bad liar // ned roche + conor masters

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it's been three days since the almost-kiss.

conor's been busy, what with the upcoming game and all, and they hardly see each other. even when they do, it's when conor comes into their dorm covered in dirt and grass, barely keeping himself awake before passing out face first into his pillows. every time, ned pulls the covers over him and scrubs the dirt off his face with warm water so as not to startle him in his sleep; ned knows he won't wake up with how knackered he always is.

nonetheless, conor asks ned to come to said upcoming game. "you're my good luck charm," he told ned, shaking ned's shoulder with that smile of his. ned caved fairly quickly.

now, he's sitting in the stands and cheering his lungs out along with the rest of his classmates and other supporters, conor beaming up at him from the field after scoring yet another kick; this being the winning one.

ned waits for him after all the hustle and bustle, greeting a sweaty and still slightly out-of-breath conor. "you did really great out there," ned compliments, walking with conor to follow the others on their way to a party someone had arranged.

"thanks," conor says shyly, ducking his head a bit. "i told you that you're my good luck charm, didn't i?"

"ah, everyone says that." ned scoffs, then smiles back. "wanna get a beer then just head back to the school soon? i really don't like parties."

"sure. and i dunno, they're alright once in a while." conor says, but he still sounds a bit hesitant.

ned shakes his head as they get to the small bar the party is in, music pulsing through the walls and drunken shouts reverberating through the night air. once inside, a glass of frothy beer is shoved into their hands by some red-faced kid with a stupid smile. they give their thanks and take a sip together, setting the glasses down on a nearby table against the wall and sitting across from each other at it.

"can i ask a question? please don't cut me off this time," conor says suddenly, raising an eyebrow at ned. it's ned's turn to blush, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

"er, yeah. sorry about that. sure, go ahead."

"only joking," conor assures, smiling. "i was wondering...how did you tell your dad and step-mum you were bi? or how did they find out?"

"well, one day at dinner my dad asked how my girlfriend was. i said 'fine, but we're broken up. i'm in a new relationship now.' when he asked for her name, i said 'his name is harry.' dad choked on some peas, my step-mum natalie almost smallowed her cigarette, and that was that." ned explains to conor, who tries not to laugh through a mouthful of beer.

"that...is amazing," conor says, putting down his beer while ned gulps down more of his own.

"i guess so," ned says reluctantly, wiping his chin. "do your folks know?"

"yeah. my mum took it better than my dad. he said i wasn't his son and he didn't know who i was anymore. a while after that, i moved to our school. the fights were gettin' worse and worse," conor says distantly, eyes unfocused. they clear when ned sighs, chugging the rest of his beer and urging conor to do the same.

it might be the booze and the overwhelming scent of beer, sweat, and regret in the air talking, but ned thinks conor's lips are the best he's ever seen and he wonders if his best friend tastes as good as he looks. the thought of it has his heart beating faster, and he stands abruptly.

"let's catch a train and head back, yeah?" ned asks him, praying that the tremor in his voice isn't too noticeable. thankfully, it isn't.

conor nods, then follows him out into the crisp air towards the station. on the ride back, they giggle at things that aren't that funny, the alcohol in their system making them a bit clumsy and a lot more talkative. well, conor is as quiet as always, but ned rambles on about this one time that he made an entire tiny city out of play-doh and put it out into the sun to dry and keep its shape, only to find it the next day with a raccoon sleeping in a dent it had made in the night.

"aren't raccoons supposed to hide during the day and sleep, not be out in the open?" ned asks conor at the end, squinting. when conor nods solemnly, they burst out laughing again as the train screeches to a halt. the walk to school is short, thank goodness, because the buzz is starting to wear off a bit and it's being replaced with exhaustion.

in the safety of their dorm, they mess around with the guitars for a bit before getting bored and taking them down to the vinyl room, sitting in the fold-out chairs they kept there. ned puts on an old record, and they start strumming, conor occasionally singing along with whatever song is playing. he really does have a lovely voice.

ned stands and goes to set down his guitar against the wall a few feet behind them, turning around and letting out a little surprised noise when he realizes conor is directly in front of him. he's cupping his hand on the back of ned's neck-

-and leans down to kiss him. it's soft and sweet and slow, everything and more that ned pictured it would be. conor's lips are warm and pure, smooth red velvet beneath his, and conor is kissing ned in a room full of life-changing music with zeppelin crooning softly in the background.

this is definitely heaven.

~

ah yes. they kissed to zeppelin. i had to. :)