All I Need
The sky over London was the colour of slate, heavy clouds hanging low as if threatening to drench the city at any moment. The streets were bustling with the usual evening crowd—people hurrying home from work, others heading out for a night on the town. The scent of rain mingled with the exhaust fumes and the distant aroma of food from street vendors, creating a heady, urban mix that was uniquely London.
Barty had always liked the city at night. It was as if the darkness brought out a different side of London, a grittier, more honest version of itself. And tonight, as he waited outside a nondescript pub in the heart of downtown, he found himself in a rare moment of anticipation. He wasn’t one to plan things out, but when Evan had texted him earlier with a simple “Meet me at the usual spot,” he hadn’t hesitated to say yes.
He leaned against the brick wall, hands stuffed in the pockets of his leather jacket, his breath visible in the cool air. The pub behind him was loud and lively, the kind of place that drew in all sorts of people. Barty liked it for that reason—no one paid much attention to anyone else here. It was easy to blend in, to be whoever you wanted for the night.
Evan arrived a few minutes later, appearing almost out of nowhere, his presence as understated as ever. He was dressed in dark jeans and a simple black coat, his bright locks the only splash of colour against the otherwise muted palette. His skin seemed to absorb the dim light, giving him an almost otherworldly glow.
“You’re late,” Barty said as Evan approached, a smirk playing on his lips.
Evan shrugged, unfazed. “Didn’t know we were on a schedule,” he replied, his tone cool and nonchalant, but there was a hint of a challenge in his eyes.
Barty chuckled, pushing off the wall. “Fair enough. Let’s get a drink.”
They headed inside the pub, which was just as crowded and noisy as Barty had expected. The air was thick with the scent of beer and fried food, and the sound of clinking glasses and loud conversation filled the space. They made their way to the bar, where Barty ordered a couple of pints. The bartender, a burly man with a thick accent, barely gave them a second glance as he slid the drinks across the counter.
Evan took a sip of his beer, his expression neutral as he scanned the room. “So, what’s the plan?” he asked, his voice low enough that Barty had to lean in slightly to hear him over the noise.
Barty grinned, raising his glass in a mock toast. “No plan. Just see where the night takes us.”
Evan raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. They clinked glasses and drank in companionable silence, both of them content to let the night unfold at its own pace. It wasn’t long before Barty’s restless energy got the better of him, though, and he downed the rest of his beer in one go.
“Let’s get out of here,” Barty said, already turning toward the door. “I know a better spot.”
Evan followed without protest, finishing his drink with the same unhurried pace that he seemed to approach everything with. They stepped out into the cool night air, the noise of the pub fading behind them as they started down the street. The city was alive with activity, the streets still crowded with people going about their lives. The distant hum of traffic and the occasional shout or laugh from a passing group added to the constant buzz that was London after dark.
As they walked, Barty couldn’t help but steal glances at Evan. There was something about him that was both calming and intriguing, a steady presence that contrasted sharply with Barty’s own restless nature. And yet, despite their differences, there was an undeniable pull between them—a connection that neither of them had expected but both were eager to explore.
They walked for a while, the conversation flowing easily between them. Barty was more talkative, as usual, his words coming in a rapid, almost manic stream, while Evan responded with his usual calm, measured replies. It was a dynamic that they had both fallen into naturally, a balance of energy that seemed to work for them.
At some point, they stopped at a small corner store where Barty picked up a bottle of whiskey, insisting that they didn’t need to keep spending money at overpriced bars. Evan didn’t argue, though he did give Barty a look that was half-amused, half-disapproving.
“You really think this is a good idea?” Evan asked as they resumed their walk, the bottle tucked under Barty’s arm.
“Probably not,” Barty admitted with a grin, “but since when do we care about good ideas?”
Evan shook his head but didn’t say anything more. They found a quiet spot by the river, the water reflecting the city lights in a shimmering dance that seemed almost surreal in the darkness. Barty unscrewed the cap of the whiskey bottle and took a long drink before passing it to Evan.
“Cheers,” Barty said, raising the bottle in a mock toast.
Evan took the bottle, his fingers brushing against Barty’s in a way that was almost deliberate. He held Barty’s gaze for a moment, then took a slow sip of the whiskey, his expression remaining unreadable.
“You’re too uptight,” Barty said, leaning back against the railing as he looked out over the water. “You should let loose more often.”
Evan let out a soft laugh, the sound low and almost musical. “And you’re too reckless. Maybe we balance each other out.”
“Or maybe we’re just a disaster waiting to happen,” Barty shot back with a grin.
Evan’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he handed the bottle back. “Probably. But that’s half the fun, isn’t it?”
Barty couldn’t argue with that. They continued to drink, the alcohol warming them against the chill of the night. The conversation shifted, becoming more playful, their banter taking on a flirtatious edge that neither of them bothered to hide.
“So, what’s your deal, anyway?” Barty asked at one point, his voice slightly slurred from the whiskey. “You’re so damn cool all the time. Don’t you ever just... lose it?”
Evan looked at him, his expression thoughtful. “I don’t see the point in getting worked up over things I can’t control,” he said simply.
“That’s boring,” Barty declared, though there was no malice in his tone. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“Maybe I find fun in different things,” Evan replied with a small smile.
“Like what?” Barty challenged, leaning in closer.
Evan didn’t answer right away, his gaze drifting out over the water as if he were searching for the right words.
“Like this,” he said finally, his voice quiet but firm. “Being here. With you.”
The words caught Barty off guard, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure how to respond. There was something sincere in Evan’s tone, something that made Barty’s usual bravado falter.
“Well, shit,” Barty said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood. “Didn’t know you were such a sap.”
Evan rolled his eyes, but there was a softness to his expression that hadn’t been there before.“I’m just being honest,” he said, taking another sip of the whiskey.
Barty watched him, his grin fading into something more genuine. “Yeah, well, honesty is overrated,” he said, though his tone lacked its usual bite.
They fell into a comfortable silence after that, the sounds of the city fading into the background as they sat by the river, the whiskey bottle slowly emptying between them. The night had taken on a surreal quality, the alcohol blurring the edges of reality just enough to make everything feel more intense, more meaningful.
At some point, Barty found himself leaning against Evan, their shoulders touching as they both stared out at the water. It was a small, almost unconscious gesture, but it felt significant in a way that Barty couldn’t quite explain. Evan didn’t pull away, instead letting out a contented sigh as he relaxed into the contact.
“You know,” Barty said after a while, his voice quiet and a little more serious than usual, “I never thought I’d be doing this.”
“Doing what?” Evan asked, his tone equally soft.
“This,” Barty gestured vaguely with the whiskey bottle. “Hanging out by the river, drinking whiskey with some guy I barely know. Actually enjoying myself.”
Evan’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Life’s full of surprises.”
“Yeah, no shit,” Barty muttered, but there was no bitterness in his voice, only a kind of wonder that he hadn’t expected to feel.
They stayed there for a while longer, the conversation slowing until they were both just sitting in silence, the weight of the night settling over them like a blanket. Barty wasn’t used to this—this quiet, almost peaceful feeling. But with Evan, it felt natural, like they were two pieces of a puzzle that had somehow found each other in the chaos of the city.
Eventually, the whiskey ran out, and the night began to catch up with them. Barty felt a familiar heaviness in his limbs, the alcohol pulling him toward a kind of sleepy contentment that he hadn’t felt in a long time. He glanced over at Evan, who looked just as relaxed, his eyes half-closed as he leaned back against the railing.
“We should probably get going,” Evan said after a long silence, though there was no urgency in his voice.
“Yeah,” Barty agreed, though he made no move to get up. He was comfortable, and for once, he wasn’t in a hurry to be anywhere else.
But eventually, they both stood, the night air cool against their skin as they started back toward the city streets. The walk was slower this time, the alcohol and the late hour making them both a little unsteady on their feet. But they didn’t mind. It felt like they had all the time in the world.
As they reached a busier part of the city, the noise and lights of London bringing them back to reality, Barty turned to Evan with a grin. “This was fun,” he said, the words simple but sincere.
Evan nodded, his expression unreadable. “Yeah, it was.”
They exchanged a look, something unspoken passing between them. Neither of them knew what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, Barty found himself looking forward to finding out.
And as they walked down the streets of London, the city alive around them, Barty couldn’t help but feel that this was the start of something he hadn’t even realised he’d been missing.
They didn’t know where it would lead them, but that was part of the thrill. For now, it was enough to just keep walking, side by side, into whatever came next.