Chapter Text
Declan Lynch was the first-born son of Niall and Aurora Lynch, brother to Ronan and Matthew. Being the first-born should have meant something or, at least, it should have been an automatic win. It was not. Declan watched, with a heavy heart, as his father favored Ronan and his mother favored Matthew, like calling to like. When it came to their family the supposed truth about opposites attracting was a myth. Perhaps it was melodramatic to think of himself as the black sheep of the family, though certainly that was how he felt as a child, when he went above and beyond to be good, just so that his parents would never find a reason not to love him. Goodness, for Declan, meant straight As, perfect attendance, being involved in school activities that would help him get into the best colleges and internships, and cultivating friendships with the boys who were going places.
It irked Declan to no end that he had failed to form a relationship with Richard Campbell Gansey III, the golden boy of Aglionby Academy. It infuriated him that Gansey preferred Ronan, that the two of them had become so inseparable that, after Niall’s death, Ronan went to live Gansey. Declan wasn’t the type to be petty, but he couldn’t help but pull his asshole card whenever he had to interact with either Ronan or Gansey, who he liked to call Dick because he knew it annoyed him.
What it all came down to was this: Declan was no one’s favorite. Among his classmates he had associates and allies but no true friends. This was partly from necessity, as keeping the sort of secrets that Declan was bound to keep did not allow for open and easy relationships. The girls that Declan dated were also kept at arm’s length. Yes, he might go to bed with them but usually never more than once. At the rate he was going, Declan was running out of young, intelligent blondes. Being at an all boys school had that inescapable disadvantage: no girls. So Declan had to poach them from the Aglionby staff, visitors, and dating apps. Really, he wasn’t behaving any differently than the majority of his classmates, though Ronan always gave him dirty looks and had something to say whenever he spotted Declan with a new girl. Just because Ronan wasn’t getting any…
Ronan was the reason that Declan found himself at one of Joseph Kavinsky’s infamous substance parties. Declan had never been to one, preferring to spend his free evenings with a more reputable crowd. But one of Declan’s acquaintances had texted him thirty minutes ago to say the Ronan was at the party, drunk, and he still had his car keys. So Declan had come.
The party was every bit as chaotic as Declan had expected: cars parked everywhere, a huge bonfire roaring, music blaring, students from Aglionby and the public schools and even some college kids drinking and dancing and generally being stupid and fun and happy. Declan felt a million years old as he wandered through the crowd, craning his neck to see if he could spot Ronan or the BMW. Someone was yelling his name and Declan turned to find one of the recent Aglionby alumni waving at him, his face flushed with alcohol and the heat from the fire.
“God damn! I told you all he would come! DECLAN LYNCH! Get your ass over here, man!”
Declan scowled but obeyed, joining the group of college guys that were crowded around the beer keg. He recognized all of them, newly graduated Aglionby boys pretending to have authority now that they were out in the “real world.” Someone passes him a red Solo cup brimming with something that was not beer. Declan sipped at it; it had been well made, the alcohol mixed so that he could scarcely taste it. Mixed drinks were his kryptonite and he tried not to gulp it down even though he wanted to.
“I take it Ronan isn’t here,” Declan said. He gave the former Aglionby boys an icy glare.
One of them clapped him on the shoulder. “Relax, D-man. Word is you’ve been all serious this year, working too hard and shit.”
Declan sighed and swallowed more of his drink. “I have two brothers to look after and colleges to apply for.” The guys made booing noises and yelled out stupid stuff like “BORING” and “get a life, man.” So immature. “Look, just because I’m being responsible doesn’t mean that I’m not having fun when I can.” Declan let his gaze land purposefully on the blonde girl perched on the tailgate of a ridiculously large and shiny pickup truck.
“Oh! That’s right, that’s right!” the guys yelled. “I forgot that Declan’s a player. Real lady’s man. Alright tiger, I bet you can’t get that girl’s number.”
Declan scoffed. “Really? That’s supposed to be a challenge?” He finished off his drink and tossed the cup on the ground with the rest of the litter. “I’ll definitely get more than her number.”
It was stupid trying to impress the guys but they were eating it up, laughing, slapping his back, and shouting out lurid suggestions and tips. Declan didn’t need any of that. He knew exactly how to charm women. He knew how to get what he wanted and leave with both parties being totally satisfied. This was a piece of cake.
The blonde, whose name was Sarah, was every bit as cute up close as she was from far away. There was one problem, though: she was taken and her boyfriend, a large football player from Mountain High, did not like Declan chatting up his girl. Declan was somehow able to apologize and get away before the footballer player felt compelled to defend his girlfriend’s honor. The guys had been watching the entire situation unfold and they were beside themselves, laughing up a storm. Declan had been setup.
Feeling furious but too tipsy to drive, Declan found his Volvo and lay down on the hood. He couldn’t wait to graduate, to get as far from Aglionby and Henrietta as possible. There was nothing for him here and no one who he would miss, or who would miss him for that matter. Nothing…
The Volvo dipped down as someone climbed up on the hood next to Declan. If they so much as scratched the paint…
“Hey!” Declan snapped, sitting up and confronting the interloper.
“Hey yourself, Declan,” Jiang said.
“Jiang?” Declan blinked twice because this person sounded like Jiang, and they looked like Jiang but…wow. Holy Mary Mother of God.
“Yes?” Jiang flicked his hair over his shoulder and Declan noticed that he had earrings in, small diamond studs that flashed in the firelight. That wasn’t all that was flashy: Jiang’s lips were shimmery with gloss, his eyes lined with black kohl and gold powder. His hair was loose, hanging down past his shoulders, with small braids of colored hair peeking out.
Declan was staring. He knew he was staring and he should stop but Jiang was blowing his mind. Literally. It felt like a circuit had fried as his brain tried to sort out how Jiang, the quiet, polite, honor student had transformed into…into…just wow.
“You look different,” Declan blurted out. Jiang frowned, eyebrow arched. “I mean, you look good!” Now Jiang was smiling which was an improvement but… “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you out of uniform.” Declan was struggling.
Jiang shrugged. “I’m on the swim team. You’ve never been to any of our races?”
Declan shook his head.
“Pity,” Jiang replied, tipping his can of Dr. Pepper back and swallowing down the last of the soda. Declan was staring again. “If you came to our races you could see me out of uniform.”
Was Jiang flirting with him?
“Oh? Uh, yeah, I guess.” Declan looked down at his hands like he could suddenly find something interesting to say. Instead he asked, “What color nail polish are you wearing?”
Jiang looked, like he had forgotten that he was wearing nail polish. “Hmm. I think it’s galaxy something or starry something? My sister has a fashion blog so she likes to send me samples to try out. She’s all about breaking down gender roles, you know?”
Declan wasn’t sure if he did know, but the polish looked nice, just as the makeup and earrings looked nice.
“Anyways,” Jiang said, “I thought I would come over here and check on you. Hall buddies gotta stick together.”
“Right,” Declan muttered. Jiang and Prokopenko roomed several doors down from Declan in Diligence. By some quirk of irony Declan was living in Effervescence. His roommate had conveniently come down with mono and had to withdraw for the semester, which meant Declan could enjoy a dorm all to himself.
Jiang gracefully slid down the front of the car. He fastidiously swiped dust from the back of his pants and straightened his shirt. The outfit was far too stylish for a substance party, more like something one would wear on a runway or an art gallery opening. Declan couldn’t help but give Jiang more than one once over, wondering at his transformation. Jiang caught him looking and winked.
“You take care, Mr. Lynch,” Jiang said. And then, impulsively, he grabbed Declan’s hand and scrawled a phone number across his palm. Declan didn’t know where or why he had been carrying around a Sharpie. “Text me when you get back, okay? As the designated sober person on site I like to make sure that anyone driving is actually good to drive and that they make it home. Alright?”
Declan stared at the number and then closed his hand into a fist. “Yeah, alright. I’ll text you.” Jiang nodded once and turned to leave. “Wait! Jiang…”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks. For checking on me. This isn’t really my scene.”
Jiang smiled. “I know. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to make sure K isn’t about to immolate some poor soul.”
Declan watched Jiang go. He felt mostly sober but he stayed rooted to the hood of the car, playing back their conversation. How had he never noticed that Jiang was so cool and confident? Declan didn’t know any guys who would wear makeup and not only wear it, but rock the look. He had to admit: Jiang was pretty damn sexy when he wasn’t hiding behind his uniform. It made him wonder…
Declan’s buzz gradually dissipated, leaving him clear headed but tired. He took his time driving back to Aglionby, going just at the speed limit and scanning the sides of the road for deer and other nocturnal animals. By the time he got back to his dorm room it was very late. Declan stripped out of his clothes, grabbed his phone, and crawled into bed. He was about to fall asleep when he remembered that Jiang’s number was on his palm. Using the light from his phone screen Delcan added the number to his contacts and sent Jiang a brief text letting him know that he had made it back safe and sound.
Jiang immediately responded: good to know. sweet dreams declan ;)
Declan stared at the text, puzzling over the winking emoji. Jiang wasflirting with him. Declan didn’t know what to think about that so he sent back a basic reply: night.
Declan buried his face in his pillow and slept, the scent of smoke and the flash of dark, gold rimmed eyes haunting his dreams.