Funny How Love Is (Maylor AU)

Chapter 64

"I'm only staying for one drink, Freddie," Roger snarled as the two of them traveled up the uneven walkway to Freddie and Mary's home, going so far as to even shoot an index finger in his direction. "One drink, and I mean it."

"That's all I asked for, darling!" the dark-haired man replied cheerfully, skipping up the path and spinning with his arms extended outward like a child frolicking through a field, basking in the warm sunlight even though it was cold and dark.

His spin fell short as the front door swung open and the lady of the house manifested in the threshold, yelling at the two of them as quietly as she could, "Where the fuck 'ave you two been? You had me worried sick, Fred, and you..." her resentful eyes shifted from her fiancé to the blonde lagging behind, "...you need to take your boyfriend home."

Roger's eyebrows furrowed together. "What?"

"You heard me," the blonde woman growled, crossing her arms over her small chest and straightening her slack posture. "He's in the living room. Get him out."

The music instructor's gaze floated over to the car parked in the house's driveway, the make, model, and license plate sickeningly familiar. He hadn't noticed it before, pulling up to the curb and leaving Mary's car there as he and Freddie got out to go inside, but now that he had, there was no choice but to face his worst fears sooner than he expected.

He'd accepted Freddie's unrelenting plea to have a drink with him only because the closer they got to his house, the more frightening the idea of returning home to Tim became. Imagining a thousand scenarios of what would happen when he walked through their apartment door—shamefully late, feet and legs screaming in pain, and exhaustion weighing him down—his heart pounded against his chest and his knuckles turned white.

There was no way he'd possess the energy needed to deal with whatever punishment his boyfriend had in store for him. He knew he couldn't just walk away, slip into their bedroom and collapse on their bed to get as good a night sleep as he was going to get. Tim wouldn't have that; he simply couldn't. He'd rather talk his ear off, scream at him for this and that, and make sure that by the time tomorrow rolled around—which wouldn't be much longer, considering the time Roger made it home—he'd have just as miserable a day as the last one.

If the blonde was going to be able to withstand anything Tim was waiting to do, he'd need a little bit of liquid courage, and by a little bit, he knew he'd need a whole bottle and a half of the strongest drink his friend owned. Too ashamed to admit that, despite knowing Freddie already could tell, he disguised his true intentions with the claim he'd only stay for a single drink, but both men knew that the one drink meant a lot more, and for the sake of his friend's dignity, Freddie went along with it and was more than prepared to welcome any other requests the blonde would make, right up until that moment Mary opened the door.

"Well get on with it!" she snapped at Roger, stepping aside to allow the music instructor in. He swallowed the nervous lump in his throat and gently pushed past Freddie, entering the home like he'd never step foot in it before; as though he were an intruder, taking light steps and holding his breath. He cautiously approached the threshold separating the living room and foyer and grabbed onto the molding, peering into the room as if there was something dangerous hiding around the corner. However, the only danger present lied on the couch, with his arm hanging off the edge, his eyes closed, and his chest rising and falling in an almost unnoticeable rhythm. Surrounding him were countless bottles of assorted liquors, beers, and wines; a few glasses had been thrown into the mix too.

"You owe me an entire liquor cabinet, Roger," Mary growled, closing the door behind Freddie as he slipped inside. As soon as the locks were placed, she disappeared upstairs, refusing to discuss the issue further and putting forth an obvious effort to direct and maintain a glare in the blonde's direction the entire way. It was only when she escaped into the shadows and could no longer see him that she dropped the act, leaving Freddie to join Roger's side and stare at the sight before them.

"Well, so much for that drink," the dark-haired man tutted, crossing his arms. "Your lousy boyfriend beat us to it."

"Oh, would you give it a break?" Roger scoffed, walking into the room and rounding the sofa Tim was sprawled across. He crouched down beside the end of the couch where his boyfriend's head was propped up on a pillow decorated with a puddle of saliva, smiling sadly at him before daring to place a hand on his arm and give him a slight shake.

Tim woke with a start, his head turning side to side frantically as he tried to place where he was—his surroundings completely unfamiliar to him. When his bloodshot eyes fell upon the blue ones he had the pleasure of waking up to every morning, his anxiety subsided and he brought a hand up to caress Roger's cheek.

"I'm so glad to see you," he murmured, a crooked smile appearing on his face and his words slurred beyond belief. "I...I want to talk to you."

The blonde returned the gesture, wrapping his free hand around Tim's and bringing it down to his lips for a gentle kiss. "Let's get you home first, yeah?"

Tim nodded his head and tried to sit up, struggling to do so on his own accord. Roger quickly stepped in—this dance they were doing unfortunately familiar. The blonde couldn't remember how many times he's lifted Tim up from whatever couch he decided to crash on, draped his heavy arm over his shoulders for support, and ushered him out with a sense of shame that he'd never admit to but failed to disguise. This night was no different.

Freddie watched as the couple went to leave his home, biting his lip as he debated whether or not to express the concern he had building in the back of his throat. However, if there was one thing about Freddie, it was that he never held back from speaking his mind.

"Roger?" he called out, his voice not sounding as confident as he would've liked it to, but nevertheless stopping the blonde in his tracks.

"What is it, Fred?" The exasperation in the blonde's response was blatant.

"I really think you should give Brian a chance," he declared, the timid delivery of the message deprived of its necessary strength. "Because if you don't, he's just going to end up like me, and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy."

Roger chuckled, finding it funny that his friend was still on the topic. He thought for sure the loud music during the car ride had shut him up for good, and that the drinks would make him forget about it altogether. Could he blame him for remembering, though? Tim had gotten to the drinks before they did. "Look, Freddie, he's not gay, okay? He's just confused, I told you that."

"Who's gay?" Tim interjected, his sluggish gaze trailing from his feet to the pair of friends who ignored him as they continued their conversation.

"Well I don't think he is," the dark-haired man disagreed, "He's a smart man, Roger. He's a college professor, for fuck's sake!"

"Yeah, and so am I!" the blonde shouted, "So that doesn't say much, now, does it?"

"Hey, I am too," his boyfriend languidly chimed in, raising a declarative finger before dropping it on Roger's cheek, the blonde flinching as Tim dragged the appendage down his neck and arm until it returned to his side.

Freddie shook his head in disappointment before meeting the music instructor's gaze again and stressing the fact of the matter with, "I'm just saying, Rog—"

"I don't care what you have to say, Fred," he cut his friend short, a terseness to his remark that silenced Freddie almost instantly. The two shared an awkward stare for a bit before Roger readjusted his hold on Tim and turned to leave, not getting a step outside before looking back of his shoulder and murmuring an apologetic, "You know I don't—"

"I know," the dark-haired man uttered, a small, forgiving grin appearing on his lips as he nodded his head towards the door, "Just take him home and call me when you get there to let me know you got there safely, okay?"