It's dark outside the vast windows, stars dotting the city skyline and airplanes flying overhead. The fifth floor has a sectioned off area with tables and food and drink, free to take. The rest of the main area is cleared out, multiple gigantic speakers lining the floor. The lights are turned down, the chandeliers dim and slightly flickering like a flame. People crowd on the empty area, walking over to the tables to greet friends. Kristoffer and Ashton stand in the doorway, mildly confused.

'This is... something,' Ashton comments, eyes roving around the crowd. Despite the fast music, not much dancing is happening, just bustling crowds of people in aristocratic conversation, 'Do you want to stay? We don't have to if you don't want.'

'No, let's stay,' Kristoffer turns to Ashton, giving him a smile, 'Do you want to go meet Eddie?'

'Sure,' Ashton agrees, taking Kristoffer's hand with a strong, tender grip. He steps slightly closer until they brush arms, 'I'd like to meet some other people too. Anyone else worth talking to, or are they all rich self-righteous pricks?'

The groups around them turn their heads in shock, making noises of disgust. Kristoffer's cheeks flush red. Despite his embarrassment, he can't help but feel proud at how straightforward Ashton is being, 'Don't be so loud, love. The rich self-righteous pricks might hear.'

Eddie already looks red in the face, hanging out by the table with the wine. They seem a bit dizzy, a red wine stain down the right side of their cream blazer.

'Ah, Kristoffer, nice to see you,' They say through a hiccup, giving the pair a fond, crooked smile, 'And you must be Ashton. Ugh, so sorry you have to meet me in this state, please excuse me. I am Edwina Ashbourne, but call me Eddie. I use they/them pronouns, by the way.'

'I already knew. I'm Ashton Piercebridge,' He grins in return. Kristoffer's stomach jolts as he hears Ashton's first name with his last. He's still not quite used to it, always an enjoyable experience for him. It gives him an electric shock through his bones, a fuzzy feeling in his head.

'You holding up alright, Ashton? You've not had the best time, have you? Sorry, I like deep conversations when I'm drunk,' Eddie sighs, shooing Kristoffer away. He holds his hands up in a surrendering way, laughing as he leaves the room. He exchanges a final look with Ashton before he bumps into someone. Niall has a look of shock, horror and excitement on his face. He points inside, then at Kristoffer, and back and forth a few times.

'You... him... what?' Niall can't get a coherent sentence out of his mouth. Kristoffer rolls his eyes.

'Whatever, Niall. Why do you need me here?' Kristoffer quirks an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest, 'I'm not too sure I want to stay for so long.'

'Just keep on the lookout, okay?' Niall confirms before running off and joining a conversation.

*

'This place is huge...' Jamie comments as he, Cheri, Yosef, Charlie and Quinn explore a few corridors with torches in their hands, wearing all different colours of costumes; Jamie as Spider-Man, Cheri as Coraline, Charlie as a cheerleader, Yosef as Dr. JAB (he found the whole ordeal vastly funny), and Quinn in one of those inflatable costumes where it looks like he's being abducted by an alien. Jamie looks behind the group as they reach a few doors, 'Hey, where did Myloe and Orion go?'

Myloe and Orion, for interest, are running up a staircase halfway across the house, making their way to the rooftop. They sit down, swinging their legs precariously through the metal banisters preventing them from dying an untimely death. Orion flicks their hair from their face, turning to him with a glint in their eye.

'This is a really nice skyline,' Orion comments. Myloe turns to them, cheeks burning pink as they look back toward the midnight deep sky, 'It's really poetic. And romantic. I love it.'

'Really? You like dark city skies?' Myloe queries. Orion nods. Their hand creeps towards Myloe's, pinkies touching slightly. It sends electric sparks down Myloe's arm, down his spine and into his stomach.

'It's just... nice,' Orion looks behind them, 'Hey, where are the others? I'm going to go find them.'

*

Slow dance music begins to play. Ashton is deep in a conversation with Eddie, in a separate room when the music is only a faint rumble. Kristoffer tiptoes into the room they're in, tapping Ashton on the shoulder, 'Come and dance with me.'

Eddie rolls their eyes and grins, 'Have fun, you two.'

Ashton grabs Kristoffer's hand, waving goodbye to Eddie. As they make their way past the other people dancing with each other, Ashton wraps his arms around Kristoffer's shoulders, Kristoffer gently gripping his lower waist. Kristoffer takes in the sensation, Ashton's warm arms wrapped around his shoulders with his forehead resting on his chest. Ashton's hair rubs against the skin on Kristoffer's neck, his hands holding his upper back. He's so close yet again, the homely, honeyed and soothing yet masculine scent that laces every inch of him in sweetness fills his brain with a thick fog. He could stay here forever, just caught up in his affection. He looks up from Ashton, noticing Niall beckoning him over with desperation and pointing down a corridor. He hasn't keep a lookout well enough. Now Niall needs him. Without thinking, he shoves Ashton off with considerable force and runs away. He reaches Niall's side. Ashton looks at him, Niall luckily disguised by a crowd of people. Ashton's eyes are overflowing with tears, desolate outraged bewilderment sewn into his features like buttons and thread. He mouths Kristoffer's name. Kristoffer's stomach drops. He doesn't say anything back as Niall yanks his wrist and runs off down the corridor with him. They keep their footfalls as silent as possible as they pursue the group, which has now whittled down to four people in masks. The one at the back looks behind them. Luckily, Niall slams them against a wall before they can be seen. Niall looks back at Kristoffer with an unreadable expression.

'Juno, what are you doing?' A woman's desperate voice comes from down the corridor. This is as close as they can get without being found out.

'You still couldn't give the money either. You're as useless as your dead husband.'

The sound of her shrill scream is still muffled by the music playing in the hall. The sound of wet choking follows, then utter silence. Niall and Kristoffer hear the sounds of four footsteps rapidly approaching them. Niall slams open the door of a tiny supply cupboard, closing them inside together.

'Are you an idiot? I was busy!' Kristoffer hisses through his teeth.

'With what?'

'I was... dancing.'

'Oh. Fuck. You shouldn't have done that, you know. I feel bad for him,' Niall's expression softens, but returns to it's usual fiery rage, 'You're an idiot for that. You should've just pretended you didn't see me, you prick. I'm awful, but even that's against my moral code.'

The sound of the footsteps disappear far enough for them to be safe to exit. Kristoffer attempts to speak to Niall, but Niall doesn't return a word to him. As they reach the exit of the corridor, Niall snarls, 'Go find him or I'll apologise to him for you. That'll expose that you're talking to me. He won't trust you again.'

Kristoffer's stomach lurches horribly, his brain clouding over. Kristoffer sighs and looks down at his clasped hands, 'Okay. I'll go find him.'

'I'm going home. Good luck Kristoffer.'

Niall disappears almost immediately, striding off toward the exit with his nose in the air and his fists clenched. The music has returned to a fast bouncy tempo. He looks on the dancefloor – nothing. The bathrooms – nothing. Where Eddie was – nothing. Eddie raises an eyebrow at Kristoffer, 'You alright? Where's Ashton?'

'I'm fine. I can't find Ashton. I need to... I need to apologise to him. Have you seen him anywhere?' Kristoffer feels guilt wash over him, nervous cold sweat beginning to bead on his brow. Eddie seems to be thinking.

'Well, after he left with you, I thought I saw someone who looked like him going toward the exit. The lift said it was going to the thirtieth floor. Try there. If he hasn't, he's probably gone home.'

'Okay, thanks Eddie. See you soon,' Kristoffer sighs, leaving the room.

'Kristoffer, are you alright?' Eddie asks. Their question can't be answered as Kristoffer has already left and has got into the lift, pressing the button for the thirtieth floor. It's actually the room, a vast area of flat concrete with a few lights and solar panels on it. The view is city skyline, some buildings taller than this one, some smaller. He looks around on the roof, on the edges, behind concrete blocks. Nothing. Kristoffer sighs and decides to just go home. It's only a short train ride back to their house, and he's home before he can even think too much about anything else. When he unlocks the door, the lights are on and their bedroom door is closed. Kristoffer slips his shoes off, placing his keys on the dining room table. He opens the bedroom door. Ashton's there, sure, but he seems to be asleep. He's still and silent, his body curled up under the covers with slow breathing. Kristoffer sighs, entering the room and walking over to Ashton's side of the bed. He's definitely asleep. His glasses are closed on his bedside table, eyes closed and most of his face covered by his hands. He looks peaceful. More peaceful than his usual stressed out stance on his life. Kristoffer sighs, gets onto his knees and rubs Ashton's arm with his hand, pressing a soft, featherlike kiss onto his forehead.

'I'm sorry. I'm really sorry,' He apologises, brushing Ashton's ginger locks from his face, 'I'll apologise properly in the morning. I promise. I didn't mean to hurt you. You're my favourite person. I can never state how much I love you to you. I can't put that into words. We have so many things to do together. You're beautiful. And you can't hear me because, you're asleep, but I love you.'

Kristoffer stands up, pulling off his clothes and putting his pyjamas on before turning off the light and crawling into bed. He wraps his arms around Ashton, stroking his hand gently through his hair. He falls asleep with worry and guilt plaguing his brain.