Chapter Text
Simon walked to class, he was tired and his backpack was making his shoulders ache, the lights were harsh, everybody seemed so loud, and he was hungry.
He could see König's stupid, tall body looming over everyone else in the halls.
He took a deep breath, Calm down, Simon. Height isn't something you can control. And it must suck being that tall anyway.
“Hey, Si-Si,” Johnny rushed over to grab Simon by the hook loop on his backpack.
“Don't call me that,” Simon rolled his eyes, being tugged back slightly.
“Whatever. Ma invited you and Kyle over for dinner today, oh- and Tommy can come too.”
“Cool.” Simon didn't even look at Johnny.
“You good? You don't seem that great.”
“Sorry,” Simon sighed, “just a bit…exasperated, I guess. But tell your mum thanks, and that Tommy and I will be there.”
“‘Course, my ma loves you.”
“Good, because I love her cooking.”
-
Classes were boring, as usual. Nothing much to say about them. Lunch was full of digressive chatter. Johnny is starting winter conditioning for track soon, and Kyle was working on an outside-of-school debate group. Simon was working longer hours before the play starts to get extra money. He worked in the butcher part of a grocery store, he worked in the back most days. It was quiet, paid well, and was easy work once you got the hang of it; and Simon didn't mind the scent of raw meat, or the look of dead aniamls, so it was perfect for him. Plus, all workers got discounts at the store.
-
Simon waited outside Kyle's classroom, the teacher tended to ramble and kept classes late. They didn't have classes together this semester, so they talked while slowly walking towards Kyle's car. It was nice to have some debrief time at the end of every school day, and as much as Simon loved Johnny, Kyle was a lot more level-headed than he was and gave better advice.
Köing was the first to walk out of the classroom. He was a bit startled when he saw Simon.
“Hey- uh- Simon?” Köing talked timidly, unsure of himself.
“Yes?”
“You know how I do ballroom dance? Well, uh, do you know of anywhere that has ballroom dance here?”
“Not that I'm aware of, no. Sorry. I'm sure there are, though, it's quite popular, right?”
“I think so? I'm not so aware of ballroom outside of Austria.”
“That's where you're from, right?”
Köing nodded.
“Are you, like, really serious about ballroom dancing?”
“Yes. I am. I have won many competitions doing it, even got on the podium for the state competition.”
“Oh, wow.” Simon didn't have much to say. He saw Kyle standing to the side, a few steps behind Köing. When Kyle met Simon's eye he gave him a smug look, smirking and looking between Köing and him. “Anyway, uh, I should probably get going. I gotta pick up our kid.”
“Our kid?” Köing tilted his head in confusion. “Simon… We don't have a kid together.”
“My brother. ‘Our kid’ is like a term of endearment.”
“Oh…” Köing nodded. “Okay, see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, bye.”
Kyle and Simon started walking towards the exit of the school.
“Soo… What was he talking to you about?”
“Who? Köing?”
“Yeah.”
"He does ballroom dancing.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, big in Austria, I guess.” Simon shrugs.
“Intresting. I don't think I have heard him say a word until overhearing you two talk.”
“Ms. Greene forced him to talk to me a bit yesterday.”
“Weird. Anyway, are you coming to Johnny's later?”
“Yeah, of course. You?”
“Mhm, do you need a ride?”
“Nah, Tommy's going to practice then he's gonna come meet me at work and we'll walk together.”
-
Simon rang the doorbell to Johnny's house. He shifted from foot to foot, the cold's sharp teeth ran against his skin, biting at his face and shoulders. He had forgotten a jacket and was wearing short sleeves. Tommy stood beside him; he had a proper winter coat, he was pretty sensitive to the cold. Although the coat was bought at a charity shop, it was in good condition. When Simon remembered, he tried to put it in the dryer for a few minutes before school for him.
Mrs. MacTavish opened the door, “Simon! Tommy!” She hugged Simon quickly and ushered the boys in. “I'm so glad you could make it! Please, come in. You must be freezing. Kyle is already here, they're in the living room, you can sit there as I finish up dinner.”
“Thank you, Miss. Are you sure there's nothing we can help you with?” Simon asked as politely as he could. His feet were aching from standing the whole 3 and a half hours at work and the 40 minute walk here.
“No, Dear. Go sit with your friends, it's okay.”
Simon nodded and led Tommy to the living room.
-
Mrs. MacTavish's food was wonderful, as always. Johnny's littlest sisters ate with their parents, but everyone else sat at a separate table. Johnny had 4 sisters, one at university, one in 9th year, one in 8th year, the same as Tommy, and two in primary. The family was big and loud, but it was a very calming environment for Simon. Having this closeness was something Simon longed for. A group of people that Simon could just feel… safe around, and Simon had sort of found it.
Back in year 9, a mix of fate and seating charts had pushed Kyle, Johnny, and Simon together. They had been there for Simon during some of his worst times, and he was there for them. When Kyle lost a debate he had spent months on, Simon and Johnny dressed up and pretended that they worked at a fancy restaurant. When Johnny got a concussion, Kyle and Simon planned electronic-free hangouts and helped him slowly work up the courage to get back into track and feild, and they still try to do that often.
Eventually, Simon and Tommy had to go home. Mrs. MacTavish gave Simon at least five hugs before he left, and sent him back with a container full of food. Kyle walked with them for a bit, but then they split.
-
"Cross the street,” Tommy whispered.
Simon looked up to see a tall man walking in the opposite direction of them on the same sidewalk. Is that- is that König?
“Aw, fuck, I know that guy,” Simon mutters, keeping his head down and adjusting his gaiter.
“So let's cross the street, Simon.” Tommy tugged at Simon's arm.
"Simon!” König stopped dead in his tracks.
Simon internally cringed, “Hey,” he looked up slowly.
“It's late, are you closing shift at your job or something?”
“No, I just… had plans.”
König nodded, “Do you…? Let me walk you home.”
Simon took a step back, waving his hands in front of him, “No, that really isn't necessary.”
“Just let me do it, I'm sure you know that it isn't the safest around here, especially at night, and I would sleep better tonight.”
Simon glanced over at Tommy, and Tommy stared back. His eyes were wide, he looked a little bit like a deer caught in a car's headlights.
“It's fine, seriously. We can get home just fine.”
König stands to his full height and crosses his arms, “Not to be rude or anything, but you guys aren't very intimidating. So please, let me walk you home.”
Simon glances over to Tommy, who nods at him, “Fine.”
-
"So… are you coming to the volleyball game Saturday?” König walked with his hands in his pockets. He couldn't seem to walk in a straight line, bumping gently into Simon now and again.
“Tomorrow? I didn't know there was a game tomorrow.” Simon kept looking forward. Tommy was walking in front of them both, leading the way to the Riley home.
“Well, there is, at 11 in the morning. I'm playing. It would be cool if you came.”
”Ballroom and volleyball, anything else you do?”
“Basketball, but it's probably my least favorite out of everything I do. I only play because coaches hunt me down once they see I'm tall.”
“Volleyball, basketball, ballroom, I'm starting to notice a pattern here,” Simon smirked slightly, even though he didn't know if König could see it.
“What do you mean by that?” König got real close to Simon; he was a half step in front of him and brushed up against Simon's side. Simon could see the amusement in König's eyes, a mischievous glint caught from the street light.
“What do you think I meant?”
“Are you coming to watch me tomorrow or not?” König took a step away from him.
“Yeah, I'll be there.”
“We're here,” Tommy motioned to the front door of the Riley house.
“See you tomorrow König,” Simon pulled his keys out and unlocked the door, turning away from Köing.
“Simon Riley! Where THE FUCK have you been?!” A deep, masculine voice yelled from inside as soon as the door was opened. The words were slurred. Simon walked in, and Tommy rushed past him.
“See you…” König lingered for a second before walking away.