Chapter Text
It was so fucking late.
Riz is used to staying up late; he pulls more all-nighters than not. But the alcohol is making his head swim and his limbs heavy, and it was only pure stubbornness (and slight paranoia) that kept Riz from joining the rest of his friends in the snoring pile on the floor.
That, and Kristen's drunken babbling in his ear.
Riz doesn't remember how the rant started and was honestly barely listening to words coming out of Kristen's mouth. He caught something about how sexuality is fluid and it's dumb that people have double-standards about what makes a person straight and what makes a person gay, but Riz isn't really versed enough in queer theory to keep up with the rest of it.
A thought slowly sludges its way into Riz's brain. "Where's Tracker?" he murmurs sleepily. "Wasn't she supposed to be here like... yesterday?"
Kristen pauses.
"...Nah, she- she's still on that trip with Ragh. She should be back in, like, a week or two, unless something happens."
Again remains unspoken between them.
"Is that why you busted out the vodka?" Riz asks gently. "You worried that something's gonna come up and you'll... have to wait longer?"
There's silence for a solid half minute. Kristen is more leaning on Riz than sitting up at this point, and if Riz weren't leaning on the couch for support they'd definitely be on the floor. Kristen's breath is hot on Riz's ear. He feels sweat beading on his neck.
"It's just so stupid," Kristen finally says, sounding angry.
"What's so stupid?"
"Like, Gorgug kissed Ragh at prom, which was super gay, don't get me wrong, but that doesn't mean that Gorgug is gay, you know? Like, participating in gay acts doesn't make you gay!"
Riz isn't sure if Kristen was continuing her rant from earlier and ignoring the Tracker thing, or if this was somehow related, but either way he's too tired to ask for clarification. He manages a noncommittal grunt.
"Like, if I kissed you right now, it doesn't make me any less gay! I'm super gay! Kissing you doesn't change my whole sexuality, and people shouldn't expect it to!"
Before Riz could process any of that, there is a firm hand on his cheek and warm, soft lips against his own. All he can see is freckles and red hair, and the faint scent of pizza fills his nostrils. Kristen's mouth moves aggressively and purposefully. Riz nearly chokes when a tongue presses past his teeth to his inner cheek. Her other hand is in his hair, and every nerve feels like an exclamation point.
As suddenly as it happens, it's done. Kristen pulls back and holds Riz's bewildered gaze with bright, determined eyes. She looks, in Riz's opinion, slightly crazy but also perplexingly pretty.
"See!" she says triumphantly. "I'm still gay, and you're still whatever! Nothing changed just cuz we kissed."
Riz does not know what Kristen was trying to prove. All he knows is that his very gay best friend kissed him, and judging by the way her eyes are struggling to stay focused on his face, she was probably too drunk to realize what she just did. "Sure," he croaks because what the hell could he say.
Seemingly satisfied with Riz's answer, Kristen pushes herself out of his space and flops to the ground on her side, her head against Fabian's ankle. Heavy snoring follows seconds later.
Riz stays awake for several minutes after the event, staring dazed at the wall in total darkness. Eventually he comes to the solid conclusion of "fuck it," closes his eyes, and lets his consciousness slip away.