Elliott watched Cian pick up the axe and chop at the tree again. A frown was plastered on his face as he stared at his friend.

Cian thought that he was a good person, innocent enough since he hadn't killed anyone.

What would he think if he found out that he had participated in Rocket's experimentation?

The desire to tell him and come clean was there, but the hanging threat of the underboss's words lingered, as well as his friend's reaction. So he remained quiet.

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

he pauses after a swing to consider.

"get wasted with me."

the chuckle dies quick because he knows elliott deserves a proper answer.

"dunno, man. just be yourself? it's a shitty answer but i like your company just as is."

it reminds him of simpler times.

Of course he'd answer with "just be yourself." Elliott was the perfect friend.

Jokes aside, he'd do anything to try to make his friend feel better. He'd literally murder anyone that tried to hurt him again.

That was probably a shitty joke.

"I'll get wasted with you. I already said I would, right? Let's go out after we finish this job."

"hell yeah."

so, without any other interruptions, they finish hacking away at this tree, eventually causing it to fall. with each other's help, they haul it back to elliott's place with relative ease. the cold helps him not sweat as much.

after, he finally sighs.

"fuck. that was fun."

The tree was down, and their job was finished. Elliott decided they could leave the decorating part to someone else.

Who the hell wanted Cian and Eli to decorate? Probably no one.

"We should really go to one of those places you were talking about earlier. Sounds fun as fuck, if it's anything like chopping that tree."

Walking forward, he put his arm around his shoulders, smirking.

"Let's go get drinks, yeah?"

the two of them decorating? definitely not going to end well, so it's a good thing they decide to leave it to someone else. these strangers don't need a dickbutt ornament hanging from their christmas tree.

with elliott's arm around his shoulder, he nods.

"let's."

and away they go!

the salty krabby sounds like a decent enough spot. there aren't that many choices in littleroot regardless. it's quiet, comfortable, and most importantly, they serve alcohol.

"two beers?"

Honestly, the bar sounded like a piece of shit. Who named a place the Salty Krabby? But the moment they entered, he seemed to relax a bit.

"Hell yeah, give me a beer."

He waved his fake ID before going to sit down, releasing his hold on his friend.

oh, shit. cian definitely forgot that elliott's not legally allowed to drink yet. oh well. it's not like that's stopped them before.

two beers soon make their way over to them. he reaches out for his, then clinks it against his friend's.

"i'll race ya."

in chugging, of course.

There's the sound of clinking glasses, but before Elliott could even get his to his lips, Cian challenged him.

Well, challenge fucking accepted.

"You're on. Three... two... one... go!"

Slamming the bottom of his glass down on the table, he lifted it to his mouth and began to practically inhale the beer.

go!

bringing the glass to his lips, he chugs, spilling only slightly as he eventually sets the glass back down on the counter.

is he fast enough to beat elliott?

It was almost too close to tell who actually won.

When Elliott set his glass down, Cian had as well. He narrowed his eyes, looking back and forth between the two glasses.

"Did'ya cheat or something?" he teased.

"the fuck? i ain't a cheater."

that's a lie. he'd easily cheat if it meant winning. in this case, however?

"guess we'll need a second round, huh?"

a gesture at the bartender later and two more drinks come their way. he burps into his shoulder, then reaches for the glass.

"ready, hotshot?"

Elliott snorted, a clear sign that he obviously didn't believe him.

He knew him well enough. And Cian should know that Eli would cheat to win if he could too.

So, more glasses were put in front of them, and he grabbed his. With a nod, he counted down again, tipping his head back and swallowing down the beer as quickly as he could. He slammed it down on the table.

"I definitely won this time."