It had finally happened. Jason could drink legally for the first time in his life! While he spent his actual Birthday having a nice dinner with his family and Nischal, he had finally gone all out with Kailey. She had dragged him to several bars, including the nightclub she worked at, and the two of them had partied like the old times. Except, in the old times it hadn’t been legal and it usually ended up with his father having to pick him up. At least his old man was fairly understanding. As long as Jason studied hard and didn’t get into any trouble with the cops, it was fine. For the most part. His father certainly had no sympathy for his hangovers.

It was late though and time to wrap things up. Kailey had a ride, but he hadn’t really planned too far ahead. The last thing he wanted was to get in some strangers car or a taxi. Though, someone, somewhere along the ride offered to call him one. He insisted that he would find a ride though.

He sat on the steps leading into some pub downtown and struggled with the buttons on his phone. Some days he missed when they were actual buttons. What was he doing again? Oh yeah! He needed a ride home. It was late though, Nischal had to be up early the next morning and honestly he didn’t want to bother him with his lushness at the moment.

There was one other person on his speed dial though. He hoped his roommate would be up at the moment. Oh wait no, not his father! He hung up the phone quickly after it started to ring. He’d have to apologize for that in the morning. Old habits die hard.

This time he was extra careful to click on the right face in his favorites list, then held the phone up to his ear, praying it would reach him.

A phone call from Jason, this late, was not exactly expected but perhaps the other was just drunk calling him - people did that right? He knew Jason had gone out with someone after dinner, planning to drink at some bars and hit some clubs maybe...something like that.

Figuring he’d have a silent night, at least mostly, Xi-Wang had decided to stay up late gaming. He didn’t have any classes till later in the day and no work so a few games of Overwatch sounded like a good idea - till the phone call.

Between matches he cancelled the que for the next match, so he didn’t get stuck on the phone while trying to play. “Jason?” Hoping it was his friend, and not whoever they were with, he was hoping the other wouldn’t sound too drunk.. “You ok?” The obvious next thing to say, right?

“Hello Xi-Wang!” It was off to a good start, he didn’t think he sounded too drunk at least, though there was probably more excitement in his voice then there needed to be. He was just so happy that his roommate was still up, he knew how much the kid loved to curl up in bed. Part of him felt bad, but he knew his friend’s schedule.

“I have a bit of a favor to ask of you, eh? Will you please pick me up?” He didn’t even think about the fact that he had never seen him drive before. Everyone drove, or knew how to, at his age. So it would be fine right? “My keys...I think they’re...in the living room?” He wasn’t honestly all that sure. Where had he put them? He had been in such a hurry that evening, he had forgotten to even bring them with him. He would have had to bother someone to let him in regardless of needing a ride.

“C-come pick you up?” He’d been happy to hear the others voice, and not some stranger, though Jason had sounded a bit more energetic than usual. But being asked to pick Jason up had frozen Xi-Wang in his spot. As Jason went on about where the keys were he felt himself shaking his head.

“I-I can’t...Jason….your car.” He tried to explain but how to explain he didn’t know how to drive? He knew he should, most people did at his age, and it was embarrassing to say he couldn’t. Jason needed him though….but what if he ruined the others car?

“Pffft. Xi-Wang, you’re capable of everything. You wouldn’t hurt Charlotte.” Had Jason even mentioned he had a name for his car? Because he totally did. He couldn’t fathom why Xi-Wang would think it would be bad if he drove his car. He trusted his roommate with it more than he would trust Kailey. She was a speed demon on the rode. He was surprised she didn’t have her license revoked.

“You know what...actually I think my keys are in the kitchen.” He had had them that morning. So it was likely they were near the coffee pot. Probably, right? Ugh, he couldn’t make sense of it with his jumbled brain. “It’ll be fine! You can do it. Wooo~” Even though Xi couldn’t see him, he still threw his hands up when he cheered. It earned him a skeptical glance from a passerby, but he could care less. Look at him, he was being responsible. Don’t judge him.

“Charlotte?” Who was Charlotte...and of course he wouldn’t hurt them...but what did they have to do with this? Trying again, as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I don’t think you want me to….Jason….”

And the other was going on about where his keys likely were. Oh god...Jason really did want him to pick him up and he couldn’t drive...but he couldn’t wake up Nischal either. The other sounded like they were counting on him, especially since jason hadn’t called Nischal. Could he do this? He shouldn’t, he knew that, what if he got pulled over? He would be in so much trouble and then he really wouldn’t be able to get Jason.

“Ummm...o-ok….just tell me where you are... and I-I’ll be right there.” Oh god...he was going to do this.

“Charlotte’s the car, bro. Betsy’s the guitar.” Jason had a habit of naming things in his possession. Although, most people probably named their guitars and cars. Or not, he didn’t think it all that weird one way or another. Any other time he’d probably hear the reluctance in his friends voice and know something was wrong. At the moment he just assumed it was because he was playing a game or getting ready for bed and didn’t want to leave the apartment.

When Xi-Wang finally agreed though there was another ‘Yay’ and some more arm flailing. “Okay, I’ll text you the address! See you soon buddy.” He hung and shoved his phone and hands back into his pockets so they could warm back up. When was it going to be Spring already? He hated this cold.

Once he had the address Xii-Wang went to get a coat, and a scarf, and shuffling from his room he wrote out a note, for Nischal, and left it on the fridge with a cute little magnet. That done he went to hunt down Jason’s keys. Pocketing them once found the teen went to get his shoes on before heading out. He was slow, hesitant, but he was honestly just nervous about this.

The walk down to the others car was filled with worry, and nerves, as Xi-Wang wrung his hands and hoped he didn’t mess up too bad. He was just glad he’d left a note for Nischal, because he was a bit worried. Driving seemed easy but ht was sure it just seemed easier than it was.

Unlocking, buckling up, and starting the car wasn’t that hard and neither was fixing the mirrors since he was a bit taller than Jason. What was hard, and had him jerking several times, and panicking, was backing the car out of it’s parking spot. There was also leaving the parking area and heading to get Jason. He seemed to be putting too much pressure on the break too fast, not his fault, he was misjudging things and it was causing a jerking feeling.

It wasn’t that long, though maybe a bit longer than anticipated, before Jason saw his car pulling up the street. He flagged down his friend and didn’t notice the jerky movements of the car as he pulled up to the curb. He went to open the door and it was locked.

“If you don’t put it in park, you have to unlock the door for me.” It probably took Xi-Wang a moment to figure out where that was, but eventually he heard the locks click and he opened up the door and slide inside. “Great work pal, not too difficult, eh?” He didn’t sound all that drunk, but his accent was coming out more than usual. He reached over his shoulder for his seatbelt, even drunk he knew how to be a proper passenger in a car.

“Onward, to home and a soft bed!”

Looking over to Jason, wanting to make sure his friend was ok, Xi-Wang managed something of a strained smile. “Ummm...yeah.” He really hoped he didn’t make the other sick, he didn’t need that right now, as he put the car into drive and headed away from the curb. Thankfully he hadn’t hit the curb, though he’d unknowingly com close to it.

Jerking as he stopped for a stop light he hit the gas, not on purpose, when the light turned green. His turn was too wide and the next one was him trying to correct it and being too close in, nearly hitting a parked car in the back end. This was not going to go good...especially when he jerked himself forward with a stop, causing himself to yelp in surprise. “Sorry!”

Jason had no idea what he had gotten himself into. At first, he thought maybe Xi-Wang was just nervous. He remembered the first time he had a friend in the car, you were extra aware of every little thing. The first time he chuckled a bit, “Got a bit of a lead foot there, eh?”

Of course, things got bumper from there and he had one hand holding onto the handle above his door and the other clinging to the seat belt across his chest. It couldn’t be that bad right? Honestly, he had to just be more drunk then he had anticipated. Kailey had bought the drinks and it would be rude to decline one from her. Admittedly, he didn’t drink as much as he used to. Nischal wasn’t a huge fan of alcohol. His tolerance was not what it used to be.

“I-it’s alright cutie. You’re probably just tired. I’m sorry I pulled you from your bed for this.” Jason would have gave him a nice pat on his shoulder to encourage him, but he was a little too afraid to move.

It was at a stop light, which he’d stopped a bit too quick for, that he shook his head. “Not tired...I was up playing Overwatch actually.” Which meant he was likely wide awake, he had to be for that. He knew why there was an issue...but he was sort of afraid, right now, to tell jason that. He didn’t need to scare the other or have Jason try and take over when drunk.

Actually Xi-Wang was hoping Jason wouldn’t remember any of this come morning, and he wouldn’t wind up in this position ever again. He wasn’t interested in repeating tonight and he didn’t really want to bring up his inability to drive. Instead he started up when the light turned green and he did his best, which was iffy at best, to get them home in one piece...which took longer than it should - for obvious reasons.

Jason didn’t usually have a problem keeping his drinks down. All the lurching the car was doing however, was starting to make him feel dizzy. He was only half listening to Xi-Wang, the rest of his brain was focused on his breathing so he didn’t make a mess out of his floor board. He should really invest in barf bags for his car. If this was how his friend drove, he’d have to give him some lessons later. Maybe it had just been a while, public transportation was easy enough to find in a city this big.

Eventually the car stopped moving, he didn’t realize until then that his eyes had been closed. When he cracked them open, he was relieved to see they were home. “Well, that was...good. Solid performance there buddy.” He was trying to be encouraging, even managed a cute little thumbs up before popping open his door and stepping back into the cool night air. It helped to calm his flustered brain.

Perhaps the ride had shaken him up a bit more then he realized, or was that the earth shaking? Either way, he was definitely not stable on his feet right now. “Xi, my friend, I think I need some help.” Currently he was leaning against the car for support, but he had to get into the building and up to their apartment somehow. An impossible task as far as he was concerned.

“Sure.” He would help Jason into the building, it was easier than driving them home, and Xi was more than happy to get out of the car and head around to help Jason. “Just lean on me.” Already moving to wrap the others arm about himself while wrapping his own arm about Jason. “One foot in front of the other and lets get you inside and into bed.” And then he could get back to his game, or maybe he’d turn in for the night as well.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel sicker...I didn’t mean to.” He really hadn’t meant it. He just...well...he’d tried his best.

Jason clung to Xi-Wang like his life depended on it, for once it didn’t bother him that his friend had somehow surpassed him in height. It helped him to keep his balance as they made their way toward the elevator. “Yes, yes, I know how to walk.” He said with more confidence in his voice then his feet lead anyone to believe.

“Not at all. I just got a lil’ carried away tonight, is all. I’m not as young as I once was.” To think of all the times he’d nearly blacked out as a teen. He hadn’t been keeping up with his tolerance is all, while Kailey (not in a bad way) obviously had. In an attempt to keep up with her, he had kind of lost himself a bit. It was horribly embarrassing and something he did not want Nischal seeing.

“I’m sorry for dragging you away from your game. I’m sure you were winning!” Whatever game he could have been playing anyway.

“You’re still young. You make it sound like you’re ancient.” The other shouldn’t be calling himself old, or hinting that he was, Jason was still young - they all were. But he had, from the sound of it, obviously been drinking before he was legal age to do so. Not that it bothered Xi-Wang - to each their own. So long as he didn’t hurt anyone...right?

“I was but it’s ok. Anything I can do to help.” Even if there was the risk of an accident, or being arrested. He would do whatever he could for his friends...for his family. He just wouldn’t tell Jason exactly what he’d done….and hope the other never brought it up or asked about his poor driving skills. He’d be happy to stick to not driving again - ever. “Let’s just get inside and you can sleep.” And he might also, though he did sort of want to get back to his game.

“Do you need a shower first?”

Jason could only laugh, it was true. He was still plenty young. Though, maybe it was a bad thing to admit that he did more than his fair share of drinking before he legally should have. He loved Kailey and all the fun they had together growing up, but admittedly she was a bad influence on him. Though, he liked to think he made up for it by being a good influence on her.

“Xi-Wang….you’re just too sweet.” He gave his friend a gentle squeeze as they somehow made it into their apartment. Whoa, that had happened so fast. He was just the best for getting him up those stairs and into the warmth of their home. He gently removed himself from his friend’s grasp and started shedding his Winter attire.

“A shower? I don’t think I could manage that if you paid me.” His jacket, beanie, and gloves were tossed all over the living room. “I just need my bed. I’ll be fiiiiine, come morning.” He stepped out of his shoes, almost falling over in the process, as he made his way through the living room and toward the hall. As he made the way toward his room he was trying to pull his shirt over his head. Which caused a collision with the wall. “I’m okay!” He recovered clumsily and finally managed to remove the darn thing. With a hand on the door knob now he turned back around for a moment. “See you later kid!” He gave him a thumbs up and stepped inside, too busy with trying to remove his final bit of clothing to even close the door behind himself. Was this ever this hard?

Following after Jason, mostly because the other had almost face planted when trying to remove his shoes, Xi-Wang was quick to move to help Jason but it seemed the other had the shirt issue in hand - literally. Watching the other strip down and get to his room Xi-Wang shook his head gently. He just hoped Jason didn’t wake Nischal with all the fumbling, and crashing, he’d just done.

Before he went back to his room, he still wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with himself, he moved to close the others bedroom door. When he did return to his own room he did go back to gameing for another hour or so before curling up into his own bed to sleep. Hopefully in the morning Jason would remember nothing of this, or at least nothing of his driving.

Unfortunately for both parties involved, Jason woke up with a killer headache and hangover, but as he lay in bed next to the space heater that was Nischal, the memories of the night before came racing to him. What had he done? He was pretty sure he got nearly completely naked in front of his friend, asked him to pick him up when he was clearly uncomfortable with it, and probably ruined his night.

More importantly now though, he needed some water and aspirin to help with pain in his head. So he rolled himself out of bed, pulled on a shirt and some sweatpants, and made his way into the kitchen. “Ugggh, whhhy..” He muttered to himself as he shuffled to the counter to pull down a glass. Cool water in his cup, he downed the whole thing, before refilling it to take some medicine. As much fun as he had last night, it was not worth this terrible morning.

Perhaps it was unlucky when Xi-Wang came shuffling into the kitchen, intent upon a glass of gold orange juice, as he was mid yawn when he spotted Jason. “Not a good morning?” He asked while glancing around, wondering if there was anything he could make to help the other. Surely he had a hell of a hangover, he’d been rather drunk last night from what he could tell. To be fair though he wasn’t sure how to tell how drunk a person was, he was just assuming.

“Do you want tea or breakfast? I can make something for you to eat if you think you can handle it - something bland.” He offered up gently, while going to get a glass for himself as well as the orange juice from the fridge.

Jason nearly choked when Xi-Wang entered the kitchen. He hadn’t quite been prepared to confront him just yet. He tried to recover as smoothly as possible, but he didn’t have much grace left in him after last night.

“I’m so sorry. Last night was awful, wasn’t it?” He was fairly comfortable in his relationship with Xi, but things had definitely gotten wildly out of hand. At least he didn’t think he hit on him, that much was a relief. “I think some toast might be all I can handle right now.” Thankful to the offer for food, he wouldn’t pass that up at all. He had just enough energy to sit himself down in a chair, fold his arms on the table, and lay his head down.


“It’s ok...you needed help getting home. I’m just sorry if I made it worse and upset your stomach on the way home.” Bowing his head a bit, because he really did feel guilty over it, he moved to get some bread and make toast for the other. “Is there anything in the bathroom for the hangover? I can get it for you.” Wanting to, and hoping to, avoid the topic of his poor driving skills. He was hoping the other didn’t remember or would, at the very least, not bring it up and just think him a poor driver.

“I didn’t mind helping.” He’d just...well worried a lot, for very good reasons too. “Just stay seated and I’ll get what you need this morning till the hangover is passed.”

Jason sat up and waved a hand like he was dismissing the issue. “It wasn’t your fault at all. It was that last Long Island that did me in.” Though, Xi-Wang had not been the best driver that night. There was a lot of jerking and some lead feet involved. It was okay, some people got their license just to have it and never use it. Though, now that he thought back on it it reminded him a lot of when he was sixteen and learning what to do. It seemed easy enough, left pedal stop, right pedal gas.

He had a very sudden ‘a-ha’ moment that made him stop and stare wide eyed at his friend. “Oh my god Xeeeeeeee. What did I make you do?” The first sentence was loud, but he corrected himself. Not wanting to wake up Nischal and embarrass the both of them.

“You asked for help - that’s all. You needed someone to get you home.” Waving his head a bit he managed to get some bread into the toaster and push it down. While that was working he went to himself some breakfast. “I stayed up a bit longer after we got home and then crashed. It really wasn’t that bad...well except for my driving.” That had been bad and he, unlike Jason, knew why.

“That I’d like to avoid again if possible.” He didn’t like the idea of perhaps getting a ticket and getting arrested, as he surely would for having no license to drive.

Jason couldn’t help but feel like his friend was dodging his question a bit. Admittedly it had been extremely irresponsible of him to beg Xi for a ride. He should have just done some sort of ride share, that would have been better for the both of them. They had lived together for a while now though, and he felt like he was getting better at reading him.

“You know, I can always help you polish up your driving skills sometime.” He didn’t want to out right accuse his friend of not having a license. It was probably a bit embarrassing for him to admit. “Driving isn’t all that scary, ya know?” Although, Jason didn’t have much of an argument for this one. He didn’t drive as often as he could, he liked the exercise he got from walking around town. A small part of him was a bit of an environmentalist as well, wanting to do what he could, when he could to save their little planet. Though, that didn’t seem as important these days with everything he knew was going on behind the scenes.

“Polish them….” Shaking his head he took a sip of his drink slowly. Moving to sit down, and wait for the toast to pop up from the toaster. “Jason...I ummm...you know how my mother was...right?” He’d told the other enough, almost everything in fact, over time. A lot had come out when they’d been stuck in space, he’d told so much to Nischal and then to Jason. It felt good for friends, close friends, to know. It meant they understood him better.

“She didn’t think I deserved the right to drive….that it was giving me freedom I shouldn’t have. I can’t polish skills….I’ve never driven before.” He had been guessing and going on what he saw and common sense. He had tried his best but it was a bit hard plus he’d been nervous - very nervous.

“I’m sorry.”

Jason felt awful, really, it wasn’t Xi-Wang’s fault that he couldn’t say no to a friend in need. It was his own fault for being unreasonable and getting himself into the situation to begin with. At least he knew the truth now, which meant he could do something to make it up to him.

“You have no reason to be sorry. It’s my fault for asking you and just assuming you had a license.” In a city with a lot of public transportation everywhere, not everyone had a license, because you didn’t really need one. Buses ran all the time, taxis, ride shares, it was all too easy to get along without your own vehicle.

“I can help you learn though. If it’s something you’d like to do? Every now and then it’s nice to have your own way to get around, rather than rely on the services provided by the city.”

“Most people do….so it wasn’t unreasonable.” Most, though not all, people their age had a license to drive. It was a certain freedom most wanted and sought as soon as they could, a freedom his mom hadn’t wanted him to have. ”I could have always said something, not last night but before then.” Shrugging a bit. He just hadn’t wanted to, hadn’t wanted people to know just how much his mother had denied him...all for things he couldn’t control. He didn’t want the pity or the looks people might give him.

“I wouldn’t mind….just so I can do something she didn’t want me to….and a bit more freedom.” It was another step away from everything his mother had done to him - another step to being himself. He was trying, slowly, to distance himself from her and her lessons and her way - from his past. It was slow, sometimes he took a step back, but he was getting there. With help.

All of this made Jason realize he had, probably, one too many expectations of those around him. It seemed odd that someone their age wouldn’t know how to drive at all. They offered driver’s ed in High School after all. Though, he had learned from his father. Unlike most kids he even got a new car after passing his test though. Not everyone had the same opportunities.

“Well, never feel embarrassed to tell me anything. The last thing I would do is make fun of you.” He could say that now that he was sober. If Xi-Wang had tried admitting that to him last night, he’s not sure exactly how it would have reacted. Probably in disbelief or assuming he was obviously joking around. Possibly just making up some excuse to not come and pick him up.

“I’m sure we can find what we need online to prepare you for a permit test. Then form there we can get you out on the road in no time.”

“If you’re sure...and I know that. It’s just...I don’t like to always mention my mother and all - it always feels like an excuse.” When it wasn’t. She had limited him in a lot of ways and held him back on some things. In other ways he’d grown up and was normal. “It’s just...any time I’ve never done something...or I don’t know something or I do something different it seems to be because of her.” And it felt like it was always the fall back.

Smiling though he nodded his head. “If you’re sure then we can find things online and I’ll work for it. I mean...I think with some time it wouldn’t be too hard, Last night...it was the first time and I was nervous.” Nervous of being pulled over and nervous of messing up somehow. He’d been a bundle of nerves over all.

“Well, she is your mother. She’s going to have a big influence on how your grew up and the experiences you had.” Even if they weren’t all great things, it wasn’t being used as an excuse when it was the truth. Plain and simple. Jason had been blessed with parents that pretty much let him get away with anything as long as his grades didn’t slip too much.

“And you did great considering you were never formally taught anything in regards to driving a car! Just a little bit of studying and you’ll be a confident driver in no time.” He chucked at that and took a sip of his water.

“I’m going to hit the shower for now. Refresh a bit, but when I come back we’ll start looking for some course online.” He scooted his chair back and ruffled his friends hair before turning down the hall.