Darkness

Nightmares

Avi and Scott were at the park for over an hour. After they had finished their ice cream Avi had stopped talking and started to soak in the warmth of the sun. 

They sat there for over an hour until Scott gently patted his friend's knee. "Shall we head back?"

Avi hummed. "Alright. It's nice here though."

"Well, the park isn't running away and its just down the street, with a little bit of practice you can come here by yourself."

"Yeah, it really isn't far from home." Scott got up first, he noticed when his body blocked the nice breeze, and Avi followed. His fingers curled back around his friend's biceps and together they walked back to the apartment building. 

Avi put away his shoes, careful not to pinch his fingers while he was closing the cabinet in the hallway, and then walked towards the couch. 

Scott noticed how much easier it already was for his friend to get around in his own apartment and he smiled softly. He was proud of Avi for accepting his new life. 

"Will you be alright?"

"Yes, thank you. I think I'll lay down for a little and then sit on the balcony. Going outside was exhausting. Can we do it again soon?"

"Hey, of course! And you can always call me, okay? No matter what. I don't want to find you sitting on that kitchen floor again."

The bass couldn't help but chuckle. "Okay, I will. Thanks, Scott."

"Sure thing." He walked over to Avi and gave him a soft squeeze. "I'll be back on Thursday?"

The smaller man shrugged and nodded. "You don't have to if you're busy. I'll be okay for a couple of days."

Scott patted his shoulder. "I plugged in your phone, it's on your bed. Don't forget."

"Won't." Avi sighed softly and laid down on the couch. He closed his eyes and fell asleep the second Scott left his apartment. 

"And he was just...so brave today" the baritone said and sat down on his couch, then took the glass of wine Mitch handed to him. Since Beau was out of town they met quite often to chug one, sometimes even two bottles of wine together and both men didn't mind. "He just held onto my arm and we went to get ice cream. It was great."

"You have a crush on him."

"I don't."

Mitch eyed him from the side and then grinned before he emptied his glass and poured himself some more. "You do, Scott. And I thought Avi was the blind one."

"Well- he's just- I like him."

"I know! And it's totally fine if its more than just liking. You both deserve someone nice."

Scott sighed softly and looked at his best friend. "But I don't think he's ready for a relationship yet."

The brown haired man rolled his eyes and sat up. He burped and frowned at his own actions before he turned to Scott and pointed at him. "I did not say that you two have to fuck tomorrow evening. I said that- actually, I didn't, anyways, I think you can just hang out and see where it leads you."

"And if I end up hurting him? If I ruin his trust in me?"

"Are you stupid? How? "

"I don't know" Scott admitted and looked at his phone. It was after two, time to head to bed and even though he didn't have a whole lot of wine he felt tipsy. "Are you staying?"

"Yeah, probably. Too drunk to drive home."

Scott opened his mouth to say something but instead his phone started ringing. Avi. 

"It's Avi..."

"Why on earth would he call you at two in the goddamn morning? He goes to bed by like, what, eight? Eight thirty?"

"Stop it, Mitch!" Scott hissed and answered his phone. "Avi?"

But Avi didn't answer. All he did was sniffle, then push his face back in his pillow to muffle his cries.

"Avi, oh my god. What happened?!" Scott was up and on the way to the front door in a matter of seconds. "Talk to me, c'mon. Are you hurt?"

"N-no, no, I-" he hiccuped. "S-scared..."

"Why are you scared?" Scott asked, his voice gentle. "What scared you? Did you have a nightmare?"

The bass hiccuped again and whined. "Yeah.."

"I'll be over soon. Are you in bed?"

"Mhm..under the blanket..."

Scott took his keys. "Alright. I will text you before coming in so you don't get scared even more."

Avi whispered a barely audible "Thank you" before he ended the call and curled up as tight as possible under the blanket. 

Mitch stayed at Scott's place and got comfortable in the guest room while the baritone called an Uber and drove to his friend's apartment. He texted him, then turned the key in the lock to let himself in, took off his shoes and called his name. 

"Avi?" He turned on the lights in the bedroom and saw the man under the blanket, shaking like a leaf. "Avi, it's me, Scott. It's fine, there's nothing to be scared of." He touched his shoulder, then lifted the blanket. "Can you scoot to the side so I can lay down with you? I'm staying with you."

The bass moved to the side. He was sweaty, the gray shirt was dark around his neck and armpits, hair were sticking to his forehead and he had his eyes squeezed shut. When he felt Scott getting comfortable on the mattress he moved closer to him, desperate to be held. 

"Got you" the tall man mumbled and wrapped his arms around his friend. "I got you, Avi."

They didn't talk. Avriel ended up against Scott's side with his head resting on his shoulder while  Scott was gently rubbing his back, up and down until he felt the smaller man relax. His head got heavier and heavier and then he fell asleep, his legs tangled with Scott's, his left hand holding the fabric of his friend's shirt on his tummy.