Chapter Text
College parties. Andrew was absolutely appalled by the idea. So he began to wonder why he was even here in the first place.
Luca had invited him of course, but he hadn’t seen the brunet all evening. Any hope he had in his mind that he wouldn’t be on the outs this time had been completely depleted. Andrew felt a hint of jealousy towards whoever Luca was spending time with.
Social gatherings were not his cup of tea, he mentally cursed Luca for leaving him alone. Or perhaps it was petty to think the brunet would stick by his side the entire time. Andrew stood stiff as a board in Mike’s crowded dorm room, at least he was pretty sure it was Mike’s. The volume was almost too much, he could hardly think over the music and chatter. And all he could do was watch the chaos ensue as Demi hauled enough booze into the party for each and every person there to get drunk three times over. It was hot and stuffy from the sheer multitude of people there, his eyes flitted back and forth across the room.
In one corner there was Norton and Naib having some sort of argument whilst in the other Kevin was coming onto every female he could touch. Vera and Patricia were blatantly ignoring him in turn.
Like always, William was teasing Tracy, probably about her height as he held her phone above her head. Martha and Eli seemed to be the only sane ones there. He considered talking to them, but his nerves got the better of him.
As his mind searched for something to do other than stand there dumbly, Demi came along and shoved a red cup into his hands. She made her rounds until eventually settling back next to Jose to continue their conversation.
Andrew peered down at his drink, he didn’t mind alcohol but he’d have to remain sober for his drive home. Something of which may come sooner than later as he contemplated just leaving. He briefly wondered if Luca would be upset that he left, but seeing as Andrew couldn’t even spot him he figured it wouldn’t matter. Maybe he’ll just send him a text later on.
He’d rather be spending his Friday night catching up on a show or even reading a book. There was no joy in standing idly against a wall watching others get wasted.
Andrew uncomfortably squeezed past a few people in order to get to the kitchen. He felt it was rude to just put the drink Demi had given him on the floor, so the next best thing was the kitchen counter. Someone else could come and pick it up if they so desired, he could care less.
He furrowed his brow as the amount of people, noise and variety of smells became borderline nauseating. Now he was quite eager to exit, but as he pushed his drink onto the counter a certain blond caught his eye. Andrew paused, he had no idea Victor was here. A small amount of relief overcame his senses. For what reason he wasn’t entirely sure, but Andrew felt oddly at ease with him. Perhaps it was that neither of them spoke much.
He was somewhat confused as Victor didn’t seem like the type to go to parties either. Maybe someone had dragged him here as well. His back was turned so the albino couldn’t exactly tell if he was talking to anyone.
It wouldn’t hurt to just say hello, Andrew played with his sweater sleeve and suddenly wished he had some alcohol in his system to make this easier.
But then Victor turned, and Andrew’s mouth went ultimately agape as he witnessed the blond downing gulps and gulps of liquor. Even more to his surprise were the people cheering him on. With how quiet and rather shy the blond was, Andrew never expected this kind of behavior out of him.
All he could do was stare for a good couple of seconds, lost in the surrealness of this situation until Victor swallowed all of it down, turned and threw up all over the kitchen counter. Well, that was certainly an image Andrew would never be able to get out of his head. He could’ve sworn the party got louder as a result.
As he watched some of the vomit dribble down the sides Andrew felt like he might be sick himself. Just before he could lug himself to the bathroom he was stopped by Mike.
“Hey, he’s your friend right?” Mike pointed to Victor who looked as if he was half conscious.
“Uh well, I suppose so...” The albino tried his best to take his mind off the churning feeling in his stomach.
“Right so, I don’t want him puking anywhere else, can you take him home? You know where he lives?”
He was just about to leave anyway, so. Andrew looked to the floor in thought, he had been to Victor’s dorm exactly one time. Not for anything significant, the blond was simply lending him some notes. His mind raced as Mike stared at him expectantly. Even with everything happening he managed to conjure up the address.
“Ah yes... yes I do.”
“Great! Thank you.” Just as Mike was about to leave Andrew called him back.
“H-Hey wait, could I ask, have you seen Luca at all?”
The other thought for a moment then shook his head, “Haven’t seen ‘em.”
Andrew frowned before turning his attention back to Victor. His expression soured at the sight of vomit on his mouth and shirt. And before he could even think it, Mike was already handing him a plastic bucket.
“For if he or you decide to be sick, and I’m sure you’ll want to keep your car seats clean.”
Andrew nodded as a thank you. William could then be seen helping the blond stand up.
“You need some help carrying this one out?” He asked.
“Yes, please, that would be g-greatly appreciated.” Andrew hugged the bucket close to his chest.
Nearly as soon as Andrew breathed in the fresh night air he no longer felt any hint of nausea. The parking lot was quiet, he could finally hear the ringing in his ears that the volume of the party caused. He thanked William for his help as Victor was finally settled into the passenger seat of his car. The albino gulped and reached awkwardly over the other to buckle him in. Then he handed him the bucket.
“Um, c-can you hold this? It’s for if you get sick again.”
The blond weakly held the plastic bucket in his hands and nodded lightly. He seemed so spacey and completely out of it. If the situation hadn't put him so on edge Andrew would feel inclined to laugh.
He had never driven a drunk person home before, this was certainly not the norm for him. Andrew closed the passenger side door and got into the driver’s side. As he started the car and turned down the radio significantly, he stole several glances at Victor. He was still smiling, blissfully as ever. Andrew guessed it would only be a ten minute drive. He really hoped that in that time Victor would not throw up again. Just as they got onto the road, the blond began to speak.
“Where— where are we going?” he slurred.
“I’m taking you home.” Andrew answered.
“Oh...okay. I- I wonder if someone fed Wick...did you feed him- him? Did I f-feed him? How long have I been away-ay…am I a bad dog-dog owner— oh no, oh no.” he rambled on and on.
It surprised the albino to certain degree that Victor was a talkative drunk. Or more like he wouldn’t say a word for a few minutes before speaking nonsense and run on sentences for as long as he felt before becoming quiet again.
It was amusing to Andrew that every time the blond was finished babbling he would plunk his head against the car window, only to perk up again to say something more. Andrew couldn’t help the small smile that crossed his lips. Oh and his little hiccups, they were simply too cute.
“Oh I think—I think I need to finish erm... umm, uh something- something for class, yeah. Oh I- I have to hand- hand it in tomorrow don’t I?”
“Tomorrow is Saturday.”
Victor took some time to register what Andrew had said. When he did his eyes lit up, “Really? Thank- thank god...professor Luchino would’ve b-been-been very upset.” His head lolled from side to side as he spoke and the albino actually laughed a little. The blond was slightly confused but laughed alongside the other. Victor’s smile got wider.
“You— you should...should laugh more. I like it…”
Andrew went silent. He wondered if it was normal to feel such a fluttery feeling in his chest as a result of such a comment. But surely Victor didn’t mean that, the man was wasted.
Finally they arrived at Victor’s dormitory building. Andrew rounded the car to open the passenger side door, then it occurred to him that he actually had to help the other out. It wasn’t like William was there so he had to do so himself. He unbuckled the drunk man before hesitantly offering a hand to him.
Touching other people made him anxious and a bit uncomfortable but Victor might fall if he didn’t. The blond made his way out of the car slowly whilst taking Andrew’s pale hand in his own. Apparently that wasn’t enough to support him as he stumbled forward and pressed his face into Andrew’s shoulder. The albino went rigid from the sudden contact while all Victor did was giggle into his sweater.
It took him a couple of seconds to finally move, he placed a hand on either of the blond’s shoulders and stood him up. His heart was beating far too much for comfort. Andrew made sure the other still had the bucket before closing the car door with his sneaker.
“Ah, um…” He felt a bit awkward as he attempted to figure out how to help Victor up to his room. Just watching the blond sway made him skittish so he decided to quickly link arms with the other. Hopefully that was enough to keep him from staggering. It was difficult, but they eventually shuffled their way up to the building door and to the elevator.
Once they made it to Victor’s room door, Andrew had a brief moment of panic,
“Oh Victor, keys...please tell me you have your keys.”
The blond brought his head up from Andrew’s shoulder once he heard his name. He furrowed his brow in deep concentration before reaching into his pocket. The albino sighed in relief once he heard the jingle of keys. Victor lazily handed them to the other.
Andrew didn’t even bother to ask which key it was, and instead just opted to try them all before one worked. After helping Victor inside he flicked on a light. He winced,
“Sorry,” was all Andrew said.
Wick was then seen trotting towards them as if he had expected Victor to be home for a while now. He glanced down at the dog, wondering momentarily if he would begin barking. To his surprise he remained quiet, Andrew had never met a quiet dog before. He assumed that animals didn’t like him so he was a tad wary.
“Hi buddy…” Victor leaned down to give him a few pats on the head to which Wick happily accepted.
He thought for a moment about what to do next. He should at least make sure Victor gets to bed instead of leaving the possibility that he may just pass out somewhere randomly. In the light, he could actually see Victor clearly. Cheeks rosy red from the alcohol and butterscotch hair disheveled. He could also still see a bit of vomit around the corners of his mouth. He couldn’t just leave that there.
Andrew grimaced, “Umm…where do you keep your wash cloths?”
“Bathroom,” Victor mumbled as he tried to walk there himself, Wick shuffled along with his owner. He landed quite roughly against the door frame.
The albino was immediately at his side to make sure he wouldn’t hurt himself. Handling a drunk Victor was the equivalent to handling delicate glass. He chose to sit the blond down on the bathroom floor as it seemed easier than to keep him standing. Wick settled his head in his owner’s lap.
In one of the drawers he found a clean cloth and tried to avoid looking at himself in the mirror as he dampened it. Andrew crouched next to the other and lifted the cloth to his face.
“Uh…can you? Or s-should I?”
Victor gazed up at him languidly, the other assumed that meant ‘do it for me’. The drunk man was sure making things difficult for him tonight, it felt…strangely intimate to be wiping someone else’s mouth. Andrew wasn’t certain how much more of this his shy heart could take.
After cleaning the other’s face, Andrew’s eyes were on Victor’s lips a bit longer than he would like to admit, they were a touch redder after he wiped them off.
The albino stood quickly and averted his gaze, “Okay, now... y-you should go to bed.”
“But I don’t- don’t wanna,” he whined from his place on the floor.
“You’re tired.”
“That’s not true- true, is that true W-Wick?” He looked at the dog in his lap, Wick gazed up at him sleepily. Victor’s golden eyes met red ones, “See, he knows I’m— I’m not tired. I’m having too much fun…” he trailed off.
Andrew frowned, “Well… can you at least stay in your bedroom? I don’t want you to fall somewhere.”
The blond’s smile was still present, but his eyes were heavy. “O-Okay… just for you.” he hiccuped. There it was again, that fluttery feeling in his chest. Wick headed towards the bedroom and settled himself on the dog bed.
Andrew helped him up and to his bed. There Victor sat, the albino couldn’t tell if the expression he wore meant he was thinking of nothing or something. His eyes trailed to the drunk man’s soiled shirt, Andrew stopped his train of thought before he even got there. No, that was out of the question.
“Okay well, I guess I should—”
“I’m thirsty.”
He blinked. Of course, just as he was about to leave. Andrew made a short trip to the kitchen to grab the other a glass of water. As he did so he couldn’t help but think the blond was a bit entitled while he was hammered, if only he could channel that into his everyday life. In fact both of them needed a bit more backbone.
Once he was given his water, Victor took a sip and pouted, “This tastes—tastes bad. Really bad. This— this tastes really bad.”
His golden eyes peered up at Andrew as if he was expecting something of him. Truthfully the stare of the drunk man rather creeped him out. Several moments passed as the blond didn’t bat an eye. Andrew was about to say something before Victor spoke again,
“I think I know— I know something that will taste better.”
Then the blond hastily grabbed Andrew by the sweater and pulled him down to the bed with him. Before he had time to react, Victor placed a kiss directly on his mouth.
Instantly, the albino scrambled away, falling off the bed and onto the floor. Red encompassed the entirety of his pale face and his heart pounded loudly in his ears. It was only a second, but he could still taste the alcohol from Victor’s lips.
Andrew blinked a couple of times to find his center of gravity. Victor had— Victor had kissed him. And in no way did the blond seem ashamed about it. He stood, only to find the drunk man hugging his sides in an insane fit of laughter. “I have never seen you so red! You’re like— like a tomato!”
All Andrew did was gawk at the situation, to see the other like this was beyond bizarre, he might have to pinch himself. He opened his mouth, only to sputter,
“Ah— I- I um…”
Once he had calmed down he nodded softly, “Yes— yes much better, that tasted much better.”
Upon hearing those words, Andrew flushed deeper. He trembled, he had so much adrenaline in his veins that he didn’t know what to do with. His heart was still thumping hard in his chest. Until the thought that Victor might not even remember this entered his mind. It both soothed and saddened him, but he ignored the latter.
And then a more troublesome thought came to him.
Did Victor even know it was him?
That silent question wasn’t in the air for long as the other slurred, “Much better, thank you—you, Andrew.” The albino froze completely for a moment, and before Victor could say or do anything more, he quickly made his leave.
Not once did Andrew quit thinking of the incident as he headed home. He remained in a state of bewilderment until he arrived at his dorm. Carrying himself to his room, he groaned and flopped down onto his bed.
Exhaustion hit him like a truck. He'd have to unpack the events that occurred once he was rested.