darker_london | Happy New Yea- (Thomas, Peter)

It was a few minutes to midnight, and most of the family had gathered on the beach, their eyes towards the city. It was December, and the nights were cool, but Thomas remained in his swimming trunks, a black t-shirt on his upper half. He was standing beside his best friend, bare feet in the surf, staring out at the ocean.

Peter was much less impressed by the waves, creeping up and covering his toes, but he wanted to be beside his friend. "You don't want to see the fireworks?" Peter asked. Thomas was staring pretty much the opposite direction for that.

Thomas shrugged. "The moon is reflecting on the water. I like it more." He crossed his arms across his chest and Peter had a feeling something else was going on here. Thomas knew Peter would know, so he dragged his eyes away from the water, and he glanced sideways at his friend. "I don't know... I don't really want to see fireworks."

Peter slipped his hand into Thomas' and he watched the moon's reflection, dancing on the waves. He could hear his family behind him, talking and laughing and enjoying the moment. "Is it because this year hasn't been easy?"

"No," Thomas said easily. "Well, I suppose in a way. I just think...I don't think I'll like the loudness and the explosions so much. Uhm...when Amaris was trying out her lovely experiments concerning electricity and my body, it...felt like fireworks. Like fire crackers." Thomas looked over at Peter again. "It suddenly occurs to me that you probably did not have brothers who dared you to hold fire crackers until they exploded when you were a kid..."

Peter chuckled. "No... I don't think I've ever seen a fire cracker, Thomas."

"...I'm ignoring how sad your childhood makes me," Thomas said, shaking his head. "It hurts, but only for a second. It's more the noise and the explosion that's scary. And I could always do it the longest because Joe and Adam were both older and bigger but I'm...you know...determined. It felt like that multiplied by a million and it felt like it didn't end. Made me think of fire crackers. There wasn't a boom or a crackle, it was just white-hot lightning and I couldn't stop it. Fireworks are big and they hang there in the air and apparently I'm a teeny tiny baby, because the very thought of them is slightly terrifying."

"Thomas," Peter soothed, and his grip on Thomas' hand tightened. "That woman isn't here. You're with people who love you. The fireworks won't hurt you."

"Doesn't mean I have to look," Thomas observed, and Peter thought he did have a point.

Behind them, the family let out a cheer and they started counting down, half in English and half in Spanish. "Ten! Nine! Eight!"

Peter turned to Thomas, who was gritting his teeth. "I'm right here, Tom. Squeeze my hand."

"Five! Four!"

Thomas squeezed Peter's hand tightly, and he felt something else which had a grip on him loosen. He closed his eyes, feeling a flood of relief and happiness. It was going to be okay.

"Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!"

The beach erupted in cries of happiness and cheers of celebration. Above their heads, the sky exploded into light and colour as the New Year was welcomed by the people of Valencia. Peter felt the pressure on his hand release, and beside him there was only a pile of clothes and two footprints in the sand, which the ocean crept up to claim from him.

Peter fetched the clothes and he turned his face towards the sky, cheeks wet. "See you soon, old friend."