✧ a diamond's gonna shine ✧

River watched Flynn’s face turn red with quiet amusement, clearly enjoying how easily he could fluster him. When Flynn insisted there was a difference between clinging and panicking, River let out a soft chuckle, his shoulders lifting slightly. “Alright, fair point,” he said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “Clingy Flynn and terrified Flynn are apparently two very different species.” His eyes flicked back to him with a teasing glint when Flynn accused him of having a dirty mind. “Hey,” he protested lightly, though the grin tugging at his mouth ruined any real defense. “I’m not denying the experienced part, but dirty-minded?” He paused just long enough to make it obvious he was thinking about it. He looked Flynn up and down. “Okay, maybe a little.” When Flynn mumbled that he didn’t complain, River’s grin widened, clearly pleased with himself. “That’s what I thought,” he murmured, bumping his shoulder gently against him. As Flynn talked about the show, River nodded faintly. “They really do,” he agreed with a quiet laugh. “Guy can’t turn around without the camera following his ass.” His arm slipped naturally around Flynn’s shoulder pulling him a little closer as they watched together, and when Flynn said you’re what I like, River’s expression softened. He held his gaze for a moment before speaking again. “Good,” he said simply. But when Flynn quickly reassured him about his ex, River’s brow lifted slightly, the earlier teasing easing into something calmer. “So what you’re saying,” he said slowly, his tone light, “is your ex-boyfriend is basically my type then if he's like you?" When Flynn leaned in to kiss him, River returned it easily, one hand briefly tightening at Flynn’s waist before he pulled back with a small, fond smile. River’s eyes softened as he looked at Flynn, a small, genuine smile spreading across his face. "You’re so cute,” he murmured, voice low and warm. “You make my heart melt every time you say something sweet.”

flynn was someone who got flustered easily, he was shy and nervous, and river was the complete opposite, it didn’t take much, just a look, a touch, a word, and flynn was already blushing and stumbling over himself. "two very different people," he added, a soft chuckle slipping past his lips. as river described his boyfriend as experienced and a little dirty-minded, flynn couldn’t help but think it fit him a little too well, and he found himself nodding. "i know you well enough to know you’re a bit dirty-minded," he teased, smiling at his boyfriend. when river leaned closer and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, flynn let out a quiet sigh, a smile tugging at his lips. "i guess he has an ass worth recording," he murmured, cheeks flushing pink. river was everything to him, someone who loved him, respected him, took care of him, he felt safe with him in a way he hadn’t before. when river mentioned flynn’s ex being his type, flynn pulled back just enough to look at him properly. "i don’t know how i feel about you saying my ex is your type," he admitted, before leaning in and pressing a soft, gentle kiss to his lips, something very him. when he pulled away, his eyes lingered on river’s lips before meeting his gaze again. "your heart melts every day?" he teased quietly, cupping his cheek once more before leaning in again, this time letting the kiss last a little longer. "i love you," he whispered against his lips, "a lot," he added softly before kissing him again, shifting slightly so he was straddling his boyfriend’s lap, a hint of jealousy still lingering beneath the affection.

River only grinned wider when Flynn warned him off the horror movies. He didn’t look remotely convinced.“Oh, Flynn,” he drawled smoothly, leaning back like he had all the time in the world, “you say that like I wouldn’t absolutely love you clinging to me every five seconds.” His eyes dragged slowly over Flynn’s flushed face, teasing but warm. When Flynn huffed about him being the first dirty-minded boyfriend, River placed a hand dramatically over his heart. “Dirty-minded?” he repeated, feigning offense. “I prefer experienced. There’s a difference.” His smirk softened into something more deliberate. “And you don’t exactly complain when I’m putting this mind of mine to good use.” At the mention of the celebrity crush, Ilya, River’s eyes lit up with wicked delight the second Flynn nodded. He savored Flynn’s growing embarrassment. “And let’s not pretend you didn’t notice the ass. It’s practically a character trait. The guy's got it out nearly every scene." When Flynn groaned and covered his face, River laughed, low and pleased. He didn’t let him hide for long, though. The second Flynn leaned into him, River’s arm slid easily around his waist, pulling him closer like it was instinct. “You absolutely should’ve told me,” he murmured against Flynn’s temple. “I like knowing what you like." At the mention of Shane, River rolled his eyes playfully. “Your ex is like Shane?” he repeated slowly, eyebrows lifting. “How?” He shifted so he could fully look at Flynn, one arm still draped possessively around his waist. His thumb traced idle circles against Flynn’s hip, but his gaze was sharp now, curious, not jealous. Confident. “And don’t get it twisted,” River added softly, eyes holding Flynn’s. “If he was like Shane, then he wasn’t like me at all.” Then Flynn peeked at him and said he wouldn’t pick Ilya over him. River’s teasing expression shifted, still confident, but softer now. “That Russian wouldn’t stand a chance against me. Let’s be real.” His mouth curved into a slow, self-assured smirk. “Firstly, he’s fictional and I’m right here.” River’s gaze dipped briefly to Flynn’s lips before lifting again, deliberate. “He broods in locker rooms and glowers across the ice. I actually show up. I actually touch you. I actually make you blush.” He brushed his knuckles lightly along Flynn’s side, teasing. “And if we’re talking competition?” River added, voice lowering just a fraction. “I don’t lose.”

at his boyfriend’s words, flynn’s cheeks burned red. “one thing is me loving to cling to you every five seconds, the other one is me basically shitting my pants,” he pointed out quickly. “i can cling to you without feeling like i’m about to have a heart attack,” the blond insisted. he had always been clingy, and he wasn’t about to pretend otherwise—not with his boyfriend. “you definitely have a dirty mind,” he added, giving river a look. “actually, i think you’re both experienced and dirty-minded,” flynn teased. when river mentioned him never complaining when he put that mind to good use, the color on flynn’s cheeks deepened. “i don’t complain,” he mumbled under his breath. when river nudged him again, he chuckled. “i noticed—mostly because they love showing his butt on the screen,” he said, shaking his head. when river’s arm slipped around his waist and pulled him closer, flynn looked up at him with a soft expression. “you’re what i like,” he said simply, shrugging one shoulder. when river asked about his ex, flynn’s brows furrowed with a hint of worry. “he’s nothing like you,” he assured him quickly. “and when i said he’s like shane… i just meant he’s quiet, soft, he plays hockey. honestly he’s like the real-life version of a tv character.” he shook his head slightly. “it didn’t work because we were too similar.” he wanted river to know that chapter was closed—his ex mattered in a distant way, but nothing close to how river did. “no one stands a chance against you,” flynn promised softly, following river’s gaze. “you never lose.” and with that, he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his boyfriend’s lips.

Casey didn’t even blink when Arden claimed she’d need a month to miss him. “A month?” he repeated flatly, then scoffed. “You’d text me in three days or less because you'd miss my conversation making skills." He crossed his arms, leaning back like he’d already won the argument. “And chaotic is not my whole personality,” he added, pointing at her. “It’s called range. You just only notice the exciting parts come out. I can't help being more attention seeking than the average person." When Flynn begged for the conversation to end, Casey turned toward him with mock sympathy. “Oh relax, Flynn. Aren't you the one dating Mr Cockout. We’re just supporting the arts having these conversations." At Nate’s whisper and Flynn’s horrified reaction, Casey laughed. Then Nate grabbed his face. Casey froze for half a second, staring back into his eyes with exaggerated intensity. “Don’t look at me like that unless you’re ready to commit,” he warned dramatically, but he was already reaching for the guitar strap to help steady it on Nate’s shoulder. He blew him a kiss. “You start this, you’re finishing it.” When Arden brought up the song again, Casey pointed at her immediately. “Thank you,” he said. “Justice for the coral anthem. It’s not obsession, it's word art." He paced once, warming up now. “And yes, Avril energy. Full early-2000s angst but make it self-aware. Loud guitars. Petty lyrics." He snapped his fingers. “We lean into it.” He looked between all of his band mates. Casey started tapping both hands hard against his thigh, steady, fast, building a rhythm. “Mm—mm—mm, mm-mm,” he hummed under his breath, nodding to himself as the beat took shape. It was sharp. Driving. The kind of tempo that demanded eyeliner and bad decisions. He looked up. “Okay. Okay. Follow this.” He kept tapping, louder now, stomping once to lock it in. “Throw out some lyrics at me."

arden rolled her eyes at casey. “sure, case, sure—whatever helps you sleep,” she said, lightly tapping his shoulder. she knew he’d miss him, but she wasn’t about to let him win the argument, even if the way he crossed his arms and leaned back made it look like he thought he already had. “whatever, tarzan,” she added, waving a dismissive hand at his pose. “you’re so full of yourself.” when casey mentioned flynn’s boyfriend, arden glanced over at the blond just in time to see his cheeks turn bright red. “can you not call him that?” flynn protested quickly, clearly flustered. it was impressive how much red his face could turn—he even started stuttering. “also… maybe support the arts and stop talking about your dick for five minutes,” he muttered, shaking his head as he walked past nate and casey, who were already sharing one of their dramatic looks. flynn just laughed under his breath; he’d never fully understand their jokes. he slid onto the drum stool and picked up the sticks. as casey told them to follow his lead, flynn focused on the rhythm instead, tapping his thighs first before his foot automatically found the pedal. the low thump of the bass drum filled the room in steady beats. arden picked up the bass, fingers settling into the strings while her mind spun with half-formed lyrics. “everyone says i should play it safe,” she said softly—not singing yet, just letting the words exist in the room. “but safe never got me out of this place.” arden added. “that’s good,” nate said immediately, adding a few light chords over the bass line. he glanced toward casey with a grin. “so what do you do with that, case?”

“Okay, okay,” he said, stepping closer to Nate. “Baby, dial it down from a ten to, like, a seven before Arden actually commits a felony.” He looked back at Arden, deadpan. “And for the record, the song’s not boring. You’re just grumpy because you love us.” Casey laughed, then slung his arms around Nate’s shoulders without warning, pulling him in close. He pressed a quick, playful kiss to Nate’s cheek before pulling back just enough to grin at him. “C’mon,” Casey said brightly, giving him a little shake. “Let’s get rocking, band mates."

arden raised an eyebrow at casey. “first of all, it would take at least a month for me to miss you,” she shot back. “i’d probably enjoy the peace and quiet.” she rolled her eyes dramatically, even though everyone knew she was lying. “and chaotic is your whole personality, so don’t talk to me about balance.” meanwhile, flynn looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole. “can we please stop with the dick conversation?” he begged, cheeks bright red. “i don’t want to picture anyone naked. ever.” nate, of course, only made it worse. “of course he appreciates it. it’s only logical to admire greatness,” he smirked, strolling over to wrap flynn in a hug. “dick,” he whispered in his ear just to watch him squirm. flynn groaned and shoved him away while nate blew him an exaggerated kiss. “does that mean you’d ride with me?” he teased smugly. arden clapped her hands once, redirecting the chaos. “i am absolutely committing to this. the song is not boring. we can literally write about how obsessed casey is with coral, but i can’t cover the greatest pop-punk anthem ever? rude.” nate dramatically cupped casey’s face after the kiss and stared into his eyes. “let’s do it,” he declared, grabbing the guitar and slinging it over his shoulder. “let’s get rocking!” flynn cheered, clearly relieved the topic had shifted. arden tapped her chin thoughtfully. “avril lavigne energy, right? honestly, if we polish it up, we could send it as a sample for that event. pop-punk revival moment.”

River listened with an easy smile, half-focused on the movie and half on Flynn rambling beside him. “Drama’s fine,” he said lightly, eyes still on the screen, “as long as it’s the kind you can flirt through and not the kind that makes you sleep with the lights on. This horror movie isn't too crazy compared to other's I've watched in the past.” He leaned back a little further, relaxed, and content. When Flynn finally caught onto the joke and flushed red, River let out a soft laugh. “Hey, I was just clarifying,” he teased. “You were looking way too innocent over there. I was starting to worry.” At Flynn’s serial killer comment, River turned his head to look at him properly, amused. “Yeah, that’d really ruin the vibe,” he said dryly, lips quirking up. “Very off-brand for you.” He noticed the shift immediately when Flynn hesitated about the celebrity crush. River didn’t interrupt, just watched him, patient, a little curious. When Flynn finally admitted it, River hummed thoughtfully. “Heated rivalry?” he said, tone casual but knowing. River glanced back at the screen, then slowly back at Flynn, one eyebrow lifting just a touch. “Interesting,” he said, a hint of a smirk forming. “So tall, hot, kind of intense. Maybe a little angry.” His eyebrow stayed raised as he looked at Flynn. “Good to know.” River snorted, turning fully toward Flynn now. “Of course you like the one with the big peen and juicy ass too,” he said dryly, amusement clear in his voice. “Nice preferences."

as river insisted he’d seen way scarier movies, flynn immediately shook his head. “don’t even think about showing me any of those. i’d probably shit my pants,” he muttered, a visible shiver running down his spine. “or i’d just cling to you every time something happened. honestly? probably both.” his cheeks flushed at the admission. when river teased him about looking too innocent, flynn huffed. “it’s not my fault you’re the first boyfriend i’ve had who’s this dirty-minded,” he pointed out, thinking briefly of sully—soft, gentle, just as inexperienced as he’d been. river, on the other hand, was… not that. at the mention of his celebrity crush, flynn hesitated before nodding reluctantly. “yeah. that one.” his face turned bright red almost instantly. as river started describing the character in far too much detail, flynn groaned. “river!” he covered his face with both hands. “it was not about the ass, okay? i shouldn’t have told you.” still hiding, he leaned sideways until his shoulder bumped into river’s, seeking comfort despite his embarrassment. “and i wasn’t going to say shane. he’s literally like my ex, and we know how that ended.” he finally lowered his hands just enough to peek at him. “but i wouldn’t pick ilya over you. not even close.”

He nudged Flynn back gently, lowering his voice but keeping the teasing lilt. “Relax, pretty boy, your reputation is safe with me—mostly.” Then, clapping once along with Arden, Casey nodded. “Alright, alright. Penises holstered. Let’s work before Arden murders us, Flynn blushes to death and Nate somehow makes it flirtier and actually makes word on rocking my world for reals."

arden groaned at casey’s comment. "sometimes i wonder why i don't just kick you guys to the curb and join my hot girlfriend’s band," she chuckled, sighing; she was obviously joking since she loved those three, but she still wanted to make a point. "casey, shut up," arden laughed. "and you," she pointed at nate, "drop the 'top energy' act, we all know it’s fake," she teased, which earned her a pillow to the face from nate. "i think i’ll be the one leaving for the girl band," he sighed, "no one here appreciates my raw talent or my dick," he added, throwing a hand to his forehead in a dramatic pose. nate then clapped his hands together, "you're just scared because you'd be the one screaming," he winked at his best friend. "alright, let's just record the song... that boring one arden came up with," he laughed. "i am actually going to murder someone," she trailed off, "casey, get your boyfriend under control."

River answered without looking away from the screen at first, amusement clear in the easy curve of his mouth. He squeezed Flynn’s hand back, grounding and steady. “They’re not scary to me anymore,” he said lightly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. His tone was teasing, fond rather than mocking. When the masked figure popped up again and Flynn flinched, River finally glanced at him, eyes warm. “Besides, if something jumps out, I’ve got you. That’s kind of the fun of these things. I also like watching your reactions too, it's cute." When Flynn questioned his taste, River hummed thoughtfully, still watching the movie like he was analyzing the art of it instead of chaos. “I like them because they’re dramatic,” he replied. “A little unhinged.” He tilted his head toward Flynn, smirk deepening. “You like dramatic things too. You just scream at them." At the comment about the characters being hot, River didn’t even deny it. He leaned back, clearly evaluating the screen with mock seriousness. “I can appreciate aesthetics and still know they’re awful people,” he said, playful confidence in every word. When Flynn joked about the sandwich, River finally turned fully toward him, eyebrow raised, grin slow and knowing. “If you’re the cheese,” he said smoothly, “then you’re the best part. Obviously.” His thumb brushed over Flynn’s knuckles, affectionate and grounding, as if to soften the embarrassment that followed. “Mhm, that's definitely what I meant. I'd like to be in a bed with both of them." And when Flynn covered his face and asked the final question, River didn’t joke right away. He shifted closer to him. “No,” he said simply. “You look like someone who cares too much, feels too hard, and jumps at fake murderers in movies.” A soft smile followed. “I like you because you’re you. I'd choose you time and time again." River leaned in without making a big deal out of it, pressing a quick, warm kiss to Flynn’s cheek—casual, affectionate, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “So,” River added, tone confident but amused, “important question.” He tilted his head. “Who’s your celebrity crush, huh?”

flynn’s eyes were locked on river as he talked about the characters in the movie they were watching. "i like drama, just not the kind that makes you scream," he mused; he was all about rom-coms and romance novels, but getting scared definitely wasn't his thing. he watched his boyfriend lean back, analyzing everyone on screen as if he hadn't already seen the film a dozen times. "okay," flynn nodded, realizing he could never do that—if a character was a jerk, he couldn't find them attractive, period. his brain just didn't work like river’s, which maybe wasn't as fun, but it was just how he was wired. flynn totally missed the jokes at first; his mind was too innocent to realize the "sandwich" wasn't some deep metaphor until his boyfriend mentioned wanting to be in bed between the characters. he felt a wave of embarrassment, his cheeks and the tips of his ears turning bright red. "oh... well, that's good, i wouldn't want to look like a serial killer anyway," he joked, glancing at river. he secretly wanted to ask what would happen to him if river was actually in bed with those two, but his eyebrows furrowed when the conversation shifted. "my celebrity crush?" he asked, swallowing hard as his heart started pounding. "i don't know..." he trailed off, taking a few minutes to answer—not because he was clueless, but because he was actually nervous to admit it. "you know that hockey show we watched the other night? i think the blonde guy might be one," he nodded. "not the shy one, the blonde guy i think is really hot."

Casey spun toward Nate with a mischievous glint in his eye, flipping him off with a dramatic flourish. “Oh, shame she only likes guys with huge penises,” he said, voice dripping with mock pity, raising his pinky and looking at it with a frown and then back to Nate again. "Poor Kyle." Casey smirked at Nate, arms crossed, eyes glinting with mischief. “So, Nate,” he said, voice teasing, “you the bottom in your relationship?” He leaned back with a dramatic shrug. "Just curious. For science.” Casey turned to Arden, smirking like he’d just uncovered a scandal. “And Arden,” he said, voice loud enough to grab attention, “Flynn confides in me. He was telling me all about how he gets hot and horny over River." He leaned back, arms crossed, wiggling his eyebrows with that perfect mix of mischief and chaos. “Yeah, that’s right. I get the dirt first, always. Lucky me, huh?”

nate looked at his best friend and laughed. “you haven’t seen my dick, casey, how do you know i’m not huge?” he teased. “have you dreamed about me naked? and if you have, it’s kind of sad you imagine it being tiny.” arden groaned, shaking her head. “can we stop talking about penises? like, stop, for the lesbian in the room.” nate grinned, completely unbothered. “casey, if you ever dream about me, at least picture me as the top, okay? i’d rock your fucking world,” he added, blowing a kiss at his best friend. arden flipped casey off when he claimed flynn had confided in him instead of her. “i was the one who found that man, i know exactly what gets flynn horny,” she shot back, offended, just before casey nudged flynn, who was now sitting beside her. “can we start working?” arden clapped her hands together. “i could be home watching a movie, but instead i’m here with a bunch of sticky boys, so let’s do something.”

River kept their fingers lazily intertwined, thumb sweeping over Flynn’s knuckles in slow, amused strokes. At Flynn’s whisper, he turned his head just enough for the flickering screen light to catch the smirk already tugging at his mouth. "This isn’t scary,” River murmured back, voice low and warm with teasing. “You’re just jumpy.” He nudged Flynn’s knee with his own, eyes gleaming. “Good thing I’m here to protect you from… fictional masked murderers.” Another smirk, sharper this time. “Think you can survive the last five minutes, tough guy?” River’s smirk only widened, mischief sparking in his eyes as he leaned a little closer, their hands still tangled together over the armrest. “The two villains in this are hot though, no"? He tilted his head toward the screen, pretending to evaluate the characters with scholarly seriousness. “Stu’s got that dorky thing going for him. Kinda cute.” His thumb brushed Flynn’s knuckles again, slow and deliberate. “And Billy's gorgeous." River glanced back at Flynn, smirk deepening. “That’s a sandwich I’d like to be in between."

he knew his boyfriend was having the time of his life with that movie; he had noticed him smile at the characters, smirk at their lines. “the mask guy appears all the time and it scares me, i don’t know why you’re not shitting yourself like i am,” he shook his head. flynn was everything—emotional, dramatic, jumpy—and watching movies with him was a difficult task; within twenty seconds he could be bawling his eyes out, screaming, or just going aw. “i don’t get why you like these movies,” he mused, holding his hand a little tighter. “hot? river, they’re murderers, they can’t be hot,” he shook his head, his attention leaving the screen to glance at river, who was now clearly evaluating both characters on screen. “oh, river,” he rolled his eyes, shaking his head, “a sandwich i’d like to be in between,” he repeated, “where do i belong in that sandwich?” he asked, “i hope i’m the cheese,” he chuckled, looking back at the screen. then he realised it wasn't an innocent sandwich, "oh wait, you'd like both of them with you in bed" his cheeks burned red, "i don't know why i even ask" flynn took his free hand to his face, “do i look like a serial killer, is that why you like me?”

Casey practically bounced as they walked, grinning like a kid on a sugar rush. “Sweet? Me? Pfft, Flynn, don’t flatter me too much—or I might just start charging for all this charm,” he teased, nudging him with a playful shove. His energy was all over the place, thoughts darting from one mischievous idea to the next. When Flynn mentioned Nate scolding them for being late, Casey rolled his eyes dramatically. “Oh, please. He'll forgive us once we start making music. And fine, guilty as charged—I cannot keep my hands to myself when Coral’s around. Totally my problem, but, hey, it’s a fun problem,” he added with a cheeky wink, spinning in place just to make Flynn laugh. He caught Flynn watching him and grinned wider. “Everything slows down, people move in slow motion, soft-focus world—yeah, that’s my life with Coral and our little whirlwind." As Flynn teased him about being excused for lateness, Casey threw his hands up. “She's my golden ticket usually. But don’t worry—I’ll make sure Nate’s mad at me, not you,” he said, laughing, bouncing on his feet, already plotting the next bit of chaos. “I’ll tell him to stop having the hots for me, and he’ll shut up within a minute. Problem solved!” Casey swung the door open with a wide grin, hand resting casually on Flynn’s shoulder as he strutted into the band practice studio. “Hey, besties!” he called out, his voice carrying that perfect mix of mischief and charm. “Sorry we’re late—got caught up talking about our love lives. Blame me, not him,” he added with a playful wink toward Flynn, giving his shoulder a little squeeze before letting go and bouncing toward the center of the room, already full of energy and ready to stir up a little chaos.

nate and arden had been waiting for thirty minutes. “i don’t know where those two idiots are, but if i ever get scolded for being late i swear i’ll cut someone’s head off,” arden muttered, sprawled on the couch with her legs over the table as she toyed with her bass. “this is definitely not coral’s fault, this is the adhd demon,” nate said just as the door opened, both their eyebrows lifting at the sight of the missing bandmates. “see? told you. the adhd demon,” nate repeated, earning a nod from arden. “so you’re late and you barge in here telling us what to do? you don’t fool me. you two had an adventure, and when i tell coral she’ll dump your ass and i’ll finally get my wife,” nate announced, while arden rolled her eyes. “remind me again why i’m in a group with all these idiots,” she sighed, then pointed at flynn. “and i’m not forgetting you’re talking to him about your love life instead of your roommate.”

The way Flynn’s ears went red only made Casey beam harder—he loved seeing his friend happy, especially when so much of Flynn’s past had weighed him down. Casey clapped a hand on Flynn’s shoulder, warm and reassuring. “Of course he’s a keeper, dude. Anyone who gets you smiling like that? They’d have to be an idiot not to hang on.” His voice carried that natural, boyish sincerity he couldn’t hide if he tried. “Yeah, let’s move before I start vibrating out of my skin. Besides, you know Nate’s gonna roast us if we’re late again.” With that, Casey fell into step beside Flynn, practically buzzing with affection for his friend and for the way Flynn finally seemed to believe in his own happiness. Casey lit up at Flynn’s words, his grin wide and easy. He had a habit of taking things with a little too much energy, like every conversation was a wave he was excited to ride. He bounced lightly on his feet as if the idea of standing still too long was foreign to him. Casey couldn’t resist teasing Flynn a little, his grin stretching mischievously. “I dunno, man, my relationship kinda felt like one of those movie moments, y’know?” he said, waving his hands dramatically like he was painting a scene in the air. “Eyes meeting across the room, everything else fading into the background—including you, sorry—and it’s like, bam. Whole future right there in one girl.” He chuckled, clearly amused with himself, though there was no mistaking the dreamy tone creeping into his voice. Casey leaned into the bit, eyes gleaming with that excitable spark. “And, obviously, I’m also forgiven if I’m late to band practice because of her ,” he added, puffing up with mock pride, “because everybody already loves my girlfriend too.” Casey snorted then pointed a finger at Flynn with mock severity. “Being late with you, however? Sheeeesh. We might actually be in trouble today. We’re doomed, bro."

he really was so happy to have river by his side, and he didn’t mind at all that it showed — he wanted everyone to see how happy he was with his boyfriend. “that’s so sweet of you, owen, who’d say you could be sweet with someone who isn’t coral?” he teased, trying and failing to match casey’s level of playful mischief. as they walked toward the studio, flynn nodded. “nate’s definitely going to make us regret being late, that’s for sure,” he chuckled. “wouldn’t be the first time he’s scolded us for it. and you? you get it the most — can’t keep your hands to yourself when coral’s around, that’s always the case,” he added softly, smiling. there was something impossibly tender about the way casey’s face lit up whenever they talked about coral or their daughter; anyone could tell those two were her absolute favorites, no one else even stood a chance. “the kind where everything else slows down and the people around them move in slow motion?” he asked, loving the imagery of romantic comedies. “that’s pure flynn shit — i think you spend too much time with me, you’re sounding like a total softie,” he teased, grinning. he loved those movies, staying up all night rewatching them, wishing the characters would fall in love over and over, craving the perfect happy ending. “it’s not fair, you’re excused because of her — if you’re late, you’re late,” she joked. “hey, you’re not going to get in trouble because of me; i’ll make sure nate’s mad at you, not me,” he shot back, laughing.

River kept his hand moving in slow, grounding circles over Flynn’s back, the other brushing through his hair in that calm, methodical way that he hoped would settle him. His voice was low, steady, and clear, with no hesitation in it. “Listen to me,” he said. “I’m not mad at you. Not even close. You didn’t hurt me. I just got a little jealous.” He pressed his forehead briefly against Flynn’s, a simple, firm gesture. “You don’t ever have to apologise for what you’re feeling. You don’t owe me that. The only thing I want is for you to tell me before it builds up like this. Don’t keep it locked inside until it breaks you down. I’d rather hear the hard parts than watch you drown in them.” He kissed Flynn’s forehead again, not tender so much as certain — like a promise. “You’re mine. That’s enough for me. I love you exactly as you are, even when you’re upset, even when you’re messy. Especially then. So stop worrying about hurting me, because you don’t. You make my life better, not worse.” When Flynn brought up jealousy, River huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. He gave a short, sharp scoff, shaking his head like Flynn had just said the dumbest thing. “Everyone wants me?” he repeated, a wry edge in his voice. “No, Flynn. People want the idea of me. They want the body, the surface, the show. Nobody’s lining up to see how I’m actually doing. Nobody asks about my day, or what’s in my head. They don’t want me — they want something to look at.” He paused just long enough to smooth his hand down Flynn’s back again, grounding him. “But you? You see me. Not the cover. Not the body. Me. That’s why I don’t care about anyone else. That’s why I’m here.” River shifted just enough to look at him straight, brushing his thumb under Flynn’s eye to wipe away what was left of his tears. “Now, as for being tired—yeah. Let’s go home. We’ll crash on the couch, grab something to eat, and I’ll hold you,” he said, voice even, “but let me get some couch too, lanky. You’re all limbs." River pushed himself up with a deliberate, easy motion and offered his hand without any fuss, palm open and steady. “Come on, baby boy. Time to go home,” he said, voice flat but warm, the kind of no-nonsense comfort Flynn always trusted. He gave a short, crooked smile that softened the edges of the command. “Make sure you say goodbye to your friends first.”

flynn stayed close to him, his breathing syncing with river’s as that steady hand kept tracing wide, comforting circles across his back — grounding him in a way no one else ever had. when river told him to listen, flynn nodded against his chest, taking a shaky breath. knowing river wasn’t mad made his chest loosen; he couldn’t bear the thought of him being angry. “you don’t have to be jealous,” he whispered, voice muffled against his shirt, “i’ll never look at anyone the way i look at you.” when river pressed their foreheads together, flynn closed his eyes, trying to memorize the moment — the warmth, the safety, the quiet promise between them. hearing river say he loved him again felt like oxygen; it was all he needed to hear. flynn exhaled softly, his heart finally steadying. “because you’re more than just your body,” he said, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes. river’s hand brushed away a tear from his cheek with such gentleness it almost undid him again. “i really love you, river,” he whispered, smiling through the mess of emotions on his face. when river agreed to go home, he nodded. “that’s all i need.” a quiet laugh escaped him. “it’s not my fault i’m taller than you,” he teased, lacing their fingers together. “come on.” but as river mentioned his friends, flynn’s eyes widened — right, the group. “i’ll be right back, but… come with me,” he murmured, tugging him along. they found the group already packing up. “guys, i’m heading home. arden, don’t wait up — i’m staying at river’s tonight.” arden squinted, pointing at river like a protective sister. “sure, treat him well.” “he will,” flynn said quickly, smiling, “bye, idiots.” the grin that lingered on his lips said everything — he was exactly where he wanted to be. as they stepped outside into the night, he gave river’s hand a soft squeeze. “i love you,” he said quietly, looking up at him. “you know that, right?”

Talking with Flynn was effortless, as it always had been—but Casey knew “effortless” came with a warning label: teasing imminent. When Flynn joked about Casey dropping the band to tease people professionally, Casey grinned, nudging him lightly. “Honestly? Don’t tempt me. I could make a living out of making people squirm,” he said, eyes sparkling with mischief. Casey tilted his head, smirking, “Oh, come on, you just need the right excuse to start scribbling. And hey, you’d be surprised how much fun digging into the past can be." Flynn chuckled about not having much to say compared to Casey, who leaned back with a teasing grin. “Trust me, everyone has stuff to spill. You just need a little push—or, in your case, a really good reason not to blush when I point it out.” Flynn said the guy he was seeing hadn’t pushed him into anything unwanted, and Casey smirked, “Sounds like you’re with a keeper then … or at least someone who can handle things on your terms." When Flynn laughed at Casey’s past, Casey raised an eyebrow. “Jealous? I just spoke without thinking. It's a bad habit of mine. I just blurt out things sometimes." Flynn admitted he’d realised he didn’t like girls after a failed attempt at flirting, and Casey chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. “Hey, experimentation counts! At least you could be certain of guys then." Casey leaned back with a mock bow. “I’ll accept that title,” he said with a grin. “Look, if your guy is a good guy, he’ll wait to do things on your terms, Flynn,” he said, a playful nudge in his tone but genuine warmth behind it. “Honestly… I’m happy to see you happy. I can’t remember the last time I saw you smiling this much.”

at his words flynn raised his eyebrows. “i feel like you took it way too seriously, you can’t make a living without getting paid, and i don’t think coral would want that—mostly because i’m sure she’d be the one teased the most,” he teased, sticking his tongue out at his friend. he didn’t say much else—he hated digging into the past, hated thinking about it at all. his family despised him for who he was, and he had no desire to write about parents who kicked him out and called him disgusting. “i don’t think i want to write about that, but thanks for the idea,” he muttered, sighing. still, there was one thing he was glad about—that date. it had led him to someone who actually liked him in a way no one else ever had. “he’s a keeper, for sure,” flynn admitted, his cheeks burning red. “it was funny, though. i don’t know who was more confused—i’m pretty sure everyone knew i was gay before i even realized it myself.” he chuckled, though his face warmed again when casey said he hadn’t seen him this happy in a long time. the heat crawled up to his ears. “i’m really happy,” he confessed, “i’m not even jealous of your relationship with coral anymore.” he nudged him with a grin. “you’re deeper than a puddle, i’ll give you that. should we start walking? maybe nate and arden are already waiting for us at the studio?”

River’s heart ached as he felt Flynn trembling in his arms. He could sense the weight of the guilt and self-doubt pulling his boyfriend under, and it made him want to shield him from everything. As Flynn’s sobs filled the space between them, River held him tighter, his hands moving over Flynn’s back and through his hair, rubbing soothing circles, just trying to be the steady presence Flynn needed. River’s voice was soft, almost a murmur, but firm in its promise. “Flynn… listen to me. You’re not the bad guy. You’re not broken. You’re hurting, and I get that. But I’m not going anywhere, alright? I’m right here with you. I’m not going to leave you just ‘cause you feel like you messed up. I love you too much for that. I was just upset, maybe a little jealous too." When Flynn pulled back, River’s hand gently cupped his boyfriend’s face, wiping away the remnants of tears with his thumb, his touch tender but steady. “You’re not alone in this, Flynn,” River continued, his eyes searching Flynn’s, grounding him in the reality of their love. “I’m not upset at you. I’m upset for you, yeah?" Flynn’s words tumbled out, a mixture of guilt and fear, and River listened, heart heavy but still resolute. The self-loathing that wrapped around Flynn like a second skin was something River couldn’t stand. He shook his head slowly, leaning in to press his forehead gently against Flynn’s. "You definitely didn’t let me down. I want you to hear me when I say this—you are everything to me. You don’t have to be perfect, or never mess up, or always be strong. You don’t have to carry the world on your shoulders.” He pulled back just enough to look Flynn in the eyes, his hands still gently cradling his face. “I love you exactly the way you are. I’m not gonna let some stupid argument tear us apart. I just like to be heard, you know that." River’s thumb gently traced over Flynn’s lips, feeling the tremor in his boyfriend’s breath as he tried to control his sobs. “You don’t have to protect me from this. You don’t have to apologise to me either." He gave a soft smile, the kind that was meant to calm the storm inside. He leaned forward and kissed Flynn’s forehead, then rested his cheek against the other’s, breathing in the comfort of being close. “You’re mine, Flynn. Always. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything." With a soft exhale, River leaned in, pressing his lips to Flynn’s, tasting the salt from his tears but also the warmth of their connection. It was a slow, reassuring kiss, not rushed but full of purpose—a promise in the press of his lips that he was never going to leave him, not when it got hard, not when Flynn thought he wasn’t enough. When they pulled apart, River rested his forehead against Flynn’s, his voice soft but unwavering. “I can deal with your friends' opinions of me, Flynn. If they think I’m something I’m not, I’ll change that. It’s gonna take time, sure, but I can do that. I’m not scared of people thinking the worst of me. Hell, I’m used to it. People don't like me, that’s kind of my default.” He chuckled, a sound laced with both bitterness and strength.

hearing he wasn’t upset made flynn let out a sob—not because he didn’t want to be upset, but because the pain inside him loosened for a second; he felt sad, violent, and unbelievably ashamed, but knowing river wasn’t mad made things better. when river told him he wasn’t alone a tear slid down his cheek—he’d never wanted to hurt river, he would never do that; river was too pure, too sensitive for him to want to cause pain. still, he felt guilty for not speaking up, for bottling everything inside. every single touch—river’s hand moving up and down his back and through his hair, the kiss on his forehead—soothed him in a way nothing else could. when river said he loved him exactly as he was, flynn drew a deep breath; that was what he needed to hear. “i know, i just don’t want to hurt you, river, ever,” he promised, voice shaking, “i’m sorry i upset you.” he repeated the apology in his head—he’d fucked up and he needed forgiveness, which said a lot about who he’d been before river. he pulled river close and kissed his forehead, eyes closed—he was his; his heart belonged to river, and that was all flynn knew. when river kissed him back his heart skipped that familiar beat it always did; “i love you more than anything, river,” he whispered, then pulled back a little to see his face. “you promise you’re not mad at me?” he asked. “my friends know i love you and that’s enough,” he added, then laughed softly, “and people like you, river—you’re magnetic. you shouldn’t be jealous; i should be the jealous one. everyone wants you and i still don’t know why you chose me.” he sighed, exhausted from crying. “i’m really tired,” he admitted. “can we go home and sleep on your couch? maybe get something to eat, and i just want you to hold me, river.”

Casey chuckled at Flynn’s teasing, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I do tease the living shit out of everyone—that’s basically my full-time job.” He nudged Flynn playfully. When Flynn mentioned talking to Nate and Arden about writing, Casey’s smile softened. “Writing's therapeutic ” Casey said, a little pride in his voice. “It’s hard to find the right words sometimes, but I know you would kill it, in a good way. I could write so many songs about all the crazy shit I have been through, chaotic childhood, deadbeat dad, never feeling like I fit back in school, being hyper-aware of everyone but me knowing something was up with me, those reckless teenage years, falling in love, losing a kid, grief, pain, sadness, and then more recently some more happy times. Also, Coral. I could write song after song after song about that woman." When Flynn brought up Arden and “lesbian fingers,” Casey’s cheeks flushed a little. Playing the bass probably helped out in the bedroom. His guitar skills came in clutch too. When Flynn tried to deflect about the talk, Casey gave him a knowing look. “Not bad?" Flynn’s confidence about starting slow made Casey nod approvingly. “Exactly, you gotta take it step by step." When Casey asked about River wanting to take things to the next level, he saw Flynn’s cheeks burn and his hesitation. “It’s okay to take it slow,” Casey reassured him, voice gentle. “If River knows, then you’re both on the same page. No rush.” He gave Flynn a warm smile. “You’re doing great.” Casey let out a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck, a little self-aware but honest in the way only he could be. He glanced over at Flynn, the teasing fading just a bit, making room for something more real. "I mean… I was what people would call a man whore before I met Coral," he admitted with a wry smile. "Not proud of it, but yeah—experience helped, I guess." He leaned back slightly, eyes softening as he thought of her. "Still, it felt different with her. Like… all those other times were just stupid practice." He shrugged. "Coral was my first proper time. The first one that actually meant something." There was no shame in his voice—just reflection. "I was ready to go in full guns blazing, y’know? Fast, reckless, whatever. But she slowed me down." His voice got quieter, warmer. "And I needed that. She made me want to go slow. Made me realise I could." Then, glancing at Flynn with a small smile, he added, "Doesn’t make it less real if it’s slower. Sometimes it makes it more."

talking with casey was easy, it always had been, but he also knew that what seemed easy could turn into teasing at any moment. as casey had admitted, teasing everyone felt like a full-time job—he clearly loved the shit out of it—but when it came to the band, that was where they all fought to be the biggest tease. flynn lived with arden, and you’d think that would’ve saved him from blushing at every jab, but arden’s teasing was on another level, and if flynn didn’t blush, it didn’t even feel like him. “i feel like you’d drop the band anytime to tease people professionally,” he joked, shaking his head with a playful smile tugging at his lips. “writing is therapeutic when you find the words—words aren’t really my thing,” flynn confessed. whenever casey talked about writing down his past, his childhood, everything, it made flynn wonder if he wanted to try it too. but writing about his parents being ashamed of him? that wasn’t something he planned on doing. “casey, you’ve got a lot to say, i can’t really say the same about me,” he chuckled. “you do have a good muse,” he added when casey mentioned coral—it was obvious he could write album after album about her. the second he noticed casey’s cheeks going red, his eyes went wide. “i made you blush, oh my god,” he clapped his hands together, honestly surprised. then he went quiet again, listening as his friend kept giving him advice about his relationship. “i think we’re on the same page, i guess—he hasn’t pushed me to do anything i don’t want to, and i think that means something,” he mused. at casey’s confession about his past, flynn laughed. “you were, but i was so jealous you could do that. i couldn’t even talk to a single guy back in college. i even tried flirting with a girl once, and honestly, that’s how i realized i don’t like girls,” he chuckled. he went quiet once more, letting casey speak. “it’s easy to tell you love her, i feel like you’re not a manwhore anymore and that’s great—she changed you,” he added with a grin. “i’ll take the in-love casey. who would’ve thought you’d actually be good at giving advice?”