But I Would (closed)

[Romeo Buckland]

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While it’s true that Romeo hadn’t touched base with Fer yet after his incident with the blonde, the Irish teen insists that it wasn’t his fault. It’s just that, despite the winter break, he found himself overloaded with things to do and places to go to and he simply forgot. He reminded himself to go check on the Brazilian every morning and actually ask what happened (since he didn’t really know why Jocelyn would punch the boy, and while he’s heard rumours, he knew better than to believe them, having firsthand experience in creating one himself) but almost always found himself forgetting to do so until the end of the day when he’s in bed (either his own or some other one’s) and it’s just too late to sneak into the Brazilian’s room. He could’ve called or texted, but he figured something this sensitive was best done in person.

To be honest, he was actually starting to forget the whole thing, until a couple of friends mentioned, in different instances, how they’ve noticed that the bubbly and cheery Brazilian’s seemingly off. How he’s more reclusive, jumpy and even a little aloof lately. It got Romeo just a tad bit worried that he decided to cancel his plans for the afternoon (it was just a movie date anyway, not to mention ‘Rise of the Guardians’ didn’t look all too interesting) and head on over to the boy’s room.

“Hey Fer, you in there?” he said as he knocked on the door, shaking his back slightly to adjust the backpack he brought, “I kind of have an itch I desperately need to be scratched and since Stacy supposedly still has herpes and Cynthia won’t be back till next Monday, you’re my best bet.”

“So what do you say man, help a bro out will you?”

[Fer Reyes]

"No!" Fer yelled at the door.

In all honesty, Fer had been tired of Romeo for some time now. The boy was a little too proud and "hey I'm the hottest thing ever" for Fer's taste, and the fact that he might or might not be was really beside the point. Fer wasn't the most humble guy around, but yet, he knew that Romeo needed a big dose of modesty, at least if he wanted not to be insufferable for the Brazilian boy. He had ruined his chance of a romantic date with Michael after MANifesto (even if he was part of the reason why Michael won), he had been talking to people about Fer's sexual skills (even if they were good and true), and now he was here knocking in Fer's door asking him to scratch him?

A part of him was indeed telling him that this excuse seemed off. Fer had heard that after that blonde had punched him, Romeo had beaten the crap out of him, but if he did, why didn't he hear anything from Romeo since then? The slight beam of hope that this guy wasn't a complete douchebag that the situation with the bully and Romeo had provided Fer was dead by the time Romeo knocked on his door and overkilled with the favor he was now asking.

"The door is locked." He yelled, even if he knew Romeo could break it but hoping he wouldn't want to get in trouble for doing that. "Go away."

[Romeo Buckland]

Romeo’s nose crinkled when he heard Fer’s answer. Not exactly the answer he was hoping for, but at the same time, it’s not like he was expecting anything less.

You see, the Irish teen had noticed that the Brazilian seemed to be avoiding him lately. For one thing, he hadn’t been putting out much – or at all – lately; the replicator always had an excuse, be it homework, a pre-planned trip to town with his best friend or something else. (Lucky for him, Romeo always had a back-up plan, from PlanB to PlanZ even). There’s also the sudden increase of instances where he got ignored in the hallways. And the repeated yawning whenever they’re forced to have conversations with each other (group projects and all that; Fer hadn’t been alone with him since that date). Romeo could go on and on. While a sane person would most probably be wondering why already, the armoured teen wasn’t bothered. Or at least, not much.

After all, he’s convinced that Fer’s in love with him.

Ask me not how or why, but to him he said it made perfect sense.

“You see, I’d usually just go out and find someone else, but it’s really really itchy. Like the special kind of itch only a few people can handle. You’re in an elite group ‘Nando, don’t you love it?” Romeo found himself chuckling slightly after saying that sentence. “Come on bro, I promise to return the favour?” His hands slowly wrapped around the knob, his fingers tapping slightly as he tried not to get impatient. “I could crush this doorknob but then I’d be naked and it’s freezing right now. You don’t want me to die of the cold right? And I don’t think your roomies would be happy coming back to a broken door.”

“Pretty please?”

[Fer Reyes]

"Just go away, Romeo!" Fer whined again.

Boy, couldn't this Irish guy understand Fer didn't want him there? He was not in the mood for Romeo, nor sex, which Fer guessed was what he was looking for. He was in the mood to stay all day in bed, wrapped in his sheets like the day before that and the day before that one. It was a very good way to spend the days while the black eye finishes fading away completely. Fer guessed that once it did, he'd return to normal, but on the meantime, things were far from normal, and Romeo was not one to help towards that goal.

"Break it, whatever, I'll call 911!" Or whatever number he was supposed to call for emergencies inside Hammel, since after all, Romeo would be intruding. "I'm not going to scratch you anything, I'm going to sleep now, BYE!"

[Romeo Buckland]

"Don't say I didn't warn you," yelled Romeo back in a playful, mischievous, almost giggly voice.

The Irish teen took one deep breath and in less than a second, the sound of cloth ripping began as his body became covered in metallic plates. While what remained of his clothes didn't fall off him and (surprisingly) still managed to cover certain areas, the warmth they once provided was now gone. With one quick motion he squeezed and crumpled the doorknob like paper. "Hey Fer, miss me?" he asked with a smirk, opening his arms out as if hinting for a hug as he turned his power off.

When it seemed like he wasn't getting his hug though, Romeo shrugged and said, "Guess we'll just get to it then so you can go back to sleep faster?" Instead of going to the bedroom though, he just walked to the centre of the common room and checked out the consoles under the TV. "Great! Your roommies were smart and have a PS3. This trip would've been a waste if they weren't." He turned on the TV and the console, put a Call of Duty cd in and threw one of the controllers to Fer. Once the game's set up, he went back to the couch and opened his bag, pulling out a huge back of Cheetos and Lays.

"You're not going to let me own these noobs asses alone, are you?" said Romeo with a grin, patting the space beside him as he leaned back on the couch and propped his feet up the centre table.

[Fer Reyes]

Great. Fer was definitely going to hear it from his roommates once they noticed what had happened to the door. If it wasn't for the fact that Rhett's cellphone was a bit far away from his bed, and that he had tried replicating it before and had only managed to get his SIM blocked by the cellphone company, the Brazilian's only reaction to Romeo breaking and entering was rolling around to face the wall instead of the door towards the common room.

He hid his head inside the worm of sheets he was being at the moment with all his sheets tightly wrapped around him and ignored all of Romeo's questions and rambles. Did he really think Fer was up for playing videogames? Heck, did he even think Fer liked videogames? He even seemed to remember an occasion in which the question, or proposition, arrived and Fer responded he preferred other types of joysticks, which up until now, Fer thought Romeo did too, but Fer was grateful that the Irish boy was not inside Fer's own room trying to impose himself on Fer, as he was also not in the mood to have sex either.

Hopefully Romeo was smart enough to detect and understand the silent treatment and what it meant.

[Romeo Buckland]

It was taking a while for the game to load (probably someone messing with the internet connection again; he'd bet it was that weird Ukrainian student with his ability to turn computers wonky that's to blame - he's been the cause of three disasters in Romeo's classes so far after all) so the Irish boy opened the Cheetos bag and begun munching. "Thought you loved Cheetos? If you won't get out from there, I'll finish this on my own," he said, stuffing his mouth with a handful of the said food as he took a quick glance to the boy's room.

The game's start-up screen finally loaded and still Fer wasn't budging. So with a groan, Romeo got up, went to the Brazilian's room and jumped on the boy's bed, deftly wrapping his arms around the boy's waist and putting his chin on the boy's shoulder (or at least what he thought was Fer's waist and shoulder; he was buried under very thick blankets after all). "Hey," he said in a partly joking, partly concerned voice, "Why are you being like this? Is it your time of the month again?"

[Fer Reyes]

"Yes..." Fer said softly. "Now would you please leave my alone? My aunt Flo is coming in heavy."

For a small second there, Fer wondered if Romeo was really as clueless as he was acting now. Fer was obviously in a very dark mood, and the best thing he could do was proposition to scratch him, play video-games and then joke about Fer being a girl? What was he doing here again? It wasn't to comfort Fer in anyway, clearly, so did he really want to do all the things he was talking about? He could have gone to any other guy who did like video-games or wanted to "scratch" him in Hammel, and Fer was sure there were lots, and yet, he was here bugging Fer when all he was asking was to be left alone. It simply seemed cruel.

"Romeo," Probably the first time he ever called the boy by his full name instead of "Rommy" or something else. "I'm not in the mood for you or anything else." He was talking softly. "Please, go away."

[Romeo Buckland]

Romeo knew something was up; if he wasn't certain about it before, he was now. He was slowly understanding that the blonde fairy's punch did more than just hurt Fer physically. And as one of the Brazilian's close(?) friends (at least he believed they were), he felt that he had to help him feel better. Show him that he's concerned, make Fer feel that he's not alone and he's ok now.

But at the same time, cliche as it might sound, Romeo's (still) a dude.

Fer's 'aunt Flo' comment caught Romeo off guard; it took him a while to get it and when he did, it sent him into a fit of laughter. It went on for a few seconds, his eyes almost tearing in glee. "Why did I find that so funny?" muttered the Irish after he's calmed down. He rubbed his nose on the blanket to wipe the tears away before pulling it down so he can see Fer's face. "Come on Fer, Chris and I were planning on going to this rich college chick's indoor pool party but I ditched him for you. I'm missing out on so much boobs right now. Least you can do is humour me," whined Romeo as he placed his head back in the crook of his neck.

He stayed silent for a few seconds, before saying, in a soft and surprisingly serious voice, "You can come out of the blankets now Fernando. It's safe now. Everything's gonna be ok." He gave Fer a sincere smile before planting a light peck on his cheeks.

"So what do you say? One round? I've already opened the Cheetos; they'd get bad if we just let it stand there. I also have a bottle of strawberry vodka and coffee liquor if you want some."

[Fer Reyes]

Contrary to the fact that he had just talked, Fer was adamant in continuing his silent treatment towards Romeo. The Irish boy's first reaction to Fer's words didn't make things better. What was so funny about it? There was nothing funny and Fer didn't feel like humoring anyone, he never asked Romeo to come, and in fact he never asked Romeo to do anything, so Fer owed him nothing.

Everything changed, though, the moment he felt that arm wrap, those words sound off of Romeo's mouth and that gentle kiss land his cheek. Fer could already feel a small tear form in his right eye.

"You don't understand, Romeo," Fer said as he grabbed Rome's arm and pulled him closer. "You're a guy, you're a jock. You're all muscly and manly." Fer's voice was softer and most fragile than ever, he was clearly a couple steps from breaking intro crying. "You like guys, but you like girls, so it's all ok," he pulled Romeo even closer, wishing to remove the sheets and feel the embrace closer to his skin. "You will never get bullied because of that, and if you do, you'll beat them up. But I... I'm not like that."

[Romeo Buckland]

A dozen different ‘witty comebacks’ just popped in the Irish teen’s head and were practically clawing their way out as Fer spoke. It’s not that the gravity of the situation was lost on Romeo – he wasn’t that dense after all – but it’s just that, well, it’s his nature; emotionality’s just not for him. He pretty much avoids it like the plague; once things get a little too loaded, you can be quite sure that he’s the one saying something inappropriate just to alleviate the mood. (Sure people will get mad at him, but he says as long as they’re not talking about it anymore, it’s all worth it).

But the arm that reached out to him and the sound of the Brazilian’s voice (coupled with the incredibly determined ‘Get out of here!’ mood Fer was in earlier) told him that such actions wouldn’t be tolerated at this particular situation. That, and that the boy really needed someone right now.

“You’re right, I don’t understand,” said Romeo, pulling away as he sat up. He stared at Fer for a bit and gave a weak smile, before nonchalantly joining the replicator under the sheets, pulling the Brazilian close to his chest. “Just like I probably would never understand how flowers bloom or how the sun manages to shine. But that doesn’t stop flowers from blooming and the sun from, well, shining. (I’m bad with Biology and Physics. Just ask Mr. McQueen).” Boy was he glad Chris wasn’t here right now. He realized how cliché and cheesy that sounded and he’s pretty sure his best friend wouldn’t let him hear the end of it. He gave Fer a smile that asked ‘You get what I’m saying?’ and hoped for the best. (Because he didn’t really understand it himself, but in his head, it made sense). “Well I’m glad you’re not like me, because if you were, I wouldn’t be able to tease you about being a fag without getting a black eye.” Low blow, he knew. Hopefully his chuckle at the end made it less offensive. “What I’m saying is, Fernando Manuel Reyes, you don’t have to worry about the bullies anyway. You’ve got me.”

"Now can we please shoot us some newbs and eat some junkfood and drink? You're too pretty to stay huddled under your sheets forever," he added with a kiss on the boy's forehead, "That, and these blankets smell nasty. How long has it been since you've changed these?"

[Fer Reyes]

Fer was about to comment on how corny and slightly out of place Romeo's words had been, when he got called fag, yet again, by him. He immediately let go of the Irish's arm and shoved it away so it was no longer hugging him, just before he buried himself deeper into his little hiding spot from the world inside the sheets.

"I don't wanna," Fer's muffled voice exclaimed. "Go away Romeo."

Romeo had been so close, so close, to be what Fer wanted and needed at the moment. As romantic as the "you've got me" sounded in Fer's ears, in his brain, he couldn't help but put it next to being called fag, or whore, or fairy, or cocksucker, or whatever other word the Irish boy used to describe or call Fer, and simply, the little nice things Romeo did weren't close to comparison. Not even what he had done to that bully in retaliation to what he had done to him.

"I didn't ask you to hit him, I'm not going to thank you either." He started to softly cry. "I don't need you. Let me be."

[Romeo Buckland]

And again he was shot down.

If Romeo could groan in irritation, he would’ve let out the loudest groan he could at the moment. While he wasn’t sure entirely why he visited Fer other than to check on the boy, he’s fairly sure that getting sent away and making the other teen cry was not one of them. And he couldn’t blame the boy fully; he did use a word that was considered offensive by most, but he thought since the Brazilian knew him as being rather abrasive, it’s ok.

And besides, his speech was very sympathetic. And emotional. And gutwrenching. God he felt himself tearing up a bit when he said it. He’s pretty sure had Chris heard it and seen how he’d given the replicator a close hug (and a chaste kiss on the forehead), he’d been mocked for having ovaries already. (Or alternative, if a girl had seen what he’s doing, he’s pretty sure he’d gotten laid already.).

Since when did Fer became even more complicated than a girl?

“Well you don’t have to worry, because I’m not here to ask you to thank me,” he said as he sat up and crossed his arm, his voice starting to show signs of his annoyance. He insisted that should he wanted one, he would’ve met up with Fer within hours of the incident. “And even if you would’ve asked me not to hit him, I still would’ve. You’re my friend Fer. Heck even if you were in the wrong, I still would’ve punched that jerk.”

He was thinking of leaving. Seriously considering it. After all, Fer had been sending him away since the moment he got to his door. But for some reason, he didn’t – but instead stayed there in bed, leaning back and staring blankly at the wall clock to his right.

“Why are you being like this Fer? I tried…everything damn it. What do you want me to do?” He heard the sobbing from his side, but chose to ignore it. He tried giving Fer some cuddling, maybe it’s time to shift gears and have some tough love. “And if you say leave you one more time, I swear I’d…”

Actually leave? Give Fer another black eye? Drag him to the couch himself?

To be honest, he actually didn’t know.

[Fer Reyes]

Romeo was saying so very nice and very right things. Fer could tell the Irish boy was being honest, and that his doucheness had, at least, been hidden a little at least for the moment, a fact Fer was appreciating a lot. Yet, nothing really made the boy feel better. Romeo was asking what was it that Fer wanted, and he simply was not sure. He didn't have the smallest clue.

"I don't know ok!" Fer exclaimed rather loudly. "I don't know what I want... what do YOU want?" He asked curiously. "If you're not here for thanks, what are you here for? I'm very obviously fine, and I already told you I don't want to play videogames." Knowing Romeo as he did, Fer thought it was a good idea to clarify more too. "Nor I want to have sex... so?"

Fer hadn't actually told Romeo to leave again, but he had implied it, or so Fer thought anyway. He wanted to be alone, he still needed to figure out things and gather his own strength to go back out and face the world, a thing that seemed much harder than he remembered. Yet, a small part of him wasn't quite sure that he wanted to shoo Romeo out, and it grew stronger with every nice-side part Romeo let slip.

"Stay..." Fer said softly as he unwrapped himself from his sheet coffin and offering a spot in bed, and under the sheets, to Romeo by softly patting the bed. "Just... hold me." He lied himself back down, giving his back to the other boy and hugging a pillow strongly. "And shut up."

[Romeo Buckland]

Finally Fer asked what seemed to be the million dollar question.

In the Brazilian’s defense, he had been implying that for quite some time. Sure it was rather subtle, with the whole not in the mood thing, but it was there. And to be honest, Romeo got it. Only, the Irish teen wasn’t really keen on answering the question. Heck, he didn’t even want to answer it himself.

Particularly ‘cause the answer was a little uncomfortable. For him anyway.

He did stay silent throughout Fer’s outburst though, simply staring straight at the other boy with an expressionless face. When the Brazilian finally offered him a place under the sheets beside him, Romeo silently complied, wrapping his arms around the smaller boy’s waist and placing his nose the base of his neck.

“I just want you to be ok again,” he whispered, “And don’t stop lying to me about being fine because you’re not. Everyone knows you’re not.” And by everyone, Romeo meant everyone. Fer might not know it, but he’s sort of a school celebrity now, with Romeo – among others – talking about him a lot. (With Romeo it’s 90% Fer being great in bed and 10% him as an amazing friend; pretty sure other Hammel students were way more prudent with their Fer!stories). “Because seriously, who turns down a chance to be with me?” added Romeo with a chuckle, then quickly added, “I know, I know. I’ll shut up now.” Just in case he’ll get sent away again, he promptly wrapped his arms tighter and pulled the boy closer to him. “One more thing though, to be clear, we aren’t cuddling right? ‘Cause I don’t cuddle and if Chris finds out about this, he won’t let me hear the end of it.” Stupid sentence right there he knew, but he’s Romeo. His mouth ruins moments all the time. “Ok, ok, I get it. Shutting up. Don’t send me away. I rather like it here.”

“We will drink those drinks I brought later right?” he said after a few seconds of silence, “Those shit’re expensive and I’ve been dying to taste them since I bought them the other day.”