group
"America is alright. It's got its flaws. But there are gorgeous places. I love the mountains, a lot. They're always so pretty. And as for LEGO land, I've never been so I wouldn't know. It seems pretty cool." He hummed, smiling at Nico. He was so cute it made Evan giddy.
pets
Nico nodded, before fishing his phone from the coffee table next to him,
"I keep getting calls from some private number. I think it's just some teller-scammer, their definitely persistent."
group
Evan tilted his head, humming softly. "If you'd like them to stop calling you could block them, or you could answer and I'd help you with it, if you'd like. I'm very good at getting teller-scammers to leave me alone." He laughed softly, leaning forwards slightly with a grin.
pets
Nico smiled and passed the vibrating phone over,
"It's an 61+ number, which is Australia, I think."
group
"Mm Australia huh? Do you know someone from there?" He asked, smiling as he answered the call and held it up to his ear, grinning wide from ear to ear.
"Yes? Hello? Who's this?" He started with, ready with a fake identity if this person turned out to be a marketer.
pets
The line was silent for a mind, before a shallow sobbing was heard,
"Nicky… I'm so sorry. I didn't want to hurt you like that but you have to know I did it for you. I did it for your safety. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I just want you to know I will always love you."
group
Immediately the grin on Evan's face dropped. He tilted his head and looked to Nico in surprise. He blinked and focused again on the phone. "Who's this? You're speaking to a friend of Nico's." He replied, his lips curling up in a scowl. Whoever this was had possibly harmed Nico, and if it was someone who had contributed to Nico's past abuse, Evan wouldn't let them even talk to Nico.
pets
"W-what? Who is this?? What do you- please, I need to talk to my brother."
group
"This is his roommate," Evan felt a bitter taste rise up in his mouth. He pulled the phone away from his ear and looked to Nico, his face concerned. "Its your brother… Do you want to talk to him?" He asked softly, offering the phone to Nico and biting his lip.
pets
"Who, Josh? I never gave my number. Are you sure its for me? O-or maybe its my cousin or something?"
group
“It’s for you… I think so at least.” He murmured, staring at the phone for a moment. “Do you want me to tell them to leave you alone? They said they’ve hurt you… for your own good but I don’t believe that for a damn minute.”
pets
Nico frowned,
"No- pass it here, I wanna chew them out!"
group
Evan passed the phone to Nico, watching carefully like an overprotective mother hen. He was going to make sure no one got to Nico. "If it goes bad, let me take over." He huffed, sliding over to lean against Nico, resting his head on Nico's shoulder.
pets
"Hello?"
he goes quiet for a minute, but colour soon drains from his face,
"Who is this?? You- you think this is some kinda joke?!?"
group
Evan looked up at Nico’s face, concern written in his eyes. “Is everything alright?” He asked gently, setting his hand on Nico’s arm.
pets
(Omfg I'm so sorry)
Nico grit his teeth,
"I don't want an apology!" He yelled, completely ignoring Evan,
"I don't know who you are, or why you think this is funny, but my sister is dead, and you'll be too when my brother finds you!"
group
(You're okay! Don't worry about it! :))
Evan's eyes widened. He carefully took Nico's free hand, giving it a smalls squeeze to remind Nico that he was still there, and willing to help.
"Nico…." He murmured quietly, biting his own lip.
pets
Nico froze, as if confused on what to do. Suddenly, he wretched a sob, flinging his phone across the room,
"STAY OUT OF IT!" he yelled,
"YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME, OR MY BROTHER! I DONT KNOW YOU!"
group
Immediately Evan took a hold of Nico’s hands bringing them down and turning Nico’s face towards him. “Hey, hey. Calm down, Nico, I’m right here. Whoever that was can’t hurt you, okay?”
pets
"She's lying-!"
He stopped, his face paling,
"Josh… Josh told me someone was calling him, pretending to our sister.."
He stood up and stumbled towards the door, shoving his jacket on,
group
Evan stood and followed after Nico, panicking slightly at how upset Nico was. "Nico wait! Don't go out! Come and calm down first, please. Do you have your brother's number? Lets call him first okay? He'd probably come over here. I just need you to calm down. Please. I don't want you hurt or sick."
pets
"No." he said firmly, voice trembling,
"I have to see Josh- I have to ask him questions."
group
“Nico.” This time Evan’s voice was a little harsher than usual. It softened right away, however.
“You’re not in a good mind to leave right away. I promise I’ll drive you to him if you just take a moment to breath for me, okay?”
pets
His face twists in anger,
"Fine! I'll wait."
group
Evan let out a relieved sigh, gently pulling Nico into the kitchen. He poured the smaller male a glass of water and offered it to him.
“I know you want answers right away but it’s not smart to just storm out.”
pets
"They do it all the time in cop shows, they say "every second counts!". Sometimes in life, you don't have time to sit around and collect your thoughts, you just have to do what you assess to be the best move in the situation."
group
Evan bit his lip to stifle a small laugh. Nico was cute in everything he did, even when he was angry.
“Well, when we have a massive pandemic going on and you’re really upset, I’m going to have to ask you to reassess the situation.” He ruffled Nico’s hair and sighed. “Go get your phone, okay? I’ll drive you.”
pets
"Fine, let's go." he shot up and made his way to the door, not waiting for Evan to catch up. He knows he's a bit childish, in the way he speaks and acts, but that's always how he has been. It's like he's stuck in a groundhog day version of 7th grade.
group
Evan laughed gently, grabbing his keys and hurrying after Nico. He made sure the apartment was locked up before following Nico to the car, unlocking it quickly.
"Don't be irrational about it, though, got it? Stay safe. Keep yourself safe."
pets
"Whatever," he mumbled, jumping down the stairwell 3 steps at a time. I would have been more practical to take the Elevator, sure, but he saw a movie where a lady got chopped in half and hasn't been in one since.
