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~A/N~ If you're curious about age, they are both just 16 - makes more sense as far as paying for the trip and maturity. Also, it's winter break. Quick thanks to all who read the first! ~A/N~

-Let's be the Strider first.-

     You and John stay tangled up for a while, not speaking, just... peacefully cuddling. Staring at the ceiling, one arm around his shoulder, you listened to the sound of his breathing. You had given up trying to keep the coolkid facade, snuggling the little derp against you, pulling him close. He had his head on your chest and an arm and leg thrown haphazardly across your body. He had fallen asleep a little bit ago, and you thought he was dreaming at this point, because he kept motherfucking twitching and murmuring things that you couldn't make out. Absently running a hand through his hair, you realized that it was still sticky from the whipped dream earlier. Figures that Egderp would forget.
     "John," you murmured gently, shaking him ever so slightly. That hair needed a serious wash. He mumbled and frowned, burying his face into your chest even more. Shit, was he still asleep? "John," you said again shaking him harder, eliciting another stream of mumbling, with what you thought was the word "bucket" thrown in there. Gog damn, he sleeps even heavier than the fucking dead in their graves. "JOHN. WAKE UP."
     He shot up, eyes wide and fuzzy. "IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, I SWEAR!" He comes back to his sense rather quickly when he sees you laying there. "Oh, shit."
     Holy shit. "John...?" You didn't think he could cuss with such passion. "Are you okay, man?"
     He shook his head and blinked a couple of times, getting rid of the fuzziness that was there. "Y-Yeah..." You didn't buy it for a fucking second, but you let him continue. "It's just these really vivid dreams I have. I'm not used to being... interrupted."
     Vivid dreams? "You've never told me you had dreams like that Egbert. What's going on in there?" You poked his forehead for emphasis.
     Fiddling with his glasses and playing with his lower lip, he looked down. "I... didn't want to tell you. They're so ridiculous and crazy, and I barely remember them. They're just one big blur of color and sound. I didn't want to burden you with that, seeing as you help me out with everything else." He looked almost guilty for this, and you inwardly cringed, because you have secrets of your own that you haven't told either. But those were for later.
     "John." You tilted his chin up, looking him straight in those deep blue eyes. "It's cool. Really. My fault for interrupting whatever sicknasty dream you were having." He cracked a goofy, bucktooth grin at your usual vocabulary, and you offered a twitch of a smile back. "Now go get showered. Your hair is so fucking sticky. Feels like someone molested your head with a lollipop."
     John reached up to touch his hair, making a face once he felt it. "Eww. Yeah, it really does. Let me go and wash it." The cute diabetes almost struck again when he fucking giggled and pulled you up into a hug. Releasing his arms from around you, he hopped off the bed, snagging the towel you had used to dry your hair.
     "That was one of the manliest sounds you have ever made, Egbert," you called out to him as he walked out of the room. You could practically hear the eye roll in the "whatever, Dave" tossed casually back at you. Smirking to yourself, you laid back on the bed, ready to nap a bit to make up for the sleep you lost on your flight.
     But there were no naps in your future, because a small pling sounded from the iPhone in your pocket. Lazily pulling it out, you checked your notifications. Looks like someone was pestering you.

--tentacleTherapist [WG] began pestering turntechGodhead [WG] at 15:36--

TT: So I heard you were at a certain Mr. Egbert's house.

     Of course it was Lalonde.

TG: no im on the fucking moon
TG: doing acrobatic pirouettes everywhere
TT: Should I assume that means yes?
TT: Wait, why am I asking? It does mean yes.
TT: Anyways, how is it going?
TG: fine
TG: got a bucket on my head
TG: john and his prankster obsession
TG: cost me a shower and some perfect hair
TT: What did he put in there? Water?
TG: whipped cream
TT: Must have been a sight to see. How did it feel to be pranked by the one and only John Egbert?
TG: sticky
TT: Oh come on now, you must have more than that.
TG: lalonde
TG: no
TG: i am not dealing with this psychoanalyst bullshit today
TT: I require more information on the relationship between you and Egbert in order to close this file.
TG: you never close files
TG: i call bullshit
TG: or more like snarky horseshit
TT: Hush, Strider. I will be willing to close this one. That is, if I can get a satisfactory conclusion.
TT: So come on. Out with it.
TG: no
TG: i told you
TG: i am not dealing with your snarky broads and their horseshit meter
TT: So you have something to hide, then?
TT: Your resistance in expressing your true feelings on the matter and a lack of a "cool" or "ironic" response leads me to believe that you may be concealing something.
TG: im not hiding anything lalonde
TG: seriously
TG: stop
TT: Continued resistance: check.
TT: I want an answer, Mr. Strider.
TT: Strider?

     You wondered whether or not this would be one of the most stupid things you have ever done.

TT: Where did you go?

     Then again, this was Rose. She had raped your brain so much, she probably already knew what was going on. She knew fucking everything if you let her get close enough.

TT: Your prolonged absence is quite disconcerting.

     Taking a deep breath, you did a leap of faith into the unknown abyss.

TG: fine
TG: i kissed him okay
TG: realized my homo feelings or whatever shit you had documents
TG: i want to hear the satisfying click of a file closing lalonde
TG: lalonde
TG: lalonde where the fuck are you

--tentacleTherapist [TT] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [CG] at 15:46--

     A little thing clicked in the back of your head when a second pling sounded and another Pesterlog opened.

--gardenGnostic [GG] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG] at 15:47--

GG: dave!
GG: you kissed john???

    For a fleeting moment, you hoped Lalonde would go die in a hole somewhere. Cold and alone.

GG: that is sooooo cute!!
TG: lalonde told you didnt she
GG: hehe, yeah, rose told me!
TG: gog damn it
TG: cant keep shit to herself
TG: whatever. shouldve known this was coming
GG: so tell me
GG: how did it happen??
GG: i am alight with the flames of curiosity as you would put it!!
TG: thats classified harley
GG: aww
GG: you're no fun!!
GG: pleeeeease tell me?
TG: alright
TG: since youre burning so badly
TG: might as well put out the fire
TG: the sunglasses came off on accident
GG: :0
GG: really??? the ever holy sunglasses somehow ended up coming off????
TG: yeah
TG: shit happened
TG: and then we kissed like we were jake gyllenhaal and heath ledger from motherfucking brokeback mountain
GG: hehe, well, it looks like it ended happily for you!!
GG: I'm happy that you found each other
GG: you two are going to be adorable together!!!!
GG: i'll leave you alone now, and tell rose to lay off too
GG: have a nice rest of the day!

--gardenGnostic [GG] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG] at 15:53--

     Standing up, you put your phone back in your pocket. That cat just leapt out of the bag like it was being set down in a bathtub full of hot water. Oh well. They would've found out eventually, from John or some shit like that. Speaking of, he hadn't come back from the bathroom yet. You took that extra time to look out the window. It was a barren world out there, a neighborhood of plain little houses with leafless trees. Cold too, much colder than Texas. You noted the tire swing and the little pogo ride in the yard. God, that thing was so cute, even if you wouldn't admit it. Your attention was diverted when piano music floated up the stairs, the tune energetic and fast-paced.
     Egbert said he played piano, but he never said he was a fucking genius.

-What is Egbert doing?-

     You didn't really know why you were playing this song tonight. They just kind of came to you; you weren't really sure where the urge originated. They just showed up in your head and begged to be played. You had done this one many, many times before, (it was an original composition of yours!) which is why it was almost flawless. Fingers flying across the piano, you drowned in the music, closing your eyes and just feeling it. When you played the piano, it just felt... amazing. Amazing beyond words, that you, the little derp, could actually play this.
     "What are you playing?"
     A dissonant chord sounded as you jumped and turned around on the bench. Adjusting the glasses that had fallen down on your nose, you looked up at Dave, who had his sunglasses back on. His pokerface was back, which made you kind of sad, but this was Dave we were talking about here.
     "J-Just a song," you stuttered nervously, heart still racing from being startled.
     "No shit, Egbert. What is it called?"
   "I'm... not really sure." Turning back to the keys, you plunked a few notes. "Never gave this one a name."
     Dave nodded. He knew you played piano, and that you had made a few songs yourself. "A piece that crazy, I would've thought you named it."
     That made you smile a bit, and an idea started forming as you started playing the song again. "You could name it yourself, if you want."
     He was silent for a few seconds. "It's your song, John. Not mine."
     Shaking your head, you continued to play. "Dave, I haven't been able to name this thing for three years. I am at a total loss here. I want this to be your song to have."
     The silence lasted longer this time. You could tell he was really thinking this through. "Showtime. That's all I got."
     "That's perfect!" you chirped. Laughing, you played through till the end, and then turned around on the bench. "You are the maker of names, Dave. It is you. I don't even know how you got that!"
     Dave shrugged, trying to appear very nonchalant, but you could see by the way his face was twitched up the slightest bit told you he was pleased. "Every song should have a proper name, Egbert. Otherwise, that song is pretty much walking a homeless guy walking around naked, going to live back in a cardboard box whenever you stop playing it. It is shamed forever. Forever, Egbert."
     You laughed and stood up, surprising Dave with a small peck on the lips, breaking his pokerface. You shot your fist up in the air, doing a mock dance of victory. "Yes!"
     "Egbert, you fucking litt-"
     He was interrupted by a gruff, kindly voice sounding from the kitchen, the sound of your dad. "Dinner, boys." You gave a whoop and pulled Dave along to the dining room, where you swear he almost paled at the sight of the steak and potato dinner laid before him. He sat down and ate with barely a word, though, only answering a question when Dad asked him one. It was all the same, typical Dad stuff - "Where do you go to school, what are your habits, blah blah blah." Dave took it rather well though. Then came the cake, which you abjured the hell out of, and Dave ate a piece just to spite you for your little prank earlier.
     The rest of the night went by in a blur. You played some awesome games on your Gamecube (shut up Dave, they were totally amazing!), and he, in turn, showed you his blogs and comics. Then came the event of the night, the one thing you had been waiting for - you were going to make Dave watch Con Air! You had to pretty much drag him to the couch where the TV, but you managed to get him to sit and stay. Your attention was on the movie most of the time, but when you looked over at Dave, you could see he was reacting behind the mask. It was the tilt of the eyebrows, or the way his nose wrinkled. It made you smile to yourself to know he was still getting something out of this.
     Then came that fateful scene. The one that made you blubber like a freaking little girl, no matter how much you tried to contain it at the very manly age of sixteen. The minute "How do I live without you?" erupted from the TV screen, tears gathered in your eyes. Dave looked over at you, the mask breaking into concern. "John....?"
     You gave a little hiccup of a cry and wrapped your arms around Dave, really getting into the moment. "This scene... it always gets me." You wiped your eyes, chuckling. "It's just... such a sweet reunion."
     Dave chuckled a bit too, relieved. "Figures. You are almost as sappy as a fucking maple tree, John. I could make fucking syrup with how much sap you have."
     You punched him lightly in the shoulder and hugged him tighter. "You know you love iiiiiiiiit, Dave!"
     He shrugged, but you could read it in his face, and that was enough.. You got up and got the DVD out once the credits started rolling. "Now... what do we do?"
     "I could..." He paused for a moment, and then he got out his earbuds. "Don't want to wear our time out on the first fucking day. How about I show you what real music sounds like?"
     Rolling your eyes, you agreed, and put one earbud in your ear. Dave flipped around songs, finding music he wanted you to listen to. Even though you really hadn't listened to things like club, electronica, and techno, you found that you liked what Dave played for you. You just leaned your back against his shoulder, and drowned in the sound. At least, you drowned in it till you heard a rap song come on. He knew you didn't really like rap, so why was he...?
     Oh. He was asleep.
     Turning around gently, you checked. Yep, those eyes were closed. You took the earbuds out and paused his iPod; he surprisingly didn't wake. Grabbing a blanket and covering him up, you went to sleep in your room. You didn't need to wake him up just to drag him up here. You would see him tomorrow.

-A little bit more time, and we are Dave again.-

     A loud cry was what jolted you out of sleep. You were still sitting on the couch, a blanket thrown haphazardly across you. Gog damn it, you had fallen asleep on John. Speaking of John... was he the one that cried out just now? A second cry sounded, almost a reply to your question, and you sprinted up the stairs. Flinging open John's door, you rushed over to his bed, where he was contorting in the sheets. He was crying out your name, almost screaming it incessantly now, wrapped tightly in a nightmare. Going over to his bed, you sat down and pulled him to you, holding him tightly, crooning soothing syllables into his ear. Instinct had taken over by this point, and you rocked him, rocked him so he wouldn't be in pain anymore, wouldn't be scared. You had never felt emotion like this, this raw desperate need to soothe, and it kind of scared you how you weren't in control of yourself.
     The crying subsided to hiccuping, and he began murmuring your name rather than screaming it. Laying him back on the bed, you realize, with a shock, that he had been asleep the entire time. He.... really did sleep like the dead. Kissing him on the forehead, you held his hand and pet his hair, relieved that this little bout was over. Making a split second decision, you schooched John over a bit and laid next to him, just in case he had any more nightmares. You held him close and continued to murmur things into his ear until you fell asleep.

-For a moment, let's join a spectator.-

     The boy, Dave, hadn't noticed your presence in the doorway. He was too concerned with your son, thrashing about in one of his terrifying nightmares. He had called for your name once upon a time as well. But never had you been able to calm him like this. This boy... he was truly something else. Even though your boy had denied he was a homosexual, you knew that he cared for his friend. And with that sign of affection, you knew what had happened between the two of them. But you were content with that.

     You didn't mind this turn of events.

     No, you didn't mind it at all.

:D (Big Grin) — Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

~A/N~ If you're curious about age, they are both just 16 - makes more sense as far as paying for the trip and maturity. Also, it's winter break. Quick thanks to all who read the first! ~A/N~

-Let's be the Strider first.-

     You and John stay tangled up for a while, not speaking, just... peacefully cuddling. Staring at the ceiling, one arm around his shoulder, you listened to the sound of his breathing. You had given up trying to keep the coolkid facade, snuggling the little derp against you, pulling him close. He had his head on your chest and an arm and leg thrown haphazardly across your body. He had fallen asleep a little bit ago, and you thought he was dreaming at this point, because he kept motherfucking twitching and murmuring things that you couldn't make out. Absently running a hand through his hair, you realized that it was still sticky from the whipped dream earlier. Figures that Egderp would forget.
     "John," you murmured gently, shaking him ever so slightly. That hair needed a serious wash. He mumbled and frowned, burying his face into your chest even more. Shit, was he still asleep? "John," you said again shaking him harder, eliciting another stream of mumbling, with what you thought was the word "bucket" thrown in there. Gog damn, he sleeps even heavier than the fucking dead in their graves. "JOHN. WAKE UP."
     He shot up, eyes wide and fuzzy. "IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, I SWEAR!" He comes back to his sense rather quickly when he sees you laying there. "Oh, shit."
     Holy shit. "John...?" You didn't think he could cuss with such passion. "Are you okay, man?"
     He shook his head and blinked a couple of times, getting rid of the fuzziness that was there. "Y-Yeah..." You didn't buy it for a fucking second, but you let him continue. "It's just these really vivid dreams I have. I'm not used to being... interrupted."
     Vivid dreams? "You've never told me you had dreams like that Egbert. What's going on in there?" You poked his forehead for emphasis.
     Fiddling with his glasses and playing with his lower lip, he looked down. "I... didn't want to tell you. They're so ridiculous and crazy, and I barely remember them. They're just one big blur of color and sound. I didn't want to burden you with that, seeing as you help me out with everything else." He looked almost guilty for this, and you inwardly cringed, because you have secrets of your own that you haven't told either. But those were for later.
     "John." You tilted his chin up, looking him straight in those deep blue eyes. "It's cool. Really. My fault for interrupting whatever sicknasty dream you were having." He cracked a goofy, bucktooth grin at your usual vocabulary, and you offered a twitch of a smile back. "Now go get showered. Your hair is so fucking sticky. Feels like someone molested your head with a lollipop."
     John reached up to touch his hair, making a face once he felt it. "Eww. Yeah, it really does. Let me go and wash it." The cute diabetes almost struck again when he fucking giggled and pulled you up into a hug. Releasing his arms from around you, he hopped off the bed, snagging the towel you had used to dry your hair.
     "That was one of the manliest sounds you have ever made, Egbert," you called out to him as he walked out of the room. You could practically hear the eye roll in the "whatever, Dave" tossed casually back at you. Smirking to yourself, you laid back on the bed, ready to nap a bit to make up for the sleep you lost on your flight.
     But there were no naps in your future, because a small pling sounded from the iPhone in your pocket. Lazily pulling it out, you checked your notifications. Looks like someone was pestering you.

--tentacleTherapist [WG] began pestering turntechGodhead [WG] at 15:36--

TT: So I heard you were at a certain Mr. Egbert's house.

     Of course it was Lalonde.

TG: no im on the fucking moon
TG: doing acrobatic pirouettes everywhere
TT: Should I assume that means yes?
TT: Wait, why am I asking? It does mean yes.
TT: Anyways, how is it going?
TG: fine
TG: got a bucket on my head
TG: john and his prankster obsession
TG: cost me a shower and some perfect hair
TT: What did he put in there? Water?
TG: whipped cream
TT: Must have been a sight to see. How did it feel to be pranked by the one and only John Egbert?
TG: sticky
TT: Oh come on now, you must have more than that.
TG: lalonde
TG: no
TG: i am not dealing with this psychoanalyst bullshit today
TT: I require more information on the relationship between you and Egbert in order to close this file.
TG: you never close files
TG: i call bullshit
TG: or more like snarky horseshit
TT: Hush, Strider. I will be willing to close this one. That is, if I can get a satisfactory conclusion.
TT: So come on. Out with it.
TG: no
TG: i told you
TG: i am not dealing with your snarky broads and their horseshit meter
TT: So you have something to hide, then?
TT: Your resistance in expressing your true feelings on the matter and a lack of a "cool" or "ironic" response leads me to believe that you may be concealing something.
TG: im not hiding anything lalonde
TG: seriously
TG: stop
TT: Continued resistance: check.
TT: I want an answer, Mr. Strider.
TT: Strider?

     You wondered whether or not this would be one of the most stupid things you have ever done.

TT: Where did you go?

     Then again, this was Rose. She had raped your brain so much, she probably already knew what was going on. She knew fucking everything if you let her get close enough.

TT: Your prolonged absence is quite disconcerting.

     Taking a deep breath, you did a leap of faith into the unknown abyss.

TG: fine
TG: i kissed him okay
TG: realized my homo feelings or whatever shit you had documents
TG: i want to hear the satisfying click of a file closing lalonde
TG: lalonde
TG: lalonde where the fuck are you

--tentacleTherapist [TT] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [CG] at 15:46--

     A little thing clicked in the back of your head when a second pling sounded and another Pesterlog opened.

--gardenGnostic [GG] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG] at 15:47--

GG: dave!
GG: you kissed john???

    For a fleeting moment, you hoped Lalonde would go die in a hole somewhere. Cold and alone.

GG: that is sooooo cute!!
TG: lalonde told you didnt she
GG: hehe, yeah, rose told me!
TG: gog damn it
TG: cant keep shit to herself
TG: whatever. shouldve known this was coming
GG: so tell me
GG: how did it happen??
GG: i am alight with the flames of curiosity as you would put it!!
TG: thats classified harley
GG: aww
GG: you're no fun!!
GG: pleeeeease tell me?
TG: alright
TG: since youre burning so badly
TG: might as well put out the fire
TG: the sunglasses came off on accident
GG: :0
GG: really??? the ever holy sunglasses somehow ended up coming off????
TG: yeah
TG: shit happened
TG: and then we kissed like we were jake gyllenhaal and heath ledger from motherfucking brokeback mountain
GG: hehe, well, it looks like it ended happily for you!!
GG: I'm happy that you found each other
GG: you two are going to be adorable together!!!!
GG: i'll leave you alone now, and tell rose to lay off too
GG: have a nice rest of the day!

--gardenGnostic [GG] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG] at 15:53--

     Standing up, you put your phone back in your pocket. That cat just leapt out of the bag like it was being set down in a bathtub full of hot water. Oh well. They would've found out eventually, from John or some shit like that. Speaking of, he hadn't come back from the bathroom yet. You took that extra time to look out the window. It was a barren world out there, a neighborhood of plain little houses with leafless trees. Cold too, much colder than Texas. You noted the tire swing and the little pogo ride in the yard. God, that thing was so cute, even if you wouldn't admit it. Your attention was diverted when piano music floated up the stairs, the tune energetic and fast-paced.
     Egbert said he played piano, but he never said he was a fucking genius.

-What is Egbert doing?-

     You didn't really know why you were playing this song tonight. They just kind of came to you; you weren't really sure where the urge originated. They just showed up in your head and begged to be played. You had done this one many, many times before, (it was an original composition of yours!) which is why it was almost flawless. Fingers flying across the piano, you drowned in the music, closing your eyes and just feeling it. When you played the piano, it just felt... amazing. Amazing beyond words, that you, the little derp, could actually play this.
     "What are you playing?"
     A dissonant chord sounded as you jumped and turned around on the bench. Adjusting the glasses that had fallen down on your nose, you looked up at Dave, who had his sunglasses back on. His pokerface was back, which made you kind of sad, but this was Dave we were talking about here.
     "J-Just a song," you stuttered nervously, heart still racing from being startled.
     "No shit, Egbert. What is it called?"
   "I'm... not really sure." Turning back to the keys, you plunked a few notes. "Never gave this one a name."
     Dave nodded. He knew you played piano, and that you had made a few songs yourself. "A piece that crazy, I would've thought you named it."
     That made you smile a bit, and an idea started forming as you started playing the song again. "You could name it yourself, if you want."
     He was silent for a few seconds. "It's your song, John. Not mine."
     Shaking your head, you continued to play. "Dave, I haven't been able to name this thing for three years. I am at a total loss here. I want this to be your song to have."
     The silence lasted longer this time. You could tell he was really thinking this through. "Showtime. That's all I got."
     "That's perfect!" you chirped. Laughing, you played through till the end, and then turned around on the bench. "You are the maker of names, Dave. It is you. I don't even know how you got that!"
     Dave shrugged, trying to appear very nonchalant, but you could see by the way his face was twitched up the slightest bit told you he was pleased. "Every song should have a proper name, Egbert. Otherwise, that song is pretty much walking a homeless guy walking around naked, going to live back in a cardboard box whenever you stop playing it. It is shamed forever. Forever, Egbert."
     You laughed and stood up, surprising Dave with a small peck on the lips, breaking his pokerface. You shot your fist up in the air, doing a mock dance of victory. "Yes!"
     "Egbert, you fucking litt-"
     He was interrupted by a gruff, kindly voice sounding from the kitchen, the sound of your dad. "Dinner, boys." You gave a whoop and pulled Dave along to the dining room, where you swear he almost paled at the sight of the steak and potato dinner laid before him. He sat down and ate with barely a word, though, only answering a question when Dad asked him one. It was all the same, typical Dad stuff - "Where do you go to school, what are your habits, blah blah blah." Dave took it rather well though. Then came the cake, which you abjured the hell out of, and Dave ate a piece just to spite you for your little prank earlier.
     The rest of the night went by in a blur. You played some awesome games on your Gamecube (shut up Dave, they were totally amazing!), and he, in turn, showed you his blogs and comics. Then came the event of the night, the one thing you had been waiting for - you were going to make Dave watch Con Air! You had to pretty much drag him to the couch where the TV, but you managed to get him to sit and stay. Your attention was on the movie most of the time, but when you looked over at Dave, you could see he was reacting behind the mask. It was the tilt of the eyebrows, or the way his nose wrinkled. It made you smile to yourself to know he was still getting something out of this.
     Then came that fateful scene. The one that made you blubber like a freaking little girl, no matter how much you tried to contain it at the very manly age of sixteen. The minute "How do I live without you?" erupted from the TV screen, tears gathered in your eyes. Dave looked over at you, the mask breaking into concern. "John....?"
     You gave a little hiccup of a cry and wrapped your arms around Dave, really getting into the moment. "This scene... it always gets me." You wiped your eyes, chuckling. "It's just... such a sweet reunion."
     Dave chuckled a bit too, relieved. "Figures. You are almost as sappy as a fucking maple tree, John. I could make fucking syrup with how much sap you have."
     You punched him lightly in the shoulder and hugged him tighter. "You know you love iiiiiiiiit, Dave!"
     He shrugged, but you could read it in his face, and that was enough.. You got up and got the DVD out once the credits started rolling. "Now... what do we do?"
     "I could..." He paused for a moment, and then he got out his earbuds. "Don't want to wear our time out on the first fucking day. How about I show you what real music sounds like?"
     Rolling your eyes, you agreed, and put one earbud in your ear. Dave flipped around songs, finding music he wanted you to listen to. Even though you really hadn't listened to things like club, electronica, and techno, you found that you liked what Dave played for you. You just leaned your back against his shoulder, and drowned in the sound. At least, you drowned in it till you heard a rap song come on. He knew you didn't really like rap, so why was he...?
     Oh. He was asleep.
     Turning around gently, you checked. Yep, those eyes were closed. You took the earbuds out and paused his iPod; he surprisingly didn't wake. Grabbing a blanket and covering him up, you went to sleep in your room. You didn't need to wake him up just to drag him up here. You would see him tomorrow.

-A little bit more time, and we are Dave again.-

     A loud cry was what jolted you out of sleep. You were still sitting on the couch, a blanket thrown haphazardly across you. Gog damn it, you had fallen asleep on John. Speaking of John... was he the one that cried out just now? A second cry sounded, almost a reply to your question, and you sprinted up the stairs. Flinging open John's door, you rushed over to his bed, where he was contorting in the sheets. He was crying out your name, almost screaming it incessantly now, wrapped tightly in a nightmare. Going over to his bed, you sat down and pulled him to you, holding him tightly, crooning soothing syllables into his ear. Instinct had taken over by this point, and you rocked him, rocked him so he wouldn't be in pain anymore, wouldn't be scared. You had never felt emotion like this, this raw desperate need to soothe, and it kind of scared you how you weren't in control of yourself.
     The crying subsided to hiccuping, and he began murmuring your name rather than screaming it. Laying him back on the bed, you realize, with a shock, that he had been asleep the entire time. He.... really did sleep like the dead. Kissing him on the forehead, you held his hand and pet his hair, relieved that this little bout was over. Making a split second decision, you schooched John over a bit and laid next to him, just in case he had any more nightmares. You held him close and continued to murmur things into his ear until you fell asleep.

-For a moment, let's join a spectator.-

     The boy, Dave, hadn't noticed your presence in the doorway. He was too concerned with your son, thrashing about in one of his terrifying nightmares. He had called for your name once upon a time as well. But never had you been able to calm him like this. This boy... he was truly something else. Even though your boy had denied he was a homosexual, you knew that he cared for his friend. And with that sign of affection, you knew what had happened between the two of them. But you were content with that.

     You didn't mind this turn of events.

     No, you didn't mind it at all.