Chapter Text
The most exciting part about starting sophomore year was getting settled in his dorm and seeing his friends after a long vacation. Although college dorms left much to be desired, it wasn't so bad if he wasn't paired up with a bunch of randoms.
That is to say: He can't be more glad that his roommates this year are Flux and Saps instead of Jonathan or that weird rich guy that insisted on being called "Mr. D". Thomas appreciated cash like any other guy, but being asked to write essays two hours before a due date got tedious after a while. Hearing Saps and Flux bicker over the smallest things was a smaller annoyance than dealing with a guy that has anger issues and a chronic drunkard.
The dorm was for four people, meaning one of them would have a room all to themselves. Thomas didn't mind sharing a bedroom, but he was surprised that neither Flux nor Saps argued about who gets the bedroom.
Maybe they agreed that Flux and Thomas would share a room since they're close prior to Thomas arriving to the dorm.
As Thomas finished putting away the remainder of his folded clothes, he overheard Saps and Flux talking in the living room. Not arguing. Conversing. The one thing that never happens when they're in a room alone.
Thomas wasn't the type to eavesdrop… but this was a moment in history. Against his better judgment, he leans a bit closer to the door.
"So... Any news on Augustus yet?" Saps chimed in, peeling the wrapper off his energy bar.
Flux hums, skimming through the pamphlet with "Dorm Rules" written in annoying detail, his thoughts straying elsewhere. "Kind of. I heard he was supposed to be discharged sometime this week, so he should be joining us soon."
Ah. So the three of them weren't the only ones who would use the dorm. Thomas was starting to wonder how they got so lucky.
Saps sighed in relief before nodding his head. "That's good, right? It means he's made some improvement."
"I guess." Flux frowns, setting the pamphlet down. He couldn't read it properly anyway. "The lady I talked with on the phone still said to be mindful around him, though."
"I mean- yeah… that makes sense." Saps looks at Flux with something way too close to concern to be normal. "I can keep an eye on him for you if it really worries you that much."
"Thanks." Flux says numbly. "Just act normal around him when he gets here, okay? I know how tactless you can be."
There was the usual bickering. "I beg your pardon? That's rich coming from you-"
"We should act normal around who?" Thomas finally steps into the living room, tilting his head to the side.
Both Saps and Flux nearly jumped out of their seats, as if they had forgotten that Thomas was currently in the same building as them.
"Ah-... H-He's a, um... friend?" Saps rubbed the back of his neck, immediately regretting bringing the topic up when Thomas was around.
Flux rolled his eyes. "Augustus was one of my classmates. I don't think I've ever introduced him to you... but that's because I hardly talked to him outside the classroom. We were kind of close, I like to think."
"I see." Thomas nods slowly, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Where is he getting discharged from, though? Is he alright?"
"I don't think it's my place to tell." Flux rubbed his arm, tensing slightly. "But I want to hope he is alright. Better than before, at the very least."
The silence that followed after was tense. Thomas didn't think it would be okay for him to keep asking questions about a topic both Saps and Flux seem to be sensitive about, but if one of his roommates was ill in some way, then he would like to know.
Before Thomas could say something stupid, Saps broke the silence himself. "Did you guys hear that David is in the dorm right across from us?"
"Which one? The amnesiac?" Thomas was happy to change the subject as well. The last thing he wanted to do was to say something tactless about a delicate situation; if it even was that.
"No! The mr. D guy!" Saps groans, leaning back on the couch.
Flux seemed to share Saps' hatred for him. "Don't even get me started with him. I swear, if I have to see his face every time I leave the dorm…"
The day Augustus arrived at the dorm was an odd one, for sure. Save from the dark circles under his eyes, Augustus seemed like a relatively normal guy.
"Flux is sharing a room with his friend Thomas -I think I've mentioned him to you before- so you will be sharing a room with me in that room over there." Saps said as he walked into the dorm, helping Augustus with his bags. "U-Unless you mind! If you'd rather switch with Thomas, or get a room all to yourself, I'm sure we can arrange something-"
"Oh, my God. I don't need your pity." Augustus snatched his bag out of Saps' grasp and stormed away.
Saps winced, but he allowed Augustus to go. He didn't want to make things worse.
As that was happening, Thomas was walking out the kitchen after he finished loading the dishwasher, like any good roommate would do. "What was that about?"
"I don't… know?" Saps then looks over at Flux, who was sitting on the couch listening to the entire thing. "Was it something I said?"
Flux stands up and walks over to Saps. "Uh- yeah? You weren't acting normally at all!"
Saps then glares at Flux, inching his face closer to his. "Well, excuuuse me for wanting to make sure my friend is comfortable after coming back from the-"
"Shut up, you lumping moron!" Flux immediately presses a hand against Saps' mouth. "Just what did I say about mentioning that?"
Saps mumbled a muffled "sorry" against Flux's hand before the latter turned to look at Thomas apologetically, removing his hand from Saps' mouth. "Sorry about that."
Thomas sighed. It felt weird to, for once, have no idea what was going on. "It's fine. I understand."
Despite how irritable Augustus seemed on first impression, Thomas finds that he isn't really that bad. He mostly kept to himself and avoided him and his friends, but he was rarely hostile towards them as long as the interaction was done on his terms. Yes, he constantly forgot to load the dishwasher or take out the trash, but he never went out of his way to annoy him or was overwhelmingly messy.
Though, that could just be because Saps always ended up cleaning after him despite Augustus' protests. Every time Flux would point out the chores Augustus forgot to do, the latter would look guilty, apologize profusely and offer to do them as soon as he's reminded, but, for some strange reason, Saps always brushed it off with an "Don't worry about it" and an "I'll do it no problem. Focus your energy on something else".
Augustus was forgetful, or so Thomas thinks. His hair was messy because he often forgets to brush it until, either Saps or Flux, kindly points it out to him. (Flux being kind about disorganization was an odd thing, but not really unwelcome.) Thomas wondered if Augustus only remembered to shower because, due to the lack of a lock in the bathroom, everyone loudly announced whenever the shower would be in use. It would make sense, since he always would quietly mumble to hop into the shower after whoever was in there was done.
Odd, but not unpleasant. Thomas find that Augustus was a nice addition to the group. He wasn't that talkative when they were all hanging out, but he would make an effort to step out of his comfort zone to try and talk with Thomas every now and then.
"It would be awkward to live together and not know each other." He had claimed.
Through those conversations, they both found common ground, realizing that they shared common interests.
All that to say, despite how odd or abrasive Augustus might seem, he was a pretty good roommate.
Ever since Augustus moved in, though, he's begun to pay more attention every time his name is mentioned around him. He was a surprisingly hot topic this year. Surprising, because Thomas had never heard of him before, though he didn't want to engage in gossip about one of his roommates, so he generally avoided listening in on anything that sounded like a breach of privacy. Apparently, everyone in Phronesis but him knew about Augustus' business.
In fact...
"Thomas, my man! Just the guy I wanted to see!" That was the last voice he wanted to hear on his way to communication class.
He quickened his pace, but David, or 'mr. D', immediately tried to match his pace.
"Come on! We were roommates last year! You can't even give me the time of day?" He whined, making Thomas stop in his tracks and finally turn to look at him.
"Yeah, and I had to drag you inside every time you came back drunk out of your senses; which was damn near every night." Thomas turns around to glare at David. "Listen, the year just started. There is no way you're already behind in an assignment-"
"That's not why I wanted to talk to you. Geez, you wound me!" David wrapped his arm around Thomas' shoulders, bringing him obnoxiously close. As if they were pals. "You're roommates with that, uh... that Augustus guy! Right?"
Now that caught Thomas' attention. "What about it? I don't have any sensitive information about him, if that's what you're going to ask."
"Goodness, no. See, I'm bored. TV promised me drama and intrigue in university, but everyone here's so fucking boring." David gestures to the people around them in the hallway. Actually… he smelled weird- oh, God, was this guy really drunk at 11 in the morning!? "So! I'll pay you to put a show for me. I'll pay you handsomely."
Thomas was confused, to say the least. Never trust a drunk man to make sense. "I'm not following. What does any of this have to do with Augustus? Why bring him up?"
"Get him to date you and I'll pay you." David smirks, but Thomas immediately pushes him back.
"What? Why are you asking me!? Why not Flux or Saps? I'm not even that close to Augustus!"
"Flux and Saps are entertainment that I'm already getting for free, but they're taking too long." David rolls his eyes as if Thomas was asking the most useless questions. "Plus, I'm really curious to see how you'd do. With Augustus' current situation, and all..."
"What are you talking about? What situation?" Surely, that didn't count as a breach of privacy. They were roommates, after all. Maybe he was entitled to that information…
David stared at him, dumbfounded. "You don't know? Dude, everyone's talking about it!"
When Thomas stared at him like a deer in headlights, David continued in a quieter voice, "I heard through the grapevine that he was on the-"
Guilt immediately struck Thomas before he did something stupid that he would regret later. "Never mind! I don't want to know."
"What? He's one of your roommates, though, shouldn't you-"
"No. I'm fine. If it's anything important, Augustus can tell me that himself."
"Whatever, I guess. Are you doing it, then? The dating him thing…"
"So let me get this straight." Thomas rubs his temples in annoyance. Sometimes, he truly wondered if David knew what he was saying. "You want me to try and romance a guy who I don't even like in that way, essentially leading him on, for... What? Shits and giggles?"
David scratches the back of his head awkwardly. "Well, it sounds bad when you put it like that..."
"Yeah! That's because it is! There's no way I'm doing that." Thomas scoffed at David, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Whattt? Come on! I'll pay you 100 bucks!"
"Hell no. That's a very shitty thing you're asking me to do here."
"500!"
"Not doing it, David." Thomas already started walking away in annoyance.
"That's mr. D to you!" David stubbornly chases after Thomas. "Come on, dude! You're the only one that might have a shot at this when Flux and Saps are off limits!"
"I already said I wouldn't do it. Forget about it."
"A thousand! Cash!"
"This is not an auction! I'm not doing it."
"Two thousand! You know you need the money. Weren't you complaining about your rusty console and how you never have enough money to do anything fun?"
Thomas hated that he actually came to a halt at that, but his morality pulled him back. "Why do you care about this so much?"
"I already told you! I'm bored... and I think that seeing someone struggling to get in Augustus' good graces would be hilarious! Enough that I'm paying real money here to see you do it, Thomas!" David shook Thomas by the shoulders.
"You realize how shitty this is, right? Have you ever thought about how much this might end up hurting Augustus?" Thomas shrugged David's hands off his shoulders. "Hell- he's really nice. I have no reason to do that to him."
"Nice? Augustus??? Are we talking about the same person here?" David huffs out a laugh.
"Maybe he's nice to me because I actually mind my own business instead of always pestering him." Thomas rolls his eyes. "I already told you I'm not doing it, man."
"Five thousand bucks!"
Thomas could feel his resolve crumbling at that. He bit his lip. "You're serious?"
"Why, of course. That's basically pocket money for me." David saw Thomas' persistence melting away as he mentioned the sum of money. "As a matter of fact, I'll give you two thousand up front just to see you trying, and then five thousand if you actually manage to pull it off."
"I don't know, David... I know how these things end and I really don't want to hurt Augustus." Thomas was clinging to his morals with everything that he had. Truth be told, the few interactions he's had with Augustus were relatively nice and he had nothing against him to do something so cruel. He wouldn't do it.
"It only hurts him if he finds out. He doesn't have to know how this started. Just break up with him after I decide you did a good enough job and we can put this all behind us." He could question David's morals all he wanted, but he couldn't question his bargaining tactics.
But he didn't have to fold. "I'm not sure I want to take the risk.."
"Ten thousand bucks instead of five!" Sold.
Thomas lets out a long sigh. He really needed the money for a new console, and the rest could be put towards his tuition. He'll just have to be really careful. "Alright, fine."
"That's my man! I knew you wouldn't do me dirty!" David smacked the back of Thomas' shoulder, making him wince.
"But you better not tell anyone about this. Seriously, word gets out fast around here." Thomas grumbled as he rubbed his shoulder.
"I swear on my honor, Thomas- on my money! My lips are sealed." He did a crooked salute, and with that, Thomas headed over to class.
David then looked over his shoulder at the trashcan behind him. "Did you get all that?"
From behind him, snowbird steps out from behind the trashcan, holding a phone out and nodding hesitantly. "Are you sure about doing this?"
"Everyone will thank me eventually. Someone had to make things interesting around here eventually, and I'm happy to provide."
That's when it started. Thomas' plan to get Augustus to fall for him. From what he's heard from the people around him, it'll be no easy task. He didn't know Augustus that well, and he could play the long game and find things out gradually, or…
"He really likes swedish fish for some reason." Saps laughed, leaning back on the couch. "I would buy a bunch of that candy every time I wanted him to do something for me. I'm not sure why he likes them so much, but- hey, are you writing this down?"
Asking people close to Augustus about ways to get to him had to be the best idea Thomas' ever had in a good while. "Swedish fish… okay! Thanks, Saps! I have to go!"
"What- hey!" Saps looks behind him at Thomas, who was already grabbing his keys and his jacket. "Where are you going?"
"Convenience store down the street! See you later!" He bolted out of their dorm before Saps could even respond. Of course, he couldn't tell his friends about his plan. He wouldn't hear the end of it from Flux and Saps if he ever tells them that he was planning to romance Augustus for twelve thousand dollars. He would never hear the end of it.
Also because he still felt partially guilty for what he was about to do.
That same day, he came back with grocery bags full of said candy to make up for it. He looked around, making sure nobody was around. If he was right, Saps was at his chemistry lecture and Flux was out helping Magic get a new bag since he broke her last one.
Now, he didn't know Augustus' schedule, but he was more than happy to see him on the couch. Ironically enough, he was watching the one they loosely bonded over not too long ago. It was the perfect opportunity to get his plan started.
Without saying much, he put most of the candy away in his snack drawer safe for a single bag he took with him.
"Hey." Thomas sat on the side of the couch opposite from where Augustus was sitting. Augustus nodded wordlessly to acknowledge his existence, seemingly unbothered by his presence.
When he saw no signs of discomfort, he decided he wanted to try and close the distance between them a little. He pretended to watch the show with Augustus for a while before he opened the bag of swedish fish in his hands.
He resists the urge to smile when he notices Augustus perk up at the sound and the way his pupils dilated like a cat's when he realized the type of candy Thomas was holding.
"Want some?" He holds out the bag of candy enough to make it clear that he was offering, but not too close so as to force Augustus to come closer.
Augustus stared at the bag of candy for a while, and Thomas could almost hear the cogs turning in his head before he finally scoots closer until the bag of candy was within easy reach. He kept looking up at Thomas as he reached out for the candy, only relaxing when it was in his mouth. He then mumbles a quiet "thanks" before averting his gaze.
Augustus reminded Thomas of a cat in many ways. It was endearing.
As they watched the show, Thomas would discreetly scoot just a bit closer to Augustus until they were right next to each other. He could feel Augustus' gaze returning to the bag of candy every now and then.
"You can have the entire bag if you want." Thomas offered. He guessed that Augustus wasn't too fond of of continuing to reach out for candy, so he hoped that the other wouldn't move away the moment the bag was in his hands.
"Really?" Augustus visibly brightened when Thomas nodded, though he didn't smile. Gingerly, he reached for the bag.
Time passed and before either of them noticed, Augustus leaned slightly on Thomas' side, only to flinch immediately when he felt the warmth of the other.
"Sorry-" His voice broke as he pushed himself back.
Thomas shakes his head. Contact was exactly what he was aiming for. "It's okay, really. You can lean on me if you want."
In response, Augustus scooted back on the couch, his cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Thomas sighed silently to himself.
This was going to take longer than he thought, but that was okay. He can always try again.
He already made this much progress. From what he's learned by previous interactions with him, Augustus wasn't one for physical contact.
The fact that he had started the contact himself was already a massive step in the right direction.
The thought made Thomas smile slightly.
He'd have him right were he wanted him eventually. It was just a matter of time.