"your treat?"

he repeats, scoffing at the end.

"who is this and what have you done to elliott?"

a quick gesture later and two shots of tequila are placed in front of them, along with two more refills of beer. at this rate, cian's going to puke, but at least he'll have his best friend to help look after him, right?

"i don't remember the last time i drank this fast."

he sighs, picking up the shot regardless.

"cheers."

"Fuck off. I can be nice," he said with a scowl.

Even if he was stingy with his money, he'd treat his friend. Occasionally.

The shots and beer were brought back to them, Elliott grinning like a fool. He took the shot, raising it to Cian.

"To many more years of friendship with you, idiot."

"yes, yes. assuming we both manage to stay alive that long."

his shot glass clinks against elliott's before he downs it, swallowing it in one. he breathes out the sharp burn of the alcohol after, laughing.

"FUCK, that's strong."

then, smirking, he nudges his friend's shoulder.

"one more?"

"I'll make sure you live long enough, moron."

It was Elliott, himself, he was worried about. The MAGMA experiments... he wondered if he'd die from them.

Who knew?

The alcohol would burn away the thought as it made a fiery track down his throat, into his stomach. He sighed, eyes squinting.

"Another."

"guess we're gonna die here tonight."

which makes sense, given how much and how fast they're drinking. still, against his better judgment, he waves down the bartender, signaling for another. his beer is left untouched for now.

soon, two more shots find their way over.

"so, uh," he downs his shot, "how's your dating life?"

So be it. Elliott didn't mind dying beside his best friend, taking shots and drinking beer.

He tipped his head back again, another one down the hatch. He was lucky he managed to swallow it, since his friend decided to ask a stupid ass question.

He could've choked and died!

"The hell? You know I don't date..." he said, though the blush on his cheeks was enough to expose him as a liar.

Eli had definitely kissed someone recently. Cian just had to dig a little deeper to get the deets.

the sting of the liquor hits the back of his throat, spreading as he chuckles at his friend's reaction. the blush on his cheeks is telling enough.

"sure, sure. but why are you blushing, then?"

he grins, leaning close.

"did something happen?"

"I'm not-!"

Was he blushing?

Damn stupid Cian for being able to notice. He wanted to give him a good smack.

"I mean... I... ugh... I may have... kissed someone..."

"KISSED SOMEONE?"

like a donkey, he honks it loud and clear for the rest of the bar to hear. not that anyone's listening, of course, but the embarrassment elliott must be feeling is good enough for him.

"tell me everything."

"Oh my god. Shut the fuck up, Cian."

Elliott hid his face in his hands, turning red and hot. He couldn't help how embarrassed he became at his friend's laughter and honking, alerting everyone - literally everyone - in the bar that something was going on at their booth. He slapped his shoulder, flipping him off.

"I mean... I just... I went ice skating with a girl, we fell on the ice, and she kissed me. And I just liked it, okay? That's all that happened!"

"the fuck? you fell on the ice? you in some fairy tale?"

teasing aside, cian is genuinely happy for his friend. it shows in the way he smiles and laughs, suddenly carefree in the way he slaps elliott's shoulder.

"that's all? come on, bud, surely there's more."

Cian was hounding him for more details. Fuck, he hated him sometimes.

"I mean... I guess she came over. But nothing happened! We just watched a movie. That's it. Really!"

And he was absolutely serious.

"just watched a movie..."

for all cian squints, he actually does believe his friend, because if anything more had happened he's sure elliott would be blushing to death.

"that's really cute. i'm happy for you, dude."