Reasons I Don’t Ship Craig/Marco

Marco deserves a whole lot better than Craig effing Manning :)

Just as most people here rightly respect people being canonically LGBTQ+ by not head cannoning that they’re straight, I generally respect straight people’s stated sexuality too and don’t usually feel comfortable deciding that they’re gay or bi when they tell/show us otherwise

Craig can be a semi-decent guy in certain contexts, but as a love interest he’s absolute trash over and over and seemingly without ever improving, so I honestly don’t ship him with anyone except a better therapist :)

Marco had a front row seat to the Crellie drama for years and would NEVER betray his very best friend by entering a relationship with the guy she’s been in love with for such a long time.

Marco is hesitant about a lot of things and needs someone solid who he can fully trust and rely on. Even at the best of times, that’s not Craig :)

Only Fools- Marco Peña x Flynn!Reader

nialler-tpwk5 said: Can we get Marco x reader but lee and Noah are her bothers and Noah gets in to a fight with him bc they kissed

A/N: Thankyou for sending in this prompt! I wrote this in a matter of hours, so hopefully there aren’t any mistakes- sorry if there is. I really enjoyed writing this; I think the scene between Marco and Noah at the football field is definitely my favourite!

Alsooo, whilst I was writing this I received a request for a ‘making out with Marco’ head canon- so I will have something similar to the opening out in the next few hours ;) 

Feel free to send in any prompts. :)

Curling the tips of your fingers into Marco’s hair, you breathed out hot puffs of breaths against his face as you moved your lips against his passionately. Marco’s hands clung to your waist as he dragged you into his lap, running his tongue against the seam of your lips as he pushed back with the same level of fervour. 

“We can’t do this for long,” You panted as Marco traced the pliant skin beneath your loose shirt, “My family will be home soon.”

Marco just smirked up at you as his hands moved further north, “You know that never stops me.”

You huffed a laugh as you dragged your lips down the base of his throat, “Yeah well, I don’t feel like watching my brothers beat you up today.”

Marco pulled back, pulling a raised eyebrow as he stared at you, “You think I can’t take them?”

“Lee, definitely,” You both broke into giggles at that, “but Noah is multiple feet taller than you with an added sprinkle of anger issues- wouldn’t exactly be a fair fight.”

“Well, that doesn’t matter because we won’t get caught,” He grinned at you as he pecked the tip of your nose softly, “The older brother will go back to college in a week and the younger one is to wrapped up in his own drama to notice anything.”

“True,” You sighed, tracing your finger along his face- the scar at his hairline, the light freckles beneath his eyes, the stray hairs that trailed the edges of his eyebrows. He really was beautiful. Despite what your siblings could ever think, you truly loved Marco- and you believed that he loved you too with the same level of compassion. The two of you were meant for each other; the sneaking around and hiding had only proved to deepen the connection that formed between the two of you. 

Though, you could tell that Marco was beginning to grow restless of this factor to your relationship. You were too- you wanted nothing more than be able to be with Marco in public and get rid of the masses of girls that flocked towards him in school. You wanted to be able to bring him home for family dinners like Noah did with Elle and Lee with Rachel; instead of having to sneak him in and out of your bedroom window as soon as the front door opens. 

To say the least, your brothers were extremely overprotective of you. Though, Noah’s protective nature was much more intense than Lee’s- he had gone to the lengths of beating up any guy who even dared to look at you, let alone touch you. Although he had softened slightly since opening his heart up to Elle, you still had no doubt that he would hunt Marco down if you were ever caught together. The thought of the two people you loved most in the world going against each other terrified you and you never wanted to be put in that situation. You just wished your brothers would lay off and stop seeing you as the timid girl you once were. 

“Are you still with me?” Marco mumbled softly, pushing a strand of hair from out of your eyes. You just smiled sadly back at him before reluctantly climbing from upon his lap. 

“You should probably get going, they’ll all be back soon.” 

Marco climbed up from your bed after you, letting out a heavy intake of breath as he listened to what you said, “Alright- but I will forever dream of spending an entire night with you here.” And at that he laughed before giving you a sloppy kiss to the cheek and swinging his legs over your balcony ledge

“Be safe!” You hollered as you leant against the door and watched as he jumped from the tree just below your balcony. 

-

The family sat around the table in comfortable silence as everyone tucked into the food your mother had prepared as usual. Though tonight there were no best friends or girlfriends that usually frequented the seat next to your siblings present tonight- meaning that it was just family. 

“Noah,” You inquired, looking up to make eye contact with your older brother, “This is completely hypothetical...but what would you do if I had a boyfriend?”

Noah paused, his fork in the midst of digging into a mound of spaghetti, “Depends,” He brought his fork up and chewed slowly as if he were deep in thought, “If your hypothetical boyfriend were to be someone I know I would beat his ass as they are all assholes.”

“Noah!” Your mum snapped, swatting at him in an attempt to weaken his use of words.

“Sorry,” He groaned, holding up his hands, “I was about to say that if he was someone I didn’t know, maybe I would give him a chance.”

“Moral of the story, don’t date anyone from our school,” Lee laughed as he and Noah high-fived, “Why are you asking that anyway?” 

“Oh, just wondering.” You smiled in what you hoped was a reassuring way, but you didn’t miss the intrigued, tilted-head look your mother gave you. 

-

Later that night as you lay on top of your bed covers mindlessly scrolling through your social media and waiting for Marco to message you, a knock sounded at your bedroom door. 

“Can I come in?” 

“Yeah,” You called as you propped yourself up against the headboard, “Hey mum.”

“Sorry to barge in, I bought you some hot chocolate.” 

“Thanks,” You grinned as you accepted it and took an elongated sip, though you noticed the look on her face as you did so, “Alright, what do you want to ask?”

“You always know when something’s up,” She laughed and gestured for you to scoot over on the bed, “Earlier at dinner- that situation wasn’t hypothetical, was it?”

“No.” You gulped, opting to stare down at the chocolate that swirled within the mug. 

“Oh, sweetheart,” She cooed, wrapping her arms around you and bringing you in to cuddle into her side, “Why didn’t you just say? I would never get mad at you for having a boyfriend.”

“I know you wouldn’t,” You sniffled, cuddling closer into her side, “It’s Noah who would.”

“Ah,” She whispered as he tightened her grip around you slightly, “I see.” 

“Yeah.” You whispered back, finding it difficult to speak through the lump that was beginning to 

rise in your throat. 

“He’ll come around, I promise,” Your mother let out a small chuckle before continuing, “He can’t really judge your relationship status when he’s dating his brother’s best friend.”

You both dissolved into light giggles at that, the situation really was bizarre, “That’s actually true.”

“So,” She spoke slowly, nudging your side, “Who’s the lucky guy?”

“Promise you won’t tell anyone?” She nodded sincerely, “Marco.” 

“Marco…” She mumbled with furrowed brows as realisation slowly set in, “Marco! Oh, he’s a cutie.” 

You laughed fondly as you entwined your fingers together in your lap, “Yeah, I would know.”

“You love him, don’t you.” It was a statement, not a question. 

You just nodded, smiling shyly as you turned to look at the woman beside you, “I wish we didn’t have to hide.”

“Your brothers will understand eventually, I promise,” and she bundled you up all snug in her arms and kissed your forehead as she spoke. 

“I hope so, I really do.”

-

A few days later, you and Marco were once again hanging out in the confines of your bedroom- though this time the interaction was much less heated as the two of you simply sat with your legs intertwined as you studied and helped each other with homework. If someone was to walk in right now you could brush it off as two friends simply hanging out. But, once again- Noah would beat up any guy who even looked at you. Any interaction could be seen as risky. 

“Hey,” Marco spoke, reaching over and rubbing his thumb over your clothed thigh, “Help me with this?” In return you smiled and leaned over to press a slow, teasing kiss to Marco’s lips- which he quickly reciprocated as he looped his arms around you.

Of course, Noah decided to walk in at that moment. 

“Hey Y/N-” You and Marco pulled away immediately and froze in place, staring at Noah who was practically steaming with anger, “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

“Noah, wait-” Though your brother completely ignored you and stormed straight up to Marco, grabbing him by the collar and slamming his back against the wall. 

“My sister? My fucking sister? You made a mistake.”

“Noah!” You screamed, running to the side of him and grabbing the arm that clung to Marco, “Let go of him, I’m fine.” Though your pleads fell upon deaf ears.

“Out of all the people in the world you decided to play my sister?” Noah spat, getting up in Marco’s face, “You’re a fucking asshole, bro.”

“I’m not playing her,” Marco choked out, kicking at Noah’s legs and sending them both to the ground, “I love-”

“Don’t even say it.” Noah practically growled, landing a solid punch onto Marco’s face as they wrestled. Gasping at the sight of blood dripping from your boyfriend’s nose, you jumped forward and grabbed onto Noah’s shoulders- digging your nails into his skin in a way to replace the lack of strength you inhabited compared to him, “What the hell Y/N, get off me!”

“Get off of Marco then, he didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Y/N,” Your brother spoke sternly, “He was touching you.”

“Yes,” You yelled back, anger fizzling through every fibre of your being, “Because he is my boyfriend!” You dug your hands into your eyes, “I’m not a child anymore Noah, I don’t need you to protect me.” 

“Well, when you’re with boys like him maybe I do.”

“Boys like me?” Marco deadpanned, taking his hand from his steadily bleeding nose as he did so, “The hell does that mean?”

“Assholes that fuck around.”

“Flynn,” Marco spoke calmly, sitting down on the bed, “I’m sorry to say it but I love your sister, more than anything. I would never do anything to hurt her.” You smiled softly at him as he spoke, he returned it once he was done. 

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

“Trust me, I guess?” Marco shrugged, wincing as his nose began to sting, “Did you really have to punch me in the face though?”

“Yeah.” Noah insisted, throwing an arm over your shoulder which you attempted to shrug away, “Hurt my sister though and I will fucking kill you- we clear?”

“Sir, yes, sir!” Marco saluted as he walked over to you and looped his arms around your waist, laughing as he accidentally smeared blood onto your shirt. 

Yeah, your relationship was about to become ten times better already.

-

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Once Bitten, Twice Stupid prt.51 prt.1

Luis was a douche. Luis was a douche and Lisa was sick of his shit. Taking Keith with him to see Miriam, Luis tried to intercept the pair of them, Lisa not having it as she towed her husband away from the doorway, hissing at them both not to make a scene. Lance could only roll his eyes mentally at it. Luis had tried taking him off his Mami’s visitors list, it sucked for Luis because unlike him, he’d never pulled that shit and treated the staff with respect they deserved. Having bought flowers the day before, today’s gift was himself and Keith. Luis going through the five stages of grief as he realised Keith was with him. Hooked up to a nasal cannula and BP machine, his Mami looked tired but thankfully awake, her face lighting up at the sight of them

“Mijos!”

Keith froze in the door. Maybe he should have mentioned Lisa to him. Honestly, after breakfast, he didn’t feel like bringing the mood down. Taking him by the hand, he tugged Keith along and over to his Mami’s side. Leaning down, he kissed her on the cheek

“You’re looking beautiful today, as always”

“And you’re a terrible liar. I see you brought your boyfriend along”

Lance wasn’t sure if Mami had forgotten Keith’s name or was teasing him

“Yep. Keith spent the morning being harassed by the gang, so we escaped to Platt to see the most beautiful woman this side of the equator”

“Keith, don’t fall for his bullshit. He’s a sweetheart but he’ll never make for a good liar”

His Mami started to cough, Lance’s heart ached at the sound. He could hear the congestion in her chest

“I’ve noticed. But he’s alright”

Keith’s voice trembled. He wasn’t used to this. And needed an out

“Keith, this Luis and Lisa. Lisa is Luis wife. Lisa, this is my boyfriend Keith. He knows, so we don’t have to skirt around the whole evil bloodsucker thing”

Lisa flashed Keith a very tight smile

“Nice to meet you”

“Yeah, you too”

And then it was awkward again. Recovering from her coughing, his Mami wiped at her lips with her handkerchief

“Don’t you four start fighting. I might be sick, but I will yell if I need to”

Lance snorted

“Mami, the only fighting going on here today will be Keith fighting to steal me away from you”

“He can have you”

Ouch. Mum burns were the worst, but he smiled wider

“I’m wounded. Your youngest and you kick me to the curb like that. Good thing Keith’s a good man”

“I know. I wouldn’t trust my mijo with a hunter if he wasn’t. Now, Keith, tell me honestly, how hopeless is he?”

“I don’t know I can. Coran’s my boss now, and he seems to like Lance... gotta keep the peace”

“Ah, Coran. He popped by again. Him and that lovely young Allura. Then sourpuss came”

Mami glanced to Luis who did not look happy

“You’re my mother. I’m worried for you”

“I seem to have raised a family of worriers. Marco called, then Veronica. She’s bringing the girls for a visit, Rachel too. She seems to be doing better”

Okay. So maybe Lance hadn’t told Keith that he wasn’t the only gay in the village... well, family. Though Veronica was bi, and Lance was kind of certain she had a girlfriend right now, Lance kept his nose out of it. It hurt less being on the outside when he didn’t know everything he was missing

“We’re allowed to worry. I’ve spent 44 years perfecting my worrying. Keith will tell you that I am a grade A worrier. Honour student and all that jazz”

Keith squeezed his hand

“You really are”

“Pfft. Like you aren’t”

“Shiro’s worse than me”

“Fair point”

His Mami started coughing again, Lance trying not to step back into Keith’s arms. Trying not to show anyone he was terrified. From the other side of the bed, Lisa fussed over, straightening up the nasal cannula and pulling the quilt up higher. As his mother regained her breathing, Lisa grabbed the glass of water off the bedside table, holding it and the straw so their mami could take a sip, before collapsing back against her pillows

��Now, who’s Shiro? And is he as cute as you?”

His mother was unstoppable

“Shiro is Keith’s older brother. He hunts too. He lives at a like a Hunk level of worry”

“So he’s a sensible worrier?”

Keith sighed

“No... He’s... complicated”

“I’m sure he is dear. Family is a complicated thing. It’s a warm and loving thing, and it’s a hard thing. I can you love him”

“He’s like my only family”

Lance’s heart melted. Pulling Keith closer, he then let go of his hand before wrapping his arm around his boyfriend’s waist

“I think someone’s trying to tell you you’re not alone. My son does have good taste, at least as far as looks go”

This was true. Keith had been ogled as they sighed in. He’d made the day of more than one old aged pensioner

“You should have seen when we signed in. thought I was going to have to have to steal a walking stick and start smacking kneecaps to keep them back”

“Jokes on you, most of us have had knee replacements”

Mami liked to joke that having a teen looking son kept her young and “on top of the lingo”. Lance blamed the lunchtime soap operas for being a bad influence. And Pidge. Definitely Pidge

“Then walkers are going to have to go walking. You should have seen Mrs Pennox. I think her teeth literally fell out. Is that a courting thing here? Taking your teeth out and giving them to your crush?”

“At our age it’s all about the pills. The better the pills you have, the more sway”

“Mami!”

Luis sounded angry as he scolded their mother. The wanker was jealous. Maybe if he’d been around more, he would have been able to joke like this

“Stop being as stiff as a toilet brush. You tell him, Lisa”

Lisa didn’t want to get involved. Lance didn’t hate her for being a protective mother bear to their kids

“Now, now, Mami. They told you not to get too excited or exert yourself”

“Phooey. My boys have come to visit. Now, Lance, you take good care of this man. Poor dear looks ready to faint”

Keith was all peopled out for the day. Hopefully Lisa would convince Luis to leave for a few hours

“Pidge asked him about his intentions this morning. He got the full experience of her crazy”

“She certainly is energetic. And Hunk? He’s such a good boy”

“Yeah. He was happy Keith came to see me last night. He’s totally worrying though. Filled my fridge with enough food for a week”

“You be sure to thank him”

“I have. Though, I’ve got the feeling my fridge will be literally full when we get home again. Even with two... guests under the roof, Hunk manages to keep them fed”

His Mami looked confused. They’d talked about this more than once. It probably wasn’t smartest to talk about living with werewolves

“Matt and his girlfriend, they’ve just come back from being in Rome. He’s the whole reason Pidge was sleeping on my sofa”

“Oh. Yes. Yes, that’s right”

Mami was upset that she didn’t remember. She was covering, but Lance knew she was. Old age was so fucking cruel

“Enough about them. Wanna hear how Keith came down to surprise me? I had no idea he was coming. But Coran went and gave him the whole weekend off. So he was already there by the time I got home last night”

“That was certainly a very nice thing of you to do. I hope he isn’t giving you too much trouble”

Lance wondered if his Mami had another UTI she’d been really muffled the last time she did. He’d have to check with the staff over it. Keith probably didn’t have any idea why they were going there again

“No, ma’m. I mean, he’s trouble and you can’t help but wonder how he’s managed when he’s been left alone, but he’s been fine”

“I’m very happy to hear that. He talks so much about you. I seem to remember he said you’re living here now”

“With my brother. It’s nothing like Lance’s house”

“That must be nice. Family is important. These two are always butting heads, but deep down they still care about each other. They seem to inherited their stubborn streaks from me”

“Pfffft. You, stubborn, no way, Mami. I simply can’t believe it”

“There he goes again. Tell anymore fibs like that and you nose will grow”

“It’s been the same way for long enough that we both know that’s not going to happen”

Luis scoffed

“Must be hard never aging. You can do what you want to who you want, then skip town when things get hard”

Greeeeeat. Here they went again

“Yep. Being a bloodsucker will do that. No cares. No responsibility. No growing older than looking like jail bait, oh let me count the ways that this isn’t a great life”

“You’ve never taken anything seriously, have you. You’ve always had everything you wanted handed to you”

Lance bit down a groan. Goading his brother would only upset Mami

“Yep. Had my boyfriend delivered to my house. Only cost me a hole in the wall and a new coffee table”

Luis couldn’t admit he was to blame for bringing Keith into Lance’s life. His brother clenching his hands into fists... like that was supposed to scare him or something. His Mami started coughing again, and Lance kicked himself for being petty. Luis just knew how to get under his skin and push all the wrong buttons

“The new coffee table is nicer”

Lance smiled at his boyfriend over his shoulder, Keith smiling back. Thank god for Keith changing topic

“I know right. The new toaster is pretty sweet too. Curtis hasn’t killed it, so that’s nice”

“It must be a nice life not working for everything”

Nope... he wasn’t going to take the bait... And Luis could go jump for making Keith’s happiness shift like that. His boyfriend didn’t deserve to put up with Luis

“Don’t talk about your brother like that. He was in court not that long ago”

Damn. Mami had had enough. Wiping her lips again, her coughing fell between her words

“It’s okay, Mami. It was just a custody and restraining order thingo. All sorted now. Mum got full custody and the dad got his arse handed to him by the judge”

“There you go again, making a joke about those people’s lives”

Lance rolled his eyes mentally. If the father could put down the bottle and straighten himself, and maybe not threaten his ex, then they wouldn’t have ended up in court

“Look. I don’t know why we have to be like this when we’re all here to see Mami. I’m tired of fighting with you. I love Mami. I’m here for Mami. Can we stop fighting?”

“And now you’re weaselling your way out”

Lance sighed. He wanted more time with his Mami, but this was only going to stress her out when she didn’t need it

“Keith and I are headed out to lunch, is there anything you’d like us to bring back?”

“Just some soap, dear. And something to read, if you don’t mind. I don’t want you going out your way for me”

“Mami, I could walk around the whole planet to see you, and that still wouldn’t be an inconvenience. I love you, and I’ll be back after lunch”

The hug goodbye he gave his Mami, really drove home how frail she was at the moment. He was terrified of squeezing her too hard, but he really didn’t want to let go of her, despite the fact he was trying to look all adult and responsible. Mami wanted a hug from Keith, who obliged, barely holding her because his poor boyfriend didn’t know how good a hug from a mother could be

“I’ll take care of him”

“I know you will. He’s got a good one in you”

Keith blushed, and Lance’s mood picked up for all long enough to leave the room.

Then Luis followed them out.

Lance didn’t need to turn around to know his brother was standing behind them. Counting to ten, he turned to face him

“Do you need us to pick you up something too?”

“I can see what you’re doing. It’s disgusting playing on Mami’s guilt like that”

“Look, Luis. Ya hate me and I know it. I ruined our whole family by being turned. I know. I watched it all happen. I heard every single damn fight. I begged god to kill me off when trying didn’t do anything. Mami is sick. Mami is sick and we’re all fucking scared that this could be it. We all love her. We’re all worried about her. I know you hate me, but I still care about you. I’ve always cared about you. You were my big brother and like the coolest person I knew when I was a kid. We’re past all that now. I’m the nasty family secret. But I have never, ever, wanted to harm any of you. I know having brother with PTS ruined things. I know I scared the fuck out of you with my fangs and fucked up face. But this isn’t about us. This is about our mother. She’s not well. I think she’s picked up another UTI too. So while you hate me, I’m going to use my energy trying to be there instead of sharing that feeling. I’m done with you making me feel like this”

Luis looked furious, switching to Spanish so Keith couldn’t understand

“You think you have everyone fooled, but I know you. You can’t be trusted. You bring pain to everyone you know. You lie to them. Manipulate them. Then throw them aside. I won’t let you do that to her. She’s pretended she’s loved you all this time, but you have no idea what she’s gone through because of you. What she’s had to sacrifice for you”

“I know. I know all of it. And Mami knows I know. I’ve always been your dumb kid brother, no matter how little I mean to you now. I loved you Luis. I loved all of you. I’ve never stopped. I won’t hurt you, so can’t we get along? Even Lisa isn’t laughing anymore”

“You scarred our fucking kids. You and those fangs. Stop pretending you’re something you’re not. You’re not human and God has no love in his heart for your type”

Keith took his hand

“I don’t know what you two are saying, but we’re going. We’re here for Miriam. I don’t know how two brothers can be like this... My brother is an arsehole and he’s done some messed up shit, but I love him. I could never treat him like this. If you keep this up, Miriam will die with none of this being fixed”

Keith made himself a target of Luis’s rage

“What do you know? You’re dating a monster. You’re as sick as he is”

“Don’t you dare turn this on Keith. He’s human. He’s not like me. He was supposed to kill me and after everything he’s lost at the hands of vampires God knows he still deserves to. Vampires, witches, werewolves and demons all exist. And how many of do you think want to be this way. I was attacked. I was tortured. I screamed for someone to help and they never came. I’m stuck in this limbo watching everyone I love grow old and die. Leaving behind friends. Moving and changing my name. I’m sick of it. I never dated. I never felt allowed. I let you drive me away because I know what I am. Keith isn’t like me and I won’t stand for you standing there bullying him because your hearts racing with fear. Never have I told Mami what you did. And I intend to keep that secret for the rest of my life. Even my 22 year old friend has more brains and tact in her little gremlin fingers than you do in that head of yours. Now go back to Mami. She’s worried we’re out here fighting”

Lance considered the conversation done. He hadn’t cried and he hadn’t yelled. He was just so done with this. Fucking Luis. God. He wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him until he saw sense. This wasn’t about them. This was what’s happened with Papi all over again. He’d never been able to say everything he’d wanted to tell him towards the end. Kept on the outside until it was too late... The things left unsaid were always the hardest. Tugging Keith, Keith insisted on being a good boyfriend. Wrapping his arm around him, he kissed Lance’s hair

“I’ve got you. Let’s get out of here”

*

Lance was off in space. Keith didn’t know where to take him so they could talk. He wanted to take him to the apartment, but Lance would protest over Shiro “not wanting him there”. There wasn’t a whole lot of places he knew around town for this kind of conversation... So maybe it was for the best that Lance was driving and he was keeping his mouth shut, offering support silently by was of his hand resting on Lance’s thigh as he drove.

Pulling into the underground parking of the shopping centre above, Lance remained silent until he finally cut the engine. Letting out a long groan, his boyfriend slumped forward to hug the steering wheel

“I know. I know I shouldn’t provoke him. I know it and I do it and then this shit happens”

“Lance...”

Keith wasn’t quite sure what to say. He’d never really talked to old people and Miriam was not old only but sick. Her memory not working as they repeated pretty much the same conversation

“It’s okay. I know. You’re wondering what to say right now. It’s just... god. God knows I get it. But Luis has no idea how much I want to be a normal human”

“He’s a dick”

“Kind of. Maybe. Okay, yeah. But he’s my brother... I’m so tired of fighting. It’s like, what does he want from me? To bare my god ugly teeth so he can scream “Monster!” at the top of his lungs? And where does he get off judging you? He doesn’t even know you! You’re like the best dude out there, and he’s all like... ugh. Argh! I’m sick of this”

Keith undid both their belts, sliding over to wrap his arm around Lance

“Don’t let him do this to you”

“I can’t help it. I hate that it hurts Mami. And you. Today was bit over your head wasn’t it? Mami’s memory is a bit... so we have the same conversations again and again. I really do think she’s got another UTI. Then again, she’s sick... Anyway... I guess we’re getting lunch. Thanks for putting up with me... and everyone at breakfast”

Keith had enjoyed breakfast. He’d gotten to learn more about pretty much everyone there. He wasn’t sure he’d enjoyed Pidge and Hunk climbing into bed with them, but breakfast was fun

“Breakfast was fun. It was nice feeling included”

“That’s because we all like having you around, idiot”

Keith didn’t think he deserved being called an idiot, but Lance’s version of idiot didn’t always mean what everyone else meant. Yeah, he had next to no social skills, but being with the others he found he didn’t need to, they just... seemed to accept him

“I’m not the idiot. You’re the one who chased the cat for pats”

Lance sighed at him

“It was a cute cat. So fluffy... Blue would be disgusted”

“She wouldn’t like you cheating on her with other cats”

“Luckily this was before her. My poor princess. Her whole house has been invaded. I should get her some treats for being such a bad parent”

Seeing he was dating Lance, Keith guessed that kind of also made him a “cat dad”. He loved Blue, secretly jealous when she’d make a fuss of Matt or Curtis, because he’d never gotten to have a pet of his own. He, Shiro, and Adam, proved hopeless. They’d had goldfish for all of three weeks before they’d turned belly up and Adam had flushed them down the toilet

“I don’t think she cares as long as she gets her wet food”

“That’s true. If she had opposable thumbs I’d be useless. Still, she’s my baby”

Keith knew that, even before Lance had spammed him with photos of Blue and “her precious toe beans”

“I know. Maybe we could find something for her together”

Lance tilted his head to look at him, glasses skewed by the angle

“I’d like that. I know you’re not keen on shopping, but this place has the soap Mami likes best. She probably doesn’t need it, but extra won’t hurt anyone”

“I don’t see the point of walking up and down each isle. It’s like, go in, get what you need, then get out”

Lance smiled at him, and Keith’s heart gave a flip

“Remind me not to bring you when I go with Hunk and Pidge. Pidge likes touching everything, and Hunk can never make his mind up”

“Shiro makes puns. The worst puns you’ve ever heard”

“There’s no such thing as a bad pun”

“He bought a vampire bobble head for our car because we’re dating”

Lance snorted

“I kind of want to see that now. So we’ll go in, get the soap, get some lunch, then hit up the pet store? And you’ll tell me if this gets too much?”

“I should be saying that to you with your super senses”

“It’s fine. I know that it’s only for a short while and when someone’s with me, I can focus on them. Which means you have my full attention”

Keith felt himself blush. Having Lance’s attention sounded awfully like a date, but this wasn’t a date

“Don’t say it like that”

“Why not? It’s true”

Keith wasn’t sure if he wanted his first date to be a shopping trip. Maybe if thought of it as a practice run for the real thing... What if Lance thought this was a date? Nah... His boyfriend would have called it that to begin with

“Just don’t. You ready?”

“As ready as one of two men casually going shopping can be”

Keith opened his mouth, before promptly shutting it. Sometimes it was like Lance was in his head

“Keith, I’m teasing you. It’s okay”

“Shut up. I’m not used to this”

“I know. Let’s go”

*

This wasn’t a date. This was not a date. Not at all... unfortunately. Keith was the perfect distraction as they shopped, and fuck if Lance wasn’t kicking himself for reassuring Keith this wasn’t a date. Sure. He had huge plans for the first time they went on a date. He knew where he wanted to Keith, what he wanted to show him, how he’d surprise him with a hotel room at the end of the night, not for sex stuff but for cuddles and room service in bed... but this not date... was kind of a perfect dry run for the real thing. Like how they’d gone on Hunk’s practice date with Shay.

Buying soap for Mami, and the guest bathroom, and a few other things that Lance thought Shay and Rieva might appreciate, they’d ended up in the food court... being ridiculous. Snagging one of the too few booths, Keith was to blame. Lance had felt like sushi until Keith had bought himself a burger... with wedges that were begging to be be shared. Keith didn’t want to share. Lance didn’t want to buy his own when Keith’s were right there... His sushi looked sad in comparison. Stealing a wedge, his boyfriend glared. Stealing a second one, he moved it away, Lance “forced” to reach past him. The hunter was totally hinting he needed to be hugged into cooperation. Clinging to Keith, Keith tried to ignore him until Lance slung his leg over his boyfriend’s legs. Groaning at him, Keith finally gave in, stabbing Lance in the nose as he tried to feed him a wedge without turning to face him in defeat.

So yeah. They were definitely being that gross couple. When Lance had to throw lunch back up, Keith kept watch on the bathroom door for him. His boyfriend even kissed him when he finally emerged, regretting his choice of wedges and sushi. Sure, the kiss was on the cheek, but Lance damn near swooned on the spot. He wanted to kiss him more, but that’d have to wait until they were home again. Keith’s touch was like a drug to his body. A spark of life that soothed him, no matter the situation. He wanted to fool around with him more. He wanted to touch him more, but they couldn’t do that at home without an audience. Hell, he wasn’t even sure he didn’t want to keep waiting to take that next step. People did dumb things when they were in love, and Lance was fast falling head over heels for Keith. Not that he’d tell him. Forcing Keith into his mess of feelings wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to nurture and grow this thing between them... but it was hard when he could still remember the last time they’d been intimate so vividly. He was ashamed of how good Keith made him feel. He wasn’t sure he would have protested if Keith had slipped and something more had happened. Yeah. He was stupid and he knew it. He wanted that first time to be special, and with Keith, he knew it would be. Spacing out in his thoughts, he’d come back to reality when Keith tried to wipe his mouth for him. He might be stupid, but his boyfriend was an idiot.

Not for the first time that day did their good mood slip. This time it happened in the pet store. Looking at collars for Blue, Lance found he was watching Keith more out of the corner of his eye, than he was at the actual collars. He knew Keith had a shit childhood, but he hadn’t thought about the fact he’d probably never grown up with a pet. In the crowded store, he couldn’t reach out and kiss Keith until he felt better. Instead he followed his gaze to the display box where the puppies were. Despite the countless number of kids, that Lance personally thought should be in school even if it was the weekend, there was this one puppy no one was paying any attention to. He might have mentally referred to Keith a big dog himself, but Lance could see how the neglected pup was something Keith could see himself in

“Wanna go say hi?”

Keith jumped, Lance hadn’t meant to scare him

“No... it’s okay”

“You’ve never had a pet, have you?”

“We had goldfish for a bit, but they died. A couple of homes had dogs... but kids would get jealous”

“Let’s go say hi. I won’t even tell Blue you were fawning over a puppy”

“I’m not fawning over it”

Keith grumbled, crossing his arms as he glared at the floor. Wrong choice of words on Lance’s behalf. Everyone loved puppies, there was nothing to be embarrassed over

“Sorry. I mean... If you want to look at the puppies, I won’t judge... I’m making this worse. I’m sorry. I’m just saying that puppies are cute. I’m going to grab some catnip treats for Blue”

Separating from Keith, Keith wandered around seemingly lost until he ended up near the puppies. The same little puppy was trying to get Keith’s attention, Keith wanted to give in. Lance could see he wanted to give in. The puppy was as drawn to Keith, as Keith was to the little longer with big paws. He was caving. He was caving and he knew it was a terrible idea... but all the puppies and kittens were rescues. Maybe if Keith could cuddle the puppy, both of them would be happier. Yep. He was about to do something very stupid.

Once Upon A Time... Not, Chapter 4: #TwinSquad

Chapter Summary: Virgil is very surprised at how strangers are coming to his rescue from the school bully, Jake Simons. He makes some new friends like that, as well as getting very confused.

Trigger Warnings: Bullying, verbal fighting, pushing, threats, confusion, let me know if I missed anything!

Word Count: 3492

AO3

Chapter 1

Previous Chapter   -   Chapter 5

Chapter 4: #TwinSquad

That sounds like… Anastacia comes into my vision, stands in front of me, guarding me. “I don’t give a rat’s arse about who you think you are! Nobody, and I repeat, NOBODY! Does that to my brother!” Anyone who doesn’t know her, everybody here except me, wouldn’t know that inside her mind, she’s screaming at herself to grab me and run. The little waver in her voice gave it away. But I’m so lucky to have her. She sets her own anxiety to the side to help me.

“What?” Jake drawls out that word. “We were just having a bit of fun. Ain’t that right, freak?” He looks pointedly at me. And earns a shove from Ann.

“Don’t you dare call my brother a freak,” she says, voice dangerously low. Oh-uh. I haven’t heard her use that voice since she beat the crap out of the only bully at our last school. He was degrading me for being trans, so he kinda had it coming. But still, Anastacia can be pretty scary when she’s in protective mode.

“Oh, I’m sooo scared. What’re you gonna do, British? Throw a teabag after me?” he mocks. Big mistake on his part, if you ask me.

“Did you just-” Oh, Ann is seething now. I can tell. To hell with anxiety, when you’ve pissed her off, you’re dead.

I look around the yard and, oh no! There are so many people! I need to get away from here! I’m on the verge of a panic attack, I can feel it! Why couldn’t I just stay at home and never see the sun again? Ann’s talking, I think. Maybe even fighting that Jake guy. At least verbally. I can’t hear them. I can’t hear anything! Wait, I can hear my heart. That’s good. Right? Oh god, I’m going to have a panic attack on the first day back to school in front of a bunch of strangers! I can’t- I can’t-

“What’s going on here, Jake?”

Who was that? Their voice sounds really calculated. But also kinda cold. Their voice broke through my panicked thoughts, though. Like Mother’s. Her voice was able to break through my thoughts. I’ve only heard their voice, but I think it’s someone I can trust. Maybe. I don’t know. It’s all a haze right now. I should probably open my eyes. Yeah, I’m gonna do that. Wait, I closed my eyes? When did that happen?

Anastacia is standing protectively in front of me, like a knight protecting their most dearest with a shield from a firebreathing dragon. No! Not thinking about that! In front of her, two other students are standing face to face with Jake. They’re talking with him. What are they saying? I try and focus on them.

“… ould leave.” The voice from earlier.

“Yeah, right. Like I’m going to. Yo, Marco! Dillan!” That’s Jake. At his shout, two other students run over to his side. “The nerds wanna fight,” Jake laughs.

“We’d rather it didn’t come to that. However, I will indulge you if you want.” This is a new voice. They sound quite dramatic. It’s one of the two who came over. They are defending me? Why? They don’t know me. I don’t know them.

I can see their back. One of the two is wearing what looks like a dark blue polo. The other is wearing a dark red jacket with a crown on. Nothing too boisterous, but still. Bold.

“Can’t you count, Garcia? It’s three against two. British is obviously too busy with her weak-ass brother,” Jake smirks.

“Numbers don’t matter in situations such as this, may I remind you. Anyone with even just a slight comprehension of hand-to-hand combat will tell you that.” The first voice.

“Indeed, Simons, we don’t need to be any more to take you fiends down.” Red Jacket does what I assume is supposed to be a dramatic pose. Pretty sure the second voice belongs to them.

“Pfft, you really think your geek can handle being in a fight, Garcia? He would lose instantly.” Jake and his goons laugh. “He’s too scrawny! If I even just gently punch him, he’d break!” Jakes goons laughed even harder at that. Well, that really wasn’t fair! I really wanna help them, but I can’t do a fucking thing right now! It’s like I’m paralysed!

“You would actually be surprised at what Logan can do, Jake.” A new voice, sounding a bit more female. Well, it looks like they are here to help Polo Shirt and Red Jacket. “And how many punches he can take without breaking a sweat or slowing down in the slightest.”

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the Quick E coming the weaklings to the resue?” Jake taunts. I think it’s supposed to be a play at their name or something.

“Har har, real mature, Jackie.” Jake sneers at the name. The newcomer (gosh, there’s so many strangers now, I can’t breathe) only smile at Jake innocently. “You know it’s Qikkie. Q-I-K-K-I-E,” they spell out. “Qikkie. Might look weird, but it’s just pronounced ‘Kikki’.” Oh, their smile is dangerous now. They kinda remind me of Ann…

“Virgil, breathe.” Who said that?! I frantically look around. Who the hell sa- oh. Anastacia. She’s right next to me now. She’s telling me to breathe. Am I not breathing? I inhale sharply. Oh, guess I wasn’t.

She continues whispering soft nothings into my ear. I tune them out in favour of focusing on the conversation in front of us. Red Jacket is standing slightly in front of Polo Shirt, ready to defend. I must’ve missed something.

“Oh, go put a sock in it, Jake,” Red Jacket says. Jake just laughs. As do his goons.

“Hey! Attention here, hothead!” the newcomer, Qikkie, says, snapping their fingers. Nice bracelet. Why does it say ‘She/Her’ on it? “Do you really wanna turn your back on me? After what happened last year?” Jake visibly freezes. Qikkie just smiles wickedly. Wonder what happened?

“Fine. You losers win this round,” Jake grumbles, signalling to his goons to follow him as he leaves.

“You just conceded victory to us, so we are in fact the winners. Not losers,” Polo Shirt says, sounding puzzled.

Qikkie turns to Ann and me. “Sorry about him. Jake wasn’t taught any manners at all at home. He’s just a Neanderthal. Just ignore him and his brainless gorillas,” Qikkie smiles at us and offers a hand. The other two are still there, but it seems like they’re sending ordering looks to the other students because they start to leave fast.

Ann takes their offered hand after I nod an okay at her. She then gently lifts me up with both hands. Damn it! I’m wobbling a bit. My legs aren’t steady. Haven’t eaten anything since lunch yesterday and that push just took more of my remaining energy. I really need to eat better.

I quickly gain my balance and start signing. ‘Thanks, sis. Uhm, could you translate this next part?’ I hesitantly ask.

“Of course! Go ahead,” she says, earning a few confused looks from the others with us. Polo Shirt and Red Jacket came to stand next to Qikkie.

‘You know, it’s really offensive to Neanderthals to call him that. They were obviously much more intelligent than Jake is.’ I sign, allowing a tiny smirk to be visible on my face. Ann starts giggling a lot and has to catch her breath. Polo Shirt starts chuckling a bit as well, making Qikkie and Red Jacket look at them like they’d lost their mind. Maybe they didn’t laugh much?

Ann seems to have caught her breath again. “Huh, sorry. Right, translation. Virgil said, and I quote: You know, it’s really offensive to Neanderthals to call him that. They were obviously much more intelligent than Jake is.” And the others start laughing. Well, Polo Shirt is still chuckling a bit.

Qikkie’s laugh is light and not really that loud. Red Jacket’s laughter, however… it’s loud and boisterous and like music. Wait, what? Nonono, get it together Virgil! If you start these thoughts you’re only gonna start blushing and- and I’m blushing. Great. I look down a bit, trying to hide behind my bangs. Please don’t notice, please don’t notice, please don’t notice!

They finally start to laugh off. And Red Jacket looks at me. Oh, no! Shit! They’re smiling! At me! What do I do?! Can’t I just sink into the ground or something?!

“I like the way you think, Virgil, was it?” they ask. All I can do is stand there and look really dumb. I just nod. I’m pretty sure no one seems aware of my internal conflict. “I’m Roman. Roman Garcia. He/him.” Red Jacket, Roman, says, extending his hand but backtracks and scratches his neck instead. At least he could see I’d rather not touch any stranger at the moment.

Polo Shirt collects himself and gives a tiny attention-grabbing cough. “My name is Logan Connors. I, as well as Roman, use he/him pronouns. And we’re glad to be of assistance to the both of you,” he says and gives a curt nod. Yup. He’s the formal type. He even wears a necktie. Who even does that in a school that has no uniforms?

“You probably already caught my name,” Qikkie chuckles. “But if you forgot it already, it’s Qikkie. Picani. My name’s spelt really weird, but it’s just pronounced ‘Kiki’,” they smile. They get a look from Logan that I have no idea what means. “Oh, yeah! And I use she/her pronouns for today. I’m a demigirl, or as I like to call it: demifemale, so you can see my pronouns on my bracelet here.” She lifts her hand with the bracelet I saw earlier. So that’s why it says she/her. Cool. “When I’m wearing the ‘they/them’ pendants, you can just call me Q. You don’t have to, obviously, but it would be nice.”

“That’s really cool! I’m Anastacia, uhh, Blake,” Ann hesitantly adds. Most likely because they also shared their last names. Qikkie seems to light up at Ann’s comment about Qikkie’s bracelet. “I use she/her as well. And this is Virgil,” she gestures to me. “My brother. He/him.” I give a small wave at the introduction. And then the awkwardness starts. No one seems to know what to say now. I just try and hide behind my hair and hope Roman doesn’t look at me. I really don’t know why my body reacted like that! What’s wrong with me?

Luckily the first warning bell rings, signalling for us to get ready to go to our next class, breaking the awkward silence.

“Now that introductions are out of the way, it would be best for us to head to our next classes. We can show you to your classrooms?” Logan offers, albeit a bit awkward. He must not be all that social. Welcome to the club. I nod silently.

“We’d like that,” Ann says after she sees my nod. She checks her schedule. “Uhm, I have Maths,” she says.

“Ooh! We do too! Roman and I!” Qikkie says, clapping her hands excitedly. “We can take you there and at the same time, make sure Jake doesn’t try and bother you!” Ann nods, but glances to me. “What do you have, Virgil?” Qikkie asks me. Guess she noticed the worry in Ann’s eyes.

I look at my schedule. And smile. I have Art! One of the few things I don’t suck at and have a hard time screwing up. ‘Art’ I sign at Ann.

“Art? Cool!” Ann says, genuinely excited for me. It feels nice.

“Well, seems like you’ll be keeping me company, as I also have Art,” Logan says, adjusting his glasses unnecessarily. Must be a tick or something. He seems alright. I hope I’m not wrong like last time… “It is this way, Virgil.” I look around. Ann already left with Roman and Qikkie. I must’ve been zoning out. Wait, he’s walking away. Logan’s walking away. What do I do? Oh, right. He said he has Art too. I’m just gonna follow him.

I catch up to him pretty fast, though I do have a small limp from being pushed down on the ground. I really hope he doesn’t notice. We walk in silence. Obviously. Logan seems like someone who’s not up for unnecessary conversation, and I don’t really speak.

“So, Virgil. Might I inquire how long you’ve been unable to speak?” Logan suddenly breaks the silence. Great. “Do not worry about answering in sign-language, as I know some myself. Granted, I do not communicate in it every day. You do not have to answer if it’s too uncomfortable for you,” he adds after he, presumably, glances towards me and sees how I’m curling in on myself. It’s nice to know he actually cares about me. The least I could do after he and Roman basically saved me is answer him.

‘Well… I’m not unable to speak, per se. My throat just closes up a lot. It’s been doing that for as long as I can remember, really. So, I really just use sign to speak with others. Others being my sister and father.’ I hope that wasn’t too much for him to read. He did say he’s not the best.

“Ah. Selective mutism. I’m guessing you have heightened anxiety?” Logan asks. Wait, it’s actually called something? I thought I was just a weirdo. Huh. I do nod at his question about my anxiety. “Well, if you are called upon by the teacher, I shall translate as best I can for you if that is alright?” Again I nod.

He keeps his focus on me as we walk so I might as well ask. ‘Is there a specific reason why you know sign language?’ Pleasedon’thatemepleasedon’thatemepleasedon’thatemepleas-

“Well, a good friend of mine, his mother is deaf. I spent a lot of time at their house growing up, so I picked up a few things, well, a lot. And I’ve always been fascinated by it,” Logan explains. Well. At least he doesn’t find me annoying. Yet. I think.

We walk for another minute in silence, my mind is seriously being an asshole right now. How far away is the Art classroom anyway?! Hey, it’s my first day, alright? Don’t expect me to remember where everything is to a tee from just one tour of the school! “Logan! There you are!” someone whisper-shouts. Someone’s waving at us, standing outside a classroom.

“Ah, that is my sister, Laylin. Relax, Laylin. It’s still another five minutes before class starts,” Logan addresses the girl in front of us. She rolls her eyes.

“Yeah, but you’re usually here ten minutes before. Did Patton make you look at pictures of puppies again?” she remarks sarcastically. I’m just gonna assume that it’s something that’s only happened once and Laylin just keeps bringing it up to annoy Logan. That’s what I would do if Logan was my brother.

“That was one time!” Logan near hisses. “And no. Jake had sought out a new victim, so we stopped by to help. This is Virgil, by the way,” he says, nodding to me. I give a small wave at the girl in front of me.

“Nice to meet you, Virgil. I’m Laylin, Logan’s twin. Hope Jake didn’t give you a bad impression of the school. It’s the fewest that’s actually like him.” They’re twins. Why am I surprised? It’s the only explanation as to how they’re on the same year as siblings. Right?

The rest of the day goes by smoothly. Someone’s always by my side, so Jake stays away. We got some homework, but at least it’s something we covered last year in school, so I already did it and won’t have to agonise over it.

When we arrive at school the next day, Nini is standing just outside the doors, waving at us when she spots us. “So. Heard yesterday was quite eventful, huh? Next time Jake decides to annoy you, just drop my name, and he’ll back off,” she says as we reach her.

“We’ll keep that in mind,” Ann giggles. We head inside, and Nini guides us in the direction of our next class. We still have another fifteen minutes, but we’d like to be in good time, seeing as we missed the first lesson yesterday because we are new and needed a tour and everything.

The classroom’s up ahead, someone’s already standing outside the door, not blocking it though. Wait, is that Roman? Huh. His wardrobe is completely different from yesterday. Ann noticed him too. “Hey, Roman,” she says when we get close enough. He looks up, and did he dye his hair since yesterday? Because I don’t recall that grey streak in his hair. Then again, I only met the guy yesterday.

Roman starts laughing. Well, more like cackling, really. That… is not the reaction I expected at all. And from the way Ann mirrors my surprise and confusion, neither did she. I look around us, searching with my eyes as to what could be so funny. A guy (I assume, but still gonna refer with gender-neutral pronouns until I know for sure) is standing close by and looks like a confused bean. Like, literally. Looks like the definition of an innocent bean. Blue shirt, glasses, a cardigan tied around the shoulders, and a long skirt on.

“Remus? What’s going on?” they ask as they move closer.

REMUS?! The hell?! I glance at Anastacia. She looks as shocked as I am; mouth ajar and everything. Does this mean that yesterday was some sort of planned out practical joke? That they gave us fake names just to ridicule us today in school?

I can see their mouth moving, feel Ann’s hand on my arm, but I can’t hear. Shit! Not having a panic attack now! Not gonna happen! Pull yourself together, Virgil! Don’t need to make a bigger fool out of yourself than you already have. Breathe in for four seconds, hold for seven, and out for eight. Repeat.

“…iddo?” Great, I can hear again. My eyes focus again. The others are staring at me. Did I miss something? I tilt my head a bit to the side, Ann knows it means I’m listening but think I might’ve missed something in the conversation. Which I clearly did just now.

“Hey, there, kiddo. Glad you’re joining us again,” the person in the skirt says. “My name is Patton, he/him,” he smiles. He seems really bubbly, it’s actually a calming atmosphere to be in. I smile faintly at him to make sure he knows I heard him. I can hear footsteps in the distance.

He opens his mouth to say some more, but someone interrupts. Someone who wasn’t there before. And looks like Patton. Like, apart from the heterochromia and some lighter patches of skin on the left side of their face, they are identical. And now my confused state has increased. “Could you keep it down, Remus? I could hear you all the way at the end of the hallway,” they drawl, pointing over their shoulder, down the long hallway.

“Oh, heya, Janus!” Patton waves energetically. “I made some new friends! I think.” He looks at me, smiling. He then looks back at the newcomer, Janus, and starts explaining what just happened to make ‘Remus’ laugh like that.

She smiles (Patton mentioned her pronouns somewhere in his explanation. It went too fast for me to get the context for why he mentioned her pronouns, okay?) and chuckles a bit. “I can understand why you look so utterly confused. You two ran into Roman yesterday, right?” she asks. Her voice is smooth and a bit deep. I can see Ann nod in my periphery. “It is most likely that he didn’t mention Remus at all. You just met, after all. But, they are not the same person. They are twins. Identical twins. Patton and I are twins as well if you were wondering, which I can only assume you were. We are not identical twins, but we look very similar still,” she explains, and now I feel like a total fool. And idiot. Of course, they are twins. That’s what makes the most sense. I’m getting a headache. “Oh, and I am genderfluid, so keep watch of my necklace,” she winks.

I look towards Anastacia, my anxiety forgotten. ‘I am getting a headache. There are three pairs of twins, not including us, here. This is gonna get confusing fast,’ I sign to her, to which she nods.

“Yeah, it is,” she agrees, taking my hand. “But we’re here together, so we get to share our confusion,” she winks.

“Oh, this is only half of us, darling,” Janus smirks. “But we should get to class, it’s about to start. Have fun.” She starts walking back down the hall. “By the way.” She stops and looks over her shoulder. “Welcome to the Twin Squad.”

Thoughts on Jake and Tobias's relationship ? You've said they don't like each other, but what are aspects of their relationship you do like?

Possibly an odd statement, but: I like that they don’t like each other.

Tobias, more than anyone else on the team, serves as a check on Jake’s power.  And the team really needs one.

Cassie loves Jake and cares the most about him as a person.  She sometimes challenges him when she thinks that he’s wrong, but she also does so gently, in private, out of genuine desire to get what’s best for Jake himself.

Ax is more conscious about putting Jake in charge than anyone else on the team, because Ax is the most battle-experienced best understands what a war-prince is.  Nevertheless, Ax is determined to make Jake a prince by any means necessary, and that also means almost never challenging Jake on his decisions.

Marco believes the hardest in Jake, all the way up through the suicide mission in #54, because in some ways Marco needs to believe that hard in Jake.  Marco’s not soulless, but he also doesn’t have much of an instinctive moral compass.  However, he’s self-aware enough to know that he doesn’t have much of an instinctive moral compass.  Understanding intellectually that he’s a bit of a ruthless asshole leads Marco to rely on Jake’s innate ethical sense to check that ruthlessness.

Rachel’s similar to Marco in that she kind of needs Jake to check her most violent side, and that she reluctantly recognizes that need.  It’s no accident that she mentally projects Jake as the voice of reason in her dream sequence in #48.  She can’t doubt Jake, because then she’s back to justifying pretty much any act of violence to herself (e.g. #37).

So that leaves Tobias.  Because somebody has to do it.  The team dynamic in Animorphs is beautifully realistic in that Jake being in charge mostly works most of the time and comes off as being the least bad option.  Most of the team believes in Jake, maybe a little too hard (definitely harder than Jake believes in himself), but Tobias keeps it from becoming a personality cult.

Which is interesting.  Because in many ways, Tobias starts out believing the hardest in The Myth of Jake — i.e. the infallible hero whose innate goodness and leadership skill will surely win the day.  Which means that, when Jake reveals himself to be all too human, he has the furthest to fall in Tobias’s eyes.  Tobias is the one who insists that Jake be in charge in #1, and Tobias is the one who most consistently challenges Jake’s bad calls or imperfect decisions in books #3 - #54.  Tobias makes Jake the leader, but he does so under circumstances that Jake cannot possibly sustain.  In another reality, antebellum Tobias will become a full member of the Sharing just to get closer to Jake (MM4).  In this reality, #1 Tobias has utter faith in Jake to the point of being willing to die at his command, to the point where a lot of fans read him as being in love with Jake at first.  But Jake’s a human being, not a demigod or a military genius or anything other than a dumb jock trying to play General Patton.

(An aside: I’m fascinated by that little continuity error in #50, when Jake says “You know why I was in charge in the first place, Cassie? Because once upon a time, a long time ago, Marco said I was.” [Emphasis mine].  By the time we’re at #50, it seems preposterous to think that Tobias, not Marco, would be the one to put Jake in charge, to the point where I headcanon that Jake genuinely misremembers it as having been Marco.)

Jake falls far in Tobias’s eyes, and he falls hard.  Tobias wants Jake to just solve things like the whole team being taken by Visser One (#5), everyone being stranded in Brazil (#11), or Rachel and Ax getting captured (#16).  Jake fails to solve any of those problems, even though he manages to scrape out survival for his whole team.  Tobias sees him fail.  Tobias also has a fair amount of contempt for Jake’s “I can’t find a perfect solution so might as well give up” attitude under stress.  By the time we’re at #23, Tobias openly views Jake as a problem to be solved, and that’s what continues for the rest of the series.  There’s a reason I compared them to Dean and Castiel from Supernatural: Castiel starts their relationship literally believing that Dean is an unimpeachable paragon of divine will, and swings all the way down to declaring that Dean is a mistake on the part of Creation before finally starting to see Dean as a person.  Tobias’s shift isn’t that extreme, but it’s driven by the same expectations that are simply too high for anyone to match, followed by Jake’s inevitably falling waaaay short.

Add to that Jake’s condescending tendency to “worry about [Rachel]… more than anyone but Tobias” (#22).  Add to that Tobias’s protectiveness toward Ax, and Jake’s willingness to send Ax where angels fear to tread if it gets a hard job done (#11, #26, #28).  Add to that Tobias’s willingness to go behind Jake’s back and Jake’s subsequent anger any time their principles fundamentally disagree (#1, #23, MM2, #46).  Add to that Tobias’s low-level contempt for Jake’s being totally devastated by the loss of a stable home life, which is something Tobias never got to have in the first place (#49).

HOWEVER, none of that changes the fact that they kill for each other.  That Tobias willingly marches to his probable-death in #33 on Jake’s say-so.  That Jake puts his own life and that of everyone on his team into Tobias’s hands during almost every battle that Tobias orchestrates from overhead.  That Jake can talk to Tobias about his insecurities when any other Animorph would shut the conversation down out of fear.  That they genuinely enjoy each other’s company in the rare down time when they can talk about sci-fi shows (#14) or history books (#33) or inane celebrity trivia (#17).

They remind me of my favorite kind of sibling relationship, where two ridiculously different people with fundamentally incompatible interests are nevertheless ride-or-die for each other, because they’re family and they understand that it’s them against the world. (E.g. Greg and Wirt in Over the Garden Wall, Katara and Sokka in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Klaus and Diego in Umbrella Academy, Edmund and Lucy in Prince Caspian.)  It speaks to the coherency and deep mutual love on that found family of a team.  Tobias and Jake aren’t friends; it serves to highlight the extent to which they are family.

An idea inspired by your start breathing fic. What if Marco’s mark was less obvious?

Marco stares at his mark, curling around his left hip and easily hidden with his pants and sash, and feels his heart stutter in his chest. He doesn’t know when it showed up, it’s been weeks since he’s stumbled into his room and turned on the lights before stripping and his showers are normally fast. Rarely does he linger and that’s when they fill up the tub in the commander’s shared bathroom and even then it’s been months.

Gol D Ace is orange like the flickering of the candle he keeps on his bedside table. It’s-

“When did you get here?” Marco whispers softly, brushing his fingers over the name in confusion. “Roger’s been dead for over a year, little one, how do you exist?”

There’s only one option for who this is, for who they must be with Roger’s last name. Everyone knew that Gol D Roger had no family. No one to carry on his name, which meant one of two things.

One, someone had named their child with Gol D Roger’s last name. Which he doubts. Or-

Or Roger’s child had been born, though he doubts they’ll live. They’ve got the whole world hunting them, if they aren’t dead already.

Ace probably lived long enough to breath his first and barely any longer. No one would let Roger’s child live, not the marines at least and Marco know’s they have been hunting for Roger’s family. Who ever that was.

“I’m sorry, yoi” Marco tells the name and can almost, over the shock and confusion, bring himself to feel sorry. “That you didn’t make it this far. That you never got to live your life. I’m sure you would have been amazing.”

He covers the name, unable to bare looking at the promise of someone who could one day have been his. That he might have become friends with or maybe even more.

Now he just had to keep the name hidden from the rest of his family until it faded, he didn’t think he could bare to hear them teasing or trying to find out where Gol D Ace could have been. After all, he could only stand pretending that Ace was alive for so long, he couldn’t let it be for more than a second. He had too much else to do.

“When did you get this,” Izo demands pointing at Marco. “I can’t believe you never-”

“Oh Izo, leave him alone,” Thatch shouts from the tub that could easily fit their Oyaji. “Just because Marco got a new tattoo and didn’t tell you doesn’t mean that you can shout at the poor guy!”

Izo ignores Thatch, fan still pointing at Marco’s nose, “That is a name, Marco.”

“I’m waiting for it to fade,” Marco states, arms crossing over his chest as he tries to ignore the way Izo’s eyes flash. “There’s no way he survived.”

“That’s what you think. As long as the name is there, it means that your soulmate is alive!”

“That doesn’t prove anything, yoi. Names can take years to fade or have you forgotten Jozu?”

“And Jozu’s faded more than that!” Izo snaps. “It’s bright enough to be neon!”

“Ace can’t be alive!” Marco shouts. “He can’t!”

Izo jerks back, his eyes going wide, “Marco?”

“He can’t, yoi. Not with that name. It’s,” He ducks his head, refusing to look over at any of his siblings. “It’s impossible, yoi.”

The silence was loud, so loud that Marco’s ears are ringing with it as he stares at his feet. At the ground and anything but his siblings.

“What’s his name?” Haruta asks finally. “You said he, didn’t you?”

Marco swallows heavily, “Ace, yoi. Gol D Ace.”

“Oh, Marco,” Izo says softly, eyes going wide. “Is that why you?”

“We can’t tell anyone,” Haruta says interrupting them. “It’s bad enough that his name is on your skin, if someone finds out that Ace’s alive, and he has to be if your words are that bright still, than they will never stop hunting him.”

“Between us and Oyaji,” Jiru mutters tiredly. “We can hide your mark easily, which is the only reason we’re going to get away with this.”

“You think he’s alive.”

Izo frowns at him, arms crossed, “As long as those words are orange and look like a toddler’s favorite shade, than he has to be alive.”

“And, you think that- you think Ace’s alive.”

“We do, but don’t worry we’ll keep it a secret.”

“You should have said something, son,” Oyaji says softly, smiling. “We don’t care who your soulmate is, you know that don’t you?”

Marco nods, “I don’t want to get my hopes up, yoi. I don’t want to get so excited about meeting him, only to find the name is dull.”

“Marco.”

“He’s the son of the most wanted man in the world, Oyaji. Someone like that wouldn’t, couldn’t survive. Not with the Marines searching for him.”

“Maybe, for once in your life, son, you should focus on the fact there’s something happy to look forward to. A friend, maybe something more if you both decide on that.”

Marco looks away, “I’ll try, yoi.”

“He’s got the right first name,” Kingdew mutters softly, looking at Portgas D Ace try to talk with Izo, finally relaxing after agreeing to join their crew. “An’ who would let their kid run around with that last name, not when everyone knows that it’s going to get him killed.”

“We aren’t going to play this,” Marco mutters darkly, frowning at them over his coffee. “It’s too much of a risk to ask if someone is him, you know that as much as I do.”

“Well if you would let us look at your mark again,” Thatch whispers.

“No, it’s bad enough that you know his name, yoi.”

Izo rolls his eyes, “You just don’t like the color of the name.”

“That isn’t the problem and you know it. Leave him alone,” Kingdew insists. “He is your type however and don’t think we don’t know you think he’s attractive.”

Haruta waggles her eyebrows as she leans over the table, “He is your type. Dark hair and light eyes? Muscles for days.”

“I should have drown you,” Marco hisses trying not to kick at her. “Honestly, Haruta, yoi.”

“He’s your type and he’s not as much of a brat as we thought he was,” Haruta continues like she hadn’t been interrupted. “You’ve always been attracted to that sort of thing.”

“A person isn’t a thing,” Thatch mutters.

“Attractive as hell,” Haruta states like she hadn’t already. “Admit it, Marco.”

“I’m going to need you to stop talking about Marco being attracted to people,” Jozu states with the same kind of bored calm that he always does. “It’s bad enough the first time we caught him flirting with someone.”

“I’m not allowed to find people attractive, yoi?”

“No, you’re going to have to become a monk and never find anyone attractive. That’s how it works,” Thatch states.

“Sorry to bother you,” Ace says suddenly, startling them from their conversation. “Do you who I have to see for placement in a division?”

“That,” Izo says smiling like he’s won something. “Would be Marco. Marco, won’t you help Ace?”

Marco frowns at his siblings, “Come on, Ace, I’ll help you get settled.”

“Thanks,” Ace says bouncing on his toes.

“I think,” Ace pauses and bites his lower lip, siting on the edge of Marco’s bed like he always does when they’re alone. “I think you should know about my soulmate, since we’ve been, you know.”

“Dating,” Marco says smiling up at him, looking away from his paperwork to see him. “We’re dating, yoi.”

“That. Since we’re dating, you should know, about my name,” Ace spins the leather band on his wrist slowly. “It, it’s not why I agreed to date you, you know.”

“I don’t understand, yoi.”

Ace glances away from him, undoing the strap and turning his wrist to face Marco, Marco’s name printed in soft letters traced with fire and atop one of Phoenix’s feathers, “It’s not why I said I would go out with you.”

“Oh,” Marco reaches for his name, his name, pausing before he can brush his fingers over it. “That’s my name.”

“I didn’t find it out until after you asked me out, you don’t, you don’t transform all the way very often,” He moves his wrist closer, letting Marco touch him.

“I think it’s only fair that you see mine too,” Marco says finally. “Not as easy to show you, yoi, but I can. I’m not taking off my pants.”

“Uncomfortably located?” Ace teases, even though he looks sad. Like he already knows that the name isn’t his.

Marco shakes his head, “My hip, yoi. Somewhere that we can’t see normally, but not that bad,” He pauses. “There.”

“T-that’s your name?” Ace asks softly, looking all too entranced with the name on Marco’s skin. “You’ve had that name on your hip for years?”

“You don’t seem upset, it’s not yours.”

Ace takes a breath, “Did I ever tell you that Portgas was my mother’s name?” He glances up at Marco, smiling shyly. “I told Oyaji months ago, he laughed himself sick.”

“Ace?”

“Mom, she loved my dad. She loved him and I don’t understand why she would love him so much. Not when he was the monster that everyone told me, that people insisted he had to be,” He pauses for a long moment. “Mom gave me his last name, Gol D Roger’s son should share his father’s name.”

Marco stops, “Ace, yoi.”

“My mom named me Gol D Ace, for my father, but Gramps gave me her name, since it would be safer.”

“It’s you,” Marco says slowly. “You’re?”

“Me?” Ace asks.

“You’re real, yoi.”

Ace laughs, finally touching his name, the one that had been printed onto Marco’s skin, “Of course I’m real.”

“I thought you were dead. They killed so many people looking for you.”

“Mom extended her pregnancy, just so they wouldn’t find me. It, it killed her,” Ace explains softly. “She did it to protect me. I, I always thought that you were going to be my soulmate, but I wasn’t going to be yours.”

“I think we were both wrong yoi,” Marco says softly, sitting down on the bed. “At least in this case.”

“Yeah, at least in this case.”

Tom Vs The Forces Of Evil (Au), Chapter 17

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Jackie carefully patched up her cut, Janna being of assistance to her as Marco paced back and forth. Tom was in trouble before, but now he was in DEEP trouble, not only did his father know about their plans to help his escape, but he knew about the blood moon, Star's assistance, and pretty much everything Tom went out of the way to keep secret from him. Marco had feared that they would mess with his mind eventually, but it didn't take them long to start working it on him to find out his secrets. He almost wondered if it's why that worker was hired to begin with, because Tom's dad needed someone to get the information he needed out of him. Whatever, it didn't matter now, everything was out on the field and there wasn't any time to sit around anymore. Moon saw everything Star showed her and her reaction according to Star was the face she made when someone was going to get obliterated, guess her motherly instincts applied to more then just her own daughter. At least her good terms with the council was enough to barge them to do something because who knew otherwise, they were going to get Tom out of there immediately and in better custody till he was 18. Although what really sold them if anything, was St Olga's play into it, as the people working there were wanted criminals. This made Marco angry of course, as Tom's safety should've been all they needed but some help was better then no help at all. And Tom needed all the help he could get, he could be anywhere after all. Tom broke his promise, everything they agreed on never to do no longer mattered, Tom could still get sent to the school, he could be hurt worse for misbehaving, or perhaps something more sinister was planned for him.

Marco blushed in embarrassment for being such an idiot, he just spilled so much to him without even thinking about the fact that Tom's dad could investigate with his own magic!! He even told him he liked Tom! Something Marco wasn't sure if he believed or if it was something he said just out of desperation to stop what he thought was Tom. Nevermind, it didn't matter, Tom wouldn't believe anything that came out of his father's mouth anyway at this point. What mattered is that they found Tom before anything worse happened, he left for the dinner and never came back, he could be anywhere right now. And he didn't have his wand either. Marco was just hoping to pieces he was still him and they hadn't done anything worse to him then what he already knew, he could only imagine Tom chained up somewhere, trying not to look pained and crying. But when his dad approached he looked as if he might bite him or tear him apart. Tom might fear him, but Marco knew Tom would take him down if he could. "Done...", Jackie stood up and rubbed her arm, she looked at Marco carefully, knowing full well he was feeling awful. She looked as if she wanted to say something to him but didn't, probably thinking it would be best to let the brunette get this out on his own. Star showed up shortly, no warning of course, and Marco jumped back and put up a defensive position. Then lowered his hands when he saw just who it was, Star was crying a bit herself at hearing what happened or what was happening to Tom now and it didn't take long for Marco to hug her and sob softy onto her shoulder. She rubbed his back with her clawed hand, trying to help the stressed boy calm down. Tom was the one in the most trouble but Marco was the one who seemed the most in pain. She didn't say anything, just let him cry, Marco'd been crying so much lately his eyes might have been swollen.  He separated from her and sat down on his bed, "Just....when are we leaving to go help ? Are they gonna tell us when to show up or-?". Star shifted awkwardly in place though, biting her lip and clearly trying to hide something. Marco had enough today, and Star couldn't help but get a bit startled when he started getting angry, "They....they're making us stay here....aren't they?". "Marco- i'm grounded....Mom's making me stay here, she doesn't kinda want us getting involved in this...", She bit her lip anxiously, "I got freaked out too and asked why we couldn't just help save Tom anyways since he's our friend and junk but...". "But-? Tom said you didn't follow the rules!! He told me you made them up! Broke them all the time!!", Marco argued back, "Tom needs us too, we're all his best friends and we can't just sit here!! What if something goes wrong?!".  Janna gave him a look, "Ok Marco, even I think you're going a little-", Marco turned and looked at her, "We promised we'd also be there for him, we're not useless....we can fight!!". Everyone looked at Marco anxiously, perhaps worried exactly what would happen if they disobeyed the king's threats. "Marco, they're professionals, we're not....", Jackie was trying to clam him down but it wasn't working in this case, Marco was still too panicked about his best friend and for putting him in serious danger. Well, more serious danger then before at least. "We can't just....do nothing, you saw what I said, I told him everything he wanted to know...and now.....", he rubbed his face and looked at everyone, no one had anything to say, they looked like they all made their decision, to sit this out. Marco clenched his fists, "Fine....I'll go get him myself...". "Marco, you can't go to mewni, you don't even have a way there!!", Janna remarked, "We kinda don't have a choice...". Marco ignored her though, and left his room, slamming the door behind him. He made his way down the steps and into the kitchen, he wanted to be alone right now. He pulled his hood over his head and groaned into the countertop, he was back where he started since Tom left, back to being some dumb human trapped on earth with no way of getting to him. Solution? What solution? It's not like he could just walk to mewni or anything!! No, he had to be trapped here worried as all heck about his best friend with no way of speaking to him!! And worst of all, his friends didn't even look as if they wanted to help at all!! Some team.... Marco pulled up the sleeve of his hoodie and looked at the bracer Tom had given him, he still wondered if Tom had the hoodie Marco had given him as he hadn't seen him wear it when they talked. But he had a feeling Tom was probably embarrassed to admit he wore it a lot to Marco, guess he couldn't blame him. He failed his best friend, what if they never spoke again? Tom hears that Marco likes him back from his father and then never sees Marco again? The last thing he hears isn't even the truth or from Marco himself? Marco wasn't sure who he was more angry at, his friends, the king, but right now...it felt like he was more angry at himself if anything. He shouldn't have blabbed, and he should have been ready for this, all the times Tom protected him and he can't do the same. A few minutes later of the boy debating what he should do next passed when he heard someone else come down the stairs and he looked up to find the demon girl looking at him, she took a seat in front of him and scooted closer. Marco grumbled, "What now? Can't you see i'm wallowing in sadness right now?". "I-I'll take you to Tom...", She said quietly, making the boy's head lift up in surprise. "What? Why?", He asked her in question. She bit her lip, "Welllllll....between the fact that i'm your only ticket there, that's he your best friend and I wanna see you guys hug it out, and maybe the realization that since when do I listen to my mom.....I guess I just feel like maybe sitting around isn't my style...". "Was it ever your style?", He asked. "Oh, enough, c'mon....the more time we sit around the less time we have to find him!!! I'll have to teleport outside of the castle and that place is big enough as it is!! With my mom and the commission making their way in they should sorta be a bit of a distraction? Maybe?". Marco was skeptical about this, but he didn't care as long as he had a chance of doing something. He got out of his chair and stood up, "Let's go....we have to try..", he took her hand gently. "You've taken Janna and Ponyhead this way, I think being fireproof isn't something I should've had to worry about...". "Well, if you don't move you'll be fine.....I was more worried the whole "Fire Thing" would make you freak out too much.....", She make some hand gestures, "and then you'd jump and get burned into dust and i'd have to reanimate your corpse or something...". Marco looked slightly grossed but but shook it off, "I-I can be calm Star!! Did you guys really had that little faith in me that I can't be calm about fire getting that close to me- ok you might have a fair point there...". He sighed, "But if it's the only way there I can do it.....". "Not without us...", Jackie made her way down the steps, dragging Janna with her, who looked much less enthusiastic about being included. "We'e gonna help, right Janna?", Janna sighed, "Yeah yeah, I'm coming to help Tom and I won't take anything that isn't mine in the slightest or try and do anything dangerous....". "Really?", Marco asked. "Jackie said I had to if I was coming to punch bug people in the face...", Jackie shot her a look, "Well I didn't exactly word it like that, but close enough...". She smiled, "We're pretty scared marco, to be honest, but we did make this team for a reason didn't we?". Marco smiled back. "Let's just stay safe ok?", Janna grinned at her, "Eh that won't be an issue when the SAFE KID is the one leading us to our deaths.....I predict we'll make it about 5 minutes in before he starts wishing we all brought helmets to this adventure..". Marco rolled his eyes as Jackie took Star's hand while still holding Janna's, "Oh by the way Marco, thanks for helping me win that bet with Ferg, I knew you'd read that journal eventually didn't I say so?". Marco blushed and gripped tighter, "OK LET'S GO!!". The fire came by in a flash and Marco felt an strange and overwhelming feeling of heat surround him, but it left shortly after. The cool outside air was nice, Marco blinked as the bright fire vanished into the cool dark sky. They were right outside of the butterfly village by the noises of vendors and regular people talking. Marco looked around, he hadn't been to mewni in so long, heck he hand't even been anywhere NEAR the castle before. He and Tom never went back because of how uncomfortable it was making Tom and because of this Marco had barely ever seen Tom's home. He had to admit, the castle looked beautiful up close. But this wasn't the time to be gawking, they came here for a reason and there was no time to waste. The group looked to Marco as if to ask what they should do next when Star noticed some flashes of magic going on in one of the windows, and a flash of familiar fire. "That's my mom.....", She said, "It's....there's a fight happening up there...". Marco feels his stomach clench a bit, "Ok well...that's a start....", it's only now that reality does truly hit him square in the face. He and his mostly mortal friends were on mewni, about to break into a castle with no idea of Tom's location, and could potentially face death by giant magic man. It sounded and looked better in his head then when he was actually here to save Tom, but he remained calm as to not look bad in front of his friends considering it's because of him that they're out here. "Ok, uh...Star, you're a mewni princess, you think you can get us in?", He turned to her immediately, Star stood in place, eyeing the group who was now all staring at her. She shifted awkwardly, "I dunno...maybe? But if King Butterfly knew I had something to do with the "Breaking Tom out" plan, then it's unlikely i'll be allowed back in..". "You know what that means...?", Janna said, rubbing her hands together, "Stealth time...". - Tom sighed, staring up at the stone ceiling of the prison cell he was being kept in. One minute he was at dinner to meet with the man from St Olga's, next he found himself in a chair and forced to look into his glowing eyes, and now he was trapped in a cell in HIS castle. It was all a blur, but he knew they did something to him, he desperately wished he had his rabbit to soothe him but his bunny was clearly still in his room. He even wished he had Marco's hoodie but that was still there too, he was stuck in his stupid prince clothes waiting like a dumb damsel in distress. He spent the last hour trying to break the door using his strength and a stood in the corner, much to the guard's annoyance, but it was no use. He was still a kid after all, it's not like the had the strength of any god-like figure, and without his wand he was practically nothing. Nothing at all..... None of the rage he built up was enough to make him use magic on his own, he could only scream and claw at the door for a way out. He felt like some sort of wild animal, he was surprised his father hadn't chained him at this point, but maybe he figured the pain and uselessness of Tom not being able to open a simple door without magic would unlock him or something stupid like that.... He feared for his friends, what would happen if Tom never responded to them? He knew they'd freak but him vanishing without a trace would certainty make his favorite human do everything in his power to find him, even if Tom didn't want him going anywhere near Mewni. Tom was sure his hands were bleeding a bit, and grumbled at there was no mewni magic, or human magic to help cure him of this. He heard footsteps coming soon though and decided this was his chance, pressing himself against the wall next to the door and waiting for it to open. When it opened Tom made a beeline for the exit only to be grabbed by his father, who pushed him back into the cell further. He was still holding Tom's wand and looked less then pleased, his eyes shooting daggers at the boy, Tom growled at him. "Moon, and the high commission are here...", he spat out, "Your.....friends have apparently sent them to confront me...and now they've picked a fight with a few of my guards trying to see me, all because of that Marco kid you're...soulbound to..". Tom winced, he knew, how did he know? Someone had to have told him. Tom riffled through his mind to wonder how he could've possible known that but shut up at his father's face, he glared at him instead, refusing to look scared in front of him. "Sending you to earth was a mistake...I should have known better then to let you out of my sight and study by yourself..", Tom continues to glare at him, oh the things he'd like to say right now, but it wasn't worth it right now. Tom could feel some hope coming back at the thought of someone coming all this way to get him. "I had a feeling you and that boy were as close as you were....you even decided to like someone unfit to even rule alongside you! The princess was not perfect, but she was a far better match for you political wise then some dumb human boy from another world!! But of course you ruined that arrangement and decided to see how far you could fall by picking someone worse...". Tom balled his fists, "Just stop, look, they're coming to get me and that's it... there's nothing else you're going to be able to do to get out of it. Just go out and deal with it or something, you're not gonna look much better hiding from them in my cell with me...". The king was about to say something when Tom's eyebrows pricked up, "Wait, what confirmed anything between me and Marco? We're not like.....y'know..". The king eyes him cruelly and backed him up, "You did, you told us everything Tom....all those secrets just seemed so easy to spill after you finally listened...". The realization hit him fast, "You....you guys messed with my brain!!?? What the....UGHHHH". Tom tried to punch him, but he grabbed the boy's arm easily, Tom struggled to get out of his grasp but to no avail. The king looked less then pleased, "You were talking to your friends behind my back....your lousy communication device is destroyed, you deliberately broke our deal and because of this the deal that kept your friends from being hurt or you from being sent off no longer holds any weight to it..". Tom stopped struggling, "You wouldn't dare...". "Try me..." Tom's arm was released and he rubbed it, he was sure it was bruised but didn't bother to check. "Look, there's nothing going on between me and Marco anyway, we're just friends and he just likes me as a friend, so why do you even care about it?". "Because that friend of yours likes you back apparently...", a smirk presented across his face and Tom felt himself blushing at it. Marco liked him? Since when? Tom made an unimpressed face towards his dad and tried to hide his blushing face. "You're lying to me....". "Am I?", He challenged, before hearing some noises coming from another nearer room. The commission was upon him, he had to confront them and he knew it, and violence was only the last resort. He glared at Tom and closed the door behind him, still holding Tom's wand. Tom banged on the door, "You won't win dad!!! You can't beat them or risk ruining your reputation, you can't run away from your kingdom cause they will find you, you're better off just letting them have me and not acting more guilty then you are!!". The man didn't reply to him, probably because he refused to give his son the satisfaction, but Tom's satisfaction vanished when he noticed a magic shield now was being cast on the door. Tom backed up from the red butterfly aura and glared at it. It'd take some powerful magic to get past something like that, even if anyone came to get him, it'd take a lot just to get him out of this cell from the door. Tom looked behind him, someone could blow through the wall perhaps? But that was dismissed quickly as the shield spread along the walls, creating a big red shield everywhere but the floor beneath him. If Tom or anyone dared to touch them they would be zapped like a bug, Tom cured in his head. How the heck was he supposed to tell everyone where he even was? No, there was nothing holding him back now, it was time to escape. He couldn't wait for someone to just find him and break him out, he had to try on his own. No wand, it had to all be just him now, Tom walked up to the door and the shield. He had to channel his anger if he wanted to break himself out right? That's how that worked? Well now was a better time then ever to finally make it work. Tom took a deep breath, before pressed his palms to the shield, the pain struck him hard and he wanted to scream. Tom then retracted his hands, they stung like heck, but he had to keep going. He took another breath and went back in, pressing his palms to the surface and screaming. - "This was a bad idea....". Marco mumbled from his end of the Warnicorn suit, Star in front of him and controlling the front half as Jackie and Janna lead them in through the stables wearing some traditional mewman garb. "Butts don't talk Marco, be quiet or someone will notice...", Marco grumbled from his end, getting in through the stables was a good idea yes, but besides not being able to see where they're going it really smelled in this disguise. Star could probably disguise herself, but Marco was sure to be recognized if he was seen by anyone if the king had told anyone about him, therefore he had to wear a horse suit...and since horses had four legs.... This day got better and better. On the plus side, no one has seen Jackie and Janna or knew they were threats, so it wasn't questioned hardly why what looked to be two servants girls bringing in a warnicorn. The stables were near the armory, the armory was near the dungeons, the dungeons were in the castle. So far so good. "Guess the guards are too busy handling whatever is going on with Star's mom and junk to be down here, she must be going nuts up there.....", Janna said, "Ugh, we miss all the fun stuff, I want to see her melt their faces off with her demons powers!!". Star giggled, "Janna, Mom's not gonna melt faces off, at most she'll probably make his soul suffer through entirety if anything...". Marco felt himself trip over something and got back on his feet before he knocked into Star, he really wished he could see anything. "Pssst Star?", he whispered, "Are we almost there? I can't see anything back here and are you guys sure you know where we're going?". Marco was about to ask again when Star separated from him, suit and all, making Marco lose his balance and hit the floor. He looked up to see Star take her costume off and noticed they were now in the armory, the very empty armory. Marco grumbled and stood up, taking off his own suit, it'd be useless to them inside the castle. "I don't like how empty this place is of guards, where do you think they all went? I mean, that's a lot of guards he'd be ending to take down a few people...". Star laughed, "Silly Marco, you'd be surprised what they can do, they've taken down so many threats of their own. Yeah Tom's dad is super powerful and stuff, taking down huge rebels like "The Lizard", but the commission have bee doing this for centuries, before we were even born, they can hand-" Everyone jumped as a magic explosion could be heard from a further part of the castle, that wasn't a good sign. Star nervously shifted in place,"C'mon, let's just go and find Tom while they're busy, a sneak escape is the best way of freeing him, they won't even know it was us if we're careful....they could think the commission has him!!". She was clearly worried her mother was in danger and Marco sensed it, but allowed her to change the subject and get back to focusing on the reason they're here at all. They needed to find Tom, he couldn't be too far, he had to be somewhere in this castle. "We could split up?", Jackie suggested, "We'd cover more ground that way, and we could call each other when we need to?". Marco looked between his friends, "I don't know, I wouldn't want to lose you guys or have you get hurt or anythin-". "Marco we can handle ourselves, me and Janna aren't even criminals here, unlike you two. I can go with you and Star can go with Janna, that way we can back you both up if we're seen or something....well if you're seen, Star you can disguise yourself right?". She nodded excitably, "Yeah, I can look mewman if I want!! Not much can do about you Marco...". Marco sighed, "It's fine, I mean, I guess if you're both hiding in plain sight It's ok if we split up for a bit, but call if you find anything ok?".  He didn't like the looks on either of Janna or Star's faces as they fist bumped each other and handed Marco a compact to call them with, "It's my old one...", the demon said as Marco put it in his pocket. "Just....don't get hurt ok?", the human boy said anxiously as both girls headed down a hallway. Star called back to him as she transformed into a much more human figure, "WE'LL BE FINE!!!". Jackie sighed and shook her head laughing, "She's cool...". Marco still watched them leave nervously, wondering if he should go after them because he knew from horror movies just how bad splitting up is. Being in a creepy and empty castle while watching out for a large frighting man didn't make it any better. Jackie took his hand to calm his nerves, "It's ok dude, they'll be fine.....c'mon, let's go get your best friend in the world back...". Marco nodded and smiled, "Ok...sorry, i'm just so paranoid and upset....I feel..I feel like..Tom...". Marco suddenly paused, and much to Jackie's worry he headed off to look out a window, and sure enough a red crescent moon was sitting there. Marco was now looking at it very strangely, as if there was something about it he never noticed before. Jackie walked up to the entranced boy, taking his shoulder, "Marco? What's going on?'. Marco bit his lip, "The blood moon, the one me and Tom were under once....Tom never really talked to me about it a lot but, sometimes it shows up and....I-....I feel like Tom.". Marco looked at her, "What if part of the moon's bond....is emotional? What if when it shows up me and Tom can feel each other's pain and joy? Maybe that's why I've been acting so weird lately, why I've been so out of focus and confused and I can't focus...yeah part of it is because of Tom, but...". Jackie seemed to understand, "But how will that help us find him?". "It won't but...If i can handle my own emotions, maybe we can send a sign to Tom? I have to hurry though, before the moon goes away...I just...I need to really send a sign he knows he shouldn't be feeling while being stuck there...something he'd find strange..". "Well, he does have a crush on you..", the girl pointed out, making Marco blush, "If you were to make him think of you...he might figure out you're here, and then he could try and find a way to get our attention? If that makes any sense?". Marco nodded, starting to feel a bit excited now, "Yeah, that could work, and all I have to do is think about-". A redness came back to his face, "I-I uh...I have to think about....", Jackie laughed. She crossed her arms, "Do what you gotta do dude, it's cool.". Marco gave her an awkward smile and excused himself a little further down the hall, he leaned against a wall and closed his eyes. If Tom could affect him he had to be able to affect Tom back somehow, he felt his hands sting a little as he let Tom in more, which was not a good sign. He knew his hands hurt a bit earlier but he had blamed it a bit more on his fall on the ground then anything else, but now that he thought about it, this must be from Tom. Marco did't think he wanted to know why his hands were hurting. He took a deep breath, it was time to think about it, about Tom. He didn't know how much time he even had and he hasn't even found a place to start!! But I guess he could always start at the part where he shouted to Tom's dad he liked Tom back out of a desperation to keep him on the line. What if that had been the real Tom? He would've straight up lied to his face!! Tom didn't deserve that, he deserved to feel loved honestly and be told the truth when Marco made his choice. Tom deserved the best, even if he could be a jerk sometimes, or when he screwed up, or when he'd have outbursts. Marco bit his lip, bringing him back to the party when he and Tom were clearly thinking about kissing each other. What if they had just gone for it? Now that Marco thought about it, Tom's lips did look pretty soft and despite his appearance he'd probably be as gentle as ever. Tom always feared making a mistake, he was always like that. He'd probably ask before they'd kiss, just to make sure it was ok. It just felt like him, and they'd both be so embarrassed cause underneath it all they were a couple of awkward dorks with terrible social skills and he was sure that would never change as long as they lived. Marco felt his face grow red, then he smiled the best he had in a long time. "Ugh Tom, I swear....you'll be the death of me....". - Tom rubbed his red hands, he didn't know how much longer he could keep this going without seriously hurting himself. He was breathing heavily, overworking himself in order to break out of here, and it wasn't even working!! He wasn't powerful enough!! But he couldn't just give up, he needed to keep trying!! Tom was about to go back in, when something weird happened. He felt himself smile a little, a slightly more pleasant feeling came over him, then Tom tried to shove it away. That was weird, this was no time for him to be smiling and betting anxious. This was how he acted when he thought about.. Marco. Tom bit his lip, then he felt himself blushing. He wasn't uncommon to mood swings, but how he went from being in pain to thinking about his crush was quite the change. It was almost....like someone was using magic on him. Tom shook his head, forget it, it wasn't important right now. He headed back to the wall, 13th time here he went, Tom sunk his hands into the glowing walls. The pain was making him angry, which he knew would charge his power, but now instead thoughts of Marco were clouding his mind, and the determination to break out to see him again were all he could think about. Then when he thoughts about how his dad could hurt them right now, Tom aggressively pushed his poor hands harder at the wall, when he noticed he was starting to glow. He kept going, it was working!! He was controlling his anger. But this was different, the glow was different, at first he saw it was green, but then he noticed it was pink when Marco came back to his thoughts. Pink magic? He'd never heard of a mewman who'd been able to produce some kind of pink magic before. Tom took a deep breath and to his surprise the pain vanished and his hands were starting to move through the wall as if it was transparent. He didn't question it and kept moving foreword, the wall was starting to crack, it spread further and further and then it burst around tom in shards that vanished in an instant. The explosion also seemed to break the door handle too, and Tom felt the magic fade away . "Woah....how did I-? I did it.....", Tom grinned widely and jumped, "I DID IT!!!". He dipped down and broke out, and it wasn't even because of being angry!! He looked down at his hands, what did he do exactly? His father sure never did magic quite like that to his knowledge. Tom shook his head, nevermind he needed to find the high commission and get out of here before his Dad did anything crazy. But first... Tom found some stairs and headed his way up, he had some things he needed to collect from his room first. It was better he risked getting it himself then to let his dad snoop around and cause trouble himself while he thought Tom was unable to stop him. And he wasn't going anywhere without his rabbit anyway. - The moon faded back to normal, and Jackie looked over at Marco, "It's gone....". Marco stood up, "I-I dunno if it worked, maybe I was just being silly or something...I-I just....", he blushed immensely at the fact that his plan was emotionally make himself like Tom so Tom could think about him and that it would somehow help them find him. "Hey it was worth a shot...", Jackie said, smiling, "You had an idea, and you went for it, who knows it might have worked!.". Marco nodded, blushing, and the humans went back to focusing on finding Tom. They have yet to get any calls from the demon princess or Janna, so they could only assume they weren't having much luck either. "I wish I knew my way around here...", Marco said, making it to the next hallway, moving around like a ninja just in case any enemies were nearby. Jackie tried to replicate his fast movements, but it was clear she wasn't nearly as flexible as he was as he ducked into a corner. She was about to ask where they should go next when a door was blown off it's hinges nearby, making both humans keep quiet. A dark figure was running away when something zapped him and he found himself trapped in crystal, that had to be the doctor from St O's, he was probably trying to get away. the humans could hear a number of voices from the room he came from, they were arguing. Marco could only assume this was Moon and the high commission, and the person they had been fighting....was this guy .Marco on one hand felt relived, on another hand, Tom's dad was still around somewhere. "Ok, we got him.....", a younger female voice was heard, "So....now what?". "We need to find the King, and find out where the prince is, simple as that...", came another female voice, an older one. "His reluctance to approach us when we arrived is not doing well for him, especially not associating himself with wanted criminals...". "He could be in another dimension by now though!! How do we even know he's still here?!" "He wouldn't abandon his castle, he has too much pride to just leave everything he's worked hard for. The Queen willingly waited for us, he should do the same and just come forward like a monarch, he wouldn't want to look like a coward now would he?". "We should split up and track him down then, remember, don't hurt the guards, they're just following orders....well, whatever is left of them considering how many tried to stop us." The human sighed in relief, no wonder the place was so empty, most of the guards had already been taken care of. Marco bit his lip as their voices started to dim down, parting ways to better scope the castle. Except someone was going through the door to the hallway he and Jackie were hiding! And if they were found, then oh boy they were in serious trouble. They pressed themselves against the wall as a light-haired woman walked past them. Her bright blue hair, her blueish skin tone, and her dark horns were enough to indicate this was Star's mother, but the tail that ended in a diamond trailing behind her also helped. She stopped and looked around at her surroundings, as if she had heard the two humans in hiding. Then proceeded to keep walking to where Marco and Jackie had come from, Marco was at first relieved, until he remembered they left the warnicorn disguise in the armory and if she saw that..... Marco gulped, they were so busted. He wished he thought this through before begging his friends into going on this dangerous adventure with him. His desperation to go after Tom and save him himself was going to get the best of him and he knew it, he was the safe kid, he was supposed to be prepared about everything!! Since when did he become so emotional and irrational? When Tom and him became so attached, that's when. Jackie started pulling on Marco's arm, telling him to keep moving forward since the demon queen was out of their sight. Marco snapped back to reality and they carefully took another path, eventually one that lead to another staircase that went down. It was dark down there, Marco grabbed a hanging torch and held Jackie's hand as they headed down, luckily the door appeared to be busted open. Marco didn't know hat they'd do without keys, they didn't have Janna here to pick the lock after all. It was the dungeons, they finally found the dungeons of the castle. There were wooden, but obviously locked doors, and Marco could hear people behind them with the sounds of chains. He had a feeling not all of the ones here were mewmans though. Jackie walked up to one of them knocked on the cell door politely, "Hello? I'm sorry to bother you, but was the prince here anytime today?". She couldn't see behind the door, but she could hear the person grumbling on the other side. "Yeah I heard that little weirdo get locked up here earlier, he and the king had a spat at some point....", his voice sounded very dry and Marco couldn't help but wonder just how bad the prisoners were treated here. Jackie continued to ask the prisoner questions, "Is he still here?". "How about you free us, and then we'll let you know where he is?", came the reply, laughing. Jackie looked over at Marco, who paused for a bit but shook his own head, " No, we can't do that and even If we wanted to we can't anyways without a key or something...". "Well I guess you'll have to find the prince on our own then...", the faceless prisoner called back, Marco made a face he couldn't see and went to another part of the dungeons. Calling out and knocking on every door to see if he could find his best friend. Some were asleep, other's didn't care, and one made so many threats towards Marco he backed out immediately. Marco was about to give up when he heard Jackie call to a cell were the door was broken, there were marks of an explosions happening here. "Was it Tom?", She asked, "You would know better then me......". "It could be, Mewni doesn't really use explosives, it probably could be a magic blast...", maybe it was some false hope, but when you're trapped in a castle and avoiding being found just to find your friend, any sign of hope was welcome right about now. Marco took a look at it, kneeling down for any sign of his friend when he heard someone coming down the stairs behind him and Jackie. Without thinking, he pulled her inside the cell with him and closed the door shut behind them. He put his ear against the door, there was someone coming alright, they just had to wait until they left. "I know you're down here...", it was Star's mother, making the human's heart stop. He heard the prisoner they talked to earlier speak now, "Yeah, i'm down here, I hope you're here to break me out now...". A grunt was heard from the demon, "Have you seen anyone come down here recently?". "Yeah, I heard some kids.....weirdos were asking about the prince...trying to find him...", Marco could imagine the queen pricking up an eyebrow. "There are children here trying to find the prince? Because I came across a very peculiar suit in the armory and traced their scents here....". Marco held his breath, the footsteps resumed and then both humans braced for impact. Only to find the door opening very gently and the demon queen looking down upon them with a worried and also stern expression, "Marco? And Jackie..?". Both humans were frozen stiff, as if she would bite both of them. She sighed, "Star has told me about you both, what are you doing here??!" . They both still didn't know how to answer, and the impatient queen pulled them out of the cell, and she was about to scold them only to notice the broken door. She kneeled down to look at it, "Tom was here....for certain..looks like the door was busted open .....the marks it left are similar enough to King Butterfly's but are different enough to determine it was in fact a magic wielding mewman...who made them....and they're fresh too....." "You can tell all that just by looking at it?", Jackie asked, impressed, "That's pretty cool...". "His scent also helps..", Moon said, "He was here awhile...". "How..do you know it's fresh?", Marco asked, looking at the door she was examining with curiosity. Moon turned towards him, "Because it'd have to be, otherwise someone would have clean this up by now, it had to be recent....not like the butterfly's to let everyone know someone broke out of their dungeon like this..". She stopped examining it and grabbed both kid's by the arms, "C'mon, you can explain yourselves while we head out.....the prince left, and we should too if we're going to track him or his father down..". She lead them back up the stairs, "So....mind telling me what you're doing here?". "We just wanted to save Tom too...", Marco said,"He's my friend and we came to get him out because we didn't want to just sit there!! It's our fault he's in so much trouble right now and he needs us...". Moon sighed, "I told Star she couldn't come along, she took you here...didn't she?". Their silences were enough of a yes to her. "I'm not surprised, when she told me you all had been doing what you were doing to help him it didn't sound like you'd stop anytime soon. But you shouldn't be here, friend or not, you've done your part and now it's our turn to handle it...", She said sternly, like the stern mother Star always described her to be. "You mean the same group who never came to help him before, and came only because of the St.Olga's criminal and not for Tom's safety? Yeah, glad to think you're the ones who came here to help the prince instead of people who actually care about him!!", Marco snapped back. She whipped around at him, flashing teeth, "I CARED ABOUT HIM!!! I'm a mother myself!! All these years of being associated with his family and how he and my daughter were dating!! Tom was never the perfect child but It breaks me to know this has been his family for so long!!!". Marco gulped, and Moon settled, "Parents are supposed to care and love their children....maybe they came for the criminal, but I came because no mother should just let him live like this.....I'd do the same for Star...so with help I had to come after him...". Marco sighed, "Sorry...it's..". "Don't, it's fine....I yelled at them quite a bit too, it's just some matters are out of their hands and...they can't help everyone y'know?", She gave him a sad look, but turned and kept moving with the humans trailing behind her. Marco bit his lip, on one hand yeah, they were jerks for not wanting to help Tom sooner, on the other it wasn't really their business to handle those kinds of matters at all and he knew that. "You shouldn't be here but....I understand..", Marco looked up at moon and smiled. "Are you going to take us to somewhere safe?", Jackie asked the demon queen, she shook her head as she lead them around the abandoned castle, "No, it's better if you stay by my side for now, don't want any potential threats to get a hold of you considering the situation and what you kid's did..". They couldn't disagree with that, and she didn't seem to be punishing them hard anyway. He felt like a child, but at least she wasn't sending him back to earth. "I found you both because of your smell, the scent left by your suit was strong enough to leads me right to you....Star's scent was there as well, and i'm guessing...that Janna girl?". She was good, it was almost scary, Marco nodded to her and she gave a meek smile. "You two were the closest by, so I had to find you two first, your scents being linked with Star's like that had to mean something...". "Aren't you going to go find Star then?", Marco asked, he looked behind him to make sure Jackie was still with them. She was, but even in her cool state he could tell she was nervous, she wasn't as involved in the magical world as he was, this all had to be very weird to her. "Well, with the prince's scent found in the cell, I'll track him down first before I lose it, Star can take care of herself just for a little bit longer, and I don't feel like going back down there to deal with those rowdy prisoners....", her pointed ears flinched a bit and she paused, putting her arms out to stop the humans behind her. She sniffed the air, "Someone's coming....but the scent is...off...somehow..". She had them lean against the wall for safety, when someone's footsteps got louder and louder. Marco braced for impact before a voice made his stomach jump, Jackie looked over to him and smiled and Moon turned to look at the both of them as she let her guard down. "I know, I know Marshmallow, I wanted to stay in our room too, but it's too obvious for Dad for find us there, we just ne-", Marco darted out of his hiding place to stop in front of the prince who was now gaping at the sight of Tom. Tom looked beaten up, hands burned, and a bit shaken up, but he noticed his familiar red hoodie on his person with a little bunny poking it's head out of the hood. Tom blinked, as if he couldn't even believe his eyes, but he didn't have much time to react as Marco threw his arms around him and pulled him close. "Tom!!!!!" Moon and Jackie walked out from their spots and looked at Tom as if he was a ghost, Tom blinked a few times, before he released exactly what was happening. His arms slowly wrapped around Marco and he buried his face in his shoulder, "M-Marco? Y-you....you're here...". Marco held him tight, like he'd lose him forever, "Yeah, of course i'm here....I just....I-I'm so happy you're ok an-". Tom started laughing softly, and Marco stopped to ask what was up when Tom looked him in the face, and he smiled the biggest smile Marco has seen in forever. "You-You're an idiot and you shouldn't have come here and the fact that you aren't dead is freaking amazing, but I've never been so happy to see anyone in my entire life....", He hugged Marco again, "Y-You came to take me home..". Marco rubbed his back, wondering where else he was hurt that wasn't visible, but for now that didn't matter as long as his friend was cradled in his arms and wouldn't let go. Marco didn't care that he was being watched, he didn't care that his feelings on Tom were conflicted, he didn't even care if the king barged in and blasted them,  this hug was long past it's due date. "Home wouldn't be the same without you..."

Chapter twenty-six

“Auntie run faster!” Xiana screamed.

We were playing hide and seek in the garden, it was Wednesday and I only had three days left home. However the little time I had spent home it had been successful, I had been able to pick up with all of my school work and I even finished two work projects which where due to mid-April.

I was hidden behind a tree with Xiana when I heard my phone rang inside the house, I let it rang and when the round finished I went inside to pick up the phone. I had a missed phone call from Marco, for a strange reason I had been avoiding his calls and messages. It happened without realizing it the first time but then I did it again and now I didn’t want to explain why I wasn’t picking the phone.

“Everything OK?” my mother asked at the front door.

“Yeah,” I said “Everything’s fine. I’m picking up some snacks, I’ll take them outside in a minute”

She went outside to make the most of the good weather we were enjoying – a strange thing in March – as I made some sandwiches and placed biscuits in a bowl. As I was picking up the drinks to the tray I my phone went off once again, I saw the screen light up with a message “Why aren’t you answering my calls? Is everything ok?” I chose not to answer and took the snacks outside instead. As we were eating I heard my phone rang once again but I pretended I didn’t listen.

“Who are you ignoring?” Xoan asked “That phone has been ringing since you came”

“Marco” I said lowly after debating whether to tell them or not.

“What has he done?” he asked enraged.

“Nothing, he has done nothing” I said “It’s just me”

“What happened?” Sandra asked tilting her head from her notebook. “You seemed fine the last time we talked about him”.

“It’s just… It’s just that I feel very dependent on him” I said “If I’m not with him, I’m with his family or with his teammates girlfriends. You know I just feel I hadn’t really found my place besides being with him and the saddest part is I’ve been thinking of staying there next year”

“NO” my mother said “You can’t stay there just because of a boy”

“Mom’s right” Xoan said “You do you, you gotta take care of you first and you wanted to go to Amsterdam next year so you go”

“I know” I said almost whispering “But I don’t even know if I want to anymore”

“That’s bullshit” my brother said “What has he told you? What has he promised you? Don’t believe him, he’s probably just doing that because he wants you to stay for now, but he’s also going to dump you for a model the first chance he has”

“Xoan, stop” Sandra said grabbing his hand. His voice had been going up, ended up screaming with anger , he was very protective of me, specially with boys given my latest history. “You don’t know him” she said softly.

“Famous people are all the same” he said “They think because they have money and fame they can do what they want”

“Marco’s not like that” I said.

“He has just not shown” Xoan said “Don’t let him fool you, be smart for once in your life” he spat getting up “I’m going home” he said as he left.

“Don’t listen to him” Sandra said after we stayed silent for a while “You know how he is”

“Well, I think the opposite” my mother said “Your brother only wants to protect you and he has a point. We don’t know the guy but we know you. You like to travel, you like to know places and you should not change your plans for a boy you just met, being as good as you think he is. I’m going to tidy the table and when I’m back I don’t wanna hear a thing about it”

We decided to change themes and talk about anything else, the mood lightened up considerably and we also played board games with Xiana, forgetting about the little fight. When it was time for it, we went inside to make dinner, Sandra and Xiana were staying as well, but Xoan has not yet return.

As they were cooking I step outside and sat at the garden, I was looking at the last text Marco has sent me and thinking about what had happened this afternoon and about what Xoan and my mother had told me.

Adi, I don’t know why you’re upset but if it is for something I had done I want to apologize. I hope we can talk when you get back to Dortmund, I’m letting you relax for now. I know you had been so stressed out lately and you deserve a good rest.

I love you. Call me when you come back”

It was true I was very naive when it came to relationships, I had been fooled so many times before – I had been cheated on, controlled... – and this time it could also be true. But there was something that told me that was not the case. I sat there wondering if I should answer or not and I realized I was just scared. I was scared he would grew tired of me and I was too invested in the relationship.  I was scared to give my all because it hadn’t work ed for me at all the previous times.

“I just need time to think. We’ll talk when I’m back”

I pressed send just as I felt someone approaching me.

“You’re ending the silent treatment?” Sandra asked sitting next to me.

“It’s not fair for him” I said “He’s done nothing wrong”

“What’s happening to you?” Sandra said “Don’t listen to your brother, you know he’s very protective of you”

“I’m scared” I said “It’s not because of Xoan”

“Scared of what” she asked.

“Falling in love with him” I said “The worst part is I already am”

“And has it been bad so far?”

“No, it’s been great but...”

“But you had let Xoan get into your head” Sandra said before I could finished my sentence “Listen, just because it hasn’t work out in the past it doesn’t mean it’s not gonna work this time, it means the other guys were not the right ones but maybe Marco is. And even if he’s not you’re still very young it’s not a tragedy.” she said.

I look up to her and lean my head on her shoulder, letting what she has said sink into me. I knew she was right and I knew I had to risk it, because I felt something special with Marco. I decided I had to talk with him as soon as I arrived back to Dortmund, with renovated energies and without all the stress I was carrying when I left.

“I love you too” I added after going to bed.

Xoan came back the next day with Xiana, who wanted to play with me, and apologize. I knew where he was coming from the previous day so I told him to just forget it and enjoy the last days I would be home.

We took Xiana to an aquatic Park on Friday and when we came back I packed my clothes once again as I was leaving Saturday night and we decided to spend the day at Santiago instead of going straight to the airport.

Santiago was a beautiful city, specially the old town with its stone pavement streets and houses, its narrow streets, it was only missing the sea. We all had a great time, walking around and doing some shopping, we had lunch together at a restaurant and at six o’clock we headed to the airport, since it was time for me to go. I checked my luggage in and went to say goodbye. My brother asked once again for forgiveness but I just told him to shut up, I’ll see them all again on June, once I had finished my exams.

I arrived at Madrid’s airport around ten and I got myself into my other plane, which would get me to Dortmund, making another scale on the way.

Sunday morning I arrived to Dortmund. I was super tired and grabbed a taxi to get home. It would be more expensive but It h was really tired to get a bus to get to the city and then another one to get home. As soon as I got home I headed to my bedroom and I lay myself on the bed, not even bothering to take my clothes off and I slept till Monday morning.

I went to school at nine and then I had lunch at my neighbor's cafe because I was still tired. I payed for my lunch and headed home, it took me the whole afternoon to unpack, which was incredible because I hadn’t even brought that much stuff with me. I called my mom when I finished to let her know I was in Dortmund and that I had arrived just fine, Xiana was there too because Sandra was studying and my brother was working so I spoke to her too, she was sad because school had started again that day and because he couldn’t play hide and seek with me but I reminded her she could now play with her friends at school and she forgot about it. She also told me whispering about her little boyfriend Oscar, who had gifted her one of his coloring pens, which was apparently a sign of love among four-year-old children and it made my heart flutter, we say goodbye when it was time for her to have dinner and go to bed and we send each other a lot of kisses through the phone.

Afterwards I though of calling Marco but the idea of it just tired me because, even though I knew I had to I really didn’t feel prepared for the talk I knew it was waiting for me.

Instead I went to the kitchen to grab some lunch but I didn’t make it since there was something in the living room table that called my attention. There was a huge and very beautiful bouquet of flowers, I realized then that was why my apartment smelled so good. They were pale pink peonies combined with white roses and they were placed in a white vase with a golden bow around it. I reached for them, wanting to touch them, and saw a little paper note attached to them:

Brought you these flowers so you would have something beautiful to look at when you came back. - M

I smiled and breathed the scent, it was very sweet but soft, I put them into another vase and watered them because I didn’t know how long they had been there. I also took them to the bedroom so I would look at them first thing in the morning, every thing that would get me into a good mood in the morning was welcomed. I made myself dinner and while it was in the oven I reached for my phone and called Marco.

“Hey beautiful” he answered not long after, there was a lot of noise in the background.

“Thank you for the flowers” I said.

“Did you like them” he asked, I hummed wondering if he would hear me “Glad to hear that. Listen I’m with the National Team I didn’t remember when we talked last week, but we’ll talk when I come back if you want”

“Yeah” I said “That’s alright”

“I’m sorry” he said.

“No problem” I said even though I was a little disappointed.

We stayed silent for a while, hearing each other breathe – plus all the noise that was coming from Marco’s side of the line.

“Liebe” he said when I was thinking of hanging up.

“What is it?”

“I love you so much. You know that, right?”

“I know” I said intermediately.

We both stayed silent for another while, the noise that was surrounding Marco has die out, maybe he has moved to another room. That meant the line was now silent and I could hear his nervous breaths perfectly.

“Am I loosing you?” he asked.

“Let’s not do this over the phone, Marco” I said after a while “Please” I whispered.

“Liebe” he said “I love you”

“I love you too” I said quietly. “Good luck with the match”

“And why do I not believe you?”

“I’m just confused” I said “But I love you, I really do. I promise”

“OK” he said “See you when I come back”

He hung up before I could say goodbye and I stayed at my kitchen, looking out of the window with the phone still in my ear. I was now the one feeling I was loosing him, and I knew it was all my fault. I was loosing him because I was afraid to have him, and it tore me apart. The city lights started to go off, they were fuzzy because of the tears on my eyes, for the time I realized I was crying a horrible smell reached my nose. I turned around and I saw smoke coming out of the oven, my dinner was burnt.

Best Friend For Hire Reprise, Entry 376

 I did my best not to sigh as I saw our opponents—my dad’s team from his company—arrive at the field, ready to play ball.  I felt guilty for not warning him.  He loved his baseball games, especially because his team was good by normal standards at this level.  He just had no clue what my workplace was like when he invited us.

 When he caught sight of James, he called out “James!  I hope you don’t mind playing against my team first.  Bit of a tradition to test out the new blood.”  He grinned as he held his hand out to shake James’, still confident as ever.

 I couldn’t make anything out from where I was sitting, but I could imagine my dad boasting and teasing as James smiled and calmly ribbed him back.  There was no doubt in my mind that we would be winning by a large margin.  I had numerous friends here that could single-handedly field and pitch without letting our opponents touch a plate.  This was grossly unfair, but I wasn’t going to argue with James.  There was no way to win that argument, especially when we really would be getting good practice at pretending we’re normal.

 After the two finished exchanging pleasantries, James made his way back over to our dugout, still smiling.  When we gathered up to listen at his beckoning, he said, “Grayson’s in for a surprise.  Just remember not to be too extreme.  We’re here to practice being exceptional in a more human capacity.”

 “I dunno, James.  I’m feeling rather super today.” teased Jarod, the only one here who actually was fully human.  Even he had inhuman physical abilities in our uniforms, which added to my guilt.

 My whole team was wearing a variation on our company’s enhancement suits, granting us strength, speed, heightened awareness, protection, and probably a dozen things I wasn’t even aware of with how things normally went at Best Friend For Hire.  The suits were obviously a cheat, but they were the main reason James even wanted us here.  Our goal for today was to act like extremely athletic humans instead of the fey, demon, or Slayer descendants present.  Well, I supposed Raine was also part werecat, which didn’t really make her more human.

 “No cheating.  Got it?” asked James, looking at the triplets, after dramatically rolling his eyes at Jarod’s joke.

 Achille and Heloise nodded, but Babette asked “Aren’t our uniforms cheating?”

 “No, since we’ll be wearing something similar all the time.  As I said, this is practice.” he insisted.  “Oh, Iris…” he stated after spotting me.  “Your father is going to show you what he’s got.  I warned him that you might get a homerun right off, but he laughed.”

 I sighed and said, “Homerun.  Got it.”  I couldn’t help shaking my head as I muttered “My poor dad.”

 James gave me an amused smile before saying, “Everyone, remember the miss order.  We’re not here to hit every single swing.  I’m certain he can’t pitch quite like Raine.”  The reminder was probably for Noelle, who couldn’t hope to remember anyway.  Hopefully, Aaliyah would remind her to miss just before she went up to bat.

 “Aren’t you excited!?” asked Dani when James strolled off, literally bouncing next to me on the bench.

 I shrugged.  I did love sports, but I couldn’t go into a game with absolute certainty that I’d win and still feel excited.  Unlike a normal game, none of us would be trying our best here.  The whole point was not to do anywhere near our best.

 “But baseball!  I’ve read so much of the… umm… Oh, don’t tell me.  I know the world, really.  Uh…  History!” she exclaimed, finally getting it.  She waited a moment for me to nod, making certain she was right.  “I also watched footage of games.  Aren’t sports cute!?  You get all these people excited to watch others playing a game together!  I should go to a game sometime.  I want to feel their excitement!”

 Dani just didn’t seem the same without cobalt blue hair or amethyst eyes.  Her skin was white instead of pink.  Weird.  She really did look like James and Alma’s biological daughter this way, but this still felt wrong.

 “Normally, there aren’t people like us on the field, making things more fair.” I pointed out.

 Dani shook her head, grinning.  “That’s not true!  There are a number of therianthrope players, and Mila told me there are probably some of fey descent as well!” she exclaimed, forever ruining the fairness of all sports in my mind.

 I stared at her dumbly for several seconds, trying to come up with an argument, but Mila wouldn’t be wrong.  “Do you know which players?” I asked.

 She nodded enthusiastically and started listing names till I stopped her.

 “That’s…” I started, trying to decide whether or not I really wanted to know this.  “I guess I should have known, but wow.  That’s so unfair.” I insisted, deciding to ask Mila about some of my favorite players in different sports later.

 Suddenly hugging me from behind, Kayla said, “Don’t worry, Iris!  Things have always been this way, so nothing’s changed!”

 I reached around to tickle her, pulling her onto my lap when she released me.  “Fine, but knowing still changes things in my mind.  My mind was quite happy thinking that hard work and good strategy had still pulled off most wins.”

 “Therianthropes do work hard!  Pretending to be human isn’t easy, Iris!” insisted Dani.  “We’re just stuck holding back today.  The therianthropes have to spend countless hours each week being as normal as possible, knowing their friends might turn on them if they knew the truth.  Imagine the stress!” exclaimed Dani, staring off into the sky as the struggle surely played out in her mind.

 She did have a point.

 “I’m so glad we have James.  I’d hate not being able to use my magic ever.” added Kayla, hugging me again..

 As we talked, time didn’t take a break.  Before long, I was called to bat first and left staring down my dad.  As per the miss order, I swung low on his first pitch, missing entirely.  On the second, slightly worse pitch, I still managed to get the requested homerun, knocking the ball over the fence and trying not to feel embarrassed as I jogged the plates.  Dad was still staring back over the fence when I hit home.  I felt a little better when dad turned, smiled at me, and clapped a few times.  At least he was taking it well.

 We only scored five points by the time Brandon struck out as planned, moving us to the field.  I was on second base, but I could still see the shock in the dugout when Raine pitched.  None of Dad’s workers had ever played professional baseball, and Raine wasn’t imitating an amateur.  As she easily struck out the first three batters, I did my best not to think about what would happen if she accidentally pitched too fast, but she had grown very consistent at pitching about one hundred miles per hour during our practice.  She wouldn’t make a mistake.

 Honestly, I was still trying to wrap my head around the idea that Raine had made a castle appear behind James’ manor by accident last week.  Yes, she apparently didn’t realize she could do that, but… castle…

 “You’re on-deck, Iris!” called James, breaking me out of my thoughts.

 I nodded, grabbing my helmet and bat.  Emma had made each of us personalized bats for this, which she had assured us met regulations perfectly.  Mine was easily recognizable by the iris at the tip of the handle.  When I was up to bat, I missed, fouled, and then missed two more, taking my turn to get out.  Dad looked confused, and I couldn’t blame him.  I could have hit any of those pitches.

 Dad’s surprise only increased a few innings later when Aaliyah perfectly hit a grounder between his legs, getting her to first base after some exaggerated running.  I had been at Best Friend For Hire long enough now to know Aaliyah could be extremely graceful when she wanted to be.

 The game continued with Dad’s team only managing to graze a couple of Raine’s pitches by the time we won with forty-two runs.  After shaking hands with the shocked players, we gathered up our stuff and made our way to the Intergalactic House of Awesome Sauce, where James was treating both teams.

 The place was weird, and not just because the inside seemed a bit too big, probably some sort of optical illusion.  First, Alma had to convince the twins and triplets that they were allowed inside.  For some reason, they seemed to think something terrible would happen if they entered.  Then we got inside and the lights were really dim, probably to show off the fantastic nebula that stretched across the ceiling, moving as if it were real.  The stars even twinkled, and one of the twins pointed out what looked like a spaceship.

 We were seated dead center in the place at two long tables that looked like they were made entirely of glowing, blue glass.  I found out that James was an owner, which made sense for our seating, but I still felt like I was being stared at by some of the other tables.

 The weirdest part was getting our food shortly after we were seated without ordering anything at all.  We took a seat, and every single person was handed a dish they absolutely loved.  I would have attributed that to James being James, but Jarod told me that was just how the business did things.  No one ever ordered, they were simply given what they wanted, as if that was actually a simple thing to do.

 I rarely went anywhere to eat and knew what I wanted, but this place gave me a thin-crust, pepperoni and olive pizza with a little cheddar sprinkled in with the mozzarella and just the right amount of some fancy cheese cooked into the crust.  There was even a dash of garlic.  How would anyone outside of my family know that I liked pepperoni and olive!?  Even weirder, how did they know I like a bit of cheddar thrown in!?  Listening to comments from both teams, I was quite certain every single person received something they loved without ordering.  Every one of us had plenty of food.  Even our drinks were all matched to our tastes!  The restaurant was creepy, but their food was on par with Marco’s, which was a tremendous compliment.

 When everyone was finished, Dad’s team started heading to the door first.  “Great game, James.” he stated.  “The meal was worth the loss, but don’t think you’ll beat us by as much next time.”

 “Gave up on winning?” teased James.

 Dad shrugged and said, “I don’t know what you’re feeding your employees, but Iris never hit a homerun in her life before joining your company.  I know my daughter.  She was holding back this game.”

I sunk into my chair, deciding I needed to be more careful.

 James smiled and nodded in agreement with my Dad.  “She’s probably in the best shape of her life.  You have to realize that our athletics program has to be top notch, so we can be hired to help wherever needed.  I hope you’ll let us know if you or your company ever have need of a best friend.  I assure you that we’re equally skilled outside of athletics.”

 “Yes.  Yes, I will.” replied Dad with a smile.  Looking over at me, he asked “Want a ride home?”

 “I left my car at work, so I’ll see you later.” I told him.

 He nodded, shook James’ hand again, and headed out.

 James then looked at me and said, “Iris, you should invite your family over for dinner sometime.  I feel your father should get a better look at who he invited to his league.  Besides, he has to see that you weren’t overstating Marco’s cooking.”

 I nodded, not even surprised.  All of my family had gifts, so James probably felt comfortable sharing his company’s secret with them.  Thinking of what my family was in for, I said, “My brothers are going to go nuts.”

 James shrugged and smiled, probably looking forward to it.