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The faint memory of cutting open a shield of gore and blood, and Rolan Deep becoming seventeen again. Rachel freeing herself from the Queen and everyone turning back to normal. Some lost, some came back. It felt like a nightmare mixed with a dream. The cheers of Mr. and Mrs. Rand cradling their fourteen year old daughter and still alive son. The memories were enough to make Timothy Rand cry just a little bit. He got his family and friends back, and that was all he needed.
Rand laid in a motel bed somewhere in Arizona, with his two friends Kian Stone and Rolan. Rolan was allowed to travel with his friends now that he was under his extended family's custody. They finished up their promised DND session, the time being 9:45. Though, Kian seemed bothered by something. Sharing a bed with Rand was nice and all, really nice, but a heavy feeling kept him from feeling normal about their situation.
"Hey Rand? Can I talk to you, broski?" Kian whispered to a half asleep Rand. "It's…important, dude."
"Sure man, what do you wanna talk about?" Rand replied.
"...I have something to confess, dude. It's not bad, just something I gotta get off my chest." Kian said to him, sitting up in the bed. The lights were dimmed down and Rolan was in another bed asleep. Despite being seventeen again, he was still an extremely heavy sleeper.
"What's up?"
Kian seemed more tense than usual, even more so after they defeated a large bug monster and brought back their loved ones.
"So, you know the night when you and Becky talked outside in the backyard all those years ago?"
"Mhm?" Rand looked nice under the lamplight.
Something felt like a boulder was pressing against Kian's chest. Would confessing make things better? Worse? Talking to his therapist wouldn't help, especially with his problem involving his sexuality.
All Kian could do was look at his blanket covered knees, his face heating up "I asked her to tell you someone liked you. That someone was me. Pretty bogus, right?"
Rand blinked at him slowly.
"H-how- I- w-"
Kian felt like walking out the door. Rand's expression was unreadable. Was he happy? Upset?
Kian couldn't speak. He could feel himself slipping from the present to remember that day ten years ago. Those same feelings he felt when he was in Rand's bedroom having a talk with Becky about his feelings.
"You like Timmy?" A young Becky asked Kian. The two were in Rand's bedroom after wanting a place to do what they wanted to without her parents barging in.
"Baby, I'm sorry! I just-"
"No no, Kian! This is pretty fine, actually! I kinda figured you had wandering eyes at… everyone! But how's Timmy gonna feel, Stone?"
Kian breathed in and out slowly. Rand was outside playing fetch with Barcode. Rachel was missing for a few months now. The only thing that could keep his mind distracted was being outside with his dog and listening to music. Maybe looking at conspiracy theories.
"...I don't know. I can't tell Rolan because he's really bad at keeping secrets! This is not good." Kian could only panic more as Becky rubbed his shoulders.
"Honey, I'll ask Rand? Would that be okay?" Becky asked him, Kian gripping the bed sheets. He responded with a nod. Before Becky could get up, Kian gripped her hand softly.
"You're not mad at me, aren't you? You don't feel weird or anything?" Kian asked. "I just don't want you to think that I'd ditch you for someone else."
"I'm okay, Stone. Timmy's your best friend in the whole world. He's mine too, but we just gotta keep this under wraps so we don't get murdered or something." Becky suggested.
Kian nodded before giving her a hug, kissing her cheek gently. It was a sign for Becky to leave and go to the back door to find Rand.
"Barcode! Put that shit down! You're not gonna fuckin' bring that in!" Rand yelled at Barcode, who was carrying a dead bird. "You know how Ma feels about that!" Rand was quickly distracted by the door opening and being greeted by Rebecca.
"Oh shit, hi. I thought you were my ma. Fuck me, he's gonna get sick and that's not bitchin', as Kian says." Rand chuckled, Becky going to stand by him.
"You heard from the school? Someone likes your ugly butt." Becky told him, straight in the face and poking his shoulder. Rand only shook his head and stared at her silently for only a second.
"Beck, you're pulling my leg. Seriously?" Rand at first laughed it off, but Becky's eyebrows going up meant she was serious. The air was cold and not a lot of activity was going on. Things hadn't been the same since his annoying, but beloved sister went missing.
"...Beck, I don't know. I'm still thinking about Rachel. My parents haven't looked at me the same way since, and bringing a girl won't exactly help my situation." Rand said, taking out a cigarette and a lighter he snuck inside. "All I wanna do is play DND and smoke. Rolan hasn't been out of the house because he's studying for college and..."
He trailed off and took a deep breath, lighting the cigarette. Rand couldn't tell how he was feeling. Becky didn't either, and a peeping Kian as well.
"Hey, Timothy. It's fine. You don't gotta say yes." Becky said to him, putting an arm around him. Rand took in a drag from the lit cig.
"Who is it?"
"U-um! Well!" Becky quickly looked at the door and then at Rand. "They… told me not to tell you!"
Rand rolled his eyes and exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Sucks for her."
The last words Kian heard rang in his head before he found himself in Rand's arms. The memories back then started to fade after feeling the warmth around him. Rand was silent, but the embrace felt warm.
"W-what are you doing, dude?"
"I love you too. I'm sorry."
Kian could finally breathe around Rand for the first time in years. Hugging him back, he knocked the two of them down onto the mattress.
"I didn't realize it was you." Rand whispered, Kian hugging him back tightly. "You're amazing and you're better put together than I am." He said with a slight chuckle.
"Aw, Rand!" Kian laughed.
"I wanted to ask before you… blanked out. How did Becky feel about it?"
Kian's eyes met Rand's. They were beautiful and the lamp on the nightstand made them shine so nicely. Those eyes were something else to Kian.
"S-she said it was okay, I think. I think Becky was into having a lot of partners? I can't remember what it's called though." Kian's face got closer to Rand's. "All I know is she would be happy for me."
"Mm. Right on, gorgeous."
Those last few words rang in Kian's head, this time replacing the sarcastic jab Rand threw unintentionally ten years ago.
The next morning their arms were around each other and Rolan was the first to wake up.
"Ew." He muttered, but ultimately smiled. Rolan knew about Kian's secret confession to Rand the night before they settled in. Rolan turned on the TV, but turned the volume down to let the lovebirds sleep.