tfln overflow.

[brokenparadox]

(continuation from here!)

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[brokenparadox]

[Not mad. Squall wasn't mad. Okay. Noel could live with that. He could handle it.]

Thank you.

['Not mad' didn't meant 'we can still be friends without immense levels of awkward', but it was something.]

[innermonologues]

[ Squall shrugs as if saying it's fine and gently tries pushing Noel down to the bed so he can try to sleep. ]

[brokenparadox]

[He goes down easily, his body relaxes into the mattress and he stares up at the ceiling.]

... Are the chicks okay?

[innermonologues]

[ Squall pulls the blankets over him, but continues sitting on the bed awkwardly. ]

They're fine. Fell asleep a little while ago.

[brokenparadox]

Okay. You're a good dad. And I pick good blankets.

[His voice is already thick with sleep, Noel's exhausted and turned around, being in bed is a good decision even to his addled subconscious.

[innermonologues]

Just keep thinking of the warm blankets and nothing else.

[ He knows noel likes to carry guilt around, and if he focuses on something else he might be able to fall asleep properly. He shifts onto the bed a little more and toes off his boots. ]

[brokenparadox]

[Noel makes space for Squall on the bed but mostly does as he's told. The blankets feel nice and warm, they're very pleasant. He can focus on the blankets.

There's a lot he wants to say to his friend but now that the world isn't spinning and the absolute worst of it is off of his mind he feels so much better. Falling asleep is pretty easy, all things considered.]

[innermonologues]

[ When he feels Noel is finally asleep he quietly reaches over to push his hair out of his face. ]

Wonder if you'll feel the same in the morning...

[brokenparadox]

[He sleeps through the hair touching just fine, nothing short of a natural disaster would get him up right now.

Or the sudden and unbelievable need to vomit. That's what wakes him up around seven in the morning which, considering how late it was when he texted Squall, isn't even late in the morning. Noel practically dives over Squall - later he'll wonder why his friend was in bed with him at all, but anyway. - and sort of throws himself to the bathroom.

He makes it to the toilet in time but his damn hair is in the way.

Excuse him while he's gross, hopefully it'll be over soon.]

[innermonologues]

[ Luckily for Noel, Squall was only half asleep. His mind was on overdrive so it was hard for him to fall asleep at all. So when Noel scrambled out of the bed, Squall moved off the bed to follow behind. ]

The price you pay for being stupid.

[brokenparadox]

[Noel's answer was some more retching. Eventually the entirety of his stomach contents existed in the toilet, and Noel sort of lurched forward to flush the toilet.]

You're really supportive over there. [But he deserved it so Noel wasn't really giving him any real attitude. He hovered for another second or two, only pulling away when the world felt sort of put together.]

My head's killing me.

[innermonologues]

I wonder why.

[ His voice was dripping with sarcasm as he held out a waterbottle to Noel. ]

[brokenparadox]

[Alright, you know what? He deserves that sarcasm, so he's just going to take the water with an especially thankful nod and drag himself up to the sink to clean his mouth.]

Sorry I made you put up with all this.

[innermonologues]

You have nothing to apologize for.

[brokenparadox]

Didn't you drag me home after I sent drunk texts?

[His memory is spotty but the more he wakes up the more everything begins to fit together.]

I'd say that's at least worth an apology if not free breakfast.

[innermonologues]

It's not like I was doing anything important before your texts.

[brokenparadox]

So you would have left me behind if you were doing something else? Good to know.

[Squall wasn't always the best when it came to words and Noel knew that but he couldn't help teasing sometimes.]

Did I do backflips or anything insane like that?

[innermonologues]

[ He rolled his eyes to Noel's first comment and shifted against the wall. There was a faint blush rising on his face.]

Not quite.

[brokenparadox]

[Oh, Squall. He knows this might not be a good idea but Noel hates letting things linger, so:]

I'm guessing that suddenly trying to make out with you is why it's 'not quite'.

[innermonologues]

So you do remember...

[ He was going to let it slide and let Noel forget it ever happened to spare the awkwardness. ]

[brokenparadox]

I'm not lucky enough to forget what I've done while drinking.

[Sometimes it can take a few hours to come back but Noel can always recall the memories.]

So, can we talk about this?

[If he really doesn't want to go near the topic at all then Noel would figure that's an answer by itself. But they're grown. Getting through this topic shouldn't be impossible.]

[innermonologues]

We probably should.

[ He pushes off from the wall and folds his arms over his chest while taking a few steps closer to Noel. ]

C'mon We can talk in another room.

[brokenparadox]

[On the one hand he's relieved that Squall isn't shying away from it, but then again ... This could end their friendship, especially if things became awkward and unbearable.

But he nods and caps the bottled water, following wherever Squall would prefer to talk.]

[innermonologues]

[ He walks out into the living room and takes a see on the couch, waiting for Noel to follow him. ]

[brokenparadox]

[Noel slowly plops himself onto the couch, taking a deep breathe.]

So ... Are you upset?