Graduation Day
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Summary: Yancy has worked hard to finally earn his degree and today is graduation. With limited tickets, he invites his Ma Dark, his Pops Anti, his boyfriend Illinois, and, to the shock of the previous three, his Father Actor to all come and watch him walk.
Graduation Day
“Anti, ears.” Dark gestured to his own ears after they got out of the car. He was quickly double-checking their appearance before they went into public.
“Ah, shit.” Anti rubbed his hands over his ears, making his usual points appear rounded. “It’s been a while since I’ve used this form.”
“Are you going with any gray hair?” Dark asked as he used the reflection in the car window to check himself.
“How old are you two trying to come across?” Illinois asked, getting out of the car last. He held a large bouquet of roses in his arms.
“I believe we have Yancy registered to be twenty-five,” Dark stated.
“So we’ll probably want to be mid-forties or fifties,” Anti said with a shrug. “How gray are humans in their forties?”
“Depends on the person. I think just having some wrinkles will be enough. Just remember an age and stick with it.” Illinois worked with people often for his career and was used to faking being a human more than Dark and Anti. They don’t usually hide their natural appearance with their work, so those hiring them are more than aware of what they’re signing up for.
“Forty-five and forty-six?” Anti pointed to himself for the first number and then to Dark for the other.
“Sounds good.” Dark nodded in agreement. “We should head in before we’re late.”
“How many tickets was Yancy given again?” Illinois asked as the three of them started walking.
“Four.”
“Only four?”
“Small arena for a large class. Largest the school has had in a long time.”
“Wait.” Anti held out the word as something clicked. “He got four, and there’s only three of us. Who did he give that last ticket to?”
“Me, of course.” A voice chuckled behind them.
“I’m going to stab him,” Anti grumbled as they turned and saw Actor standing there, hands behind his back and having a large grin.
“Why wouldn’t Yancy invite his father to his graduation?”
“He did. I’m right here.” Anti glared at Actor, his earlier comment seeming more of a promise than a threat.
“His real-”
“Don’t.” Dark cuts Actor off, knowing what he was about to say. “Now is not the time for us to argue or fight. Today is about Yancy. And we are all here to support his accomplishment.” He used his arms to guide Illinois and Anti to turn away from Actor.
“I hope you trip up and down the stairs,” Anti called over his shoulder.
“I’ll need to write that one down.” Illinois chuckled, waiting for Dark to open the door before stepping in.
“The tickets have assigned spots. So, Actor will be sitting with us. We all need to behave.” Dark stated, speaking softly so only Anti and Illinois heard him as they walked through the crowd.
“Are you saying that for us or yourself?”Anti asked with a giggle.
“Yes.”
“We love honesty.”
“Pardon us.” Illinois flashed his signature charming smile at people as the three squeezed past to get to their seats. He may look more human in his natural form, but he still had some Ego abilities in his back pocket as the people he spoke to were more than willing to get out of their way and then cause some problems for Actor just seconds later. Actor didn’t struggle for long, though, using his own abilities to eventually get by smoothly when he caught on to what Illinois was doing.
“There they come!” Anti practically bounced back out of his seat when he saw a sea of blue robes and caps. The graduates entered the room in two organized lines and headed to their seats.
“Do you see Yanc?” Illinois asked. “What last name did we go with?”
“Frost,” Dark answered.
“Frost?”
“Yancy picked it.”
“There he is!” Anti stopped the conversation and pointed.
Yancy came out of the back room and looked in the direction where his family should be. His face brightened as soon as he saw all of them, waving at them with the biggest smile. Yancy blended into the line like an average college kid. But, to his family, he stood out like a star.
“He looks so happy.” Actor said, voice filled with pride.
“He does.” Dark smiled as he felt Anti taking hold of his hand and squeezing, looking down at Yancy with his own smile.
That was one of the only times those three ever agreed on anything.
“I am the luckiest man alive,” Illinois said out of pure adoration.
The rest of the world didn’t matter as they watched Yancy, not hearing the announcements and barely registering the other graduates’ names were spoken. The claps and cheers were their only signs.
Eventually, Yancy stood and followed the line. His smile grew more and more the closer he reached the stage.
“Yancy Frost.”
The rest of the words were drowned out by cheers and claps. Anti, Dark, Illinois, and Actor yelled at the top of their lungs, doing everything they could so Yancy could hear them loud and clear. Yancy took his diploma and looked at them, waving it in the air and getting even more cheers.
Had they not screamed over the rest of the announcement, they would have heard Yancy got a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Fine Arts Minor. Dark had insisted he also got a minor in something he loved. Yancy was going to either take over or run their ‘company’ at Dark’s side one day, but he was still going to be Yancy Iplier, regardless of his title.
The rest of the names flew by in a blink, and Anti swore they would be voiceless the next day with how loud they cheered again as the graduates threw their caps in the air. Everyone in the crowd slowly dispersed, leaving the building, and gathered in little groups, taking pictures, laughing, hugging, and crying.
And speaking of crying.
“You said you weren’t going to do that.” Anti teased. He used his thumbs to wipe away Dark’s tears as they waited for Yancy to get to them.
“I didn’t plan this.” Dark chuckled.
“And you all say I’m dramatic-ow!” Actor hissed in pain after Illinois jabbed him in the side with his elbow.
“You’re going to get yourself stabbed,” Illinois said to Actor under his breath. “And Anti doesn’t hold back.”
“Ma, are ya crying?” Yancy asked with a laugh when he reached them.
“No,” Dark lightly chuckled as he hugged Yancy. They pulled away, and Dark gently held his face. “I am so proud of you.”
“You gonna make me cry.” Yancy rubbed at his eye with a hand.
“You did it!” Anti cheered, and Yancy had to catch him as he practically threw himself into the hug. “I knew you could!”
“Thanks, Pops.” Yancy was laughing again as Anti let him go and stepped aside to playfully poke at Dark’s arm, giggling as he kissed away another tear that had started rolling down his cheek.
“Earning that cap and gown takes a lot of hard work.” Actor praised, taking one of Yancy’s hands with both of his and shaking it. “But I knew the moment I heard you were going this route, I knew you could do it, and you’ve proved me right.”
“There was definitely some times I wanted to throw things.” Yancy tried to have his other hand join in, but the diploma was in the way.
“You get that from your mother.” Actor joked, ignoring the looks he got from the other three.
“I’m taking him to the top of the stairs and pushing,” Dark mumbled. Anti had to slap a hand over his mouth to muffle his laugh.
“I know, and I like it.” Yancy pulled Actor into a quick hug before slipping away and going up to Illinois.
“You look amazing, treasure.” Illinois praised, handing Yancy the large bouquet.
“Illy, yous didn’t have to.” Yancy hugged the roses, using the red of the petals to hide the red on his face. He always got too easily flustered at gifts.
“Of course I did. You deserve it and more with all of those late nights studying.” Illinois lowered the flowers, taking hold of Yancy’s cheek and kissing him.
“Alright, that’s enough.” Dark waved his hand when the kiss lasted longer than a second.
“They do fuck, you know.” Anti chuckled.
“Don’t remind me.” Dark groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “We should head back to the Manor before Wilford gets impatient and starts the party early.”
“If he even thinks about touching that cake, I will shave his mustache off.” Anti huffed.
“Am I invited to this gathering?” Actor asked.
“You are n-”
“Absolutely!” Yancy cut off Dark’s refusal.
“We’re all going to have a grand time.” Actor said with a big smile to Yancy.
“You two can go ahead and get the car started.” Dark handed the keys to Illinois.
“Why do we-”
“We can make out while we wait~” Illinois chuckled, understanding why he wanted them to head off, and easily guided a sputtering Yancy away.
“I did not want to hear that.” Dark sighed.
“Young love.” Actor half-sang..
“We were terrible when we started actually dating.” Anti bumped his hip to Dark’s.
“He’s always been a little extra touchy.” Actor chuckled with a smirk.
“You.” Dark turned and jabbed a finger into Actor’s chest. “If you try to make a scene at Yancy’s graduation party, you’ll wish you could die.”
“I’m not going to make a scene.” Actor rolled his eyes, lowering Dark’s hand. “As you had said earlier, today is about Yancy. He wants his parents to help celebrate, and I will be on my best behavior.” He placed one hand on his chest and held up his other. “Scout’s honor.”
“Fine. But I’ll be keeping my eye on you.”
“Whatever makes sure Yancy is happy.”
“Give us about ten minutes to get to the Manor first and warn everyone,” Anti said.
“Noted.” Actor said with a nod.
“And now, to lighten up my mood.” Anti looked around to ensure no one was paying attention and then glitched himself to the car. He pulled open the back door and faked a gasp.
“Are you having sex back here!?”
“Pops!” Yancy yelled in shock. Illinois’ laugh was loud and soon turned into a cough from how hard it was.
“And you chose him over me?” Actor scoffed.
“And I’d do it again.” Dark clicked his tongue before he had himself appear at the car as well. “Are you done giving them a heart attack?”
“Ma! He is terrible!” Yancy shouted from the back of the car, face a bright red, and Illinois was still trying to breathe between laughs.
“Let’s head home.” Dark chuckled with a smile. His family was the definition of loud and chaotic.
And he wouldn’t want it any other way.