"You're not my mother, Rod!" The retaliation silenced him immediately, any comeback disabled. Was that how Nicky really saw him? Nicky regretted the words that had just come out of his mouth. They were true, but he hadn't meant to hurt his friend. Still, Rod WAS extremely possessive. And controlling. Actually, he didn't regret saying them at all. Rod deserved to hear just how much he annoyed him.

"You leave your clothes out! You put your feet on my chair!" Rod continued to protest, though he didn't know why. He hated fighting with Nicky, but it seemed as though everything he said just came out wrong. He could see Brian and Kate staring at them just down the street, and he felt his cheeks flush. Praying that Nicky would see too and shut up he felt his heart sink when he heard:

"You do such...such anal things like ironing your underwear!" pretend he didn't say...
"Would you rather I didn't?"
"Yes! Just...just try to be a normal person for once. You really do my head in sometimes!"
"Sorry Nicky" Rod muttered, cheeks flushing

He didn't know why he was compelled to act so difficult. Recently every conversation with his friend turned into an argument. It was as if he was trying too hard not to be overly friendly that he was swinging the other way. And it wasn't as though he could tell Nicky that. As understanding and laidback as the guy was it was logical to assume that there were limits. And so he continued to bicker and to argue, knowing all the time that he was destroying their relationship, and all the time hating himself for it.

"Hey Rod, Nicky!" Brian called them over and they followed without barely a glance at each other. Rod let himself be uncharacteristically quiet, smiling blandly at Brian's bad jokes and Kate's annoying voice for once having no affect on him. He doubted anyone realised.
"See you guys" Rod hadn't even realised the conversation was over as he found himself climbing back up the apartment steps behind Nicky's well worn converse high tops.

With the door shut behind them, the fragile silence once again began to build. Nicky flopped down as usual in his spot in front of the TV, flicking it between the regular mind-numbing channels. Rod couldn't help feeling a sense of helplessness about the whole situation.

"Nicky?" he tried. Nicky flinched, evidently expecting the start of an argument to come. When nothing like that did, he looked up, seeing Rod still standing awkwardly by the door. "Nicky, this sucks"

Nicky went over to him and enveloped him in a hug, the warming sort that only he could give. It took a few seconds before Rod could trust himself to hug back.

"I know mate, I know" they broke apart, grinning "TV?" Nicky offered, flinging himself back down on the sofa, putting his feet up on the seat of Rod's chair. He met Rod's exasperated gaze and grinned "No shoes"

And despite himself, Rod laughed.

AN: Just a short first chapter to get into it. I've got a few already written out, so let me know if I should continue. Thanks x