InsaneJournal

Who: Chase and Nine
What: Talking
When: backdated to December
Where: Nine's car
Rating/Warnings: Low - references to arrest, streaking, and drinking but nothing really huge
Status: Complete when posted



Nine was glad to be back in the area. For one, his friends were treating him to a night out and two, he’d managed to convince Chase to come out. Some of his friends knew of Chase while some needed an introduction. He thought he had done the correct thing, introducing Chase as a “good friend.” They were technically “exes” but that had such a negative connotation that he didn’t want that hanging over them.

While he accepted drinks from his friends, Nine was certainly taking his time. He had promised Chase that he’d drive him home if he came out. Still, something felt off and Nine didn’t want to get into it, at the club. So, after a time, he was headed to drop Chase off. Chase had certainly been putting drinks away and Nine made sure to have him drink water in between. He didn’t want Chase causing a scene that would affect his career...again.

Once the valet pulled his car around, he helped Chase in. Before making sure he was buckled. Once he was in the driver’s seat he glanced at the other. “So...want to fill me in on what’s going on in your head?”

***

The logical rational part of Chase was telling him he was drinking too much too fast. But that part kept getting shouted down by the two words Nine had used. It was the truth but it still hit him wrong in some way he couldn’t understand. Not on any level he could explain. He leaned his head back against the headrest after buckling in, focusing on his breathing as his stomach churned. He’d been on his best behavior that night. Keeping his hands to himself, although it had been hard sometimes, and all his clothes in place.

“What are you talking about? Nothing major is going on.” Damnit. He’d forgotten how easily Nine could read him when it came to things bothering him.

***

Nine had been hoping that tonight could be a way for them to start hanging out again but he also didn’t want Chase to be drinking so heavily, each time they did hang out. He shifted the car into drive and pulled away from the club.

His eyes focused on the road but he wasn’t going to let this drop. “So, I guess I was just imagining how you’ve been a bit quieter than normal and how you were slamming down drinks? Thought that’s what got you in trouble last time. Did you not want to hang out? You didn't have to come out if you didn’t want to, you know. I just wanted to see you,” he admitted.

***

“It did. I just...I was nervous about being around you and everybody.” Chase admitted quietly, turning his head to face him. “The alcohol made it easier to talk.” And not think about everything else. “I wanted to see you. I just wasn’t expecting there to be so many everyone else’s hanging out too. Which looking back I should have been. Sorry.” He added.

***

Nine gave a small sigh. “I figured it would feel easier to have other people around. You shouldn’t have drank just to try and make things feel easier, Chase,” he added, as he let his hands loosen on the steering wheel. He glanced at his friend for a brief moment, before looking back at the road. “But what do you mean ‘not think about everything else’?” He couldn’t help but wonder what Chase was going through.

***

Chase bit down on the inside of his cheek at that question. Most people he’d come up with some way of distracting them from the conversation, some way to avoid the question but a part of him didn’t want to do that here. A big part of him. “I know I shouldn’t have. It was just … a bad decision. And they hit me harder than normal because I haven’t been drinking as much the past few months. Not since that night with the fountain.”

He licked his lips. “It’s a little more serious than just them cutting my pay for the season. I lost sponsorships and people that I thought I was friends with stopped returning my calls after I got arrested. I’ve got Nico, Will, Octavia and...you. That’s it for people I know I can trust. And that I don’t pay to be there.” He hadn’t felt this alone in the world since he’d found out what his parents were doing with his money. And while he knew Regulus and Amycus were in his corner, it was a tricky situation there. Amycus was paid to keep him out of trouble. Regulus, Amycus’ husband, was there because he knew what Chase was dealing with when it came to his parents. He’d been there with his own based on their conversations.

***

Nine couldn’t help but be somewhat frustrated. “So, why didn’t you mention that before all the drinks? I wouldn’t have let you drink so much…” It did seem odd that Chase was aware about his predicament but still choosing to drink so heavily.

Nine understood where Chase was coming from. “Look, I get it...remember the first time I had left the area, back when I had been dating that other guy. I got pulled into a lot of bad nightlife behavior. Lucky for me, it wasn’t put on display but it was messed up how all the people I’d been spending time with turned on me when I decided to take a step back from everything.” This was the first time he’d spoken about it to anyone who wasn’t his dad. “I just...missed you...and thought it would be easier for us to hang out in a public setting.” He sighed and glanced at Chase, after stopping at a red light.

***

“Because telling you I’d cut back wasn’t something I wanted to figure out how to bring up around other people. And I got a distinct feeling that asking you to step away for a minute wasn’t going to go over very well with everybody.” Chase said, meeting his gaze as they stopped. “I should have switched over to water earlier in the evening.” He said softly.

“I missed you too and that...probably played into my acting like an idiot tonight.” Self clarity was something that he was working on. “I wanted to see you, hang out and just have things be normal and I didn’t do what I needed to for that to happen.”

***

“Unless you were trying to get me to leave altogether, they wouldn’t have cared, Chase. I am allowed to have some private time with other people I know.” His friends had already known about Nine and Chase’s past relationship.

It hadn’t been the “reunion” he’d imagined, that was for sure but Nine wasn’t upset with Chase, just confused about what had happened. “Just...promise me that you’ll talk to me about whatever it is you have to talk about, in the future...please.” He focused his eyes on the road and decided to take a detour. They pulled into an empty parking lot near the beach and lowered the windows, the radio playing softly, his eyes looked back to Chase. “Are you going to be okay?”

***

Chase turned so that he was facing him more as Nine parked, wanting to see his face as they talked. Knowing somehow that this had the potential of becoming a much more serious talk than when they’d been at the club. And not just because they were alone. “I’m going to be okay. I just need to drink some more water, take some tylenol or something and eat before I lay down. Help me and Lace both.” He swallowed. “I thought it would help me relax and then it didn’t so I drank more. At least this time I didn’t try to strip?” He said, trying for a weak joke.

“You meant more emotionally didn’t you?” He asked, looking away briefly. “I think so. I just have to not act like a dumbass more often.” He gave him a weak smile. “And hopefully not run off my friends when I do act like one.”

***

“I meant everything, Chase…” he answered softly. “And I would have stopped you before you could strip.” Nine was still uncertain of where things stood between them, but he stopped himself from saying something that was too romantic.

“How about we pick you up some food on the way to your place? Then, I don’t have to worry about you trying to cook while somewhat drunk.”

***


Chase leaned back into his seat, wishing he knew whether or not it was okay for him to reach out and touch Nine while they talked. The drawback of how up in the air everything was between them. There was a lot they hadn’t talked about since the last time they’d been together. He raised one brow at Nine’s assertion that he’d have stopped him before he could strip. “Remind me to ask you about that later.” He said softly.

“I was just thinking a sandwich but...Lace might like some food too.”

***

Even if he wasn’t sure if it was okay, Nine reached over to touch Chase’s shoulder. “Is everything okay between us?” He asked. The last time he’d left to travel, he had messed up his relationship with his now-ex Jace. “If you need more time before hanging out with me...I get it.”

He pulled his hand away and stared out the front windshield, gripping the steering wheel, thinking about where to get food for Chase that was nearby.

***

Chase hoped that his comfort at that touch from Nine wasn’t too obvious. Well a smart part of him did at least. The rest of him didn’t give a shit. He just wanted to enjoy it. “I don’t need more time I just...need to keep in mind you don’t want the old me around right? You’re good with that I’ve made changes to how I party?”

***

His eyes drifted back to his passenger. “Chase, I want whatever version of you that makes you feel the best... and preferably the one that doesn’t need to get drink to be comfortable around me.” Nine didn’t want Chase thinking he had to partake in unhealthy habits to feel like a part of things.

***

Chase let out a sigh at that look and gave Nine a weak smile. “So the one that normally stops after one or two beers these days and drinks water to the annoyance of bartenders everywhere? I like that Chase a lot better these days anyway. Then I know what stupid things I do and can join in the storytelling myself the next day.”

***
He gave Chase a small nod, and moved to shift the car back into gear. “I can only do so much…” he mentioned. “But I’m glad you like that Chase better, too.” He took a brief moment to get the car moving again, “So, how about some food?”

***

“I know you can. That Chase gets me in less trouble. Less disappointed looks from Amycus and Regulus. You know they left me with the cops that night? To make it sink in the consequences? Anybody else I’d be pissed but...they woke me up doing that. More than the arrest. Or the fact that I’m pretty sure I flashed one of my friends boyfriends.” And the fact that Chase was letting Nine back in was probably going to get him some looks from Octavia when he told her but it was his life his choice. He needed Nine around when he was in the area.

“Food. To lessen the hangover. And make Lace less glarey when I get back. Although...if you came in to say hi that would probably help with that too. She knows we were hanging out after all.”

***

If Nine had been around, he probably would have left Chase in jail overnight too. However, he wasn’t sure if it would have even occurred if he had been around. There was no point in thinking too much on that, though. He was here now and he’d look out for Chase, as long as Chase would let him.

“I guess I can come in for a couple minutes…” he said softly, a small smirk playing on his lips. Then, he began to pull back onto the road and towards the nearest late night fast food joint.