HS: JohnVriska 8

Tavros comes over just as you expected him to. He was all too eager to help you in any way that he could. You know this is because he is obsessed with you, and who wouldn't be? You take that thought back because you are scared shitless that John would be the one who wouldn't fall under your charm.

When Tavros knocks lightly on the door you quickly get up from your seat on the couch next to John and tell him you're going out with a friend. John looks surprised but just tells you to have fun and gives you that smile that makes your knees weak. You wish you were the only one he smiled to because not everyone deserves to see that.

Tavros makes a squeak of a noise when you open the door and push him back outside instead of inviting him in.

"We're going to Starbucks or some shit, okay? We can't talk here..."

He looks suspiciously at you but says nothing in protest.

When you get to your destination and order your drinks, you settle down at a table in a corner and hope to god you have enough privacy. Vriska Serket does not spill her heart out every day and another chance like this is not going to show itself any time soon. You need this to be private and perfect and sincere.

"Tavros, I think I like John."

He sputters his latte and blinks at you. "W-What...?"

"My roommate. You know, Dave's old best friend or whatever? Yeah, I think I like him." You glare, begrudgingly out the window, like it was some horrible curse that has you emotionally attached to the moron. You know this is not far from the truth.

"Is... Is that what you wanted to talk with me about?"

"Yeah... I needed to tell someone and I thought of you first." He looks surprised and you, yourself are also just as surprised. Why him? Probably because you are a raging sadist and you want to passively show Tavros that he doesn't have a chance in hell at getting into your panties. If you wanted to date a  pussy, you would have taken Kanaya up on her offer a few years back. Nonetheless, he was here and he was willing to listen to you and that is all you need right now.

"W-Well, I am flattered... but, I don't really see how I could be someone who could help you... with... confidence... Like, if you were to tell him, I have no idea how to help you get the courage to go through with it..." He looks down at his drink and sighs.

"So, if you liked someone, you wouldn't be able to tell them, right?"

He nods.

"You are right, this is completely pointless." He looks even more dejected and you feel a pang of remorse. Good thing it's easy to ignore! You have had practice. "But, talking about it does help and I need to figure out if this is just because I've been single for a while or if it's legitimate."

"Do you just want to have... have sex with him?"

"That is only one of the things that I would like to do with him, yes." You are deadpan and it makes Tavros blush wildly, but he trudges on. You are proud of the little worm.

"So, if he refused to do it... with you, would you still have f-feelings?"

"...I..." You stop and think. This was very important. You know he's a virgin and you know he's waiting for the right girl to fall in his lap and what if he didn't think you were the right girl? Your blood runs cold at this thought. It never occurred to you that you could easily be rejected.

But John was special. And he was special to you. If he didn't want to play the best indoor sport with you, you... you would be alright with that. With a new set of determination, you stare Tavros in the eyes and nod once.

"Well, then... I think, for once... you're feelings are genuine." Tavros tries to smile encouragingly but it's forced and fake. You ignore it. You have other things to worry about and Tavros was a big boy. Well...

"My feelings are always genuine. But, thanks. I think..." You pause and look down at your coffee as if it was giving you a pep-talk. 'You can do it! If you want to tell John how you feel, then by god, make his day!' You're right, coffee. "I think... I'm going to tell him... tonight."

Tavros doesn't say anything and looks everywhere else but your general direction. God, was he really that upset about it. Poor sod must be head-over-heels for you. But that is none of your business. You never tried to get him to be interested in you... sometimes you can't help being this ridiculously good looking. That is out of your control and thus, he will have to deal with it himself.

You both finish your drinks and he takes you back to your apartment and you give him a chaste hug, which is the first time you ever have. You are actually thankful for him, coming out and listening to you and helping you out even though it probably tore him up inside. You have the decency to at least acknowledge that he is a real human, with real emotions.

That night, after John made dinner and you cleaned up, you sit next to him on the couch and he has some movie playing, but you can't be bothered with that right now.

"John, can I talk to you for a second...?"

He blinks at you, probably unused to your serious voice and turns the volume down on the TV, but not off. It's the only light in the living room, after all. Lights off was the only way to watch movies, you see.

"Yeah, shoot."

"I, uh..." You are Vriska Serket and for the first time in your entire life, you have no idea what the fuck to say. John waits patiently for you to get your words in order. "I have a... a problem." That is not what you meant to say, what the hell is wrong with you?

"A problem? Are you okay?" John suddenly looks concerned and he leans in to make sure you really are uninjured.

"Yes, but it's not a serious one... I mean-- It's not bad! Uuuh... wow" you let out a huff and look away, glaring.

"Is it... complicated?"

"Very. Yes, in fact that is a good word! It is complicated! But only when I try to say it out loud! It is very simple in theory and in my head, I just am scared and nervous to tell you..."

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

You blink. Did you hear that wrong? What the fuck did he just say? Did you have a boyfriend? You must have looked completely lost because John clears it up with, "I mean, like... because if you did, that would take away from our hangout time, right? Boyfriends usually get priority..." He looks sad again.

This is inane. "No, you idiot! But... But you're on the right track... that is, I hope to have one, soon."

"You're interested in someone, then? Is it Tavros? Is that why you hung out with him today? That's pretty cute, I didn't think you would go for the super nice guys... I guess what they say is true! Opposites DO attract!" He is rambling and laughing and not looking you in the eyes and you are growing more and more impatient.

"No! I do not like Tavros! As much as he wishes I did, I just don't and I never will!" You stare at him with fierce, fearless eyes and he cowers under their gaze. You huff angrily and bury your head in your hand. You have to be straight forward with this kid or he'll just keep assuming the most stupidest shit. "I... I like someone I don't think will like me back... And it sucks, because I know this and it hurts, yet I am forced to see him every day."

"Is it Sollux? I mean, you do work with him,"

"It's not Sollux. It's someone you know personally, very well..."

"D-"

"NO. No, God, John... It's not..." You sigh again, chickening out of a perfectly good opportunity to just tell him. Your courage dwindled out a long time ago.

He stares at you, at a loss of who he thinks it could be and he looks concerned and you wish he didn't aim those glorious blue orbs at you so without filter of a mask. He does not hide anything about himself. He is always sincere and everything you see is everything he is. It's the kind of thing that could melt you if you weren't careful with how you deflected it. Right now, you're shield wasn't up.

"John... It's not any of your friends... or any of mine..."

"But, how can you like someone if you aren't friends with them, first?"

You are struck hard, right in your heart and you stare at him, wide-eyed and uncertain of what to say next and he just asks you if you're okay and if he said something that was thoughtless and stupid and suddenly, you know exactly what to do to get your point across. And you won't even have to say a word. It is foolproof because, if he accepts it, he won't say anything and if he denies it, then he's strong enough to stop you.

He places a hand on your shoulder to gently try to get your attention and you lean in and press your mouth to his and he tenses up completely.

But he doesn't pull away.