Chapter Text
The sun shone on the crystal-clear water of Gatsby’s pool. Though today was chillier than the day before, the afternoon was nevertheless lovely. Opting out of swimming, Nick sat on a lounge chair, watching Gatsby floating on the water in an air mattress. The tranquility of the afternoon relaxed Nick, something he had not felt in who knows how long. Looking at Gatsby’s face, Nick saw the beautiful afternoon also put him into tranquility. With Gatsby oblivious, Nick got a better chance to study the man’s face.
Although Gatsby’s sparkling blue eyes were closed, his tanned body and golden blond hair glowed under the afternoon sun. Upon studying Gatsby’s well-defined jaw and overall strong body, Nick blushed. Even though Gatsby was oblivious to Nick, it was still embarrassing to pine for a man still under the guise that Daisy’s love would be rekindled one day. Hell, Nick did not even know if Gatsby liked men; here he was, however, dangerously allured by his charming neighbor and friend.
The silhouette of a man interrupted Nick’s train of thought; at first, he thought it was one of Gatsby’s many butlers, but the man’s outfit did not match the prestige suits of the butlers. As the mysterious stranger got closer, Nick’s brain came to realize that George was slowly approaching the pool. His wide eyes bored into Nick’s with a fury of sadness and rage.
“George, what are you doing here-“ Nick’s sentence was interrupted when he saw the pistol in George’s hands.
Immediately jumping from the lounge chair, he bolted towards him. Whether it was instinct or a fiery dedication to protect Gatsby, Nick did not know; his mind simply told his legs to run and not think. George drew the pistol in his hands and began to pull the trigger. A singular bullet exited the gun; Nick gasped and jumped to the side, narrowly missing an early death with the bullet hitting the concrete.
Gatsby, noticing the commotion, got up from his air mattress and turned his head towards the two men.
“Old sport-“
“Gatsby! Get out! Go get one of your butlers-“
Another bullet zoomed past Nick, slightly grazing his shoulder; wincing in pain, he persisted and continued running towards George. As he heard the frantic sounds of water splashing and feet running to somewhere, yet another bullet headed towards Gatsby’s direction; hitting a window, it shattered with a loud clang.
Nick finally put George’s hands in a vice grip and yanked the pistol away from his hands. The other man flailed trying to escape, but Nick’s adrenaline-fueled strength prevented that.
“What in God’s name are you doing, George!?”
George slowly gave up his struggling, panting and wheezing. Tears filled his eyes as his rage turned into despair.
“He has to pay!”
Nick scrunched his face in confusion. “What?”
“God knows what Gatsby did to Myrtle!”
Realizing what he meant, he started to say something when he heard shouting. Both turning in the direction of the noise, they saw Gatsby and a butler directing multiple officers to George. Nick let go of George and stepped away as they handcuffed the man and retrieved his pistol. A bit of questioning ensued for Gatsby and Nick, and just like that, the officers were off with George in handcuffs. As they disappeared (as well as he butler), Gatsby looked at Nick concerningly.
“Are you okay, old sport?”
“…Yeah. Just feeling disoriented. Bullet grazed my shoulder.”
“Do you need medical attention?”
Nick’s heart swelled upon hearing Gatsby’s concern for him. “No, but thank you.”
Silence followed as the two men stared into the pool. Not knowing what to say, they simply stood by each other, staring into the pool’s crisp water, thinking of what could have been a bloody murder.
“Gatsby…”
“Yes, old sport?”
“…What…what happens now?”