Page 25 of The Not So Super Hero

“Oh? And so you’re going to drive home looking ready to pass out?”

“I can walk if it troubles you so much,” Zane said in a teasing tone that only made Bailey’s red cheeks expand to his whole face, then his neck, then his ears. Zane hated that he found it cute.

Bailey pouted. “You’re annoyingly stubborn.”

“Not the first time I’ve heard that.”

“You can at least come up and rest for a bit, then head home later. It’s not just you on the road.”

Zane couldn’t deny that Bailey had a point there. He hated when the kid made sense. It felt wrong, like he was suddenly thrown into the upside down.

He glanced over Bailey’s shoulder towards the exit.

Then he gazed upon the boy waiting for his response, bottom lip trapped between his teeth.

His glasses sat crooked on his nose, which somehow added to the overall cute aura.

Seeing those green eyes staring up at him with an almost hopeful expression made Zane cave.

Damn, he was getting soft. Was he just too tired?

He hoped he was just tired and it had nothing to do with Bailey.

“Fine, so long as I actually get to sleep,” he said.

Bailey beamed so brightly that Zane felt his skin burst out with blisters. If the sun ever ran out they could just shoot Bailey into space. He’d brighten everything right back up.

“Ok, ok, cool. Uh, we can go up now, if you want.”

Zane let out a long yawn, nodding. The two walked to the elevator, silent on the way up to Bailey’s rooms. No words were necessary to prove Bailey’s nerves.

They were written all over his face, eyes shifting between Zane and the doorway.

Zane smirked when he caught Bailey looking at him.

Then the boy looked away so fast that it somehow made Zane’s neck ache.

When they reached Bailey’s rooms, he retrieved his keys that clinked together from his shaking hands. Seeing Bailey try to unlock the door once, twice, and a third time was the highlight of Zane’s day. His face proved that too, showing nothing but pure amusement.

Finally, Bailey got the key in the door and opened it.

While Zane stepped in, Bailey rushed to toss a few belongings in the cupboard or under a desk.

Though he was not fast enough to prevent Zane from staring at an alarmingly bright pair of hot pink underwear.

Bailey threw himself on the bed to grab said underwear, slithering off the bed onto the floor where he stashed them beneath the bed.

Their eyes were locked together the entire time.

To say it was funny would be a complete lie; it was fucking hilarious.

“Bit late hiding them, but thanks for the free entertainment,” Zane said.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Bailey mumbled while he stuffed his clothes, underwear, whatever he could under his bed.

“Nothing wrong with pink boxers.” Zane winked and swore he saw Bailey’s heart jump out of his chest.

With an embarrassed cough, Bailey changed the subject, “Ryan should be back soon, uh, we have some food. We can watch TV?”

“Sure,” Zane replied, kicking off his shoes before heading to Bailey’s bed to make himself comfortable.

Bailey had his back facing Zane while he turned the TV on. When he spun around to find Zane in his bed, his expression went blank.

“What? Not like we haven’t shared a bed before,” Zane said.

Bailey choked.

Zane mentally slapped himself for that. It felt like he was flirting a bit there. That was because he was. Somehow he flirted without his permission, but seeing Bailey’s reaction made it worth it. He let himself off for that one so long as he promised himself not to let it happen again.

“Are you hungry?” Bailey asked, gesturing towards the snacks. Zane shrugged.

Bailey retrieved a bag of chips from his massive pile of junk.

Then the boy stood awkwardly at the center of the room.

Zane never took his eyes off him, waiting for the boy to join him on the bed.

After a few minutes of silence, Zane patted the space.

Bailey’s eyes widened like that of a cartoon character.

Clearing his throat, Bailey slowly joined Zane on the bed.

The moment he did, Zane snatched the chips from Bailey’s hands, which seemed to not register that they were empty for a good minute.

Zane ate a handful of chips before Bailey snapped, “Hey!”

“That reaction time, though.” Zane chuckled, continuing to enjoy tormenting the boy, especially when Bailey gave such wonderful reactions. Maybe he was useful in some ways, like entertainment. Zane didn’t even need TV when Bailey was around and acting like a fool.

Bailey pouted before reaching for the bag that Zane held above his head. Bailey looked at Zane with a shocked expression. “Are you really doing that?”

“Obviously, are you blind?”

“Aren’t you meant to be resting?”

“I don’t see how I can do that with you around.”

“Then why did you agree to come up?” Bailey got to his knees hoping to take the chips.

However, the man leaned back and held the chips to his side.

Bailey reached over him, practically laying on him as he attempted to get his chips.

Zane, however, was a freaking giant with arms that ran for miles.

Bailey was definitely not short, though compared to Zane, he sure as hell felt like he was.

“Entertainment purposes,” Zane teased, then tossed the bag from one hand to the other.

“They’re my chips!” Bailey exclaimed, moving back to grab them, but Zane repeated what he did earlier and tossed them to his opposing hand. “You’re so fucking frustrating!”

“That’s like music to my ears.”

After saying that, Zane realized how quiet the world seemed to be. Earlier, he couldn’t block anything out, seeming to hang off every little thing, yet now he was so focused on Bailey that all he heard was his voice. Damn. Double damn. He was in trouble, wasn’t he?

Bailey gave up, falling back into place with his arms crossed.

His blushing had simmered down, although his pout took up a permanent position on his face.

With his eyes locked on Bailey, Zane continued eating before slowly holding them in front of Bailey’s face.

The boy didn’t move, which made Zane let out a soft laugh before dropping the bag into Bailey’s lap.

“You’re an ass,” Bailey stated, shoving his hand into the bag.

“Is that meant to be an insult?” Zane reached in for more chips. Funny how Bailey so easily let him. He couldn’t even tease someone. Zane mentally smacked himself for, yet again, thinking, Cute .

“I think it’s impossible to insult someone like you.”

Zane nodded, causing Bailey to give him another sparkling smile. Before they could say another word, the door opened to show Ryan coming in with a very “I’m done” expression. However, the moment he found Zane and Bailey in bed together, his grin spread from ear to ear.

“Am I interrupting something?” Ryan asked in such a sweet tone that even Bailey felt his teeth ache.

“No!” Bailey answered far too quickly, which had Ryan nodding in a very unbelieving fashion. “Zane needed some rest, so he came here, that’s all.”

Ryan stepped over to his side of the room, waving at Zane. Zane half-assed a wave back that made Ryan laugh before he dropped his backpack onto his bed. “Well, no need to worry about me, because I have plans.”

“Huh?” Bailey asked.

“Yeah, something came up,” Ryan said, winking. “I’ll text you later.”

Ryan headed for the door. Bailey jumped out of bed, leaving Zane with a bag of chips that he would happily devour. Running after Ryan, Bailey jumped in front of the boy, successfully blocking the door from his friend.

“What the hell are you doing?” Bailey whispered, glancing back at Zane, who dumped the last remnants of the chips in his mouth.

“Giving you two some privacy,” Ryan said, then snapped his finger. “Oh, there are condoms in my bedside table.”

“Fuck off, that’s not happening.”

“That blush on your face says it isn’t completely off the table.” Ryan chuckled. “But play hard to get if that’s what you’re into.”

Bailey punched Ryan in the chest. Laughing, he walked out the door. Bailey ran after him into the hall attempting to talk him into staying, but Ryan simply spun around and said as he walked backwards, “As your friend, my job is to help you get laid. Have fun, lover boy.”

With that, Ryan was gone, leaving Bailey and Zane alone.