ANGEL BOY!

tagged by: @boyimpossible aggressively and beyond my control tagging: anyone!! <3

    he chuckles, almost gagging on his drink in the process. he quickly coughs himself back to normal, shaking his head at the girl. “oh, that’s GOOD. i like that. you think we can contact the oxford dictionary headquarters and make that a thing?”

      he can’t help the exasperated sigh that escapes his lips as he turns around to find frank lecturing him. it’s not something he isn’t used to --- in fact, it might be too familiar --- but given the sudden and complex change in their dynamic lately, he actually didn’t know what to say. so instead he just turns back to the dirty bathroom mirror, and continues to clean up the deep cut on his brow with a grimace. it’s not like he hadn’t done this  before, either, but he never thought it would be a result from him protecting frank.  “you can’t tell me what to do, hardy. i’d thought you’d know that by now,” ned replies quietly before turning on the tap to wash some of the blood off his cloth. “you weren’t paying attention. you would have gotten way more hurt than i  am right now if i hadn’t pushed you. and you know that.”

       “okay,” ned replies softly with a nod, not wanting to push her. “i mean, fair enough. i know how busy you get, so don’t worry about it --- sleepless in seattle can wait until some other night.” he throws her a soft smile, hoping she knows that it really wasn’t a big deal. “i do, however, make a MEAN cup of tea, and i have feeling you need one right now. so, chamomile, mint, or raspberry?”

someone please  teach ned nickerson how to take a good selfie.....

    he waits eagerly for the response, and laughs along once he hears the YES. “hell yeah! there’s a shitty bar with good beer, like, three blocks from here.” ned starts leading the way, his feet knowing the path without giving it much though. “oh wow -- thanks, man. and hey, the usual bartender knows my dad, so i can get us at least  one free round, too. it’ll do us some good.” he takes a sharp left, then presses the crosswalk button just once. he’s just not one of those persistent pressing  people. “so, what’s made you regret having feelings today? or do we need one drink in us before we start that conversation?”

        “don’t worry about my ice cream -- you think i don’t know the PROBABLE OUTCOME of bringing that into this house? it’s why i always get extra.” he was playing along with the niceties, but honestly, it was weird. all of this was so weird. he felt like he wandered into the wrong movie theatre, watching a sad drama when he paid for a romcom. he didn’t like it one bit. joe couldn’t be giving up this easily, right? well, even if he wanted to, ned wouldn’t let him. engaged ain’t married, after all. “joe, you don’t fool me,” he says, taking a seat back at their dinner table. “all these years, and you haven’t found one girl that’s even CLOSE  to what bess was to you. it’s okay to be upset about it.” ned can’t even imagine what it must feel like, and he truly feels for his beloved roommate. “i’m sorry, i don’t wanna push you. i know it might still be too soon and too much, but just... i hope you know that i’m here for you, man. if you need to rant or want to do something to get your mind off of it... i’ll even let you throw empty milk cartons at my head for once,” he jokes, not being able to contain a snicker at the memory. “and, hey, i bet you one BILLION dollars that this french guy, as nice as he may be... he’s not you, joe.”

     well, so much for giving him some time to think. thanks, frank. “huh. weird amount.” he purses his lips together to keep him from asking why frank beat him to this game --- as if ned couldn’t hear him pace around the apartment in the middle of the night for hours, doing god knows what. ( ned knew what; he could hear drawers open and utensils clatter. frank probably knew this apartment’s exact statistics now. ) ned pretended to sleep, but his mind wouldn’t shut up. clearly, this quarantine had made them both go a little INSANE. to the point where... well. he clears his throat and adjusts his position on the bed, slyly avoiding eye contact. “i didn’t mean to make it weird. i - i mean, i don’t know if i wanna pretend it didn’t happen. do you  wanna pretend it didn’t happen?” be more awkward, nickerson, i dare you.