You're The Voice - Sidemen

Chapter 7

Vik's foot is gently tapping to the beat coming from the tinkling radio in Chris' kitchen, where he sits at the table, slice of toast in hand. It's a Sunday morning, and Vik feels more at peace than he has done in a long time.

It's nice, being out in the country. Stepping away from the constant bustle of city life, whether that be in Yorkshire or London. There's a certain sense of peace, tranquility that can only be provided by the quiet of the countryside.

He couldn't live out here for good though, not in this time period.

Sarah shuffled through the open door into the kitchen, her tartan pyjamas worn and well-loved, looking entirely at home amongst the fading magnolias of Chris' kitchen. She smiles at Vik, drawing him out of his headspace, sitting opposite him and stealing a half a slice from his plate.

"If you're going to do that, grab a plate. Chris seems anally retentive about mess. You should've seen her face over JJ's eating habits yesterday." Vik chastises, scooping the crumbs Sarah's left on the table into his hand, before rubbing his hands together to dispose of them onto his plate.

Sarah laughs, "shit, sorry."

"No worries. I wonder how the others are getting on with David."

It had been decided that Vik, Sarah and JJ would stay with Chris, while Tobi, Harry and Ethan were over at David's, who they'd met on the evening they arrived.

David was an odd man, but not necessarily in a bad way. In his late 40s, he already carried himself like a man 20 years his senior, aloof and uninterested. His face was carved with intricate lines across his forehead which annunciated themselves when he raised his eyebrows, which in the short time they had known him, had happened frequently, confusion at the group's antics present in his dark, veiled eyes.

Despite the outward appearance that made Vik feel rather uncomfortable, the man had a soothing voice, softly spoken and emotionally driven. The lilt reminded him of home, in a nostalgic let's-forget-all-the-bad-things-that-happened-in-Sheffield manner. It made him feel safe, like a child again.

Like Chris, David was a source of confusion when they met. He studied each of them carefully, looking them up and down, sizing them up. The open inspection was enough to make Vik feel uneasy. Not only that, but in the same way as Chris, the man had moments on which he pulled back from the group, was hostile towards them with a resentment Vik couldn't quite get a grip of.

His and Harry's first interaction was hilarious though, in hindsight.

"I've never met a gay person before." David's lilting voice speaks aloud. There's clearly no malice intended with his comment, as the two shake hands on David's doorstep.

"Yeah, well I've never met a miner before." Harry retaliates, and after a brief moment of consideration from David, his head titled askew, the man nods, letting go of his hand. A light smile graces his features, and Vik's never found a man of that age so beautiful.

Beautiful isn't meant in a sexual way, fuck no. Vik likes his men of a similar age to himself. It was just a sight to behold, a man they'd assumed would be homophobic and serious in stature smiling over such a simple comment from Harry.

That and his first interaction with Chris feel like their first breakthrough to the community. Vik feels like he's on a constant high because of it.

People aren't all bad, even if the dirty looks he gets in the little corner shop when he goes to buy Chris' morning milk make him feel intimidated.

There's hope yet.

Also, Josh and Simon are coming down this weekend. The group all gathered around Chris' phone last night, snuggled up in her hallway. JJ and Ethan share a blanket to block out the cold, rather unsuccessfully as the two still shiver. Chris and David watch from the kitchen doorway, bemused.

It's like six grown adults regress before their very eyes.

Ethan's the first on the phone, telling the duo how much he misses them, telling Simon to look after Josh for him. You can almost hear Simon's eye roll down the phone line, across the country.

Tobi and JJ both shout out a quick "love you guys", rather than having an actual conversation down the phone. Sarah and Harry exchange a few words, before the phone is passed back to Ethan, and the group mostly disperse.

All aside from Vik, who hears a one-ended conversation from the doorway, and feels like he's invaded Ethan's privacy massively.

"So, you went to the hospital today, yeah? Everything go okay?"

"That's good, I'm glad."

"Listen, Josh, I know. You can't make things better for everybody, try as you might. You're human too, as much as Simon and I worship you, you're not some higher being. It wasn't your fault, okay? Breathe. It's okay at the moment, and so are you. Just keep going to those appointments, and take each day a step at a time."

"Right, okay. I don't want to waste any more of Chris' credit, man. I love you. See you on Saturday."

Ethan hangs up the phone, and takes a deep intake of breath. In the dim light of the hallway, Ethan's welled-up eyes glimmer, and Vik wants nothing more than to reach out and hold him.

Let the boisterous, emotionally driven boy be calmed for once. Shown it's okay to express negative emotions, that it's healthy to have a good outlet.

Fuck it, Vik thinks, and walks into the room as if he hadn't been stood listening the entire time.

"Ethan, you alright, mate?"

A wobbly voice replies, "you know what? I don't think I am." Its the most refreshing thing Vik's heard from Ethan, cascading over him like a waterfall. He's aware of his emotions, aware that he's allowed to have them.

Vik simply holds out his arms, and Ethan moves towards him, the two stood in solidarity together, the latter sniffling into Vik's shoulder.

"I don't expect you to tell me what's wrong. I know I'm the newbie, that you guys don't trust me yet. Just know that I'm here for you, as long as you'll allow me to be."

"I do trust you, Vik. Josh does, so I do. I'll ask when they come down this weekend if we're allowed to tell you. I want to, so fucking bad." The sentence trails off, the expletive whispered. It's the sign of Ethan breaking down, and Vik's heart melts. Ethan loves Josh so much, and wants to stick by his rules, even if doing so causes him so much pain in the present.

"Ethan, it's alright. Ask Josh and Simon, and then tell me, or don't. I don't want to be the reason for the destruction of such an iconic family." He jokes, Ethan's gentle smile appearing. It's not the same as his loud, honest, heartfelt laugh, but it's a start.

Ethan pulls back from the hug and wipes his eyes with the sleeves of his jumper.

"Do you mind if I stay here tonight? Not in a weird way, I just... I'd like your company."

"Of course, Ethan."

With that, the two head into the living room, where most of the group has congregated, Chris and David included. Chris is currently tucked under JJ's arm, looking as surprised as Vik feels upon entering the room. Harry's leaning against David, who looks slightly uncomfortable but is laughing at JJ's horrendously wrong answers to the re-runs of Family Fortunes currently playing on the screen.

It feels like home, like their friendship group has grown.

Vik settles himself on the floor beside Tobi's feet, and allows himself to be consumed by a world of homemade biscuits, Les Dennis' voice and the laughter of the audience, both on the TV and in front of it.

It feels right.

Author's Notes
Hey so I'm back with another filler chapter because I wanted to update, but didn't have much to say.

I start my mocks tomorrow, and they're over the next two weeks. English and history tomorrow, so I'm preparing for my hand to be dead at the end of the day. I wanted to publish something in case I don't have the chance to, over the next few weeks I guess.

Anyway, Wattpad has seemed a bit dead today I won't lie, but then my app has had a load of issues of late. Like I just tried to publish this at it says it'll publish tomorrow at 5:28am?? So if it does, just know I'm publishing this at 9:48pm the night before. Hope you're having a good one.

Lots of appreciation, as per usual.

💙😊💙