The Blue Danube [OLD]

- 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔱𝔶 𝔬𝔫𝔢. ﾐ

"Ahem?" Ringo cleared his throat and they broke apart, having been too lost in their affectionate reunion to notice their two friends staring at them, amusement alight in their gazes. Once they quickly let go of each other, John ducked his head, cheeks burning with embarrassment while Paul rubbed the back of his neck shyly.

"You two seem happy to see each other again." George snickered.

"Like you two are any better," John rolled his eyes.

"Anyways! Let's go to the lounge. Jim and Mike are out today an' won't be back 'til tonight." Paul decided to change the subject quickly, grabbing John's hand and leading him through the front hallway to the kitchen; Ringo and George trailed behind, giggling to themselves at their friend's expense. John held the carefully-wrapped present he had for Paul more securely in his hands, glancing down at it with a fond smile. He knew Paul would definitely like it very much. He would never tell him how much it actually cost (it was a lot), and how it was actually quite hard for him to find, but Paul would probably understand anyway. He was more perceptive of John's feelings and actions than he let on.

"Did all three of you get me presents?" Paul stared at them in dismay, but his eyes glittered with a secret happiness when he saw all three of them had their own things. "You really didn't have to-"

"Oh, shut it, Paul! Seventeen is a big year. Just let us get ye things sometimes." George rolled his eyes with a nudge to his arm, sitting in a circle on the floor; the tattered carpet was caked with dust and weird stains, and John swept away some of it with his hand before sitting down. He wasn't used to such dirty things, he'd admit it. It was just built into his psyche from his upbringing to detest it. He was becoming more accustomed as he spent time with his poorer friends, but it still got to him sometimes. He hated how it did.

"God, yer such a priss, John!" Paul teased, having noticed his nose scrunch up at the carpet that had probably laid on that floor for centuries at that point.

"I'm not! I just.." John protested feebly. "I can't help it, okay?!"

Nothing was said, instead his three friends exchanging a look before bursting into raucous laughter.

"Pack it, will ya?" He groaned.

"It's so funny! I remember one time I offered him an apple that was a few days old and he looked at it like I had just offered curdled milk!" George chortled, clutching onto his stomach. "He still took it but when he bit into it his face scrunched like he had just sucked on a lemon! It's hilarious."

"Oh my god!! I remember I was eating some leftover soup and he was like "you're really.. eatin' it?"" Paul giggled. "He was so genuinely confused, it was adorable!"

"Are you guys done makin' fun of me?" He huffed, resting his head on his hand. "It's not my fault I'm used to.. y'know." His cheeks burned with embarrassment, and he wished he had just sucked it up and sat down on the carpet - that was perfectly fine - so they wouldn't poke fun at him.

"Come on! Don't take it so hard, eh?" Ringo flicked his cheek with a snicker, John batting him away with a barely-suppressed smile. "We're allowed to make fun of it sometimes, 'cause it is a little funny. You gotta admit it."

"Fine!" John sighed.

"Let's open the presents now!" George lit up, Paul following suit with an excited grin as he was handed John and Ringo's presents, already having George's in his lap. "I bet mine is gonna be the best!"

"No, mine is!" John glared at his friend - not without an amused glint in his eye. His would obviously be the best, it was an actual musical instrument and had his initials carved into it!