PERVERSE - Apply Fic

13

Nico has become an expert in avoidance. They don't message Kye, of course they don't. How could they? Nico also doesn't enjoy spending nights in the church basement. Yesterday morning, Nico awoke, gasping, hands hovering over their throat but not touching the skin. They were grabbing at where the skin could have been swelling. Nico avoids thinking about death, even if it creeps into their dreams.

It has only been two days since they researched Kye in the library and it feels impossibly long. So, Nico devises a plan. A surprise, since Nico is in the mood for a surprise.

While Ajay makes breakfast, Nico struts into the middle of the room. They clear their throat, and dramatically toss one of the used scarves over their shoulder like they are Kye with a feather boa.

"Tonight, we are having a busher!"

Half the room groans. Only Barry looks about, confused.

"A what?"

Nico sighs, "Kye explained them to me. I live in Montreal, so I get the confusion."

"Bush parties are a small-town thing," Leo explains, his voice steady and strong. He's broken up enough during training up north to know what happens at them without ever having attended. "Mostly young adults do them, and teens of course."

"It's the kind of shit people do when there isn't shit to do," Kaia smiles, looking over at Nico.

In the first four weeks when Kaia first got to British Colombia, Kaia was invited to three different bush parties. The first one she went to was out in a pasture on the outskirts of a town whose name she doesn't remember, which wouldn't be any more remarkable than Chelster if Kaia wasn't tied here forever. It was a damn cold night, and she can remember standing so close to the burning wood pellets, watching a drunk sixteen-year-old do a keg stand. She kissed a girl whose name she can barely taste, like the beer on her lips.

Kaia loved it.

"Not tonight," Audrey whips their head around, turning to Ajay in the kitchen.

Ajay hears her voice and his neck prickles. He hopes neither Fallon or Lydia notice as they help plate the food. Ajay still hasn't asked for two people who won't ask questions. Ambrose should be one of them, he's sure of that. If Eva weren't such a wildcard, he'd pick her from the deck. Ajay wants to put the whole thing off altogether, since he doesn't trust whatever Audrey has planned.

"Non-negotiable," Eva offers. She sits down at one of the three round tables they pulled out of storage. When she kicks her feet up on the chair, she leans back to tilt at Audrey. "Anyone who doesn't come loses shower privileges for the next week."

"That's an abuse of power," Audrey snaps.

Eva smiles. It's strange to be seen as someone who has power.

"It might be nice to just, hang out," Fallon offers, teetering as she balances a third plate on her arm.

She can't think of death anymore. She can't think of anything. Eva holds up her hand as Fallon sits down, putting the plates out on the table. She starts to head back to the kitchen, but high-fives Eva, who might have waited for all of time there with her hand up.

Clare stares down at her bedsheets. It's risky. They might feel like living people again, in their new clothes, but they are not. None of them have licenses to buy alcohol, and getting caught and thrown in the drunk tank isn't something any of them can brush off easily. It doesn't seem like the police have called anyone, which works in their favourite to avoid violent experimentation. However, no one seems to care why they aren't calling anyone. Clare is starting to think it's because they have unfinished businesses.