Midnight Memories (Dem)

[Greg Mackenzie]

Happens immediately after this

/Really now? Really?/ Though to be honest had the situation been reversed, Greg would’ve totally said the same thing. And wasn’t it the foundation at which their friendship was based on anyway? To be honest, it was probably just the wee hours of the morning and Greg really just had no patience for Dem’s special kind of bull crap at the moment.

“Need I remind you that you were the one who woke me up?” growled Greg as he answered the door wearing nothing but his boxers. Putting in pajamas was way too much work. And ‘sides, the weather makes sleeping with anything more than his underwear incredibly uncomfortable. He instinctively grabbed Dem’s chin, inspected it by pushing it from side to side before groaning. “Jeeze. What is up with you and fighting?” He led the boy into his room and tapped on his bed as he sat, signalling the boy to follow.

[Demetrius Wolfbane]

Yes really. You're the one who started it. It was too early for Demetrius' usual flavor of speech. So while harsh, his speech was lacking the distinctive sort of cussing that made Demetrius himself. Besides, he really had been the one to wake the other boy up.

For absolutely no reason.

Still it wasn't like he could admit that to Greg. He didn't like the idea of admitting anything to Greg. Which didn't explain why Demetrius was currently walking across the common room to Greg's room wearing his usual sleeping attire of a soft t-shirt and loose fitting pajama bottoms. Not for necessity, because they were uncomfortable to sleep in, but because he was uncomfortable with the idea of anyone finding out how skinny he was.

Dem scoffed at the hand grabbing his face, smacking it gently but still allowing Greg to turn his face either way to examine the bruise. ”Y’know. I love testin’ to see how many punches it takes to get me down.” He shrugged slightly and took the invitation to go sit on the bed. On the very edge. Obviously uncomfortable having come over.

((192))

[Greg Mackenzie]

Greg rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around Dem’s waist, effortlessly pulling the other boy close. And boy was that really effortless. “Shit Dem, do you even eat?” He heard that people who mutated for flight had lighter bones like birds that made them more aerodynamic or something, but they couldn’t be this light naturally, couldn’t they?

He held the boy close and began scanning him some more, trying to assess how bad the damage was. “And that accomplishes what exactly?” The fact that someone would actually punch Dem made him sick to the stomach. He tried to tell himself that it wasn’t because the boy seemed thin and sickly, but it was because the boy was his friend and he didn’t like seeing his friends get hurt. Maybe it was a mixture of both? “Didn’t know you were into the whole BSDM thing. Not for you to be honest.”

“So tell me what happened exactly. I’ve heard rumours, but I figure I’d hear it from your side first. And don’t bother lying.” He tapped his temple twice to let Dem know that he’d know if the Texan was lying. In principle anyway.

[Demetrius Wolfbane]

"Y'seen me eat!" Demetrius didn't add that Gregory only saw him eat apples. Nor did he add that apples was pretty much the sole consistency of Demetrius' diet. He wasn't even going to think about why he wasn't eating. Being nervous and scared of a new place even after a month was just pitiful. What he did instead was pull himself out of Greg's arm with a half-assed sneer.

It accomplished nothing, though, since Greg was more intent on viewing his injuries than making sure Dem wasn't going to punch him. Green eyes rolled slightly before he huffed. "It accomplishes me knowin' my limits." He mumbled slightly, still trying to pull away from the telepath. It was good that Greg kept his pity to himself. Pity always made Demetrius go defensive, and often he turned to violence. "It ain't. Get no pleasure when y'don't feel the pain." he explained casually. Like his medical condition didn't matter. Like it didn't mean he had spent two hours getting prodded by a nurse to make sure there wasn't internal damage.

There was a pause before the boy huffed again, stretching out on his back to stare at Greg's ceiling. "Tell me the rumours first."

[Greg Mackenzie]

“Cut the tough guy crap Demetrius. How many times do I have to tell you it won’t work on me?” Seemed like no matter how hard he rolls his eyes or how loud his sighs whenever Dem puts an act on, the Texan still continued to act the same way. Was this how his parents feel whenever he’d sneak out and go home late despite their warnings?

Feeling like Dem’s parent wasn’t exactly how he wanted the night to go. He’s so young to be a ‘daddy’ after all.

He absentmindedly lifted Dem’s baggy shirt and saw the bruise. “Fuck Dem you already got this checked didn’t you? What did the nurse say?” Oh how he wished he was there to stop the fight. Or at least drag Dem’s lithe body out before things got to this point.

“Each story was different, but consensus was you started yapping at a poor girl in the library cause she stole your spot. Called her names and threatened to punch her if she didn’t leave, but then her big burly boyfriend came to the scene and knocked the air out of you. You’re down in like a minute.”

[Demetrius Wolfbane]

"Depends. How long till y'get bored?" He shrugged slightly and gave the argument no more energy. Greg might only be tired after using his power, but Dem was in a constant state of all he could do was keep his eyes open. It had slowly become worse once he started actively use his power. Though that didn't explain why he was still up tonight.

Dem blamed Greg.

Demetrius rolled his eyes once more before he finally caught onto his action. Eyes widened slightly as he realized Gregory was rubbing off on him. And not in the good way. "I'm fuckin' fine Mackenzie. Been to the damn nurse every fuckin' day. I'm not gunna drop dead." He shut his eyes and sighed again.

"Well great. Everyone thinks I'ma fuckin' pussy." He mumbled softly before shaking his head. "I... Didn't mean ta insult her... A'ight? I just wanted 'em ta shut the fuck up. I didn't care what it took." He practically breathed out the next words, admitting more to Greg than he had Vincent. "Look I called her a bitch but... It was like callin' y'a bitch. Then her boyfriend got all pissy 'cause of it. He hit me first. They just came in all bitchin' and yellin' and doin' some weird ass matin' calls."

[Greg Mackenzie]

When Dem finally told Greg his side of the story, the Canadian didn’t know if he should laugh or actually be angry with Dem about the whole thing. “Oh Dem,” he said, half laughing, half exasperated, “First off, I’m not like everyone else.” He wagged a finger in front of the Texan’s face to emphasize his point. “Also, I’m ok with being called a ‘bitch’ by you ‘cause I understand. I get away with calling people ‘bitches’ and ‘hoes’ cause I laugh in the end. I’m pretty sure you forgot that essential part, didn’t you?” He’d also say that he’s very selective in those he fights, but he didn’t want to sound too preachy. He figured the boy’s got enough lecture for one night.

“And come on, if we were together too and a stranger called you a ‘slut’ out of the blue, I’d beat the crap out of them too.” He threw a couple of punches in the air to show off, before laughing at how incredulous he looked like. “You sure you had human interaction growing up?” He ruffled Dem’s hair and pulled him closer again, this time putting his head on his chest. “Next time you get into a fight again, call me k? Reinforcement and shit.”

Well, to calm things down and all. Fighting’s never been Greg’s thing.

[Demetrius Wolfbane]

Dem shoved Greg gently at the laugh, glaring with absolutely no venom. He was too tired for venom. "Oh fuck off. I know y'ain't like everyone else." The urge to bite the finger waggling in front of his face was a little disturbing. But he managed to shove it away. Though his eyes remained trained on the finger like a cat watching its prey. "Well! He was gettin' pissed! I thought he'd just leave. Most people 'round here do." He grumbled slightly, trying not sound like he was pouting. He was failing.... Miserably.

His eyes narrowed at the gesture of Greg's "defense". But the younger boy knew better than to take it seriously. After all it wasn't like Greg would actually want to get to together with him wasn't like Demetrius would ever be stupid enough to date Greg. There wasn't a serious problem until Greg was ruffling Dem's hair and Dem registered the words. Even then it wasn't that big an issue. "Shut the fuck up. I ain't need your protection. I can handle it m'self."

There was a pause before he sighed. "I had human interaction... Y'know... Hospitals. Doctors, nurses, Mom, Dad... M'brother." He wouldn't add that those were the primary source of his human interaction as a child. At times they were the only interaction he got.

[Greg Mackenzie]

Oh Dem. Times like these Greg felt like he was talking to an alien. Or a five year old. “Normally they do, but you insulted their partner,” he said with a matter-of-factly voice, one hand rubbing Dem’s back and another stroking his hair just slightly, “Men get defensive around their partners. You know, biological need to show he’s the strongest and all.” Greg’s experienced it with Richard a thousand times before. It wasn’t pretty, and in retrospect he always regretted it, but at the moment adrenalin just pushes him and he does things he normally wouldn’t do.

Like kick a guy in the balls.

Greg was actually surprised Dem hasn’t pushed him away yet. Not that he was complaining or anything. Dem cooperating with him was a new thing, but not entirely unwelcome. “Sure you do.” Greg decided to leave it at that; boy’s ego was hurt enough, better leave him some dignity lest he just melts into a puddle of goo. “I just don’t like you getting hurt.” He instinctively tilted Dem’s chin up, but before he did anything, caught himself and simply planted one on the Texan’s forehead. “Motherly instinct and all that,” he added.

“Did you manage to get their names by the way? The guy and the girl?”

[Demetrius Wolfbane]

Dem probably was close to a five year old in way of his social skills. But he didn't need reminded of that fact. He'd undoubtedly just get pissy again. "I doubt they were datin' anyway. Guy didn't listen to the chick at all." He grumbled slightly, shutting his eyes and relaxing into Greg's touch. Why was he allowing this anyway? Usually he would have shoved the telepath away by now and thought nothing of it. Once again he'd just blame it on being tired and on the fact it felt nice. Greg's hand on his hair. He suddenly understood what attracted Greg to the feeling back when they were on the couch sick.


The boy was still busy contemplating his newfound joy for human contact when Greg went back to speaking. Dem's brows furrowed at the tone in Greg's voice. He sensed pity and exasperation. But if he brought it up... Greg would stop petting him. So Demetrius let the comment slide, only to have his eyes fly open at Greg's next words. Green eyes glazed with suspicion as he felt the hand guiding his head up. Gr- He cut the thought off abruptly as Greg guided a kiss to his forehead. Rolling his eyes slightly Dem let out an annoyed huff to cover his.... disappointment? "Right. A big ass mother hen y'are."

The suspicion only increased at Greg's question and he pushed off the bed slightly, putting his weight on his elbows. "Uhhh.... Dude was Lucas... And some chick he kept callin' Marn."

[Greg Mackenzie]

The night – or technically morning – was originally supposed to be about Dem. Greg felt nervous about the guy and it was supposed to be about him telling the Texan that he should take care, ask for help if necessary and all that jazz.

But then he mentioned that the guy’s name was Lucas. And the girl was Marn.

It couldn’t be.

“Did the guy have black hair, blue eyes and was rather lanky?” he asked, the hand petting the boy’s hair stopping without thinking, “Did the girl have brown to blonde hair, brown eyes and a cute smile that could do no wrong?” Now he was torn. If Dem did insult Marnie first, then it was truly his fault. But at the same time, Lucas beat Dem up. Shit. Why.

Note to self: send Marnie a text later this morning.

[Demetrius Wolfbane]

Dem still kind of thought the night was about him. Granted the interrogation had taken a strange turn, one that Dem wasn't sure he liked, but it was still about him being stupid and fighting. Again. He resisted the urge to groan as he tried to imagine what he would tell his brother when Elias found out about all this.

His eyes narrowed more and he tensed some despite the ministrations to his hair. "Yeah. Lanky. Dick. Completely egotistical. I fuckin' walk up and tell 'em to hush and he goes and threatens me." He explained, still watching Greg suspiciously. Something told him he was going to have to beg or plead here soon if he wanted the physical contact to remain. "Yeah. I guess she was cute. She tried ta stop the fight... But I was ignorin' her most the time. Figured the guy would leave first. If I'd known she ain't gunna bitch I woulda just ignored the guy." And only punched him once. Just for being a dick without a reason Dem could see.

[Greg Mackenzie]

That was Marnie. Defs Marnie.

“Oh fuck me,” groaned Greg, throwing his head back. He shook his head a few times before lowering it down so he’s eye level with Dem. “That girl’s a good friend of mine, you little shit.” There was no malice in his statement though; twisted as the situation was, Greg couldn’t help but laugh. World just got smaller really. “We really have to work on your anger issues.”

As much as Greg would want to resolve things with Marnie already, girl’s probably asleep at the moment so the telepath decided it’s high time to put it off and bring things back in to Dem. “Know what, we should keep on practicing the whole communication thing. So next time you’re in a rut, you can just shout my name through your thoughts.” Which shouldn’t be hard, considering how his mental tendrils automatically hone in on Dem’s mind anyway. He looked at Dem straight in the eye, pushed some of his bangs away and said, “Don’t think I’d want another repeat of this. It ain’t fun.”

[Demetrius Wolfbane]

At Greg's groan, Demetrius wasn't able to stop a cold feeling of something running through his veins. He knew he'd been breaking a lot of his self imposed rules when it came to the telepath, but the sharp sense of fear startled even him. He hadn't thought Greg had gotten that far under his skin. His green eyes narrowed some as Greg smoke. Just because he couldn't hear the anger didn't mean it wasn't there. Demetrius watched carefully, looking for any sign of what he'd fucked up, still adamantly blaming the other boy all the while. "What the fuck do y'mean we?" He mumbled finally.

Sensing that the crisis had been successfully diverted, though there was no crisis to begin with, Dem allowed himself to relax again. However Dem was aware of his bad mouth, and his tendency to say the wrong thing around Greg, so he grasped at anything to turn the conversation around. Still desperate for something to use, Demetrius faked a pout at Greg's words, trying to ignore the fact Greg just moved his bangs. "What? Y'don't like me in your bed? How sad. I was thinkin' I'd make this a regular thing. Maybe take y'up on your... generous offer." The offer he was referring to was something Greg had said offhand on Dem's first day.

Yes, the winged boy still remembered.

[Greg Mackenzie]

Of course Dem just had to ruin the moment.

“You are one dirty fucker!” laughed Greg, patting the other boy’s cheek slightly as, well, Dem’s thoughts started flooding his own. “Really now? We were just having a moment and then…god.” Guess they’re really still a long ways off from, well, being able to talk like normal human beings.

Dem destroying the mood was the perfect way to close the night though, at least in Greg’s eyes. “As much as I’d love to take you and your perky little butt’s offer, I told you I don’t sleep with guys until the third date.” He gave Dem’s hair one last ruffle before standing up and moving to the other side of the bed, putting his waist down under the covers. “And you my friend, haven’t even taken me on my first.” He moved across the bed slowly, till he’s back beside Dem but under the covers, and grabbed the boy’s neck, pulling him close for a quick kiss. “Kissing and cuddling however, is allowed,” he said as he pulled away.

He pulled back part of his sheets and tapped his bed soon after. “Friday though. You’re taking me to see a movie and maybe dinner. I’ll count that as a first date.” He snuggled to align his head with his pillows and then gave Dem an ‘are-you-coming-or-not’ look. “I’m a big spoon. Deal with it.”

At least classes were done so he didn’t have to wake up so early the next morning.