A really late fic I wrote for the Jrwinterwonderland event with the Day 17 prompt “Candy Cane Rizz (Pocky Meme)” so now it’s only a day late Cogsmas Fic! Uh! Enjoy!
————————————————————————
“…y-you can’t be serious.”
“I’m being so serious dude.”
Troy was holding out a long candy cane, the stupid light up Cogsmas sweater he had on reflected a mischievous glimmer in his stupid pretty hazel eyes.
“Bite the candy cane until one of us chickens out, it’s like freaking holiday fun.”
He shrugged and grinned, “Some of the guys on the team were telling me about it, indulge me or like whatever.”
When Lint had sat down on the couch at Troy’s request, this was definitely not what they were expecting in the slightest.
Not that they minded at all but this kind of stuff usually only happened in his dreams. Never in real life, never in the dorm he shared with the most perfect man in the world, and never just for holiday fun.
“A-and what happens if we don’t chicken out?” Lint tested, just to make sure he wasn’t misunderstanding.
Because right now it sounded like Troy was fishing for an excuse to kiss him, which was absurd!
The blonde shrugged again, “Whatever happens, happens dude. It’s just a fun Cogsmas game. Doesn’t mean anything.”
Then he decided to add. “But just so you know? I am gonna win.”
That combined with him sticking one half of the candy cane in his mouth made Lint lose all common sense.
They were going to win this.
Maybe he had a little bit of a competitive streak, but if you spent all your time with The Troy Lougferd, you’d have one too.
“Well, then bring it!”
Lint inched closer to him and took the first bite, only able to focus on Troy.
Which is what they usually did anyways but still, he physically couldn’t take his eyes off the man.
Troy took a bite, taking just the slightest bit more of the candy cane than Lint did.
It was just enough to be able to plausibly deny it even happened, but it was the only thing Lint could pay attention to.
So the bee mimicked him.
‘two can play at that game!’
Lint moved even closer as he took the next bite, staring Troy deeply in the eyes trying to communicate what was left unsaid.
What they were too scared to say out loud.
There wasn’t a lot left at this point with all the over enthusiastic biting of the candy cane, but Troy still somehow managed to take a bite so that only their noses were touching.
This sneaky—
Lint took the smallest bite he could, because he sure as steam wasn’t going to back away from the game this early.
All of this masterful planning however, was all for nothing as Troy managed to take a bite that was even smaller.
It was now or never, both of them were stupidly competitive, and Lint was stupidly in love.
So they did the only reasonable thing and took the final bite, kissing Troy like this was the only chance they got to fulfill his Cogsmas dreams.
And Troy kissed back, near crushing him in an embrace to make the moment last longer.
If they said it wasn’t everything they had been dreaming of, they’d be a cog damn liar.
Kissing Troy Lougferd was an experience Lint wanted to commit to memory, it was one of those moments that you think of when someone tells you to go to your happy place.
Because right here, in the dorm he shared with the most perfect man in the world, they were the happiest that they had ever been.
Lint mourned having to break the connection between them, but getting to see a split second of Troy’s face being as red as his uniform was a worthy trade.
They just sat there staring into each other’s eyes, searching for confirmation that the other enjoyed it just as much as they had. That it really happened and it was really as amazing as they both thought it was, and how this should’ve happened much sooner.
Troy cleared his throat and was the first to speak.
“Well, I guess since neither of us like wussed out, both of us freaking win, but I win a little more because you know, I didn’t pull away.”
Lint snickered and just held onto the side of Troy’s face for a bit.
“I only expected the best from Cloudspire’s number one, man.”
Troy seemed to lean closer to Lint’s hand until he paused and realized what he was doing, forcing himself to lean away.
He said it with an almost breathy voice, like they were in on a secret that no one else was. Like if he dared say it louder, somebody other than the two of them might hear, and the blonde’s precious reputation would go down in flames.
“I don’t see any people other than us-” Lint leaned in a little closer, “-and yeah, kind of, man.”
Troy furrowed his eyebrows slightly and huffed, “Well, that’s freaking great for you, but I’m not, so I don’t want people getting the wrong idea, you know broski?”
Lint raised their hands up like he had just been caught and inched back a respectable distance to be from your best friend.
“I get you…“ They set their arms down and crossed them with a fond smile, “…this was a really fun Cogsmas game, man. You think we could make it a tradition?”
The blonde’s face turned slightly darker red and he shrugged, “I mean uh, yeah like, I guess that could be cool, and it would be tradition so it wouldn’t be weird and stuff, so like we could but like it’s your freaking idea and stuff…”
“I’ll take responsibility for the whole thing if you want me to, but like you said, it’s just a fun Cogsmas game and stuff.”
Troy nodded, “Yup, just a really— just a normal fun Cogsmas game for bros being guys, mhm, a normal freaking game.”
Lint just grinned and sat back on the couch as Troy quickly excused himself. Well, more like he left the room in a hurry, something about needing to pull himself together.
They might not know where they stand with Troy, but Lint did know one thing for certain.
wish we could talk but your stone walls leave me hurt
(title is lyric from here we go again by mikayla geier i believe is her last name, theres a tiny bit of arguing but its hurt/comfort guys its not like my other one i prommy)
woah fic link time go my scarabs i guess
Troy thought he was pretty freaking great. I mean, he was. He won so many games (3/7, that’s a huge number), everyone loved him (everyone who mattered at least), and he was so awesome (this one didn’t need any explanation). His little bee might be a tad on edge, but that’s fine. No, that’s completely normal and not his fault at all. Nothing for Troy to worry about.
Cog, did it get cold! I mean, Troy’s so smart, he knows snow is cold, but it’s been a bit since it got bad enough to a point where they had him go home earlier (it was NOT from the wipeout, shut up, that didn’t happen, and he didn’t need to tell anyone it happened). It may have been closer to go to his dad’s house, a bit easier too, but Troy liked a little challenge, it kept him on his feet and ready for anything. He wasn’t ever worried to show his dad when he got hurt, or anybody, he just wanted to visit his pretty awesome boyfriend and had no ulterior motives ever.
A feeling Troy wasn’t used to, yet was getting too often to like, was a twinge in his chest as he went to knock on the door. There was the smallest of voices in the back of his head, one saying he’d be turned away and shamed, one who said he’d be unwanted if he showed up in this state. But he’s Troy! He’s awesome, the most awesome, and ever so cool. In fact, dare he say it, he’s the best ever! He doesn’t need to worry. This is Lint, and if Lint loved him, everyone loved him, everyone that mattered.
He knocked on the door.
Lint opened the door, a look of concern on his face as he met Troy’s gaze (who wouldn’t look at Troy with such care, he’s so awesome, right?), looking at him up and down as if trying to decipher what he’d say to a brick wall.
“You’re hurt.”
“Hoo hah rise up?”
“Gah, get inside.”
It seems as though Lint wasn’t charmed the pants off by his totally awesome and not-at-all goofy smile. Maybe he didn’t like when the facial injuries made blood drip from him. Whatever, men covered in blood might be hot. That’s- that’s a normal thought. Yes it is. One hundred percent. We move on.
It wasn’t exactly the first time Lint had to patch Troy up from injuries of steam-sledding. It’s just never been under this kind of circumstance. It’s been after tournaments and such, but not too much Troy going to Lint’s house as the sun was setting to get something cared for. Which, that totally wasn’t the plan, he just wanted to see his boyfriend, who could agree he’s awesome, unlike his dad (well, he totally would, just- it’s complicated, shut up, don’t think about it).
“What was it this time?”
“Huh?”
“The reason you’re this bad? How big a fluke was it?”
“Psh, no, it’s nothing, I’m fine. Thanks though.”
Lint stopped cleaning the wounds. “You can’t be doing this again.”
“Hm?”
“You can’t keep fucking- no, I’m not gonna put up with this again!” It’s a kind of anger Troy wasn’t used to. Troy, however smart he totally is, was utterly lost in whatever Lint could mean. He tilted his head in a way that may or may not resemble that of a confused dog as Lint put down the cleaning tools and stormed to the other side of the room. His hands were shaking (he couldn’t have been cold, his place was pretty warm, strange), and his breathing seemed more stiff, as if he was forcing himself to breathe at a normal pace (not that Troy would know anything about that, totally).
“Dude- I mean babe, my Honey Bee, what’s up?” Troy was a master of words.
“I don’t like being lied to Troy, you- you should know this!”
“Lie-”
Lint turned to yell at him, as if the raising of his voice wasn’t enough to send a message (knowing Troy, maybe it never was). “Every time I bother to ask, it’s always nothing, or something to not worry over, just-” He starts angrily buzzing. He does that.
Troy walked over to him, trying to grab onto his hands, trying to make sense of him. “Can’t you just tell me what’s wrong dude-”
Lint smacked away his hands, they stung a bit (pun unintended). Lint had so much anger in his eyes. Troy caught onto the tears that streamed from them, like a slowly melting ice glacier. “Can’t you just tell me what’s wrong dude?!!”
“I don’t und-”
“TALK TO ME COG-DAMN IT! I CAN FUCKING TAKE IT! I’M YOUR BOYFRIEND, WHY CAN’T YOU TRUST ME?!”
Troy went silent. His heartbeat was pretty fast. He was shaking, but totally from the cold. They were still inside. It was just the cold, yeah. Lint was shaking too, his hands clenched into fists at his side.
“H-”
“Go.”
Normally, Troy hated taking orders. However, this was Lint, and he was Troy, and Lint loved Troy, and Lint was the only one that mattered. He walked into some side room (he didn’t know if he wanted to risk the cold outside with unwrapped wounds), closing the door carefully and sitting behind it.
Troy can’t recall if he’s ever seen his boyfriend so angry. He doesn’t know if he’s just never shown it before. Troy held himself to be so great, and Lint always agreed. He didn’t want to give him any other idea. He didn’t need to give anybody that idea, he was awesome, and he never needed to explain why.
Maybe that’s because Troy couldn’t figure out how to explain why.
As Troy? He’s Troy, he’s gonna always be awesome! As a person? People wouldn’t get it when he explained that. He to them was self-absorbed, vain, an idiot, and thinking how, he’s unsure how wrong he is.
Maybe that was the issue. He was too great.
He couldn’t be anything but great. Not for his dad, not for his team, not for Lint. It was really a lie when he told him it was nothing, huh?
Cog, how many times had he said that? He couldn’t remember. Every small dismissal of himself, the asking without thanks- has Troy ever even said please? Lint has done so much good for someone who was great, so why has someone so bad done nothing for someone so much better than great could be? He took his boyfriend for granted, and yet he’s stayed because…Troy doesn’t know. His greatness? Is he really that? His steamsledding skills? Considering the situation, those weren’t good enough for him, and even if they were, Lint wasn’t that kind of guy. His looks? Not that kind of guy again, no, he thought of nothing Lint could be with him for.
Troy probably wasn’t unlikable, just…unsure if he was dating material.
A knock outside startled Troy, making him jump forward a bit more than he should have. The door opened, a puffy-eyed and tired Lint staring down at a still-injured and looking-like-a-flame-in-a-snowstorm Troy on the ground, slightly wide-eyed.
“I never finished helping you.”
“How long have I been in-”
“My bathroom? 5 minutes. C’mon Sugar.”
Even if he weren’t injured, Troy wobbled up, Lint having himself used as a crutch.
“It-”
“Is fine, now let’s finish up.”
Troy nodded. Lint knew how to bandage well, it was a good amount of tightness. He just watched Lint’s hands, his slightly shaking, something he knew wasn’t from cold. Lint had careful, caring movements. Troy wondered how well he’d do at those. They were both silent, minus a silent hum from Lint as he worked. Cog, he sounded pretty. Troy needed to do better for him.
“I don’t get it,” a breath Troy lost with his boyfriend’s beauty and his own pride.
“Get what?” Lint buzzed at him.
“You stick around, you continue to love me, when I just…Don’t do it right. Why?” Troy was ever so small and fragile, he felt like a thin piece of glass, and the blizzard was coming.
“Because I want to love you.” He said like it was the simplest answer in the world.
Troy snickered a bit. His bee was lovely.
His bee.
“I’m gonna do better.”
“Hm?”
“I’m gonna be a better boyfriend, for you.” He could have thought he was. He just didn’t want to lie.
“...I’d like that, I think.” There was a small smile on Lint’s face, a small snicker too.
A big smile formed on Troy’s face. “Aw, are you laughing at me dude?”
“It’s not everyday you-”
“Yeah? I what?” He was holding back a world of giggles.
“I can’t help but laugh if you’re a bit of an idiot-” He finished up the bandaging, which was good, as Troy grabbed him into the couch and restrained him with a hug.
“I’m gonna get you for that dude!”
Now the two of them were laughing, with Troy bear-hugging Lint, and Lint playfully trying to push him off. After a bit, they settled, Troy simply spooning Lint on his couch.
lint is the one that started the "turbo troy" thing btw. a lot of troy's little mannerisms and nicknames for himself come from lint actually. if you even care.
