Don't Talk! (Freddie Mercury / Queen)

21. 'Friend' - Ally, Buddy, Mate, Pal.

F.M
Kensington, U.K - Sutton Place, NYC
December 24th - January 4th.

For dramatic effect, Hayes decided to apologise on Christmas Eve. I suppose that's when he was at his most vulnerable considering people were joyous and that probably weakened him. Perhaps he could swing by some carollers and tell them that they were off key and refuel with some misery.

"Happy holidays Freddie."

"What's happy about them?" I scowled.

"This." Phoebe gestured to the door in a very much 'tah dah' gesture. "What? The ghost of Christmas past? I don't fucking see anything." I snipped.

Phoebe glanced at the empty threshold, glared, sighed loudly, and quickly stormed out. "Sometimes I just don't bloody know!"

"Don't know about what?" I called after him.

"I'm going- I'm going!" A voice hissed and I immediately tensed right up. No. Please no.

Hayes appeared in the doorway, cold and intimidating at a first glance. He was dressed in new battle armour, a well cut grey suit and a black overcoat that bore the silver triangle of Prada above his breast pocket. The holidays are a time of casualness and relaxation, but clearly Hayes didn't get the memo.

"Brilliant, you invited Scrooge into my home." I ignored Hayes, and quipped right at Phoebe. "Has he finally discovered the true meaning of Christmas?" Themed insults are fun, I can see why Hayes likes them.

Hayes' lips twitched briefly with amusement, but his body was uncomfortably taut. His eyes met mine slowly, and seeing the torment that flooded there, all I wanted to do was hug him. However, he made it very clear that he didn't want me near him, and I was a fucking fool to even want to comfort him still.

"I'm going to clean up in the living room." Phoebe shuffled backwards out of the room. What he really meant is that he was going to eavesdrop from a respectable distance.

"Hello Freddie." Hayes murmured, "I am sorry for imposing like this."

"You look toff-ier than usual."

"I was dragged to mass by my family."

"Oh," I deadpanned, "And you didn't burst into flames the moment you stepped through the threshold of a church? Even after kissing a man?"

Hayes exhaled sharply, "I don't think that way Freddie."

"Could have fooled me."

Hayes seemed a little exasperated as he gestured to the chair across from me, "Can I sit?"

"No. You aren't staying."

Hayes arched a brow, "I'm not?"

"You're not." I bristled.

"Okay," Hayes ran a hand through his perfect hair, and tousled it up, "I'll say my piece and leave you to it. I have a flight to catch."

"Wouldn't be like you to run off." I said dryly.

"I am sorry."

"For what?"

"For everything, but especially for how I last treated you." Hayes avoided my gaze, "You of all people didn't deserve it. I know my explanations and words don't mean anything now, that it's too late for such things. But, I need you to know that my apology is genuine."

He took two quick strides toward me, and really took my instruction not to take a seat seriously. Hayes lingered cautiously, as if I was about to send him off at any second. Hayes really wasn't a boundary pushing person, perhaps he had tried and got burned before.