Falling Away

AN: Welcome to my second attempt at original story-ness. I hope you all like it, I’ll probably tweak it some more later. ^^; And if you follow my other stories, you know I have the tendency of making my stories sort of dark... which this one shall be, eventually. Sap first. Ah well, nothing wrong with sap, every once in awhile. Be kind with reviews, I worked lovingly on this story.

Prologue

“Catch it Renny!” His teammates called to the scrawny blonde. They knew better to actually count on him to catch it, as clumsy as he was. The boy ran for it, watching the white ball dropping from the sky. As his teammates counted on, Renny tripped and fell hard to the ground, ball dropping a little away from him.

Tears filled his eyes; of all his luck, his chin landed on a rather sharp feeling rock. He dragged himself to his knees, determined to throw the ball back. At least he would be some what useful to his friends. He scanned the ground for the ball then found a pair of black boots in front of him. Blinking, he looked up and saw a boy his age standing in front of him with the ball in his hand.

“Oi... Are you okay? Your chin is bleeding.” He threw the ball toward the home plate, the other boys murmuring, amazed at his skill. “Here,” the black haired boy offered his hand to Renny.

“Oh! Thanks...” Taking the offered hand, he stood, brushing himself off.

“Looks pretty bad. You should go home and take care of it.”

“No way.” Renny smiled, gaps in his smile from a few missing teeth. “I’m a man now, mom said so. I can tough it out.”

The boy gave him an odd look then shrugged. “As you say.”

Renny’s teammates shouted for them to return to the game, the blonde yelling back an acceptance. “Do you wanna play with us? Be on my team, okay?” He shook the hand he forgot he was still holding. “My name is Renny, what’s yours?”

“Elkan,” he smiled a little, “and I’d love to play...”

~o------------------------------------------------------o~

“Good game!”

“Yeah, come back tomorrow!” The boys yelled as they left the field.

“Will you come back?” Renny smiled at Elkan, hands brushing off the dust from his pants. Their game had gone well, much better than before Elkan had joined them. Around his new friend, he felt the need to become as good as he was. Half way through the game, he actually caught a fly ball without tripping.

“I’m not sure...” He sighed, digging his toe into the dirt. “I sort of snuck out to be here. I’ve heard you guys playing for awhile now, and I really wanted to join you.”

“Oh! So you aren’t allowed outside?” Renny frowned; and he thought he had tough parents.

“No, it isn’t that... My parents are just very picky with who I spend time with,” he shrugged, “I’ll try to be back here tomorrow. I like playing much better than studying.”

Renny’s nose wrinkled in disgust, “you have to study?! It’s the middle of summer break. That is just... cruel.”

“Ah... I’m home schooled...”

“Even worse... Look, I live down the street,” he pointed in the general direction. “House 1546, if we’re ever not here, come look for me there. I can play any time of day during the summer.” He beamed at his new friend then turned toward his home. “Hope to see you later, Elkan!”

“Same here...” The boy gave him a shy smile, waving at the blonde as he ran from the field. It was the first real friend he’d made; those others that his parents made him associate with were snooty, and their parents acted like they were porcelain dolls when dressing and caring for them. There was nothing better than running outside, goofing off... Climbing a tree... those other kids would give him a look as if he had suggested robbing a bank if he asked if they wanted to climb the garden’s vines. Sneaking out every day might be impossible, but he would try. Lying oddly came easily to him, his parents trusted everything he said. Maybe if he told them he was gardening... or pursuing some sort of new hobby...




Chapter 1

Night of Fun Between Friends

“You are the laziest thing I’ve ever seen.” Elkan muttered, leaning back against the car seat.

“Hey, it’s true. Having two friends with the same birthday cuts down on ‘oh crap, when was his birthday again’. Plus, we can throw the best parties three times a year. My birthday,” Jed ticked off the days with his fingers, “New Years, and your ‘n Renny’s birthday. Twice a year is boring, four can get tiring... Three, that’s the magic number. It’s all evenly spaced out too.”

“Lazy. That’s all I’m saying.”

Jed rolled his eyes, turning to face forward in the driver’s seat, fingers drumming along the wheel to the music. “There is nothing wrong with being lazy. It’s being lazy all the time, which I’m not, that’s wrong.”

“When are you not lazy?” Elkan yawned, glancing out the window to check on Renny. The blonde had run into the store to charm a few drinks from the Liquor Wheel. Oddest name, but the girl on duty had the hots for Renny. Elkan snorted at that thought, scowling a little.

“What? Are you crazy? Look at this body. Look at these muscles, man,” Jed pulled up his sleeve, flexing his biceps. “Tell me that isn’t impressive.”

“...It isn’t impressive.”

“Tch...” The door was yanked open and Renny slid into the back seat with Elkan. “Oooi, welcome back. What did you end up with?”

Renny smiled and held out the two paper bags, “lots of beer, and some tequila.”

“Nice...” Jed started the car, “I’ll go get Matt, then we’ll park it at my house. Ah, I love it when the family goes on vacation without me.”

Elkan sighed, “I can’t wait until my birthday, so I can buy the damn liquor instead of relying on some chick’s fancy.”

“Oh ho ho... Do I detect a bit of jealousy there? Wish the ladies were after you instead?”

“Of course not. I barely have time to sneak off with you guys, why would I want to blow further free time with that sort of thing?”

Renny remained quiet, listening to the exchange. Elkan was like an older brother to him now; always watched out for him, was protective over him. The thought made him smile. There wasn’t a chance he’d ever get another sibling, but if this was what it was like, he was envious of people who had them.

“What?” Jed paused then shook his head. “You’re almost twenty-one now, and you still haven’t hit puberty?” The red head laughed as his seat was kicked, Elkan scowling in the back. “Don’t sound so upset... Renny?”

“Mm?”

“Did you get her number yet? It would be a nice addition to the group. In an eye pleasing sort of way.”

Renny blushed and shook his head furiously. “I can’t ask...” In truth, the girl had slipped her number to him a few times, he just kept on ‘losing’ it. There wasn’t many things they had in common. That, and he wasn’t quite sure he was into girls. There were a few boys he was interested in at school, but of course they were very straight, and had nice girlfriends.

“Hmph. Good,” Elkan mumbled to himself, peeking into the bag. “Tequila, ne? That’s going to make for a long night.” Hopefully that long night didn’t include hugging the toilet. If tequila was involved, it meant that at least one of them might. More than likely Jed, since he couldn’t do anything in moderation.

“A good long night, I hope.” Jed grumbled, fully aware of his fate. “How did Eliora let you out of the house, Renny? I heard your father was sick.”

Renny’s smile dimmed a little, eyes cast downward. “He is... Since me and sis have been taking care of him, she decided it would be good for me to get out of the house for a while. I’ve got the weekend to goof off, she said. Then it’s back to school and taking care of him.”

“That sucks. I was wondering where you’ve been lately, missed having you around.” Jed pulled the car into the drive way of the apartment complex, broken power steering screeching in response.

“Yeah, we’ve missed you...” Elkan said quietly. Jed was amusing in his own, put together with Matt, and they bordered on annoying. It was Renny that he really snuck out for, the person he called his closest friend.

Renny hugged the paper bags a little tighter, “I’ve missed you guys too.”

“Well we’ll all catch up tonight.” Jed picked a parking space... or two... Then tossed the car into park. “I’ll be right back boys. Don’t fog up with windows.” He winked then kicked open his door, stepping out into the cool air.

Shivering, Renny tried to pull his coat tighter around him. “I hate winter.” He blinked as Elkan’s jacket was laid over his lap and arms, covering the bags. “Nooo, you’ll freeze!”

“I’ll live,” he shrugged, turning in his seat toward Renny. “Why can’t you take your father to the hospital? He’s been sick for awhile.” Elkan instantly regretted his words as his friend’s eyes filled with tears.

“Ah well... See... Don’t tell them but,” he sniffled then tried to smile, “he’s home with us to live out the rest of whatever time he has left. It isn’t much, either, he’s been steadily getting worse. Pretty soon, we will have to put him in the hospice. Me and sis have just put it off as long as we can, you know? That’s where you go to die and... putting him there is accepting that he is.”

“I’m sorry,” he awkwardly patted Renny’s shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I didn’t want to make you guys gloomy or anything. I have fun when I’m out with you, and that helps take my mind off of what’s going on. So don’t tell them, okay?”

“Okay...” Elkan felt bad, not knowing what else to do. If he were a child, he supposed you were supposed to hug someone when they were feeling down. All his parents’ snobby friends hugged each other in greeting, male or female. Though he read that some boys don’t mind being hugged in this sort of situation. Inwardly he cringed; either comfort his friend, or scare him, which he didn’t need. He took a chance and slowly pulled Renny into a semi-hug, one arm around his shoulders.

Blinking in surprise, he looked up at Elkan. “Wha...” He blushed then leaned his head against his friend’s shoulder, relaxing. “Thank you.” It was always the other way around, he had to pull his sister into a tight hug when ever she looked like it was too much for her. He hated to see her cry. Now he knew how nice it felt, and that he was doing the right thing when comforting her. It was a bit surprising as well. Elkan was distant often, and quiet. Renny supposed he didn’t know what to do most of the time, around people who weren’t as proper as the ones he’d been brought up with. He sighed; a real hug would have been nice, or someone to snuggle up with.

“No problem...” Renny smelled good, like lavender. Probably his shampoo. He was glad his parents let him go out for the weekend, otherwise he would have missed this opportunity to help his friend.

“So... where are you tonight?”

“Camping. I needed to find myself in the forest.” Elkan snickered, squeezing then patting Renny’s shoulder. “I’ll just consider you a deer.”

“A talking deer? What sort of mushrooms have you been eating?”

“Mushrooms,” Elkan wrinkled his nose. “I hate mushrooms. They taste like feet.”

“They do not! They’re good in pasta.” Renny’s smile returned as he sat up, closer to Elkan than before. “Or mixed in a salad.”

“You have weird tastes.”

“Look whos talking! He who devours milkshakes by the gallon.”

Elkan gave a fake sniffle, “my parents won’t let me have evil fattening foods like that. I get my fix while I’m out.”

“Yes... beware the evil milkshake. All sugary treats are evil. Out to corrupt the minds of youth.”

“...Good god, you sound just like them,” he groaned, covering his face with his hands. Sad, but true. His parents would go on and on about the joys of eating healthy and what high sugar foods would do to his insides. Bah. Everyone dies eventually, he was just picking the way they would look in the end.

“Yeah? Heh, I should work more on that then. Maybe they would let us hang out, and you wouldn’t have to sneak out all the time.”

“Mm... It would be nice. I doubt they would still approve, because they would have to do a detail background search and personal evaluation by a shrink... You look like you think I’m kidding, but I’m not. They’re that weird about it all.”

“Jeeze... Well I’d pass the psych evaluation. Mostly. I think.” He coughed then shrugged, pulling Elkan’s jacket closer to him. “I haven’t done anything illegal either... Well,” Renny smirked down at the bottles in his lap, “nothing on record.”

“I know... You’re more of a good influence than the people mom and dad stick me with, but they’re anal about it. I much rather let them think I’m else where doing wonderful things instead of risking telling them about you. They just might watch me closer after they tell me not to hang around you anymore. That would make sneaking out a pain in the ass.”

Renny frowned, sighing to himself. He supposed that a family so well off wouldn’t want their one son to become a bum and all that. His own family was doing well enough; inheritance was a nice thing. From aunts, uncles, and grandparents he never knew. After his father was gone, he supposed that would be another gain to the bank. Renny would have given all the money back, if he could keep his father. Or bring his mother back to him. “You know... They would hate Jed.”

“They would kill me.”

“He’s lazy, but he does have his own car.”

“Which hardly runs.”

“His parents are nice enough.”

“They avoid talking to him whenever possible.”

“Yeah... they are kind of weird about that. Heh. I guess a lot of the families in our area are weird.” Renny smirked, looking out the mostly fogged over window. “Matt’s family is the closest thing to normal.”

“They all smoke. My parents would have a conniption, ‘do you know how that blacken’s your lungs?!’ Bah.”

“Then they don’t know you smoke?”

“Heh. No. They think one of the maids does it around the grounds. I would tell them that it isn’t them, but really, it gives them something to do.” Elkan smirked devilishly.

“You’re mean!” Renny laughed, playfully swatting at his arm.

“Naw, if it ever got close to them firing one of them, or even yelling... I’d tell them the truth. So if you don’t see me for a couple weeks, that’s why. I’m in rehab.” Elkan snorted, “I’ll be the only one there for smoking just cigarets.”

“I don’t think they’d let you in for just smoking.”

“If you pay them enough, they’ll let you in for just licking the icing off of the cupcake wrapper.”

Renny smiled, “well find a way to bribe one of the orderlies to call me. I’ll break you out. You know Jed’s good for a crazy plan like that.”

“God... We could just exchange me for him. If... there was an exchange system.”

“Bring in your local crazy to trade out for the less than sane people?”

“Something like that. Or like an... insane can collection service. Ten cents per person.”

Renny laughed, shaking his head. “That’s just... really really wrong. For so many reasons.”

“Giving you mental pictures, aren’t I?”

“Yes! Bag full of crazies, ten cents per person... I’ll never look at a can of soda the same way. Ever.”

“You’re welcome.” Elkan smirked, rubbing his arm. It was cold, but he’d be damned if he told Renny that. There was a click and a woosh of cold air as Matt and Jed got into the car, both rubbing their hands together.

“I shit you not, it’s going to snow tonight.” Matt said, huffing into his hands to warm them further. The boy glanced back at his friends from the front seat. “Hey. Ready to party?”

“Hell yeah,” Renny said, clutching at the front seat as best as he could as Jed sped out of the parking lot.

~o------------------------------------------------------o~

“Home sweet home!” Jed cried out as he walked into the newly unlocked house. “Let’s play in the den. Dad just got a pool table.”

“Awesome. Drunken pool is the best.” Matt followed Jed inside, carrying one of the bags of liquor. “I think nine ball is best played with a beer in one hand and the cue in the other. Heh.”

“You would be gifted if you could hit anything one handed like that...”

“I was kidding, Elkan... Mostly. I’ve gotten lucky a few times.” Jed snickered at that and Matt frowned, trying to kick him. “Don’t laugh at that!”

Jed dodged just in time, guiding them down the hallway. “It isn’t my fault you all can’t get any. Me, on the other hand...”

“Slutty-ness isn’t something to be proud of.” Elkan rolled his eyes, glancing at Renny who made a face at him. They both expected Jed to brag until his last day that he had ‘gotten some’ before the rest of them. Then continued to pick up women. Elkan found it annoying to go out with him while he was on the prowl. Girls weren’t worth it.

They went into the room at the end of the hallway, brand new smelling pool table sitting in the middle. “Ooh... and what’s better, is that when we’re older, we can snag a keg.” Jed patted the oak finished bar. “This baby has a tap. And a refrigerator, so hand me the booze so I can put it in there.”

Renny put his bag on the bar top, looking around. “Looks smaller with the pool table...” The pinball game in the corner would still be his favorite. They used to take turns as kids playing it, back when the game room consisted of that game, and some checker boards.

“Doesn’t it? Almost fills the room. Ah well, I like it regardless.” Jed was transferring the bottles between bag and fridge, saving one out for himself. “Pool is great. I’ve actually got one woman to play strip nine ball. Made my night.”

“How do you do that with your parents home?” Matt asked, amazed at his prowess. He was the only one. Elkan and Renny rolled their eyes, wandering toward the pinball machine.

“They don’t check up on me at all. Isn’t that great?”

“I guess,” Renny said quietly. “I rather like it when mine used to check on me. It was comforting.”

“Yeah... well you’re just odd.” Jed hopped over the bar, unscrewing the top of the beer bottle.

Elkan leaned toward Renny, whispering, “you aren’t odd, he’s just sensitive.” He started up the pinball machine, pulling back the knob. “Anyway, are you doing anything on New Year’s? Jed wanted to throw a party.”

“I’d love to go,” Renny leaned against the machine, watching the metal ball bounce around. “Of course I have to ask sis, but there shouldn’t be any trouble. She hates parties, but she’ll probably have a small family one at our house. Eli wouldn’t make me attend that.”

“Hn. We’re having a ball of some sort. I much rather get drunk and sing loudly than attend some masquerade.” He took out a pack of cigarettes, pulling one out then fished in his pockets for the lighter. “Besides, they’re trying to hook me up with one of the girls that they make me socialize with. ‘Isn’t she such a lady, Elkan darling?’ ‘She’s beautiful young man, you’d be a fool not to ask her to the ball.’ What century do we live in?” Finally found the errant lighter, he flicked the flint with his thumb, holding the lighter carefully as he lit his cigarette.

“I don’t know, I think it sounds romantic.”

Pulling the knob back again, the metal ball relaunched itself into the game. Elkan kept his cigarette between his lips as he tapped at the buttons on the side of the machine. His speech was some what impeded by the long black stick. “Romantic? I didn’t figure you would be into that sort of thing.”

“Well... I am. I guess. I don’t know. It isn’t like I’ve had the opportunity to do act on it. Just... Have you ever seen Labyrinth? The movie with David Bowie in it?”

“Yep.”

“That scene where she’s in the ball with all those weird people, and looking for him... Then all of the sudden the music starts and the people part, and he starts singing to her...” Renny sighed, smiling. “It was so cool...”

Elkan blinked a few times, so surprised that he let the ball drop through the paddles again. “Seriously? Which were you picturing yourself as? Jareth or Sarah?” He stepped out of the way so Renny could play, taking a long drag from his cigarette.

“....Promise not to laugh if I tell you?” Renny looked up at him sheepishly, leaning against he machine.

“Promise.”

“...Sarah.” It was the principle of the matter. He acted as though he sang only to her, and only saw her in a room full of people. That was what he wanted, someone to only see him.

“Hm... Interesting.” Elkan grabbed an ashtray, flicking the butt to ash into the pink ceramic item. “I can’t see you in a pink gown though,” he laughed, receiving a playful kick to his shin. “Why don’t you come to our masquerade? And then we’ll split to Jed’s party. I mean, we have to wear masks and all, it isn’t like they’ll know who you are. I’ll just sneak you in.” Some how. It would make the party bearable, to have someone there to talk to. An excuse not to dance with the princess. “There’s a girl that’s going, mom and dad are trying to get us to date. I can’t stand her. Too prissy, too... I don’t know. There’s just something off with her. Like she’s trying to decide if she should be nice or cruel.”

“Wow... That really sounds like someone Jed should be with.” Renny smirked, silently cheering as he gained an extra life on the game. “Someone to boss him around, prissy so he can’t get away with belching all the time. Hmm...”

“No. She would eat him then spit out the bones and grind them to make pudding... Seriously, she’s sort of scary.” He snorted, flicking the butt again. “Anyway, I want you there. I’ll make the arrangements.”

“Oh... I don’t even think I have something suitable to wear.”

“You can borrow something of mine.”

“You’re taller than me.”

“...True. I’ll get something made. Consider it an early birthday present.”

Renny smiled, glancing up at him as the ball rested in the crook of the paddle. “I would love that.”

“Hey, you guys want a beer?” Matt held up two bottles, shaking them enticingly.

“Sure,” Elkan took both, “I’ll hold this one until you’re done with this round, Renny.”

“Thanks!” The machine sang as he scored extra points for some trick or other. Renny had always been good at that game. “I’m on a roll.”

“You seem to be.” He smiled, putting one on the table near them, the other he opened with the aid of his shirt. The beer smelled strongly, but it wasn’t a bad scent. Just one he had grown accustomed too. The frothy liquid slid easily down his throat, warming his belly slightly.

Matt turned toward the pool table, taking the triangle from on top of the hanging light fixture and placing it on the green felt. Bending down, he gently tossed the balls into the triangle. “So, nine ball or just a general game?”

“How do you play nine ball?” Renny mumbled, distracted by the game.

“Basically... We rack one through the nine ball, then shoot to get them into the pockets in order. If you scratch, which means if you hit the cue ball into the pocket, your turn ends. If you hit say... the three ball, before hitting the four ball into the pocket, your turn ends... but if you hit a low number then hit a higher number in... it’s legal.”

Renny shook his head, “right... Just tell me when I’m doing something wrong.”

Matt snickered, “okay.” Taking out the balls he didn’t need, he pushed the nine left into a diamond shape, then took off the guiding triangle. “Done, who wants to go first?” He walked toward the wall that displayed the cues, picking one out and testing to see how straight it was.

“I will,” Elkan said around his cigarette, blowing out a puff of smoke before leaving what was left of it behind in the ashtray. He picked the black cue, grabbing the chalk from the side of the pool table and rubbing it over the tip. “You’ve never played pool before, Renny?”

“Mmm... Sort of. When we played at the Rec center, I was almost too short to see over the table. It was fun though.” He smiled briefly at them then returned his attention to the pinball machine. Matt snorted then gestured for Elkan to take his place, rolling the cue ball toward him.

Elkan took a long pull from his bottle then moved to the front of the table, placing the ball in the center. The first shot mattered... but then it didn’t. Not really much use to put a lot of effort into it. Instead of carefully lining up the ball with the one he wanted to hit, he gripped the side of the bumper, cue between two fingers. Thrusting it forward, the cue hit the ball which flew into the others with a loud crack. The balls scattered, though none went in. Cursing to himself he stepped away. “Who’s next?”

“I am.” Jed plucked a cue from the wall then danced over to where the white ball stopped rolling. “Shit, Elkan...” He scowled at his friend. “This sucks, I can’t hit anything in.” Sighing, he bent down then closed one eye, half assedly aiming for the one ball. It struck, then nuzzled the others, making it difficult for anyone else to make a shot.

“That didn’t mean you had to screw it up for me, man.” Matt smirked, pretending to raise his cue to hit Jed. They clashed cues, fencing over the table for a few minutes before stopping, Matt trying to take a shot. He missed and scowled, glaring at his beer. “Oi, your turn Renny.”

Renny peeled himself away from the game, blinking as Elkan held out a cue. “Thanks. Now... hmm...” He tilted his head, looking for the one ball. Finally spotting, he bent down.

“No, like this,” Elkan bent over Renny, sliding his hand further back along the stick. “Hold here for better aim and power behind your shot. Now see... Hitting the center of the ball will make it go forward, but see how the one is sort of near a pocket? If you hit it too hard, you’ll get the cue ball in as well, and you lose your turn. Hit,” he adjusted Renny’s aim accordingly, “here, just below center. The ball will hit the one ball, then roll backwards. Got it?” He sat up, smiling at the slightly lost look on his friend’s face.

“I think so...” Biting the inside of his cheek, he thrust the cue forward. Sure enough the ball hit the one then rolled back, one ball neatly plopping into the pocket. “Yay!”

“Dude, don’t teach him anything more. Me ‘n Jed are crappy players already, we don’t need good one to beat us.”

“Hey!” Jed frowned, speech slightly slurred already. “I am not a crappy player. And it’s still your turn, Renny. Wait, actually... Let’s take a few shots of tequila first. Just so everything is equal.”

“If you sucked at pool before, Jed... Then being drunk will only make it worse.” Elkan leaned his cue against the wall, heading toward the bar.

“True, but at least you’ll be intoxicated as well, and I’ll have more of a chance that way.” Jed ducked under the bar then brought out the shot glasses, putting one down in front of each of them. “We’ll do real shots, the way you’re supposed to drink tequila.”

Renny blinked, raising an eyebrow. “What’s a fake shot?”

“Shh.” He took out a few limes and cut them into quarters skillfully, handing one to each boy.

“You’ve done this way too many times.” Matt said, smirking as he licked his wrist.

“Not nearly enough, I’d say. Besides, it’s not like we drink often... Just once every couple of weeks... Well... I had a drink yesterday...”

Elkan laughed, “better quit while you’re ahead.”

“Oh shove it.” Jed took out the special salt, shaking some over Matt’s offered wrist. Renny and Elkan quickly did the same, receiving salt on the dampened wrist. “Alright, on three.... One... two... three.” They all licked the salt from their wrist, then drank the shot of tequila. Renny wrinkled his nose at the taste, but followed as the others shoved the lime into their mouths. It really did make it taste more bearable.

Four shots later, none of them felt like pool would be a wise course of action. Renny hobbled away from the bar, trying to return his attention to the pinball machine. Every time the ball neared the flippers, he was just a little delayed in his reaction. The screen flashed a game over sign, and Renny frowned. Well, next to he’d try to adjust. Hit the ball when it was sort of near the area, that way his slow reaction couldn’t keep him from losing. It felt like a great plan, but it didn’t play out as one. He still lost. Frowning, he looked up to see Elkan smiling at him.

“Jed dragged Matt to show him the newest pictures of his last date. I didn’t think you’d want to see things that the picture developer probably didn’t want to see either. You look pretty drunk... We should go to bed.”

“Yeah, prolly.” Renny smirked, his words slurring. “I’m drinking only beer tomorrow... Today... whatever time it is.” Elkan chuckled at his friend and nodded, guiding him in the direction of the rooms they could sleep in.

Drunkenly Renny stumbled down the hall, giggling to himself. Elkan rather liked seeing this side of his friend, it was more than just amusing. How he didn’t fall on his face was beyond him, not that he wanted to see Renny fall. “Just pick a room, Renny.”

“Oh yeah! Uhmmmmm... this one!” He leaned against the door then turned the knob, disappearing from view quickly. “Wheeeee...” Elkan frowned as he stumbled toward the door as well, hoping Renny was okay. “Wow! This has the hugest bed I’ve ever seen! Come on Elkan, let’s jump on it!”

“Coming... I think...” Leaning heavily against the wall, Elkan made it the rest of the way to the room, smiling as he watched Renny bounce on the bed. “You’re so weird... and talented. How are you still balance... balanceded.... stable,” he nodded at his final choice of word, “and drunk at the same time?”

“I’m... not very drunk at all. I mean... this is just fun, you know?”

Considering how much hard liquor they just ingested, Elkan doubted that his friend wasn’t drunk at all. “You need to sleep. So do I. No more jumping... it’s making me dizzy.” He fell onto the bed, trying to kick off his shoes until he realized they were tightly laced boots. “Damn it all... Why can’t I have power unlacing boots? You know... just click click and the damn things will come undone. I think... I need to invent that. Renny?”

Pausing in his bouncing, Renny looked down at Elkan. “Yes ‘um?”

“Help me to sit up? Or get my boots off...”

“Boots off! Rightio...” The blonde fell to his knees and clumsily undid the laces on Elkan’s boots. “Here comes the first one...” After a few tugs he managed to remove it. “Second one, almost ready!” He didn’t know why he was reporting it to Elkan, who could obviously feel his boots taken off, but it made the black haired boy grin up at him. That was worth it all, to see that smile. The second boot was harder to get off and when he pulled extra hard, he backward off of the bed, landing on the floor with a loud “oomph!”

“Renny!”

“I’m okay! I’ve got your boot! And while I’m down here... I’ll take off my socks... shoes. Well both, eventually.”

Elkan couldn’t help but chuckle, using his feet to remove his own socks. Stripping seemed ideal too, his clothes were warm, but uncomfortable. “Ren... I’m taking my clothes off too. Not my boxers... but yeah... Just so you won’t wonder why. They’re damn uncomfortable.”

A shoe flew up from where Renny was laying then dropped to a chair nearby. “Why wear ‘em then?”

Half smirking at the ceiling he said, “because I look damn cool.”

Another shoe came flying off, then Renny’s arms were on the bed, pulling him up onto it. “Heh... You’re right. You do. So worth looking cool over, right?”

“Right.” Elkan pulled his shirt up and over his head, shivering a little. “Gah... it’s cold.”

Renny finally made it onto the bed again, panting from his climb. “It IS. Let’s stay together in this bed, and we can cuddle for warmth. Bodies make for the best heaters you know.”

“Mm, sounds good I guess.” He wiggled out of his pants then kicked them off, inching his way up toward the pillows. The bed suddenly seemed longer than he thought, and he felt more tired than he previously did.

“I’m going to take mine off too!” Renny laughed and took off his shirt, then stood and removed his pants, bouncing on the bed to toss them over at where his shoes laid. “Are you okay, Elkan? You look really tired...”

“The bed is too long... I can’t get up.”

Snickering, Renny hopped until he was in front of his friend, then hooked his arms under his armpits, dragging him back until his hit the wall with a thud. Elkan landed in his lap, eyes closed to fight off the dizziness. “Whoops.”

“That... sounded painful.”

“It wasn’t, all that much. My head made the biggest noise.”

“That really... is wrong... but I can’t remember why.” Elkan snuggled up to the closest warm thing; Renny’s leg. It was warm and soft, he couldn’t help but rub his cheek against it.

Blushing, Renny patted Elkan’s hair. “Uhm... Get up for a second. You’re on me.”

“Sorry...” he mumbled sleepily, lifting himself barely up enough for Renny to slide away from, whimpering at the loss of heat. Soon a warm body was pressed against his own, arms wrapping around him. It was the most comfortable he’d ever felt.

“Night, Elkan.”

“Mmm... Good night, Ren.”