Bleached Out Eyes

Chapter 11 - Triptych

Kobra's only reaction to Party asking to sleep on the same mattress as Ghoul was a frown, followed by a raised eyebrow, and then a shrug. 

Ghoul hadn't been consulted about this, and was caught off-guard when he heard Party ask the question. Jet looked over at him, quizzically at first before realising that Ghoul must have made a move while he wasn't looking. Confusion almost changed to a smile until a look of hurt took over his face.

Ghoul hadn't said anything about the kiss to Jet, and he felt guilty now. It wasn't meant to be a secret, he just hadn't gotten round to saying anything, since Jet and Kobra had been spending a lot of time together, deep in discussion about cars and mechanics.

The negative feelings overwhelmed him, and Ghoul found his feet carrying him through to the next room and away from Jet's stare.

The sick feeling was back, and Ghoul knew he'd messed up.

"Are you okay?"

Party had followed him part-way into the room, keeping his distance and standing by the bar of the diner. His voice was worried, and made Ghoul's stomach twist with even more guilt as he leaned on the table, looking out at the sandstorm as the sun set somewhere outside. He didn't deserve concern, he'd hurt his friend. Party should be asking Jet if he was okay.

"Don't you want to share a bed?" Party frowned and stepped closer, still only stood by the bar stools and nowhere near Ghoul.

"No, no, I do. I just didn't... Are we a thing now? Like, is this happening?"

"I... I thought so? Aren't we?

"We can be, but... Jet needs to know. He looked really hurt."

"Oh," Ghoul looked over at Party, who looked awkward, leaning against the bar and fidgeting his feet against the worn out linoleum, "Should we tell him now?"

"Uh, yeah, we really ought to. He likes you just as much as I do, I know I'd be pretty upset if I saw you two together."

"Why?"

The question was an honest one, and the troubled look on Party's face told him that maybe Party didn't really understand relationships.

"Because... If you two were together I'd be sad that you'd chosen him over me."

"Why do I have to choose?"

Another sincere question, even more surprising than the last. He thought for a long moment, trying to come up with a reason, but there wasn't one. Out in the Zones, where there were no rules other than camaraderie and common sense, there was no reason that Party should have to choose between him or Jet if he so wished.

"I-I guess you don't. I... Do you like him?"

He chewed his lip for a second, a smile curling at the corners, "I think so. He has kind eyes, and he helped to fix me. But he's not cute like you, he's handsome."

Party walked over and reached out a hand, gently hooking his fingers around Ghoul's. Party's skin was always warm too the touch; never too warm, never clammy, just smooth and soft and warm.

"I think I like you both, just in slightly different ways. You're not upset, are you?"

He shook his head; if anything, Ghoul was pleased. He didn't have to choose between romance and friendship, and he could only see this bringing the group closer together. His only hope in that moment was that Kobra wouldn't mind. 

Gently, Ghoul pulled Party to him and wrapped his arms around the droid's waist. One hand on his lower back, one hand between his shoulder, he felt the redhead melt against him, wriggling his arms up to loop them around Ghoul's neck. Party gently kissed his cheek and relaxed entirely.