Hungry like the wolf.

“I always have a point, Randy Pandy,” Nate rolled his eyes and sighed. “Maybe I do, maybe I don’t, you’ll never know for sure,” he chuckled. “It’ makes my heart fill up with warmth to know how you really feel about me,” he cooed and then let out a dramatic sigh. “If you tell Dom, I’ll kill you before he gets a chance to kill me.”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit” she sighed and accepted the bottle, taking a few swigs from it. Her eyes softened looking at him “Don’t worry, I don’t plan on it, I’ve seen what it does to people. Besides, it’s Aoife that will need that warning”

“Guess that’s why I keep you around.” He said with a laugh. “Oh, so you’re above it then? Tell me, Ava. Have you ever been in love?”

“Fake it, ‘till you make it,” he shrugged his shoulders and grabbed the bottle, swatting lightly at Rand’s hand. “If we’re not fucking, no touching my hair.” He groaned when Rand brought up Darcy, already wondering who to kill for their lack of discretion. “It’s nice of you to assume that I’m not an idiot on a daily basis, maybe I should just be dating you instead,” he mumbled and took a swig from the bottle. “Who told you?”

“Yeah, I do believe you were here first… do you live here or what?” he asked as he tried to hop onto a bar stool but the tall stool proved to be a bigger enemy than tiny, drunk Henry anticipated. But he finally succeeded and looked at Randolph with a triumphant grin. “No problem. Just don’t think I did it because I want to fuck you,” he grumbled and drank the contents of his own glass in one go.

Henry was a mess and that was not a secret. Nor was it a surprise. Who wouldn’t be a mess after they’ve gotten dumped without a single world? So there he was, in a bar not that away from his flat, already quite tipsy. He made his way towards the bar to order another drink when he spotted Randolph not too far away. “For fuck’s sake!” he groaned. “You’re following me on the Quidditch field, you’re following me here, are you stalking me or what, Lestrange?” he let out an exasperated sigh before ordering his drink at the bar. “And whatever the fuck he wants, it’s on me,” he added, pointing at Rand.

@lestrcnger

“Nothing is beyond fixing,” he hummed and tilted his head to the side. “Oh? Too much?” he chuckled. “We can get drunk instead and fuck each other’s brains out and never talk about it again, sounds better? Or we don’t have to do anything, it’s your choice.”

Mercer had done a good job of not staring, but involuntarily glanced to Rand’s chest when attention was directed to it. He immediately rolled his eyes. “You should, but that’s not going to stop you from getting sick at this point.”

“You should’ve.” He agreed, almost chuckling. He found that somewhat sad, as he listened. “There’s more to life than Quidditch.” Even if it was the career he and many others would jump for, life was so much greater. “Good, we get to head back early then.” 

“What kind of friend would I be if I wasn’t with you every step of the way?” she laughed at his eagerness for drinking and let him pull her along behind him “Hmmm…such a hard choice. How can I ever decide?” she joked “I think I’ll have to go with firewhisky”

“The kind of friend I am.” He mused before laughing. “Here you go.” Rand handed over the bottle before moving to make himself comfortable. After downing more than he should’ve on one go, he looked over towards Ava. “Don’t ever fall in love.”

“Of course I mean it.” The smile remained on his face because it was a good thing that Rand was communicating with his parents, that was important. “You should be proud of yourself, too.” Sorry wasn’t something he normally heard from the other, but he merely shook his head with a slight shrug as if to silently say it’s okay.

“Since when you are a feelings expert, huh?” he asked and rose his brow. “Oh I don’t know, I was thinking something along the lines of sweet love making where you whisper sweet nothings into my ear and I  blush and giggle all the time and then we cuddle and kiss for the rest of the evening,” he mused with an eye roll.

“Well how can I disagree with that?” she smiled and grabbed her bag “Alright, lets go drink ourselves into an oblivion”

“Knew I could count on you.” He mused, grabbing her hand and pulling her after him with a wicked grin. When they got to where they were going he paused to produce a couple of bottles of firewhisky. “Uh... firewhisky or firewhisky?”

With a deep inhale, his gaze stayed on the other while listening. “I’m so glad to hear that.” His eyes slightly widened and a genuine smile played on his lips. “That’s truly amazing, I’m so proud of you.” He meant it, even though a part of him couldn’t help feeling a tad envious. He’d never have that with his parents, but he was happy for Rand.

He was relieved that the other didn’t push it. Had they not had practice, Mercer wouldn’t be talking to him at all, not yet at least. Only time could ease the way he felt. His head tilted to the side as he looked at Rand, but he said nothing for a moment. “So…what’s new with you?” No matter what, he still cared about Rand’s wellbeing.

“Don’t belittle my break up, a break up is a breakup. If you broke up our friendship I’d be equally devastated,” he rolled his eyes. “Mhm, that we did and then you denied it ever happened for twenty thousand years,” he mused as he started trailing kisses down Rand’s neck, nipping lightly at the skin. “So what’s it going to be like this time?”

“I just need some time…and then I will, Randolph.” Mercer finally admitted. He still didn’t have a problem being that honest, even if it ended up hurting him the last time. “You do. That’s true…except I won’t snap at you for it.” Between the dance and their texts, he wasn’t sure why Rand kept talking to him. Sooner or later Mercer knew he’d say something to upset him again. Or communication would hit another wall. The blond wanted to avoid that, even if it meant avoiding Rand for a while.

He was silent, the truth getting stuck in his throat. Did he want to reach out when he was free…not really. Things were different. Rand went from someone he was excited to be around to someone he wasn’t compatible with. Maybe it had always been the later, but it took him this long to see it. “…I will.” He softly spoke up, remembering to be kind. “You say that a lot.”