Parallel Worlds

Jeff started to lean his head back into Sebastian’s hand, wanting to feel more of whatever it was that was feeling so good. “This is nice.” He said lightly, his eyes falling shut as he relaxed more against Sebastian. “I don’t see w-why people don’t like this.”

"Because people are boring and terrible and they don't want anyone to have any fun," Sebastian told him, fingers scratching soothingly at Jeff's scalp. "But who needs them, right? We're having fun and they can't tell us not to."

Jeff spent the rest of the evening wondering what else he could do for fun when his new interest had disappeared so suddenly, but he decided to let it go for now. He was positive the next day he’d find him somewhere. So when he headed for breakfast the next morning, Jeff kept an eye out for Barry as he sat down at his usual table, not bothering to grab any food just yet.

Barry hadn't forgotten about Jeff when he arrived in the canteen the next morning. He got his breakfast, specifically picking food that wouldn't hurt him or make a mess if Jeff decided to throw it at him, and did his best to skirt the edges of the canteen and pick a table as far away from the other boy as possible. Maybe he just wouldn't notice he was there.

It baffled Isaac how easily Bas was able to bring a blush to his cheeks in the most unlikely of moments, but yet again he had managed it. The tribute didn’t know how to respond, just grinned sheepishly for a moment “there you go again, making me love you even more…” he laughed fondly, relieved that the other had calmed a considerable amount. His mood quickly shifted when conversation returned to the games. Bas had voiced what Isaac had been thinking about all day: how many people were left? There couldn’t be many… In Isaac’s eyes, that wasn’t a good thing. It meant that the gamemakers would be looking to ‘spice up’ the big ending, sending all sorts of nightmares into the arena to finish them off. He shrugged, looking back to Bas as he did “I don’t know…maybe two not including us. I don’t think we-” he paused mid-sentence, taking a deep breath before he could continue “I don’t think we have long left. Maybe a day or two…” 

"I'm not even doing anything on purpose," Sebastian replied, a bashful smile on his lips. He had long since lost track of the number of Triblutes left alive in the Games, but there couldn't be many left now. They had to be among the last survivors. He didn't know what scared him more - the thought that they might both be cut down so close to the end, or the thought that he would have to find a way to kill himself, and to force Isaac to let him, if they turned out to be the last two left. He didn't voice any of his fears, though. He wanted Isaac to draw strength from Sebastian, even if Sebastian himself wasn't feeling very strong. "We had better make the most of it, then," was all he said, brushing his fingers over Isaac's strong jaw.

Jeff followed Sebastian’s lead and moved to the couch carefully, the movement making him realise there was more happening inside him than he’d thought. “I.. Y-Yeah. Okay.” He couldn’t form his words properly once they were sitting down, his mind feeling like it was being drowned in jello. “Should I feel like th-this?” The blonde asked after a moment, turning to Sebastian and laughing after a moment once he heard what he’d said. 

Sebastian laughed and nodded, his fingers playing idly with Jeff's soft hair. "Yeah, don't worry. You're feeling kinda giddy and relaxed, right? That's how you're meant to feel, it's fine. See, not so bad, huh? Being a bad boy can be fun."

Jeff watched as the boy started to walk away, part of him wanting to yell after him to continue this conversation, but deciding against it when he noticed a guard keeping his eye on them. Instead he stayed where he was and shook his head as he licked his lips, walking away in the opposite direction after a minute and deciding they’d talk again later.

Barry was surprised when Jeff just walked away but he certainly wasn't about to complain. He hurried back to his room and wasn't ashamed to hide for the rest of the day, safe and content in the knowledge that the boy couldn't get to him when he was in his room. Maybe by tomorrow, Jeff would have calmed down a little.

Jeff started to lose himself in the kiss, and by the time it was over he felt more breathless than before. The hand on his mouth reminded him what had started the kiss, though, and he realised the slight burning that he’d felt before wasn’t as bad now, and he was beginning to feel light and tingly. He simply nodded his head a little in return before bringing a hand up to move Sebastian’s hand away when he couldn’t stop the small cough from coming anymore. “I’m not r-really sure what ‘i-it’ is, but I’m feeling s-something.”

"You're getting it, babe," Sebastian told him smoothly. "Just relax and enjoy it. But hey, we should sit down before you fall over. The first time's always a fun one." He looped an arm around Jeff's shoulders and gently led him over to the couch, settling them both down and keeping Jeff tucked close against his side. "Let me know if you start freaking out or something," he said, putting the joint back in his mouth.

Jeff looked incredulously at the other boy, absolutely no pity - or barely any emotion at all - flowing through him. “I repeat; you really think I give a shit? You can believe what you want, but I’m going to have one hell of a fun time proving you wrong.”

Barry didn't doubt that the boy was only going to be egged on by him trying to stand up to him, but he needed to try nonetheless. He had enough pride left for that. "Do your worst. You can't break what's already broken," he told him and, heart thudding, turned around and walked away.

Jeff was about to tell the other boy never mind, that he’d been stupid to open his mouth and speak, but before he could get any words out he felt Sebastian’s lips against his again and was overwhelmed by the warm smoke filling his mouth. He held back the small cough that was aching to escape him, and instead focused on the feeling of Sebastian’s tongue against his. He wasn’t entirely sure what he’d done to deserve having this happen to him, but Jeff wasn’t able to make up his mind on whether or not he could complain about it. 

Sebastian ended up forgetting about what they were doing halfway through and just focused on kissing him, deep and fierce and filthy, all tongue and teeth. When he eventually broke away he pressed a hand over Jeff's mouth, making the other boy hold the smoke in his lungs as long as he could. "You feeling it yet?" he asked, grinning delightedly that he'd managed to corrupt his most innocent friend so easily.

Jeff reaised his brow at Barry when he spoke back so quickly, taking a step towards him before raising his voice, but still being careful to not draw the guards’ attention. “You really think I give a shit what’s a word and what’s not?”

Barry knew that if he let this guy kick him around, it would only get worse for him. He pushed himself upright and realised once he was standing that he was around the same height as the other boy. "There's nothing you can do to me," he told him softly. "You can't hurt or scare me any more than I already am."

The hint of a smile on the other’s lips was a relief to see. Isaac returned the gesture, resting his forehead softly against Bas’s as he spoke “How can you be so adorable even when you’re freaking out?” he asked, letting out a soft chuckle “I don’t know what I’d do without you…” he was serious. Even if, by some miracle, Isaac made it out of this arena alive, he couldn’t see himself living a life without Sebastian. He’d rather die than live in a world without him, though he didn’t want to tell his boyfriend that, it would only upset him more… 

Sebastian bumped his nose fondly against Isaac's, using the pace of the other boy's breathing to try and level out his own. "I think I learned it from you," he told him. "You're so damn perfect all the time, I'm just trying to keep up." He wanted to promise Isaac that he'd never learn what it was like to live without him, but he knew the opposite was true. He wanted Isaac to survive, even if it meant Sebastian had to die. "How many do you think are left?" he asked, glancing around the clearing. "We're really exposed out here."

Isaac was quick to catch on to Bas’s panic, steadying him. He positioned his hands on either side of his boyfriend’s face to force their eyes to meet. “Bas, look at me, okay? I’m here, I’m okay. We made it this far, d-don’t worry about all that stuff right now. Be strong for me.” He caressed his thumb across his cheek, hoping it’d help calm the man at least a little. “Come on, deep breaths,” he urged, forcing a smile to try and encourage him “Look how beautiful this place is…At least we’re spending out last days somewhere stunning.”

Sebastian gasped when Isaac cupped his face in his hands, blinking at him as he tried to regain control. "We... We made it this far," he repeated. There were so few people left in the Games that it almost gave Sebastian the hope that Isaac might survive after all. He took a great gulp of air and nodded, gripping Isaac's wrists to keep his hands against his face, grounding them both. "This place isn't as beautiful as you," he told him, a little of his old spark returning in the curve of his faint smile.

"That sounds lovely," Aaron muttered, sarcasm dripping in his words as he continued to read from his laptop. "Well, I know three hundred different ways to kill someone with household objects. I have photographic memory and I am the hacker. I have an IQ of 160-170 and I graduated as one of the top three in school." Yep, he’s ridiculously smart.

"You can't kill me, though," Barry protested, Aaron's tone making him angry and defensive. "You can try, and I'll stop you. You need some pretty specialist kit to take me out." He had to admit he was threatened by Aaron - he was used to being the smart one, and the fact that Aaron was so nasty along with it was rubbing Barry up the wrong way. He frowned when Kat apologised for him but let it go, crossing his arms grumpily over his chest. "Right. I'll let them know not to mess with you," he promised.

"As long as you're paying, I'll be a ray of sunshine, promise."

Isaac turned back to Bas, surprised by how shocked he was. In district twelve, the woods were a familiar sight. Though he’d never seen anywhere quite like this, it wasn’t all that different from what he was used to. He lifted his hand to squeeze Sebastian’s shoulder “It’s fine, okay? Just grass and water, that’s all.” He wasn’t saying they were safe here, but at least it seemed safer than the maze. “You’ll like it here, it’s peaceful…” It would be a nice place to live out their last days together. More and more cannons had been going off lately and Isaac knew it was only a matter of time before one of their faces would be projected in the sky. It was a scary thought, one he was trying his best to block out. 

The sudden sight of the plains had been enough to tip Sebastian over the edge. He hadn't exactly been considered stable before but now, he was a downright wreck. He clung to Isaac's arm, stumbling a little on the soft, uneven ground because he wasn't watching his feet - he was staring around, trying to remember every last second of this. He knew that one way or another, he'd never see wildlife like this again. "Are we going to die here?" he asked Isaac in a small voice, his breath coming in great, gulping gasps.