𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙊𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙐𝙥.

Dinner.

West leaned against the railing outside his apartment, the cold metal biting through his jacket. Roy's figure was already a shadow in the distance, swallowed by the dim streetlights. West exhaled sharply, his breath clouding the air as his chest tightened. His mind wouldn't stop replaying the way Roy had looked at him... confident, expectant... before West had pulled back with "I'm seeing someone."

But even now, Roy lingered in his thoughts. The what-ifs churned in his gut, mixing uneasily with the guilt that refused to let up. He needed to hear Killian's voice. To ground himself. To remind himself why he had said no.

He unlocked his phone with shaky fingers and hit Killian's number. It rang twice before his boyfriend answered.

Killian: West?

Killian's voice was warm, familiar, but there was a trace of surprise.

Killian: Hey... what's up?

West swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the cracks in the pavement.

West: Hey, Kil. I just... I don't know. I wanted to hear your voice.

Killian: Everything okay?

West: Yeah.

He lied, though his voice cracked on the word.

West: Yeah, I just... I miss you. A lot.

There was a pause, and West imagined Killian narrowing his eyes the way he always did when he was suspicious.

Killian: Really? That's... unexpected. Not that I don't miss you too, but, uh... you've been kind of quiet lately.

West: I know... I've been a little... caught up. With school. The band. Stuff...

He pinched the bridge of his nose,

West: But it's been hitting me, you know? How much I miss you.

Killian's laugh was soft but cautious.

Killian: You're calling me at eleven at night to say that?

West bit his lip, glancing up at the sky. The stars were faint against the city's glow, but he focused on them anyway, searching for something steady.

West: I mean it. I want to see you, Killian. I... I was thinking I'd come back for a bit. Just for a weekend.

Killian: Come back?

Killian repeated, his voice sharpening slightly.

Killian: West, that's like a nine hour bus ride. What's going on?

West: Nothing!

The word shot out too fast, too defensive.

West: I just... I need to see you, okay? Please.

Killian was silent for a moment, the quiet stretching too long. Finally, he sighed.

Killian: Alright. I won't pretend I get it, but... I miss you too. And if this is what you need, come back.

West: Thanks, Killian. I'll... I'll figure out the bus schedule and let you know when I'm coming.

Killian: Okay... but, West?

West: Yeah?

Killian: If there's something you're not telling me...

Killian's voice dipped,