O U T | The Group Chat

CHAPTER 7

This was first a 10k words chapter but I sliced it into two I think I'm going crazy lmao

XXX

It took the heavy smell of spice and coffee to force Larry out of his deep slumber. He tossed around on the couch before cracking open his left eye with a low grumble of his throat. He stayed still for a few moments before he brought up his hands to rub their palms into his heavy eyelids.

With a yawn and a long, satisfying stretch he sat up and looked around. The whole room was fully lit even though the blinds were still covering the window. Some bubbling and stomping was faintly coming from the kitchen and as he leaned to look through the doorway he saw Isaac standing by the counter and meticulously slicing something trapped under his fingers.

He then shifted his gaze to a corner. By the desk, on the purple bean bag, Tanner was still fast asleep with his limbs tangled to make him as comfortable in the small space as possible. Larry smiled fondly at the sight because to see this man that had been only allowed any kind of rest while strapped to a hospital bed just lay so carefree and breathe peacefully brought him a great sense of comfort. He frowned however upon seeing his already corrupted wing with some fresh blood dried up in some places which sent his mind back to the lab where under the pieces of bricks and dust laid pieces of it. He gulped and made a mental note to ask Tanner about it once he was awake.

At last he pushed himself off the couch and minced over to the kitchen. There upon looking further he saw Nick sitting by the table, hunched over some papers that sat dangerously close to his coffee mug "Careful with those" he grumbled as he slipped into the room. Both of his friends' faces turned to look at and welcome him with wide smiles.

"To be honest I would gladly drown them all in gasoline. Fucking bills" Nick chuckled and signed what apparenty was the last paper because he gathered them all up and slid to the side of the table "How are you?"

"I feel like I'm newly born" Larry stretched his arms up "What time is it?"

"Four fifty"

The shorter choked on his own breath "WHA- How long have I been out?!"

"Like twelve hours"

"Holy shit" he fell to one of the chairs and blinked hard "I needed that though. Even the springs in the couch didn't bother me"

"Fuckin hell you were tired" Isaac laughed and turned around "Should I count you in for dinner?"

"What'cha got on the stove?"

"Some curry with rice?"

"Best breakfast of the decade"

As each gathered their food and settled by the table a light conversation lingered around them comfortably. In the middle of one of their laughing fits shuffling resonated in the other room followed by steps that soon enough brought the stranger who peeked into the kitchen. They all stared at him for a brief moment before Larry shook off the initial uncomfortableness and waved his hand at the taller "Come in"

Tanner scanned their faces before reluctantly moving to sit by the far end of the table.

"We don't bite you know" Isaac half joked.

The other tilted his head to the side with a question in his eyes.

"Nevermind" the other grumbled while looking back at his food.

"Do you wanna try some?" Nick chimed in while pointing at his bowl and tilting it towards the stranger so he could take a look. He almost spilled its insides on the table in the process.