You're In Awfully Early (Septiplier)

Just Too Tense

The four men shut the doors to the the car without much fanfare, with the sounds of cheers from the park still echoing in each set of their ears. Jack looks the worst out of of everyone, with skin that can rival that of a lobster, and grunting about the stupidity of not wearing enough sunscreen. Mark chuckles that he'll make sure to pack SPF Irishman Edition on their next outing, and everyone laughs except for Jack, who's red face looks positively murderous at his boyfriend.

The ice cream cart almost hitting Felix has gone from terrifying to hilarious fairly quickly by the time they are on the road, but both men feel oddly tense by the few moments of severe closeness afterwards. Neither Mark, Jack or anyone else has mentioned anything, but the hand holding is gone.

Exhaustion hangs in the air between all of the rides and the heat, and it isn't long before Felix's eyes are shut and snoring softly with his face gently pushed on the closed passenger window. Neither Jack or Mark in front seem to notice, as they are too busy quietly chatting about the first Pax panels that they have, along with trying to figure out the last invitations they are still waiting for from promised friends to their anniversary party.

Ken is the only one who is focused on his phone, going through some texts messages from Mary. The first few full of encouraging words of suggestions as to how to best get along with the Swede, then random ones about how Layla is both adorable and driving her to the brink of madness. The last couple of messages are different, though. The pleads to give her a call when he has a few free minutes. That she really needs some questions answered, but it's better to say them over the phone.

The raven can feel an uneasy quality about this "need to talk" more than anything else, and rereads the response back to her at least a dozen times.

Ken: I'll give you a call later tonight once we're back from Disney. Love you.

The words roll around in his head, and he wonders if he should have added 'very much' to the end, but rethinks it. Dark eyes growing blurry from staring at his phone's screen, he turns his head instead to the first thing he sees out of the corner of his vision.

Felix.

The blonde's head is still resting on the window pane with his mouth slightly opened and his light colored hair looking messy against the glass. Ken feels himself floating back more than seven years ago to a similar scene. Both he and Felix, deciding to take a short trip further into the city after the last day at Pax. The Swede insisting that the little bistro is just down the street but it was best to take a taxi to avoid all of the fans who were still hopeful for another wave of pictures and autographs. The gentle pull of Ken's shirt in the back of the car to Felix's waiting lips. The way that the Swede's usually meticulous mane almost glowed in the sunlight as the back of his head rested against the passenger rear window of the cab.

The short few blocks to the little eatery showing more than words as to how it was so much easier back then to forget about anything but the two of them. Ken can't recall what they even ate when they finally arrived, but the moment in the taxi sends an shiver up his spine that he just can't shake off.

The need to think of something different is pushing his mind towards another Pax. Felix and he were incredibly young, laughing at a long forgotten joke. They're holding hands as they lay in a plush hotel bed. The blonde's warm breath ghosting across the raven's broad chest and Ken's rough palms move down the slender back. The need to be close almost too much for either man's heart to take, but they don't move. Instead just inhale and exhale under the bed covers. It was the first time that Ken noticed the way that the Felix's eyes were more than just an icy hue. The darker strands of midnight blue  almost encircled his light colored gaze when he looked up at the sound of his name.

Ken's chest feels the familiar tightness even now.

"Did you guys want to grab a bite to to eat before we head home?"

Mark's voice jolts the taller man more than he ever expected, and he gives a short nod and a smile that food is a good idea. Then moving over towards the blonde, Ken rubs his shoulder gently to try to wake him up. Felix's jaw closes and eyes flutter open at Ken's touch, and turns blearily to look at him. The soft and sleepy face sends the same shiver down the raven's spine, with ripples of years long ago of nudging the Swede awake so that they can get dressed for a panel, or to make sure that they get back to their own rooms before it got too early or too late. The whispers of what to explain if questions were asked still thick in the air.

"What's up? Are we back at the house?"

Ken shakes his dark head and lets the blonde lean onto his shoulder as he closes his eyes again. The slender hand is just in reach of the larger fingers, but Ken busies himself with his phone again as Mark turns a sharp corner. Jack's suggestion of just getting some drive thru burgers is met with no resistance, and Ken already knows what Felix will want. The desire to touch the slender hand is there again, and the growing tightness of his chest is almost too much to bare. The black haired man scrolls through his phone, then presses the message and hits send before he changes his mind.

Ken: NEED TO TALK TO YOU ASAP.

It only takes a minute for the tell tale vibration of a response.

Cry: Using all caps? This must be bad. Call me whenever. I'll be here.