fictor | For adamparrish Post The Raven King

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For adamparrish Post The Raven King

Adam had been at college for exactly one semester. He came home, back to the Barns, on a regular basis, but Ronan hadn't been to his dorm room at all. He hadn't wanted to say goodbye to Adam so he'd helped him pack, offered an insult or two and sent him off to college. He understood that Adam needed to leave this place, that he needed to go away to become the person that he wants to be. On the outside, Ronan had played it cool (of course), but on the inside, he'd been a mess when Adam had left. College was a whole different world, one that Ronan didn't fit into. It was a world where Adam would meet all kinds of people. Maybe, it was a world where Adam would become someone who didn't love Ronan. His mess of insecurities kept him up at night (as if he wasn't insomniatic enough) but they also motivated him. He was slowly building his cattle business, working on the Barns, getting the house in order. Opal kept him busy as well. It was weird to be in Henrietta without Adam, without Gansey or Noah, even without Blue. Matthew was busy at school, but he saw him every Sunday alongside Declan in the church pew.

After all of these months, Ronan is finally going to Adam's dorm room. He's so busy with finals that he can't come home and Ronan doesn't want to spend another weekend without him. Matthew is staying at the Barns to feed the cattle and watch out for Opal, who is still more wild thing than girl. The BMW gets parked next to the Pig, which Adam has temporary possession of while Gansey is busy traveling the world (probably because Adam is the only one who can keep it running). Ronan shrugs on his leather jacket, shoves Chainsaw in his backpack and shoulders it before starting toward the dorm building. He glares at everyone he passes and most of them shrink away ~~that makes him feel better~~, but when he stands in front of Adam's door, he just feels awkward. He knocks then runs a hand over his freshly shaven head and shifts his weight.

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Four months and nine days. That's how long Adam Parrish has been away from Ronan Lynch. Only the fact that Adam is wired to work harder than anybody else has gotten him through the semester. Noah is gone. Gansey and Blue are off exploring the world. Ronan has been at the Barns. And Adam has been adrift without them, especially without Ronan. Late night phone conversations just weren't the same. Ronan and Adam have had a few though, Adam tells Ronan he misses him, Ronan responds with some profanity and Adam knows that Ronan misses him too.

Four months and nine days. Adam has counted each of them. Another two weeks and he's going home for a week-long break between the Spring and Summer semesters. Yes, Adam is an overachiever.

Here's a surprise: Adam Parrish is homesick. Not for Henrietta or that place made for leaving. He's been homesick for the Barns, Opal, Chainsaw and Ronan. He's been homesick for Gansey and Blue and Noah. He's been homesick for Cabeswater.

The knock at his door is surprising. No one ever knocks on his door, at least not after the first few weeks when they'd tried to invite him out to parties and Adam had declined. Now they all know that Adam will be studying so they don't bother anymore.

He gets up from the desk in his room, sets his pen down and goes to the door. A click of the lock and the door swings open. Adam's heart is in his throat. Adam stares. Adam wants to throw himself at Ronan. He doesn't though.

"Four months and nine days." He says.

Late night phone conversations aren't the same, but they're better than nothing and when Ronan is roaming the barns, not sleeping, not dreaming, at all hours of the night, he knows that Adam will be up studying or that Adam won't mind being woken. He prefers the late night phone calls to anything said during the light of day because at least at night, Ronan feels close to Adam. He can imagine Adam in his dorm room studying much the way he studied in his room above St Agnes. He can't imagine Adam in classes or on campus; that is a new Adam that Ronan doesn't know yet and that Adam scares him. Ronan misses Adam. He misses Adam with an ache and a hollowness that he never imagined he would feel. He misses Adam so much that if he were to say the words they would destroy him so Ronan swears when Adam says he misses him and he hopes that Adam knows that he misses him too.

Ronan never expected Adam to be anything but an overachiever. Sure, being on a scholarship lends itself to that, but even more than that, it's a part of who and what Adam is. Half-way doesn't seem to be in Adam's DNA the same way that easy isn't. Adam has been homesick for everything at the Barns, for Blue, for Gansey, for Noah, but all of Ronan's reasons for being homesick are people. Nothing seems the same without his friends there and Ronan has been particularly snarly because of it. Opal comments on it every chance she gets.

In some ways, that is comforting to Ronan. He's imagined Adam in a dozen different scenarios here at college. It's a relief to know that studying and going to class are really Adam's only activities. That's probably very selfish of him. He should probably tell Adam to go out with friends, to make friends, to be social. Instead, the only advice Ronan gives Adam about blowing off steam and relieving stress involve the Pig and speeds that are far too fast to be safe.

The moment he hears the lock click, nerves race up and down Ronan's skin. Maybe he shouldn't have come. Maybe he should have warned Adam first. After all, Ronan realizes that he should always come with a warning, but he'd wanted to surprise his boyfriend. Ronan is fairly sure that Adam can hear his heart thudding in his chest. He's also fairly sure he's going to have a heart attack right here outside this door. It's a relief when Adam finally speaks.

"Four hours and forty-five minutes." Ronan has been counting too. "It should have been six. I broke fucking laws of physics getting here so are you going to let me in?"

There's a definite sort of relief in the knowledge that Adam isn't the only one who's been counting the days since his leaving Henrietta for college. Not to mention that Adam is the last one who would have ever thought he'd leave parts of his heart in a place that had so rarely been kind to him. Ronan is probably the last one who would ever let himself be regaled as a kindness to anyone. Maybe that lack of kindnesses is what makes Ronan, and all that Ronan means to Adam, all the more powerful. Maybe that lack of kindness is what makes Ronan be what he is to Adam.

At the bottom of the well of emotions upon seeing Ronan here and now and after what feels like so long a time is a simple truth: Adam has missed Ronan and all the things that go with Ronan. That includes Opal. That includes Chainsaw. That includes the Barns and fast cars and Henrietta itself. Most importantly, and the center focal point of all of these things, is his boyfriend.

Adam Parrish has a boyfriend. His boyfriend is Ronan Lynch. Adam repeats this to himself often just because with this distance the repetition of it makes it all the more true. He's missed his boyfriend.

He feels a flutter of nerves too upon seeing him. Then he dips his head and reaches out for Ronan's hand to gently pull him into the room. The problem with touching Ronan Lynch is that once it's done, it can't be undone. Once it's done, Adam has a hard time not touching. He pushes the door closed and locks it, then he looks at Ronan up and down.

"Physics never really applies to you anyway." There's a Kerah! from Ronan's backpack and Adam smirks. That's enough reason to make him let go of Ronan's hand. Ronan will need both hands to let Chainsaw out. "Well, I guess you should release the kraken."

In that case, Ronan is glad that he told Adam, but it wasn't calculated. He'd said it simply because it was the truth. That's what Ronan has been afraid of: that Adam wouldn't leave parts of his heart in Henrietta. He doesn't want Adam to hurt, but he does want Adam to love him, more than he has ever wanted anything in his entire life. Ronan isn't kind, and he will be the first to argue that, but when it comes to Adam, he is kind; he is vulnerable and he is soft. Adam brings out all those pieces of him.

Really, that's the only thing that makes this bearable for Ronan, knowing that he is missed, that the Barns and Henrietta, Opal and Chainsaw are missed. It gives him hope that Adam will come back to him one day.

Ronan often reminds himself of the same thing. He sketches Adam, trying to get everything just right about his boyfriend. It sends fluttery feelings trickling through him when he says those words to himself: Adam Parrish is his boyfriend.

Relief washes through Ronan when Adam takes his hand and pulls him into the room. He leans back into it ever so slightly simply to make that tug seem more solid. A sharp grin slices across his face as he steps over the threshold into Adam's room. The relief is followed by an ache of wanting, by fire that burns under his skin. He's very still while Adam looks him up and down. HIs eyes are busy devouring Adam as well. He's waited a long time for this.

It's just as well that Chainsaw interrupts them because Ronan doesn't know what to say to that. He doesn't know what to do in this moment. His lips twist into a smirk at Adam's words. "She's going to destroy so much shit." Though Ronan won't let her destroy anything that matters. "She's pretty pissed about being in the car that long." He unzips the backpack and Chainsaw shoots out of the back, flying straight to the top of Adam's head where she lands and starts nuzzling and tugging on Adam's hair. She also nips at the tops of his ears.

"Stupid bird missed you. I've got like five thousand fucking crayon drawings Opal made for you in here." He grabs a manila envelope out of his backpack and tosses it on the nearest surface.

Adam doesn't really mind if things are destroyed, especially not if it's Chainsaw doing the destroying. Otherwise Adam can be meticulous about anything that's his. He's always had so little, it's hard to see anything of his destroyed when it doesn't have to be. He makes allowances for Chainsaw, Opal and Ronan that he wouldn't make for anyone or anything else.

How can a few short months feel like a lifetime? Ronan looks the same after all this time, of course. But the mind and the eyes, with distance and longing put between them, play tricks with a person. So while Ronan looks the same as he did when Adam left, there are also differences, small, minute, only noticeable to someone who is well aware of every line, sharp edge and contour of another person as Adam is with Ronan.

"I'd be pissed if I were her too." While Chainsaw isn't your ordinary raven, Adam always thinks birds in cages are sad things. Why lock a thing up when it's meant to fly? While Chainsaw is never and will never be put in a cage, she needs to be able to spread her wings.

Adam almost smiles with the raven atop his head. He ducks his head and lifts his shoulders because the pecking at his hair and ears tickles. "I missed her too." And by that, he missed her and Opal and Ronan... mostly Ronan. The nearest surface is the top of the desk in the sparse dorm room. Adam's notes scatter a bit when the envelope skids to a stop on the surface.

He's still staring at Ronan. "I didn't expect you to come here." But his expression clearly says that he's so glad to see Ronan. Seeing Ronan is the boost he'd needed. He's been so homesick for Ronan lately. Maybe Ronan could hear that in his voice on the phone. Maybe not.

It's sort of what Chainsaw does. She destroys Ronan's stereo equipment; she shreds paper and empties the trash out onto the floor. She picks things apart. As for Ronan, sometimes he does destroy things. He knows that Adam makes allowances for him, for Chainsaw, for Opal. He knows it's because Adam loves them.

TIme is an elastic thing. Ronan knows this and yet he was unprepared for this lifetime of distance from Adam. Ronan is more at peace, despite missing Adam, than he has been in a long time. He's doing what he wants to do with his life. In some ways, he is softer than he was before. He is less angry for certain. He notices minute differences in Adam as well. He thinks they're good changes, but he's not entirely certain yet. Either way, he could spend hours looking at Adam, especially now that he's allowed to look at him.

"She woulda been more pissed if I'd left her." It's true. Chainsaw isn't often in a cage. He only puts her in one when it's for her own safety or if there's something particular he doesn't want her to destroy. Now that he's at the Barns full time, Chainsaw is free all of the time. She's definitely not a caged bird. She's not quite a wild thing either. She and Ronan have a lot in common.

He knows what Adam's words mean the same way that he's sure Adam knows when Ronan says Chainsaw missed him that he's saying he missed Adam. After a few seconds, Chainsaw moves from Adam's head to the trashcan. She turns it over and starts picking through it, shredding paper.

Ronan shrugs a little. "Matthew said he'd stay with Opal and feed the animals and shit." He swallows hard after a moment. "I would have come sooner," he finally admits, "I didn't--" he pauses and scowls. "I didn't want to be a distraction." He could hear the homesickness in Adam's voice, or he thought he had. After another pause, Ronan steps toward Adam, reaching out to grab his wrist and tug him closer.

There are so many ways in which Adam and Ronan have taken huge leaps forward. They hold hands in public. They kiss. They press their shoulders against one another. They openly look at each other. They share entire conversations in a single look. And then there are words, words that can build entire civilizations or tear down mountains, words that are sometimes the most difficult of all. They both still dance around each other with words, saying one thing and hoping the other will understand the truth lying beneath those words. Eventually, they get to the truth of the matter, but sometimes they take the scenic route to get there.

For example: Adam missed Chainsaw. What he means is that he missed Ronan. Or, Adam was homesick. He wasn't homesick for Henrietta. He wanted out of Henrietta. He wanted out of that trailer park. He was homesick for Ronan.

Now Ronan is standing in front of him. The world seems a little bit more sure of itself. Adam's place in the world seems to click into place, like two right puzzle pieces snapping into place with one another.

When Ronan uses the term 'distraction' in regard to himself, Adam automatically shakes his head. Then, he thinks that's silly. If anything or anyone is a distraction, it's Ronan Lynch. But he isn't a bad distraction. Adam is drawn to him in every way. Ronan is good for Adam.

He exhales a held breath when Ronan grabs his wrist and pulls him closer. Ronan might be standing in Adam's dorm room, but Ronan fills up an entire space just by existing in it. If that weren't the case, Adam is definitely now standing in Ronan's space. "You're the only distraction I want." Adam says, then he leans in to kiss Ronan, semi-awkward, but honest and wanting. Kissing Ronan Lynch is still something new and shiny and edging on rebellious.

Adam feels more right in his own skin in Ronan's space with his lips pressed to Ronan's than he ever has in his life.

In most people's eyes, it's clear that Adam and Ronan are a couple. That's huge and so far from the looks that glance off each other and the touches that aren't really touching at all, that are too fleeting and only make them want more. Yes, they still dance around each other with words, and with Ronan, they might always dance around each other with words. Actions work so much better for both of them, especially now that they're free to act on those actions.

And when Ronan says Chainsaw missed Adam, what he means is that he missed Adam. He's sure the raven missed Adam as well, that's apparent, but that's not what he means. At least they both understand each other.

Ronan finally feels like he can breathe with Adam here in front of him. All of his nerves disappear and he feels like himself.

Yeah, Ronan isn't buying that he's not a distraction either. He knows how distracting and annoying he can be. Even when he's trying to be still, trying to be quiet, he's a distraction. However, Adam isn't sending him away so he'll stay here and be a distraction, at least for the weekend before he drives back to Henrietta and waits patiently until Adam comes home for the holidays or Summer break.

When Adam leans into to kiss Ronan, every other fear and insecurity that Ronan had about coming here disappear. He slides his hand up Adam's arm to the back of his neck and pulls him closer, deeper into the kiss. HIs other hand slides to Adam's waist then to the small of his back.

Ronan could get used to this sort of distraction.

Kissing Ronan Lynch is like leaning in close to a rattle snake and having it lick your face instead of attack. It feels both dangerous and safe at the same time. Ronan could always bite, but Adam knows that Ronan won't hurt him. And truthfully, Ronan might look all rattle snake on the outside, but Adam knows that on the inside Ronan is something much softer than that.

Adam has no idea how or when touching and kissing Ronan became so easy. Maybe they've been easing into it for so long that it's never had the chance to be anything but easy. Either way, kissing Ronan feels good, like something he's been waiting for for much longer than just a semester worth of months.

Adam's roommate is almost always sleeping at his girlfriend's place. Adam likes it that way. They usually just see each other in passing. It's just Adam's luck that the door swings open at that moment.

He pulls back and looks over to Barry. His fingers are still hooked into Ronan's bracelets.

"Oh hey." Barry says. "Didn't know you had company. You know there should be a sock on the door, right?" He grins jokingly and then holds a hand out to Ronan. He doesn't seem to judge Adam's and Ronan's kiss. He doesn't seem to blink twice at Adam's finger hooked into Ronan's bracelets. "I'm Barry. Adam's roommate. I was beginning to think he didn't do anything but study."

For Ronan, kissing Adam is like driving too fast, but he also feels grounded when he kisses Adam. He feels safe and solid, like his world might not implode. It's Cabeswater and dreaming, a high that he once constantly chased captured in a brief moment between he and Adam. It's everything that defines happiness for Ronan. Adam is one of the few people that sees that softer side of Ronan and no, he won't ever hurt Adam, not intentionally.

From the first kiss, it's always been easy for Ronan. It was that first kiss, everything that led up to, all the anxiety and waiting that was hard. Sometimes, Ronan thinks he's been waiting to kiss Adam for years rather than months.

When Barry walks into the room, Ronan is defenseless, vulnerable and soft. It takes him a moment to pull out of the daze that kissing Adam puts him in, but when he does, his defensive, intimidating facade flies up. Ronan squares his shoulders, tilts his chin up and glares at Barry. He's ready to punch Barry.

It takes Ronan a moment to realize that Barry isn't really giving him a reason to be defensive. He hesitates then softens slightly. He finally takes Barry's hand and shakes it once before nodding and smirking that rattlesnake smile. "Ronan Lynch and when I'm not here, he doesn't do anything else." Does he sound like a cocky ass? Well, that would be because he's not dropping his defenses much. Sorry, Adam.

Of course, Ronan doesn't know that for sure, but he knows what Adam is like in Henrietta and he knows that without Gansey, Noah, Blue and himself, Adam would do nothing but work or study. He (hopes) assumes that Adam is the same here.

There's a long, drawn-out moment here, a moment that feels like much more than just a moment, where Adam feels anxiety spike up inside of him. It has nothing to do with Ronan and everything to do with Barry seeing Adam's truth. Adam doesn't open up to people. He doesn't let people really see him unless they matter. It's hard to maintain that shield when Adam's heart is laid so bare with Ronan here.

Barry isn't such a bad person, not really. He just isn't someone Adam would try to befriend. Barry parties a lot. Barry has no problem skipping classes and squandering his parent's money. Barry isn't a bad guy. He's just your average college student. Adam tries not to be average.

When Ronan seems to notice that Barry is not a threat, Adam relaxes a bit too.

At that cocky response from Ronan, Barry arches a brow and seems to look at Adam in a new light. Adam can't decide if Barry is confused about what a guy like Ronan is doing with a guy like him or if Barry has a newfound respect for Adam because of Ronan. Either way, Adam kind of wants to punch him in the face.

"You're telling me." Barry says to Ronan. "I mean we try to get him to go out all the time but he always stays in to study. We finally quit asking... mostly."

Barry turns on Adam and claps a hand on his shoulder. "But hey, man. There's another party at Sean's tonight if you wanna come and bring Ronan."

"Oh, I..." Adam shakes his head, hesitates, looks to Ronan. He could say he was studying, but with Ronan here that is obviously not going to be the case. He's lost his excuse for bowing out.

Ronan doesn't give a fuck what Barry thinks, but he doesn't want to make Adam's life here harder than it has to be. He's willing to beat Barry half to death if he blinks the wrong way. Fortunately, that's not an issue.

He could have worse room mates. Ronan is just glad that he doesn't make things more difficult for Adam. Average is something that most people can live alongside if they have to, and Ronan knows that Adam has to for now. He's never even thought about offering to get Adam an apartment.

Wanting to punch someone in the face is a constant with Ronan. He's content enough that Barry doesn't make some asinine comment. Beyond that, Ronan is crap at judging what people are thinking and he can't puzzle out Barry's reaction to Adam.

Ronan smirks at Barry's response to him. "Yeah, well Adam happens to be a fucking genius." He shrugs in a 'maybe you should listen to him or leave him alone' sort of way.

At the invitation, Ronan's eyebrows go up. He watches Adam for a moment, the corner of his mouth twisting up in a smile that anyone with half a brain would be afraid of. "Might stop by for a little while," he responds.

Long enough to parade Adam around, let everyone know he's off limits then he and Adam can go have their own party.

The look Adam gives Ronan when he agrees to go to the party is barely noticeable to most, only noticeable to those who know Adam very, very well, only noticeable to people like Ronan Lynch. Adam looks like he was just utterly betrayed. Not the worst kind of betrayal, but betrayal, nonetheless.

Adam has never been a party person. He's never been a large gathering kind of person. He's never been a 'going out' kind of person. Ronan knows all of these things. And yet...

That frightful smile when Ronan agrees to go is enough to make Adam's stomach twist strangely. Not in fear, but because he gets why Ronan might want to go and it makes him feel... special. No one has ever wanted Adam he way Ronan wants Adam.

"Really?" Barry sounds surprised. He should sound surprised. "That's awesome!" Barry also backs away from both Adam and Ronan. "I'll text you the address, Adam. See you tonight, Ronan."

Barry leaves the room and Adam is still staring at Ronan. His gaze never left Ronan. It probably won't leave Ronan for awhile. "What was that?" He asks.

Ronan notices that look and for a moment he feels bad. He doesn't want to betray Adam. He wants him to have fun. With him, but he also thinks that Adam should probably do at least some of the typical college things. That's being a good boyfriend, right? He doesn't want him to finish college and regret that he never did x or y.

Don't worry; Ronan isn't a party person either. He doesn't like crowds. He usually ends up punching people. The chances that they'll stay for long are very slim, but if they go and make an appearance, maybe everyone will ease up on Adam a little, or maybe Adam will make some friends. Mostly, everyone will know that Adam is off the market and even if Ronan wanted to lie to himself (he doesn't), that's important to him.

It's good that Adam understands Ronan's reason behind agreeing to go to the party. He certainly doesn't want his boyfriend to think it's betrayal. Adam is special in Ronan's eyes, and Ronan definitely wants him. He has since the day he got the right answer in Latin before him (he's such a secret nerd).

Ronan nods at Barry's surprise, smirking a little more. "See ya, Man," he mumbles as Barry leaves.

Ronan meets Adam's gaze now, his brows slightly lifted, almost a challenge on his expression. He shrugs at Adam's question. "We're going to a college party. Check it off the list of shit you're supposed to do when you're in college."

For a moment, Adam just looks at Ronan like he might try to back out of it. Then he shakes his head and presses his lips together to keep from doing that. Also, now Barry knows that Adam has a boyfriend. Knowing Barry, he's already told everyone in the .2 seconds he's been out the door. Not that it bothers Adam that much, he's just not ingratiated himself into the scene here, the people and the environment.

All Adam Parrish does is study and work and do what he needs to do to get top marks in his classes. Then he calls Ronan. Barry has asked who he talks to. Just a friend, Adam always says.

"You know what those guys do? They skip classes and drink and party and talk about sex and who did the longest keg stand and what girl they're with this week or the next."

He smirks and goes over to the desk, marking his place in a school book with a piece of paper and closing it. Chainsaw can chew away on whatever, but Adam is securing the school book and his notes.

"I have nothing in common with them." He says. "It's gonna be weird."

Ronan knows this is probably hard for Adam to do. He also knows Adam needs to do it. It's part of the whole college experience and while he doesn't want Adam going to all kinds of parties without him (he's far too jealous) he's here now and there's no reason why he shouldn't go. Ronan doesn't care if Barry tells everyone (in fact, he'd rather he did) and he knows that Adam is finally okay with being totally out like this, but he also knows that too is new to him.

Back home, Ronan spends most of his time at the Barns with the animals and Opal. Occasionally he'll go race or get into a fight. He's calmed down a lot in the last several months. He doesn't feel like he's chafing at a bit, being forced to do everything he doesn't want to do.

Ronan shrugs a little. That's not entirely the point. Really, the point is to let everyone, male and female alike, know that Adam is taken. It's also an experience for both of them. Even more than that, it's a very public date and they haven't had the chance to go on one of those. "So I'll show them how to really do a keg stand," he smirks.

While Adam is securing things for Chainsaw, Ronan gets a few things out of his backpack for Chainsaw: a box of day old broccoli beef that he sets on the floor and a dish of water. He looks up at Adam when he speaks.

"So if it's weird, we'll leave and go do something just the two of us." Which is how they'll end the night anyway. "They'll probably have shit beer there. Wanna grab something good to take?"

It really shouldn't surprise Adam that Ronan might know how to do a keg stand, but it's surprising enough that Ronan gets a look from Adam. He's trying to imagine it, wondering who in the world Ronan might have done a keg stand with, in what crowd and when. The only thing he can come up with is Kavinsky.

Really, in the grand scheme of things, he's been in Ronan's life for a very small amount of time. Sometimes that realization surprises Adam too. His life always boils down to before Gansey and after Gansey. As of right now, there's a lot more of one half than the other.

Truth be told Adam would much prefer it just be the two of them. He gets why Ronan wants him to do this though. He loves Ronan Lynch enough to oblige just this once.

"I'm not old en-..." What is he thinking? Neither he nor Ronan are old enough to purchase alcohol. But a Lynch can get anything they want. Adam has witnessed this first hand. "I'll stay in the car at the liquor store."

Ronan sees that look and shrugs at it. He's not wrong about where Ronan learned to do a keg stand. Kavinsky threw crazy parties even before he started dreaming hard enough to bankrupt the ley lines. He'd been incredibly self-destructive right after Niall had died and Kavinsky had offered plenty of chances for Ronan to destroy himself. Keg stands were the least of it.

True enough, but Adam will be in Ronan's life for the rest of his life if Ronan has anything to say about it. That's gotta count for something, right? Ronan is fully aware that at some point after Adam finishes college, Ronan will ask him to marry him.

Ronan knows that and he won't ask him to indulge him for long. When the night is over, Adam will be able to say he's gone to a college party and, Ronan hopes, that he won't feel like he missed something later in his life.

His unfinished sentence gets a smirk out of Ronan. He's had a fake ID since before Niall died. This isn't Henrietta, but Ronan is fairly certain his ID will still hold up. "Anything in particular you want me to grab?" he asks as they start out the door to the car.

Both Ronan and Adam have their own ways of destroying themselves. Ronan's are more tangible. Adam's are more internal. He's his own worst enemy. As horrible as this facet of their personalities are, it's also just a part of their makeup. Kavinsky is no longer in the picture. If he ever were, it wouldn't be pretty. Adam would consider punching him in the face. Kavinsky would retaliate in a way that he'd think would impress Ronan. Adam is no match for Kavinsky and he knows it.

They get out of the dorm and head toward Ronan's car. Adam isn't the kind to drink to get shit faced except when he's only around Ronan and he feels safe enough to do so. He'd watched his dad get shit faced enough for a lifetime and it put a sour taste for it in his mouth. Also, he likes to be in control of himself in general. So he probably won't drink too much.

"I'll just have one of whatever you have." Adam says, sliding into the passenger seat of the car. "There's a liquor store two blocks East of here once you get out of the parking lot."

Ronan hopes that Adam is getting better about being self destructive. Ronan knows that he's getting better because of Adam. Ronan doesn't hate himself as much as he used to. That doesn't mean that his self destructive streak is gone. He knows that Adam's self destructive streak won't ever really go away either. It really is just a part of their makeup. No, Kavinsky isn't a part of the picture and even if he were alive, Ronan wouldn't want him to be a part of the picture. Kavinsky was horrible for Ronan in every way that Adam is good for him.

Getting drunk really isn't the point of this party. Ronan will probably get pleasantly buzzed and let Adam drive home, but he's got no reason to get smashed. There's nothing about this weekend that he wants to forget, nothing he wants to obliterate. In fact, this weekend is all about the opposite.

"I'm just going to grab a few Guinness," he decides as he starts the car up. He knows Adam likes Guinness well enough and it's a beer for sipping, not for getting smashed. It's easy enough to find the liquor store and once Ronan does, he parks the car, leaving it running. He goes into the store, gets his Guinness along with a couple of flavored Redbulls. The guy at the counter gives him a dubious look which Ronan answers with an upward tilt of his chin, a look that dares the guy to say anything about his ID which says that Ronan is 24 and an ex Marine. Finally, the guy mumbles something about 'thank you for your service' and hands over the paper bag of booze.

Ronan takes the bag out to the car and hands it over to Adam. "There's a couple of redbulls in there for us for later." Because he's got no intention of going home to sleep.

Adam waits out in the car for Ronan. Guinness is a good sign because it means that hopefully neither one of them will make a fool of themselves in spite of the previous keg stand topic. Adam would like not to be the topic of conversation in the dorm and in his classes for more than a week at most. He's best when he's flying under the radar and then succeeding at the things he wants to succeed in.

While Ronan is in the store, Adam programs the address of the party into the GPS. It's in a place called Fraternity Row because of all the Frat houses in the area.

He smirks at the combination that Ronan bought. "Red bull and Guinness? You inventing a new drink?"

Yes, he knows Ronan isn't inventing a new drink. And the look he gives Ronan says that he's good with staying up most of the night too. He's still kind of in that state of shock that Ronan is even here. It makes him happy, as happy as Adam Parrish ever gets.

Well, Ronan won't turn down a dare for a keg stand if it comes up, but he's got no intention of losing his mind tonight or embarrassing Adam. He's even going to try and avoid punching people.

Ronan smirks in response. "One's for the exclusive after party. You and I are the only ones invited." Ronan is equally as happy in this moment. He's not shocked that he's here the way Adam is, but he is still incredibly happy about being here.

He starts the car and heads in the direction the lady on the GPS says. It's not too far before they arrive. Ronan pulls the car over to the curb, preferring to park on the street so that they can get away quick. He gets out of the car, grabs the Guinness then walks around to meet Adam on the other side.

At mention of an exclusive after party, Adam feels his insides pulse with something unnameable. He almost smiles again and then looks out of the window as they drive. He's missed this car. He's missed the feel of it. Mostly, he's missed the one driving it.

At the frat house, Adam takes a deep breath and gets out of the car. This is not his scene, not his crowd. He almost feels like he's walking onto the Aglionby campus for the first time again, by himself, knowing that everyone there was somehow better than him just because they grew up with a golden spoon to feed them.

Only now he's not alone. Now he knows these people aren't better than him. He's just nervous in an unfamiliar environment.

His fingers gently touch Ronan's as they walk to the door and inside. The music is thumping loud. Couples are dancing in the large living room. People are standing around with solo cups or beer bottles in their hands.

Adam doesn't see anyone he knows right away. But as they walk through the house, Adam's fingers lace with Ronan's, they find the kitchen and one guy yells at him.

"Parrish! You came!" Barry smiles brightly. "Everyone this is my roomie I'm always trying to get out of the dorm. We finally broke him down."

Everyone in the kitchen woo's loudly. There's a keg. There's a big cooler filled with something pink that Adam knows is trashcan punch.

"And this is his boyfriend Ronan." Barry adds.

There's another round of whoops and hollers, people toasting them. Adam is blushing.

"Looks like you brought the good beer." One boy says. Then he nods at Adam. "Hey man. Good to see you out. I didn't know you..." He glances at Ronan and back. "I mean that's cool."

"Ronan, this is Izzy. He lives on my hall." Adam says.

Ronan has missed absolutely everything about this. He's soaking it in, watching Adam out of the corner of his eye and storing all of this up for when he's back at the Barns by himself. Surprising Adam this weekend was definitely a good idea and something he'll do more often.

No one here is better than Adam. Ronan will make sure everyone knows it if necessary. He knows it's not Adam's scene or his crowd, but that doesn't mean they can't have fun then go back to Adam's room, or rent a hotel room if that's what Adam would rather do. Ronan doesn't care. He just wants to be with Adam regardless of where. Besides, it's not really Ronan's crowd or scene either. It's just something to do, something normal and public.

And Ronan won't leave him alone here.

Ronan leads the way, staying just ahead of Adam with their fingers laced tightly as they weave through the people. He's got the six pack of Guinness in the other hand.

It's actually a relief to see Barry and the introduction makes Ronan feel better about dragging Adam to this thing. Maybe he was right and it is something Adam needed to do. Ronan lifts his chin up in that standard 'boy' greeting, a smirk playing around the corners of his lips. The whoops and hollers are good. This is a surprise for their first outing, but a good one. Ronan had been afraid he'd have to hit someone here.

"Yeah. I'll drink the shit, but that's for when I want to get trashed." Or he goes straight for the whiskey. His eyes narrow when the guy starts talking to Adam. He can almost feel the need to punch someone rise and then the guy smooths it over. Ronan responds by putting the six pack of beer on the counter.

"Hey," he says to Izzy. He fishes a bottle out of the six pack and holds it out to Izzy to take then he'll grab a bottle for himself and one for Adam.

"You wanna get trashed, try some of the pink-ish red stuff in the cooler." Barry tells Ronan with a waggle of his eyebrows. "It's got basically every kind of liquor in it but it tastes like kool-aid."

"No thanks. Think we'll stick with this." Adam picks up a bottle opener from the counter and pops the top of Ronan's beer, then his own. Then, as an afterthought and because he thinks it would be rude not to since Ronan gave him one, he pops the top from Izzy's beer too.

Izzy smiles at Adam and says a quiet 'thanks' to both Ronan and him.

"Oh come on, Parrish. Don't tell us you're going back to the dorm and studying with your boyfriend in town." Another guy says. "You can afford to have a little fun."

"Got a lot of catching up to do." Izzy adds with a grin.

"Also, I'm staying at my girlfriend's tonight, just so you know." Barry says around a grin.

Adam can literally feel the heat rising in his skin and is sure he's every shade of red. He takes a healthy swig of his beer and eyes the trashcan punch. "It's cool, man. Whatever." He says with a shrug, hoping it comes off as uncaring.

"Oh man, Parrish. Look at you!" One guy says. "And we thought you were such a stiff. Turns out you're pretty damn cool."

Izzy smirks. "A closet everything."

Ronan smirks and shakes his head. "Nah, I'm interested in remembering tonight." Getting trashed is reserved for nights when he can't sleep, nights when he's afraid of what he'll bring out of his dreams. Getting trashed is for forgetting and guilt. None of those things are issues right now and Ronan wants to remember every minute of the time he spends with Adam here.

Adam gets a nod of thanks for popping the top off Ronan's beer. He takes a dip and nods at Izzy as well.

"Who said anything about studying?" Ronan responds without thinking because the hell Adam is going back to the dorm to study.

They'll have plenty of fun, simply not the kind that involves getting drunk and making fools of themselves in public. It's impossible not to notice that Adam is blushing and it makes Ronan grin that sharp, dangerous sort of smile. He reaches out, grabbing Adam's belt loop and stepping a little closer as he takes a sip of his beer. His brows lift, a slight protectiveness, defensiveness washing over him as he glares a little at the guys talking. He looks back to Adam, head tilting a bit, fingers curling tighter in his belt loop. The look he gives to Adam is I can still punch people if I need to.

Adam knows how important it is that Ronan wants to remember tonight. He's spent so much of his life trying to forget that his wanting to remember is something special. Adam feels special. His hand gently squeezes Ronan's just to let him know he gets it and to thank him. Thank him for what exactly? Lots of things. But mostly, right now in this moment, for letting Adam know that he's worth remembering.

On the flip side, he might as well have melted into the floor with Ronan's flippant remark about not studying. Only Ronan Lynch can make Adam want to both kiss him and wring his neck in less than ten seconds.

The other boys react with various noises and cat calling, even applause.

The way Ronan practically curls around him with a finger in his belt loop and turning in close to him is absolutely protective. And Adam knows that look all too well. He shakes his head just slightly, silently communicating that no one needs to get beat up. He has to continue to live around these people after all.

"So what are you doing now, Ronan?" Barry asks.

"Fucking his boyfriend, apparently." One guy says. "Oh, I mean not studying."

There's laughter, all of it good-natured, before Barry expands on his question. "Guess I should've expected that. Okay. What I mean is, you going to college anywhere?"

There's so much of what Ronan and Adam say to each other that's unsaid. It's in the looks that they give each other, in the touches and hand squeezes, in the insults they lob at each other. Ronan nods a little at Adam, telling him that he gets it.

It's his super power. He knows what he's doing as well and he feels absolutely no shame in it.

That's a good reaction, not one he's expected, but then he hasn't had a lot of practice saying things like that in front of people.

He smirks at the comments, but doesn't blush. Ronan doesn't embarrass easily. He simply tilts his chin up in a 'touche' sort of gesture.

He shakes his head a little. "Nah. I'm not really a school sort of guy. I'm raising kosher, pampered, expensive as fuck per pound, grass-fed cattle so rich people can feel better about their hamburgers. I've got a shit ton of land outside of Henrietta." He rolls his neck a little. "What are you majoring in, Barry?"

"Pre law." Barry says with a nod. "So you're a rancher? That's cool. When I think rancher, you're not what I picture... which is what I get for assuming things, right? So my bad."

"Yeah, way to be an asshole, Barry. Not all ranchers look the same." Another guy says.

"Ronan's really good at it. He's also kind of brilliant. Used to give me a lot of competition in classes." Adam feels like bragging a little bit on Ronan, especially in front of these guys. None of them seem to be looking down on Ronan for not going to college, but he's putting the kabosh to that before it happens.

"And we all know you're genius level smart." Barry says to Adam, then studies Ronan again like he's a puzzle that needs figuring out. "College isn't for everyone, right?"

Somehow, that doesn't surprise me. He doesn't say that though. Look at Ronan making progress. Instead he nods a little, smirking when Barry says he doesn't look like a rancher. "Irish Catholic asshole isn't what you automatically think of when you say rancher? Imagine that." He doesn't say it with any venom though. In fact, he's agreeing with Barry.

He shakes his head at the other guy. "People aren't just one thing." What a revelation, actually deep and meaningful, from Ronan.

He side eyes Adam and shakes his head a little. He likes that Adam is bragging on him, but he's not used to anyone bragging on him. The only class Ronan ever really gave Adam competition was Latin and that's because he liked Latin. "Just Latin class," he insists. "Sorta comes naturally to me." He's not even sure why. Maybe it's because he's the greywaren and Latin is their language.

"I'm not big on being told what to do. Authority figures can go fuck themselves," Ronan says as an explanation.

"You're Irish Catholic and you..." Izzy looks back and forth between Ronan and Adam. "...I mean you're both..."

Adam gets that Izzy is trying to work out how they, or Ronan, might be both gay and Irish Catholic at the same time. And it's true that the two don't naturally go together. Ronan is just Ronan. He's all these things at once.

So Adam shrugs. "I'm not really that religious. And Ronan's..." He looks at his boyfriend and shrugs again. "He's just Ronan."

"Time to get out of he dark ages, Izzy. He can be both." Barry says, studying Ronan with a new curiosity.

One of the other guys pumps his fist. "Yeah, that's awesome dude. Way to fight the man!"

"And stereotypes." Barry adds.

Izzy is still watching both Ronan and Adam as if trying to suss out the oddity of them. "That's cool." He finally says.

Ronan smirks, obviously enjoying Izzy's discomfort. He doesn't say anything, just watches Izzy with that smirk on his face, eyebrows lifted, letting him wallow in the awkwardness of it. Every once in awhile, he glances to Adam to make sure he's handling all of this okay.

Finally, he takes a sip of his beer and speaks. "I figure God has a whole hellva lot bigger problems than who I love. I know I've got fuck all bigger sins to confess."

Ronan really is a conundrum. He snorts and shakes his head. "Nah, if I were fighting the man, I'd find someone to punch." Honestly, he just wants people to leave him alone and let him do his thing. Ronan rages a lot less than he used to.

This is not what he expected to find when he came up to see Adam for college, but it's kind of fucking awesome so far.

This is more of a test for the both of them than they've ever really faced before. They haven't been out in public very much since they became something more than friends. There had only been a few months between their first kiss and Adam's going off to college. There just hadn't been time.

In some respect, Adam was thankful for that. Because he can be slow to come around to things and he'd needed to accept the whole boyfriend thing, even with as naturally as it came with Ronan. Now is the time to take it a step further. Aside from the occasional flip-flop of nerves in his belly, Adam thinks he's handling this just fine.

All the boys are staring at Ronan like the conundrum he is. Only Izzy is staring at Adam like he's seeing him through a new light. Also, it could be that Ronan has that carefree attitude that every college aged boy or girl wish they had. Another also, they're all probably wondering if Ronan will punch them or not for getting out of line.

Adam finally cuts into the awkward silence. "So what exactly is in a trash can punch. It doesn't sound very appetizing."

"Oh, hey, it's..." Barry says. "Basically a little bit of every kind of liquor plus fruit punch. You wanna try it?"

For the sake of moving on and not losing face, Adam nods. "Maybe a little bit." He lets go of Ronan's hand to get a solo cup and then scoops out some punch from the trash can. He takes a sip. It tastes like it has no alcohol in it at all. "It's sweet." He offers the glass to Ronan. "Wanna try?"

No, there hadn't been time and there'd been so much to do after everything that happened in Henrietta happened. Plus, he and Adam had had a lot to figure out about themselves and their relationship. With Gansey, Henry and Blue touring the world, Adam and Ronan had spent a lot of time alone or with Opal at the Barns. Public hadn't seemed nearly as appealing as the little world they created for themselves.

As far as Ronan is concerned, Adam is handling it okay. He thinks he could tell if Adam were freaking out and he's definitely not freaking out. He almost seems comfortable here and that's nice to see. As much as Ronan wants Adam to make his life in Henrietta at the Barns with him, he also wants him to have a good life here. He wants him to be happy and have as many experiences as he can.

In typical Ronan fashion, he doesn't take much interest in those staring at him. He's used to being stared at; his image cultivates that reaction. He does note that Izzy is staring at Adam and he's poised to punch him the first time he gets out of line. So the answer to that question is: quite possibly. So far, they've been pretty cool.

When Adam speaks, Ronan's gaze goes back to laser focus on him. He turns his hand so that his fingers brush Adam's, whose fingers are still hooked in his bracelets. That laser focus turns into an amused smirk and he nods his head ever so slightly at Adam. If Adam wants to get trashed, Ronan is okay with it. He'll take care of him.

In his experience, Trash Can Punch can be really good or it can be really terrible. Kavinsky never even tried to make it really good. The stronger the better because then he could laugh at everyone who reacted badly to it.

His attention is back on Adam when he moves to get the punch (really, there's very few moments when Adam doesn't have Ronan's attention). He nods when Adam asks him if he wants to try it. "Sure," he responds, reaching out for the glass, fingers brushing Adam's. He takes a sip of it and shrugs. "Not bad. I'm not really a sweet kind of guy." He prefers his Guinness.

He looks around to the others. "You guys do this often?" The whole party thing, he means.

Adam has had a feeling that Izzy might be in the closet for awhile now. He always looks at boys a little too long and in a certain appreciative sort of way when he thinks they aren't looking. Adam, being one who watches people, has caught him doing it on several occasions. For now, Adam's okay with Izzy looking at him because he's just confirmed himself to have a boyfriend. He does hope that Izzy respects that Adam has a boyfriend.

The other boys continue to size up Ronan, as if trying to figure out the conundrum of a gay, Irish Catholic rancher who looks like he could eat all of them for breakfast. They glance between the two of them as if trying to figure out how Ronan and Adam fit together. It should be noted that all of these are glances as the boys try not to be too conspicuous about trying figure this puzzle out.

As he takes his drink back, Adam shrugs too. He likes sweet things. Although now he's double fisting his beer and his trashcan punch. This isn't exactly how he planned this party. He'll alternate back and forth between the two of them.

"Oh, yeah, all the time! At least two or three times a week. Especially on weekends." Barry says.

Another boy pipes up. "Football weekends are the best time to get shit faced."

Izzy glances at Ronan. "Yeah, we've been trying to get Adam to come out for awhile. He never would."

"Not until you showed up." Barry adds with a grin to Ronan. "Which basically means you should be here every weekend at a minimum. I'm almost always at my girlfriend's place anyway so you and Adam can have the dorm room." He waggles his eyebrows and all the boys in the room snicker and say things like 'oh snap' and 'put a sock on the door knob' and 'time to get it on'.

In that case, Adam and Ronan are probably a good example for him to see. Neither of them are the stereotypical 'gay' men and they're certainly not a stereotypical couple. Ronan isn't observant enough of those that aren't Adam to notice how Izzy looks at him and he trusts Adam can handle Izzy if the boy is attracted to Adam (and why wouldn't he be). If Izzy isn't respectful of Adam having a boyfriend then Adam's boyfriend can take care of it.

There's enough wariness in those glances that Ronan doesn't think twice about them. Let them stare, let them wonder. He knows how well he and Adam fit together and he also knows that it's not always apparent to others how they fit together.

Ronan is going to watch Adam alternate between the two drinks with an amused look. This isn't an environment that he's ever seen Adam in so it's interesting to watch him experience something new. Of course, it's not exactly an environment that Ronan has ever been in either. He wouldn't say he's comfortable here so much as he's apathetic about the environment.

Ronan's lips twist into a sharp smirk as the boys talk about holding parties and getting drunk. "Personally, I like to get shit-faced in church at night, but that's probably just me." He says it to add another layer of 'wtf' to what the boys already think about him, to make everyone a little uncomfortable and maybe to entertain.

At Izzy's words, Ronan's eyes cut to the boy, his gaze narrowing. He pauses a moment, trying to decide how he feels about Adam being pushed to go out when he's not here. "Apparently, getting shit-faced isn't a class," he says. In other words, Adam is there to study and if that's what he wants to do then everyone should back off him. Ronan is protective of Adam and what he wants. Ronan's fingers curl a little tighter in the belt loop of Adam's jeans and he leans a little closer.

He shakes his head a little at that. "You have no damn idea how much I'd like to be here every weekend, but I have cows and deer to feed and a little sister to take care of." Okay, so it's Opal, his dream child, but he can't exactly say that. "My little brother is watching everyone this weekend." But Matthew can't do that every weekend. "Plus," he smirks, "I'm a little bit of a distraction." He waggles his eyebrows, falling right in with the teasing that's swarming around them. He grins at Adam, his hand moving from it's anchor at Adam's belt loops to run up Adam's back and settle at the nape of his neck.

At the comment about getting drunk in church, all the boys seem to look at Ronan with confusion. The moment remains stagnate as they try to decide whether or not Ronan is joking or not, whether or not they should laugh. Adam is keen enough to notice the awkwardness of the moment. He probably doesn't make it any better when he nods and says "No, he really does that."

Slowly, the boys start to laugh and nod. One might even call Ronan bad ass.

He's grateful for Ronan's closeness and his defense of Adam's not partying several nights a week, or ever. It isn't even as if Adam wants to party. He wants to learn and better himself and get on with his life. He's seen enough of drunken Robert Parrish to be unimpressed with the novelty of drunken college kids.

Of course, that doesn't stop him from drinking both his beer and the trash can punch right now. In fact, when they joke about a sock on the door, Adam's face might turn as red as his trash can punch. Yes, Ronan is more than a 'little bit' of a distraction. In fact, Adam mutters it under his breath. The trash can punch might be getting to him. "More than a little bit." Which isn't so quiet that no one can hear it.

The boys whoop and hollar again. One pats Adam on the shoulder.

"I think it's time for a keg stand! Who's in?" Barry says.

Ronan, of course, doesn't do anything to ease the awkwardness or the tension in the room. He smirks when Adam confirms that he does that. Of course, what he doesn't say is that when Ronan is drinking in the church, he's feeling particularly self-loathing and self-destructive, or he's going to dream something dangerous and he wants the safety and sanctuary of the church.

Bad ass is exactly the image Ronan is trying to cultivate. With any luck, this will make Adam's time here easier.

Ronan is all for Adam doing what he needs to do here and getting on with his life, particularly if that life includes him and if Adam were impressed with drunk college kids, Ronan probably wouldn't be here now because Adam wouldn't be the guy he'd fallen in love with.

Tonight, it's safe for Adam to drink what he wants. Ronan will get him home, and he's got no doubt that Adam won't make a habit of this. There's no way he misses the way Adam's face turns red, not with the attention he's paying to Adam. He's still trying to judge how Adam feels about the teasing when Adam mutters. Ronan barks a bit of a laugh and leans in, dipping his head to nip lightly at Adam's neck.

He looks up when Barry says it's time fo ra keg stand. "Well hell yes."

He feels Ronan's lips at his neck and the corners of his lips pinch as if they want to smile but aren't sure if it's appropriate to smile at the attention right now in public. Adam doesn't smile a whole lot as it is. Nevertheless, the intent to smile is there even if it doesn't quite become a full smile. When Ronan pulls away, Adam's gaze follows him, lingering there until he realizes Ronan is looking back and he looks away.

It isn't that Adam is surprised when Ronan agrees to do a keg stand. He's not. It's just not something he ever would have thought to do or that he'd be in a situation to witness and experience. Truthfully, he's not very good at this whole college party thing, or partying in general.

"I've never. No." Adam shakes his head, looking back to Ronan. "You're really gonna keg stand? Can you?"

It shouldn't surprise him. Ronan was one of the people who got invited to Kavinsky's parties awhile back. Adam was never invited because he's not a partier, not a rich kid, nothing like the people who showed up to Kavinsky's parties. He actually takes that as a compliment because, well, Kavinsky.

"Sure he can! Come on, Adam. Watch your boyfriend be awesome." Barry says. "Unless you don't wanna go first, Ronan."

Adam may not smile much, but Ronan has watched him enough, knows him well enough to see that smile that wants to break free. He knows that Adam isn't angry at him for the public affection and that's really all that Ronan cares about in this moment.

And Ronan wouldn't have him any other way, but he is glad that he can give Adam this little bit of normal college life in a safe sort of space.

When Adam asks Ronan if he can do a keg stand, Ronan smirks at him, eyebrows lifting, lip curling.

"Watch and see, Parrish," Ronan tells him as he swaggers over to the keg, followed by the other guys. He turns to look at Adam, to make sure that Adam is watching. Once he's certain of that, he puts his hands on each side of the keg then kicks up into a handstand.

"Whoa," someone says as the guys move into hold Ronan's legs, steadying him because while he might be able to get up into the handstand, he can't hold it for very long on his own. Barry moves to the keg tube and puts the spigot in Ronan's mouth and the guys start counting when Ronan starts guzzling.

He can do this all day. Well, not literally but a long time.

Oh, Adam is watching. How could he not? His gaze might slip a little lower as Ronan walks away but he's looking back up by the time Ronan is looking back at him to make sure that he's paying attention. Yeah, Ronan has all of his attention.

And of course Ronan makes it look so easy, the way he head stands on the keg and Adam's college 'friends' help to steady him. With the spigot in Ronan's mouth, the boys start counting to see how long he can go. Around twenty-five Izzy comes to stand over by Adam and murmurs "You're boyfriend's kind of scary."

"Yeah." Adam agrees with a nod as he takes another drink of his trashcan punch. His gaze never leaves Ronan.

They're up to thirty-one when Barry pulls the spigot away and Adam is sure Ronan could have gone for more. As the other boys help to get Ronan back on his feet, Barry comments to Ronan. "You should know that no one here has ever gotten over twenty... and that was no one in this room and several years ago."

The other guys are high-fiving Ronan with comments about what a bad ass he is and dude, that was awesome. Adam is just shaking his head. Because of course Ronan is better at the college experience than Adam is. Of course he is.

That's exactly what Ronan wants: all of Adam's attention. It's the point of this whole activity. There's something very satisfying about having all of Adam's attention in a public place with so much to grab his attention.

It's not exactly easy, but it is something Ronan has mastered. Later when he sees Adam's reaction, he'll be glad that he did.

Believe it or not, this isn't the way that Ronan is accustomed to being scary, but he won't knock it.

When Ronan is back on his feet, he sways a second and belchs loudly (sorry, it was a lot of beer). He looks over to Adam to see if his boyfriend is watching. He shrugs a little at Barry's comment. "I'm Irish." Clearly that explains it.

He swaggers over to Adam and grins sharply at him, reaching out to hook his fingers in Adam's belt loop and tug him closer. "You think I'm a bad ass, Parrish?" he asks in a quiet voice because he's thoroughly unimpressed with anyone else's opinion of him. He just wants Adam to be impressed.

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