas, for I also do not stutter.
HeySailor BURN
SassyWitch are we inviting him in here or using a different chat
MissJester Oooooh. That’s up to Beau or Fjord. They made the chat.
MissJester But they are both at the weight room.
SoullessWonder Beau is on her phone.
MissJester Oh~? How do you know? She is usually very good at following rules.
DM: SleevesRBS and Widogast
SleevesRBS [Image Sent]
SleevesRBS in case you were curious how much he deadlifts
Widogast I DID NOT NEED A SHIRTLESS PICTURE OF HIM WEIGHT LIFTING BEAU
SleevesRBS I beg to differ
GAME HOES
SoullessWonder No big reason, just checking times again.
SassyWitch must be such interesting time stamps as you are very interested in them
ItsYaBoi busted
SoullessWonder I now understand why Molly often leaves the chat in a temper tantrum.
MissJester Oh~ we just like making you bluuuuush.
HeySailor wait y aint molly teasing him
DarkAngel Long story.
HeySailor ah
HeySailor dope dope dope dope
SoullessWonder Are you okay, Darrow?
HeySailor yis
NottListening I have a question for the guys
NottListening why the fuck do you eat bugs
NottListening not crickets in chocolate or whatever but bugs like ants and worms
NottListening at what point did evolution fail you
MT As a true son of our lord and savior, I do not believe in evolution
SoullessWonder @GreenTea your gremlin found his phone.
NottListening the last time you were in a church it was struck by lightning twice fuck off
SassyWitch wait what
HeySailor we like gross thinsg n mayb becuz someone dared him
HeySailor or becuz it seemed like fun
SoullessWonder I never ate bugs.
SassyWitch only because you used to be the pickiest eater I’ve ever known
NottListening I can only imagine
NottListening And thanks darrow for reminding me why the next one better be a girl
HeySailor my name would have been Darlene if I were a chick
SassyWitch !!!
ItsYaBoi That is in fact the truth. My family is completely andro names because my parents were lazy. Jordan and Hayden.
ItsYaBoi Who knew laziness would pay off?
SassyWitch I think mine was Alec? Or Xavier.
MissJester ooOOOoo Xavier is so ~f a n c y~
MissJester I don’t know what mine would have been. I don’t think they bothered remembering :(
SoullessWonder Ah, I do believe mine would have been something along the lines of Hildegard.
HeySailor …
SoullessWonder My parents were very traditional in their first names that they chose.
MissJester Caleb is not very Polish or German?
SassyWitch That’s his middle name he hasn’t used his first name since… junior year?
SoullessWonder Ja, just about. My first name is Bren. Also my grandfather is Welsh.
MissJester Oh, no. You are most definitely a Caleb! :)
SassyWitch Oh, by the way guys, he blushes whenever you call him Cay
SoullessWonder Traitor.
BlushingCayCay Darrow.
HeySailor heh
DM: FjordTough and GreenTea
FjordTough He’s okay?
GreenTea As well as he can be. If anything, his spunk tells me exactly how well he is recovering from it all.
FjordTough Are you also on the team “less Fjord knows the better”
GreenTea I would not intentionally withhold information from you that I feel would be important for you to know. In this case, however, time and distance from the event will allow you to react with a level head rather than your more impulsive tendencies.
GreenTea I am normally not a fan of concealment in this way, but my brother is correct in this instance.
FjordTough okay
FjordTough I will trust your judgement
GreenTea Thank-you, Fjord. I know it is not easy. You’re very protective of him which means the world to me.
FjordTough it’s as beau has said. He’s the best of us
GAME HOES
FjordTough Fuck. Guys I am so sorry I have to call the game short y’all
SassyWitch what happened
FjordTough campus police came in to talk about the molly thing
BlushingCayCay What Molly thing?
SleevesRBS he got into a brawl with their neighbor
FjordTough you didn’t know?
BlushingCayCay Nein. Is he okay? Are you okay?
FjordTough I’ll get back to you on that gotta go
EodHardyTattoo Who is in charge of names?
SleevesRBS that looks like a darrow one
EodHardyTattoo fucking Christ
EodHardyTattoo Caleb is on his way up by the way. Just make sure he leaves in time for his 9 class
SleevesRBS we have practice at 6am he’ll be up
> EodHardyTattoo has left the chat
ItsYaBoi Fjord, what’s going on? Can we get an update?
HeySailor @DarkAngel?
DarkAngel No clue. Beau had to go over as he got Molly from the hospital.
HeySailor keep us updated
DarkAngel I will, don’t worry.
GreenTea They are taking down statements now. Apparently Nila filled out a proper report and it was sent to the campus security. They will be assigned new rooms after the winter break and they are given a stipend if they wish to stay locally in a hotel for the last week.
GreenTea They both declined, of course. I am bringing Molly back to my place.
SleevesRBS idgaf if the nsa are reading this. Fuck that guy imma fucking break every bone in his body
“Yeah dude, no sweat,” Fjord heard a voice say from the other side of his dorm room door. “You two gonna be good or what? I can like, get food. Or something. I haven’t seen him all day but like that’s normal I guess.”
He sat up because that sounded like Keg, but she stayed two floors below him and on the other wing. He flipped through the people on his hallway that Keg knew well enough to talk about or talk with as she was not exactly the friendliest of folks. Though, that honestly sounded like most of his friends.
“Ja, I should be fine.”
His body froze, then, as the breathy voice floated through right after. Fjord scrambled to his phone and noticed two missed calls and the stream of messages from the chats. As he did so, there was a knock at his door. Inevitable and soft. He untangled himself from his sheets and stumbled to the door, not bothering to find his shirt or socks. He opened it and found Caleb there. And though he knew the man had told him he would come up for the night so he was not alone, Fjord was still in shock that he was there. His face was still reddened from the cold and the wind outside and there were even a few droplets of water in his hair and eyelashes from where the snow had melted. He swallowed.
“Hallo,” Caleb offered.
“Cay,” Fjord tried and swallowed.
But he found himself led inside and the door shut. He watched dumbly with arms limp at his sides while Caleb pulled off his bag, jacket, sweatshirt, and scarf. They were hung to dry over Fjord’s desk chair. The man did not stop there as he started to dig through his bag and pulled out a textbook, a workbook, and a pair of old threadbare sleep pants. Fjord blinked a few times, coughed, and then turned around to give Caleb privacy. There was a soft huffing laugh when he did so, but a moment later he was told to turn back around.
“Why… what are you doing here,” Fjord asked as he watched Caleb pull down his ponytail and shake out the waves and curves that had been pulled taut.
“I knew you were upset,” Caleb replied simply. “And it would not be good for you to be alone when you’d be thinking of Molly.”
“Molly’s fine with Cad,” Fjord replied too quickly. Caleb watched him with those too-keen eyes with the knowing look that unsettled the man. Caleb was aware he had said it more for himself than anything.
“Come,” Caleb continued, brushing off the statement. “Get settled back into bed. I will stay on this side and study.
They did for a time. Lofi music playing softly from Caleb’s phone while Fjord listened to one of his podcasts using an airpod. There was still a nagging in his chest and a catch in his throat. He must have sniffled or cleared his throat too loud because Caleb’s voice floated over the desks in question and mild alarm.
“I just,” Fjord sighed and shook his head. “It’s stupid.”
“Nein, I do not think so.”
“Could… you just come over here instead?”
There was no reply. Not immediately, at least, or spoken. Just the rustle of fabric as Caleb got off the duvet and padded over. He had at some point stolen one of Fjord’s sweatshirts as he ran colder than Fjord did. Maybe it was that so lean a frame.
“Do you need something,” he asked with a slight frown.
“Molls… hell even Darrow sometimes sat with me when I’d have…” he didn’t say panic attacks but he thought it. A flash of understanding crossed Caleb’s eyes.
“Ah, ja. Let me grab my stuff, then.”
Fjord intended to only lay there for a while until the clenching in his chest faded, but Caleb climbed on the bed and over time ended up under the covers as well. One knee stayed bent while the one closer to the other man stretched out. Fjord rolled to press against Caleb’s shoulder and slid toward his chest while Caleb read. His podcast still prattled on his in ear while the music softly filled the rest of the silence, only interrupted by the sound of pages turning. It was not long before Caleb’s touch started to idly ghost along his arm and sometimes in his hair.
“Ah,” Caleb gasped when he realized what he was doing and started to pull away.
“No, I didn’t mind. It was… nice. Abuela used to do the same.”
“I just. I was tracing…” Fjord looked and saw that he had been following the line where his skin lacked melanin. “It was unintentional but… it’s still rude.”
“I don’t mind it,” Fjord repeated. “I’ve gotten used to it by now. I only cover it up when I go out because I know it looks weird and people stare.”
“It does not look weird it is actually quite captivating,” Caleb stated with an odd sharpness to his voice. Fjord looked up at him, which caused a strain in his neck from where he lay. “But even if it did, it would take far more than that to detract from your looks.”
Fjord stared at him with his mouth open slightly in shock. His face heated slightly at the comment. He knew he was attractive when fully prepared to be seen. He was not an idiot despite what his friends claimed. There was no denying the amount of attention people gave him. But he had always watched eyes drift to the patch of white hair and the skin below it. Or the discoloration by the corners of his eyes and mouth or along his hand and elbows. It was always followed by the embarrassed look away as though the other person had been caught committing a taboo. Weird was how he labeled it, but it was okay. He just accepted that people stared.
“Thank-you,” Fjord replied when his tongue unstuck from its place. He felt the long, elegant fingers run through his hair again and dropped back down.
“Besides,” Caleb stated lightly as the pages of the book crinkled. There was that playfulness again. “It is more unusual that I am somehow paler than the patches of your skin that have no melanin at all.”
It caught him so off guard that Fjord barked out a laugh and buried his face into Caleb’s shaking chest. They laid like that for a while, the laughter slowly dying out into comfortable silence. He slung an arm over Caleb’s waist and settled down as the other man went back to reading.
They had intended to get up and move eventually, but when the alarm went off in the morning, Fjord awoke to their legs tangled and his head still nestled on Caleb’s chest with both of the other man’s arms thrown possessively over him and a feather-light press of chapped lips to his temple.