This was not his kind of scene. Granted, most things involving other people were far out of Levy's ballpark. So, a college Halloween party was about the last place that he wanted to be at. If not for Wren, even a hundred yards away wouldn't be far enough. Yet he was heading in the direction of the people and the obnoxious music. Every step required a bit of a mental peptalk and reminder that this wasn't about him. It was about his friend and reminding the other that he still existed and could still be counted on.
[break][break]
He barely sidestepped a stumbling frat boy, who puked in what was clearly marked 'recycling only'. Guess that... kinda counted for recycling food. Do it for Wren was a powerful motivator, even with the creep of anxiety pushing him narrowly into the state of fight or flight. Maybe he was just being dramatic and this was nothing to be worried about. The biggest risk he had was making Wren realize that he was no-fun and a total loser not worth hanging out with, so really, did he have any other choice but show up and deal with it?
[break][break]
Luckily he didn't feel quite so stupid for the zubat costume he was half-way wearing. The ears and wings matched his normal drab attire so it didn't require a lot of effort to change things up. A girl in a thotty wooloo outfit stumbled in front of him, screaming to a group of girls soon after like she was on a bachelorette trip and not a college rager. With a deep sigh, Levy followed soon after. The place was a pack, unsurprisingly. Almost immediately, Levy felt out of place, like an entirely different species. This was fun?
[break][break]
Maybe if he drank enough liquor he'd get used to it? Looking around for Wren, Levy reminded himself he wasn't going to make a stink about the other leaving. He was totally okay with it, it wasn't his decision after all. It was Wren's. Almost upon thought, he saw the pale-haired boy and waved awkwardly before weaving around party-goers to meet up with him. "Hey, sorry I'm late. He had to shout over the noise.

[break][break]

+ wren rourke | m: a little party never hurt nobody | he might DIE

Wren continued to wait, occasionally pulling his phone from his pocket to see no notifications and then stuffing it away again. He felt fidgety and unable to hold still. He sat himself down on the staircase, then stood up again. Walking down the few steps, then back up. No one really paid him any mind given the fact that the party was in full swing. Everyone was either already blasted or well on their way to it. Maybe this was a bad idea? Naw, it couldn’t be. Parties were generally fun! And…it wasn’t like Wren wasn’t a bit of a party person. He might’ve looked sweet and unassuming, but that didn’t mean he didn’t like the thrill that came with attending.[break][break]

But now that he thought of it–had he really ever attended any of those parties with Levy? Would he hold this against Wren? Would he hold it against him for dragging him to something like this, then leaving a little bit afterward? His eyebrows creased together in thought, and without realizing it, his hand had lifted to chew at the corner of his thumbnail–a lifelong bad habit.[break][break]

All that changed, though, when he caught the flash of a wave, and the arm connected to the familiar face of his friend.[break][break]

“Lev! You’re here, you came!” Eyes bright, wide sloppy grin. He didn’t mind that Levy was late, just that he’d showed up. “It’s fine! Are you okay?” Wren felt a little breathless with the relief that he wasn’t being ditched. Because then he’d be at this party, and he wouldn’t really be in the mood to party, but he’d feel obligated to stay because what if the host noticed he wasn’t there (irrational, yes,) or what if levy did show up and he wasn’t there??[break][break]

These were all pointless thoughts because his best friend was here, now standing beside him, and Wren didn’t have to worry about all of that. “Your costume is cool!” He yelled over the din, gold eyes flitting over the zubat accessories. Internally, the distinct thought of cute as his stomach flipped over itself. But Wren kept this to himself, uncertainty staying that honesty. But it didn’t quite keep Wren from reaching out and finding Levy’s hand with his. “C’mon!” He tugged the other’s hand lightly, to lead him in–further into the thick of the party, while determined not to lose sight of him.

[break][break]

+ Levy Alinsky | m: a little party never hurt nobody | he’s NOT ALLOWED TO DIE!!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The way the other's face brightened upon seeing him made a giddy sort of feeling bubble up in response. It was the kind of exhiliration that said in plain: I'm glad to see you. It said nothing pitying or resolute or quiet grieving his sudden presence. It offered no sustenance to the dark little thoughts that lingered in Levy's mind that he was no wanted there.
[break][break]
Even worse, that his presence was only humored for his own sake. Levy liked to think himself pretty tough and self-sustaining after years on his own in a rough environment. Yet, Wren only made him realize how fragile he could be. How easily it would be to break him. Yet, it wasn't the break he feared, but the other sticking around simply so he didn't have to feel at fault for it.
[break][break]
"Yeah I'm fine." He said, swallowing down the itching nerves that told him he was outside of his comfort zone. Wren always made things easier and being around him made it easier to accept that he was in a place he didn't want to be. He could feel the heat in his skin as the other complimented him. He couldn't help the little smile, looking away hastily. "Yeah yours is... it's cute. I like it." Wren made for a perfectly cute bulbasaur, that was for sure. Though he didn't go without noting how that might have sounded now, which didn't help for the heat on his face. He was a little thankful for the sudden distraction as Wren pulled him forward. "Where are we going?"

[break][break]

+ wren rourke | m: a little party never hurt nobody | T-T

His head tilted, studying Levy with a slow blink of golden eyes. “Are you sure?” was all he asked in return. Just as Levy had easily called him out the day he’d placed the safari ball in his friend’s hand, Wren was equally capable of sensing an offness in the other. It was probably his fault—Levy didn’t want to be here, and Wren had practically twisted his arm into it. Why was he so selfish? Maybe the few drinks he’d had beforehand were not such a good idea. Rather than mellow him out, he felt the stir of his nerves being heightened.[break][break]

Still, he couldn’t help the broad grin that tugged across his mouth when he managed to coax the tiny smile from Levy.Redness in his face Wren didn’t fully know the reason for. Must have just been because of the compliment, that’s all. “Thanks! Kinda helped that I had this backpack already,” he replied with a dumb giggle, sheepish as he looked down at his toes. Cute, he had no reason to dwell on the word, because after all…it was just the costume. Friends called friends cute all the time. Complimented each other, stuff like that. So Wren had no reason to think heavily on it, but it still made him all warm, fuzzy comfort and gladness diffusing through his chest.[break][break]

Though it also caused an achy little twinge in his heart, too. He was leaving this behind in Slateport. He could reassure Levy all he liked, but it wouldn’t be quite the same over the phone. Wren did know that. It— no, nope! He wasn’t gonna think negatively. In fact, Wren was gonna do the opposite. This was supposed to be fun.[break][break]

He held fast to Levy’s hand—ahead of him so that he could push other partygoers aside so that Levy wouldn’t have to. At some point he’d linked their fingers in a tighter hold, though he wasn’t sure when and wasn’t thinking all that hard about it. “Kitchen!” he called back over his shoulder as the doorway came into view, the brighter light of the space shining through into the dimly (spookily?) lit den packed with people. “Thought a drink would be good.”

[break][break]

+ Levy Alinsky | m: a little party never hurt nobody | he’s NOT ALLOWED TO DIE!!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"Yeah I'm sure." He said, attempting a smile. The truth was he was uncomfortable, but he was more uncomfortable in the idea of disappointing Wren than anything to do with this crowd. It wasn't like Levy didn't have fun, even if his fun was more... reserved. Maybe he was kinda boring in comparison to someone as outgoing as Wren. He could still pretend, even if it wasn't necessary with the other. He knew that his insecurities were quick to surface, but it was all noise. Wren wasn't going to reject him, not because he was a little dull.
[break][break]
Liquor had a way of making things a little easier (within reason). There was a firm line between good and too much. That side of him was messy and no one had seen that except for Vee. He was not about to reveal that he was more of an emotional mess than he put on. Especially considering their hanging out was more brief these days. It didn't have the comfort of permanence that it used to. Wren wasn't his and that didn't change just because he was leaving to the opposite corner of Hoenn. They'd never been like that.
[break][break]
Wren gripped his hand as they dove through the crowd in the direction of the kitchen. It did feel relieving to have the other there. For a moment, all he could focus on was the tether of their hands. The way fingers linked tighter around his own. It was a good thing too, because it proved to distract him from the discomfort of the party scene. "Yeah could do with a drink, I think." He affirmed, hoping that it would be just the thing he needed to lighten up his mood.
[break][break]
The decorations in the room were the tacky sort from a cheap pop-up Halloween store. A warty nosed witch stirring a caldron, paint flaking at the plastic creases. A plastic black cat at her feet, tail mechanically lashing with a warped yowl. It was amusing at least. Truthfully, he'd rather spend the night talking with Wren, figuring out how things were going. But also, he was afraid to do so. Maybe this was a good excuse not to talk. Nothing good came from talking about his feelings after all.

[break][break]

+ wren rourke | m: a little party never hurt nobody | T-T

“Okay, if you say so..” Wren found himself reluctant to let go of his hold on Levy’s hand. Would it be so bad to just hang out like that? He didn’t think so. But it felt…different. Or it had been as of late. When they were younger he’d never had any problem with that contact between them. He’d held Levy’s hands and hugged him, and all sorts of affectionate stuff. Wren had never been shy about touch, not with anyone, really. It had always felt so natural with Levy, though. Maybe because it was an unspoken need for Lev, who had been skittish and a little wild when Wren had first met him.[break][break]

Now, though, there was a shift in how it felt to hold his hand. Wren had never been hyper conscious about it. Why was he suddenly so aware of it now? Even more so how it made him feel, and from there what it made him think he’d like to do beyond that. He was glad that he was leading and Levy was unable to see his face because heat had lifted to his cheeks furiously at the thought alone. That was not good. He had no place thinking such things, and so he was certain that the change wasn’t between them but in his own head. This was his problem. And he wasn’t about to make Levy uncomfortable with…all that.[break][break]

Maybe if he stopped to think about it for long enough, he’d also recognize the fear of rejection, but Wren decided in the moment to also blame the strange twinge of emotion on the buzz from the alcohol he’d already consumed. “Good good good,” he chirped with a laugh (forced?) as they finally reached the kitchen. There was no reason to hold on any longer, so he regretfully let go as he beelined for the litany of bottles scattered across the island bar in the middle of the room. “They made this big cauldron of…well, they’re calling it witch’s brew, but I think it’s really just a bunch of different smirnoff flavors dumped together.”

[break][break]

+ Levy Alinsky | m: a little party never hurt nobody | he’s NOT ALLOWED TO DIE!!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Fingers tightened around his own as he was led through the mass. It was always nice. Even in the beginning, when the very concept of touch had been bewildering and terrifying, it had also been such a wanted concept. Levy spent a large portion of his life observing other people, watching them live their lives with such careless splendor. He used to always wonder what that might feel like, to have and hold something so confidently knowing that it will never be taken away.
[break][break]
In his life, nothing had been such a certainty. Wren had felt like an exception, but now he realized he'd been a little selfish. One day, Wren was going to live his life and Levy might have to do what he did best, which was to sit back and watch. It had been selfish to dig a place there hoping the spot would always fit him. Sometimes, people outgrew things.
[break][break]
It was a slow process, working himself into accepting what was happening right in front of him. The warmth of the other's hands made him melt a little, the same way he did whenever Wren hugged him. As if the icecaps he'd erected were thawing again. It was an exposed feeling that he'd never really got used to and hoped he never did.
[break][break]
Wren led him to the liquor bar. Levy looked at said cauldron and decided he'd be the one to try the possible toxin. Ladling a cup, he held it up. "If I die, remember me fondly?" He snorted before drinking. The taste wasn't awful, but the strength of the alcohol cleared his sinuses. He shook his head, "Wow that's bad."

[break][break]

+ wren rourke | m: a little party never hurt nobody | T-T

It was a relief, at least, that Levy wasn’t repelled by the touch Wren was used to bestowing (smothering?) him with. Even when they were younger, and it had very obviously been foreign to Levy, he’d never pushed Wren away. Would that change now? With physical distance being put between them? If that didn’t play a part– would Wren make it weird with all the little thoughts that continued creeping into his head? He hoped not. And at least for tonight it didn’t seem to be affecting Levy. Wren hoped and prayed and hoped some more that he wouldn’t be glaringly obvious.[break][break]

Maybe in that regard the heavy thrum of the busy party around them was helpful. Overwhelming, sure, but it did well to cover up any lingering awkwardness that wanted to kick off of him. If Levy was too distracted by everything going on, he wouldn’t be able to tell if Wren was being weird. He wasn’t being weird. He didn’t think he was being weird. haha. The dim lighting and odd colored lights also helped disguise the color that had started to creep into his face the longer he overthought everything.[break][break]

Even when he let go of Levy’s hand, he still hovered. Close like an attachable shadow ready to cling to the ends of his clothing, maybe annoyingly so. His nose wrinkled as Levy practically sacrificed himself to the cauldron, eyes following the cup as it was held aloft. “Always,” he said automatically and without thought in response to the declaration. Too much. Wren quickly swiveled himself around to hide the redness in his face and ladle himself a cupful.[break][break]

If he could drink it fast enough, he could blame the stubborn color on that. So before Levy had even finished, he was knocking some back too. Immediately his face distorted in displeasure. Tongue sticking out dramatically once he’d swallowed it down. “Guess the point is people won’t care about the taste after a few cups.”

[break][break]

+ Levy Alinsky | m: a little party never hurt nobody | he’s NOT ALLOWED TO DIE!!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Maybe one day he could learn to relax a little. Maybe be a little less of a feral animal, bristling at the slightest threat of social contact. They were two entirely different people and that didn't always make sense for them. Instead, they required adjustment. Levy had to attempt to be social to make the other happy and Wren had to recognize Levy's limits. It wasn't always easy but they did pretty well all things considered.
[break][break]
Levy tried not to think too far into the quickly replied: Always. He knew that, in the end, that's all that he could hope for, that Wren meant it when he said always. That sounded suffocating though, didn't it? To pledge that kind of commitment. In reality, Wren probably didn't even realize what that meant to him.
[break][break]
"The look on your face," He laughed at that, sipping a little more. His own face didn't do much better in camouflaging the distaste either. Levy only ever had alcohol socially, it was a means of adjusting to a crowd. It didn't always help 100%, but it was still easier. The taste hardly mattered though if it could lessen the tension he felt, and it did (for the most part).
[break][break]
Though still, his eyes glanced around at the sway of movement, bodies almost too close together. Some dancing and others simply talking. It was a little uncomfortable though, like he too should be like them. The idea of dancing like some of them were with Wren... well it definitely made him want to drink more so that he might not think too much on it. "Do you um... what to do something. I don't know what you do at these things."

[break][break]

+ wren rourke | m: a little party never hurt nobody | T-T

“Your face!” he echoed back, laughing as Levy’s own face twisted up in distaste. It didn’t really get any better the more that it was consumed, either. As Wren quickly figured out with a second gulp. Wren could also be considered a social drinker, though he took to it much easier than Levy. If anything, it only amplified his cheerfulness and sillier nature. On his own, though, he didn’t really think to drink all that often—more in favor of sugary sweet drinks.[break][break]

Which, of course, culminated in only a mild tolerance level. Not that either of them were getting too wild. Wren was still worriedly fixated on the idea that he was going to slip up and make Levy uncomfortable. His glance followed his friend’s in how it moved across the space. “Hm?” he asked back in response to the question, head leaning sideways toward Levy as he continued to watch people dance together. Wondering all the while if that’s what Levy was suggesting.[break][break]

The thought nearly made color rise in his face again.[break][break]

Golden eyes shifted sideways then, and he could still sense the nervousness that came from Levy. So rather than ask him to dance, he took a smaller sip from his cup and better turned to him. “I don’t think there’s anything specific you gotta do at these kinds of parties…” The only agenda was to have a good time, really. And he wanted Levy to have a good time so.. “You wanna go find somewhere quieter?”

[break][break]

+ Levy Alinsky | m: a little party never hurt nobody | he’s NOT ALLOWED TO DIE!!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"No way, your face screwed up like you ate a lemon." He laughed dumbly, for a moment forgetting that they were surrounded by people and in the kind of place that Levy hated. Wren had that effect on him though, allowing him to disengage from the world and simply be. Even if eventually he always slipped back into his body, he never changed. He was the same frightened kid he'd always been. Looking about the room only reaffirmed what he always knew about himself, which was he could never allow himself to be like them. To be comfortable in his own skin.
[break][break]
Wren always made things easier though. The smiles and the laughter, no matter how ill-suited it felt to him, always came naturally due to the other's influence. Admittedly, he was beyond thankful that Wren didn't drag him into the crowd to dance. Mainly, it was because he didn't know how to dance. At least, not in a way that wasn't an awkward shuffle like an awkward school dance.
[break][break]
He looked back at Wren, still a little surprised. Wren didn't exactly come to a party to seek solitude and quiet, so it was mainly done for his good. It made him feel selfish, like he was holding the other back. "Only if that's what you want, but sure okay..." There was also a distinct undercurrent of feelings that surfaced at the implication of a quiet place at a party. They spent plenty of time together, alone, so why did the idea of that seem intimate in this scenario? "Lead the way."


[break][break]

+ wren rourke | m: a little party never hurt nobody | T-T

“Well, it felt like I was drinking lemon juice!” he insisted, stupid giggles tangling his words up. It was always a win when he could make Levy laugh like this. It never got old, ever since the first time he’d managed it back when they were far younger and Lev rarely let anything show. He was still reserved, but he was like this with Wren. It was almost something to feel a little possessive over.[break][break]

Really, he didn’t feel obligated to make the offering of quiet just because of Levy. Maybe it was the tumult of his emotions, or the fact that he was leaving soon, but Wren himself didn’t really feel in the mood to party in a loud and crowded space the same way that he normally might. Even then, the concept of what a quiet space alone at a place like this might insinuate to Levy sailed right over his little blonde head.[break][break]

“Yep, actually! It’s exactly what I want.” Wren’s head nodded as he talked, and once again he grabbed ahold of Levy’s hand to thread them through the crowd again. Nudging bodies out of the way with his cup in the other hand as it sloshed with the movement. Eventually he found the staircase, and his hand felt sweaty and clammy with nerves by then, so it felt safe to let go. Much as he still didn’t want to.[break][break]

Already, it was quieter on the second floor, though there were still people littered on the landing and in the hall. “C’mon.” He glanced back over his shoulder at Levy and then continued until he found an open door to an empty space. Even Wren had the sense not to check the closed doors—that would be too mortifying if he slipped up and walked in on something[break][break]

This seemed to be a small study. Desk and bookshelves and all. There was a small sofa as well, and that is where he flopped himself down after setting his cup on the side table and clicking on the table lamp. “Much better.” Immediately, he patted the open space beside him.

[break][break]

+ Levy Alinsky | m: a little party never hurt nobody | babies being babies

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Yep, actually! It’s exactly what I want.”
[break][break]
Levy was NOT going to dig too far into those words or what they meant. It wasn't exactly the first time Wren said something, coasting right over whatever implications might come with them. It was usually just in Levy's head after all. In reality, Levy wouldn't even know what to do with that information if it was given to him. If the situation arrived where he was supposed to reciprocate feelings, he'd probably flounder and die on the spot.
[break][break]
Wren was kind of a flirt, in a sweet and innocuous way. He got along with people because his personality practically beamed like a ray of sunshine, and that often led to a lot of confusion with people. That, of course, didn't mean that Levy had ever been jealous of those people. He knew that Wren was flaky and that was okay. He didn't reserve any rights to Wren's company and this changed nothing. In all likelihood, this was simply a selfless act to make Levy feel more comfortable.
[break][break]
They managed to find a quiet place and quickly settled inside, though at any moment there was a possibility that someone else would get the same exact idea (with far more questionable intentions). At the invitation, Levy sat down beside him. Truthfully, he didn't really know what to say. It had been awhile since he'd seen Wren after all. "They're treating you alright over there, right? Everyone's nice?" Maybe it was nervous conversation, but he was genuinely interested to know.
[break][break]
"I missed you, you know." Stupid, why did he say that? It rambled out almost in the same string of words, "I mean.. so they better be nice or else I'm stealing you back. Not like that I'm lonely. I've met some people... it's been alright." He shut up after that, looking like he was intensely interested in the wall of book shelves filled with pretentious academic books he could bet no one in this house had ever actually read.


[break][break]

+ wren rourke | m: a little party never hurt nobody | T-T