Just Help Me Out (Roman)

[Pierce Day]

Pierce wasn't the type to deal with things in a healthy manner. He was the type to get angry, yell, beat his tiny fists (in an accidentally non-menacing manner) on things. He was also the type to drink. Excessively.

He may have been underage but he was in college and in an apartment complex full of other college kids and if you weren't capable of finding, at least, one person willing to buy an underage kid booze you had no hope of doing well. Even someone as... friendly as Pierce could manage it with the right amount of money.

Luck had it that one such person lived in the same apartment complex as him though their schedules didn't seem to line up that he ever ran into him in the apartments. Fate, however, seemed pretty fond of him and he caught site of his scarred face just before exiting the college library, a stack of books in hand.

He hovered by the door for a few moment, debating, before approaching him and setting his books on the table he sat at. A small smile forced itself across his lips, "I gotta favor to ask of you, you got a second to hear me out?"

[Roman Park]

Looking at Roman – his build, the way he walked, his cold resting expression and the scar on his face – you wouldn’t imagine him to be a student that studied a lot. Surprisingly, he was – he worked as hard in school as he did for everything else he pursued. It helped that he didn’t make an effort to go out a lot and hardly ever partied, so it gave him plenty of free time outside of work to do homework and study for tests.

The library was one of several places on campus that he came to study in, and he’d noticed (to his amusement) that wherever he ended up sitting, most people seemed to steer clear of his area. So he didn’t usually bother to find some tucked away room or desk and sat wherever he found a spot first, which today happened to be not too far away from the entrance.

It was rare that someone actually did approach him, so when Roman heard the sound of books being placed on the table, he looked up, one of his eyebrows raised in curiosity. The boy was fortunate he was only doing a reading and not too deep into studying for a test, otherwise he would be annoyed by the interruption. The boy was also fortunate that he had dark hair and incredibly blue eyes, because that was enough to bring a touch of an interested gleam in Roman’s expression. “Let’s hear it,” he replied in his low, even voice. “If it’s a sexual favor, I might be able to help you.” He smirked slightly. “If it’s not… Well, let’s just hear what it is.” Roman sat back in his chair a bit, trying to gauge how old the kid was. He looked really young… Belatedly, he hoped he hadn’t just hit on a minor.

[Pierce Day]

It was hard to stop the look of disgust from crossing his face, and Pierce made little effort to even try. "God, no." He shook his head at the thought of doing anything sexual with the scarred, scowling man. Pierce mimicked the older boy, leaning back in his own chair and regarding him with eyes narrowed.

Ugh, he looked like a bad villain out of a kid's movie. Especially with that scar. Pierce would put money down that he got it in some drunken brawl. He seemed the type after all, even if he was studying (impressive considering Pierce's first thought was that he might be meeting a living neanderthal).

"I...may have overheard that you're willing to buy booze for the age-impaired," he sniffed, offended by the idea of having to come to this thug for help. But honestly, he was desperate to do something other than wallow in self-pity for the night. "I have money," he clarified, patting his jean pocket.

[Roman Park]

Oh… Pity. Roman didn’t miss the look that crossed the stranger’s face, and sighed internally. Could this little fair-skinned, light-bodied boy really be straight? And here he usually prided himself for being able to tell pretty easily. Of course there was the possibility he just wasn’t attracted… Which would also be unfortunate. “You didn’t have to be rude,” he quipped, the corners of his lips twitching up slightly. “I thought maybe I had a little secret admirer.” Roman said this all with a low drawl, only entertaining the boy because he really was stupidly pretty.

If Roman looked like a bad villain, the kid looked like a damn Disney princess. As he let his eyes drift over the stranger’s face and down his chest, he couldn’t help but notice the freckles, as well as the surprisingly large (what he assumed to be a) birthmark on his neck. Mm… it didn’t subtract from his good looks too much.

His brow shot up in surprise when the kid mentioned what it was that he was looking for. “Well, you heard right,” Roman replied, chuckling a little at the choice of words. “How old’re you, anyway? I mean, I’m not gonna supply alcohol to a fifteen-year-old,” he added, not-so-subtly trying to get an answer for how old the boy was. It was true though – he didn’t mind supplying for college-age students, but even he didn’t feel right giving the stuff to minors. He worked at a bar, he had to have some kind of conscience. “Good, you’ll need it,” he smirked. “What are you looking to get? Some hard lemonade or bitch beers or something?” He doubted such a small-bodied kid could take anything strong.

[Pierce Day]

Not straight, but not interested either. He didn't miss the disbelieving look and barely contained his sneer in response, managing to direct down towards the table rather than the crude man sitting with him. He snorted once he looked back at him, "Nah, that's a face, not even a mother could love," Pierce spoke cruelly, as was the norm for him.

Again, he didn't miss the look he was given, this time, it was an appraising one and not one he was unused to. He was just glad for the sake of this conversation not going worse that he didn't speak his thoughts aloud. After all, his reaction was bad enough at the question of his age. "Nineteen, asshole, sorry I don't fit your requirements for a what a nineteen-year-old looks like." Spoiler alert: He wasn't actually sorry at all.

He snorted at the man's comment. It was true enough his tolerance was practically non-existent but he wasn't too fond of his tone. "Wine. That's it. Nothing fancy even. Simple enough even for you huh caveman?"

[Roman Park]

Man, this kid may have been pretty, but he sure was a brat. Even just his expressions alone made his attractive features much less desirable. Well…. Okay, maybe not much less… and maybe Roman liked that sort of attitude. Still, he deadpanned at the cruel remark, biting back a retort about not even knowing who his own mother was. “Very original,” he drawled. “As if I haven’t heard that before.” Roman actually thought he was pretty decent-looking, despite the scar marring his face. That was the feature that obviously got the most comments, but he’d become apathetic to them over the ten years that he’d had the imperfection.

He snickered as the cuss passed through the boy’s pretty lips, wondering where such an innocent-looking kid had grown such an attitude. “Just checking,” he replied airily. “It’s so hard to tell sometimes, especially with little twinks.” Roman honestly had a hard time believing the guy was nineteen, but he’d just have to take him at his word.

Roman twirled a pencil in his hand as he waited for the boy’s response, and was a little surprised to hear his request. “Wine, huh? Red or white?” He sighed and rolled his eyes as the kid kept name-calling him. “You’re awfully rude for someone asking for a favor. What if I just tell you to find someone else?”

[Pierce Day]

Pierce shrugged, expression flippant, "I don't care if you've heard it before. It just means more than just me think it's true." He grinned a bit at him though it leaned more to look like a sneer. "And honestly," he motioned to his own face at the same general area Roman's scar was positioned, "It's pretty distracting, at least, it helped me pick you out of a crowd. Angry Asian with a scar is an astonishingly good descriptor."


At the older boy's snicker, an even more ornery scowl stretched at his 'pretty lips', he practically hissed at the twink comment and resisted the urge to smack him with his books. But his hands did clench around them as if he was still weighing that option. "Red," he said tersely before actually considering his statement.

"I'm always rude," was his blunt reply, "and you're not acting much better so why don't we just get through this and you can get your money and I can get my wine. No one said we have to be friends. I just wanna drink."

[Roman Park]

Roman had to chuckle at this kid. Seriously, who would expect such a rude attitude to come out of such an innocent-looking face? At least with Roman, people could usually just look at him and tell what kind of person he was. “Well, at least you didn’t have trouble finding me,” he replied as lightly as he could manage. “Is that my label? I guess it could be worse.” He snickered to himself. “Chicks are supposed to like scars, right? Wonder if the same goes for pretty boys.” Roman’s eyes fixed pointedly on the ‘pretty boy’ across the table.

Ohoho…. That comment definitely got a reaction out of the blue-eyed kid, and Roman couldn’t hide the lazy smirk that touched his lips. He’d remember that. “Does that bother you? Being called a twink?” he asked casually. “It’s just a word. And I’d say it describes you pretty well.” He just nodded at the clarification, still determining whether or not the boy was even worth the effort of buying for.

He scoffed. “I won’t deny that,” Roman agreed when the boy pointed out he was being rude too. “Haven’t you ever heard the saying, respect your elders?” He snickered at this, sitting forward and propping his elbows up on the table so he could rest his chin in his hands. “Fine. I’ll get you some red. I have a couple bottles up in my apartment now anyway, so how about we meet up later after I’m done studying.” No way was he going to let this kid interrupt his studying that much, his apartment was too far away to just walk there and back for the sake of some desperate under-ager. “I can even let you choose which kind you like, because I’m nice like that.” Roman sneered in amusement.

[Pierce Day]

Pierce felt he made his general distaste for other people rather evident, or at least, he tried to. So if this guy was surprised well fuck him, he didn't care what he expected, he should stop assuming things. "It could be, they could have said it seemed like you lacked basic mental functioning, which would be true." Politeness? Pft. Who needed it.

Any semblance of a smile, smirk or otherwise, dropped from his face and his eyes narrowed, "No, I 'dig' people I think can handle simple instructions and don't look like they should be in jail." His fists clenched around his books and his jaw set as his nostrils flared in irritation. "It's a fucking stupid word for stupid assholes. I'm not surprised to hear it come out of your mouth."

The smaller boy rolled his eyes, "In your case there isn't much for me to respect. It's not like your age has seemed to have made you any wiser." He straightened up a bit, expression perking up slightly when he seemed to be agreeing to his favor. "Yeah?" he failed to keep the excitement out of his voice, and nodded, "I think we live in the same area if the guy told me the right complex." He rolled his eyes but was slightly less bitter now that he knew he would be getting what he wanted. "Yes, so nice."

[Roman Park]

If Roman was being honest with himself, he actually preferred the company of equally-minded people over ‘kind’ ones. There was an exception to his neighbor, Hoon… But that was mostly because the androgynous boy had pretty much offered up his ass on a plate. So rather than really get mad at this guy, Roman mostly felt amused and wanted to snap right back at him. “You’re cute,” he said instead, already picking up that the guy didn’t like to be called such things. Roman smirked. “But I’ll have you know my ‘basic mental functioning’ works just fine, thanks. You’ll have to try harder than that to insult me.”

He rose his brow in intrigue when the boy spoke again in unamusement, tilting his head slightly against his hands. “Tell me, what about me makes you think I should be in jail?” he asked curiously. “My build? My minority status? My piercings?” Roman purposefully left out mention of his scar, because it was obvious what the boy was likely referring to. “Let me know, so I can change to better suit myself to your liking.” He snickered and sent the pretty boy a wink. Aw, look how cute he was when he was angry~ “I have plenty more where that came from,” he promised. “Most of it is very impolite for public places, though.” As if he actually cared that much.

Roman chuckled again, growing more and more amused the more the little guy spoke. “Maybe you’ll change your mind about that once you get to know me better,” he replied, eyes twinkling darkly. Oh yes, he wasn’t going to let such a rude, pretty boy get away that easily, not now when he’d bothered to interact with him so much. He could have laughed at the obvious change to the boy’s tone of voice, but decided to let it slide. “I live in Libby Creek Apartments, so if that’s the same as yours, how convenient. I’m surprised we haven’t bumped into each other by now.” Roman definitely would have been attracted to such a cute twink had he seen him before. He chuckled at Pierce’s comment and replied,”I live in room 110. I’ll be home around four, so any time after then works for me.”

[Pierce Day]

Pierce didn't prefer the company of anyone but if he had to chose he guessed it was better to be around someone who didn't get butthurt over his comments. Though, he had to say this guy was annoying him even more than most. A look of offense crossed his face at the 'compliment', "I'm not /cute/," he practically growled, an odd sound from such a diminutive boy. "I'd rather not try at all you're not really worth that kind of effort."


He rolled his eyes, catching onto what the man was insinuating, he seemed to think Pierce would have the decency to not say it was his scar, "Well, there is all that," he pointed to his own cheek, "plus your face is all fucked up." Pierce snorted and shook his head, "There's nothing you could do that would make me like you." Honestly, he wouldn't have talked to him this long if he wasn't desperate.


Another roll his eyes, still disgusted but slightly more amused than earlier, "Oh, I doubt that." He nodded at the confirmation that he was indeed told correctly. "Yeah I'm in 122, I'll stop by around then," he moved to stand up, satisfied that he had gotten what he wanted, "I'm leaving then, I'll pay you when I come by."

[Roman Park]

Not cute? Pffft. This guy seriously had some sort of complex, he was adorable. Seeing him trying so hard to be tough despite his appearance just made the boy even cuter. “I think you should check a mirror,” he smirked. “’Cute’ is an excellent word to describe you.” And Roman didn’t care if the boy took it as an insult, because it was true.

Unlike his own face, which Roman was very aware was ‘fucked up’. Still handsome, though, if he had any say. “Ahhh right, I always forget that,” he replied, running his thumb over the scar. “It’s been there so long I don’t really even think about it anymore.” He spoke casually, but a slight hardness hard settled over his features at the bad memories that came with the injury. “Nothing?” he sighed, sounding dejected and sarcastic once again. “And here I was already fantasizing about you sucking m… nevermind.” Roman grinned lecherously.

“Alright, sounds like a plan.” Roman moved to pick up his highlighter again, which he’d been using as he read his article for class. He grinned up at the younger boy, the right corner of his mouth twisting a bit grotesquely around the marred skin of his cheek. “See you later, pretty twink.”

---------

It was just before four o’clock when Roman unlocked the door to his apartment and stepped inside, tossing his backpack aside before he went over to his small wine rack and pulled out the bottles of red. He had four in all, most of them fair quality, though he expected the presumably poor college boy would go for the cheapest. He sat them out on his counter before plopping down on his couch and flipping on the TV to some hotrod show, waiting for a knock on the door from the gorgeous blue-eyed midget from earlier. He’d taken off his jacket to reveal the form-fitting black tanktop he wore underneath, which did nothing to hide the visible lines of muscle along his shoulders and arms. When the knock did come, he’d saunter back over to it and open the door slowly, looking the visitor up and down obviously before smirking. “What a surprise to see you here,” he drawled.

[Pierce Day]

Pierce had to work very hard not to become aggressive or more than he had already with how he spoke to the older boy. He'd agreed to the favor and Pierce only had to behave so long as they had exchanged the money for the wine and vice versa. He was sure that, while he remained somewhat quiet, his irritation was obvious.

A sound of protest and anger fled his lips at the obvious mention to him fantasizing Pierce doing something lewd, but he bit his tongue (figuratively) and remained quiet as he sat fuming at the comment. He was practically storming away, trying to leave the library fast enough so he didn't find something to throw at him.

The ordeal had been more frustrating than he had imagined it might be and when he got back to his apartment he decided to nap off the irritation as well as to kill time. He woke up just after four, cursing, and crawled from his bed while still in his pajamas. It was always a bit painful for him to wake up and get himself out of bed so he was a bit slow-moving and obviously grouchy (which wasn't new) he slid on the first pair of shoes he could find before grabbing his wallet and keys and heading to the other boy's apartment, 122 right?

He knocked hesitantly, unsure if he had remembered correctly. When the door was answered his mood was instantly soured further, "No it isn't. How much do I owe you?" He hardly wanted to hang around more than he had to.

[Roman Park]

Roman was sure that, after their initial interaction, the younger boy would want to get his wine and leave as soon as he could. He had other plans, though, and the stubbornness to make them happen. When he noticed the pajamas that Pierce was wearing, his smile widened in amusement and he reached forward to tug at the fabric of his sleeve. “Someone looks like they just woke up from a nap,” he commented, ignoring the boy’s question for the moment. “How cute.” He snickered and opened his door wider as he waved for the kid to come inside. “Come choose which one you want, I have a couple on my counter.” If Pierce did follow, Roman would point out the bottles he’d collected and let him decide which one he wanted.

As the boy stood near him, however… Roman sniffed the air experimentally, wondering why he suddenly felt hungry. It took him several moments to realize the odd scent was actually coming from Pierce himself, and the older boy’s eyes landed on him, unaware that his pupils had turned into slits. “… What sort of cologne are you wearing?” he asked in a rough, slightly confused voice. “It’s like… like…” His hands, which had been resting against the counter, slowly began to sprout claws. “Like lunch,” he finished with a lick of his lips.

[Pierce Day]

As expected, Roman was /still/ a condescending ass. Damn. Pierce had really hoped the less than eight hour period of time apart would have really turned his life around. After all, he had given him some pretty sage wisdom (aka insults). The smaller boy yanked his arm away at the tug on his sleeve, "Dealing with your dumbass must have exhausted me." He bristled, visibly so, as he found he would have to go inside to retrieve what he wanted and stepped inside but not without a snarl curling his lips.

"Can't you just give me what I want and leave me be," he huffed angrily, "I wanted to have drank this and been in a bathtub filled with bubbles by now." Pierce gave one quick glance towards the bottles, "How much are they?" If reasonable, he might be persuaded to but two.

He was handling one of the battles, running his fingers over the label as he read it when a very familiar... tingle ran up his spine. His back straightened and he eyes Roman without moving his head, "...I'm not wearing cologne." Pierce moved slowly, his animal instincts were a side of him he had begun to trust early on. Being a prey animal made him pretty keen to notice threatening situations, and while he wasn't sure what it was this situation had proven to be something of that kind.

"Just this one then," he said, grabbing the bottle and moving away from the older man, keeping the booze in front of him as some sort of barrier as brought his wallet out. He pulled out a few bills and placed them on the counter, "Don't worry about the change, I'm just going to go now."