Chapter Text
November 11th
Kiro and Colin were just packing up, it had been a long day, kids acting up again as always.
Despite some of their differences, Kiro and Colin’s friendship in (and out of) work had grown.
Colin was wiping down desks while Kiro was grading papers. The silence was somewhat comforting to Colin, just him and his new closest friend. Compared to at home, being at school like this was much more calming than at home. Kiro was the closest friend that Colin had had for longer than Colin likes to admit.
Everything seemed to be in a state of bliss until Colin’s phone rang. Colin normally would not be worrying about this but it was from one of his old high school buddies that was borrowing his car, Lee, that Colin now just refers to as an acquaintance of his. Colin instantly knew something was up because he Knew that this Lee only called if He needed something or if something was wrong.
Nevertheless, Colin answered the phone.
“Hey…Colin…” Now Colin knew something was definitely wrong, he knew he shouldn’t have let Lee borrow his car. But Colin was too much of a wuss to say no, besides it seemed like he really needed it.
“...Is something wrong?” Colin asked, fearing what could have possibly happened to his dear car.
“So… About your car- I’m so sorry man! I was just driving down the highway with the rest of the stuff for the new place and some, some, psycho ran me off the road and now, - your cars’ wrecked! I’m so sorry man-”
Colin could barely believe what he was hearing, his car was wrecked?! How would he get home, how would he get to work now?!
“What…?”
“Look, I’ll pay the damages! Promise! I-I have to go now though cause I’m just talkin’ to the cops; I’ll call ya later.” And with that the phone went blank.
“Hey man, everything okay?” Kiro asked from behind Colin as he put the graded papers on to his desk.
Colin didn’t really know how to feel at that moment, he did not know whether to be sad or angry.
“Yeah, I’m great, it’s just my car.”
“Did You need a ride back to your palace? It wouldn’t be a problem for me, man.”
“No, it’s okay, I can just take the bus.”
“Are you sure, it's pretty rainy out. I really wouldn’t mind.” Kiro said, gesturing towards the window where it was storming down onto the parking lot. Colin saw the torrential rain out and decided that it would probably be better to take a ride with Kiro than get soaked in the rain, he didn't even know any of the bus lines or if they went to his house anyway.
“Actually, on second thought, I think I’ll take the ride.”
With that the two men were headed outside and both got into Kiro’s car.
The ride felt strangely awkward for some reason, Colin didn’t know why. To clear out the tension Kiro decided to start some conversation.
“If it’s okay for me to ask, what exactly happened to your car?”
Colin knew it was inevitable for Kiro to ask what happened to his car now that he was taking a ride with him, so he decided to just get it off his chest and explain what happened.
“An old acquaintance from high school needed a car for moving so I decided to help him out, and it seems like that was not the best of decisions because now my car is wrecked.” Colin answered, he felt a bit foolish and embarrassed that he would let this happen, but what was done was done.
“Oh, so sorry to hear that, y’know if you ever need another ride I’m always here. I know someone who has a car for sale, I could try and bargain for you.”
Colin flushed at Kiro’s words, he really hoped it wasn’t that obvious, he guessed he probably was (he was). Colin tried to cover his face from this, really trying not to embarrass himself more than he already felt he was.
Kiro seemed to notice and laughed at Colin’s face in a playful manner.
“Ha, you look cute when you do that” Kiro said looking at Colin, who was even more of a flushed mess.
After that it was back to the dreadful awkward silence, Kiro yet again to combat this decided to turn on the radio. As Kiro turned on the radio and let smooth sounds of music try to get rid of some of the awkwardness. As he turned on the radio the song Lay All Your Love on Me by ABBA.
Colin instantly recognized the song because he would regularly listen to the song all throughout his childhood.
“I used to love this song, especially when I was a teenager.” Colin said, enjoying the familiar music.
“Really? Me too! I really liked it also.” Kiro said excited by his newfound discovery of their same music taste.
For the next few minutes, it was yet again simple silence from the two as they let the music take its place, the car was sitting at an awfully long red light in afternoon traffic.
For a long time, it seemed that they were looking directly inside each other's eyes. It felt like that they were the only two things that were on the planet at that moment.
Their lips began to get closer and closer till it seemed like they were almost touching. Suddenly, Kiro accidentally pushed down on the gas pedal and the car jerked unexpectedly, then all of a sudden, their lips really were touching in a small and light peck on the lips. Colin didn’t know why but it felt so…good?
Colin instantly pulled back as soon as he processed what actually just happened, Kiro also seemed to have the same realization as he also pulled back just as fast.
Both of the men seemed to have a large face of a blush, Colin was surprised to see that Kiro was blushing just as much as him!
“Oh, I’m so sorry man! -I just accidentally hit the gas, glad it didn’t hit the other car in front of us. Well, we're almost here, it’s good we can just forget like this never happened-” Kiro seemed to be really embarrassed, and even more blushy than before.
“No, it’s really fine.” Colin said, also flushed. Lucky for him, he recognized the street that he was on so he figured he could just step out now and not have to sit in that car any longer. But he didn’t know why it felt so right when it happened?
“I-I know the way from here, I can just walk the rest of the way.”
“Really? You sure, it's really rainy outside.”
“I’m sure, Thank you by the way, for the ride. I’ll see what I can do about my car…Cya.”
“Okay, be safe, See you tomorrow!”
With that Colin was out of the car alone walking in the rain to reflect on what the hell just happened.
***
Colin had just gotten home to actually reflect on what had happened in the car ride with Kiro.
Well, that is what he would do if it wasn’t for one thing…Mary.
Colin and Mary had been together for about almost two years or so, everything had been good between the two at first. But it seems something in Mary had just changed. Colin did not know what had happened, was it something he did, did something happen, or were the signs there all along. But it seemed as if sometimes Mary would go back to the old Mary! Colin sure didn’t know what to do. This would lead Mary and Colin down the very bumpy path that Colin could not get out of, no matter how much he seemed to try it seemed like Mary always had him in a choke hold. She was paying for most of the rent at their shared apartment and teaching math didn’t seem to cut it in this modern economy, alongside with all the stress from school, and now Kiro. Colin just didn’t know how to support himself.
Colin thought that Mary was still out, so he decided to sit on the couch and try to calm down, he was still very red and blushy from before.
Colin didn’t even know it, but suddenly Mary had walked into the living room where Colin was.
“How was work?” Colin asked, hoping for at least a nice conversation.
“Good, what ‘bout ya. you seem awfully giddy don’t ya think?”
Colin hadn't even realized how giddy he had been, this definitely did not look good, especially in the all-seeing eyes of Mary.
“Not really, it seems like all the kids hate math. I mean, I didn’t at their age.”
“Yeah? That's all?”
Mary was now standing in front of Colin, wearing a small smile. Colin was also now wearing, a more predominant, smile. Colin just hoped that this would all turn out fine, he knew how Mary got about things.
“Anything else?” Mary asked, now slightly frowning as she faced Colin. Crouching a bit down to meet the height of him sitting down. Colin was now just looking away from Mary, he hoped that he could try and come up with an excuse of why he was so red and giddy. He knew for a fact that he could not actually tell Mary what really happened.
Mary might as well have been full on scowling at him now.
“Colin, I can tell when you’re hiding something. Y’know we’ve been together for, like, almost two years. Two years Colin, you’re not slick.” Mary then stood up as she said these words, she was now looking down at Colin like how a disappointed parent would look down at their child.
“Really, please it’s nothing.”
All Mary did was scowled and rolled her eyes at him, she knew something was there, she just couldn’t exactly pinpoint what.
“Y’know, if you were a good boyfriend, you would’ve just told me! I don’t even know why I’m still with you at this point!”
Mary then left the room to attend to whatever business she had to attend to, leaving Colin to sit by himself.
***
The next day.
Work had been about the same as the previous day before, not the best. The math scores were…not the best to say. Kiro could easily tell that something was definitely bothering Colin. It always seemed like he could tell, it almost felt like Kiro was telepathic with Colin.
So, like always, Kiro decided to talk with Colin while they were cleaning up.
“Hey man, you seem a bit down today. Something up?”
“Oh nothing, I just got in a bit of a scuffle with my girlfriend.”
“Yeah, that's bound to happen. Just take it easy. How long you two been together?”
“I think about, almost two years. What about you, are you seeing anyone?”
“Wow, that's a lot of time, well for me at least. And no, I’m not seeing anyone.”
Colin shrugged and continued wiping the board.
“Hey, maybe some time this week, or whenever you have time, we should all hang out together. You, me, and your girlfriend.”
“...Sure, sounds great. By the way, her name is Mary.”
Colin was actually thinking that this might not be the best decision actually, but it’ll be good so that Mary can try and get to know Kiro.
***
Saturday, November 14th
Mary and Colin had just arrived at the cafe that they were going to meet Kiro at. At first Mary was a bit hesitant about going to meet Kiro, but Colin convinced her that it would be good for the both of them. To be fair, Colin was also a bit hesitant of introducing Kiro to Mary, if they would get along. But it was Kiro’s idea, and besides Kiro gets along with most everyone.
“What’s up? Hi, I’m Kiro, You’re Mary, right? Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, I am. Nice to meet you too.”
Well, it seemed like they were getting along, right.
“You want to go into the cafe now? It’s pretty cold out, I can go order.” Kiro said, opening the door for Mary and Colin allowing them in.
After a few minutes things had definitely become a little less tense between the three.
Well, except for when Mary would look directly into Colin’s eyes whenever Colin and Kiro’s eyes would linger on each other for a tad too long. Colin couldn’t help but feel that Mary felt a bit like a third wheel, he didn’t mention it though.
Colin didn’t even notice that he was getting quite red, He did notice on Kiro though.
“Kiro, can I talk to Colin, In private please?” Mary asked Kiro, Colin really didn’t know what Mary was doing.
“Sure.”
Mary then pulled Colin to a small room towards the back of the cafe. Okay, now Colin was really wondering what Mary was doing, a little bit scared too.
“So, I finally see what it was! It was right under my nose this whole fucking time whole time!”
“What are you talking about?” Colin was pretty confused about what Mary was talking about, he then quickly realized what she was thinking. Was it true? ‘No, it wasn’t’ Colin thought to himself.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about! You better get a fucking grip on yourself Colin!”
“Wha-”
Before Colin could even reply to what Mary had just said to him got a firm slap straight across the side of his face.
Colin was completely stunned by this; he didn’t even know what to do. His adrenaline had faded off so could feel the real pain of the powerful slap. He could see in the mirror that was pitched on top of a dresser that was inside the small room that he had a clear mark on his face from where Mary’s hand had previously been.
“Was that enough?! Now you’re not telling anyone about this, ya hear me?!”
Colin didn’t say anything, he really couldn’t. He didn’t want to. Mary then took Colin’s scarf and gently covered up the mark.
“Let’s go” Mary said and took Colin’s hand and brought him back up to where Kiro was sitting.
As Colin looked back into Kiro’s eyes, he couldn’t help but question if he and Mary were really worth it?