Fic - I Thought I Knew It All Part Five
Title: I Thought I Knew It All Part Five
Characters: Donovan and Key
Rating: PG-13
Wordcount: 4,871
Summary: A new cell phone, a relaxing car ride, a few drinks... it's all about good company.
Credits: Beta'd by angiechan070707. Banner art by nether-embrace.
Cell phone shopping had not been nearly as bad as Key had expected it to be. By the end of his and Donovan’s shopping excursion he was the proud owner of a dark blue pay-as-you-go phone with an ungodly amount of minutes to start out with. Despite Key’s arguments against it, Donovan had paid for the thing, insisting that Key could pay him back once he had a job.
Of course Key was still trying to argue against it as soon as they returned to the car. “Donovan this really is too much, you barely even know me.”
“I know you enough to know that I will most likely feel the need to call you at random intervals and babble on about nothing, using up the majority of your minutes. So really if you look at it that way, this is just as much for me as it is for you.” Donovan could be incredibly persuasive when he wanted to be. “And now you have a number to put on your applications.”
“I also don’t have an excuse not to put in applications anymore.” Key wasn’t sure if he was happy about that or not.
“Well if you really want an excuse I’m sure we can think of something. I’m not about to try to force anyone else to be more responsible than I am.”
“I’m beginning to wonder how responsible that is.” The words had been meant to remain in Key’s head but he very quickly realized that he’d said them out loud. “I mean because of how much you’re spending on someone you just met! I’m not trying to suggest-”
Donovan cut Key off with a wave of his hand, looking as casual and calm as ever. “No need to worry your pretty little head about it Key, I’m not offended. Leo questions my level of responsibility all the time, I’m used to it. And I can’t say that the question is unwarranted considering I’m an adult who has never had a job and would prefer to never have to get one. I find the idea of having fun and enjoying life far more interesting than actually doing work.”
"Most people do, but it's not exactly practical."
Donovan grinned and Key could swear that the way the sunlight caught his teeth made him look almost predatory. "I don't know if you've noticed or not, but practicality has never really been my strong suite."
"Oh I've noticed. Practical people don't go picking up random strangers in bookstores."
"So I picked you up did I?"
"What?” Key mentally kicked himself for walking into that one. “No, I mean-"
"Because if so, I've been going about this all wrong."
"Donovan, that is not what I meant and you know it!"
Donovan simply laughed in return.
"You're never going to stop doing things like that are you?"
"Probably not." Donovan started the car and began the short drive to their next destination. "You're entirely too easy to get flustered and besides, it's good for you. Maybe if I flirt with you enough you'll be better equipped to handle it if someone else were to flirt with you. I know you’re not looking for anybody now, but the time will come someday so you might as well be ready for it. This city has a lot of pretty girls in it Key and a nice sensitive boy like you just happens to be what seventy five percent of them are looking for."
"Oh really?" Key rolled his eyes. "And how do you know that?"
"Because I've slept with a good number of them, and I like to consider myself the nice kind of one night stand that actually hangs around and talks before heading home... sometimes at least. You wouldn't believe how many women are brutally honest about the fact that they'll bring a guy like me home for a night but what they really want is a guy like you."
A bit reluctantly, Key looked over at Donovan, who he was surprised to find had his eyes on the road rather than him. Or at least he was pretty sure Donovan's eyes were on the road, it was a little hard to tell behind the dark sunglasses.
"How do you even do that?"
"The one night stands? Or are you asking me about the basic mechanics of sex? If you are then we have much bigger issues to deal with than I thought we did."
If Key was the type to scream, he would. "Neither! I mean how do you just discuss them so casually? You act like it's not a big deal at all."
"Well that's because it's not. It's just sex Key."
"But sex is supposed to be more than that. It's supposed to be... I don't know... emotional and intimate."
Donovan slid his eyes in Key's direction, though he kept up the façade of watching the road. "I should have guessed you were a closet romance novel fan."
"I am not a closet romance novel fan."
"Chick flicks then?"
"Donovan."
"Oh fine, fine, fine. For some people sex is all you say that it is, maybe even more. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with those people, but I am definitely not one of them. For me, sex is about fun, about finding a moment with another person."
“What if that person wants more than a moment?”
“Then they aren’t for me. I’ve gotten pretty good at picking out the ones who are looking for a little fun versus the ones who are looking to settle down. The last thing I want to do is misrepresent myself, I’m not about breaking hearts.”
“Well that’s good at least. But do you ever plan on settling down?”
Donovan parked the car, though he made no move to get out or even unbuckle his seatbelt. Instead he kept his eyes on the steering wheel, and when he eventually began to speak, his voice was unusually quiet.
“I don’t think settling down is really in the cards for me. I used to think it was, I even planned on having a family if you can believe that, but fate has a funny way of letting us know that the plans of mere mortals don’t really mean much.”
Key watched Donovan silently, unwilling to interrupt one of the few displays of real emotion he had seen so far. Though he couldn’t help but wonder how much of the explanation was personal experience and how much was simply his flair for the dramatic.
“After fate or God or whatever it was made it clear that I wasn’t going to get my happy ending I started to wonder how happy it would have been in the first place. Sure in theory the idea was a good one but theory only takes you so far. No love ever lasts forever you know.”
“No I don’t know, and I don’t see how you could either.” Key continued to watch as Donovan pulled his eyes away from the steering wheel and set them upon him instead. “You’re still young Donovan. You’re eighteen years old but you talk like some old man who was left at the altar.”
A smile crossed Donovan’s face, though he made no effort to put any emotion into it. The result was empty and sad, if not a little creepy. “I’ve gone through more than you’d think. Perhaps I’ll tell you about it someday.”
“The day I tell you about my sister.” It wasn’t a question, and they both knew it.
“Yes, then. But I assure you that I have perfectly good reasons for feeling the way that I do, even if it does sound a little on the dramatic side.”
“I’ll take your word for it. I just hope you’re really happy living the way you are now.”
“I have an endless string of bedmates, a brother who I care for more than anything in the world, and an adorably curious friend who cares for my well being. What’s not to be happy about?”
Finally Donovan’s smile turned genuine and he made his move to climb out of the car, followed quickly by Key. The two were standing in front of a restaurant that looked like it was supposed to resemble something out of an old cowboy film. Above the door, which was the most modern thing on the building’s exterior, hung an obviously fake cow skull that was blaring country music through its eye sockets. Key could only assume that it had a speaker inside, or it was possessed. Neither option made the thing any more attractive.
“Uh… Donovan?”
“Okay so this place is cheesy as hell and the music is awful but the food is delicious, trust me.”
The expression on Key’s face was far from trusting as Donovan grabbed his wrist and literally dragged him inside. Between the foyer and the restaurant itself was a small set of swinging doors, the type you would see in an old West saloon. Key was a little surprised, though very thankful, that the woman who seated them wasn’t dressed as a bar wench.
“Don’t give me that look,” Donovan said as the woman walked away.
He reached into a bucket of peanuts that sat on the table and selected a few, tossing the shells on the floor when he was done. By the look of things that was what was expected of him, but the whole idea made Key cringe. It just didn’t seem sanitary.
Key tentatively took one of the menus as if he was afraid it was going to bite him. “What look would that be?”
“Oh I think you know exactly what look I’m talking about.” Another peanut shell hit the floor. “You don’t really go out to eat much do you?”
“Well no… but I did when I was younger and I’ve never been to a place quite like this before.”
Donovan chuckled and tossed a peanut at Key. Unfortunately the attempt failed miserably and simply bounced off the menu and back into Donovan’s lap. “Like I said, this place is cheesy but the food is good. I used to know a guy who worked here-“
“I’m sure you did.”
“Judge not lest ye be judged Key darling.” Donovan tossed another peanut and this time made it over Key’s menu, causing the blond to sigh heavily. “As a matter of fact I only knew him because I… well… knew his roommate. Can you imagine a guy working here who was the slightest bit gay? I know that the Village People did great things for the gay cowboy stereotype and all but they practically pump testosterone in the air here. I leave with the sudden urge to buy power tools.”
Despite his attempts not to, Key had to laugh. “Okay I see your point. But I thought you didn’t have any friends.”
“I don’t, but I do have acquaintances. I spent the night with his roommate Shelly… or was it Kelly?” Donovan shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. But I spent the night with her and when I went to leave the next morning he was watching TV. It was something I was interested in so I sat down and we eventually got to talking. He suggested I come by the bar area later that night and get the Kelly Special, that was her name by the way, I’m sure of it.”
“The Kelly Special? Do I even want to know.”
“A drink guaranteed to cure you of whatever STD you may have picked up by sleeping with the biggest whore in the area, that’s how he explained it to me. Apparently she wasn’t nearly as discriminating as I am and tended to pick up the kind of guys who wanted more than just one night. Her roommate was the unfortunate nice guy type, kind of like you really, and ended up trying to let them down as easily as possible, while urging them to take a stop at the free clinic on the way home.”
Key’s eyes were the size of saucers, and he wasn’t sure just how long his mouth was hanging open before he forced himself to regain his composure. “That’s not healthy!”
“Relax, he was joking… mostly. But if it makes you feel any better I have never had an STD. I have a completely clean bill of health, even after the infamous Kelly.”
“That’s… that’s gambling with your safety though. If you’ve never had one it’s only a matter of time and…” Key’s cheeks began to turn pink. “Well I hope you’re using protection.”
It took all of Donovan’s self control not to break into hysterical laughter as soon as the words left Key’s mouth. The look of unabashed horror combined with genuine concern was both adorable and hilarious. Luckily Donovan was aware of just how much it must have taken for Key to have even made the statement in the first place, and he wasn’t about to embarrass his friend further.
“Always,” he finally said. “And I appreciate your concern.”
“I know it’s not my place but you hear a lot of people talking and… well I know people say it feels better without and…” The decrease in volume of Key’s voice seemed directly related to the increase of color on his cheeks.
“Perhaps, but safety is more important.”
Key simply nodded, too embarrassed to even think of a reply. Instead he buried his nose in the menu, thinking entirely too hard on what he wanted to order.
Donovan watched all of this with an amused expression, and took his eyes away from Key just long enough to put in a drink order as their waitress finally came to introduce herself.
“Two beers please.” He flashed her a smile that guaranteed he wouldn’t be carded. “Whatever’s your favorite for me and… whatever the women usually order for my friend. He doesn’t drink much.” The final sentence was uttered in a tone just above a whisper, as if he was trusting the waitress with a deep secret.
Once the waitress was out of earshot Key put his menu down. “Donovan, I don’t drink. And neither of us are old-“
“We’ve covered this already. I have a very nice ID that insists I’m twenty two years old, and besides a friendly nature and a charming smile can get you just as far as a fake ID in a lot of places.”
“Be that as it may, it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t drink. I’ve… I’ve never drank!”
Donovan began picking at the peanuts again, more so he could focus on his hands rather than risk breaking into giggles at the various looks Key was giving him. “It’s a beer Key. One beer. And I’m sure she’ll bring you the lightest stuff they have, so just relax. You’re not going to get drunk, you’re not going to go careening into a downward spiral of alcoholism, and you’re not going to get in any trouble. Trust me.”
Several silent seconds passed before Key let out a resigned sigh. “Fine… but don’t go thinking this is your cue to start planning some epic barhopping adventure. One beer. That’s it.”
Donovan looked up from the bucket of peanuts and smiled. “One beer.”
Upon receiving his beer Key sniffed it and immediately made a face. He was able to put off actually trying the liquid long enough for both he and Donovan to order, but once the waitress had retreated he had no excuse.
“This smells awful.”
“That’s because you’re not used to smelling it. And what was it you said to me yesterday? If you’re not careful your face is going to stay that way.”
Key rolled his eyes, completely unsurprised by his words being turned around on him. “And I’m pretty sure you’d still hit on me if for no other reason than to make me nervous.”
Donovan chuckled and took a long drink of his beer. "And I'm pretty sure you're right."
After another couple of sniffs and a few false starts Key finally took the tiniest sip of the beer he could manage. This was immediately followed by a slightly bigger sip, and a contemplative look that one should never really be giving a cheap light beer.
"It's not bad."
"See? You learned you liked something new today. Spending time with me is good for you."
"Well except for the fact that I'm underage maybe. If you take that into account then I'd say you're a bad influence."
The predatory look returned to Donovan's grin, though he managed to keep his lewd comments to himself. "There's no such thing as a bad influence Key, hasn't anyone ever told you that?"
"No, I'm pretty sure they haven't. In fact, I was told the exact opposite for years. I grew up being told I was a bad influence."
"On your sister, I take it?"
Key nodded. He toyed with the label on his beer and took another drink, this time actually taking more than just a sip. "Since we spent all our time just... being children more or less, it was apparently my fault that she wasn't showing an interest in doing things normal young women do. I really wasn't even aware you could be a bad influence just by reading books, playing games, and things like that but apparently I was mistaken."
"No you weren't." Donovan removed his sunglasses carefully and set them down on the table. He could detect a hint of sadness in Key's bright blue eyes and it was just another moment that he hoped he could have a hand in turning into happiness. "Believing in bad influences mean believing that people aren't at fault for their own action. Oh sure, someone can say that Timmy is a bad influence and Billy never started using bad words until he met Timmy but what does that really mean?"
"That... their parents like really generic names?"
"Besides that. It means that Billy's parents didn't take the time to teach him that bad words were wrong. It means that Billy isn't smart enough not to use them around his parents. It means that maybe there's something going on with Timmy that someone should look into instead of looking down on. Basically, it means a million things but unless Timmy held a gun to Billy's head and forced him to call his Grandma the wicked bitch of the west, it isn't his fault. If he did... well then maybe someone should look into Timmy's living arrangements. Guns are not for children."
Key blinked, and wondered if perhaps he was so new to drinking that only a couple of drinks could have gotten to him. Of course rational thought told him that no, that wasn't the case and Donovan was just being... Donovan. And "being Donovan" seemed to entail walking a fine line between making a lot of sense and making none at all.
"It appears that I've lost you."
"No, I was just thinking," Key said. "That sort of makes sense. I was just kidding about you being a bad influence in the first place of course, but you do make a valid point... in a way."
"I think it makes perfect sense. By that logic you had no control over what your sister did or didn't do, so you couldn't be a bad influence. Sounds to me like someone needed a scapegoat and you fit the bill rather conveniently."
"Now that I won't argue against. I never once believed what they accused me of was true, I always knew that the only reason I was singled out was because my sister had more potential than I did."
"Potential for what?" Donovan asked, lacing his fingers together and resting his chin on the bridge they formed.
"Oh you know, marriage, having a family, being a productive member of society, all of those things."
"Wow, they were pushing you to marry pretty young. I thought that sort of thing died out already, unless you're in some weird religious cult."
Key paused and stared at Donovan for a few seconds before erupting into laughter. He didn't bother to try and hold it back, or worry about the fact that he had startled a small child at a nearby table, he simply laughed until there was no more laugh remaining. Donovan meanwhile was left staring in complete confusion.
"Okay... that was a little strange, I won't lie."
"Sorry, so sorry." Key wiped a tear from his eye and stifled a few giggles. "It's just that you're right, that's all. I uh... guess you'd have had to be there."
"Apparently. I'm almost sorry I wasn't if it was that funny."
"Oh it wasn't funny, it's just..." Key rolled his beer bottle between his hands and looked contemplative. Unfortunately he came up with nothing. "It's just one of those things I guess."
Donovan nodded, clearly seeing the "information line" that they'd not yet reached. He also couldn't help but notice that there seemed to be a part of Key that wanted to talk about his sister and about whatever bad thing had happened regarding her. Donovan wasn't going to push, but he had a feeling it wouldn't be too long before they were having that dramatic exchanging of secrets. The idea was both exciting and slightly terrifying.
After a few silent moments Donovan steered the conversation in a "safe" direction and the two engaged each other in idle chatter as they waited for their food. There were no more tantalizing tidbits of things to come, though Donovan did realize that if he wanted to get Key drunk it wouldn't cost him very much to do it. Key was two thirds of the way through his beer and his cheeks were already the same shade of pink generally associated with his frequent moments of embarrassment. It was as adorable as it was tempting.
"Here you go boys, sorry it took you so long," the waitress drawled in what both Donovan and Key hoped was a fake Southern accent. If it was real then that was very unfortunate for her. "Do y'all want another couple of beers?"
Donovan glanced at Key, who didn't say yes but didn't say no either, which was good enough. "Yes please."
The waitress left and the two took a few silent moments to work at cutting their steaks. Key made a face when he noticed that Donovan's was so rare it was practically still mooing, but he kept his opinion to himself. It wasn't until the waitress brought them their beers that he spoke up.
"I really shouldn't you know. I don't know what my limit is, but I imagine it's not very high."
"Then consider this an experiment." Donovan downed what was left of his bottle and set it aside. "Hopefully you've realized by now that I'm not the type to try anything on someone when they're drunk, so what's the worst that could happen?"
"I could make a complete idiot out of myself for one." Despite his argument Key took a long drink, almost finishing his first bottle. "I could end up saying something I probably shouldn't for another. I'm sure there are plenty of other things that could happen that I'm just not thinking about at the moment."
Donovan rolled his eyes. "I didn't think you'd come up with a list, though I guess I shouldn't be surprised. But so what if you do those things? Even if you got up on the table, started dancing and proclaiming you were the Queen of France I wouldn't judge you on that. I'd make fun of you for it later, but I wouldn't judge you."
"You're so good to me."
"I know." The smile Donovan punctuated his sentence with was so completely saccharine that it was actually kind of cute. "But come on, live a little. What's the point of living if you don't test your boundaries a little?"
"Actually I'm pretty sure I've been testing them repeatedly since we met. Which... okay I'll admit, isn't a bad thing I guess. I've been certainly having more fun lately than I normally do. I also haven't gotten the urge to talk to myself nearly as often."
"Okay, that's a little weird, but if you see it as an improvement then right on."
"Oh you'll judge me on that but not the Queen of France thing?"
"Hey, I only said a little weird at least. Though honestly I do think it's good that you're breaking out of your shell a little more, and it's showing that as per usual I am an excellent judge of character."
"Oh yes, I'm sure it does." Key poked at the vegetable medley nesting near his steak a few times before he picked up a green bean and nibbled on it tentatively. He was surprised to find it was pretty good. "So have you always been this much of an egoist or is it just part of your seduction routine?"
Donovan barely managed to swallow the piece of meat he'd just bitten down on before choking on it. The question hadn't exactly been an expected one, especially considering the source. "It comes naturally. Why? Did you think it was part of my seduction routine?"
Key shrugged his shoulders. "It was just a question."
"So you say. But if you thought that's what it was then I can only assume you think I'm trying to seduce you."
"Maybe... to a degree." Donovan arched an eyebrow, which caused Key to stifle his laughter before continuing. "I'm pretty sure you don’t have an off switch basically. I don't think you're trying to lure me into your bed or anything, I just think you seduce people without realizing it... or you try to anyway. I haven't even known you very long and I've come to realize you can't communicate without flirting. It's just part of who you are."
"Well you've got me there I'm afraid. They do say you get more flies with honey than vinegar you know and once I found out how true that was I ran with it. You can get just about anything you want with the right attitude."
"I'm sure you can. I on the other hand, don't think I'd ever be comfortable doing that. I wouldn't know what to do if someone got the wrong impression."
"It's a risk you end up taking, I won't lie." Donovan sighed in the most dramatic fashion he could manage. "But it's a risk I have come to live with. Oh the curse of good genetics!"
Key groaned and finished off his beer. When Donovan nudged the other towards him he thought about arguing but knew the odds of it doing any good were too slim to even really consider. "Is your brother as egotistical as you are?"
"Leo? In some ways I'd say yes, in other ways I'd say definitely not. He has an ego, don't get me wrong, but it's all based on his intelligence. The man is a genius."
"So you're the stereotypical twins where one is brainy and the other is outgoing?"
"Pretty much, and I guess we take it to extremes. I've been known to be... very outgoing-" Key wasn't going to question Donovan's meaning, he had a feeling he didn't want to know. "And I'm not kidding when I say that Leo is a genius. Last time I counted he could speak five languages fluently besides English, he can play pretty much any stringed instrument after toying with it for a day or two, and well, you already know how quickly he reads books."
"Wow, that's impressive. I still think I'm working on mastering English."
Donovan laughed. "You and me both. But on the flip side, despite the fact that Leo obviously has pretty fantastic genes if he's my twin, he has no self confidence when it comes to his appearance. I'm fairly certain that's one of the reasons he never leaves the house."
"Yeah?" Key decided to ignore the slight bout of narcissism. This was Donovan after all. "You look alike then I'm assuming? Since you're twins?"
"Well we're fraternal twins, but we do look similar... bone structure and all. He has a different hair and eye color than I do though."
"Oh, okay. Mika is my fraternal twin... obviously I guess considering I'm not female so that rules identical out. What do you suppose the odds of that are?"
"The odds of what? Having an identical twin of the opposite gender? I'm no science geek, but-"
"No!" Key gave in and took a drink of his second beer before shaking his head. "Of us both being fraternal twins and meeting at random."
"Oh, that makes a little more sense. I have no idea what the odds are though. I guess a twin is bound to meet another twin at some point in their existence, after all we are on this earth for a pretty long time."
"I'd hardly call eighteen years a long time, at least in this context."
"Perception. It's all perception."
Key pondered to the cryptic response during another drink. His better judgment said he probably shouldn't, but for once he wasn't entirely interested in what his better judgment thought.