bettercallit | (no subject)

[ He remains quiet for a minute, gives him a chance to carry on if he wants to, needs to, but it's enough to be worried when Stiles appears lost for anything. ]

Okay. Right. [ He nods, getting it, turning on the stool. ] Do you wanna talk about it, see if it helps?

[ Shrugging. ] I keep thinking there should be a key, y'know? Or some research I could work out and then know. I'm good with that, I understand that.

[ He huffs a dry laugh, because, yeah, he gets that, and if there were something then he'd point him in the right direction. ]

Life's never that easy, you should get used to it. [ But that's even less helpful. ] What made you stop and think you might be? 'Cause if it's one thing, you can pick it apart, figure it out from there. That's where I'd start.

Not really. Just it's been brewing a while and then something a friend said got me thinking about it again.

Well, I'm no expert, but if it's been there a while and hasn't gone away, then I'd be kinda inclined to think that, yeah, maybe there's something to it.

[ Huffing out a breath. ]

So maybe I might like both?

[ He takes his time in answering, taking a drink from the Coke can while he does. ]

Does it feel right? The idea of liking both.

[ Biting a bit more of his pizza even though he's not really tasting it. ]

I've been in love with Lydia since third grade. I was pretty sure I was Lydia-sexual.

Third grade. She must really be something. [ A soft smile. ] So either someone else caught your interest or being away from her is helping you see what she blocked out.

[ That --.

That kind of makes sense. ] My dad doesn't think I could be gay because I dress like I dress. [ Of course, that had been a weird situation. ] But the drag queens seemed to like me.

[ He looks amused as he glances down at the jeans and t-shirt he's got on, over to what Stiles is wearing, eyebrow lifting ever so slightly. ]

Well, I'm thinking style's not got much to do with it. [ But hang on a second. ] You're friends with drag queens?

Yeah, I met them once when were trying to save Danny's life. [ ... ] His love life. At a gay club. His gay love life.

[ He's looking at him suspiciously; he knows a cover-up when he sees one, but then it might just be Stiles. Who knows. ]

You that invested in the love lives of all your friends?

He's a really good goalkeeper? [ No. ]

Goalkeeper. [ Now he's trying not to laugh. ] And does his ass look all right in those tight shorts?

It's lacrosse, I doubt anything's that tight. [ But yes. ]

Not that you were looking, right? [ Snatching up a cooling slice of pizza. ] You know what, kid? Not sure there was ever a question about what interests you.

[ Cheeks blazing red. ] Uh, probably not.

[ Ruffling his hair with the pizza free hand. ] Nothing to be embarrassed about. You can come to the coffee shop with me and we can shallowly rate people as they pass by.

Huh. [ A grin. ] Really?

[ Even he wasn't sure if he was serious, but that reaction makes him decide he was. ] Sure. This place gets boring, so what better way to pass the time. And no one else's willing to put up with me.

I think you're awesome. [ Oh, the innocence of youth. ]

Yeah? You're not bad yourself, buddy.

[ He grins around a gulp of coke. ]

Thanks.

[ He doesn't realise until he's easing into the seat, the tension in his shoulders lifting, but it's good to see the worry and confusion wipe from Stiles' face, and, yeah, he's definitely more attached to the kid than he should be. ]

Don't let just anyone into my place of dwelling and eat more than half a pizza I paid good money for. [ It doesn't stop him pushing the box closer, though, because at least he knows he's taking care of himself. ]