The Way You Are

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The first thing Curt noticed as he woke up, some hours later, was how badly his head hurt. It felt like the light coming into the room was literally searing his brain on the inside. He sighed and snuggled down further into the pillow, trying to get away from the offending sunlight. Except he quickly realized it wasn't a pillow he was snuggled into. Memories from the previous night started to flood back and Curt began to panic. What if it was seriously just the drugs? What if Roland really didn't mean it? How would he bounce back from all of this?

Curt had kept his feelings a secret for a reason. His worry began to seep out in the form of fidgeting with Roland's shirt sleeve. Would they be able to make music together and still be friends after everything? What would other people think about them? What did Manny and Ian think? Had he just made things impossible for everyone? What if Roland didn't remember what happened? He had been really out of it. That's probably what was going to happen.

Curt's thoughts and fidgeting stopped abruptly as Roland shifted under him and he was pulled into a tight hug.

"Hey", came Roland's quiet voice, breathing warmth into Curt's hair.

Curt took a deep breath before pushing himself up a bit to look up at Roland. His hair was messy, and eyes still closed. "How are you feeling?", Curt asked to find something to say.

"Hmm. Alright. I'm oddly hungry, though I don't think I'll be eating anything for a while. Especially, anything touched by those two." He chuckled quietly. "How about you?"

"My head is killing me." Curt answered honestly.

Roland shifted again and his eyes finally opened to find Curt's. They seemed to study each other for a few moments before Roland hesitantly reached his hand up and started rubbing Curt's temples gently.

Curt closed his eyes and rested his chin on Roland's chest. The slight pressure actually seemed to help. They stayed like that for a while, Roland tracing careful circles on his temples and down his neck to his shoulders. Curt had just started to feel the panic start to subside when he felt Roland laugh quietly.

"What are you laughing about? I'm dying."

"You are not dying." Roland smiled. "But you may be. Of laughter. When you see Manny."

"Wha-" Curt began as he opened his eyes and looked around the room. His eyes finally landed on Manny, curled up on the floor. It took him a moment to register what he was seeing but when it hit him, he began to laugh with Roland. "When do you think Ian did that?"

"I don't know. But I think that truce we were talking about last night is pretty much over."

Last night. OK, Curt breathed, he remembers last night.

"Yeah", Curt said weakly followed by an uncomfortable chuckle. Roland caught it.

"Up." Roland said simply.

Curt slowly raised himself up to a sitting position and watched Roland do the same, stretching and wincing.

"Sorry" Curt said without thinking.

"Curt... "Roland began but stopped. He sighed, "How about we get up and find you something to take? These guys will be out for a bit yet I think." With that, Roland got up and offered Curt his hand.

Roland led him out of the room, stopping quickly to get a better look at Ian's handy work. At some point, Ian had written "Wanker" in marker on Manny's forehead. Backwards, so he'd be able to read it in the mirror. "Yea, truce is definitely off."

After getting some pain medication in Curt, they found themselves standing in the kitchen awkwardly. Curt didn't know what to say or do so he went back to fidgeting. He couldn't tell what Roland was thinking. He was leaning up against the counter and he seemed lost and distant.