It seemed like after the peaceful sleep with Finn last night, Linx's fever finally broke. His muscles were still sore and headaches kept visiting him, but he felt so much more alive. His mind was clear and body ready to take on any challenge.

Currently, he was doing a light warm up to get his body up to speed again. And with Ivy not coming over today because of a doctor's appointment, he was able to workout in peace.

Luckily, Trev was the one who was taking care of him today. Linx knew Trev wasn't going to go mama bear mode when he'll see that he's working out, so he didn't pay attention to his surroundings and got sucked into his thoughts.

Outside his bedroom, Trev was fidgeting with the tray. His actions seemed to match his inner thoughts, for the two were nervous on what they had to do next. He took a deep breathe in, which did nothing to ease him, and knocked on the door. Or was he supposed to walk in? Linx might be sleeping and he might be awkwardly standing here for no reason.

So Trev barged in and made the door slap the wall, startling Linx and making him fall down from his pushups. Trev felt immediate guilt at his stupidity and Linx quickly composed himself, with the two now staring at each other.

"I, uh, brought you soup? It's one already and I thought you would be hungry." Trev walked over and placed the tray on the bed, his hands now jittery after they lost their support. Linx stared at him for a few more moments before standing up and sitting on his bed. He scooped up some soup and leisurely ate it, happy that his hands were finally steady.

Linx didn't seem to care that Trev was watching him eat or how his eyes flickered between the window and Linx. He did care when he finished eating and wanted to clean the bowl, only to find Trev blocking the way.

Linx stared at him, and this seemed to cue Trev to finally make a decision about whatever was troubling his mind this whole time. So with a bright, but uncertain, courage, Trev stared right back at Linx.

"You have a match tonight, right? And you're planning to sneak away to Rooster and fight even though you're sick, right...?" Trev's voice quietened down towards the end as Linx's stare turned into a glare. But since Linx wasn't arguing back, Trev kept on going.

"That's why you're working out right now, and why your duffel bag is near the window. I'm right, aren't I? You're going to leave us, again, right?"

Seeing as how Linx was still listening to him and not running away, gave Trev the courage to lessen the distance between them as if that would somehow help. Instead, he almost immediately took a small step back when he noticed Linx's white knuckles clenching the tray. Trev wasn't looking to get a black eye today and kept a good arm lengths away.

Yet despite Linx's obvious discomfort, Trev kept on talking because he needed to know what Linx wanted to do. Heh, maybe he was looking to get a black eye with his foolish behavior...

"A-Actually, I was thinking of helping you sneak off? Since it's my turn to take care of you, it won't be weird if I stay really late in your room. So after someone checked up on us, we lock the door, grab your stuff, and run to Rooster. Hopefully by the time they realize we escaped, you'll already be in a match and-" Trev risked a glance at Linx, and stopped talking at his confused glare.

Because why is Trev helping him out?

Linx couldn't wrap his brain around it. For how could Trev lie and deceive the boys, the same boys which he loves and adores, for the sake of Linx, a nobody who hasn't done a single positive thing in Trev's life?

Linx knew the answer wasn't simple, it couldn't be because Trev 'just felt like it' or he feels like being the bad boy of the group, there must be more. But Linx only went in circles and stared at Trev, as if that would tell him the answer he's looking for.

But then again, even if he did get the answer, would Linx understand it? Trev didn't think so. So when Linx asked Trev why he was helping him out, Trev shrugged and looked down at the floor.

Getting frustrated at the silence of Trev, Linx brushed past him and made sure to knock against Trev's shoulder, and entered the kitchen to clean the bowl. There Linx cooled down a bit, attempted but failed to understand Trev's motive again, and returned to his room.

He found Trev in the same sad position, except now he wasn't blocking the door. Linx then proceeded to ignore Trev and continued working out.

Trev observed him for a few minutes, and in those minutes, he came to a solid conclusion. He's going to sneak off with Linx whether he wants to or not. Because even though Linx was recovering, his body still quivered with each step he took and his hunched back just shouts the word tired.

And how was Trev supposed to willingly let Linx go to Rooster all by himself in this state? He couldn't or else he would feel eternal guilt if Linx got injured all because he wanted to 'play it safe'. Plus, as much as Trev yearned to tell the boys about Linx's match, he knew the boys wouldn't let Linx go out and just trap him inside until he's healthy.

But Trev knew the feeling of being trapped by expectations and all the consequences that followed. He didn't want Linx to go through that, albeit it was just for a few days, or else he fears that Linx will distance himself even more.

So Trev will happily take all the blame for their little adventure if it means gaining some of Linx's trust.

"I'll go get our shoes and put them under your bed..." Linx, too peeved to stop Trev, let him prepare their escape.

_______

"A-Are you sure you wanna sneak off? It's pretty cold outside and we might get into trouble..." Linx glanced at Trev, stopping his babbling as he realized how dumb it sounded. Trev stopped his meek objections and the two continued to change into winter gear.

Linx changed into a light, grey jacket and his signature black sweatpants. He picked up the duffel bag and hanged it on his shoulder, looking back at Trev to check up on him.

Ignoring his flushed face and jittery hands, he looked ready to go. A heavy, black jacket weighed down on him, only his thick boots visible to the world. He was also carrying a small backpack with him, it being supported by both shoulders.

Knowing that everything was good to go, Linx listened out to make sure no one was near his room and then opened his window. Trev shivered as the bitter winter smacked him, while Linx already hopped out and landed on top of a thin layer of snow.

Trev quickly followed, Linx closed the window, and the two quietly ran until they were out of view from the house. Linx would've kept in running, but when he looked back at Trev he found him hunched over, several meters away from him. Linx internally complained and went back to check up on him.

There he found Trev panting with some of his saliva dribbling and melting the snow. Linx wasn't sure what to do, but he knew they couldn't keep on standing around or else he'll miss his match. Linx tried to think of solutions, but he could neither carry or leave Trev. So he poked Trev's side, making him jolt back up and wrap his hands around his sides.

"Let's go." Seeing him active again, Linx started to speed walk away and hoped this pace will suffice Trev. It did, and the two now walked side by side.

Trev stuck close to Linx, for the streetlights were far apart and too many shadows lurched around. As they continued to walk, the silence started to agitate Trev's anxiety and questions started to come out of his mouth against his will.

"So, uh, what happened to your winter clothes? They're all gone." Linx looked over at him, confused. He thought he had winter clothes? But then he remembered how lovely Rooster was and it's security. He didn't feel like answering though, and ignored Trev.

Sadly, Linx underestimated Trev's anxiety and his persistence. After being asked the same question in ten different ways did Linx finally give in. He scowled at Trev and answered like a jerk.

"Stolen."

"But how can someone steal clothes that you're wearing?"

"By taking them off."

"But why'd you take them off? And shouldn't you have put it in your bag once you took it off? That's kinda dumb that you lost it." Trev rambled a bit, hoping it'll fill the silence. Linx sighed, and though he wished he could walk in peace, he continued answering.

"Because I had a match and I don't have any friends to watch over my stuff. And Rose isn't always there to protect my stuff either. So when I came back, my winter clothes were gone. Not very surprising since half the people in Rooster are broke and got debts higher than..." Linx trailed off when he couldn't think of a good metaphor.

"Why don't you use your phone?"

"Nothing to use it for. It's too confusing anyway, don't wanna bother with it." Trev nodded at that because now he knew how to make Linx use his phone more.

"Who's Isaac?" Linx's steps faltered and his face became more neutral, more guarded. Trev took heed to this and asked a different question because he didn't want Linx to use his body as a warmup before his match.

"You wanna ask me a question?" A great question to avoid emotional mines, in Trev's opinion. Unless the person answered their question wrong, then they're toast.

It didn't take Linx long to find a question because the question was already bothering him the whole day.

"Why are you helping me out?" Trev sighed in his heart and shrugged. Linx, who was already watching him, rolled his eyes. He told him to ask a question, yet he didn't answer it. Linx stayed quiet for a couple more seconds to give him a chance to answer, but only received silence.

Irked at Trev and wanting to just get an answer today, any answer, he asked again.

"Why didn't you tell the boys? With you guys being the perfect relationship I would expect perfect communication as well..." Linx mumbled the last part, a strange bitterness stabbing his heart.

For a moment, Linx wasn't outside and sneaking off with Trev, but in the warm house with all the boys. Linx was telling them all his problems, from how he was tired of eating chicken noodle soup everyday to how drained he always felt, even when hanging out with Ivy. Yet when he finished talking, they all stared at him with a smile on their faces.

As if on sync, an icy wind hit Linx's face with the bitterness in his heart.

That's right, even if he did tell them his problems, what were they going to do about it? Offer some encouraging words, maybe an awkward hug, all while never truly understanding or fixing anything. Yes, even in his dreams it seems like he can never achieve what he wants.

"Us? Perfect? Sure we love each other but that doesn't make us perfect." Trev didn't notice Linx's silence and dodged his question by answering another question. Linx looked over at Trev, and perhaps it was the break of flow in heart or the flu, but Trev could clearly read Linx for the first time.

Furrowed eyebrows with a downcast tilt, mouth slightly ajar, and heavy confusion clouding his pretty chestnut eyes.

The two, unbeknownst to themselves, stopped walking. Trev didn't know what to do, so he continued to talk about the boys and their many imperfections.

"Kade's got his anger issues, Austin is so stoic that it often leads to misunderstandings, Remi sometimes cares more about his students than us, Finn's so energetic that it can get on our nerves, Orion can forget to separate his work personality from his real one, and I'm the insecure brat that still doesn't know what to do with his life. So Linx, we're not perfect, but at least we have each other to work through our problems and better ourselves."

"And what about me?"

"What about you?"

"Why aren't I perfect?"

"Why aren't you perfect?" Trev paused and hoped he wouldn't get punched for this, "Because how do you expect to be perfect when none of us can help you be perfect? You can't be perfect by yourself Linx, but with people who love you, you can be whatever you want. Perfect or not." Linx still gazed at Trev, but his face went back to his neutral position. Trev wished he could glance at Linx's emotions again and know whether he said the wrong words or not, but it was too late to worry about that now.

Because they were at the back door of Rooster and Linx's match was in fifteen minutes.

_______