darker_london | Together (Flynn, Quinn) [Backstory!]

Once Malachy and Ardal had reconciled, they became inseperable. They spent every possible moment they could together, which wasn't so difficult to manage, considering Malachy's parents now couldn't stand the sight of him and Ardal's parents were frighteningly absent. They had a lot of time they were free to do whatever they wanted with. And so Malachy spent the rest of his summer break learning how to be this new person he had decided to become. And every new thing he discovered, Ardal was right there with him. There was something unspoken between them. Some sort of heat, that both of them saw, but each of them thought it was only himself who felt it. Neither of them had ever had feelings for a boy before. Everything was very new. And so they remained the closest of friends, both secretly wanting to be more.

And then school started back up again. And from the moment Malachy set foot on the grounds, he could tell people knew he was now an outcast to his brother's circle of thugs. The one small mercy, was that Rage no longer attended school now that her father was gone. So Malachy didn't have to deal with her glaring presence all day long. Malachy and Ardal sat and ate lunch together, away from everyone else, and that was how they liked it.

Ardal could see that Malachy was not without remorse for leaving his old friends behind. Just because Mal had decided to change his ways and didn't want to solve problems with violence anymore, that didn't mean he didn't miss his old friends. He missed his brother most of all, but since leaving the PIRA, Frankie hadn't said word one to Malachy. And sometimes Ardal caught Malachy watching them, and it worried him. He was a shy boy, however, and he didn't have the gumption to ask Malachy why it bothered him. He was very adept at changing the subject thanks to years of practice though, and he did just that when he caught Mal staring wistfully again. "My Da thinks I should go to University in London. What do you think?"

"Hmmm?" Mal turned slowly to look at Ardal and then he looked slightly ashamed. "Sorry. What about London?"

"My Da was saying things about London University. That he thinks it's a good choice. Though I'm half sure that's just a ploy to get myself out of the country and away from him."

"Bollocks." Mal grunted quietly. He didn't like Ardal's parents, but they didn't like him either, so it worked out. "You should go where you want to go. You're smart and things."

"So are you, Mal."

"Bollocks." Mal said again, but that time he blushed and looked away. "That's your thing, not mine."

"Well, eventually...I mean, you have to do something." Ardal popped a peppermint into his mouth and he smiled mintily at Malachy.

Malachy swallowed roughly and he shrugged. "That's then." He didn't want to talk about his future. Things used to be so clear, and when you added in shades of gray, things tended to get muddled. He couldn't see what he would be doing next week anymore, let alone in two years time. "Now, all I want to do is finish this sandwich and not die in algebra class."

"You'll be fine." Ardal soothed him. "We went over everything and you have it down."

Mal wanted a subject change. And he wanted it now. And he also wanted Ardal now, and had for a long time. It had taken him a while to realise that was what he felt for this incredible friend he had. And he didn't mean to blurt it out right then and there, because he was sure Ardal didn't feel the same way about him. But he was nervous because futures were being discussed so he said, "Wanna go out? To the movies! With me? You know. Like with me." And then he paused. "Do...you know?"

Ardal stared at Mal, utterly confused. "No." He answered honestly, meaning he didn't know. But at the look of pain that crossed Malachy's face then, he understood. And immediately his stomach erupted in butterflies. "Oh..."

Mal decided a more direct approach was better. It was more him anyway. "Go out with me." It wasn't a question, and Ardal's eyes widened as Mal said it. His mouth gaped open and his peppermint sweet danced visibly on his tongue, blissfully unaware of the awkward silence.

"I...I...do we do that?" Ardal asked then, confused.

Mal shrugged. "Why not?" He didn't think there was anything wrong with it. He used to want to kiss Rage. Now he wanted to kiss Ardal. He was much calmer about this than he had thought he would be, though his next question did cause a brief wave of panic because he didn't know what Ardal would say. "If you like me."

"Oh I...God, I..." Ardal, for the first time since Malachy had gotten to know him, seemed unable to finish a sentence. So instead of talking, he leaned forward and kissed Mal's lips, awkwardly. Then he turned as red as the striped on his peppermint and he ducked his head. "I don't think I did that well."

Mal exhaled slowly but he was grinning. "I wouldn't say that." And he took Ardal's face into his hands and then he kissed his best friend deeply, completely unashamed. He had lived with hate in his heart for so long, and now it was being replaced by something quite different and it felt so good. Malachy O'Reilly felt free for the first time in his sixteen years. "I would say you did it very well." Mal said when he had pulled away. Ardal tasted like mint. He would always remember that. "So...is that a yes, or?" But he was joking.

Ardal laughed, and though his heart was now beating at an incredible pace, he nodded. "Oh, it's a yes." He had been wanting this for so long. Since he had first noticed Malachy years ago. And even more since getting to know him. Oh how he wanted it. He didn't care that they were different. He didn't care that sometimes Mal still said tactless things, and was only beginning to learn how to have a conversation that didn't include insulting someone because that was how he used to relate to people. He was learning how to be a kind person, and Ardal saw his potential. And he loved it. "It's a big yes."

"Good. Now eat your lunch, people are staring." And then Malachy flipped off everyone that was looking at them and he flashed Ardal a proud grin.

Ardal just shook his head. Someone still had a lot to learn.