Liar (Rewritten) | Queen AU

Chapter 7 - You're Bound to be the Loser in the End

Freddie doesn't like thinking about Japan.

He loves the country. He adores the culture, the architecture, the locals, but he doesn't like talking about his time spent there. It perplexes his three friends. They have no idea what happened to him. They don't know how he got there, how long he trained there, and how he ended up in Oadby.

So, when the worst possible reminder of Japan is in front of him as Roger's date, Freddie freaks out.

"Elizabeth York?" John repeats. "That's, like, her real name?"

The four are back at HQ now, and the clock strikes eleven-thirty. Brian, John, and Freddie sprawl on a couch in the lounge, but Roger rushes past them and slams the door to his room shut.

Freddie nudges Brian's leg with his foot. "I think you upset him, dear."

"Well, he upset me." He pouts petulantly.

John's phone rings. It'd be his fifth call from his mum. He's supposed to have been home an hour ago, but he has a blond he needs to check up on. He walks off to answer the phone, shy to do so in front of his much cooler mates.

He doesn't want them to know he's a mama's boy.

"Yes. I'm sorry. I just... I know... Roger's having a really rough time right now. I'm at his place. I think I'll stay here for the night.... No, I don't need a change of clothes, Mum... I love you too. Good night."

John returns to the two on the sofa, resting beside Freddie. The eldest pats him on the knee. "You can go home if you want, John."

The rookie vigorously shakes his head. "No. I should be with Roger. I'm just letting him cool off now." He sighs. "I think it's funny, y'know, 'cause he never acted like this before I knew about his spy business. Now that I'm in it, though, I get to see all his tantrums."

"Oh, you're lucky!" Freddie, burnt out from the night, can only manage to half-exclaim in a rasp. "He's like this all the time. Well, not really. He can throw a fit, but shutting himself into the room is new."

John sneers, "Should we blame it on you, then, Brian?"

Brian doesn't say anything. He doesn't want to plead guilty.

"Don't get fussy, children!" Freddie extends his arms out to gently push the two. Though the eldest, he's not usually in the position to act like the middleman. Usually, it's him and Roger butting heads, but with Brian's mood, he must adjust.

"I'm not fussy," says Brian.

Freddie looks him up and down. "Be serious with yourself." He flops onto the couch cushion dramatically, resting his head against Brian's bush of hair. "I need a drink," he laments.

John takes it as his cue to leave. He waves good night to Freddie and Brian before heading off to knock on Roger's door. At this point, Brian's frown finally disappears. Freddie doesn't get the chance to see it, though. He stares straight up at the roof, narrowly dodging the glare of the lights.

Brian grumbles, "Are we really not going to hand in that folder?"

Freddie clicks his tongue. "You're so worked up over that damn thing." He sits up straight, fluttering his eyes to try and keep himself awake. "I think if it's between him and his family, then he has every right to hold onto it. Who knows if Miami would ever give it back to him?"

"You know how Roger is. Maybe... Maybe knowing what's inside will screw him over."

Freddie glances back at Brian. "What makes you think that?"

Brian stays quiet, understanding how suspicious he must seem. He tries to change the subject. "Do you think Evelyn—I mean, Elizabeth—knows what's inside?"