(no subject)

[iwasmore]

Noah wishes he could say he's not in his right mind, but he knows exactly what he's doing. He's sober in every possible way, too sober, which is why he's looking for another way to lose himself. He doesn't really do one night stands, which is evidenced by the poor decision he'd made of asking one on a date. Lesson learned, but there's still a problem: he doesn't know anyone else he can have casual sex with. Because that's what he needs right now. He wants that night with Freddie again, where nothing mattered except that it felt good. But Freddie is the only one he can think of to have that with, and he isn't sure Freddie actually wants to see him again.

In the end he decides to try. It isn't like he can humiliate himself much worse than he already has.

He finds Freddie the way he finds everyone else, but walks through the bar's front door like a human. There's a moment of hesitation, a gathering of nerves and courage, and then Noah moves to Freddie's side. "Hey."

Comments

[thisfaceismine]

Noah's insistence catches under his skin. It sounds sincere is the thing, like he means it even if Freddie knows better. Noah may not think he's an arsehole just yet, but he will soon enough.

"But you can read minds," Freddie argues. "Or hear thoughts, at least. Whatever. Doesn't that give you an edge up on most things?" Because, as far as he's concerned, there's nothing wrong with Noah. He'd never have guessed the mind-reading thing until Noah's slip tonight. He catches then, realizing before says, "Or does it make it worse because you can hear when everyone's lying?"

[iwasmore]

Noah shakes his head. "It makes it worse, but not even because of any lies. It makes things awkward, and-- think about it, I totally misinterpreted the Lance thing. My friends who know? They don't want me hearing anything, either, I'm sure. They have to be uncomfortable around me."

"I don't want to hear what people are thinking. I just want to be normal like everyone else."

[thisfaceismine]

The more Noah talks the more Freddie’s chest aches for him. Where some might find the ability to hear a person’s thoughts as an advantage, might use such a thing to manipulate or swindle people, it’s obvious Noah isn’t like that at all.

“Hey, come on,” he says, frowning as he steps closer, reaching a hand out for Noah’s and lightly touching his arm. “You’re still normal enough, aren’t you? I mean, everyone’s fucked up in their own ways and you’ve just got… got this thing that makes you a little different. It’s not like you’re using it to fuck anyone over, right?”

[iwasmore]

Noah's face heats up with a mixture of guilt and shame, knowing he isn't normal, and not even because he can hear thoughts, but why he can. And he can't even bring himself to tell Freddie.

He nods, though, because Freddie is being so sweet about it. Maybe he can tell Freddie about what he is and he'll be okay about it, but...later.

"Thanks, Freddie," he says softly, and looks up at him with a warm smile. He lifts the arm Freddie's touching to take his hand again like earlier. "We can still be friends, then?"

[thisfaceismine]

With a twist of his wrist, Noah takes Freddie's hand again and, this time, Freddie doesn't pull away. Instead, he gives a light squeeze, his lips twitching into a hint of a smile as he shrugs.

"Could, yeah," he says, though it feels a bit odd. Freddie can't actually remember the last time someone's used that word to describe him. Not really. Not directly. He narrows his eyes a bit then, his smile more playful as he adds, "Friends that still get to fuck around, right? I mean, the shower at my place is still available..."

[iwasmore]

Noah laughs and his shoulders and limbs relax. He never thought he'd enter into some kind of friends with benefits relationship, but maybe it's exactly what he needs. Something easy and nice. "Duh."

With relief comes a sort of exhilaration, and Noah knocks his elbow into Freddie's. "Come on, I was hoping to top this time," he says with a playful smile, giving Freddie's hand a tug to keep walking.