Archive of Our Own ^beta

"No, no, dude-" And Dariax, whether it was for emphasis or to steady himself as he almost went ass over tea kettle, grabbed Dorian's forearm. Dorian himself jolted and leaned with the gesture, and neither of them seemed to mind the wine that splashed out of Dorian's half-empty glass. "Listen. Listen."

"I am!" Dorian laughed, his face flushing as Dariax proceeded to shake his arm. Orym, in the interim, hopped up to slip the glass out of Dorian's hands before it could flood the floor.

Dorian was almost positive that he caught him stealing a sip before placing it down onto the side table, but his attention was brought back to Dariax before he could question the halfling.

"This is important, alright?" Dariax's eyebrows were raised almost to his hairline, and he wore a lopsided grin as he jutted a finger up at Dorian. "A true- a true test of friendship."

Dorian smirked and, leaning down just slightly, tilted his head. "I'm very good at tests."

"I thought so, buddy!" Dariax exclaimed. Grabbing his shoulder, he tugged Dorian down to his own height and secured an arm around him. Dorian's knees almost gave out as he was yanked to Dariax's height. Or maybe it was the alcohol.

Maybe both, but Dorian didn't mind the closeness.

"And this goes to all of you!" Dariax was saying, sweeping a finger out at all of their companions.

Fearne watched from the sofa with an intensity that always seemed to burn in the back of her eyes while Opal, who was drinking Dorian's wine, sat on the floor in front of her. Her head leaned against Fearne's knee and, from behind the wine glass, she smiled and raised an eyebrow.

Orym, perched on the back of the sofa, flicked his eyes from Dariax to Dorian with a bemused look. Dorian, with a laugh, shrugged.

When Dariax stopped at Little Mister, he glowered and said, "Well, not you."

Little Mister gave a gesture that Dorian could only believe he picked up from people-watching.

Before a fight could begin between man and ape, Dorian grinned and slapped a hand to Dariax's chest. "Well, what's the test?"

"The test, my friend, is a deep, intricate ritual," Dariax said, leaning forward as he spoke and taking Dorian in with him. The others from the couch, too, leaned in. "Only once it is complete will our friendships be solidified in- in the- the stars, or something!"

Orym repressed a laugh. "The stars?"

"Or something!" Opal added loudly.

"Exactly!" And Dariax, grinning, pointed down at Opal. "Or something!"

"I think it sounds fun!" Fearne said, her soft voice carrying across the room. Holding her glass off to the side, Little Mister refilled it from one of the many pitchers.

"What's the test, Dariax?" Dorian asked, turning to look at his friend and, when Dariax looked back, Dorian took in how his face flushed red behind his already-red beard.

Dorian figured that he looked the purple equivalent. Minus the beard.

"It is... the sacred art..." Dariax spoke slowly, still sweeping his hand out for emphasis. The wild grin was still on his face. "Of... a chestbump."

Dorian furrowed his brows. "A chestbump?"

"A chestbump!" Dariax repeated loudly, leaning back as he threw a fist in the air.

"That might hurt for some of us," Opal added, sharing a look with Fearne.

"I'll be nice!" Dariax assured, throwing a smile Opal's way.

Orym looked between the five of them. "Dariax, I might be the only person you can actually get chest-level with."

"Not with that attitude!" Dariax said, releasing Dorian. Stepping back, he looked up.

Looking down, Dorian figured that he and Dariax had about a two feet height difference.

"Are you sure about this, Dariax?" he asked.

Dariax grinned. "Of course I am!" he exclaimed. "If we can properly chestbump, it means we're best friends."

Dorian couldn't help but laugh. "And you do this for all of your friends?"

Dariax shrugged. "Only the ones that I want to stick around!"

Dorian felt his face flush hot.

"Okay, okay, yes," Dorian said, nodding. "Let's do this."

"Great! We'll go first!" Dariax then took a couple steps back. "Running start!"

Dorian's eyes went wide. "Running start?"

"We have to commit to it!" Dariax said amidst Orym's sudden doubt from the audience.

Dorian hesitated as Orym continued to be drowned out by Opal's laughter and Fearne's encouragement.

Finally, he sighed and nodded. Taking a couple steps back, he pulled his long hair up into a ponytail, garnering at least two whistles from the crowd. "Okay, alright, let's do this."

"I'll count down!" Opal shouted, staggering up to her feet. She threw both her hands up in the air. "Three, two-"

"Go!" Orym shouted from the back of the couch and, over Opal's gasped shock, Dorian laughed and ran at Dariax.

And, when the two leaped, Dorian was quickly surprised by two things.

One, Dariax could get air!

Two, Dariax was incredibly dense.

The first thing Dorian felt was the wind get knocked out of him. The next was, of course, feeling himself fall backwards as Dariax took him down.

He coughed as his back hit the ground, struggling to regain his breath (and also his sense of equilibrium as the world spun) and, on top of him, Dariax cheered before rolling off.

"Perfect!" he was shouting, thrusting his fists up in the air.

"Perfect?" Dorian asked, sitting up. He couldn't help but grin when Dariax turned to him.

"Perfect," Dariax repeated with a nod. His wild grin set something aflame inside of Dorian.

"It became a trust fall, too!" Fearne added.

"That it did!" Dariax said, swinging around to point at Fearne before going back to Dorian. He staggered as he spun but, finally, he stuck out a hand. His smile softened. "Knew I could trust you, buddy!"

Dorian grinned and took Dariax's hand. "Always can, my friend."

Dariax gave him one last smile before spinning around. "Alright Opal, you and me!"

Opal cheered and, running to the middle of the room, slipped Dorian his wine. It was mostly gone, but Dorian finished it off anyway.

"So Dariax," Dorian said, sitting down next to Fearne, "does this mean we're best friends?"

"That it does!" Dariax shot him a wink. He then looked back to Opal, who was across the room, already ready to run.

Dorian blushed. Again. "I'll count down this time!" he said, this time being the one to stand and raise his arms. "Three, two-!"