#blonded

The year after.

Both boys sat in their flat, the soft glow of candles Illuminating the area.

"How'd you reckon that happened?" Ryan murmured the question as he examined Naim's arm, which was now adorned with a cut.

"I dunno, think I might've caught a nail while puttin' things away." Naim murmured as he looked up at ryan. "You're pretty good at this."

"At what?" Ryan asked with furrowed brows.

"Patchin' people up." Naim said as he looked back down at his arm, now wrapped in a soft bandage.

"Well, I had to teach myself how to do all this stuff." Ryan said as he wadded up the blood covered cotton. "I got in too many fights, needed some type of medical knowledge."

"You could be like, a nurse, or something." He said as he pulled his sleeve back down.

"Nah, that might be a bit too mature for my liking." Ryan said as he huffed out a laugh.

"You have any idea what you want to do?" Naim asked as he tilted his head.

Ryan sighed. "Well, I'd like to lay here with you all day but I don't think that's a career." He said with a smile.

"Be serious, just for a moment." Naim said with a smile.

"I am bein' serious, I don't really know what's next."

"Well, our options are expanding. We don't have to lay low anymore." Naim said as he looked at his hands. "'Specially after they held funerals for us."

"It's pitiful isn't it? Their grieving." Ryan said with a shake of his head. "Pretending like we meant somethin' to them after we got tired of their bullshit."

"It's ridiculous, like they ever cared anyway." He said as his eyes scanned over Ryan, stopping on his shirt. "How've you managed to already stain that shirt? we just bought it." Naim said with a sigh.

Ryan looked down at the stain, then back at Naim with a smile. "Swear I didn't mean to."

They both sat there and snickered for a moment. "Let's go get somethin' to eat, I'm starving."

"Do I need to pack your bib?" Naim says with a small smile.

"Fuck off, dickhead." Ryan said with a small laugh as he grabbed Naim's coat and tossed it to him.

———

The little diner was fairly empty as they sat in the booth.

"Y'know, I haven't seen any new cases relating that areshole 'deliverance healer'." Naim said as he sat back in the booth.

"He should be arrested for the shit he's done." Ryan said as he shook his head.

"What about Pastor Rob, what’d you think happened to him?” Naim asked with a furrowed brow.

“I dunno, I think his attachment to Hunter destroyed him.” Ryan sighed as he looked out the window. “He definitely had a favorite kid.”

They sit in silence for a beat, soaking in the atmosphere.

“Do you think they think ‘bout us?” Naim asked softly.

“Who?”

“Our parents.”

“My family probably doesn’t give a shit anymore, your mum is a different story though.” Ryan says as he looks at Naim. “Y’know, it’s okay to miss your mum, Naim.”

Naim nods, taking a deep breath. “I think I miss the mum I thought she was when I was younger more than who she turned out to be.” He said as he picked at his bandage. “I don’t think any amount of running will erase the fact that she’s my mum, but I her persecution knows no bounds.”

“Let’s go home.” Ryan says as he nudges Naim’s foot under the table.

———

“Get off the bed you cunt.” Naim grumbled as Ryan laid out on the bed while he was trying to roll down the covers.

“You’re so mean to me.” Ryan sighs as he slides off the bed and helps Naim pull down the bedding.

———

Naim lounged in bed, scrolling away on his phone while Ryan got out of the shower and got dressed.

“Are you ready?” Ryan said as he tossed his towel in the hamper.

“Ready for what?” Naim asked as he set his phone to the side.

Ryan quickly crawled on the bed over Naim, shaking his wet hair all over Naim.

“You dickhead get off of me!” He gasped as he wiped the water off his face

Ryan laid down on him, laughing into the crook of his neck.

“You’re gonna catch a cold like that, just get into bed.” Naim groaned.

After he climbed under the covers Ryan was immediately on him again, ignoring all personal space as he wrapped all the way around Naim.

“Much better.” Ryan sighed, his breath tickling Naim’s neck.

“You done now?” Naim said as he glanced at Ryan.