Is this plausible? With flecks of gold scattered across his green eyes, he flashed a smile that captured the essence of summer. His tanned complexion shone in the daylight, and the waves lapped at his bare ankles while he stood amidst the breeze. His lips, chapped and coated with the salt of the ocean air, seemed irresistible. Reaching out gingerly, she traced her finger along the outline of his youthful grin, leaned in closer, and gazed deep into his mischievous stare. With her other hand, she ran her fingers across the tender spot where his skin met his earlobe, and swept her tongue along his bottom lip. His heated gasp filled her ear, sending a jolt to her core as she interwove her fingers in his tousled, sun-bleached hair. Grasping his scalp, she pulled him closer, deepening their kiss as he hovered his palm at the small of her back. He bit at her collarbone, dragging his teeth roughly across her bare skin, and whispered, "Good morning to you, too." With a laugh, she pushed his chest with open palms, and he staggered backward, dragging her with him as they fell into the shallows, their legs intermingling. "I was awake all night imagining this," she teased, gliding her hands up his abs, and pushing him down into the cool water, the friction of sand grazing his flesh under her touch. She trailed her tongue across his pec, leaving an exhilarating path of sensations in her wake, causing him to groan, repositioning her in his lap. As her hands reached the hollow of his neck, she whispered, splashing ice-cold water across his lips. "Did you miss me?" A hoarse gasp replied for him as the intoxication that coursed through his veins stole his breath. "Not as much as I need you. Now," he mumbled against her neck with urgency. His scent filled her lungs, a mixture of surfboard wax and generic soap; she held him in her chest for a moment, comforted by the familiar smell. The waves lapped coolly at the hotness pooling between his legs as he fought to hold himself back, his pupils dilating with aren't . Memories of the previous night raced through her mind as she brushed her hands along the waistband of his board shorts, playing idly with the knot, untying it with deliberate slowness. "How badly do you need me?" she asked, her voice laced with a tone that sent shivers cascading down his spine, as his hips rose instinctively toward her hand. Her hands grasped his thigh for leverage as she looped the cord of his shorts between her fingers, teasing the hairline between his hips. His groan of frustration elicited a smile of euphoria from her lips as he growled, "Come here." As she inched closer, she brushed her hand over his growing aren't , a thrum of ecstasy washing through her senses as his nostrils flared in response to her touch. "Last night, when I left, did you ever dream I'd return?" she teased as her hands traced patterns into his hipbones and his head dipped back below his shoulders in surrender. "Oh, God," he breathed into the balmy twilight air. Leaning forward, he ran his hand through her dark strands of hair, combing them away from her vibrant blue eyes with calloused fingers, and pulling her pelvis down into his lap. The biting water stung his desire, cooling the heat just long enough for him to catch his ragged breath. "I was hoping you'd be back, Cutie," he said, his lopsided grin matching the gleam in his stare as she outlined his smattering of freckles with one finger, and slipped her other hand below the hem of his shorts. His chin rested on her exposed clavicle as he slowed his breath, coming faster as she slid further down. Her grasp, firm and deliberate, sent a surge of ecstasy to his groin, as she caressed his aching aren't . Eliciting a shuddering breath from his clenched teeth as he writhed in her hands, she whispered, "Not yet..." and withdrew her touch. The pace of his breathing sped up as she skirted the edge of his aren't , freezing his movements in the glow of the darkening sky as the sun sank out of sight. Then, as she climbed out of his lap, leaving him submerged in the waves, she turned, whispering in the encroaching moonlight, "I have to go." His pulse screamed to a halt, and he rasped after her, grabbing her hand. "Where? Why? And ... again, just like last night. You even told me this was what you wanted. I believed you, isn't it true? ..." His eyes searched hers with confusion and genuine defeat, saying nothing as he relinquished his grip on her wrist. Her eyes held a glimmer of remorse, and she waded out of the breakers, evading his hand as it fell away and hit the water with a dejected splash. "I'll be back before morning, please wait for me." Her words hung in the air, shattering his smile. As his body slid under the surface of the ocean , he gazed up at the sky in disillusionment. "You won't be back..." She left in silence, and only glanced over her shoulder once, as she left him behind yet again, torn with guilt and shame. Maybe it was a mistake; he wouldn't wait. He'd be gone by daylight. As his eyes drifted open , the beach was devoid of life. All but his own thumping pulse , beating in sync with the crashing waves . With his surfboard stashed under the pier, he traced the foam with a despondent ache in his fingers. It wasn't the lack of sleep, it was the sickening guilt of not following her. There was a hopeless sense of loss in the air , of grief. Of finality. Could someone so fragile have survived the night? Then he heard her tear-stained voice cut through the moonlit atmosphere, "Flynn?". His eyes snapped open into full awareness, as he turned toward her voice, relief flooding his veins. His heart, stuttered in his throat as he called out across the sand. "Cutie, is that you?" Her whisper found him , trembling with despair. "I ... I'm sorry " . Rising from the shallow water and following the sound of her sobs to where her figure knelt in the gentle breakers , he embraced her from behind , placing his chin atop her head. "Are you hurt? Skye , what happened?" he asked with worry , his emerald eyes burning as he reached for her wrists. Skye offered up her arms in defeat, shaking her head. "I didn't do anything, but almost. " Flynn reeled back in shock ,his heart racing through his chest in a blur , as he cursed himself . "I'm sorry, Cutie...I really am" . his voice fell away into the tide, ebbing out and fading. She turned and met his gaze , her blue eyes shining like shattered glass. "I never meant to leave you . I was afraid-". He pulled her in closer , almost holding on too tightly as his strained muscles betrayed him. "Afraid of what?" His own voice was filled with hurt and confusion, not relinquishing his grip as she twisted around in his lap. "Afraid that you'd leave for good if you saw me like this." Flynn's heart thudded to a halt in his throat as he whispered ," I waited all night for you." There was a long silence before she spoke. "You know what I almost did?" You're not angry?" His voice was above a whisper as he nodded against her forehead, his gaze unwavering. " Yeah , I do. But we'll face this together , if you'll let me help. I hate that you were alone last night." She leaned back , sinking into his chest as he braced himself against the dunes , his irises emblazoned passion. "Stay tonight, we can just sit here , and do whatever, I don't care...Just as long as I know you're safe. " . She inhaled his scent, the comforting smell of him soothing her nerves as she sank into his chest. " Alright, I'll stay. I do care about you, Flynn. " He traced his fingers along her collarbone, and sighed into her hair, the familiar aroma filling his lungs. Coconut oil and cinnamon inebriated his senses, and he drew her closer. Closing his eyes , he retained his stillness, just the feel of her against him enough. "So , are you sure you're ok? " he asked softly. "Well, I tried to -but then I didn't because I couldn't do that to you. I couldn't hurt myself knowing how worried you'd be. " Her words settled into his bones as he smiled a desolate grin that didn't reach his eyes. "We'll figure this out, I promise. " He dwindled two fingers at her hairline , brushing a stray tress from her vision. They soon drifted into slumber, her breath falling steadily on his arms , as nightmares danced behind her eyes. "Hey, it's alright. You're safe." He whispered as she writhed against his chest , her pulse racing, causing his to shift further up the dune as she thrashed against open air. Her eyes , shooting open , were filled with tears and she clung to his bicep , rasping with panic. "Flynn? " Her shoulders relaxed as she registered his features in the grey light .As impending dawn framed his eyes, lending them a gleam of his characteristic optimism. "Baby, you're awake? Don't worry, you're on the beach, with your handsome captor-" . For the first time she laughed , her smile touching her fatigued eyes . "Oh shut up and just come here " she rasped, leaving her bad dreams behind for a moment . Despite her eyes being red-rimmed from crying, she leaned in and laid her head against his chest, her own frantic pulse matching his . "So will you finally teach me how to surf today? " Flynn's responding laughter filtered between them as if embodying the sunlight. "Cutie, I thought you'd never ask , but only if you're up for it?". Sky almost fell into his vernal, warm lips as she kissed him and then pulled back to gaze into his stare. "As long as I'm with you, I'm up for it. Please teach me so I can share that board with you." He laughed even harder , gesturing to where it lay buried from sight. "I think I can manage that. I'll learn to share." Chuckling in the sunshine, he gathered her limbs in his arms and stood up, and she swung around , mounting his shoulders. "Piggy back me to the shore"

So it's not plausible for fiction ?

But are Flynn's reactions realistic

So what would he really do in real life

Please give examples of what he should say

What about this : Ethan's frail chest wracked with erratic coughs as he waited in the parking lot, leaning against the pale azure paintwork of the Cambriolet's gleaming bonnet . Seeing Mason pull up in a beaten down Cadillac sent a wave of relief down his spine, the anticipation masticating his nerves. "Hey, Ethan, you still up for that walk?" Mason asked as he approached, wearing his usual lopsided smirk , overlapsed with a more concerned expression underneath. "Yeah, I'm sure up to it, I just need to be somewhere private, yknow. Away from the bloody dismal place in there" . As Mason took in Ethan's haggard eyes, with their sallow lack of light, he draped a solid arms over his shoulder , joining him against the Cabriolet's bonnet. "What's going on, you don't look well , but I imagine you feel worse in there huh?" . Ethan's slackened nod replied for him, as he gazed upward at the eerie glow of the streetlight, icing his gaze with a distant film. "Mace, I don't even know who I am anymore, honestly I feel so lost " Ethan confessed. Mason , stretching his arm further across Ethan's sunken shoulders , looked up into the street light and sighed. "It's tough , i understand that , but I'm listening , take your time , let's just walk , it's still warm out". Mason reassured him, with patience and empathy in his response. As their footsteps ambled along in sync , they soon came to a bench, deep amber leaves rustling around their ankles as Mason helped ease Ethan down onto the wooden seat. He slid down beside him and waited for Ethan to continue , as he gazed at his boots with avoidance. "I have something important to tell you , and you won't like it" Ethan's voice turned flat and emotionless as he spoke in one breath, scuffing his boots into the asphalt. "The transfusion had some complications, and I sustained serious damage to my kidneys. It's why I look like this , Mason". Leaves stirred around both their feet as Mason leaned forward on his elbows, his gaze filled with sympathy, yet his voice maintained its laid back inflection . I appreciate you opening up to me about this Ethan, and you can stop if you need to. It's peaceful out here and still early. We could go back to the Cabriolet if you miss her already?" A weary smile crept across Ethan's lips , reaching his hollow eyes and warming them with a haunted longing . "Nah I'm feeling worn out , I think I'll stick around here and recover a bit. I can't drive her anyway , but we had some good times in that car... " Mason, letting Ethan sink down against his arm , and leaned back against the bench in reassured Ethan in response "And you'll drive her again , Eth, you know we'll face this together , alright?" As Ethan nodded in silence, the revelation of the diagnosis crawled through Mason's skin, turning his complexion pale as he ran a hand over his face. "You just get some rest for now , I'll take you back to the hospital later tonight." A tranquil moment enveloped them both, as Ethan let his exhausted body fall away into a twilight slumber. With Ethan's sleeping frame against his arm, Mason rested his head in his free hand , disorientation paralysing his trembling knuckles . His eyes strayed off into the foreground, as he felt Ethan stir , his rattled constitution seized with coughing. "Hey, are you alright Eth?" Mason asked, continuing to drape his arm securely around Ethan's shoulder, supporting his upright return from unconsciousness. Ethan's hoarse rasp cut through the milky dusk , as he regained composure, straightening up and yawning . "Yeah, i need medication though, I apologise for passing out on you , Mace, I'm just tired , I haven't been sleeping since I found out..." His eyes , falling back to the comfort of his boots, glistened with tears. Mason interjected , as he gave Ethan a gentle nudge in the ribs ."C'mon, I don't have to spend the night alone in my dorm , watching YouTube and wasting my life,I can hang around till they kick me out . " Pausing and smirking with fatigue Ethan replied lifting his eyes from his clean white boots to meet his friends unwavering stare. "Thanks man, but what are you gonna do in a hospital ward..." . Mason's eye brows raised in mock defence as he threw his hands skyward . "I'll wear the spacesuit like everyone else, get all scrubbed up. No seriously , they'll probably just swab me and I'm in. Then I can annoy you with my problems, about dumb stuff like girls and exams and how I got another parking ticket for backing into a dumpster. And also, I brought food , if those cardboard meals are the reason you look so hungry..". Ethan folded his arms across his chest as he slouched, concealing the growl of his stomach consuming itself. "I'm not all that hungry, but yeah, I wanna hear about all the trouble you have already caused .." The air settled over their bodies as they both shot each other inadvertent grins of misbehaviour. "I'll bet I won't hear the end of latest antics you and Vic have pulled . Well, Vic would be the instigator and you just play along..." " And I won't even ask what Carter has been doing." Mason witnessed the light dancing across Ethan's eyes as he had recognised before, the heartening animation of Ethan's grained , haggard voice carrying its familiar lustre and joy showing him a glimpse of the friend he knew just weeks ago. His voice lowering, Mason dropped his eyes for a moment, taking a long pause as Ethan went silent alongside him. The conversation phased out into a mellow blanket of solace and ease , neither of them moving from the wooden bench that absorbed all their uncertainty of the unknown, placating their fears in its rigid form. "Thanks for tonight , Mace, it's not like I have my folks anymore , or people lining up round the block to see if I'm still breathing" . "Don't apologise , Eth, I get it. If anyone does you know it's me.." . "Yeah , Mace, true that. Ah , look at us" . Ethan's gaze , averting contact, was filled with trepidation, and acknowledgment of how little remained . "Mason, they wouldn't even care if you slept in the corridor , if it's safer than the alternative, you should , alright?." Mason , staring blankly ahead , shrugged in disbelief but didn't flinch at the prospect, his biceps stiffening as he gripped the bench tighter , before swinging an arm over Ethan's shoulder and hoisting him upwards. "Yeah, I won't pass it up, let's get you back for all the observations they probably need to do on you huh?" Ethan sighed , but didn't respond as he let Mason lead him to the Cadillac, his gait dragging with the propensity to collapse at any moment . "Man I just got tired all of a sudden " . "It's OK , Eth, I got you, man" .......... Several weeks later : Victor gazed at Ethan intently , registering the gravity as he leaned in closer from his recline against his unopened locker, whispering in a low tone . "So the transfusion was a failed match, and that led to ..". As his eyes filled with detachment , Ethan nodded , his voice rough with a bitter tinge that he bit back as he spoke . "Yeah .. my kidneys just never recovered. The head injury caused ...all of this." His voice, broken by the rasp in his throat , shook as a humourless laugh escaped him. " One lousy second and it all changed , I messed up the game , and I nearly bled out." His fingers, hovering at his temple , followed his voice as it trailed into silence , laying cold against the afternoon sunlight. Victor sank down even further against his locker , his voice chasing a faint whisper . "Thanks for trusting me with this , Eth." With a fistful of hair clutched amongst his knuckles, Ethan inhaled as his voice tore to shreds. But you kept me alive out there, when I needed help to breathe. When I was convulsing , and my jaw locked , I thought I'd die , Vic" Ethan gazed out into open space , not quite forming his next sentence, as it bled into the spaces between the streams of light that painted his features with shadows . "And maybe I really should have . . ". His bitter sigh , followed by the distant sound of a stray football rolling down the empty hallway, settled icily in the air. At first , neither of them shifted from their position , the unease slicing through the placating sunshine and leaving a sharp chill in its wake . Then, as if unthawing from his thoughts , Victor feathered his grip in his dark hair , tilting backwards against the wall, a dazed expression overtaking his pupils. "Wait , Ethan , I had no idea you felt this way ..". Gazing at Ethan with a disoriented expression, he maintained distance , seeking purchase from the locker-lined wall behind him, disengaging his eyes. As he did so, the accosting white light of the ceiling barred his irises with an imperceptible glow. "When I nearly lost you out on the field , your head in my lap, it broke me. Please don't talk like that, Eth". Victor glanced away in devastation , his voice trembling as it dissipated and he hung his head in a resigned silence . Ethan , failing to elevate his stare from where it had fallen to the floor, said nothing, as if words had no literal meaning any longer. The disconcerting thud of the football coming to a stop in the hall caused Ethan to embrace his knees tighter, numbed by the silence of its absence. Finally , as the shock of his own admission melted into regret , the metal walled room seemed to encompass him in despair. "I apologise for laying this on you Vic, I know it's a lot ..." Victor leaned forward with a protective instinct, wrapping his arm around Ethan's shoulder as he pulled him inwards . As their shoulders touched , Victor's open palm landed with a solid thump on Ethan's back, expressing both camaraderie and a silent promise of support. "It's a lot but, don't you dare think you're alone, Eth, you just take care of yourself, alright? Sure your health has changed but you're the guy who drove me out of town when I needed an escape that time . " Ethan's nod of disagreement spoke volumes as he sank to the ground , his spine dragging to the locker room floor as he balanced his head between his knees. "But it's easy enough for you to tell me to take care of this broken body , not sure it's worth saving these days...." .The fabric of his jeans muffled his voice as he took refuge behind his slanted thighs, though Victor honed in on every word , his gaze piercing into Ethan's as he crouched down at his side. " You must be going through hell right now , but if I'm honest, that night you drove me into oblivion in your Volkswagen changed my life , I had to stop living in your backseat . Had to get the apartment . Had to find a new corner when you went down on the field the following summer and , Logan is solid but.. he's not you Ethan. You're still my best friend, the one who saved my ass. "Through a haze of disillusionment, Ethan's vision blurred with scathing tears he blinked away. "But I'm a shadow of who I used to be , Vic. I don't know who I am anymore . Am I still that same guy.. I'm not quite so sure ". Victor's shoulders draped over the bench behind him , his eyes confronting the harsh fluorescent lighting as he lamented lost freedoms. Not invading Ethan's stare into the distance, his gaze danced with the gleam from the sallow light above. The haunting months he'd spent in that car seemed all too close, yet all too far away. "Of course you are Ethan , and I won't let you forget it. I know it's hard , but you're not alone in that . And you're still that escape driving bad-ass." Not moving from the ground as he closed his eyes , Ethan evaded Victor in hesitation, his shoulders slumping with uncertainty . "Yeah , I did drive you away from that bastard..." Ethan's shoulders tensed with conflict as he gripped his worn jeans in frustration. In no state for heroics, his breath hitched as he addressed the wall in front of him . "But anyone would have done the same . You weren't safe that night-It was nothing. I had to protect you , and I'd do it again. " Ethan, choking back tears in defiance, interred his reddened eyes into his jeans for a moment, reeling in confusion , his vision scathing with the heat of his retinas . Victor's unwavering stare gently argued with Ethan's deflection , causing Ethan to gaze upwards in acknowledgment of his friends silent gratitude . Ethan's hand , massaging reassurance into his neck as he continued, kept him from collapsing as he met Victors waiting stare . "And yeah, I'd drive you to Diego again if I could . You know it. ". Ethan ran his hands through his disheveled hair as his chest lightened for a fleeting moment , his gaze falling away as he sighed into his lap. Victor closed his weathered hazel eyes before opening them again , blinking away exhaustion. "I do Ethan , and that's why I'll be damned if we sit alone in here all afternoon. C'mon. We'll come through this together. I never once did what anyone would do, I kept you breathing because I had no other choice." Victor then took a moment to clear his gravelled throat, and helped Ethan to his feet , easing him into an unaided stance. Grabbing his bag and heading for the door , he released his grip on Ethan's shoulder and sent him a wordless nod which Ethan returned, along with a crooked smirk. As he let Ethan find balance and stretch his rigid legs, Victor hoisted his bag higher over his shoulder . "I have to run the team through drills, but I'll see you tonight, whenever Mace gets his ass together and drives you over to mine. " Ethan hoisted his own duffel bag over his frame , gathering his shattered bearings as he followed behind, the mild November sun caressing his face as he avoided the field , heading for the parking lot. "Yeah, later Vic, kick their asses , bro" . As Victor's figure broke into a wearied jog and headed towards his teammates, Ethan released a heavy sigh and staggered across the parking lot to a bus shelter , preparing himself for the brief ride back to the hospital to receive treatment . His cannulated arm burned from his invasive dialysis procedures, which he now dread. His fingers ran along his hairline, tracing the scar from his ruptured laceration, and he cursed under his breath, poised to spit . Maybe it was self indulgent, he shrugged as his hatred flew from his mouth , caring little for the bitter taste as his bus rattled into view. Only eight minutes had passed and he was already death warming up, shaking his head at the way his body betrayed him . How it never endured more than a few hours out for a spin before careening into a ditch. He hailed the cold headlights and stumbled onto the bus, sinking an against the cracked, lime green cushion of the seat, watching his reflection in the passing scenery. As trees flew by in his devoid stare , his hands turned out his lighter free pockets in habitual dismay. All blurring into each other, the impeccable kept houses and pavements only served as a temporary backdrop of his walks home after practice. The stench of perspiration in the late afternoon clouding his head as his light jog pumped fresh air into his lungs . His arms wrapped around his chest , as he sought warmth in the air condoned evening . Before he could fall asleep , the bus lurched to a halt , depositing him at his destination. Or so he thought, as a familiar silhouette boarded the bus and swung down into the seat behind him. "Mason? Bro how've you been?" . Ethan bumped Mason's fist in greeting , as Mason wore his infallible trademark smile, lopsided but that night masking concern. "Ethan? What's up? You don't look too good, you on your way to a dialysis stint? " . Ethan , nodding without the strength to deny it, slung an arm over the back of his seat , his darkened eyes filtering some light from the fluorescent marquee flashing the next destinations of the route. "Hospital's three more stops , I was on my way to meet this friend of a friend but , I think we need to catch up , Ethan." Mason absorbed Ethan's angular features, and hollowed eye sockets with unease and surprise, that he laced with his causal demeanour. "Yeah, if you have four hours, I'll just be strapped in a bed.. having this impure blood cleaned" Ethan muttered with a dark chuckle, more to himself than anyone else. A moment later, he slapped his fist over the stop button, groaning at the traction of the bus grinding to a halt . Jolted forward, Mason haphazardly pulled himself out of his seat and slid his hands into his pockets . "I'll give you some hours , buddy, you look like you could use the company in there". As the two friends upheld each other, stumbling into the street, Ethan scaled the hospital with his reluctant eyes, and glanced at Mason before shivering in his thin jacket. "Are you sure you want to see this.." Mason offered a deep shrug, smiling with an unfazed warmth. "I don't care about trivial crap like blood. Or swab tests. Bring on the cardboard cafeteria food , I bet the pizza is half decent tonight" . Mason delivered a swift nudge to Ethan's ribs as he laughed in spite of his depleted mental state. "God, it's good to see you , Mace. I was only thinking about that trip upstate , last night. Those were some good times" "Hell yeah, and those won't be the last of 'em" Mason ambled along the sidewalk , ramming his arm against Ethan's in jest , but also with an air of genuine honesty. "Oh cmon , I can't drive the Cabriolet anymore, I miss her..." Ethan confessed as he trudged toward the hospital elevator, with Mason following behind. "And you'll drive her again.. where is she anyway?". Ethan's hand flew instinctively to his back pocket and he turned out the key to the ignition, and flipped it around his thumb, the jangle soothing him. "Rooftop, some nights when I can't sleep , I rest on her bonnet and just .. ah it's stupid, wishful thinking I suppose." . Mason , raising his eyebrows , his blue eyes sparkling , protested . "Nah , you're gonna drive that car again , man , I'll see to it that you do, alright? I already told you months ago didn't I ? Now let's go get that artificial kidney into you huh?" . The sobering jolt of the elevator arriving at the renal floor caused Ethan to groan. "Ah yeah, I'm actually feeling like garbage and I need this session badly." Mason gently clasped a hand over Ethan's shoulder, "I know this is your fourth week, and you're looking a lot worse than we caught up last Friday . How are you holding up ?" . His face full of concern, Mason slid into a waiting room chair and shed his jacket , settling in beside a bed as Ethan dragged off his shirt, revealing his access line. "It's been .. hard Mace, I feel like I've lost so much in what? Seven measly days.. this month has just evaporated..." Mason , resting his chin on his knuckles , leant forward in the harsh lighting, his own fatigue showing in indentations under his eyes. "I know, I apologise for disappearing after that night at Vic's place. I had a few weeks worth of rent I couldn't pay.. I don't want to bore you with my problems though.." Mason's stiffened hands were gripping the chair as he released a low whistle of disdain. Ethan lay back as a nurse plugged in his lines and punched numbers idly into his machine and then drew his curtain to leave him and Mason to themselves , the steading thrumming of the dialysis unit blanketing them both in a stark routine. "Yeah, I worry about you Mace, get some rest while you're here if you need it. " The atmosphere in the room was suffocating as Ethan's dialysis session began, the rhythmic sound of the machine providing a backdrop to their conversation. Mason's concern lingered, and he sighed, "It means a lot , Ethan, I might get some rest here a bit later if I can . Life's been a rollercoaster lately, but I'm here for you too. We'll figure this out together." A comfortable silence passed between them before Ethan sighed and his shoulders relaxed. "Thanks Mace, for coming here , for being so blase about this mundane crap. I saw Victor earlier , you'd better get the Cadillac revved up later, he wants both our assess over there later tonight. Probably for an actual, grease laden pizza and mindless video gaming Not that it's ever just a game with him". Mason's grin responded with appreciation. "Ah , always the big brother looking out for us , gotta love him. Poor guy.." Ethan's smile , almost reaching his lifeless eyes , ended the lilt of their conversation as he drifted off , with Mason observing Ethan's slumber in silence as he closed his own eyes , an ability to sleep anywhere claiming him. As soon as the calm of sleep had subdued his posture against the wall, his eyes snapped open , blaring with accusation as he scanned the room. "Who's there...Don't touch me " he snarled into the reverberation of his own chest, startling himself into full consciousness. His panicked expression came to rest upon Ethan's sleeping outline, mildly relieved by the familiar rising and falling of his friends outline in the moonlight. Mason's forearms gripped his chair with force as the shocks of terror finally stilled and his adrenaline fuelled pulse crashed against his veins . He released a steady breath into his clasped hands , warming himself up from the cold sweat he was covered in. "God , Mace, pull yourself together ..." he whispered, unheard as he measured Ethan's wakefulness and deemed him good as dead as he readjusted his eyes to the dim lit room. "Don't fall asleep this time " came his own warning as he snaked his arms around his chest in a self berating motion. It had only been half an hour before he felt the insidious lure of sleep tugging at the edges of his psyche yet again, and he coughed roughly , a twinge of guilt coursing through him as he cased Ethan to flutter open his eyes . "Hell , my session is nearly done, I haven't slept like this is forever" he noticed , his sunken eyes bearing a restored shine. "I told you last time Mace, it's the only thing this place is any good for, maximum security level protection. " The vibrancy in his blue eyes, refreshed like a refilled glass of water , gleamed mischievous thoughts. "Already scheming huh? " Ethan's stab wasn't far off as Mason raised his hands and stretched his elbows behind his head, leaning on the wall . "I think we could take a walk to the rooftop, find the Cabriolet and see what this bad boy here can do" . Ethan's face , mirroring Mason' with unidentified edge , flashed with a worn pleasure. "I'm so damned tired but , I could use some air " . And in no mood to wait, Mason snatched up the keys from Ethan's pocket, the vivid life in his irises an irresistible force to reckon with: ""c'mon Eth, I think we both need a little time outside." Their footsteps fell in sync as Mason matched his strides with Ethan's slowed lugging of his waterlogged limbs, revealing his post treatment determination. As they reached the exit to the upper car park , Ethan paused and whispered only just coherently "do you sometimes feel like , none of this is really worth the pain. As if maybe , the good stuff is so scarce that you feel you're going crazy?" Mason , surprised, exhaled his response through his contemplation. "I ask myself that from time to time, but i think ultimately, we're just lucky to have whatever we do, this right here , it matters" . Ethan , for the first time that evening, managed a smile that touched upon his dark pupils with an emanating glow. Later that evening The lights plunged out throwing the room into ink black darkness , and imperceptible flecks of light shone through Victor's eyes as he angled his phone underneath his face . "What in fresh hell..." . His unimpressed groan, followed by Mason's snort of irony , cut through the half empty apartment . "Looks like the only energy we have to run on now is the glow of your frustration Vic, maybe we should get creative with it. " Ethan smirked, raising one eyebrow and giving a dark chuckle , eliciting laughter from Mason and an eye roll from Victor , still fumbling with his phone's flimsy torch. Barely offering any illumination to the thick blanket of outage , he balanced it in his lap, creating a trail of faint light that outlined his boxers, as his eyes glared at Ethan as if to fuel the imminent flame. "Oh you'd enjoy that too much , Ethan " Mason replied, awakening his phone in a playful manner and flooding the room with blue light, snorting again at the effectiveness of his torch over Victor's. "Because while you may be full of yourself Victor, sometimes late at night you're full of my charming personality too ..". Mason grinned and flickered his torch across his features in mock victory. Just as Victor was about to retort in exasperation at the juvenile teasing going on around him, a piercing buzz seared through their banter and threw the electricity back on, the room drowned in artificial light and a collective sigh of relief filled the air . "Thank God for that " . Ethan , dodging Victor's glare of sardonic amusement , gulped down a precious mouthful of tepid cola as he savoured the moment of normalcy unfolding around him, his earlier treatment session seeming as if maybe it never happened at all. Victor glanced back at the static covered television and flipped through the snowing channels , cursing under his breath in disdain. Ethan , resting on his elbows against the worn sofa , albeit exhausted already , threw Victor an almost infuriating wink. "Yeah , Mason and I will go shower... I won't enjoy it too much at all. Promise. " Ethan glanced at Mason in jest , falling backward on his elbows as all three chuckled , enjoying Ethan's reprieve along with him, united by the pure idiocy of the moment . "Ah well, I'll leave you alone with the tube Vic, hopefully you can get the movie channel back at least." . Ethan rose to his feet , his jaded green eyes fixated upon the bag of toiletries crumpled in the foyer. Mason was at his side right away , hauling up several bags of clothing and provisions. "You hit the shower , I'll make us some actual dinner . See , Vic , I do have skills..." . Victor smiled , his hazel aspect drifting from the television and locking with Mason's in acknowledgment. "I would have just ordered pizza but yeah, you can do some damage in that kitchen , ain't gonna lie." With a nod Mason let Ethan head for the bathroom while he navigated his way through the bright kitchen, passing plates onto the table and fleecing the refrigerator for edible remnants. There was a steady, comforting presence of a disjointed but refreshing normality as the water sprayed against the shower wall , and all three went about their mundane tasks in satisfied silence. If belonging awaited them anywhere , it seemed imbued in the moments that followed. "Come get your laughing gear around this . I found some leftover chicken and mixed it with Macaroni and nacho cheese. And it smells like heaven" Mason announced as he dumped himself in a chair and hoed in, taking appreciative mouthfuls. Victor was at the table almost faster than Ethan , who poked at his plate mockingly before digging in with enthusiasm and depravity from his long week of cardboard hospital meals. "This beats hospital food , Mace, I can't believe it's this good." Victor, chewing with enthusiasm , swallowed hard with a hum of approval. "Told you my boy here can cook." After devouring their plates of food, the three , enveloped in the sweet comatose of passable food, gravitated toward the living room to sleep off the carbohydrate induced lullaby that salvaged their wearied bodies. "Night , Eth . Thanks for knocking me sideways with that concoction Mace, you sleep tight buddy." . Victor sprawled out on the carpet , mumbling at the ceiling as he started to slip into a deep slumber. Mason clambered onto the sofa, heavy lidded and looking pleased with the outcome of his efforts. "Yeah, it was nothing , I'll see you both in the morning " . Mason too was soon falling asleep as Ethan climbed into the beaten recliner under the half-open window , relishing in the full stomach and peace of mind he had been without for at