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Afternoon heat basked in open plains, and somehow, Lemmy has acquired a car. It was via request that her and Viri transferred a painting for Duo, someone who is too scared to reenter the Outernet.
Viri stood in garage before they made any progress on their trek, “Jesus fuck! It’s hot as balls and all we’re doing is standing around, what are we waiting for, huh?” He impatiently waited for an answer.
“I am going to see if a friend of mine can fix up this old thing.” She stared at her handy work on the engine, and Viri leaned over to see it too, with no clue what was wrong with it.
He shook his head, “The longer we wait, the longer I’m going to miss that party, Lem!” He exclaimed, and much to his chagrin, Lemmy just threw an oil covered rag at him.
He gagged, the smell was unbearable and the entire place smelt of some sorted car part. It was a small garage but had way too many tools, that of a hoarder maybe.
Viri wondered as he flicked the rag into the floor with his hand, what exactly is he meant to compensate his time loss for? What excuse could possibly be used— and how?
Despite circumstances in past junctures, he was and always has been, a pro of talking out his ass.
Staring briefly back at Lemmy, she snapped her eyes over at him. A small gesture of acknowledgment. “You can get in the car, I think I may have figured it out on my own…” Viri didn’t have to be told twice.
He blasted the AC and began shuffling through the collection of CDs in the front seats glovebox. Lemmy closed the hood of car, and soon followed into the driver’s seat.
“Just so you know, this is a long drive. You probably will be late to that party either way.” She states simply, starting the ignition.
Viri shakes his head, “Nah! I won’t. I’m going and that’s final, Lem. Can’t convince me otherwise with your manipulative tactics…” He smiled smugly.
She rolls her eyes, and soon enough they’re on the road. Viri continues to flick through the CDs.
Lemmy eyes him, while taking a sip of black coffee she brought alongside her. Viri finally raises a CD up. “Perfect! We gotta listen to this one, Lem. It’s perfect for getting into the party mood.”
“You do know I’m not going with you, right? I have no need for party favors.” She shifts her elbow on the windowsill of the car, other hand on the wheel.
Huffing, Viri sighs. A little exasperated. “Y’know you talk like a doctor, dude! And like, I hate doctor dudes.” He makes an argument of protest that is loosely free association.
Nonetheless, Lemmy keeps her eyes on the road. They’re still turning out of the small neighborhood. And soon enough follow onto a main street. “Why do you hate doctors?” She passively inquires.
This seems to strike a cord within Viri. “Oh my god! Don’t get me started, Lemmy. Like, okay… Crim went to college! I like, kind of went to college for a little, why do they act like they know more than me? They’re always telling you some torturous way to live your life n’ stuff!” He was waving his hands dramatically around.
Lemmy peaks occasionally at him, she can’t help but bite back an expression. “Really now? Hm. You know I might be inclined to agree, but something tells me this just has to do with your—“
“Alcohol intake! I know…” Viri winces a little at himself.
They both laugh suddenly. Lemmy’s is a little stark in contrast to the way Viri chuckles.
“Jeez, okay.” Lemmy makes a turn, “We’re on the highway now. Feel free to turn the music up.” She offers.
Viri didn’t have to be told twice.
Some weird DJ track plays over them. In a way, Viri kind of hates it. But something about it is humorous. Making Lemmy listen to things she probably would have never heard if not for him.
And even more so, Viri feels himself listening and wondering how he could do it better than whoever was on this mixtape.
He remembers when he used to be able to recognize each artist from that alone. Not so much anymore, Viri guesses.
The car jerks into a gas station parking lot. Lemmy is unbuckling her seat belt, and Viri looks at her quizzically. “Yo, what’s the sitch?” He asks while turning down the music.
She closes the door and wraps around to his side of the vehicle, “Need something. Do you want anything?” She asks bluntly.
Viri hops out, closing the door and running ahead of her. “Slushy!!!” He yells while slamming into the gas station.
He could almost feel Lemmy’s eye roll in the background.
The flavors were a tad bit daunting. Something about a cartoon crossover with 7/11 and five different types of soda flavors. Viri ends up mixing every single one together and snagging some sort of sour gummies to put in it.
Lemmy looks at him with mild concern as they are at the cash register and Viri is leaning over her shoulder. Much to his surprise, she’s buying cigarettes.
He doesn’t comment about it. Not yet. But he does make a face at her that she doesn’t reciprocate.
As they walk out, Lemmy stuffs a lighter inside with the pack. Viri curiously pokes her while a droning noise of sipping a slushy backs him up.
“Sooo.” He sips again. “What’s with the cigs?” He asks far too interested.
Lemmy sighs while opening the car door for him, out of routine, and then walking to the other side. “It’s an old habit.”
She explains while buckling herself in. Viri stares a little contemplative. “Wait, you smoke often enough for it to be a habit?” He can’t mask the tone he has.
It isn’t concern. He doesn’t discern it as such, but a part of him doesn’t want her to smoke. As taboo as it is.
Yeah, he smokes weed. He’s done shrooms. And sometimes Lemmy indulged that too. So why does it bother him? He was friends with other smokers, but…
Is Lemmy just a friend?
He shakes his head in frustration.
Viri looks at her, driving while smoking what he assumes to be Marlboro lights. She’s kind of hot as she does.
Gross.
“I did it back when I was younger. Now whenever I’m driving, it feels hard not to.” She explains.
Viri snaps back to what she’s saying. “But… only when you drive, right?” He asks, erring on the side of caution.
And the way she looks at him, god. It turns something in his stomach. Well, probably at least.
He can’t tell if it’s the slushy or her. “Why does it matter to you, party goer? I thought you’d be used to that sort of thing.” Lemmy’s remark is stale in his belly.
Viri hates it. He hates this, when did they grow so distant?
Not distant enough for them to stop being rude to each other, but to stop being personal. It’s not the same if it’s just impolite banter, all the way up.
Viri huffs, rolling his eyes away from her. “Who cares, y’know? We’re all going to die anyway!” He exclaims softly, yet annoyed at something. Maybe her.
Lemmy makes a face of confusion, but she stalls. The conversation has seemingly ended.
It’s about 10 minutes into the drive she even speaks up again. The shitty mixtape drones on, and her voice cuts it like a smoke flooding his mind.
A foggy haze amongst the nicotine clouds.
“I didn’t mean to upset you. If it really makes you uncomfortable, I—“
“Why would I be uncomfortable?” He huffs out, his breath is quiet but heavy.
It read like ‘why would I care?’ and it made a part of Lemmy turn in her seat.
She pushes her glasses up instead, “Well clearly you’re upset, I’ll throw it out if it matters that much.” It’s bitter.
Why does it have to be so bitter?
He feels the car drifting to the side of the highway they’re on. She’s parking. Oh no.
Lemmy is staring at Viri.
Viri stares back, he opens his mouth— it’s cut off.
“Mmf!” He makes a noise, she’s kissing him. Viri doesn’t pull away as the taste of smoke floods his mouth, and Lemmy can taste how awful his lips are.
They’re aggressive in every right of passage, because Viri is trying to push his face deeper into hers— simultaneously, she’s shoving her hands around his neck and trying to pull their chests together.
It’s habit. It always has been, Viri should’ve known better. Apart of him, he recalls it, when they were little.
When Viri pulls away, a bit of saliva still connects them. Lemmy is quick to wipe at her mouth on her wrist.
“You taste awful. Do you know that?” She remarks, her face blank.
He can’t help but snort, edging his face closer to hers again, but he doesn’t connect.
Lemmy’s breath is against his own, and he can’t stop the way he feels hungry.
“I- I need you to know how much I love you, Lemmy.”
It sucks the life out of her. He loves it.
She stammers, her breath hitching as she tries to find an excuse— a way to pull away, but she can’t. Not from him.
Viri shakes his head, leaning closer. “Do you know that? You know that, right?” He remarks, oh so casually.
“Y- You… can’t just say that—“
“Why?” He calls back. Her eyes shake in her skull. They kiss again, it’s rough.
They’re pushing their faces into each other fast enough it could bruise, and Lemmy is making a whining noise against his lips.
She pulls away again, “This- I know it’s wrong—“
“It’s not.”
“— and I need- I need you to know that. We’re friends, Viridiflorus!” She exclaims, kissing his jaw.
He moans at the sensation, “Exactly, exactly— we’re friends, baby. You’re my best friend… do you remember? When we’d smoke together, at 14?” He’s begging for her to remember.
She nods, suddenly leaning her head against his chest. Lemmy can feel the tears flooding her eyes.
Viri continues, “You remember, you remember how— I never wanted either of us to do again— and you did anyway, made it a habit… and now, now you can’t tell me that!” He whines.
Her tears wet his shirt, and soon enough she’s moving her hands to cup his neck and cradle his flesh in her teeth.
Lemmy’s sucking on his neck, he’s moaning as she stutters breaths and bites against him.
“So admit, Lemmy— how you love this…” He smiles, giddy. “You love me, we’re friends. We grew up together, in the Underweb and protected each other— you can’t give me up now.” He’s monologuing, and Lemmy is crying through sloppy kisses.
Pulling off his neck, she heaves. “I love you, I love you, Viri— please I- I love you—“ He’s already lifting her face and shoving his tongue into her mouth.
They both tangle each other, frivolously trying to keep up with one another but teetering on the edge every now and again.
Suddenly, Lemmy, pulling away, stares at him with half lidded tears. “Viri, the party—“
“Fuck the party, Lemmy. If I’d known every ounce of emotional constipation would flood my brain today, I wouldn’t have even- even uttered it!” Viri is soon enough, cradling her face and wiping at her tears from behind her glasses.
They pant. Staring, staring. Blinking hazily, and Lemmy laughs. “Oh- god… help me.” She whimpers.
She’s staring at the road, cars racing past their parked vehicle. “We should get going, Viri. The longer we wait, the longer Duo will lecture us.” She admits almost comedically.
He smiles back, kissing her lips briefly one more time before sitting back in his seat. Viri didn’t even notice the buckle around him the entire time, or the constraint it had against his chest.
They drove. Another hour, too. It was soft as the sun set though. The heat finally begun to cool, the bright sky left less aches in their eyes, and they were talking.
Like, talking. No quiet, no weird excuses. Just honest to god talking. And Viri felt himself pulse with gratefulness, a sense of control.
He really does remember growing up with Lemmy. He can’t let go of that, ever.
As Lemmy turned into the next nearby exit, they found themself in a more rural area. A neighborhood of apartments and duplexes. Narrow streets and potted plants.
As they parked outside a house, Lemmy could see the stick in question who commissioned the piece in the balcony.
“Oh me gosh!” The coral stick exclaimed from up above as the two approached out the car.
She rushed down the stairs, outside and was happily taking the painting. “Duo’s already received half of the payment, here’s the other half, girl!” She smiled a cricked grin.
Her yard was a mess, and her eyes were red with a herbal scent. Lemmy smiled back. “Of course. Sorry for it taking so long, traffic is terrible around here.” She quipped.
Viri always forgets that she’s capable of small talk. Because it startles him, in a way he can’t reside with.
Either way, the other half of the payment is given. And Lemmy and Viri are sat on the pavement near the car.
Lemmy is rubbing his back as he dry heaves the leftovers of the sour gummy slushy mess. His vomit is brown yet somehow colorful.
“Jeez, honestly I’m glad it’s out of your system now. There’s no way that could have tasted good to begin with.” She remarks, tonally lacking but holding a concerned expression.
He heaves a breath, panting as he wipes his mouth on his sleeve. “That shit could have honestly killed me, Lem— and you’re worried about taste?” He playfully remarks through exhaustion.
She rolls her eyes, “And remind me, upon your death— heaven or hell? For the causation of making such a concoction in the Outernet.” Lemmy is being playful, which makes Viri smile as he leans her head against him.
“Nah, I’d be like— all reborn n’ shit.” Viri is being just as, if not more, playful.
Lemmy leans against him back. “Make you a disciple?” She teases.
But instead, Viri shakes his head. “Nah, maybe they’d let me be your cat.” He says somberly.
The two stay sat like that, acknowledging and letting words hang in their heads above them. They intermingle, and create poetry only in their minds.
“Dude, I keep having erotic nightmares about you.” Viri says while looking down at the pavement, a goofy grin on his face.
She didn’t have to be told twice, she howls in laughter.