Am I Really Enough?

Chapter 7

Trigger warning: non-consensual kiss

The air smelled of beer and whiskey and a cigar that North had been smoking over in the corner. Jeff was trying to relax and have fun with the crew. Trying to be happy for them but every smile was painfully drawn across his face like a painter that had lost motivation and so would place anything on the canvas to distract from their internal struggles.

The X-Hunter Team had recently landed a huge new sponsor, assuring their financial stability for the next several years. Tonight was a celebration of their success and Alan's hard work. They had started with bottles of champagne before everyone switched to drinking for the sole purpose of getting drunk.

Jeff was never a fan of drinking. It was too risky and in the past had led to accidental touches with both friends and strangers resulting in visions. Visions, even now, he wished he could unsee. There was always a moment where he would want to tell the other person what he had seen, to prepare them for what was to come. But that would require exposing his power and putting himself at risk. Not to mention, most people would probably just think he was crazy.

So Jeff had downed the glass of champagne with everyone else then spent the rest of the evening slowly sipping a beer which had warmed, souring the taste on his tongue. He had spent the last hour sitting cross-legged on the hood of one of the cars while Alan sat closer to the edge. Alan had not left his side this evening, save setting up for the party.

Since their fight and subsequent discussion, Alan had returned to the previous, attentive boyfriend Jeff knew and loved. He had spent more time with Jeff, leaving work on-time to drive Jeff home with him each evening. Kit's flirting had grown more subdued, less-frequent, and Jeff rarely saw even close to Alan. Jeff could only imagine the conversation Kit had been subjected to. Alan loosely told him the content but refrained from giving details, probably to protect Jeff from anything Kit might have said.

Despite the lack of overt flirting, Jeff still felt Kit's eyes following him. Frequently, Jeff could feel eyes on him, only to turn and have Kit provide a brief glare before turning away. Jeff thought about telling Alan but figured he could handle the glares as long as Kit left Alan alone. So, he tried to ignore Kit as best he could, deciding to not give Kit the satisfaction of any type of response.

Jeff wasn't even sure why Kit came tonight. Yes, he had played a role in securing the sponsor, but pretty much everyone at the garage ignored him. Nodded hello each morning and spoke to him when necessary, but Kit no longer had any friends here. Honestly, if Jeff was Kit, he would find another job. Would find it too awkward to continue showing up each day. But, Kit continued to come, slightly surprising the entire team each time he walked in. Jeff figured it was because somehow Kit still envisioned stealing Alan from him and with the vision still solidly at the front of his mind, Jeff was never surprised to see Kit each day.

"Hey"

Shaken from his thoughts about Kit, Jeff looked down at the fingers tracing around his knee, then at Alan. Jeff lifted his eyebrow in response.

Leaning closer to him so only Jeff could hear, "You doing okay? You seem to be off somewhere else. Should we leave?"

Jeff knew that Alan was now hyper-fixated on him being comfortable since Kit was still around. Alan had kept his promise that he would fix things and, for the most part, he had. But, there was really nothing he could do to fix Jeff's vision.

Shaking his head, Jeff responded, "No, I'm fine. You can't leave, it's your celebration."

Then, trying to lighten the mood, Jeff added, "I just don't feel like talking to all these drunk idiots."

"Idiot! Who you callin' an idiot!" North hollered back, slinging his arm so forcefully around Sonic they both fell slightly backwards, crashing into a tool bench, scattering tools across the floor.