Flash Fic, October 01, 2021

And so begins October flashes and a new theme

It’s October and getting close to Halloween and Chris doesn’t know whose bright idea it was to watch horror movies. He’s not fond of them even though he was sort of in one if you counted Carriers.

Zach is here in LA for a very short time before he heads back to NYC and Chris can’t help but wish he’d move back to LA full-time. He understands the allure of New York to Zach, and Zach did grow up in the East, but still Chris prefers him living close.

After the last slasher film, one of three chosen by someone other than him, the others left. His buddies. He loves his friends. Everyone of them is precious to him. But he’s glad nevertheless it’s only him and Zach now.

Normally Zach rents a place from friends of his, a place with great views and an even greater pool, but he’s only in LA to film an hour guest appearance on a talk show, so this time he didn’t bother as he’s not staying, and though Zach had intended to get a hotel room, Chris talked him into staying here.

Chris goes into the kitchen to pour himself another glass of cabernet and he almost offers Zach some but remembers Zach stopped drinking. He’s been indulging himself all night, probably because all the films kind of terrified him. He briefly wonders if it’s wrong to drink in front of Zach, but Zach didn’t protest earlier, so he pours himself about three fingers worth.

“What are you doing?” Zach asks from Chris’ living room.

“Getting more wine.”

“Well, hurry up, will ya? Thought we were playing cards.”

At Chris’ suggestion they were going to play the silly game, Go Fish. He’s exhausted, honestly, but he also doesn’t want to go to bed because that would shorten his final hours with Zach, who’s flight is supposed to leave the next evening.

Chris did wonder why Zach didn’t protest more to the suggestion, but he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

He stifled a yawn and was about to turn to leave the kitchen when something caught his gaze through the window. He jumped back, startled, spilling wine from his glass as he did so.

“Jesus!”

“What are you going on about, Pine?”

“There’s…there’s something outside.”

“Funny.”

“Zach, I’m not—”

Zach steps into the kitchen, looking cool, breezy and gorgeous. Somehow despite the fact Zach is wearing sweats and a t-shirt just like Chris is, Chris feels schluppy next to him.

“What’s the drama?”

Chris points and moves toward Zach until his back is plastered against Zach’s chest. Surprisingly, Zach makes no move to put any distance between them.

Zach squints. He’s wearing glasses, but squints anyway. He’d recently complained that getting old meant no matter whether he wore contacts or glasses, it was still hard to see.

“What?”

Chris points again, his hand shaking.

As Zach moves closer to the window, Chris shifts so that he is behind the other man, and well protected. His heart slams in his chest as he holds onto his friend.

Who bursts out laughing.

“The spider?”

“Y-Yeah. Biggest damn spider you ever seen.”

“Get real,” Zach chuckles. “That spider is tiny. I’ll give you that her web is kinda big. Want me to go out and get rid of it?”

“Would you?” Chris pleaded. “I mean what if that thing gets in the house?”

Zach smirks. “What if it does?”

“You’ve seen Arachnophobia, haven’t you?”

“I have though I’m pretty surprised you have given your fear of spiders.”

“An old girlfriend made me watch it,” he mutters.

“What we do for love.”

“Or sex,” they both say at the same time.

And Chris wants to smile, he does. But not before Zach takes care of the monster outside his window. He somewhat forcefully pushes Zach toward the back door.

Zach gives him one of his trademark sardonic looks and grabs the broom.

Chris holds his breath as Zach makes his way outside into the backyard outside the kitchen window. He covers his face with both hands, unable to look.

Zach screams, “It got me, it got me! Help!”

Eyes opening wide, Chris bolts to the door to save his friend, when he seems Zach simply standing in his backyard smirking at him, broom gripped in his left hand.

“You asshole!”

Zach laughs. “I’ve slayed the dragon, Pine.”

“Web and everything?”

“Yes. She’s a goner.” Zach comes back into the house and returns the broom from whence it came. After all he was a slayer.

“Thanks,” Chris whispers, feeling shy somehow.

“You’re welcome.” Zach’s teasing glint is gone from his eyes and he’s moved closer to Chris. “Need a hug?”

Chris simply nods and Zach’s arms come up and around him, pulling him close. Chris allows his nose to land right in Zach’s neck. He smells like strawberries and Chris has no idea why. He closes his eyes.

“You need a shave, Pine.”

He laughs, somewhat wetly. “Yeah.”

He pulls away but not out of Zach’s arms, and instead finds himself staring into Zach’s dark chocolate eyes.

“Do you have to go back to New York just yet?” he asks out of the blue. He can see Zach is surprised the question.

“Uh. Need me around to take care of more spiders?”

He nods again and this time Zach smiles a genuine smile, and it’s gorgeous and Chris’ heart flutters.

“Okay, sure. I can stay a little longer. Go Fish?”

And Chris knows it’s to break the intense mood between them. Part of him is relieved but another part, secreted, is disappointed. He pulls out of Zach’s arms and grabs up his wine glass.

“Sure, get ready to lose, Quinto.”

“You wish.”

And as they turn to leave the kitchen to return to the living room, Chris glances toward the window. The spider is gone.

My hero, he thinks. And takes Zach’s hand.