Snapshot [boyxboy] [slash]

Chapter Twenty Three- Friendship

I won't fall in love with falling, I will try to avoid those eyes

Air Catcher, Twenty One Pilots

Roman's POV

I was filled with a mixture of shock and pity for my friend.

"Dimitri went through all of that?" I finally asked, taking a deep breath to avoid tearing up. "I can't believe... why would he... who?"

"I've tried for so long to get him to open up." Almon sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "Heck, he's still scared to sleep in an empty house because Minos got someone to send him threats if Dimitri ever ratted him out."

We were both silent for a few minutes. I was clenching my fists, a mixture of pity for Dimtri and anger at Minos. Almon was muttering something under his breath, taking off his glasses, polishing them, putting them back on, and repeating this action.

"If I ever see that son of a bitch." I finally spoke, my voice quaking from anger. "I will fucking end him."

"You hold him down, I'll slit his throat." Almon laughed, but there was a bitter edge to it.

Again, a silence lasted for a few minutes. I finally spoke to ask him something.

"Has Dimitri dated anyone else since... then?"

Almon thought for a moment. "Probably. Most likely. Yes. But he hasn't told me any specifics. I think his longest relationship has been for two weeks."

"Has he ever been with a girl?" I leaned back on my bed, trying to take a few deep breaths to calm my anger.

Almon thought for a moment. "Not that I know of."

"Did he go to college?"

"He started, and then dropped out. Luckily, he got a huge lucky break-" Almon froze, like he said something he wasn't supposed to.

"You just told me literally his entire backstory that he doesn't tell anyone, but you won't tell me what his job is?" I sighed, exasperated.

"Well..." Almon shrugged sheepishly. "It's kind of a big thing. You already found out the biggest part of his secret by chapter twenty three, so I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually."

"What?"

Almon pulled out his phone, scrolling through his messages. "Vanilla said she can come tomorrow- I mean, my girlfriend."

"Wait." I held up my hands. "Vanilla and Almond? That sounds like the name of some expensive lotion."

"Well maybe you should shut up." Almon rolled his eyes, but I could tell the dynamic had changed.

We had been best friends before, but he had always felt like a junior professor. But now we felt like actual friends.

"I'm going to go make sure Dimitri's okay." I announced, standing up. "I'll tell you how things go over, okay?"

"Okay." Almon agrees, not looking up from his phone. He smiled as he typed out another text message.

"Everyone's getting into a relationship." I thought to myself. "This is turning into a freaking romance novel."

—

"Hey Mike-Ike I greeted as he opened the door. "How was the city?"

"Great!" He grinned. "Cass has a lot of fun. Some of those buildings are pretty cool."

"Yeah, it's pretty nice down there." I agreed. "Hey, is there any chance Dimitri is here?"

"Yeah, Almon just dropped him off an hour ago, he's in his room with Echo." Mike-Ike looked concerned. "Is he okay? Did something happen?"

"I guess you could say that." I sighed as I walked in. "I'm going to go make sure he's okay."

"If he needs anything, remember we're his friends, too." Mike-Ike said. "Promise you'll ask us for help?"

"I promise." I agreed.

I walked down the hallway and knocked lightly on Dimitri's door.

"Echo!" I heard the bird shout. I took that as an invitation and walked inside, closing the door behind me.

Dimitri was laying in his bed, Echo perched on his head. The lights were off.

He glanced at me as I sat at the end of his bed.

"Sorry." He said the moment I sat down. I looked at him, confused.

"What do you have to be sorry for?"

"Ruining your concert, ruining your day, being selfish, abandoning you." Dimitri listed somberly. "Kissing you."

"Dimitri." I sighed, shaking my head. "You don't have to apologize for everything. I had a great time."

"And I thought I was a good lier."

"I will punch you with friendship." I threatened. "You're a good friend, and a good brother. You just need to stick around long enough to see that."

Dimitri was silent. When he finally spoke up, he was almost speaking in a whisper.

"You really believe that?"

My heart almost broke. "Of course I do. The only thing you need to apologize for is thinking anything else."

"Sorry." Dimitri shrugged, but I could tell he wasn't convinced. He stared at the ceiling, refusing to even glance in my direction.

I laid down next to him, so my head was right next to his. Echo tried to bite my hair a few times.

"C'mon, Dimitri." I sighed. "Look at me."

He sighed, and turned his head to face me. Echo jumped onto the bed frame, flapping her wings.

"I promise you that I want you around. I just met you, but the time I've spent with you has been some of the best times of my life. I've never met anyone like you, whether that's for the better or  the worse. If you want to believe for one moment that no one wants you here, I'm going to have to give you a hug."

"Thanks, Rome," Dimitri sniffed, wiping away his tears. "But I don't-"

Not wanting to hear him say anything else, I gave Dimitri a sort of half-hug, which had me practically laying on top of him.

"Sure up." I commanded. "And take my offer of friendship."

"Okay." Dimitri finally agreed. "Friendship."

Then, almost effortlessly, he picked me up bridal style and stood up.

"Hey!" I shouted, turning red as he stared down at me. "I didn't say you could pick me up."

Without hesitation, he leaned over and planted a kiss on my forehead. Then he smiled, setting me down and rubbing my head.

"Thanks, Rome." He said, and I felt that he meant it genuinely. "I really needed to hear that."