I Called But You Never Answered (RAPHAEL)

[Rory Kain]

Lights turned off and shades drawn, the only light to be found in the messy bedroom was the one emitting off of the television. The light flickered and flashed, changing scenes and occasionally coming to life with a burst of color. Brown eyes were glued to the screen as a young college student sat close. So close that almost his face was pressed to the screen. Displaying on the television was a live news coverage on the ongoings at the Aegis headquarters. Rory watched intently, having been flipping through channels when the news took over the cartoon channel he'd been watching. The news crew had little idea what was going on in the HQ but it was apparent things weren't busy as usual and it made for publicity for them nonetheless. Biting his lip he pushed himself up off the ground from where he sat and grabbed his camera bag. With the TV still blaring behind him he quickly threw on a black hoodie and flipped up the hood as he swung the door to his room open. 

Rory left the frat house behind, running down the street. He had to get pictures of this event instead of watching behind his screen. It would do wonders for his blog. Hailing a taxi, he would soon find himself in the small crowd amassed outside of the headquarters. Handing the driver a crumpled twenty, despite his bill being much lower, he quickly got out of the vehicle and ran to where police were holding back civilians. Pushing his way to the front, he frantically searched the sky. The clouds were thick and dark and he shivered fiercely, wishing he had more layers to him. His jaw dropped as he reached the front of the crowd, having finally muscled his way through. Ice and frost clung to the Aegis building and was slowly spreading out. Nearby cars almost looked like an icy imitation and not the real thing. With shaky hands, he snapped some pictures of the building and the sky. A nearby officer gave him a nasty look, but decided to focus more on crowd control than stopping one man from taking pictures. Rory let out jagged breaths from a mixture of being cold and tired from how quickly he fought to get here. He watched as his breath clouded into the air and disappeared. This wasn't natural. His eyes scanned the skies, looking for one hero in particular. It didn't take long for his eyes to lock on Icarus. Another hero accompanied him. It looked to be Star Woman if Rory was correct. His heart began to race. They would stop whoever was up there. They were heroes after all. Lifting his camera to his face once more he lined up a shot of Icarus. As his shutter clicked, a loud crack exploded. For a moment, he was confused. Almost thinking his misheard and his shutter just made a weird noise. Yet he had never taken his eyes off the scene and when his brain finally registered what had happened he dropped his camera. It made a horrendous noise as it hit the ground, no doubt having damaged it badly. However, for Rory, his world stopped. He watched as Icarus fell in slow motion. Why weren't his wings working? Where did they go? Why weren't they there? 

"No!" Came the blood curdling scream. He couldn't just sit there. No. He had to do something and with that he jumped the barriers that the police had put up. They hadn't expected the man to do anything and it took them awhile to act. Sprinting, he ran to where he saw Icarus' limp body falling from the sky. The police got up to him and yanked his arms back, stopping him in his tracks. Pushing with his shoulders, he attempted to wriggle free. 

"Icarus!" 

Raphael Starr

[Raphael Starr]

All he wanted to do was collapse into bed and take a long, long nap. He'd insisted that Nitro focus on healing others like Colonel, Harmony, and Surge, but he'd still received medical attention at Liling's urging. He was told that any burns would heal and he shouldn't have much scaring, if any at all. He'd been given pain medicine but hadn't taken it yet since he needed to get home first. Which meant he was in pain as he walked out the front door of Aegis' headquarters but he wasn't in as much pain as he could've been - the morphine he'd been given while still unconscious hadn't fully worn off yet. Perhaps he should have stayed in the infirmary but he was an adult and allowed to make his own decisions, which included checking himself out of there. And all he wanted was to go home. He'd never been struck by lightning before. Frankly he didn't recommend it. For a once in a lifetime possibility, he had a feeling it was going to be far more often if they didn't catch that weather manipulator. He shuddered. He didn't want to think about her, about being struck, about that pain. But there were reminders all around him. After all it had happened just above him. He resisted the urge to look up and stuffed his thumbs in the front pockets of his jeans. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to think about it. He came to a halt when his eyes found a familiar figure. He recognized Rory instantly, though he had no clue why he was there. At the sight of him, however, his mind became flooded with a different set of memories. The party, the two of them dancing, him pulling Rory into a private room, taking his mask off, pressing their lips together. Raphael's face heated up with a blush. He had no clue if Rory remembered any of that - he'd been a bit drunk after all. Thus he had no clue if Rory would remember what his face looked like. He'd also never ran into Rory outside of being Icarus. There was a large chance that if they talked, Rory would recognize his voice. Shit.

... when you lose your feet, fall down to your knees and your heart's about to break, i will be your saving grace ... icarus Rory Kain outfit 380 words n/a

template by rem of WW

[googlefont=Dancing Script]

[Rory Kain]

Rory sat at the bottom of the steps leading to the Aegis building. He was alone. The crowd had long since made their way home and dispersed. The cops stayed for awhile, concerned the emotional fanboy would attempt to break down the doors of Aegis himself to find the hero he worried so desperately about inside. Once they caught on that Rory would do no such thing, they too left the nasty scene behind. It was still cold, at least, it was to Rory. Whatever that freezing air was the product of, it hadn't been naturally. He could still feel the cold, completely chilled to the bone. He thought about going home himself, but didn't entertain the thought for very long. He knew he wouldn't be able to rest until he saw his favorite hero come out in one not so fried piece. Deciding there was no better place to wait to find out his condition, he firmly settled on staying put. At some point he retrieved his camera. It was badly scratched and his lens shattered. He played with it for awhile before quickly finding out it was beyond repair. Cursing at himself, he still threw the badly damaged camera around his neck.

Time sure had passed but Rory had no recollection of how long. He had left his phone at home with the rush he had been in and didn't think to throw on a watch at any point either. He busied himself with playing with rocks. Building up little pebblemen before stomping them down with his shoe. At one point he even took to helping ants get back quicker to their home by picking them up with a stick and dropping them off at the anthill that had sprouted up in the cracks of the bottom steps. Throwing his hood back up to his sweatshirt, he cinched it tight and leaned back, using the stair above the one he perched on as a back rest. Shoving his hands into the pockets, his eyes fluttered shut.

Rory was in a state between sleep and reality and jerked forward as he heard the doors to the headquarters open and close. Springing to his feet, he whipped around. Bags adorned his eyes and his hair ruffled wild from earlier winds. He was certain he looked crazy, but he didn't particularly care at the moment. Rory stared blankly at the man before him for a moment, not a trace of recognition on his face and a hint of sleep still clinging on desperately. He barely registered the blush that had crept up on the other man's features. He was exhausted mentally and physically and chalked up the reddened cheeks to wind burn. Almost in a complete shift from the slothful person he just was, he sprung to action, closing the gap between him and the man before him quickly.

"Y-you just came out of Aegis!" His brown eyes searched frantically and he found himself peering behind the person before him occasionally, looking past him as if he'd see Icarus in the flesh just standing in the doorway to the building, "Do you work here? Do you know what happened?" his words spilled out quickly, almost stumbling over one another as his brain seemed to be moving faster than his lips could, "Where's Icarus? Is he ok? I saw him get struck.. by.. what was that? Lightning? Is he alive?" He looked more perturbed by the minute, his voice wrought with a swelling anxiety, "Where is he?" It took every fiber of his being to not reach out and shake the man. He wasn't answering quick enough. He needed answers to his question seconds ago. Before the questions even spewed out of his mouth. He began to pace, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he did so, the broken camera bouncing up and down as it hit his chest.

Raphael Starr

[Raphael Starr]

His heart lurched against his chest when he saw that Rory had definitely seen him. If his wings had been out, his feathers would have fluffed up with surprise at how quickly Rory was suddenly in front of him. He felt like he was holding his breath, waiting to see if he was recognized. He wasn't sure what he hoped for. He couldn't deny that somewhere along the way, he'd developed feelings for Rory and, as his teammate Selene had pointed out in a teasing way, had quite the crush on the other man. But Rory liked Icarus and Raphael wasn't always him. He felt a pang of disappointment when he was recognized. That meant their - and his - first kiss wasn't likely remembered or perhaps Rory remembered the kiss but not the face. It wasn't like he could ask without revealing who he was. He followed Rory's gaze, looking over his shoulder at the building he'd just left. But then his eyes fell back onto the other man and his brows furrowed with concern. He didn't look alright to say the least and his voice sounded as distraught as his body language appeared to be. It took him a second to register that Rory was asking about him. He opened his mouth to say he was fine, he was right there but... Right, he had a secret identity to maintain. He yearned to let Rory in, to tell him who he really was, but there was an ever constant part of him that was terrified that the other man wouldn't like the real him. He was afraid that Rory had built Icarus up in his mind so much that Raphael Starr would be a let down, a disappointment. He didn't think his heart could handle the pain that would bring. Before he could answer anything, Rory began to pace. Raphael reached out, hand brushing his arm to get his attention, his own muscles protesting against the movement. He needed to take his pain medication. "I - He's," he quickly amended, heart aching at how he had to lie. "He's alright. Aegis has a healer--" Not that he'd seen Nitro, insisting she focus her energy on others but Rory didn't have to know that detail either. "--and top of the line medical equipment. In fact, last I heard he was walking around." He had no clue how he was going to explain why he was at Aegis' headquarters because either he knew a member of Aegis or he was one. "He's... He's recovering," he continued awkwardly, not used to having to talk about himself this way. "They said he'll make a full recovery, I promise." There was a chance Rory wouldn't take his word for it, though, because he didn't know him. Before he could think better of it, he blurted out, "I'm a friend of his." He cringed. Shit. That was probably going to bite him in the ass later. However before he could chastise himself for it, Raphael's attention returned to Rory and the condition he was in. Concern etched onto his face, worry lacing his words. "Are you okay?" he asked, "You - You look exhausted. Do you need somewhere to rest?" As soon as he asked it, he bit his lower lip. How many times did he need to remind himself that he was Raphael and not Icarus right now? There was no way Rory would agree to go with someone he'd just met just to get some rest. But he couldn't shake the desire to take care of the other man, to make sure he was safe and protected.

... when you lose your feet, fall down to your knees and your heart's about to break, i will be your saving grace ... icarus Rory Kain outfit 601 words n/a

template by rem of WW

[googlefont=Dancing Script]

[Rory Kain]

Rory jumped ever so slightly as a hand brushed his arm. He was so caught up in his worry that the physical contact outright startled him. Only then was he truly cognizant of the incessant pacing he was doing. He sucked in a deep breath, closing his eyes before stopping the nervous habit. Something about the touch had been, in part, comforting. Not how he would typically expect to feel when touched by someone he didn't know, but he looked in the other man's brown eyes and felt a wave of fleeting calm crash over him. Rory did his best to calm himself down in that instance. No longer pacing about, he took to tapping his foot quickly, smacking it on the pavement. It was an improvement.

He stood there, watching the stranger and waiting for any sliver of news he could give the young man. If he weren't so high strung in the moment, he would look upon the other man and perhaps find him cute and be far more inclined to have some flirtatious fun, but in his current state he only looked on him in indifference, hardly even registering his face in that instance. Perhaps if his mind wasn't running at a million miles a minute he would've noticed the curious slip up of the other man, saying I at first when talking about the matter. Alas, he was much too preoccupied with the thoughts running through his mind to even notice the mistake.

Rory visibly relaxed on hearing that his favorite hero was alive and well, relief showing plainly on his face. His furrowed brows relaxed, his jaw unclenched, and his shoulders dropped. Those two little words were all he needed to hear. He's alright reverberated in his head. Of course, he still wished to see the Aegis member with his own two eyes, but he felt much more at ease with the status report. "Thank you," he breathed out, a hand reaching up to cup his forehead. A headache had crept up. No doubt the intense rollercoaster of emotions and lack of sleep was to blame. Before rushing to the scene of this showdown at Aegis, he had been cramming for a couple of tests and failed to get even close to the proper amount of sleep.

Rory's eyes narrowed when Icarus' friend, as he claimed himself to be, asked if he was ok. All he had the strength to muster up in response was a meek nod of the head. Rory, instantly much more calm now, drank in the other man. He looked to be a bit older, though he wasn't sure by how much. He found himself admiring him. He had a mature look about him and almost a look of sadness. He looked as if he'd been through the wringer one too many times. Rory could only hope he was wrong about that assumption. His hair though was Rory's favorite. It looked soft and he blushed as he had a fleeting image of raking his hands through the brown locks. I really am sleep deprived.. he thought to himself, looking away and struggling to meet the other man's eyes after having such an odd thought about him.

Rubbing the nape of his neck, he stared long and hard at his feet, "I mean.. that would be nice.." Rory wasn't an idiot. He wasn't the type to normally go home with strangers. Well, scratch that. He has a few times at parties, but he would never soberly go home with someone else. Call him a fool, but something in his gut told him he could trust this friend of Icarus'. He came out of the Aegis building. It's not like just anybody was coming in and out of that building. His gut hardly led him astray and he was bone tired. Going back to his loud frat house did not sound appealing if this guy was offering up a nicer, quiet place to hang out for the time being. Rory looked up through his eyelashes, uncharacteristically shy, still weirded out by his strange thoughts. His face continued to glow red.

Raphael Starr 

[Raphael Starr]

He winced faintly, feeling guilty when he made Rory jump. It wasn't a big startle but they were close enough and he was trained as a member of Aegis to notice certain things that he caught it. The last thing he wanted was to add to Rory's distress. Part of him expected to start getting interviewed for his blog the second he lied and said he was Icarus' friend. But no questions came - nothing about Icarus' personal life or cute little habits. He would've felt a pang of disappointment at the lack of attention if it didn't just further his worry. Rory nodded when he asked if he was okay but everything else seemed to contradict that. He wanted to try to push, to see if Rory would admit to that he wasn't okay. But admittance wasn't necessary. It was clear that Rory wasn't okay, he was distressed and exhausted by the look of things. There was even a redness to his face. Raphael would've considered whether or not it was a blush if he wasn't already so concerned, but instead he wondered if it was a sign Rory was sick. He was visibly relieved when Rory agreed to somewhere to rest. "I have plenty of room at my place," he offered, which wasn't a lie. There was definitely plenty of room at his penthouse. "You're welcome to stay as long as you need." Raphael got his phone out, using an app to call for a ride. He couldn't fly Rory to his place after all - he had a secret identity to maintain and he still didn't have the energy to even manifest his wings. He slipped his phone in his back pocket once he was done, eyes quickly finding Rory again and noting the shyness because it seemed very uncharacteristic on him. "You're Rory, right?" he asked because he didn't think Rory was going to introduce himself anytime soon. Even if he looked a bit calmer now, he still seemed exhausted. "I uh - He's mentioned you. Icarus, that is. He talks about you a lot." It wasn't a lie. He did talk about Rory a lot - his teammate Ardeshir had once asked him when he'd started crushing on Rory purely because of how many times he brought the other man up in conversations. And he had a feeling knowing that fact, even if he didn't know Raphael was Icarus, would cheer Rory up even if just a little. The car ride was quiet and admittedly Raphael was a bit antsy. For obvious reasons Rory had never seen where Icarus lived. Now while he didn't know he was Icarus, he was still worried about what Rory would think. After all he owned a penthouse and lived entirely by himself aside from Fernando, his succulent. By the time the car arrived, thankfully not too long, Raphael was fully expecting Rory to think they'd been dropped off in the wrong neighborhood but he guided him to the front door and then unlocked it, allowing him to enter the penthouse first before closing and locking the door behind them. It was large with a spacious backyard and swimming pool. The walls were all white and the floor was a light grey carpet. There were at least four bedrooms, one devoted solely to musical instruments like a piano and cello among other classical instruments. "You uh can use the spare bedroom if you want," he said because offering his bedroom felt awkward. "If you want I can get you some food?"

... when you lose your feet, fall down to your knees and your heart's about to break, i will be your saving grace ... icarus Rory Kain outfit 587 words n/a

template by rem of WW

[googlefont=Dancing Script]

[Rory Kain]

Rory spaced out on the ride from Aegis headquarters to the strangers home, exhaustion claiming him. He'd managed to nod when the man asked him who he was. He'd blushed furiously when he was told that Icarus spoke of him often. His heart had skipped a beat, and he fought hard to mask the goofy grin that desperately wanted to shine across his face. He didn't say much though, and waited in silence for their ride. Most might look on at the college student and question what the fuck he was doing going to a strangers house with no suspicions or fears. A seminar he had to attend early on in his college career warned him about this very scenario. Not to mention growing up, it's ingrained in a person's head to be wary of strangers. Call him a fool, but he felt safe. Another part of him felt like if this guy was a creep leading him into his lair, that somehow, some way, Icarus would be there to save him. It had become a weakness of his, and he knew it. He relied heavy on his hero to have this sixth sense when it came to Rory being in trouble and being there to save him. Sure he'd be struck by lightning, but his hero would pull through if needed he figured. Selfishly, this was enough to make him feel secure with the situation he was currently in.

Rory was near asleep when they arrived at their destination, his head resting against the glass of the window of the car, his eyes fluttering open and closed. He was just about to nod off and drool when he felt the car come to a stop. He groaned lightly, rubbing the sleep away from his eyes. He looked around lazily, truthfully not knowing where they were within the city at this moment. All he knew was by looking at the places around them that they were definitely in the bougie part of the city. Shooting a curious side eye at his new little friend, he got out of the car and followed him. Who was this guy exactly?

The place was huge. He eyed the swimming pool out back first and foremost, wondering if there was a hot tub he wasn't seeing. The parties the guy held in this place was probably insane. This guy was certainly living the dream, he thought to himself, his mouth agape. He'd only seen these kind of penthouses in television dramas he watched. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought he'd be blessed to step foot in one.

"Where's the wife and kids?" he laughed, partially joking but also wondering where the rest of this guys family was or a significant other. It would never occur to him he lived in this massive place alone. Rich people sure had it nice. Perhaps it was rude, but Rory took liberty of showing himself around the grandiose penthouse. He was careful in his tour though, feeling like one wrong move could cost him millions of dollars he didn't have. Eventually, he peeked into a room full of instruments. Fighting the urge to bash down on a punch of piano keys, he quickly moved on from that room. That room cost more than his life probably and he wasn't about to step foot in it. He heard the other man talking back in the entry way about food. He hadn't thought about it and was about to call back to him saying he was fine, but the mere mention of it caused his stomach to call out in protest.

"Sure. Yeah. Food sounds nice," he called over his shoulder, continuing to snoop openly around the apartment. Peaking his head into what he could only assume was the strangers room, noting the trans and gay pride flags. A small smile crept onto his face. So, no wife.. he thought happily to himself. He shook that feeling off, feeling guilty. He was interested in only Icarus. Not some guy he didn't even know. It didn't matter if he had this adorable puppy dog look. I will not be swayed.. he told himself over and over again in his head. He wasn't sure there was anyone else that lived in this place. In the room there were no pictures of anyone else and he didn't pass by a single portrait of a family or really anyone for that matter. Ducking out of the room, he went about his way.

"What's your name anyways?" He inquired loud enough for the man to hear him, figuring if he was about to get murdered it would be nice to know his killers name. His eyes surveyed the room once more before he backed out. He came across what he could only assume was the guest room. The whole place was a bit empty but this room especially had nothing much to it. Even then of course it was still nice and luxurious. He flopped his back onto the bed, immediately in heaven with how cushy and soft it was. The temptation to close his eyes and fall off into a deep sleep was strong, but he fought it. Knowing food sounded just as good. Getting up, he took his broken camera off from around his neck and placed it gently on the bed. Walking back into the living room, he roamed aimlessly, stopping to look at almost everything in the room and eyeing all the various paintings. Eventually, he came near a succulent. It seemed well cared for. He absently poked gingerly at its leaves to pass the time.

"You got ramen?" he asked, his stomach growling. Was ramen a staple food for the wealthy? He wasn't sure.

Raphael Starr

[Raphael Starr]

He arched an eyebrow at the question on a wife and kid, unsure how genuine or joking the question was. But Rory laughed so he must have been joking or at least mostly joking. He shrugged himself, watching Rory wander off and answering, "It's just me and Fernando." As soon as he said it he grimaced, certain it'd make Rory think he had a boyfriend. Not that he expected the other man to care - after all his attention was on Icarus, not Raphael. He fidgeted, waiting in the entryway because he didn't want Rory to think he wasn't allowed to explore. He trusted Rory but there was still something about having someone look around that gave him a pang of anxiety. He'd never really had anyone over to his house before, at least not since he'd first bought it. He realized it was grand to say the least. He'd wanted plenty of room that if he ever knew someone needed a place to stay, he could offer. It wasn't his fault his only friend outside of Aegis was a plant... Right? A brief panic struck him when he wondered if his spare costume - it was always good to keep one in the house - was hidden. The costume, he remembered, was hidden away in his bedroom closet - He didn't really have guests over so he didn't have to worry much about security. He didn't think Rory was that nosy, though, as to rummage through his closet... Okay he hoped Rory wasn't that nosy. He moved toward the kitchen which overlooked the living room as soon as he heard Rory's answer. He didn't think he had anything in his fridge that wasn't take out or something Ardeshir had given him from HomeGrown's restaurant. He needed to go grocery shopping and learn how to cook more. He was pouring water into a glass for Rory when he heard his question, his face quickly becoming hot with embarrassment. He'd forgotten to introduce himself. He wasn't sure how that was possible since he'd been aware enough of the fact that he was a stranger to Rory to say he was Icarus' friend... Oh being a stranger to someone he knew quite well felt creepy, slimy. Part of him wanted to say he was Icarus. The rest of him was still afraid that the only reason Rory liked him was because he was Icarus. "Raphael," he called back, the acoustics of the penthouse making it easy for his voice to travel. He hesitated before adding, "Raphael Starr." He didn't know if Rory would recognize the surname as one of the richest families in Astaria. They'd made the news when his parents had died in that fire, their mansion burning down. Reports had said they left everything left to their daughter - reports didn't know it wasn't willingly. The news and their reporters had also since been politely and firmly corrected to son. Raphael set the glass on the counter, having not realized he was still holding it. He looked over in time to see Rory poking at his one and only plant. "That's Fernando," he explained, "I don't think he likes being poked." He walked over and placed the glass of water on the end table by one of the couches. He paused when he was asked about ramen. "That depends," he replied, a small smile on his face. "If you mean ramen made entirely from scratch then no. If you mean instant noodles that can be made easily in the microwave, then yes." He shifted awkwardly on his feet before going back to the kitchen. He didn't really know how to interact with Rory outside of when he was Icarus. He knew he really wanted Rory to like him for who he was rather than because of his hero identity or his powers but he also knew he needed to try not to come off so desperate. He made the ramen quickly and put it in one of those fancy bowls that was made to keep the heat in the food all the while making sure the bowl itself never got too hot. He wasn't sure what Rory ate ramen with so he simply grabbed a fork and a napkin. He gestured for him to sit down on the couch before handing him the ramen, hoping he didn't pick out the one flavor he despised. He fidgeted before finding his own place on the couch, a cushion between the two of them.

... when you lose your feet, fall down to your knees and your heart's about to break, i will be your saving grace ... icarus Rory Kain outfit 746 words n/a

template by rem of WW

[googlefont=Dancing Script]

[Rory Kain]

"Raphael Starr," Rory repeated after the man, seeing how the name felt coming off of his own tongue. His brows knitted together in concentration, all the while he continued to flitter around the luxurious penthouse. "Starr.. Starr... Starrrrrrr.." he kept repeating under his breath, until the surname itself twisted into a mash of syllables that didn't sound quite like a real word. Why did it sound so familiar? Rory turned sharply on his heels, his eyes boring into the back of Raphael's head while he was pouring out a glass of water, as if some sign would just be flashing in neon lights over his head telling him who exactly Mr. Starr was. Was he an actor? No, the lack of awards was evident. Even if he was an actor, doesn't mean he's an accomplished one, his brain fired at him. Rolling his eyes, he resigned, knowing that despite it being annoyingly familiar, he was too tired to comb through his mental files for a Raphael Starr.

Rory was poking at the plant he'd come to find out was Fernando when he tuned back into the world around him. The young man paused, narrowed his eyes, and lowered his ear down to the plant. He pretended the plant was talking to him, occasionally nodding and saying, "Yes, of course," He let this go on for a couple more seconds before straightening himself up. Looking confidently at Raphael, he stated seriously, "Fernando doesn't like you speaking for him,"

Shaking his head, more at his foolishness, he sighed, "Sorry.. I-.. Uh.. I'm weird when I'm tired," he offered up as an explanation, shrugging his shoulders sheepishly. Rory stood there, feeling awkward for the first time and was thankful for Raphael making food at this point. Maybe he hadn't heard him? He could only pray to whatever higher power there hopefully was out there.

Rory's mouth began to water as soon as he smelled the ramen. Not only was he bone tired, he was ravenously hungry. Saying his polite thank yous he was taught at a young age, he began shoveling food in his mouth as soon as the bowl and fork was in his grasp. Momentarily, the world around him simply evaporated. Only for his obnoxious and gross slurping to remind him that he was in some esteemed company, not floating aimlessly in space with only him and his noodles. Swallowing the mouthful of noodles he'd just inhaled, he gave Raphael a silly grin, feeling only slightly embarrassed. A hint of red tinged his cheeks for only but a moment, disappearing almost as soon as it appeared.

"Are you.. sure?" he asked, doe-eyed when Raphael motioned for him to take a seat. "This couch looks more expensive than my college tuition," Hesitantly, he made his way to the couch, sitting down on the absolute edge of the cushion, doing his best to hardly sit on the piece of furniture at all without sliding off of it onto the floor.

Rory wasn't one to feel nervous or shy, but in this moment he did. He was out of his element, truly. One wrong move and this guy could sue him for more than what his life was worth. He became all too aware that he was acting way too nonchalant in the face of a likely influential figure. Slower, and more properly this time, he spun some noodles onto his fork, only allowing a small amount of food into his mouth at a time, careful to avoid any slurping. Looking down at his lap, he was unsure what to do with his legs. He was typically the type to spread eagle. To plop down on a couch and take up as much space as possible. Clearing his throat, he crossed his legs, feeling like it seemed to be the appropriate etiquette.

"..Got any beer?" he asked softly.

Raphael Starr 

[Raphael Starr]

Raphael had admittedly paused when Rory said that Fernando didn't like him speaking for him, admittedly both confused and believing him until the other man apologized and he realized it was a joke. He'd been glad that moving into the kitchen had probably hidden his blushing face. He managed to muffle a small laugh with his hand when Rory started scarfing down the ramen only to give him a grin when he seemed to recall he had company. A shy smile was still on his face as he pulled his hand away, already sitting on the couch. His eyes moved to Rory, smile turning into confusion as he asked for confirmation on whether or not he could sit on the couch. Raphael looked down at the couch. It didn't look that expensive... Right? His face felt hot, realizing how expensive everything in his house was and feeling far more self conscious over how much that probably showed than he ever had before. He didn't want to look like he was showing his money off. He'd only bought such expensive things because he honestly hadn't thought he had a choice. He thought having as much money as he did meant he was expected to buy such fancy, expensive things. "Would - Would you believe me if I said it was on sale?" he asked with a sheepish grin that made it clear it hadn't been on sale. He awkwardly glanced away, fingers fidgeting with the arm of the couch. He was highly aware of his awkward the atmosphere in the room was. Awkwardness was typically where he lived. He didn't know how to not be awkward, especially socially. It wasn't as if their last interaction hadn't had its awkward moments but he'd been in costume then, he'd been Icarus, and Rory seemed much more comfortable around Icarus. Rory had also been drunk then and it had ended with the two of them in his room - At least he hoped that had been Rory's room at the frat house - with Raphael's mask off and Rory practically drunkenly teaching him how to make out. Raphael's face felt hotter. It was probably best if he didn't think about that right now. Clearly Rory didn't remember. He almost jumped when Rory cleared his throat, eyes curiously moving to him. He lightly bit down on his lower lip because it was admittedly funny seeing Rory so awkward but he didn't want Rory to know that. It was almost as if Rory was trying to match Raphael's own natural awkwardness. He wasn't used to seeing this side of Rory and honestly it wasn't making it easier for him to avoid thinking about how cute and attractive he thought the other man was. Raphael blinked when asked about beer. He paused for a brief second before replying, "I... Think so." He opened his mouth to make a joke about not having any ping pong balls but closed it because nope. Icarus had been at the frat party, not Raphael after all. He got up and made his way back to the kitchen, not trusting himself to make the moment any more awkward if he stayed on the couch. Thankfully he did have some beer in his fridge - Thank God, it wasn't expired. He had no clue why he had it but he wasn't going to question it right now. What he couldn't find... was a bottle opener. That was important wasn't it? He probably made far too much noise opening drawers. "Fuck it," he mumbled to himself, glancing to see if Rory was heading over before moving the beers - he'd grabbed one for himself - so that they were hidden by the counter. With a flick of each thumb, the caps flew off a bit too high actually - oops. They hit the ceiling before hitting his head then clattering onto the floor. He stared at the caps on the ground for a second, registering what had happened before calling out, "I'm okay!" because that had definitely added to the noise. He quickly put the bottle caps into the trashbin and returned to Rory, setting his beer on the coffee table in front of the couch. He sat back down and drank from his own beer, coughing shortly after. Right, beer tasted like that. He supposed one got used to the flavor the more they drank it. He took another sip before setting it on the table. "It uh - It shouldn't be expired," he said, gesturing to the beer. He paused. "I think..."

... when you lose your feet, fall down to your knees and your heart's about to break, i will be your saving grace ... icarus Rory Kain outfit 752 words The Awkward Olympics right here.

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