The Blue Danube [OLD]

- 𝔱𝔴𝔢𝔩𝔳𝔢. ﾐ

But what really had began to pull him from his worst state, was properly seeing Paul, sober this time, no mask either. It was a cold, wintry afternoon in early November, and John had been curled up in bed, head pounding from a morning of crying, eyes inflamed and painful to have open or closed. There had been a gentle knock on the door, Ringo and George slipping in, the same expressions of slight apprehension and worry on their faces, as if the wind had changed once Julia died and their expressions were stuck that way. 

"'ey, Johnny." George started. "Do ye think ye could get up today? Want ye ta meet someone, get a couple o' drinks, maybe. Loosen up a bit."

"Who?" The prospect of alcohol made his mouth water, and that was the only reason he didn't immediately tell them to shove off. 

"Paul." Ringo spoke up softly, going to sit on the bed next to him for the thousandth time. 

"No fookin' way. Fuck off, please." The words spilled immediately from his chapped lips. "Don't really feel like gettin' bashed on fer bein' a royal, thanks, mate." He flipped over, back facing them as he curled in on himself closer, refusing to comply. 

"I know what yer thinkin' John; but please. Trust us. This will help ye." 

After a few minutes of the three jumping back and forth, trying to convince John, the dishevelled boy had finally caved in, slowly slipping out of bed for the first time in a month for a purpose other than going to the loo.

Seeing Paul was.... mixed feelings at first. The boy was sitting in his room, wrapped up in a torn, smelly blanket, by himself as he was delved deep in a book, expression showing his deep involvement into the story. John almost didn't want to disturb him.

"Paul? John's 'ere, and we got booze." 

The younger boy had torn his gaze from the pages, his entire countenance immediately turning sour as he turned back to his book at seeing John standing there, pulling it closer to his face and glaring at it. 

"'m busy."

"Paul." Ringo spoke, a slight firmness to it, his expression deadly serious as he walked over to the boy, kneeling down beside his friend and leaning to whisper in his ear. The doe-eyed boy looked up, eyes growing wide in shock, before he turned to John, gaze softening, mixed emotions reflected in them. 

That night was the first good night he had had since the day of finding out.... the news. There wasn't much said at first, Paul just patted the spot next to him, scooting over to make room for the prince, who slowly sat down next to him, feeling his cheeks grow warm with embarrassment. His gaze hadn't moved from John since Ringo had whispered in his ear. The auburn-haired boy had wondered, why was he staring at him like that? Ringo and George sat opposite them, placing the cardboard box they had brought between them all and pulling out the many bottles that had been put in it. Paul picked two up, opening both and handing one to John, their fingertips brushing against each other, John feeling electricity shooting up his arm, every hair standing on edge as his cheeks flamed even harder. It was just the fact that Paul's fingers were cold as hell, John had suspected. 

The four drunk in silence for a bit, until Paul finally spoke up, having stared at the vulnerable boy for a while.

"It's horrible, innit?" 

John huffed, taking another large swig and glaring at the floor. "How do ye know? Ye dunno shit." 

There was tense silence between them all, the air thickening more and more as Paul grew cold, turning away with a stony expression.

"An' how do ye know I dunno shit, huh? Wha' makes ye so fuckin' sure?" 

"Because-"

"I lost me fuckin' mum, alrigh'! Don't gimme tha' daft shit." The boy had risen his voice considerably, and those words had caused John to fall silent, ducking his head low and fiddling with a bottle top guiltily. 

"Sorry." He had spoken after a few minutes of tense silence, it was so tense John could feel every hair on his skin, goosebumps rising and he felt choked by the suddenly hot, thick air. 

"'s alrigh'." Paul's voice was just above a hoarse whisper, taking out a pipe and shakily lighting it, eyes reflecting vulnerability as memories of his mother filled his head, taking a deep puff of it, tilting his head back with a sigh, the smoke billowing into the stale air of the room. Neither of them had noticed that George and Ringo had slinked out with knowing looks, leaving the two to talk about things they didn't know about, taking some of the beers with them for themselves. "Want?" The ebony-haired boy held out the pipe for John, locking eyes with the boy again.

"Yeah." He took it and sucked a long, deep puff, sighing as he felt the nicotine and alcohol start to work on his body, loosening the muscles and all tension, but giving way to the influx of thoughts that threatened to burst, spill from his brain and out his ears. 

They had talked a lot that night. Mainly memories they had of their mothers, even though John didn't have that much. Then the conversation dissolved into other things, whatever came up into their minds, what food they liked, whether they played instruments. John learned that Paul played the piano, but had to give it up to pay for hospital expenses for his mother. Which evidently didn't work. By the time they were too tired and drunk to speak, the moon was high in the sky. It must have been two or three in the morning. Before he had known it, he had rested his head onto Paul's shoulder, eyes fluttering shut, slumber taking its hold of the grieving boy. Paul sat there for a bit, thinking to himself as he leaned his cheek on top of John's head, eyes lidded and drooping with fatigue. Before long, he had fallen asleep too. 

By the time the younger boy had woken up in the late morning with a pounding headache and a hangover, not as bad as the last time he got drunk though, John was gone.

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author's note.
_____________________
hi guys sorry sorry for the wait aHH
hope yall had a good valentines ! i did
nothing but eat ice cream and watch 
movies lmaoo. anyways hope yall enjoy
this chap, some paul n john bonding
i decided to give bc of valentines :)!
sorry its shorter than usual ive just
been busy as fuck with school n all
and writers block beatin my fuckin ass 
oops. anyways hope yall enjoy ,, 
see ya later !! <333