Chapter Text
Pyro fidgeted with his sleeves as he looked around. They really should of just gone with Owen and Legundo instead of being early.
When Ren and Martyn learnt that none of the trio had been to a gay bar before, they immediately told them to clear their Friday to check out a new one that opened up a couple of months ago. Pyro didn't even know there were more than one in New York to begin with, and he's lived here his whole life. Guess that's what happened with you're... sheltered in your upbringing.
Pyro glanced around, seeing people walk by and not even notice he was there. But, like, what if they were when he wasn't looking and questioning why he's just standing outside of the bar? They probably look ridiculous and it just made more sense to go in and make sure to get a booth for everyone. Pyro brushed non-existent dust off of his jacket and walked in before he could change his mind.
Pyro immediately avoided eye contact with anyone, paying attention to his feet as he moved past other people who were drinking or dancing. Ultimately, it was less overwhelming than he expected, but he still just wanted to have one of his friends here to help deal with this.
He made his way to the bar, hands tapping nervously on the counter.
"Hi! Uh- Is there like a free booth or table- or anything really if it's no problem."
Pyro looked up to meet the bartender eyes and-
... Oh.
Pyro's chest seized with some emotion. He wasn't sure if it was intrigue or fear but it made their heart speed up regardless.
The bartender was a guy that was shorter than Pyro. Then again almost everyone was. He had hair dyed snow white and red eyes presumably from contacts. Despite being in uniform, he had what looked to be expensive jewellery decorating it with the earring and jewelled pin on his shirt.
Oh, he was really pretty. Pyro has had crushes at guys and girls before, but that fluttering in his stomach never felt like this before. It felt kinda like he was going to die.
The bartender looked he was dying as well. He was as pale as a ghost at the sight of Pyro. He almost dropped the glass he was holding before taking a breath and smiling at Pyro with a smile.
"Hi. What can I get you er... what's your name?"
"Oh- I'm Pyro and I- I don't want anything to drink right now. Is there like an empty booth or something? I- Don't really know what do here..."
"... Pyro. Right. Well this isn't a restaurant so you don't need to ask me, but there is an empty booth over there. Do you... have friends coming?" The bartender asked as he pointed.
Pyro glanced to see the booth he was pointing at. It actually pretty close to the bar.
"Y-Yes. And thank you... I don't think I catched your name?" Pyro turned back to the bar.
"I'm Scott."
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you." Pyro said as he made his way to the booth.
He didn't miss Scott's frown of confusion at that. Nor they did miss Scott glancing at Pyro at the booth as he served drinks to other customers. It wasn't like Pyro could judge, though, since they were doing the same. Whenever the two of them made eye contact, they both looked away nervously. This continued for an arduous amount of time before a couple of friends joined him.
"Why are you checking out the bartender?"
Pyro's face went bright red in embarrassment at Owen's comment.
"I'm not checking out Scott!" They yelped.
Owen smirked as he sat down with Legundo, who was giving Pyro a sympathetic look.
"I'm just saying, I know you haven't been happy being the only single one in our friend group, but surely you have better standards than that guy." Owen teased.
"Shut up. You're being annoying." Pyro groaned into his hands.
"Sounds like a you problem."
"Owen, don't be so mean to Pyro." Legundo chastised.
"I'm not being mean. I'm just teasing them." Owen rolled his eyes.
"Owen."
"Listen Doc, if Pyro really didn't like it he would tell me to stop. And if they didn't I would be mad because despite what you think, I don't actually hurt my best friend."
Owen leaned over the table to pat Pyro's shoulders in some odd way to comfort him. Neither of them knew how to do to that exactly, but it was the thought that counts.
"Thanks." Pyro muttered.
Legundo looked back at the bar and frowned in thought.
"... Unfortunately, Owen does make a good point. That guy seems like bad news."
Owen laughed as he stared at his boyfriend with bewilderment.
"What happened to giving everyone a fair shot with no judgement? Thought Doctors are supposed to care about all patients."
"Owen, I'm not even a Doctor yet. No one is my patient... but, yeah, do you not get the same vibes from that bartender?" Legundo asked.
Owen glanced over to bartender. Pyro noted that Scott was staring at them with the same expression he has when he saw Pyro. Like he was... surpised?
"Hm... he does look annoying. But like in a rich boy using daddy's money kind of way."
"What?!"
The trio turned to see Ren and Martyn, the latter of them looking confused and a little angry.
"Not you Martyn. We're talking about the bartender Pyro was ogling." Owen explained casually.
"I wasn't looking at Scott in that way." Pyro's face met the table as they groaned.
The duo looked at the bar inquisitively as they sat down.
"First name basis already? You know... he is looking at all of us real weirdly." Martyn commented, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.
"Perhaps it's because we're talking about him." Legundo said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Perhaps. That would require him to read lips, though, since the music and people are decently loud. He does seem to be trouble though."
"See, it's not just me, Owen." Legundo said.
"Yeah, well... he's still the bartender, though. So I'm going to get our drinks." Owen shrugged as he got up.
"Oh, I can help if you want!" Pyro suggested.
Ren's hand clapped Pyro's shoulder and shook his head.
"He's fine, young Pyro."
"Young? We go to the same campus."
"Yes, but I am a couple of years older than you, therefore, you should listen to your elders."
Pyro giggled as Ren drunkenly sang loudly to the music playing.
"So, should I still listen to Ren?" Pyro smirked.
"Please don't." Martyn grumbled as he tried to cover Ren's mouth with his hands and kept missing.
"You should get your boyfriend to stop barking." Owen cackled as he slouched on Legundo heavily.
"Sod off! Legundo, tell your dog to stop bein' rude." Martyn snarked, his eyes looked to the left of Legs.
Pyro laughed out loud at that, being louder than he usally was. Oh dear, maybe he's drank more than they should have...
Owen scowled at Pyro from underneath Legundo's arms as he hugged him.
"Don' laugh Pyro! Otherwise, I'll laugh at you." He glared.
"Alright, Owen, perhaps you've had too much to drink." Legundo patted Owen's hair.
"No no no no no. What would you have to laugh to me about?" Pyro asked as they stood up lean over the table and stare at Owen.
"You fumbled the bar guy. You can't even flirt with him!"
"I didn' fumble anything! What, am I supposed to ask out the hot scary Scott Goldsmith guy?"
"Goldsmith?" Legundo raised a brow.
"That's, uh... I... I don't remember. The point is that I'm... what was I proving again?" Pyro blinked owlishly.
"That you can't flirt with Scott. Face it Pyro, you have no game." Owen cackled.
"You don't have any either! You getting two boyfriends was a fluke!" Pyro jabbed his finger in Owen's face.
Owen immediately tried to bite their finger, but Legundo pulled him further away from Pyro.
"Okay, maybe we should go home now-"
"Oh, don't be buzzkill, Doc." Martyn rolled his eyes.
Pyro moved to stand up, gripping the table tightly as his vision swam.
"Screw it. Scott is really hot so I might as well try. What do I have to lose?" Pyro declared.
Ren, Martyn, and Owen cheering drowned out Legundo's voice but Pyro could tell he was objecting. But Pyro didn't really care to listen to his friend right now.
To Pyro's credit, he managed to not fall over as he made his way to the bar, especially since the floor never seemed to be where he thought it was as they walked.
"Umm... Pyro? If you're going to ask for more drinks, I may have to cut you off-"
"You must be a bat, because you just flew straight into my heart." Pyro said confidently.
Scott stared at them with a completely baffled expression. For once the suffocating silence didn't feel awkward for Pyro, or rather he just couldn't notice how awkward this all was.
"... Thanks?"
Suddenly a hand grabbed Pyro by the forearm.
"I'm so sorry about this." Legundo apologised.
"No it's alright. I just... I wasn't expecting my night be like this." Scott shrugged.
"Oh, I wasn't talking to you."
Pyro then realised that Legundo was forcefully dragging them out of the bar.
"Legs! What are you doing?!" He cried out in confusion.
"You'll thank me later, Pyro." Legundo said sternly.
Martyn and Ren were behind them, dragging a sour Owen with them.
"I wasn't done with my drink!"
Scott stared blankly at the group as they left.
In all his years of living he had never experienced this before.
It was THEM. They should be dead though. Was reincarnation real?! Does that mean Apo is also back? ... Is Avid back?
Scott had never been so taken aback at a situation before. He wasn't sure what was more bizarre, seeing the dead return or them being... so normal—happy, even.
"Goodness... why did I even try to work like a non-rich person? This is too much drama." He muttered to himself.
Well, it seemed like none of them recognized Scott. Otherwise, Pyro would’ve probably cowered in terror or tried to claw Scott's eyes out... which would be valid.
Still though... it was bizarre to so Owen smile with friends, or the Doc and Ren to be college aged.
... Yeah, Shelby and Drift are going to lose their minds at this.