Forced Arrangement

Angelo stops by the doorway. A sigh. A clatter as he leans down to pick up the luggage blocking entry, expecting no thanks and no relief.

His first thought is that the room is far too big. It makes their dorm look like a joke; carved wood and marble patterns, modern flourishes that were completely unnecessary except to rub the bill in your face. He shudders under the blast of fragrant air, unable to rub his bare arms while carrying all the bags.

Should’ve worn a jacket. Should’ve stayed at campus. Should’ve said no to Finn.

Finn.

Angelo stands at the foot of the king-sized bed, watching Finn lounge like an aristocrat’s albino tiger. Unable to help marveling at a specimen in his natural habitat. This is where he belongs, and yet he still half-expects him to shotgun the overpriced drink in his hand.

Angelo’s nose scrunches, his face conflicted. He doesn’t know what to think. Doesn’t understand why Finn would bring him here, grant him a wish so dearly held when he delights in tormenting him at every opportunity. A blight. A blessing. As far as Angelo knows, their meeting had been coincidental; everything after, deliberate.

He adjusts his glasses back from where they tilted, ignoring the bait and opting to look around. “Where am I supposed to sleep?”

The expression on Angelo’s face could dry an oasis. Of course, he should have expected it; Finn would pay for a luxury suite only to make someone crash on the couch, or in the damn tub. It’s not about fulfilling a wish. It’s about bastardizing it.

The look Finn shoots him at the mention of the bed causes him to tense, a sensation like claws raking up his spine. He does not know what would happen if he were to accept that offer; he's scared to find out.

“Couch it is.”

He tosses Finn’s luggage straight at him, heedless if it spills the drink in his hands. He’s not being paid to valet.

“Excuse me.” He pivots, heading back to the living room where he can stow the rest of the luggage — his own — and get ready as soon as possible, to hopefully leave without having to escort the enigma plaguing his life.