‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲.

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

⠀⠀
𝐼𝑋. 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐻𝐸𝑅𝑀𝐼𝑇.
⠀⠀

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

@BAREHlSTEETH suuuure …

so, back he went to stuffing his face full of the dessert. happily.

𝘮𝘮—– want to go back? you can come over.

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

never. i’ll die before i forgive that.

[⋆ ‍ 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍 @gutleash]

i apologize. i hope you can forgive me someday sigh.

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

see? just as good as a burger …

fingers noisily flicked away at controller buttons as christian’s red head nonchalantly nuzzled against the other, his stare determined.

how much you wanna bet i win? i’m feeling lucky.

[𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗪. @FRATPOLE]

not all that interested in the game . . . eyes flashing between the shooting on the screen & chris’ face.

then you just wait to see my haul . . . cantina chicken burrito, crunchwrap supreme, spicy potato tacos out the whazoo, nachos fries !

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

@BAREHlSTEETH yeah?

a soft smile ensued, fingers running slowly along his hair. petting him just how he seemed to like it.

good. we can share—– consider yourself lucky.

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

. . . ﹙ 😐 ﹚

[⋆ ‍ 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍 @gutleash]

uhhh possibly. . .

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

@BAREHlSTEETH reaching a head out to pat kaz’s head as he did, licking his lips at the sight.

mhm … y—you too. you like it?

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

greedyyyy …

keeping his eyes on the screen, even as his body slowly eased into colton’s. gently, his head rested against the taller’s shoulder. starting up a game as he did.

𝘮𝘮 . . . we’ll see. i kinda had, like— taco bell in mind.

[𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗪. @FRATPOLE]

bumping his shoulder up against him playfully . . . but staying close to him.

it’s not like i’m expecting you to take me to a steakhouse, but i’m ordering the biggest burger on that menu.

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

the smushed, half—ruined cupcake on the table and took a real bite. easing back into his seat.

“… good job.” he spoke through a mouth full of food. “i—i’ll be ready—– for tomorrow.”

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

suddenly, christian’s tepid expression softened. maybe those horrific cupcakes would be worth a good joke … maybe.

“damn, riv. you suck for that.” casually smooching them atop the hand. “i love it.”

and finally, christian reached out to +

[‎ ‍‎ 𓍢ִ✩ ‍ 𝘙𝘐𝘓𝘌𝘠⁎ @SUG4RFRIGHT]

taking a moment to gauge his expression, their lips spread in a smirk at his tepid reaction, trying to get a read on what he was thinking.

“it is long overdue,” he reasons in a calmer voice. he picks up a few napkins from the table then, gently dabbing away the …

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

@BAREHlSTEETH hovering the cone over his mouth.

… go crazy.

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

… yes. :I

dropping his hands back to his controller with an awkward shrug.

that’s—– a—ambitious. you better not drain my pockets.

[𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗪. @FRATPOLE]

sometimes you’re kinda insensitive, has anyone ever told you that?

still, he laughed it off. hard to stay mad at chris . . . for some reason.

you definitely owe me dinner. and i get to order whatever i want.

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

… are you being facetious right now?

[⋆ ‍ 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍 @gutleash]

wow i had no clue i was speaking to an expert . . ! i’m cured (😄)

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

well, it’s different——

kinda. uh, maybe. n—not … really.

[𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 .ᐟ @twinksins]

. . .

that’s not what /you/ were doing?

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

then, his teeth sunk into his bottom lip. pensively eyeing the tray of cupcakes before his gaze fell back to river.

“. . . so, like. does 𝘴𝘩𝘦 like clowns, or–— ?”

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

his brows twitched at the sudden news, a soft nod soon to follow the revelation that he’d be meeting river’s 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘴 mother.

“… o—kay.” he simply stated, offering a thumbs up. “that’s—— that’s okay. it’ll be good to meet her.” +

[‎ ‍‎ 𓍢ִ✩ ‍ 𝘙𝘐𝘓𝘌𝘠⁎ @SUG4RFRIGHT]

“my dad was a cop. of course i know cpr.” allowing themself a moment to revel in the sweetness of christian’s nose nudging their cheek, they sigh before the mention of parents reminds them of some earlier news.

“actually, i made these cupcakes for something else.” …

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

@BAREHlSTEETH uh—– hey, it’ll be alright.

… does he want christian’s?

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

christian marched right on over to the other, giving him his phone. “just, like—– make sure it’s a live photo. i’m gonna make it a gif.”

𝘯𝘰𝘥, 𝘯𝘰𝘥. getting into position, he quirked his head back to signify he was ready.

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

the batter shook his head in disagreement as his supposed ‘bear face’ was reaffirmed … then, he shrugged.

climbing out of the pool and back onto his feet—– and unsubtly picking at his damp, stuck swim shorts.

“ye—– yeah? thanks.” +

[⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ 𝓜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐨. @IivingIuxury]

matteo opens his mouth to rebut, but he'll shrug. looking now, it's a pretty good pout.

“hey, i'm sure whoever's getting your pool day pics won't complain. pecs, arms—” quiet snicker. “bear smile. you're fine.”

then he'll scoot back

+

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

well, studies actually indicate that one should care equally about their hair and well—being. 𝘴𝘰. ﹙ ☝️ ﹚

[⋆ ‍ 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍 @gutleash]

seems pretty logical to me!

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

. . . s—sorry again. that came out wrong. uh, i can … buy you dinner after i get paid?

[‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ‍‍𝒃̲𝒐̲𝒚̲. @LOAFINGBATTER]

flinching a bit at the bite … then moving his hand in to 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙠 colton’s nose.

… 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺.

uh—– th—that’s kinda sad, though. but, like, who needs their dignity, right?

[𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗪. @FRATPOLE]

if i’m gonna keep making as much money as i do i won’t be stopping it anytime soon . . . don’t you wanna keep getting these stupid skins?

rolling his eyes, he tries to bite at the finger that just flicks his tongue.

it’s either that or dinner tonight . . .