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When Richie invited Max to his house, he probably didn’t expect him to get comfortable so quickly.
But as soon as the door was opened and his eyes fell on the bed across the room, he was on it, sprawled out like he owned the five billion blankets below him while the true owner stared from the doorway. It was just what he needed after a long practice that a nice shower in the locker room couldn’t even wash away.
They lost an away game last week against some dumb school nobodies ever heard of, and that meant they had to pay for it at every practice until their next game the following week. More drills, less breaks, all that stuff. It was exhausting, so when Richie asked if he could come over and hang out while he played some game he’s never heard of, he wasn’t saying no.
He’s been to his house a few times before, mainly to get help with school shit or watch some movie one of them swore the other had to see at least once in their life, but he’s never appreciated his bed as much as he is now. All it took was the creak of the box spring when he landed, the feeling of soft blankets under his arms, and the cushioned impact of his head on about two pillows for him to instantly relax.
“Fuck, man,” he practically groaned, closing his eyes as he let the sheets swallow him whole. “You sleep on this every night?”
“I mean, yeah, it’s my bed.” He heard from the doorway, an awkward blunt response that made him even more sure that Richie hadn’t expected him to be like this. Maybe if he let him into his room for anything other than grabbing DVDs or a gaming console to use in the living room, his expectations would be more realistic.
“No wonder you’re late to school every day, I wouldn’t leave my bed at the asscrack of dawn either if it felt like this.” He sighed, letting his head fall to the side.
“Uh, thanks.” The other teen responded, and Max could hear the awkward shuffle of clothes just under his voice. They weren’t getting closer, though, just staying right where the doorway was. He didn’t even walk into his own room yet.
He opened his eyes, confirming his suspicions. Richie was just standing there in the doorway, hands picking at his nails as he looked down. If he knew any better, he’d say he looks kind of lost.
“You said you were gonna show me a game?” He prompted, watching Richie’s eyes shoot up at the mention of this mystery game. He probably would have known what it was if he payed attention on the way here, but it’s better late than ever, right? Or was it better late than never… whatever who the fuck cares.
“Oh, yeah!” He finally said, looking over to a shelf lined with disc cases that Max assumed contained the mystery game. They didn’t look like movies, that’s for sure.
“Well get to it before I fall asleep here.” He brought his hands up to rest behind his head, closing his eyes again. He’s gotta back up his claim somehow, he learned that in one of the anti bullying assemblies. ‘Actions speak louder than words’ or whatever.
He heard more shuffling, and this time the noise actually moved. “Mm, I don’t know.” Dull light threatened to enter his eyes as the sound of blinds opening filled his ears. “You don’t seem like the type of person who can sleep when the lights are on.” There was a click of a lamp being turned on, and he chose then to let out a fake snore to further prove his point.
He heard a snort, then more shuffling moving to around where he thought the shelf with the game was.
… geek
He let out a long exhale, listening to Richie set things up for this mystery game. Hm, maybe he would actually fall asleep before he can get to see it with these noises in his ears. Clicks, buttons going in and out, whirring, all that stuff. What’s the word for it? Asmr? Something like that. It was something stuff people put on to relax, and it was definitely working.
His thoughts buzzed away softly, and he could feel his arms start to go slack, but then there was a soft smack at his leg that jolted him out of his rest.
He lazily opened one eye, finding Richie standing next to the bed with some white device in one of his hands, the other resting at the side of his leg. He was looking at him expectantly, like he wanted him to do something. Max made a questioning noise.
“Come on, I need to get on the bed.” He lightly tapped his leg with the back of his hand again. He still didn’t get it. “Move your legs, Max.” Ohhh, yeah no that makes sense.
“Ask nicely first.” He closed his eye again, moving his head further into the pillow. It was blocked, though, so he ended up just leaning into the warmth of his shoulder. It was kinda nice, to be honest.
“It’s my house.”
“S’ my legs.”
Richie sighed, and he could hear something plastic being set down. He was almost startled as felt arms being wrapped around his calves, and suddenly his lower legs were hanging off the side and Richie was climbing onto the bed.
He opened his eyes and watched as the other teen made himself comfortable at his lower side, sitting down to face the tv and moving a pillow to rest behind his back. He grabbed one thin blanket to drape over his crossed legs, then looked back at Max with a smile accompanied by a raised brow.
Touché
Max had only one comeback to that, and that was to move his legs again, this time resting them on Richie’s own legs in retaliation. He grinned, telling Richie that two can play at that game without even letting a word fall from his lips.
He just rolled his eyes, reaching over to where he apparently set down that white thing to set it on his lap, and by extension Max’s legs.
“What’s that?” He asked, watching him press a button to make the screen light up.
“A Wii U gamepad.” He informed, not looking over as he pressed another button twice. The tv lit up, responding to the ‘gamepad’. “It’s old, but hey it’s better than using a pro controller since I get a second screen.”
He didn’t know what either of those things were, nor why having a second screen was important. He was never interested in video games, so instead he just looked over to the tv to watch whatever he was doing.
An animation started playing, some guy riding a horse on a bridge or something. No, now it was a wolf on a hill in front of some transparent yellow thing? And it was howling?
A title screen popped up, and he could finally read what the game actually was.
“What’s a ‘Twilight Princess?’” He asked, watching Richie click through screens faster than his tired brain could process what they were for.
“The game I’m playing.” No shit Sherlock. “Though if you’re asking lore-wise, she’s a pretty important plot point in the game.” He moved his character around on the screen, making some guy in a green and brown outfit with a pointy hat run around. “Before you say anything, no, it’s not Zelda.”
“I don’t know who the fuck that is.” He said, keeping it as plain as possible. He saw the name on the title screen, but that was about it.
Richie hummed, moving his character to face the screen. “You see this guy?” Max nodded. “This is Link, he’s the main character of I want to say every Zelda game. He’s a hero, and he usually has to save Hyrule, the place he’s in right now, from some sort of evil. ” He paused. “Well, actually, in Majora’s Mask, he’s saving Termina, but that’s a whole different thing. Some people even say it was made by the antagonist, but I’m not exactly sure. The timeline is weird.” He moved his character again, bringing him to a horse. “Anyways, the princess of Hyrule is Zelda, she gets reincarnated with Link and someone else which is part of the reason why she’s important and therefore needed to be mentioned.”
Max blinked, then blinked again.
“I know you didn’t get any of that.” Richie looked over, giving him a relaxed grin. “Just watch me play?”
Well he couldn’t say no to that.
The next 30 minutes were spent watching this ‘Link’ guy run around on screen and hit things with a sword while Richie occasionally explained what was going on. He caught onto some things, like these thin blue fish-person things named ‘Zora’ and that the ‘Link’ guy could turn into a wolf, but other than that he was just mindlessly watching as he slowly dozed off.
He was this close to falling asleep, this close, but there was a big problem.
It was so fucking hot.
He didn’t notice it at first, he assumed it was just a subtle warmth he honestly kind of found relaxing, but with the sunlight from the open window and overhead fan that barely blew enough air to be considered useful, he was starting to sweat really fast. Not to mention the sweatpants and letterman he had on that definitely weren’t helping his temperature.
Richie didn’t seem to notice it, but he changed into some loose shorts and short sleeve shirt with some anime character on it back in the locker room after practice, so he probably wouldn’t be feeling what Max was any time soon.
He groaned, sitting up in the bed to take his letterman off. He tossed it to the ground next to the bed, and just to make sure he was definitely going to cool down, tossed his shirt as well. He flopped back down on the bed, covering his eyes with the back of his hands to filter out some of the sunlight.
He didn’t care what Richie thought about what he just did, he takes his shirt off at practice all the time. The nerd probably noticed it sitting on the bleachers one day after his whole Zeek routine practice, so it probably wasn’t new to him, but he took a peek at his face just to make sure. He cared, just a little bit.
Richie was looking down at him with raised brows, looking more confused than anything.
He was probably going to ask, but Max beat him to it. “It’s hot in here.” Was all he said, answering what he assumed Richie was going to ask. He closed his eyes again, covering them back up with a satisfied huff.
The teen next to him hummed, and he immediately assumed it was some kind of judgement.
He opened and uncovered his eyes again, actually moving his head up this time. “What, you got a problem with me taking my shirt off? Can’t handle another guy’s chest?” He accused, taking on a defensive tone. “That’s kinda gay you know.”
Richie just kept looking forward, clicking buttons and moving his thumb forward on the round thing that makes the character move. “Mm, no, I don’t really care. Just…” he shrugged. “Thought you’d be more muscular.”
He propped himself up on his elbows, moving to face Richie better. “Excuse me?” He questioned, raising his voice just a bit in offense. “I got muscles for days, bitch. Just cause you can’t see them doesn’t mean I don’t have them. Not like you’d know anything about muscle.”
The teen next to him didn’t react like he expected him to, instead making a face that bordered on disgust and holding the gamepad just a bit tighter. Max backed down a bit at that. He was getting better at not being an ass all the time, Richie made it clear he wouldn’t even try to talk to him if he didn’t, but he couldn’t help it all the time.
“Okay,” Richie said, a subtle annoyance in his voice. “Then I thought you’d be more toned, if that’s the right word.” He clicked some more buttons, spamming an attack at some goblin thing.
He thought over his words this time. “I can’t do that with my diet.” He looked away, staring at one of the posters on the wall. “Plus, it’s too much work. I’ve got better things to do.” He wasn’t lying, he didn’t want to put in all that effort even if he’d really like the results. A lot of the guys on the team look like him in that department, so it’s not like his physique isn’t normal.
“Hm, yeah I wouldn’t want to do that either.” Richie agreed, visibly relaxing enough that Max thought he could put a bit of snark back into his language again. Yeah he thinks about stuff like that, he’s not that dumb.
“What about you, wise guy?” He asked, slipping into a teasing tone as he fully sat up, leaning forward to poke at his shirt. “Are your ribs showing under there?” The teen to his side scoffed, but he was obviously playing along.
“Oh please, I’m not that bad.” He rolled his eyes, focusing for a second to shoot some flying enemy on the screen with an arrow. “I’m on the healthy side of skinny, for your information.” Max could practically see him lifting a finger as he said that, but he wouldn’t say anything, cause he had a better idea.
“Oh really?” He exaggerated the intrigue in his tone, leaning just a bit closer with his hand hovering just over the bottom of Richie’s shirt as the other hand stayed on the bed for support so he didn’t tip into the wall. “Then you don’t mind if I check?”
He watched as Richie’s eyebrows furrowed, but his eyes never moved from the screen. They darted from side to side, his tongue just barely sticking out to the side as he focused. “Not while I’m in the middle of a dungeon, you’re not.”
Max grinned, looking down to where the gamepad thing rested on his thighs. He kind of forgot his legs were still on Richie’s, but he had more important things to think about.
His eyes scanned the device, finding a small “start” button with a plus on it towards the bottom left. It was just what he was looking for, the thing he saw Richie pause the game with before to explain something about a time hero. He clicked it, listening to the shocked sound made immediately after by the very person playing the game.
“Dude!” He looked at him in disbelief, putting one of his hands up as a ‘what the hell man?’
“What?” Max feigned innocence. “You’re not in the middle of a dungeon anymore.”
He watched Richie go through several emotions at once, before exhaling sharply through his nose. He grabbed at the bottom of his shirt with both hands, pulling it to his neck while still making full eye contact. “Happy?”
Yeah you could say that.
He let his eyes trail down the sight before him. His bones were nowhere to be seen, which was a good thing obviously. He didn’t want the guy to blow away with a mild gust of wind, and he surely wasn’t doing that any time soon.
He kind of had a bit of chub to him, at least at his stomach. Not really a surprise, he’s seen all the ramen packets in his pantry, it’s not like he’s a super healthy eater.
His hand moved before he could really think, running over the smooth skin of his torso. There were a few acne spots here and there, but he didn’t really care.
Apparently Richie did though, because in that moment he (as Max assumed) decided things were more intimate than he could handle, and his hands quickly moved down to cover himself and block Max’s hand in the process. The shirt just moved it down to the very bottom of his stomach, but he knew when to pull away.
Most of the time, at least.
He looked up to Richie’s eyes, blue meeting with blue. “I said you could look, not touch.” The other said, keeping eye contact even though Max knew he didn’t like it.
They stared for a second, letting the moment drag on.
That was, until it was Max’s turn to decide it was too intimate.
“My bad.” He let his face slip into something a little more comfortably rehearsed, smiling despite himself. “Hey at least now I know you aren’t a skeleton under there.” He poked at Richie’s clothed stomach, snickering when his hand got slapped in response.
“It’s ‘skeleton’, Max.” He reminded, which didn’t make any sense cause he knew what a skeleton was.
“Uhh, yeah, that’s what I said. A skeleton.” He confirmed, rolling his eyes. “I think I would know what a skeleton is.”
Richie exhaled through his nose, closing his eyes for just a second. “No, Max,” he tried again. “I know what you know what a skeleton is, I’m saying that you’re pronouncing it wrong. You’re saying ‘skell-uh-n’, not ‘skeleton’. You’re missing a ‘t.’”
“Well at least I’m not saying my t’s like they’re the most important part of the word.” He defended, going back to his earlier position of lying in the bed with his hands behind his back. “Who cares if I miss a few letters?”
“I care.” Richie countered, looking down at him. “Missing letters is the fastest way to get people to misunderstand what you’re saying, why do you think I over-emphasize certain letters?”
He shrugged, making a noise that vaguely translated to ‘I don’t know’. “I don’t really care why you say them like that, and I don’t think anyone but you cares why I say my words the way I do.” He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “It’s just words, no matter how you say ‘em.”
The teen next to him was quiet for a bit, probably thinking about what he said. Yeah, he’s pretty deep, it’s just a skill he has. The silence, though, made him acutely aware of the hand on his upper calf he had been too busy to notice before. If that just moved a bit upwards…
“Hey,” he spoke up, opening one eye to look at Richie. “What happened to playing your game? I thought you wanted to show me a boss or something.”
That’s broke him out of his mind, cause he quickly moved to grab that gamepad thing and press the start button, unpausing the screen. “Yeah! Its name is Morpheel.” He informed, already getting right back into action. “The boss fight is fairly easy but the mechanic is pretty cool if I do say so myself.”
He listened to him yap, watching his lit up face for as long as he could before his eyes were too heavy to hold up. He was never seeing that boss, he couldn’t keep himself awake long enough to get to it.
But, if he was still awake when the blanket previously on Richie’s lap was draped over his body and a hand ran through his hair, well that wasn’t anyone’s business but his own, was it?