Warning for mention of devil's tango

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"Here you are," Daniel said, handing Scott a pack of frozen peas to put on his leg. "That should help."

Scott smiled. "Thank you," he said quietly.

"Any time."

As Daniel left the living room, Grian walked in. "Oh, I almost forgot you were here," the boy said with a smile, Scott rolling his eyes playfully.

"Why am I not surprised?" Scott asked, earning a chuckle out of Grian.

"'Cause he's got his boyfriend over to hang out with him," Jimmy teased from his spot next to Scott on the sofa.

Grian's cheeks turned a flaming crimson. "Right," he huffed, "I'm going back to my room to work on homework with Mumbo." He stuck his tongue out at Jimmy, who was downright cackling, and turned on his heel to leave.

Scott sighed in an almost depressing manner as he watched Grian leave. "How do you guys bicker like that and still be good friends?" he whispered.

Jimmy turned to look at Scott. "Sorry?"

Scott met Jimmy's gaze. "You and Grian always argue, and..." He took a shaky breath, shaking his head. "Sorry, never mind." He stood up off the sofa. "Tell me where the bathroom is again?"

"Uh... it's down the hall from the kitchen," Jimmy said hesitantly. "Last door on the left."

"Thanks," Scott said before limping away.

He came back about fifteen minutes later, face red and eyes puffy with tears.

Jimmy stood up, coming closer to Scott to offer a hug. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Scott shook his head and pushed Jimmy away. "I'm fine," he said, sniffling. "I have to go." He grabbed his jacket off the arm of the sofa.

"Alright," Jimmy breathed. "I'll walk you home, then. It isn't far from the school, right?"

Scott's head whipped around to face Jimmy. "No!" he said, a bit louder than either of them expected, making Jimmy flinch. "Er- I-" He shook his head. "You don't have to," he said with a nervous laugh. He wiped at his eyes with his sleeve. "I'll, uh..." He paused. "I'll see you later." He pushed past Jimmy and walked briskly towards the door.

Jimmy stood, frozen, until the front door shut, and he turned around to call for Scott to stop when it was already too late. He stared at the door for a moment.

Jimmy hadn't heard from or seen Scott for the next two weeks.

*   *   *

"Timmyyyyy," Grian whined, pulling on Jimmy's arm. "You walk so slow!"

Jimmy quirked a brow. "I don't even know where we're going," he said, yanking his arm away.

Grian yelped as he fell backward, the only thing holding him up being Jimmy's arm. He uttered a small oof as he hit the ground. "Ow," he grumbled, rubbing his shoulder. "Dickhead."

"What?! You practically did that to yourself!"

"Yeah, because I just let go of your arm," Grian deadpanned. "You totally didn't pull away from me first." He scoffed and held his hand out, expecting Jimmy to take it and pull him up.

Sighing, Jimmy did help Grian up. "Where are we even going?" he asked, and Grian let out a stubborn hmph.

"And why should I tell you?"

Jimmy stood there in silence for a moment, staring incredulously at Grian. He sighed. "Fine," he said dramatically. "Don't tell me." He began to march forward, Grian snickering behind him.

"You're going the wrong way," Grian said. "Art room's left, not right."

Jimmy turned around. "Oh, wow, make fun of me first before you tell me where we're going, huh?" he said sarcastically, earning a giggle from Grian. "Well, come on, then."

As it turned out, they were going to the art room to see one of Grian's good friends, Scar.

Grian and Scar had known each other since they were practically newborns, having lived next to each other most of their lives. It wasn't until Scar had gotten into middle school that he moved away. And, unfortunately for them, Scar went to a private junior high instead of the public middle school Grian and Mumbo went to.

Unlike Grian and Mumbo, Scar was, in fact, a freshman at Rivendell High School, and he was deeply immersed in the arts program. He and Grian actually share the same arts class. Apparently, though they share a class, they haven't been able to talk much, so Grian wanted to head over to Scar's last period to walk to the theater with him.

"Oh, hi, Grian," Scar said happily once he spotted the smaller boy.

Grian's eyes lit up and he rushed forward to slam into Scar, wrapping his arms tightly around the brunette's torso. "Ugh, I've missed you so much," the dirty blonde said into Scar's crew-neck.

Scar laughed, reciprocating Grian's gesture. "I've missed you, too, Grian."

Jimmy, who'd been fairly acquainted with Scar, had no idea that the latter had been in the drama club until then.

They walked down to the theater (which took longer than expected as they picked up Mumbo on the way), and Jimmy couldn't help but notice how shy and easily embarrassed Grian was acting around Mumbo and Scar. Jimmy knew about Grian's major crush on Mumbo, but then again, who didn't? (*cough cough* Mumbo). But Scar, as well?

When they finally got to the theater, they'd already started working on the third act. Somehow, they'd managed to work on the first scene without their Benvolio and Romeo. After a quick couple run-throughs with some commentary from Mr. Harding (Ms. Gold had been absent that day), the boys on stage had been dismissed so that the second scene could have at least a peek at. It wasn't until Jimmy had passed Scott on the stairs to the stage that he realized that Scott had actually shown up.

Jimmy had gone to say hi to him, but Scott looked mildly discontented as he walked past, so Jimmy decided on saying nothing.

After a bit, Mr. Harding gave everyone a small break, and Jimmy watched as Scott followed Zach backstage, the two whispering profanely at each other.

A terrible feeling stirred in Jimmy's gut as he watched them disappear behind the curtain, remembering what had happened the last time they'd been alone and fighting. They weren't talking nearly loud enough for him to hear, and he desperately wanted to get closer so he could hear, but...

Scott got hurt because of me last time, he told himself. If I interfere again... He sighed. Oh, screw it.

He snuck behind the curtain, peeping out just enough to see Scott.

"For the last time, I never slept with anyone on the basketball team," Scott said, sounding close to tears. "I don't know who told you that, but I swear on my life it's not true-"

Jimmy heard Zach scoff from somewhere out of his view. "Why should I believe you?" he demanded. "Why should I believe anything you say when you probably leave every night to go 'hang out' with that Jimmy kid?" He scoffed. "I know you kissed him, you whore."

Scott groaned. "God, you're absolutely fucking ridiculous," he spat, crossing his arms over his chest. "You know you're the only person on the team I've ever slept with, first of all, and practically every two out of three times it's not even my choice!" He let out an agitated sigh. "And you wanna talk cheating? Let's talk cheating. Where are all your side bitches that you fuck every time you refuse to come to an event of mine? You can relax about one goddamn kiss if you're allowed to get away with sleeping with a new person every other night. "

"You don't even like having sex with me!"

"And that's true."

"So what are you so upset about?"

Scott went silent for a moment, staring at Zach with tears threatening to spill from his eyes. "Are you serious right now?" he asked, his voice void of any kind of emotion. He shook his head. "I don't even know what to say to you at this point. First of all" - as he began to list things off, he counted on his fingers as a visual representation to prove his point - "you're super fucking manipulative, and I'm sick of it, you're constantly accusing me of shit I've never done to make up for the fact that you're the untrustworthy one, you're nothing but cruel to me, you're the most jealous person I've ever met, I-" Letting out a sound somewhere between a sob and scoff, Scott shook his head and turned away. "I don't even know why I stick around you," he breathed. "Maybe I should cheat on you." He looked back at Zach over his shoulder. "Maybe I should hook up with the entire fucking basketball team, because maybe - just maybe - that would be better than being with you." Scott scoffed when Zach didn't respond. "I hate you."

"Watch your mouth, cupcake," Zach warned.

"Oh, shut the fuck up," Scott snapped. "And quit calling me cupcake."

Zach went silent again and there was a beat of tense quiet until Jimmy heard firm footsteps walking farther behind the curtain. The blonde didn't miss the way Scott's breath caught in his throat.

"Wait," the violetette said before jogging after his boyfriend. "Zach, please wait-" He yelped and Jimmy heard a hard thud, now thinking more than ever that he wanted to step in.

Rushing out from behind the curtain, Jimmy could see Scott scrambling to his feet from being knocked onto the ground and Zach stalking toward the other side of the stage. Jimmy opened his mouth to speak, but Scott beat him to it.

"Zach, please," Scott begged. "Wait, I'm sorry-"

Zach whirled around, looking ready to hit Scott. "You're only ever sorry when what I do affects you," he said lowly. He stepped forward and Scott stepped back. "I'm sick of your petty shit thinkin' you're better than me. You don't speak unless I say you can. You don't think unless I say you can. The only opinions you're allowed to have are mine."

Scott nodded frantically. "Right, I'm sorry," he said. "I really am, I'll listen. I promise-" He stopped, Zach grinning evilly over him, though he wasn't looking down at Scott. He was looking Jimmy directly in the eyes. "Why are you smiling like that?" Scott asked cautiously, seeming to shrink before the six-foot-four giant in front of him.

Zach shrugged, turning away. "No reason." He bent down and Scott gasped, latching onto Zach's arm.

"Wait, Zach, please-"

Zach shoved Scott off of him as he turned back around to face in Jimmy's direction with a blue, draw-string bag in his hand.

Jimmy's eyes widened. That's the bag from-

Before he could finish his thought, Zach called to him, "Catch!" and tossed the bag at Jimmy. "Go ahead," Zach said when Jimmy caught it. "Open it."

Jimmy looked at Zach, then at Scott, then down at the bag. "I-" Staring down at the bag, he suddenly recalled what Scott had said at the diner the first time they went together.

"Dammit, I figured you saw. Please don't gell Mr. Harding and Ms. Gold about it. I only made it as a last resort..."

Something clicked in the former blonde's brain as soon as Scott's words echoed in his head. This is-

"Jimmy," Scott said, dragging the former out of his thoughts. "Please don't open it," he begged, and Jimmy could hear more than see Scott's despondence. He silently mouthed another "please," and Jimmy shook his head.

"I won't," he said quietly, holding the bag out for Scott to take. "But... I do have a question."

Scott took the bag sheepishly after glancing at Zach, fidgeting with the strings. "Y-yeah?"

Jimmy looked between Scott and Zach a couple of times, then glanced in the space between them where he could see the faint glow of cream-white LED lights. Making direct eye contact with Scott, Jimmy hesitantly asked, "You made that tent back there... didn't you?"