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om_mainAfter speaking to Simon, Curtis tracks down Nathan and somehow (in his mind) falls into a parallel universe.
Straight from the library, Curtis headed to Simon and Nathan's room since in his school wide hunt for Simon he'd not seen Nathan at all the dorm room seemed like a good bet to him. He knocked lightly, telling himself to keep his anger.
A dull thump sounded from inside. "Simon?! Is that you?" The door was flung open a beat later, to a somewhat breathless Nathan half-dressed from the shoes on upward. The beaming anticipation on his face wilted just a bit, easing his eyebrows back down for a notably less-impressed smile at Curtis. It was still a smile, though. "Well, that's a disappointment. But come in anyway! You're just in time to go into the city with me," he abandoned Curtis at the door to get back to his clothes.
Curtis stepped in and closed the door behind himself before looking around. The room was more lived in since the last time he'd visited but still largely the same. Nathan's side was easy to tell apart from Simon's.
"Why are you going into town?" he asked as he tried to figure out how best to broach the subject.
"I've no idea whatsoever," Nathan reported back, not sounding terribly concerned with that minor detail. He was rummaging about through some shirts he'd draped on his bed - all of his shirts, as it happened. He quickly discarded a few on the floor for being too dirty or smelling off. "But that could be where you come in! How do kids from here get to the city, anyway?"
"If you mean the town it's walk or bus, if you mean New York City for real then I'm guessing drive." Curtis responded, leaning against a desk that looked likely to be Simon's before adding "That journal post you made was out of line."
"Haven't you even gone off the grounds yet?" Nathan lifted a pair of shirts that seemed like the best of them, almost starting to put on the first-best - then changing his mind, deciding it might be better to save that for after. "The journal thing was a bit much, I know," he admitted, tugging the chosen shirt on. "But Simon needs to see how important he is to me! Everyone should see. No, I can't say as I regret it at all."
"Simon...Nathan, you posted photos of him without his permission and he isn't happy, who can blame him? You've embarrassed him in front of everyone. Again. This time you've gone too far." The fact that Nathan apparently hadn't noticed Curtis had a life and even a job wasn't a surprise, Nathan rarely noticed much. The reason he was there thought was to confront the prick anyway, not have a catch up, so that was what he'd do.
"Embarrassed?" He looked genuinely confused where he glanced back at Curtis, hesitating mid-reach for one of his flannel shirts. "No, that's not right. That was a declaration of love! Other guys show off pictures of their girlfriends all the time - not that I'm implying that Simon's a girl in the least," he made very clear to Curtis, because it sounded like the sort of thing Curtis would climb right up his asshole about. He frowned just a bit. "Did Simon tell you he wasn't happy?" It had seemed dead romantic, at the time. But Simon was so painfully private, so he supposed...
"Showing off? Girlfriends? Nathan! Cut the shit, alright? Why are you always fucking with him?" And this bullshit sincere acting was only annoying Curtis more. Why did Nathan have to be like this?
"There is no shit this time!" The words were loud enough to ring off of the walls in the small room, and Nathan stopped to take a deep breath after, blinking at Curtis. "I know what you're thinking, all right? And I don't blame you. I'd think the same. I'm a real prick sometimes. But this is... I'm not fucking around this time. Okay? I mean it," he expression softened, falling into something almost miserable as he went back for his flannel.
Suddenly, something struck Curtis as not quite right. He could see why Simon was so taken in by the act, it still didn't make it right though. "But...but you're straight." Was what he said weakly. He regretted it almost immediately, it was the sort of thing he should know better of. Especially considering the friends he'd made here and the discussions they'd had on
Nathan pulled on the shirt, leaving it unbuttoned where he shrugged at Curtis. "Sure, I used to think so. But it's like that movie with the gay cowboys - I can't quit him. I really can't. Simon's all I can think about, man. I've got it the worst." A fresh smile tugged at his lips, after a moment. "But he's so worth it, that beautiful bastard. I've just got to win him over. That's why I'm getting tattooed for him," he explained, moving for the door. "Are you still coming? Because I want to show him later tonight, and I don't know how long it will take."
Curtis had been about to ask when on earth Nathan of all people had watched Brokeback Mountain when that last detail made his jaw drop. "You're what?" And maybe it came out a little squeakier than usual. "A tattoo?" That was just taking it a little bit too far.
"Over a heart, in giant scripty letters," Nathan's face lit up with the idea. "Simon, right across... I hadn't decided yet," he admitted. "I think over my chest would appeal to his inner romantic," he flashed his bare chest at Curtis in demonstration. "But on one asscheek could appeal to his inner penis. Sexaaaaay," he turned around to give Curtis a flash of something else.
And that sounded like the tackiest tattoo idea he'd ever heard. "So, you're planning to get a tattoo for someone you're not even dating. Don't you think that's coming on a little strongly?" He asked, expression as straight as possible.
"We might not be dating openly just yet, but I'm always going to love him," Nathan answered whilst hoisting his pants again, his tone suggesting that it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"But Simon's a, a old fashioned and shy guy, do you really think a tattoo would impress Simon of all people?" And why was he playing along with this farce? Maybe it was just a sign he'd been around the insanity that was Nathan Young for far too long.
"He knows the antics I'm capable of," Nathan pointed out, but his tone suggested he was wavering. "I've got to convince him I'm being real with him somehow. You still don't believe me."
"Uh, maybe you should do something toned down and normal, something he'd actually like. You know, pay attention to his comfort and uh..." What was he saying? "And of course I don't, you've lied your arse off since the moment we met. You're practically a professional wind-up merchant."
"Hardly ever!" Nathan might've taken greater exception to being called such a liar, but he couldn't help being amused by the last. "You think I've got a professional quality, eh?"
"A professional wanker maybe. Look, on the off chance you're actually serious: don't get a tattoo, alright? I don't think Simon even likes them."
"Really?" Nathan frowned some, considering it as he looked at the star outlined on either side of his wrist. "Should I have mine lasered, then?" He asked it perhaps a bit too eagerly. If that was what would make Simon happy...
"Erm..." What kind of parallel world twilight zone had he fallen into? "Um, he, well no, no he knows you have them. He wouldn't want you to change yourself too much for him right? It'd make him feel bad."
"You're smarter about all this relationship stuff than I give you credit for," Nathan smiled at him rather gratefully. "And he is so sensitive and attentive. Such a big heart. ...Don't get any ideas, either, because I saw him first." Nathan sighed, looking around him before deciding to drop back onto the bed over his clothes. "What's your 'toned down' and 'normal' look like, then?"
"Yeah, funnily enough I am still straight so no worries there." Curtis decided just going with it was best for now. Go along with it and get trashed later to forget the whole conversation ever happened. "How about no tattoos and no putting private photos of him on the internet with out his permission because that's made he seriously uncomfortable." Not to mention pissed Curtis off.
"Girl you could also be straight for all I know, so your warning goes double." Nathan sighed from his sprawl. "You know, I'm hearing a lot of negatives there. You need to improve that attitude of yours."
"I'm still me whatever gender my body is and I have never been attracted to men, if that changes I'll let you know." He rolled his eyes and shook his head a little, even if he ever was attracted to a guy (which was highly unlikely though maybe if pigs started flying or Victor went straight...) he'd probably never coped with being near the guy, especially not as Mel. "And I'm not being negative, I'm just telling you what you're doing wrong."
"Only saying what's being done wrong is totally negative," Nathan determined, half-heartedly flinging a dirty shirt at Curtis.
Curtis caught it easily and threw it away in a random direction. "Fine, it's nice you're trying to be nicer to him just think before you do next time, alright?" He stood with the intention of bringing the conversation to a close because this was two fucking weird.
"Do you think...he could love me, though?" There wasn't any of Nathan's easy mockery in the question, where he sat up on the bed and looked over at the other boy. It came out slow, thoughtful. He really did want Curtis' opinion, on this one. "A little?"
Curtis's first reaction to that was 'Seriously, who the fuck are you and where's Nathan?' but somehow he kept that all internal."I...um...I think that's a question for Simon, don't you?" He answered almost faintly. "Look, uh, I have to get to work. I'm covering a shift so I can't be late but, uh, are you going to be alright here?"
He didn't know what had triggered this apparent change in character but he was actually worried about what the next grand gesture of supposed love would be, and he wasn't just worried for Simon either. He was actually worried for Nathan too.
Weird.
Nathan lifted his eyebrows at Curtis, managing to think about something other than entirely Simon for a moment. "...You've got a job?"
"Yeah, needed the extra cash since I know have a second body to clothe and all." Curtis pointed out with a shrug. He also liked the time away from the school and all the tension and hormones flying about the place. Ok, so a record shop full of teens and twenty-somethings had plenty of hormones and tensions too, but it never seemed quite as intense. It'd do him some good after this down-the-rabbit-hole conversation for sure.
"You never said anything about it!" Not that they were the closest of bosom buddies, Nathan supposed. But it seemed significant.
"I didn't think it would interest you." And he certainly didn't want Nathan turning up at the shop.
Nathan looked at him for a beat, then shrugged. "That's cool," was as far as he investigated from there, the words neutral. "Your good deed of stopping me from tattooing any names on my arse is done. Go on, off with you. Don't be late."
Curtis was already heading out. "Right, see ya. Just..." He paused at the door, pausing for a moment to find the right words. "Don't hurt him ok? Whatever you're up to."
"That's the very last thing I want to do," Nathan told him sincerely.
Straight from the library, Curtis headed to Simon and Nathan's room since in his school wide hunt for Simon he'd not seen Nathan at all the dorm room seemed like a good bet to him. He knocked lightly, telling himself to keep his anger.
A dull thump sounded from inside. "Simon?! Is that you?" The door was flung open a beat later, to a somewhat breathless Nathan half-dressed from the shoes on upward. The beaming anticipation on his face wilted just a bit, easing his eyebrows back down for a notably less-impressed smile at Curtis. It was still a smile, though. "Well, that's a disappointment. But come in anyway! You're just in time to go into the city with me," he abandoned Curtis at the door to get back to his clothes.
Curtis stepped in and closed the door behind himself before looking around. The room was more lived in since the last time he'd visited but still largely the same. Nathan's side was easy to tell apart from Simon's.
"Why are you going into town?" he asked as he tried to figure out how best to broach the subject.
"I've no idea whatsoever," Nathan reported back, not sounding terribly concerned with that minor detail. He was rummaging about through some shirts he'd draped on his bed - all of his shirts, as it happened. He quickly discarded a few on the floor for being too dirty or smelling off. "But that could be where you come in! How do kids from here get to the city, anyway?"
"If you mean the town it's walk or bus, if you mean New York City for real then I'm guessing drive." Curtis responded, leaning against a desk that looked likely to be Simon's before adding "That journal post you made was out of line."
"Haven't you even gone off the grounds yet?" Nathan lifted a pair of shirts that seemed like the best of them, almost starting to put on the first-best - then changing his mind, deciding it might be better to save that for after. "The journal thing was a bit much, I know," he admitted, tugging the chosen shirt on. "But Simon needs to see how important he is to me! Everyone should see. No, I can't say as I regret it at all."
"Simon...Nathan, you posted photos of him without his permission and he isn't happy, who can blame him? You've embarrassed him in front of everyone. Again. This time you've gone too far." The fact that Nathan apparently hadn't noticed Curtis had a life and even a job wasn't a surprise, Nathan rarely noticed much. The reason he was there thought was to confront the prick anyway, not have a catch up, so that was what he'd do.
"Embarrassed?" He looked genuinely confused where he glanced back at Curtis, hesitating mid-reach for one of his flannel shirts. "No, that's not right. That was a declaration of love! Other guys show off pictures of their girlfriends all the time - not that I'm implying that Simon's a girl in the least," he made very clear to Curtis, because it sounded like the sort of thing Curtis would climb right up his asshole about. He frowned just a bit. "Did Simon tell you he wasn't happy?" It had seemed dead romantic, at the time. But Simon was so painfully private, so he supposed...
"Showing off? Girlfriends? Nathan! Cut the shit, alright? Why are you always fucking with him?" And this bullshit sincere acting was only annoying Curtis more. Why did Nathan have to be like this?
"There is no shit this time!" The words were loud enough to ring off of the walls in the small room, and Nathan stopped to take a deep breath after, blinking at Curtis. "I know what you're thinking, all right? And I don't blame you. I'd think the same. I'm a real prick sometimes. But this is... I'm not fucking around this time. Okay? I mean it," he expression softened, falling into something almost miserable as he went back for his flannel.
Suddenly, something struck Curtis as not quite right. He could see why Simon was so taken in by the act, it still didn't make it right though. "But...but you're straight." Was what he said weakly. He regretted it almost immediately, it was the sort of thing he should know better of. Especially considering the friends he'd made here and the discussions they'd had on
Nathan pulled on the shirt, leaving it unbuttoned where he shrugged at Curtis. "Sure, I used to think so. But it's like that movie with the gay cowboys - I can't quit him. I really can't. Simon's all I can think about, man. I've got it the worst." A fresh smile tugged at his lips, after a moment. "But he's so worth it, that beautiful bastard. I've just got to win him over. That's why I'm getting tattooed for him," he explained, moving for the door. "Are you still coming? Because I want to show him later tonight, and I don't know how long it will take."
Curtis had been about to ask when on earth Nathan of all people had watched Brokeback Mountain when that last detail made his jaw drop. "You're what?" And maybe it came out a little squeakier than usual. "A tattoo?" That was just taking it a little bit too far.
"Over a heart, in giant scripty letters," Nathan's face lit up with the idea. "Simon, right across... I hadn't decided yet," he admitted. "I think over my chest would appeal to his inner romantic," he flashed his bare chest at Curtis in demonstration. "But on one asscheek could appeal to his inner penis. Sexaaaaay," he turned around to give Curtis a flash of something else.
And that sounded like the tackiest tattoo idea he'd ever heard. "So, you're planning to get a tattoo for someone you're not even dating. Don't you think that's coming on a little strongly?" He asked, expression as straight as possible.
"We might not be dating openly just yet, but I'm always going to love him," Nathan answered whilst hoisting his pants again, his tone suggesting that it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"But Simon's a, a old fashioned and shy guy, do you really think a tattoo would impress Simon of all people?" And why was he playing along with this farce? Maybe it was just a sign he'd been around the insanity that was Nathan Young for far too long.
"He knows the antics I'm capable of," Nathan pointed out, but his tone suggested he was wavering. "I've got to convince him I'm being real with him somehow. You still don't believe me."
"Uh, maybe you should do something toned down and normal, something he'd actually like. You know, pay attention to his comfort and uh..." What was he saying? "And of course I don't, you've lied your arse off since the moment we met. You're practically a professional wind-up merchant."
"Hardly ever!" Nathan might've taken greater exception to being called such a liar, but he couldn't help being amused by the last. "You think I've got a professional quality, eh?"
"A professional wanker maybe. Look, on the off chance you're actually serious: don't get a tattoo, alright? I don't think Simon even likes them."
"Really?" Nathan frowned some, considering it as he looked at the star outlined on either side of his wrist. "Should I have mine lasered, then?" He asked it perhaps a bit too eagerly. If that was what would make Simon happy...
"Erm..." What kind of parallel world twilight zone had he fallen into? "Um, he, well no, no he knows you have them. He wouldn't want you to change yourself too much for him right? It'd make him feel bad."
"You're smarter about all this relationship stuff than I give you credit for," Nathan smiled at him rather gratefully. "And he is so sensitive and attentive. Such a big heart. ...Don't get any ideas, either, because I saw him first." Nathan sighed, looking around him before deciding to drop back onto the bed over his clothes. "What's your 'toned down' and 'normal' look like, then?"
"Yeah, funnily enough I am still straight so no worries there." Curtis decided just going with it was best for now. Go along with it and get trashed later to forget the whole conversation ever happened. "How about no tattoos and no putting private photos of him on the internet with out his permission because that's made he seriously uncomfortable." Not to mention pissed Curtis off.
"Girl you could also be straight for all I know, so your warning goes double." Nathan sighed from his sprawl. "You know, I'm hearing a lot of negatives there. You need to improve that attitude of yours."
"I'm still me whatever gender my body is and I have never been attracted to men, if that changes I'll let you know." He rolled his eyes and shook his head a little, even if he ever was attracted to a guy (which was highly unlikely though maybe if pigs started flying or Victor went straight...) he'd probably never coped with being near the guy, especially not as Mel. "And I'm not being negative, I'm just telling you what you're doing wrong."
"Only saying what's being done wrong is totally negative," Nathan determined, half-heartedly flinging a dirty shirt at Curtis.
Curtis caught it easily and threw it away in a random direction. "Fine, it's nice you're trying to be nicer to him just think before you do next time, alright?" He stood with the intention of bringing the conversation to a close because this was two fucking weird.
"Do you think...he could love me, though?" There wasn't any of Nathan's easy mockery in the question, where he sat up on the bed and looked over at the other boy. It came out slow, thoughtful. He really did want Curtis' opinion, on this one. "A little?"
Curtis's first reaction to that was 'Seriously, who the fuck are you and where's Nathan?' but somehow he kept that all internal."I...um...I think that's a question for Simon, don't you?" He answered almost faintly. "Look, uh, I have to get to work. I'm covering a shift so I can't be late but, uh, are you going to be alright here?"
He didn't know what had triggered this apparent change in character but he was actually worried about what the next grand gesture of supposed love would be, and he wasn't just worried for Simon either. He was actually worried for Nathan too.
Weird.
Nathan lifted his eyebrows at Curtis, managing to think about something other than entirely Simon for a moment. "...You've got a job?"
"Yeah, needed the extra cash since I know have a second body to clothe and all." Curtis pointed out with a shrug. He also liked the time away from the school and all the tension and hormones flying about the place. Ok, so a record shop full of teens and twenty-somethings had plenty of hormones and tensions too, but it never seemed quite as intense. It'd do him some good after this down-the-rabbit-hole conversation for sure.
"You never said anything about it!" Not that they were the closest of bosom buddies, Nathan supposed. But it seemed significant.
"I didn't think it would interest you." And he certainly didn't want Nathan turning up at the shop.
Nathan looked at him for a beat, then shrugged. "That's cool," was as far as he investigated from there, the words neutral. "Your good deed of stopping me from tattooing any names on my arse is done. Go on, off with you. Don't be late."
Curtis was already heading out. "Right, see ya. Just..." He paused at the door, pausing for a moment to find the right words. "Don't hurt him ok? Whatever you're up to."
"That's the very last thing I want to do," Nathan told him sincerely.
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Date: 2013-03-21 11:07 pm (UTC)