For adamparrish Post The Raven King

[fictor]

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.

Comments

[fictor]

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.

[adamparrish]

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.

[fictor]

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."

[adamparrish]

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."

[fictor]

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.

[adamparrish]

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.

[fictor]

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.