#redvsvblue

"Where the fuck did Gavin go?"`

Jack sighed, stopping his farming and turning to watch as he heard Geoff yelling about the young Brit.

"What did he do this time?" Jack said as Geoff came up to his garden.

"There's fucking lava in my house! And the only one who can't be found is that little shit. So, have you seen him?"

Jack sighed; just a prank, then. "No, Geoff, I haven't seen him. Check with Michael, you know those two are always together."

Geoff groaned. "I know. That's why I checked with him first. Nada." Jack felt the stirring of something in his stomach. Geoff went on "…same thing with Jeremy. Said he hadn't seen him since yesterday"

Jack asked, the ‘something’ solidifying into worry. "And Ryan? Did you-Have you asked him yet?"

Geoff huffed, oblivious to the trepidation spreading through his bearded companion. "He's next on my list, if you're sure you haven't seen him? If you're covering for the little prick he won't be the only one to pay the price"

Jack cut him off; "No, I definitely haven’t seen him. Do you think…do you think something might have happened?”

Geoff, understanding why the ginger was so nervous, felt the beginnings of concern. “No, no I’m sure he’s with Ryan, or off hiding somewhere because he knows I’ll beat his ass when I find him.”

Jack look unconvinced, but replied nonetheless “Yeah, I’m just being silly. But let’s go ask Ryan…just in case.”

“Yeah”

Ryan was completely engrossed in his work when the two older men approached. He seemed to be building some sort of underground chamber, and neither Jack nor Geoff wanted to know why he needed a giant stone glass ceiling-ed room.

“Ryan.”

The tall blonde turned around, a flicker of concern crossing his face when he saw the two older men’s tense stances.

“What’s wrong?”

“How did you-why do you think somethi-” Geoff began spluttering, before being cut off by his bearded companion.

“Have you seen Gavin?” Jack asked, getting straight to the point.

Ryan’s face immediately grew more concerned. Though he would vehemently deny it, they all knew he had a soft spot for the Brit. “He’s not with Michael? Or Jeremy?”

“No, and if he’s not with you either, no one has seen him since yesterday morning.” Geoff responded, worry for his surrogate-son clear on his face. “He set my house on fire, but it’s burned enough he could have done it even before then, I was building an underwater house last night, I haven’t been home in 2 days.”

“And I haven’t seen him since he was talking to me about getting some ender pearls…oh. Oh shit.” Jack said, realization dawning.

“Oh shit” Ryan echoed.

The three men looked between themselves, before simultaneously coming to a decision.

“Well, if we’re gonna do this; we had better go grab the lads.” Geoff announced, his tone brooking no arguments, though his fellow gents had no protests. They were both keenly aware of the extents they would go to for the youngest of their mish-mashed little sextet.

Jeremy and Michael are together when the Gents come stalking up, looking for all the world as though someone has died; their gazes dark, their shoulders slumped, their steps laborious. Both the lads’ minds immediately jump to the last time one of their own had looked like that, remembering watching as Ryan didn’t look close enough, as he was taken by surprise by a skeleton archer, and sent careening over the edge of a cliff, and both Michael and Jeremy suddenly become acutely aware of the one member missing from the gathering.

“Where’s Gavin?” Jeremy asks, trepidation clear in his voice.

“We think he might be…that is to say, we’re fairly sure he’s bee-”

“The idiot got himself stuck in the Nether.” Ryan cuts off Jack’s stuttering, though he looks at the man apologetically. Jack, of course, understands. Each member of their little troupe deals with their concern differently; Jack gets anxious and nervous and worried, becoming over-protective and mothering; Ryan lashes out, goes short-tempered and impatient to hide his fear.

“Well fuck” Michael lets out.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself. Which is why we’re about to go after the little shit and help him with all whatever trouble he’s gotten himself into.” Geoff says, before turning on his heel and stalking off.

The four remaining hunters share a look, communicating without words; they all saw the way Geoff’s eyes betrayed his concern before he turned away, and they all know they’ll have to look out for him. Where Jack frets and Ryan angers, Geoff becomes ruthlessly efficient, working and fighting while completely ignoring his own needs. It will only be worse with Gavin, whom Geoff has always been more protective of, and the men all make a silent vow to make sure Geoff is okay. Of course, Geoff isn’t the only one who has a soft spot for the Brit, and, as each man’s gaze meets the others’, each can see the resolve hardening in their compatriots’ eyes. They’ll all make it out of this unharmed, Nether and monsters be damned.

The 5 of them walk through the nether, heading away from the only entrance and exit and towards what Jeremy eloquently put as “our impending doom.” The boys’ usual boisterous humour was noticeably missing, only adding more tension to the already downcast group.

Geoff headed the group, walking determinedly forward, as though knowing exactly where he would find their missing lover. Jack walked next to him, clearly following Geoff but striding directly by his side, not a step behind. Jeremy walked behind them, eyes running over each and every pile of dirt, monster and lava pool with a frantic attentiveness that spoke of his fear. Michael paced around the group, breaking through anything obstructing the path or around it, his frustration being taken out on the unfeeling piles of dirt and monsters roaming the dark world. Ryan pulled up the back of the troupe, not interacting with the others in the slightest, a tight hold on his emotions in an attempt to keep himself from breaking down. His eyes watched the backs of the 4 men he called his own, trusting them to be looking for their last member, but unable to look away for fear of another of them disappearing.

They were all getting more and more anxious as the minutes went by with no sign of Gavin when a muffled shout came from just over the horizon. Five heads snapped towards the sound, stopping in their tracks.

“Is that-”

“That’s gotta be-”

“Sounds like-”

“Oh my god-”

“Gavin!”

Suddenly the cry came again, still muffled but slightly louder, and with the tell-tale squawking of one very unique man.

The group looked at each other before rushing towards the sound, jumping over pools of lava and rushing uncaring of pig men and endermen, cutting and hacking as the yelling got louder, though it was no more legible the closer they got to it. Eventually, it became clear the noise had some sort of rhythm to it. In fact, if Jack didn’t know any better, he’d say it was…

“Is that fucking asshole singing?” Michael asked, relief mixing with anger over what was, yes, becoming more and more clearly Gavin’s nasally version of singing.

As the group approached, they could finally make out the loudly sung and worryingly slurred lyrics of the tune.

“-end Her Victorious

Happy and Glorious

Long to Reign Over Us

God Save The Queen!”

The band of men finally made it to the source of the sound, a large, very deep obsidian hole, with a sandy-haired figure at the very bottom of it. The figure, quickly identified by his lovers as Gavin, was lolling about with one of his legs at a very unnatural angle. He had paused for a moment, as though in deep thought, then, after a deep breath, has taken up the tune again.

“Our Albert Edward Bless

God Grant Him Happiness

God Save the Pr-”

Gavin’s rolling eyes finally stopped on the five faces peering over the edge of the hole, mouths and eyes wide with shock, though whether over Gavin’s song or the fact he was singing not one of them could say. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your perspective, befor they could regain their wits, the thin man spoke again.

“Oh bollocks” He said, speech only becoming more unintelligible as he continued, “you all missed the first verse. No matter, I’ll restart.” Then he took a deep breath, clearly intent on doing as he had said he would.

Before he could get a word out, thought, there were a series of thumps around him as Geoff, Jack, Ryan, Michael and Jeremy jumped into the hole. Geoff grabbed the young man, pulling him into a hug before the Brit flinched violently and rolled over the throw up. Jack petted his back soothingly, before he, with Geoff’s help, got Gavin settled with his head in the tattooed man’s lap.

“Gav?” Michael asked, tentative.

“Hey Micool” he replied, voice slurring the already horrid pronunciation even further. “What’re you guys doing here?”

“Saving your ass” Ryan instantly replied, continuing “How the hell did you get yourself stuck in an obsidian hole.”

“No’ enough…blocks n’ the food… the food ran n’out” Gavin, voice filled with exhaustion, muttered out.

“Well you fucking dick, next time maybe you should think of that before GOING INTO THE NETHER ALONE!” Geoff cried, voice lacking heat but filled with worry.

The smaller man just mumbled and turned his face into his stomach, curling around Geoff as Jack kissed his head while Michael took up the post of rubbing his back. Jeremy stood by, lightly resting a hand on his shoulder, while Ryan stood, still agitated as one of their party was hurt.

After a moment of silence, Gavin mumbled something again, the only word that was understandable being “…home?”

Geoff visibly softened, tense lines from his, and the others’, worry fading out as he gently lifted the clearly concussed young man.

“Yeah Gav, we’re gonna bring you home.”

Slowly, the six made their way out of the hole, building steps for Geoff to climb easily with Gavin still encompassed in his arms, shuddering lightly.

“’Ere was…”

“There was what Gav? C’mon, love, it’s okay.”

Gavin’s body was racked with a shudder again. “All ‘ight long…cryin’ out…bloody terrifying”

It was Geoff’s turn to shiver. “Who?”

Gavin turned into the larger man’s chest, the name just barely above a whisper. “Enderdicks”

Geoff’s arms tightened as, to his left, Jeremy let out an incredulous laugh. Geoff turned to look at him sharply, but the young man was already explaining himself.

“It’s just… no matter what happens, he’s still Gavin.” Jeremy shrugged helplessly.

There’s a pull on his collar that makes him lose his balance. He’s thrown back into a room suddenly, tripping over his feet. His vision engulfs in black as a door shuts behind them with a slam.

Flinching when hands grab his arms, it takes all the strength not to lash out, his hands glow a slight gold. Only when the familiar smell of carrot breath hits his nose as whomever touches him moves in close does he calm down. Then they laugh.

Gavin groans.

He sees Geoff in the dark, eyes shifting to accommodate the dimming light; pupils morph from circular to vertical. It gives him a gray view of the man and the door behind him. There’s the slightest bit of light peeking from below them.

“What are we doing in a bloody broom closet, Geoff?” Gavintries to move but Geoff pins him against some of the supplies behind him. It’s not to say he’s overly weak to not be able to break out of Geoff’s hold, but the man was a soldier, now a farmer, and still had a decent amount of strength.

Then his vision is obstructed as once again the world goes dark, feeling weathered hands against his face. He moves to grab them but Geoff pushes closer to him. It causes a shaky breath to leave him as he tilts his head back to fight the grip.

“No fox eyes Gav, that’s cheating,” Geoff says. There’s a moment that passes before he lets go.

Reluctantly, Gavin does as he’s told. It’s nearly impossible to see anything around him, even if his glowing green eyes illuminate Geoff’s face ever so slightly with the gold of the sun through the crack from the door. It’s not enough. He lets out another groan of frustration.

The silence grows uncomfortable. All he can hear is their breathing which he can only assume is his own and Geoff’s since the man wouldn’t stop chuckling like he was thinking about a joke.

Gavin feels the way Geoff’s hands gently touch his face, thumbing along his chin and up to his cheeks. It’s given with a specific kind of care that has him weak in the knees. He can feel Geoff’s breath even more now; hear him loud in his ear as the man moves in even closer.

Gavin reaches out blindly to hold onto his clothes. There was something alluring about this position but he couldn’t place his finger on it. He tips his head up to try and catch Geoff’s lips. Except, he fails miserably at trying to find his lips. He jerks back when something taps him in the eye.

“Aw Geoff, you got your nose in my eye!” Gavin cries out, moving to rub at it furiously to get rid of the tears that spring up.

“Whoops, sorry.” Geoff doesn’t sound sorry at all. He does at least try to find his eye once again, pressing a kiss against the hand over it.

Gavin swats him away weakly.

They shift closer again, feeling Geoff’s breath on his lips. It’s apparent that they’re near-touching which sends a shiver up Gavin’s spine. His hands move from Geoff’s shoulders to hold his face. God, does he want to cheat. It’s a little annoying not being able to see more than the faint green that highlights their features but he gives in; he’ll do this for Geoff if itmakes him happy.

He brings their faces together, hesitantly, like he’s still afraid of having his eyes poked out. It’s a soft, gentle kiss when their lips finally meet. He feels Geoff’s slightly chapped skin and hums with content. Gavin welcomes the familiar feeling. His eyes slip shut out of habit as he tilts his head up for more.

Hands move away from Gavin’s face to hold his hips firmly, pulling them closer.

The witch gasps between their lips and pulls his head away slightly. His face radiates with heat and the slight glow of gold illuminates more of Geoff’s face as his cheeks start glowing. Gavin bites his bottom lip, almost too nervous to ask for another kiss.

“Did you forget about me, Geoff?” Came a familiar voice behind him.

“Jack!” The surprise had Gavin flailing, sending a broom to hit his head and he whines before it clatters against the door. It has Jack laughing hysterically, the sound loud in the small closet.

Jack at least moves to press their heads together, rubbing where he assumes the broom hit. Gavin purrs, leaning into the touch. It’s enough to make him forget momentarily of the situation they find themselves in.

Then Geoff brings him back. A leg pushes between his own, spreading them slightly as he squishes Gavin between two bodies. They’re both so warm and solid against him, keeping him in place. He slides up higher on Geoff’s leg so that he’s practically straddling his hips as his head tilts back onto Jack’s shoulder. It’s definitely one way to fit three grown adults into a broom closet.

Jack and Geoff take a second to themselves.

Gavin can’t see it but he knows what’s happening. He can hear it loud in his ears. There’s a giggle from Jack and his arm hooks around Gavin’s waist. They are just as careful finding each other’s faces. Geoff lets go of Gavin with one hand to hold Jack’s face instead. He’s a little high up in his aim, thumb close to the underside of his eye. He slides down to scratch at his beard for a bit, rubbing noses that spurs more giggles. “Come on Geoff.”

There’s a warm sensation forming in Gavin’s chest but it’s not out of jealousy. He always loves seeing them get like this. Except, he’s weak and he hates being ignored; especially considering the current position he was in. Like a petulant child, Gavin pouts, trying to cross his arms over his chest. ( Really he knows he should ask why this happened instead of Jack focusing on their training but he can’t be bothered to care.

Jack’s grip grows tighter around him.

The color of Gavin’s cheeks burn a brighter gold and the tip of his fingers warm up under the touch, leaning up to wrap around Geoff’s neck, his fingers curling into his collar.

“This isn’t fair.” Gavin can’t help whining.

He feels Jack’s other arm reach up to press against his chin. A thumb runs along his bottom lip as Jack tips his head towards him. It’s an awkward angle to kiss at but Jack’s determination is contagious. Gavin twists.

They don’t exactly reach each other’s lips like this. Unfazed by it, however, Jack kisses along the side of Gavin’s face, peppering him with little kisses and even gives him a raspberry teasingly. It makes Gavin squawk with laughter. “Jack! That’s gross!” He says, trying to wipe the spit away weakly against his shoulder but it’s to no avail. His cheek was going to be all slobbered on if they keep these shenanigans up.

Once again Gavin’s head faces forward as Geoff takes his chin in his hand. Geoff takes a moment to enjoy the way his face glows gold, the tip of his nose and ears tinge slightly as well. It makes it easier to find his lips again in the dark as he brushes his palm along his cheeks. His other hand slides down his side, over Jack’s arm that holds the witch around his waist, and rests on his hips.

“I wonder what else of yours glows in the dark,” Geoff says slyly, his breath hot against Gavin’s face.

He shudders. His legs continue to shake and if it wasn’t for the two gents holding him up, he’d surely be putty on the ground. He lets out a little whimper. Lips meet once again as Geoff drags his attention back to what they’d been doing previously.

Hands move up under Gavin’s shirt and it causes another noise of surprise that lips muffle. He can barely get out a weak ‘Geoff’ before pulling away fully.

Before they can get any further, the door to the broom closet flies open to reveal Ryan. The prince looks far from amused. “Come on guys! Seriously? You have your own damn house!”

“Oh that’s gross, people have to use those.” Michael steps out to pear into the closet, his face scrunched up in disgust.

“Michael, we didn’t do anything, Michael,” Gavin says, letting out a pitiful whine tries to pull himself from the two grips but their hold is strong.