#& 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 : A.KINGSTON

[seeinghcsts]

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 — 𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘯

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎TOM CHEWED ON the cuticle of his right thumb , elbows pressed to his knees , listening to kingston's wheezed breaths as he sat beside him on a fallen log just outside the man's cabin . the sun had started to set , a crisp breeze brushing across the camp as the mist rolled back in , the embers of a dying fire giving a few pathetic crackles every now and again . the silence between them was awkward , palpable , and tom wasn't sure how to fill it .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎his confidence always seemed to waiver around akeem , who he had always believed to be an extension of the man who was the very reason they all were here . but , he felt bad . about what had happened . he even found himself pitying reeve — but the guilt for kingston went deeper . he had always been a good guy , in tom's eyes ; wholesome . gazing out at the camp , familiar yet foreign , thomas pressed his thumb against his teeth , but winced as he swore he tasted dirt beneath his finger nail .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‎‏he had never be able to scrub hard enough to make them feel clean.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ripping his thumb away from the gnashing of his teeth , tom cast his gaze over to kingston , noticing how his face seemed swallowed by sickness . only twenty four hours , and the eight have already been put through a trial ; one that damn near took some of their lives .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎frowning , tom looked away , clasping his hands together between his knees and rocking his weight further forward onto his elbows . an ache rippled up his curved spine , and he dropped his chin to his sternum , lids too heavy to keep open but too restless to close .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" place feels like a burial ground , " he finally spoke , voice nearly lost to the chill , absorbed by the waning fire . " i never understood luke's fascination with this fuckin' place . "

@akeemarcus

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎LISTENING TO KINGSTON talk about isla twisted thomas's gut the same way he imagined it'd feel if a knife were planted there . it was a kind of ache that resulted in the dissipation of one's spirit — the draining of life from their eyes . he quietly panted , a famished dog in need of a drink , as he listened to the warm and honey-slicked way kingston's words wrapped around the woman's name .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎tightness , he had said .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎thomas always thought that was just the anxiety and its eternal grasp on his sternum .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" r-really ?? " came thomas's words , almost breathless , swept up in his own thoughts to the point where he was almost mistaking kingston's words for his own . confusing them . kody and eliza danced a waltz in his mind , hand in hand , faces a mere breath away from one another . in one's silhouette , he thought he had seen the future — his future . he thought that he had found the person that was going to make him who he was supposed to be . FIX him . the one he had expected too much of , the one he had pushed to the side when the voices in his head said she'd be better off . he thought he had been sparing her . or had he been sparing himself ??

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎in the other , he saw loyalty ; complete and utter devotion to the man he was now . him and his laundry list of flaws and vices , the insecurity that festered beneath his skin like maggots , the refusal to give her what she wanted but being too selfish , too stubborn , to let her go . his little secret . ‎‏‏‎but did he feel what kingston was talking about for either of them ?? had he felt it for kody , did he feel it for eliza ?? all he felt right now was dread and a desperate need for another shot . maybe a double .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ blinking dumbly at kingston , thomas cleared his throat , turning his face away . " she's lucky to have you , man , " he forced himself to speak , wondering if the strain on his vocals was obvious as his emptied , sweat-slicked glass was replaced with a fresh one . " you know i — i never saw that coming , you and . . . you and her but , i'm happy for you guys . really . means there was one good thing to come out of that trip , right ?? "

He shook his head ; it was a compliment, but it felt like a slap across the face. Two more shots ordered, he couldn't bring himself to look at Thomas, fearing that if he did, he would see straight through him somehow. He wanted to tell him that it wasn't true, as he traced his finger along the counter to avoid eye contact. He wanted to insist that no one liked him, but he knew Thomas wouldn't get it, and he couldn't explain. No one could ever know there were only two people left in his life that had known him, and they were relieved at the thought of him being gone. ❝ I like you, ❞ he said instead, and it wasn't a lie. Kingston kind of liked everyone, in their own ways. It was hard to dislike people when he knew he was the worst of all of them.

Bringing his refilled shot glass to his lips, he allowed the liquid to coat his tastebuds before swallowing, wondering how many more it would take until he could sleep tonight. Sleep, without a hollow face staring back at him in his dreams. He was prepared to let the conversation die, to take his last shot and leave Thomas to revel in his own thoughts, but then the other man was speaking again. The first question had his eyebrows pulling together in confusion before is entire expression softened, even just the mention of Isla enough to remind him that everything wasn't so bad.

❝ Man, I'm going to sound crazy, ❞ he half-laughed, ❝ but I felt this pull to her. Even before we spoke, when I saw her. And not just because she's beautiful. ❞ Because she was, she was truly the most beautiful person Kingston believed he had ever laid his eyes on, but there was so much more to it than that. ❝ It's like . . . I know it's only been like five months now, but it just feels like I — . . . I fit with her from the start. More than I've ever fit with anyone else. ❞ He couldn't tell him that it didn't feel like she belonged to his brother the way everything else did in his life ; despite not even knowing it, or him, she was his. ❝ It's like you . . . you look at someone, and you feel this . . . this tightness your in chest, but it's not heavy. It's like you can't breathe. Not because you're scared, because you forget to how to. Because it's not important. Because you're looking at her, and it just hits you. It's like . . . it's you. It has to be you, because now that I know you, no one else will ever make sense again. ❞

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" — YEAH . POOR REEVE , the dipshit behind this whole thing , " thomas scoffed , feeling the bitterness in his throat , knowing that the two had a tighter bond but still taking the comment personal . he rubbed at his face with a perspiration slicked palm , feeling how hot his skin was beneath his own touch.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎how long had he been here ??

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ sucking in air between his teeth , thomas forced a laugh , shaking his head side to side before pushing the hand that had been dragging across his face through his hair . tom raked bitten nails against his scalp , basking in the dull sting , letting it distract him from the hollow ache that resonate in his chest .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " fun , " he echoed , shaking his head . " — i dunno man , i've gotten myself on everyone's shit list . might be fun for you , everyone likes you . never done anything to piss them off . plus , you got isla . " the man's gaze , murky with minor intoxication that was swelling with every second he sat there . his thoughts ebbing and flowing like choppy waters . then , his brows furrowed , mouth going dry as he inched his glass towards the bar's edge , eyeing the man behind the counter who gave him a knowing nod . thomas waited for saliva to pool under his tongue , enough to lubricate his mouth enough to speak without choking , before he cleared his throat .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " speaking of , " he drawled , dismissing the other's suggestions of fun for the sake of his own curiosity . " how'd you know ?? " thomas asked , returning his eyes to kingston's . " — with isla . i mean , if you don't mind me asking , , , how'd you know she was the one you wanted to be with ?? "

❝ Sorry, man. It didn't feel right to gang up on Reeve like that. ❞ He could not help it, the empathy he felt for the other man that went beyond the secret he feared spilling. He had a short fuse, he didn't make it any easier to defend him . . . but the two of them were more alike than anyone could ever know — at least, the real him, the one that he had buried deep, the one that spoke without thinking and bruised his knuckles when he flunked yet another test his brother had excelled with flying colors. There was an understanding he could not even voice. It was far too easy to put himself in his shoes.

Downing the liquor, Kingston let the words linger over their heads for a moment. He couldn't explain it, how much worse he was. Thomas might have thought he was a bad person, bad friend, whatever, and he might not have been the only one ; but none of them knew the type of person that was staring them right in the face. Letting the burn trickle down his throat, he gave himself a deep inhale, let his expression fall for half a second . . . then he was back.

❝ It might be fun, ❞ he offered, his grin stretching almost painfully as he placed his glass on the bar in front of him, holding a finger up to the bartender. He was definitely going to need more than one shot. ❝ I mean, you gotta admit the second day wasn't all that bad. We could just treat it like a vacation, get the project done, go drunken skinny-dipping . . . kill two birds with one stone. ❞

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎THOMAS FELT A crease form between his brows , flickering his gaze across the man's features before redirecting his attention back to the shot glass he had knocked over . frowning at the spillage , he stood the shot glass right side up , pulling the sleeve of his sweatshirt down and over his hand to swipe up the tiny puddle of remnant booze that had collected where it tipped.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " it is certainly a way , , , " tom drawled , drumming his fingers on the side of his emptied , sweating glass and contemplating if he should order another . the last thing thomas needed was someone thinking that the addict gene trickled down the bloodline and into his veins . maybe it had — but there was no need to give the rest of the group more ammunition .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ thomas hadn't been expecting kingston's first instinct when he saw thomas to be joining him , the man going on to confess that he actually AGREED with thomas even more jarring . thomas's brows lifted , and he cleared his throat.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " — woulda been nice to hear that when i was catching heat for shittin' on reeve's idea. " expecting kingston to go out of his way for him might be unwarranted , besides the two were only in kahoots because of their common denominator friendship with luke , but he couldn't stop the joke from tumbling from his lips. turning his head back to face him , thomas offered what could almost be identified as an empathetic smile . " trust me , man. you're preaching to the fuckin' choir . "

He only nodded in response. He could imagine what Thomas was feeling, this gut-wrenching anxiety of being found out, losing control, the fear of going down with a secret he only wanted to bury. For Kingston, it was terrifying . . . but it was only one of several things that could send his life into complete and utter turmoil. Maybe he had grown used to it over the last ten years, the stress so prominent it was just a personality trait of his at this point.

For the rest of them, he assumed, this was as new feeling.

❝ Mentally preparing is a way to put it, ❞ Kingston repeated his words, chuckling under his breath, letting silence engulf the two of them for a moment before he spoke again. ❝ Look, I get where you're coming from. I'm not exactly excited about signing up for this either ; one wrong move, we could blow this whole thing out of the water. But Reeve, once he's got his mind set on something . . . he's gonna do it, whether we're in or not. He asked for my help. And, I don't know, man, ❞ he lifted his shot glass, pressed it to his bottom lip but hesitated to toss it back, a bit of honesty slipping into his words. ❝ Guess I'm getting kind of tired of being a shitty friend. ❞

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ THOMAS OFFERED A stale laugh in response to kingston's joke , his shoulders trembling as the hollow sound echoed in the chamber of his chest where lungs should be . suddenly , air felt scarce , and he drank it in desperate gulps as he waded through the familiar waters of anxiety . he tightened his fingers grips , bitten nails digging into the ice-bit skin of his hands , the muscles in his jaw flexing as he ground his molars together . " jesus , " he coughed through his frayed amusement , brows furrowing , an almost pained smile gracing his features as he found the strength to lift his head back up and cast a glance kingston's way . " you guys went through it , from what i heard. . . " he trailed , testing the waters — gently wading . waiting , with bated breath , to see if kingston wanted to talk about what had happened the night of the storm or simply let it go .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏�� ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ he was praying for the latter .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ his marbled eyes , glazed with fatigue , moved back towards the camp . it looked like a scene right out of a horror movie ; mist rolling along the green , seeming to seep into the camp from the woods itself . an inky black sky peppered in stars blinked down at them , the moon hung low in the sky , almost as if it feared what it would see if it rose too high and was able to peer over the mountain peaks and see them directly .

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ " one of a kind is definitely a way to describe it , " tom huffed , eyes rolling , lifting one of his hands to press its heel to his throbbing temple . " — least it's only a week , right ?? get the footage we need. . . then get the fuck outta here ." then , cursed beneath his breath ; " i never wanna see this place again . "

❝ Felt like it was going to become one for a minute there, ❞ Kingston admitted, his tone a little too serious to be a joke, the thought of the water, violent and unforgiving, still fresh on his mind. He wasn't sure what was more terrifying . . . the idea that he and Reeve could have been the next faces on missing posters, or the realization that he wasn't terrified at all. When he slipped, as it carried them away, he wasn't oblivious to what was going on, the thought that he could die was on the forefront of his mind. And he hadn't cared.

Marcus was heavy on his mind ; lying in bed, feverish, he had refused to look in the corner of the room, sure he was being stared, a matching pair of eyes that only knew who his own belonged to. Perhaps his brush with fate had brought them closer together, again. He wondered, was that what he had felt in his final moments? When the glass surrounded his brother, was he aware? Was he relieved?

Clearing his throat, he swallowed thickly before speaking again. ❝ It has a . . . one of a kind feel to it, that's for sure. Bit of nothingness. ❞ He couldn't say that it bothered him, really. In another life, Kingston may actually like this place, somewhere that felt so heavy with ghosts and secrets . . . but enough of those surrounded him no the day to day, he had no desire to seek more out. ❝ You know, I guess when you think about it, a man that has everything has to want nothing. ❞

[seeinghcsts]

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎IT WERE AS if the groupchat had manifested him running into every single one of them today. how he managed to go almost a whole year with seeing none of them , save for cam & eliza , to not being able to escape them ?? his shot glass hit the bar with a pathetic thunk, coming down so heavily it tilted on its rounded rim and fell on its side. the remaining drop or two of bourbon that had been left within slid along the rounded glass before rolling over the lip of its edge and forming a pitifully small puddle atop warped wood. no amount of alcohol would clean up the mess in his head , the gut-wrenching distress that came with having to face demons he thought they were done grappling with.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎well , at least ONE demon. one with a name , and a face , and a social security number that was now off somewhere in the mountains. dead or alive — as if thomas cared either way.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎hearing kingston, then the squeal of bar stool legs on linoleum, the elder ortesky lifted his head and let his marbled gaze drift to the others. kingston — the neutral one , at least in tom's eyes. " mentally preparing is a way to put it , " he huffed, dragging a hand down his face , cheeks rouged from the two empty shot glasses that sat besides the one he had just set down to join them. thomas then glanced at the man, eyeing hin skeptically.

‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎" you're mentally preparing ?? thought you were all about this idea. "

𝙇𝙊𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉: 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙪𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙧  𝙁𝙊𝙍: 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 ( @seeinghcsts )

He wasn't about to say it in the group chat, seeing how everyone was ganging up on the other man . . . but Kingston thought Thomas had a point. In fact, he might have been the only one talking sense. Packing up everyone that had been involved with Luke the night of his disappearance and heading back to the scene of the crime, then to film it all, sounded like a recipe for disaster. But Reeve was his friend — right? — and he'd asked for his help. And as far as he was concerned, there were a few pros to going back that he didn't want to spell out in a message linked to his name. ❝ I see we had the same idea, ❞ he spoke, settling into the open stool next to Thomas, waving the bartender over to order a bourbon. He felt like his chest was going to cave in if he didn't get something in his system soon ; all of this, and the possible consequences, were feeling more and more real as the day progressed. Despite his own anxiety, and the realization that Thomas probably wanted to be left alone, his smile was friendly, charming. It was not his own. ❝ Mentally preparing for our little vacation? ❞