[Possible Future][C] Clint Eastwood

At nineteen, Darragh was given a car as a form of freedom.

At twenty, he got himself a firm job.

At twenty one, he left the mansion after saving every penny he earned for an entire year, and living with the large sum of money that his parents had given him. He moved into a two-bed apartment in one of the nicer areas of Catania and set up an art studio in his second room.

Now at twenty three, Darragh was enjoying life. He'd quit his job and been given an incredible opportunity as a local artist. With the income of his art and some help from the money that he'd been given by Aodh and Aeker, Darragh lived a comfortable life with good friends.

One such good friend he was currently leant against, grinning as they passed around a joint.

They were all sat out in mis-matched plastic yard chairs on the patio of one of his closer friends. Her parents had gone on holiday for a week and left her and her younger brother alone.

Which meant gathering together and smoking, drinking and just having a good time was a constant for them.

He scratched his tattooed arm as he relaxed back against the back of the chair.

"Someone should play some music," the group - a total of seven of them - host said, perking up.

Immediately Darragh's best friend - Jermain - decided to inform the group that Darragh used to play guitar. The Irishman sent his friend the bird but sat up, gearing himself up. "I haven't played since I was like fifteen," he warned them as he adjusted the black beanie he was wearing over his long wavy red hair. "I still sing occasionally, though." At least he wouldn't be so rusty.

"Your brother has a guitar, right?" Jermain asked.

Tilly nodded and jumped up immediately disappearing inside the house and darting upstairs. She pounded on her brothers door before throwing it open and waltzing in. "We're borrowing your guitar. Dar's gonna play for us."

"Tilly!"

He yelped in surprise as his sister burst into his room, he had reading and she had almost given him a heart attack.

Though with the amount of times she had done this you would think he would accustomed to it.

His book tumbled to the ground as he jolted to sitting upright instead of laying on the bed.

Christopher's nose wrinkled as she came inside.

"You smell like pot."

He muttered, it was no surprise, his sister had always been a wild child and doing as she pleased.

He on the other had got burdened with all his parent's expectations.

Tilly rolled her eyes at the shriek she got as she strode across the room to open the cupboard door and look for his guitar.

She didn't know where he kept it hidden these days.

"Oh shut it, Robin boy. We're just having some fun." With parents that had been fairly old when they had kids and the franchise that never knew when to die, the two of them had been read Winnie the Pooh to a lot in their childhood years. Christopher had been coined Christopher Robin affectionately in their youth. Nowadays, though, Tilly only ever used the nickname to poke fun at her younger brother.

She pushed aside neatly piled things, pawing through them and messing them all up as she looked for her brother's elusive guitar.

"Where is it?" she asked after knocking a pile of books (seriously, no one person should own so many books) to the floor.

She didn't want to waste any more time. Tilly hadn't known that Darragh was musically inclined. She wanted to know how good he was; not waste her time in her brothers room looking for a damned guitar for him to play on.

"Come on! Tell me where it is."

In truth he was jealous, his sister got away with everything, she spent all her time having fun but when it came to him his parents were much stricter.

Tilly's freedom was something he envied.

"You're not having it, last time you use it you put a dent it in."

He grumbled, this had all happened before, she took it, damaged it then he got told off for not taking better care of his belongs.

Christopher cringed as all his books went tumbling to the ground, he could see the books being damaged as she scattered them, paged crinkling and covers bending.

"Tilly! Be careful."

He got up quickly and went about gathering up his things before she stomped all over them.

"Don't be a cunt, Chris. I'm not even going to be using it."

The woman planted her hands on her hips and glared at her brother as he knelt down at her feet to pick up the books she'd knocked over.

She moved over to throw herself down on his bed and pick up the book he'd left there, looking at the cover with obvious distaste.

"If you listened to good music instead of reading shit like this, I bet you'd be kinda cool."

But her little brother was boring as fuck.

"Give me the guitar and I won't tell mom about that porn magazine you thought you smuggled in without anyone noticing."

"If you ever bothered to pick up a book you would have made it into university and wouldn't be stuck working in retail."

He shot back, his sister wasn't academically smart like he was, it had been a miracle that she had even finished high-school.

Christopher froze up and glanced over to her, his eyes narrowing a little as he looked at her worriedly.

He hadn't known that she had seen it, at least he hoped she hadn't seen it, he hadn't 'come out' yet and he didn't plan on it any time soon.

"It's under mom and dad's bed."

He muttered in defeat, even if she was bluffing he wouldn't risk it.

Tilly shrugged carelessly. Water off a duck's back. "I like working in retail." She'd never wanted to go to university. University was always something her mother and father had wanted her to do.

And generally what mom and dad wanted her to do, she didn't want to do.

The woman gave a wide smile and leaned over to plant an affectionate kiss to her brother's cheek before disappearing out the door.

She returned a second later. "Oh, Chris? I'd tap those guys, too, if they had a few more tattoos and piercings. They're all smoking." She winked and disappeared into her parents bedroom.

Despite being a bit of a bitch, Tilly did love her brother and she would be more than accepting of him when he came out of his little closet space.

Tilly held up the guitar triumphantly when she stepped out onto the patio again. She passed it off to Darragh who strummed it and played a few chords.

Then he began playing a firm tune and Jermain piped up with a woop before Darragh started singing. This was their jam. An old song. It had come out a decade before either of them were even born.

"I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine in a bag
I'm useless but not for long
The future is coming on
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine in a bag
I'm useless but not for long
The future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on," Darragh sang, hesitantly at first but pretty quickly he found his groove and was singing confidently with the music.

Then Jermain piped up.
"Finally someone let me out of my cage
Now, time for me is nothing cause I'm counting no age
Now I couldn't be there
Now you shouldn't be scared
I'm good at repairs
And I'm under each snare
Intangible
Bet you didn't think so I command you to
Panoramic view
Look I'll make it all manageable"

Chris sighed as she finally left, he liked having his own space here and normally when Tilly burst in she was only there to annoy him.

When she came back in he looked up at her. At first he went bright red and tried to stutter over and explanation as to why he had such a magazine but when she winked he calmed down, sitting back on his bed.

She was cool with it, that made him feel at lot better about it, he had secretly been worried that she would tease him over it.

He pushed his window open and picked up his book again, the sound of music outside caught his attention, he actually really liked this song, The Gorillas were really good and their music spoke to him.

Oh, Tilly definitely would tease him about it. There was no way she would let a possibility like that run away from her.

But she was definitely all cool with it.

It was mom and dad that would give Chris all the trouble when he came out.

"Pick and choose
Sit and lose
All you different crews
Chicks and dudes
Who you think is really kickin' tunes?
Picture you gettin' down in a picture tube
Like you lit the fuse
You think it's fictional?
Mystical? Maybe.
Spiritual
Hero who appears in you to clear your view when you're too crazy
Lifeless
To those the definition for what life is
Priceless
To you because I put you on the high shit
You like it?
Gun smokin' righteous with one toke
You're psychic among those
Possess you with one go"

Darragh nudged Jermain as he continued the repetitive tune on the guitar.
"I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine in a bag
I'm useless but not for long
The future is coming on
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine in a bag
I'm useless but not for long
The future (that's right) is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on."

Perhaps he wasn't singing all that much, but he was enjoying performing for the group with Jermain. With his eyes shut, he was getting lost in the music he was making.

He'd have to ask his mother where he'd stored Darragh's guitar when he moved out without it. He kinda wanted it back now.

The fact that he knew his parents wouldn't approve and were going to go off at him about his sexuality made him resent them.

He had always done everything they wanted, this was the one thing he wanted in his life that was outside the pretty picture they had painted for him and he knew he couldn't have it without kicking up a storm.

He pursed his lips, he would ruin all of it because he was made differently.

As he looked out the window he noticed Tilly, she always disobeyed them and they didn't get along and look, she was happy. He did everything right and had a good relationship with them and he was miserable, it all seemed so backwards.

As if on their own accord he got up from his bed and before he knew it he was padding out to the patio, he didn't know how his sister would react to him coming down, usually he couldn't be brought down when she had friends over even if he was dragged.

"The essence the basics
Without did you make it
Allow me to make this
Child-like in nature
Rhythm
You have it or you don't that's a fallacy
I'm in them
Every sprouting tree
Every child of peace
Every cloud and sea
You see with your eyes
I see destruction and demise (that's right)
Corruption in disguise
From this fuckin' enterprise
Now I'm sucked into your lies
Through Russel, though not his muscles but the percussion he provides
For me as a guide
Y'all can see me now 'cause you don't see with your eye
You perceive with your mind
That's the inner
So I'mma stick around with Russ and be a mentor
Bust a few rhymes so motherfuckers remember where the thought is
I brought all this
So you can survive when law is lawless (right here)
Feelings, sensations that you thought was dead
No squealing, remember that it's all in your head"

Darragh's lips were curled into a constant little happy smile.
"I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine in a bag
I'm useless but not for long
The future is coming on
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine in a bag
I'm useless but not for long
My future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
My future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on"

His eyes flickered open when he heard the patio door open, bright green eyes locking with Christopher's.

His gaze didn't pull away as he continued to sing.

"My future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
My future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
My future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
My future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
My future"

Christopher froze as the older man looked at him, he shuffled on his feet awkwardly as he tried to hold his gaze but backed down nervously as he looked down at his feet.

His fringe draped over his face and hid the fact that he was blushing with embarrassment, maybe coming down here had been a bad idea.

He stayed until the end of the song before he shuffled toward the kitchen, he didn't know any of these people and Tilly would do something to embarrass him further.

Darragh passed off the guitar when he was done and rubbed his finger gently.

Playing guitar after years of not practising hurt. He'd lost his calluses and it bloody hurt to play without them.

"I'm going to get a drink," he declared, pushing himself up and stepping into the house.

He spared a smile for Chris as he opened the fridge to fetch a can of cider. There was a nice selection of alcohol crammed in the fridge for them tonight.

"We're not that scary, honest." He didn't even look at the boy as he spoke. he was too busy cracking open the can. He took a swig and turned a grin over his shoulder. "None of us will bite you if you come sit with us. Though if you want us to bite, you just have to ask."

Chris looked over his shoulder in surprise as the man spoke to him, he was kind of accustomed to being ignored by Tilly's friends.

He shrugged a little as he finished up making his sandwich, he had avoided coming down here to eat while they had been around, he had stashed snacks and drinks in his room for such an occasion.

"Doubt Tilly wants me out there."

He wasn't really the sitting around, smoking and drinking while listening to music kind of guy, at least, he hadn't had the chance to be.

"Who cares what Tilly wants?"

Darragh leaned over to swipe the other half of Chris' sandwich, taking a big bite and chewing on it.

"Girl can suck it," he said through his half-chewed bite.

He dropped his arm around Christ' shoulders.

"Come and kick back with us."

Chris gave a soft chuckle which was silenced as the man dropped his arm over his shoulders.

He could feel his heart beating a little quicker in his chest....a lot quicker as he was led back to the patio.

He held onto the other half of his sandwich, fiddling with it a little as they stepped outside.

Chris wasn't exactly next to hot, tattooed bad boys everyday and it left him a little flustered.

Darragh nudged the boy to take the seat he'd been in before folding himself gracefully in front of him, leaning back so he was resting between Chris' legs comfortably.

He laid one elbow on Chris' knee like he would rest his arm on the back of a chair to keep himself comfortable.

"I know one of you guys can sing," Darragh pointed out before taking another swig of his cider like nothing had happened and he hadn't just bought a new guy into the group. "Out with it."

Tilly had her gaze fixed firmly on her little brother. She didn't know whether to be annoyed he was here or amused over the fact that he looked so uncomfortable with Darragh leant back against him like that.

Chris sat down as he was promptly mainly because his brain function had all but shut down in shock, he didn't handle stressful situations very well and normally just froze up when he didn't know what to do.

He looked down wide-eyed as the man sat between his legs and rested his arm on his knee.

He was thankful for his jeans and jacket because he could feel his body reacting to the closeness of the other man.

Chris looked over at his sister like a timid church-mouse, he didn't know how to interact with these people or escape from this situation all together.

"Aww, come on you load of pussies," Darragh snorted, reaching out to nab the joint that was being passed around.

He took a hit before holding it up between his fingers, motioning for Christ to take a drag from it as he held it. Sharing and holding out the joint like this was normal for their little group. The more high they got, the more intimate they got.

Once or twice they'd overdone it and ended up way more touchy feely than they'd ever tell anyone. The girls had all gone out for the morning after pill after those nights, just to be on the safe side.

"Jermain and I ain't doing all the music tonight. One of you's has gotta start entertaining us."

Chris shook his head as the joint was held up for him, he hadn't done drugs before, other than what was prescribed for him, he didn't know how he would react to it and he was too scared to try.

Instead he just sat quietly as took a bite of his sandwich.

Maybe if he ate really slowly he could avoid anyone trying to get him to speak or do anything.

Darragh gave a little shrug and passed it off when Chris refused.

Everyone else exploded in jeers and attempts to get the boy to take a hit with them.

Darragh waved them off with the hand holding his sandwich.

"Y'all can fuck off. He doesn't have to try it if he doesn't want to." People needed to stop trying to use peer pressure against people. Yes, he wanted Chris to sit and have a good time with them, but if the boy didn't want to smoke, then he didn't have to smoke.

Darragh took a bite of his half of the sandwich and held up his can for the boy to take a sip of instead.

The boy practically recoiled when everyone started jeering but smiled when the man fended them off.

He had been worried that would happen though he was pleasantly surprised that someone actually defended him.

Chris was less wary of the cider, he had had cider before, the alcohol content in it wasn't that high and he didn't mind the taste.

He took the can and had a small sip to wash down the dry bread before handing it back.

"Thanks."

He muttered.

"Sharing is caring, babe. We all share our shit here."

They were all a friendly bunch. If someone had a drink, they'd share it around with everyone.

"Speaking of sharing and caring," Tilly piped up. "Guess who bought some limes today."

Well, guess who'd sent her little brother to go buy some limes without telling said little brother what those limes were for.

The group, including Darragh, exploded in cheers and laughter.

Chris' eyes narrowed at his sister, he had thought limes on the shopping list were a little odd, though he did use them in a fair bit of cooking.

Seemed like Tilly had other thoughts in mind though.

He really didn't want to know what they were going to be getting up to now.

Still, if some of them got up perhaps he would slip back upstairs without people noticing.

"We're even now. Pair up, pair up," she ordered everyone as she disappeared into the house.

Darragh's shoulders shook with laughter. "Oh dear, your sister's excited. Think she'll demand to be paired with Jermain?" He knew Tilly was lusting after Jermain like nobody's business.

Maybe this was a clever ploy to get to him.

"So," Darragh crooned, turning so he was kneeling between Chris' legs. He grinned up at the boy.

"I say we should be paired together. Do you want to take the shot or should I?"