Boy, Boy, Crazy Boy

Chapter 2: The Arrangement

The first time Riff asked Tony for something was when he was nineteen and Tony was eighteen. 

Riff had been stressed. And frustrated. The kind of stressed and frustrated that couldn't be solved by cigarettes. Or booze. Or pot. Or the occasional hook up with some stranger outside a bar. 

It was the kind of stressed and frustrated that led him to stop his best friend after a meeting with the Jets, and ask a very stupid question...

<~•~•~>

"Hey, Tony!"

Tony looked up and grinned at his friend. "Heya Daddy-o, watcha need?"

"I... I need your help with somethin'." Riff said hesitantly.

"Somethin' wrong?" Tony asked, concern in his voice. "I can grab a couple of the guys an-"

"No. It's a little more... personal than that." Tony had never seen Riff nervous, but he was pretty sure this was the closest he was going to get. "You know how the stress gets. I just need to... unwind a little."

The implications were clear.

"...Oh." Tony blanched. "And you want my help."

"Better you than... well, anyone else." Riff said carelessly. "Look, you don't have to answer right now. But, uh... I'll be waitin', my place, tomorrow, sunset. You can tell me what you decide then." 

Tony didn't say a word, he just stood there trying to process everything. 

"And Tony," Riff was at the door when he spoke again, jerky and hesitant. "You don't have to. Just tell me no and I won't bother you again."

<~•~•~>

Tony was nervous all throughout the next day.

Riff's words kept bouncing around in his mind. 'Need your help... unwind a little... better you than anyone else... my place... sunset... you don't have to...' 

He still hadn't made a firm decision when he showed up at Riff's apartment building just before sunset. His feet automatically carried him up the stairs, falling into a familiar rhythm, a routine he'd practiced many times before. 

He stopped at the third floor and strode to the end of the hallway, knocking on the very last door on the left. Riff didn't answer, so he let himself in, glancing into the kitchen/living room, before crossing to an open window, which lead to the fire escape. 

Sure enough, Riff was standing there, facing away from his building, leaning on the rail.

Tony stood back for a minute, admiring how well his friend fit into this environment. He looked like he was made to stand there in the sunset, cigarette hanging loosely from his lips.

"What're you doing out here, Riff?" He asked lightly. 

The other boy smiled faintly at the sound of Tony's voice. "Just... enjoyin' the fresh air. It's relaxing." He tilted his head towards his friend. "Come on, take a whiff."

Tony chuckled and climbed out next to his friend. "Smells like... garbage and cigarettes."

Riff snickered slightly. "The smell of home."

They stood out there for a while, passing the cigarette between them, until the sun had almost sunk below the horizon. 

"Surprised you actually came." Riff spoke hoarsely.

Tony turned to him. "I'd do anythin' for you Riff." 

The shorter didn't look at him, but he could tell his friend was watching him intensely.