Rikuto removed his glove and shoved it in his mouth, biting down on it hard. There was no need to bite his tongue off in the process, too. He summoned Soul Eater and with a shout, slashed at the branch that held him aloft. The wood cracked, and with a lurch from his stomach Rikuto plummeted.
He felt the rush of Sora’s Aero spell and gravity seemed meaningless for a brief moment. He shivered as the spell brought with it a cold chill and snow. The cushion of air didn’t last long, however, and he felt himself fall the remaining distance to Sora. In spite of the spell slowing his descent, he still crashed into the other boy with a muffled, gurgling cry of pain. He clung to his savior, still biting hard onto his glove as he shouted in agony. The branch, of course, had only been broken to free himself--now that he was free, the landing had exacerbated his injury. He struggled to pull himself up, and he gingerly laid his bare hand around the branch.
The hard part was over. Now it was time for the harder part. He bit down on the glove and closed his eyes as he yanked. Rikuto screamed out a Curaga around the glove, which made quick work of the remaining injury. Dizzy from the residual pain and the sudden loss of his energy from the spell, he slumped against Sora and lost consciousness.
It took everything not to slam the door. Violet crawled into her bed and put a pillow over her head before screaming into it in frustration.
She missed space. She missed the Castle of Lions. She missed Noriu and her nino and Aunt ‘Lura. She missed being somewhere where people didn’t look at her like she was a freak the way they did here. She missed seeing her parents smiling and cuddling instead of yelling and scowling at each other.
And she hated school. She loved learning; she loved math and science. She was smart, and her teachers liked her even if they looked at her with a funny look in their eyes when they smiled. But the kids… they were older, they were mean, and Violet wasn’t even allowed a beanie to cover her ears.
It wouldn’t make a difference anyway. They always yanked her hair to see them. They knew the ears were there and still put their hands on the sides of their heads in imitation, running around calling her names.
She had long since stopped coming home with complaints. The school didn’t do anything about it. They couldn’t. They tried to get the kids in trouble when they were caught, but it only went worse for Violet. And it wasn’t like a teacher could follow her everywhere to be sure every kid said only nice things.
She had tried to fix her ears once.
She covered them in Tia Vero’s make up, but it only made the fur sticky and oily. She tried cutting the fur, but they were still purple, and the fur grew back even more unruly.
One day, she’d gotten really angry. Because the teasing never stopped. Because even her teachers didn’t know how to make her feel better about them. Because the choir teacher didn’t let her try out for the solo because she didn’t want parents getting distracted from the music. Because Dad and Papá had been fighting again about something stupid and she could hear them in their room.
So she’d grabbed a pair of scissors and tried to cut the point of her ear away, figuring if she cut that part, it would heal rounded and wouldn’t grow fur back. She couldn’t even close the scissors all the way before she dropped them and fell to the floor, holding her ear and crying into a towel.
The small cut still managed to bleed a lot, and she cleaned it up with the towel. It stung to wash out her fur, and her entire ear felt sensitive and slow. The other flicked and the one she’d cut just twitched.
Her fathers didn’t know. They hadn’t noticed. She kept her ear under her hair and she’d thrown out the towel. It healed, but now she had a ridge on her ear, not the original pointed tip or even the rounded tip she’d wanted.
It didn’t help that when her baby teeth fell out, her canines had grown back like little fangs. The kids at school ran away screaming and laughing, calling her a vampire. “Stay away, she’ll suck your blood!” Or that for some reason they thought her the Asian eyes she’d inherited from her daddy were hilarious and always pulled at the corner of their own to tease her, calling her “China Eyes.”
She hated it. She hated school, and now, she was starting to hate home.
She fell asleep and didn’t wake up until her alarm for school went off. She took the bus, so it wasn’t hard to avoid seeing her parents that morning. She just had to make it out the door before Dad left for work. She simply knocked twice on the bedroom door and then ran out of the house to the bus stop.
When Violet got to school, there was a new kid sitting next to her. A girl with bright green eyes and freckles. She was wearing a purple dress and she didn’t seem to mind the laughing around her as Violet took her seat.
“Hey, I’m new. My name is Giselle.”
Violet nodded. “Violet.”
“Do you like this class? I’m not too good at science.”
Before Violet could answer, a boy named Victor yanked her hair and said, “Don’t sit with the alien. She’s gonna probe you!”
Violet covered her ears with her hands and looked at the new girl who looked surprised, but not disgusted. Giselle looked at Victor and scowled. “Leave her alone. That’s not how you tell a girl you like her.”
“What? I don’t like her!” he shouted.
“Then why are you blushing?”
Victor stared at her in horror and quickly went back to take his seat, not even sparing a glance in Violet’s direction. “Is that true?” she whispered. Giselle raised an eyebrow. “Well, people mess with me a lot, but you said he liked me.”
“Oh. No. If you like someone you should never be mean to them. But I knew if I made it look like he did he’d leave you alone.” Violet frowned, thinking of her parents for some reason. “Those are cool by the way. Why do your ears look like that?”
“One of my dads is part Galra. It’s an alien race.” She raised her eyebrows and smiled like Violet had told a joke. “I’m for real,” she insisted.
“Okay, I believe you. Cool eyes too. Lots of purple. That’s my favorite color.” She gestured to her new purple backpack, notebook, and pencil case. “Do you probe people?”
“No!”
Giselle shrugged. “Okay. Can I sit with you at lunch?”
“People are gonna make fun of you if you do.”
She shrugged. “So? Wait, do you have fangs?”
“I’m not a vampire!” she said, a little loudly. A few of the other kids laughed, but Giselle nodded very seriously. “I didn’t have them when they were baby teeth.”
“Cool,” she said. “So you got two dads and two moms?”
“Two dads.”
“Your mom died?”
“I don’t have a mom.”
“Everyone has a mom.”
“Not me. My dad is part alien so he had me and I got my Papá. They’re married.” Giselle stared at Violet in confusion. “It’s weird, but it’s true. It happens a lot in space.”
“Space?”
“Yeah, I was born there. I lived on a Lion Castle ship until I was eight and we came here.”
“I can’t tell if you’re lying to me,” Giselle admitted. “You’re good at acting if you are.” Violet scowled and crossed her arms, ignoring Giselle. “Don’t get mad, I’ll still be your friend.”
“I don’t wanna be friends with someone who thinks I’m a liar.” And just like that, Violet lost her first and only Earth-friend.
When Violet got home that day once the after school art club was done, she opened the door and didn’t see lunch on the table or either of her fathers. Her dad was usually home by now, and Papi always had a sandwich or warmed up leftovers from lunch ready for her so she could eat something before they started dinner.
She went to her brothers’ room and saw them both fast asleep. As she went down the hall to tell Dad and Papa she was home, she heard the muffled shouting. She heard something clatter and more yelling.
It made her stomach twist to hear them. She could hear the curse words and the frustrated Spanish Papá always slipped into when he got mad.
Aggravated, she went to the back yard and grabbed her staff which she’d brought from the ship. Pushing thoughts of her parents and school in the recesses of her mind, she started to jab and hit. She grabbed it like a sword and began to attack the air, standing like her parents taught her. She tried to remember the routine of training just so something could have some sort of order, some sort of sense and logic.
But she kept tripping. The staff kept fumbling from her hands. The frustration bubbled and Violet growled as it built. The staff clattered again, and Violet felt everything burst. The thoughts of her parents screaming, the thoughts of being made fun of, of being called a liar, of looking the way she did all made her let out a feral growl and she started whirling the staff, attacking the sturdy tree in the back yard with a level of ferocity she never knew she had.
It wasn’t until she felt a pair of arms around her, trying to compress her that she realized how much she was thrashing and screaming.
“Violet, Violet!” Another pair of hands grabbed her face and she saw her papi’s worried expression in front of her. “Shh,” someone hushed in her ear. It was her daddy.
“Princesita,” Lance said, getting her attention again.
And the next thing she knew, she was crying between both of them. Sobbing harder than she had in a long time. The staff was awkwardly bent and it laid beside the tree which had several nicks from the blows Violet had unleashed on it. Daddy held her together while Papá stroked her hair and rocked them both.
“Why didn’t you tell us you were home, pumpkin?” Daddy asked.
“You were f-fighting,” she cried.
They shared a look, something they always did when Violet told them the obvious. “What happened, mi niña?” Papi asked. “Did you get like this just because of us?”
She shook her head. “It’s everything! S-school, and th-there was a new g-girl, sh-she, she thought I w-was a liar, a-and Victor ran away-y from me when she said h-he liked me and then you w-were fighting, I’m s-scared, I’m t-tired,” she sobbed, shaking violently.
“No, no, no, my sweet, sweet girl,” Daddy murmured, kissing her forehead. “Breathe, pumpkin, breathe. Catch your breath. Shh.”
“Wanna go home,” she breathed.
“Home?”
“The castle,” she said.
Papa sighed and enveloped them in a hug. “Come on, let’s get inside. Tell us what happened at school.”
Daddy picked her up and carried her in while Papá made her a sandwich. She wasn’t hungry, though. She was tired and she wanted to sleep until the day was over. It was quiet for a long time. Violet partially hoped one of her brothers would wake up just so she wouldn’t feel their eyes on her, worried and nervous.
Honestly, it made her kind of angry. That they put those faces on and want her to talk when they couldn’t even have a full conversation without it turning into a screaming match. She wasn’t going to talk, even if the redness of her eyes and the gasping, stuttered breaths she took gave her away.
“Violet, what happened at school?” Papá asked.
Violet clenched her jaw. It was quiet again.
“Are you gonna eat your sandwich?” Dad asked. She narrowed her eyes. Quiet. “Violet, if you’re upset with us for arguing, I want you to know that everything is fine. You shouldn’t have to worry about the things we talk about, so don’t let that bother you. We’re your parents, and we’re here for you in anything. You don’t have to get involved in our grown-up conver-”
“How am I not supposed to?” she shouted, banging her hands on the table. “I come home and you’re fighting! I try to eat dinner and you start fighting! I go to bed and I can hear you fighting! And you don’t even try to keep it secret! You fight in front of me, in front of Ollie and Charlie!” She shoved her sandwich aside, fighting a wince as the plastic plate clattered to the floor, standing her ground when Papá stood up from his chair looking angry. “Don’t try to make me feel better with a stupid sandwich! Everything is bad at school, and it’s the same here!” She scampered away and slammed the door to her room, locking it, partially in fear that they’d come to yell at her for yelling, but mostly because she wanted to be able to break without feeling weak for it.
Her parents weren’t bad. They weren’t bad to her. They didn’t hit her or say mean things to her. She wasn’t afraid of them. She was just afraid of all the changes that had started since they got to Earth. She hated seeing them angry with each other when she was used to seeing them so full of happiness.
When she didn’t hear footsteps or anyone at her door, she opened the door slowly, peeking out from between a crack.
She could hear hushed whispers, quick words. She strained her ears, and her good one twitched to find a decent position to listen.
“-what we wanted for her.”
“I know, love, we’re just at a rough patch, but it’ll be okay. We just have to….”
“Have to what?”
“I don’t know. We’ll give her time to calm down. Then we’ll go talk to her.”
She looked out down the hall and found them in each other’s arms, foreheads pressed together. If not for the tears on Papá’s face, she might’ve believed they’d been plucked out of the past. Slowly, she shut the door again and crawled into her bed.
Violet hadn’t realized she’d fallen asleep until she felt a hand on her shoulder shaking her awake. She groaned and opened her eyes to find her dad sitting on the edge of the bed, smiling at her. It was dark now, so she must have been asleep for a while.
“Hi, pumpkin,” he whispered. “Dinner’s ready. You hungry?”
Violet shrugged then nodded. He pushed her hair back and gently encouraged her out of the bed. He walked with her to the table where Charlie and Oliver were already sitting, each with macaroni smeared all over their faces.
“Vi-et!” Ollie shrieked. Charlie tried to call for her too, but he started coughing which resulted in what sounded like choking, and Papá quickly gave him a sippy cup of water and snapped his fingers above his head.
She smiled and pressed a kiss on both their cheeks, making them laugh. Then she took her seat and kept her eyes on her plate which had been served for her. A porkchop, some broccoli, and cheesy macaroni. It was one of her favorite dinners on Earth. She just found it hard to eat at the moment.
“You want something to drink, tesoro?” Violet shook her head and started eating if only to keep her mouth full and not have to answer questions. “Amor, pass me the napkins.” Violet kept eating and when she was done, Papá said, “Go take a shower, Vi. We’ll be there to tuck you in when you’re dressed.”
She nodded and turned away. Before she went into the shower, she looked back and saw her parents holding hands over the table.
Sure enough, as she struggled with brushing her hair, dressed in her PJ’s, her fathers and brothers came into her room. Ollie and Charlie waddled around and started playing with her dolls which most of Papá’s family had given her for her last birthday.
Dad and Papá sat on her bed. Papá waved her over and took the brush from her, taking over with gentle strokes. “We wanted to apologize to you, princesa,” he said softly.
Daddy took her hand. “You’re right; we shouldn’t be arguing in front of you. And we’re sorry the arguing has been happening so much. There’s just a lot going on right now.”
Papi started braiding her hair down her back. “And we’re gonna work on that. For you and your brothers. But your dad and I love each other, okay? So don’t you worry about anything. Adults argue.”
“You didn’t do it so much on the Castle,” she whispered.
Daddy hummed and squeezed her hand. “Why don’t you tell us what happened at school?”
As she recounted the day, she started crying again. Her fathers each held one of her hands and hugged her tightly, listening. At one point, Charlie ran over to her and placed a wadded up tissue on her face. “Vi-et no cry,” he said with wide worried eyes. She laughed slightly and hefted Charlie onto her lap as Papi tousled his hair.
Then Ollie tugged at the covers to pull himself up on the bed. Daddy helped him up and Ollie crawled around them to hold himself up behind Violet and hug her. “Vi-et cry, Papa.”
“I’m okay,” she whispered holding Ollie’s chubby little hand in hers.
“Give Violet kisses, boys,” Lance encouraged. Charlie and Oliver each leaned over to press a slobbery kiss to her cheek before they all laughed in delight. Tiny arms wrapped tighter around her and she wondered if maybe things would be okay after all.
--
The next day at school, Giselle sat next to her again. Violet decided to ignore her. Then she felt something touching her arm. She glanced down and saw a piece of paper with her name on it. Giselle wasn’t looking at her, and just pulled her hand back when she saw that Violet had acknowledged the paper.
Curiosity won over, and Violet grabbed the paper and unfolded it.
Dear Violet with the violet eyes,
I’m sorry I didn’t believe you and called you a liar. I didn’t mean to say that. I hope you forgive me because you’re pretty cool. I’ve always liked aliens so it’d be cool for my first friend here to be part alien.
Sinserely,
Giselle Emilia Clarke
P.S- I think your ears and fangs are super awesome. And I promise to never call you a liar again.
Violet folded it back up and tucked it into her binder, not looking at Giselle. Then she said, “You spelled ‘sincerely’ wrong.” She looked over and saw Giselle smiling widely at her.
“I knew that would make you talk to me again.” Violet rolled her eyes and shrugged. “So are we friends?”
Violet looked over at her and all the purple that surrounded her in her school supplies. Today she had a big, sparkly, purple bow in her hair. She looked like she meant it. Giselle didn’t look at her like the other kids did. The others looked at her with mean smiles and grossed out looks. Giselle wasn’t even looking at her ears.
“Yeah. Friends.” Giselle beamed and nodded, turning forward in her chair. “Sincerely is with a C, by the way.”
“I know,” Giselle said.
That day at lunch, Giselle stayed with Violet and sat with her in the tables outside in a courtyard. She’d started asking about her family, and Violet wondered if it was because she hadn’t believed her at first. She told her about her Papa, Daddy, Charlie, and Ollie. She told Giselle about all of her aunts and uncles from the castle ship, and she told her about Noriu and the space mall.
After a while, Violet got tired of talking. So she decided to start asking her own questions. “You said you liked aliens. Since when?”
“Since I was little,” Giselle answered. “I used to watch alien movies with my dad. I loved Lilo & Stitch. And I loved Home. Those are cartoons though. I really liked the real life alien movies. When I was little, I wanted to be an astronaut so I could meet an alien.” She shrugged. “I didn’t think an alien would come to see me.” Violet smiled and started laughing. “I guess the kids here make fun of you a lot, huh?” Violet nodded. Maybe Giselle noticed she didn’t want to talk about it though, because she didn’t ask more about it. “Do you think I could meet your family one day? They sound super cool.”
“Y-yeah. I can ask my dads to let you come over.”
“Awesome,” Giselle said. “My dad said I could start having sleepovers when I’m eleven, and I turned eleven last month.” Then she frowned. “But this weekend is Mom’s weekend, so I’ll have to ask her.”
Violet frowned. “What do you mean it’s Mom’s weekend?”
“Oh, my mom and dad are divorced.” Violet furrowed her eyebrows. “Like, not together anymore. So I go with my mom on weekends and I go with my dad all the other times. I used to have to go see Mom every weekend, but when she got her new boyfriend last year, she said I could choose what weekends. I know she doesn’t like if I miss a lot of weekends though, so I promised I’d go this time.”
Violet looked at her sadly and then stared at her food. “Oh. Why’d they break up?”
Giselle shrugged. “Dad says Mom did some bad stuff, and then he got a new girlfriend when he was with my mom. They used to fight a lot and I remember a lot of bad stuff from them hitting each other. Then one day, my dad was taking me away and it was a while before I saw my mom again. I didn’t mind though. My mom used to scare me a lot.”
Violet felt something twist in her stomach and she gulped back the panic rising in her throat. “I’m sorry,” she said.
“It’s okay! If I can’t sleep over this weekend, I’ll ask for next weekend!”
***
Spending all day with the twins was fun. They mostly sat to watch cartoons or waddled around the living room, playing with toys. It was painful to see Charlie sick enough to where he didn’t like playing too much, and he mostly spent his time curled up on Lance’s chest.
Ollie kept poking at him, trying to get him away from Lance and back to playing, so Lance intervened and set them both beside him as he flipped through a photo album.
Oliver kept trying to flip to the back, and when they recognized someone, Charlie lifted his head and Oliver called out in excitement.
“Papa! Dada!” he said as Lance looked at a picture from back on the Castle. He and Keith had just started dating, and Keith was covering his face with their intertwined hands while Lance laughed.
He flipped the page and saw more pictures of Hunk and Pidge and Allura and Shiro. Coran had a whole two pages to himself because he’d taken a million selfies trying to figure out how a camera worked.
Then there were the pictures of Violet’s sonograms. Then the picture of Lance holding onto Keith who held a newborn Violet.
Lance remembered the pregnancies with such clarity. The devotion. The protective nature with which he fought as soon as he’d found out they’d be having a baby. The joy of feeling them kick, of holding them in his arms when they were born.
It was so easy then, being with Keith. They’d argued, yeah, about the babies, about the effects of the pregnancies, of how stressed they could get being parents. But it had never been as bad as it was now.
Having Violet yell at them through tears had been a wake-up call. The last thing Lance ever wanted was to have Violet grow up with any sort of negativity. He and Keith had problems, but those issues could be saved for when they were alone or calmer…. Not for a space in which their daughter could hear. He didn’t want Charlie and Oliver growing up with the idea that arguing was a normal thing to have.
Maybe they just needed a break from their lives. A day to be those kids in the pictures again.
As he flipped the page, the door opened and Violet came in. “Well hello, tesorito,” he greeted her. “You look like you’re in a good mood. How was school?”
Violet plopped beside them and smiled widely. “I made a friend. Her name’s Giselle. She thinks it’s cool I’m part alien, and she wants to sleep over. But she has to ask her dad.”
“A new friend?” Lance asked, perking up. As far as he knew, this was her first friend. “Wait, I thought Giselle was the name of the girl you told us about yesterday.”
Violet nodded and dug into her backpack. “Yeah, but she gave me this today.” She handed him a wrinkled paper and he opened it, reading over the adorable apology. “So we became friends.”
“That’s wonderful, Vi!”
She smiled and took the note back. She looked over at the photo album in his lap which Oliver had started flipping through haphazardly. Then she frowned and asked, “Papa, how do people get divorced?”
The question made a dead weight settle in his stomach. Lance frowned and tilted her head over to him. “Why do you ask, pumpkin?”
She shrugged. “Giselle’s parents are divorced. So she takes turns staying at their houses sometimes.”
Lance sighed and nodded. “That’s a long process that has a lot of paperwork. But don’t worry about that stuff.” Violet nodded and stared at the pictures. “You have any homework, princesa?”
“Yeah, I’ll start it in a bit. Daddy worked today?” Lance nodded. “What’s for lunch? I’m hungry.”
“Well, I thought we could go out and get something to eat. What are you in the mood for? Chick-fil-a? Jack in the Box?”
Violet frowned and shrugged. “Won’t Daddy get mad if we spend money on fast food?”
The question rubbed Lance the wrong way for a number of reasons. He didn’t like that Violet was worrying herself about that, he didn’t like that Keith’s stinginess with money made her nervous to eat out, and he didn’t like the fact that Violet might have had a point. Knowing Keith, and especially if he had a long day at work, he’d get angry about spending when he found out.
Still, it was just one day, and besides, Violet had made a friend! It was a cause to celebrate! Keith’s attitude would pass eventually, and they wouldn’t suffer because they spent twenty bucks.
“He’ll be fine, princesa, don’t worry. Tell me where you want to go eat.”
She bit her lip and thought it over. “Can we go to McDonald’s?”
“McDonald’s it is,” he answered with a smile. “Y mis prinicpes? Quieren papas?”
“Yah! Papas!” Ollie answered. Charlie nodded, figuring that whatever Ollie wanted was good.
Lance shut the phot album and put it on the lamp table before scooping the boys up and ushering Violet out to the car. He strapped them in and they went to McDonald’s, where Violet got herself a one dollar spicy burger, and the boys shared a Happy Meal.
“Vi, you can play in the jungle gym if you want,” he said, noticing how she glance over. “You want your beanie?” She nodded and Lance dug into he bag of diapers and bottles he had for the boys to pull out her beanie. It had been a gift from Pidge after she found out about Violet getting bullied. They had special pockets to cling to her ears and cover them while the fabric allowed air to pass through so even if it was a hot day, she could still wear it without overheating.
She bounded off to play and Lance watched her from where he sat. Ollie was making a mess out of the fries and Charlie was laying in Lance’s arms, looking like he was half asleep. It hurt to see him like that because Charlie was usually very playful with Ollie when they were home, but ever since he’d gotten sick, he didn’t want to do anything.
“Alright, bubs, time for your medicine,” Lance said, pulling Charlie into a sitting position. “It’s expensive according to Daddy, so we’d better take it.”
Right after Lance had put away the medicine, his phone rang. He pulled it out and answered when he saw that it was Keith.
“Hey, amor. Out for lunch already?”
“Yeah. Did Violet get home already?” Lance hummed in affirmation. “How was her day today? Any more bullies?”
Lance chuckled. “Actually, she made a friend. The girl from yesterday wrote her an apology letter, and Violet said they became friends and hung out all day. They even ate together.”
“Really? Oh my God, really?”
Lance laughed, his heart elating at the sound of joy in Keith’s voice. “Yeah. She came home happy today. And… well, I brought her to get McDonald’s. You know, to celebrate.”
“Oh, Lance,” Keith sighed in exasperation. “Fast food again?”
“It’s a special occasion!”
“Right,” he muttered. “Well, how’s Charlie feeling?”
“He’s fine. I just gave him his medicine, he doesn’t have to take it again until bedtime. He hasn’t thrown up today, and his cough is a lot better. Ollie won’t leave his side.”
“Okay, that’s good. Alright, I’ll call you when I’m off work, babe.”
“Bye, I love you.”
“Love you too.” Keith hung up and Lance put the phone away. “Ollie, go get Violet. Tell her we gotta go bye-bye.” Oliver nodded and trotted off to the jungle gym.
“Vi-et! Vi-et!”
“What?” she called back.
“Go bye-bye!” Violet slid down a slide and Oliver made a waving gesture to tell her they were leaving. “Vi-et!”
“Okay, okay,” she laughed. “You’re so cute.” She leaned down and pulled him up into her arms as she walked back over to Lance.
“Ready to go?” he asked her. She nodded.
They made their way back to the house and Violet got started on her homework at the dining table. Charlie was put to bed and Oliver stayed on the couch with a bottle watching a cartoon.
Lance kept looking through the photo album, comparing the life they had on the space ship to the one they had now. How was it possible that simply by having bills to pay and family members to deal with, their relationship was straining? He hated how often they argued. He hated how easy it was for him to lose his temper now.
He wanted to go back to how they were on the castle. Happy, relaxed- as relaxed as they could be when they knew they could get called out to a battle at least. They were just… better together. Maybe they just needed a day to themselves.
On the castle, the kids would go with one of the other paladins or Coran, and Keith and Lance managed to catch a break for a while. Maybe they just needed that again. A moment to themselves. To push away thoughts of bills and crying babies and just… be the 28-year-olds they were for a bit.
He didn’t want to ask his parents to watch them because he didn’t want them to know about the arguing. And he didn’t want to ask his sister because she was stressed with the final touches for her wedding.
Hunk and Pidge lived about an hour away. And the kids knew them, missed them because they only really saw them on holidays and long weekends. Hunk knew about the struggles Lance and Keith had at home, and maybe he and Pidge wouldn’t mind watching the kids for a night.
He messaged Hunk, asking if he was free the next day, which was Friday.
Not really, Pidge wanted to stay in. Why what’s up?
I was wondering if you could watch the kiddos so I could have a date night with Keith? Trying to soothe the rough patch….
Yeah, of course man. What time are you dropping them off?
After Violet gets off of school if that’s cool.
Lance sighed in relief and hoped this would help them. They loved each other, there was no doubt about that. They just needed to really be together again. A romantic night and a moment to relax together.
“Hey princess, how do you feel about going to stay with Aunt Pidge and Uncle Hunk tomorrow night?” Violet looked up from her homework in confusion. “I wanna surprise Daddy with a date, but you have to keep it a secret, okay?”
“Oh! Okay!” she said, with a wide smile. “Yeah, I like sleepovers with Aunt Pidge. I wanna tell her about Giselle.” Lance smiled and tousled her hair.
--
Later that night when Keith got home, he seemed to be especially tired. After greeting Violet and the twins, and giving Lance a greeting kiss, he plopped on the couch and let Oliver and Charlie sit on him.
Lance walked over and sat on the floor, brushing away the hair in Keith’s face. “Rough day?” Keith nodded. “I’m sorry, baby.” He leaned over and kissed his cheek, and he heard Keith sigh contentedly.
Then the twins followed suit and pressed sloppy kisses to Keith’s face, making him laugh until the twins were giggling and squirming around on his chest. “Oh, you boys are getting heavy,” Keith groaned. “Charlie looks better.”
“Yeah. He took a nap and then he’s been running around with Oliver since,” Lance said. “You working tomorrow?”
“Yeah. But I get off earlier. Has Violet said what she wants for her birthday?” Lance shook his head. “How’s your day been, love? These kids didn’t drive you nuts?”
Lance laughed and shook his head. “Oliver was a little fussy this morning, but he’s been calm since Charlie wasn’t feeling well. And Violet came home really happy because of her friend.” Keith smiled and nodded. “Go take a shower. I’ll make dinner.”
“Okay. Violet finished her homework?”
Lance sighed and pulled the twins off of Keith before helping him up. “Violet did her homework, took a shower, and she’s been watching TV. She’s okay. Don’t stress so much.” He pressed another kiss to Keith’s lips and smiled at him. “I love you.”
Keith smiled back and kissed him softly before going to shower.
That night, there were no arguments at dinner. There was no scowl or frustrated sigh at the mention of McDonald’s. Violet seemed content, and Charlie seemed to feel better. The twins easily fell asleep, and once Violet helped clear the table, she went to bed too.
When Lance got to their room, Keith was already in bed. Lance sat down on his side of the bed and stared at their dresser. There were a few things missing, mostly knickknacks they’d gotten from their trip that summer. All because Lance had lost his temper the day before mid-argument. An argument about finances and maturity had ironically led to him throwing his wallet at Keith, screaming about control, but when Keith had ducked, it just made the little souvenirs clatter to the floor and break.
And still, they hadn’t stopped screaming. Not until they heard the screaming of a little girl.
“Hey,” he heard. He turned and saw Keith sitting up. “What are you thinking?”
“That it was stupid to throw my wallet at you yesterday,” he whispered.
Keith sighed and wrapped his arms around him. “Our whole argument was stupid,” he muttered. “But it’s in the past. We can’t change it. We just have to… be sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“We’ve said that before, Keith.” He didn’t answer. Lance looked over at him and pushed his hair back. “We’re gonna be okay, right?”
“Yeah,” Keith answered. He shifted and tilted Lance’s face back to him. “Hey. I know… I know it seems like all I do is pick fights about money. But I promise, I’m… I’m trying my best to make you happy. You know that right?” Lance stared at him and tried to find solace in the words. But one night of not fighting didn’t erase the last several months of harsh arguments and ruthless words. “We’re gonna be fine. Because I love you. And you love me, right?”
Lance nodded and kissed him. “More than you could ever begin to imagine,” he murmured. So much that Lance was more than willing to forgive and forget the screaming matches that had taken over their lives to start over, to make things better for his kids and for his husband.
He pulled Keith onto him, loving the feeling of Keith’s weight on him. Loving the feeling of the hands that knew him in every possible way. Hands that could make him come undone so easily. Hands that were strong, and steady when Lance felt he couldn’t be. When Lance’s insecurities caught up and those hands held him together better than anyone else could.
--
The next day, before Violet was supposed to get home, there was a knock at the door. Lance answered and was surprised to find Hunk and Pidge on his doorstep.
“Guys! What are you doing here, I thought I was dropping the kids off for you?”
“We figured it’s easier for you to just come get them ourselves,” Pidge said. “Where’s our hugs?” Lance laughed and invited them in, hugging them each tightly. “So, how’s being a stay-at-home dad?”
“It’s fun. I like having time to play with them outside and being here when Violet gets home. How have you guys been?”
“Same old, same old,” Hunk said. “Teaching at the Garrison is taxing. I’m not sure if we were that frustrating when we were there.” Pidge snorted and looked at Lance pointedly. “Where are the boys?”
“Oh, over here. Charlie, Oliver, look who it is!” They came rushing to see and Pidge crooned as she bent down to hug them.
“Oh my God, they’re so big! You boys just keep growing and growing!”
Hunk took Oliver and lifted him into the air, making him laugh hysterically. “Aw, man, you gotta visit us more often. Hey, buddy!” Pidge and Hunk made themselves comfortable on the couch, each with one of the twins in their arms. “What time does Violet come home?”
“She should be here in about half an hour,” Lance said, looking at the clock. “She’s excited to spend the night with you guys.”
“And how’s Keith?” Pidge asked, her voice a little more solemn.
“He’s good. Tired from work, usually. That’s why I’m hoping that tonight will help. Take a break, and stuff.”
Pidge nodded. Hunk bit his lip and then asked, “You guys doing okay? You said you were going through a rough patch.”
“Yeah…. We’ve just been arguing a lot lately over everything. Violet’s caught on and it’s taking a toll on her too.” Lance grimaced as he thought of the way they’d found Violet breaking down in the backyard. And of all the other times she’d pointed out their fighting. “That’s why I’m so worried. Neither of us want this for her.”
“It’s that bad?” Pidge asked. “But… I mean… you guys have always picked fights since forever. What… what’s making it so bad now?”
“Yeah, but… before we picked fights over dumb stuff like the word quiznak, or who was a better pilot. When we dated it was about… whether we’d sleep in my room or his. It was always small stuff, or playful. I mean, we didn’t argue yesterday. It was okay yesterday, but it was the first night we haven’t argued in a while…. I just… I don’t know.”
“I’m sure things will get better,” Hunk assured. “It’s still hard getting used to Earth again after all this time, and you guys have kids to worry about too.”
“Yeah,” Pidge nodded. “You guys always get through things,” she said.
Lance smiled gratefully at them and nodded, feeling comfort in the reassurances and hopes.
***
When Keith had gotten off work that day, he had a pounding headache. He hated dealing with the people he dealt with, and he wondered why he bothered with the job instead of just getting a job at the Garrison if he wanted extra money.
Of course, it wasn’t that easy. The Garrison had troubling memories with it. So much of Keith’s life had revolved around the Garrison, and he was free now. He didn’t want to go back. Not if he didn’t have to. Although, he was dealing with ridiculously stupid customers over the phone at the expense of it.
The good thing about his job was that he could take a day off during the week and he was allowed to leave early on Fridays. It at least provided the recovery he needed to be good at his job.
When he got home, he was a little confused at the lack of screaming children and the lack of hugs. Then he was confused at the sight of candles on the table and the food that had been set out with a glass of wine. They didn’t really drink wine. Or use candles.
Then he saw Lance in the kitchen, finishing up serving the other plate, wearing one of his nice shirts.
“Lance?”
Lance looked up and smiled, setting the plate down to go greet him. “Welcome home, mi amor,” he whispered.
“What’s this for? Where are the kids?”
Lance sighed and ushered Keith to the couch. He knelt in front of him and held his hands. “The kids are with Pidge and Hunk for the night. After all the stuff we’ve been dealing with lately, I… I thought it could help if we had a night to ourselves. A date night. So we could just relax and be together and not have to worry about everything that makes us argue.”
“Oh. Oh, Lance,” Keith murmured, pressing his forehead against Lance’s.
Lance sighed again and put his hands on either side of Keith’s face. He looked tired. He looked afraid. “I feel like we’re losing each other. And maybe we’re overwhelmed with the kids and the bills and the family. But I have to know we’re going to make it. We are, aren’t we?”
“Yes,” Keith said vigorously. “Of course we are.” Keith kissed him gently. “We have everything we could ever want.” They smiled at each other and Keith felt his affection for Lance swell up in his chest. “What’s for dinner?”
Lance smiled excitedly and stood up, taking Keith’s hand to lead him over to the table. “I made pasta with lemon herb chicken and steamed vegetables. And a chocolate cake for dessert.” Keith smiled and chuckled softly. “What?”
“I just… I don’t know how I got so lucky as to have gotten to marry you twice.”
Lance laughed at that and kissed him again. Then he pulled the chair out for him and proceeded to sit across from him.
Part of Keith was wondering how much Lance had spent on the wine and the flowers, but then he remembered the whole point of the date was to stop worrying. Besides, a little struggle wasn’t going to leave them without food to eat. Maybe just one or two movies they wouldn’t be able to see in theaters.
“How was work?” Lance asked.
Keith wrinkled his nose. “Stressful. But I can handle it. How was your day? When did the kids go with Hunk and Pidge?”
“They left when Violet got out of school. It was a good day. A little lonely without the kids around for a while, but it gave me time to do this!”
Keith smiled and began eating almost ravenously. The food was so good. They didn’t talk much as they ate. It didn’t feel like they needed to. While the silence was unusual, it was also relieving. Lately, their only silences had been when the twins were asleep post-argument. It was nice to have a silence without tension, without simmering anger.
When they were done, they took their wine and sat on the couch, facing each other and laughing nervously like it was a first date. It had been so long since Keith had been alone with Lance and it truly felt like the years were melting away, taking them back to those first few months of dating. Where everything was clumsy and funny and nerve-wracking and exciting. Every touch was new and intense.
Lance’s fingers traced his collarbone and Keith hummed softly at the touch. It was incredible to think that they’d been like this every day at one point. That there had in fact been a time in their lives where nothing called for a fight. And Keith wanted it to last forever.
“I love you,” Lance whispered. “So much, Keith.”
Keith leaned forward and brushed his wine-stained lips against Lance’s. “I love you too.” He ran his hand through Lance’s hair and smiled sadly. “I want to be better for you. Better at handling the parenting, the working, and loving you too.”
Lance sighed and pressed into the hand resting on his cheek. “Oh, Keith. You’re already good at it. You’re the best thing I could ask for. I… I need to pitch in too. I know I’m not the best at managing expenses, and I know that makes us struggle usually.”
Keith shook his head. “I want you to be happy. And I want the kids to be happy. We can find ways to meet in the middle, spend without coming up short on the mortgage. But, that doesn’t matter right now. Right now… we’re not dealing with those things. We’re just with each other, right?”
Lance smiled and nodded, kissing him again softly. “Yeah. Exactly.” He stood up and held out his hand. “Dance with me.”
“There’s no music,” Keith said with a laugh as he slid his hand into Lance’s.
Lance pulled him up and brought him in close. “Sure there is. Listen.” Keith indulged him and listened, a smile playing on his lips. Lance started humming a song so softly, it was only audible because of the utter silence in the house. “Can you hear it?” Lance whispered. Keith nodded his head, looking into Lance’s eyes.
They were older now, but Lance’s eyes never failed to make him lose his breath. To make him lost and completely hypnotize him with the serenity in them, the absolutely inimitable blue that they were.
It felt beautiful. The dancing was slow, maybe not even really considered dancing. It was just a slight sway to each side with tiny steps to turn in a circle in the middle of the living room. Both just trying not to bump into the coffee table. Both completely enraptured by the hope that came from the peace they felt at that moment with each other. With Lance’s soft voice consuming him, his eyes unraveling him, his hands holding him securely. And receiving that smile that never seemed to age, with that deep dimple, and that slight scrunch of his nose. Keith couldn’t believe it was a smile meant for him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d received that same smile.
But that didn’t matter because he was receiving that smile now and that was enough. It was enough to hold on to, to ease his worries and assure him that he and Lance had so many more years of sweet songs and clumsy slow dances and gentle kisses to come. That a few arguments weren’t going to take that from them.
There, in the middle of his living room, in the silence and the stillness that befell them, Keith could feel his entire body and soul falling in love with Lance all over again.
It wasn’t that he’d ever stopped. It was more like a reminder. Like he was falling even more in love. But it felt so fresh and wonderful.
Before Keith knew it, they were in their bedroom, fumbling with clothes until their bodies were lined up and pressed close together. Nothing but the taste of each other in their mouths.
Reassurances of love and renewed promises were mingled with desperate gasps and heated moans. The sound of the headboard against the wall, their own sounds and reactions, the creaking of the springs in the bed didn’t matter because there was no risk of being heard by their children. For the first time in a long time, they were unrestrained and completely feral with need for each other.
Until they laid side by side, panting to catch their breaths. Tired, sleepy, and so, so in love.
It was the most peaceful night Keith had experienced since they returned to Earth.
When he woke up that morning, it was later than usual. There was no babbling from a toddler on the baby monitor, no one waking them up with the sounds of cartoons on the TV. And while Keith missed it, he had to admit he loved how it felt to wake up so late and wrapped around his husband.
He kissed the back of Lance’s neck and sighed deeply as he nestled into him. Lance squirmed in his sleep and turned around, throwing an arm over Keith’s torso. Keith chuckled to himself and kissed his forehead before letting himself drift back to sleep.
When they both managed to wake up and get out of bed, it was only to get something to eat and curl up on the couch together and watch TV.
The whole day, the spent it lounging about, laughing at stupid jokes and attacking each other with kisses and tickles. Finally, by the end of the day, they were supposed to pick the kids up from Hunk and Pidge’s house.
Before leaving though, Keith pulled Lance aside and held his hands tightly. “We’re going to do better,” he promised. “I’m going to do better. And we won’t argue over the same things we always did before. It’s not important. Not when we have what we have.”
Lance smiled and nodded. “We’re gonna be okay.” Keith smiled and kissed him one more time before they got into Lance’s car.
They drove over to Hunk and Pidge’s and by the time they got there, and Hunk opened the door, the kids were asleep in front of the TV where a Disney movie was playing.
“Hey guys!” Hunk greeted, hugging them both tightly. “How was date night?”
“Very needed and very romantic,” Keith said with a smile. Hunk smiled at that and invited them in to sit at the dinner table. “How were the kids?”
“They were good. The twins got mad at each other for a few minutes, but then they were fine.” Hunk shrugged and looked over at the sleeping forms. Then he looked back at Keith and Lance a little more seriously. “Uh, I think I should mention that… Violet was asking about divorces and custody sharing earlier.”
“What?” Keith asked, feeling something uncomfortable roll in his stomach.
“Why would she… why would she ask about that? She already asked me about it-”
“What?” Keith asked, cutting Lance off.
Lance shrugged. “It was about her new friend. She has divorced parents, and Violet was trying to understand it.”
“Yeah, she mentioned that,” Hunk said. “But she stayed quiet for a while and asked what caused the divorces.” He hesitated and looked at both of them. “Look, I have no idea what’s up at your home. But you’re both very important to me, and now I’m a little worried.”
“Nothing’s going on,” Keith said sharply. “Just a few arguments that got out of hand, but we talked about it.”
“Yeah, we’re not going to do that anymore. We just needed a small break to catch up with each other,” Lance said, taking Keith’s hand. “We’ll talk to her.”
“Okay. I just thought I should tell you. And you guys can always count on us to help out, okay?” Hunk said.
Keith nodded, gritting his teeth. The whole situation was upsetting him. Hunk knowing, trying to help or intervene. Violet having asked Lance about this before, and Lance not telling him. He didn’t want his relationship out for everyone to dissect and criticize, even a close friend like Hunk. And he didn’t want Lance keeping things like this from him.
He didn’t want Violet worrying or thinking about divorces and custody.
“Where’s Pidge?” Lance asked, obviously trying to ease the tension. Keith could feel his thumb rubbing circles into the back of his hand.
“In the shower. She should be out soon.”
“I’m gonna get the car seats to settle the twins in. I’ll carry Violet,” Keith said.
“Okay, I’ll carry the twins back.” Lance handed over the keys and Keith left.
When he came back and managed to secure the twins without waking them, Pidge came out to greet them with her hair in a towel and an unused toothbrush in hand. “Hey guys! Did you enjoy the kid-free time?”
“We’re not bad parents if we say yes, right?” Lance said jokingly.
Pidge laughed. “Nah, I think that just makes you human. I don’t think you two have a had a night without any of the kids there since we got to Earth, huh?” Keith shook his head. “Well, Violet like the chance to hang out with a girl. We did our nails and everything.”
Lance laughed and nodded. “Yeah, she loves her aunt Pidge. She misses Allura too, but it’s so hard to get Shiro to coordinate a visit. But hey, we’re gonna get out of your hair and get going home before it gets too late.”
Lance picked up one car seat in each hand and Keith went to pick Violet up from the couch. She seemed so much bigger, and it made Keith’s heart clench to think that his little girl was growing up so much. All he could think was that he wouldn’t be able to carry her one day. It only made him hold on tighter. She grumbled and wrapped her arms around him loosely, snoring softly in his ear.
Keith managed to get her into the car and leaned her against Charlie’s car seat before shutting the door softly. He and Lance said goodbye to their friends and thanked them again for watching the kids. Then they were driving back home.
Lance took Keith’s hand and sighed. “Are you mad at me for not telling you about Violet? Asking about divorces?”
Keith glanced over at Lance and bit his lip. “No,” he decided. “I mean, I wish you’d told me, but… I’m upset that she’s even thinking about it. We need to talk to her.”
“Yeah, of course. Besides, she only asked because Giselle mentioned it. You know how much Violet likes to learn about new stuff.”
Keith hummed. “Yeah, but she shouldn’t about this.” Lance didn’t answer. He just kissed Keith’s hand.
When they got home, Lance took the twins in and Keith started to take Violet, but she stirred and opened her eyes.
“Hi, Daddy,” she greeted. “What time’s it?”
“Almost eleven, lovebug. Come on, let’s get into the house.” She nodded and shuffled out, taking his hand as he led her inside. “Need help getting ready for bed?”
She shook her head. “I got it, Daddy.”
He nodded and kissed her forehead as she padded off to her room. Lance came out of the twins rooms a few seconds after and shut the door softly. “Vi’s awake,” Keith said.
“Do you want to talk to her now?” Keith hesitated and shook his head. “We can talk to her in the morning. She’s tired anyway.”
Keith nodded and Lance held his hand out. He took it and smiled as Lance pulled him into a kiss. With Lance’s arm around his shoulders, they went to Violet’s room and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” she called out through a yawn. “Everything okay?” she asked, furrowing her eyebrows when they walked in.
“Yeah, princesa, everything’s good. What, are you too old for us to tuck you in?” Violet rolled her eyes and giggled.
“No, Papa,” she said.
They each went on either side of her and kissed her forehead, wishing her sweet dreams. Keith reminded her that they loved her, and smiled as her eyes fluttered shut again. It was funny how quickly time could pass. How one day he was holding her for the first time, putting her to sleep, and now she was so big and he couldn’t even dream of fitting her in his arms.
Lance tugged on his arm and they left her room to retire to their own. Keith fell asleep quickly once Lance wrapped his arms around him.
The next morning, Keith woke up to the smell of bacon. He went to the kitchen and found Lance and Violet flipping pancakes and the twins in their high chairs eating half of a banana each.
“Good morning,” he greeted, looking fondly at the sight of his husband and his daughter trying to keep pancakes from burning. Lance greeted him with a kiss on the lips and Violet hugged him tightly. Keith went to sit with the twins, chuckling as they each made a mess of themselves with the banana.
As they ate breakfast, Violet told them about how much fun she had at Uncle Hunk’s and Aunt Pidge’s. She told them about funny things the twins did, and about an old movie Hunk had shown her. Keith and Lance listened raptly. Keith couldn’t help but feel his heart swell at the sight of his daughter looking so genuinely happy. He loved when she went into these rambles, similar to Lance in nature. He loved seeing how excited she got when they asked her questions and she got to ramble more.
Finally, once they’d finished breakfast, Keith looked at Lance and then at Violet. “Pumpkin…. Uncle Hunk mentioned that you were asking about divorces.” She looked at them both and then looked at the table, shrugging. “Your papa says it’s because your new friend has divorced parents.” Violet nodded, looking at Keith. He hesitated and smiled encouragingly. “So it’s not at all because you think… we’re going to get one?”
Violet stared at him silently then very briefly at Lance before her eyes settled on her empty plate. Her eyebrows furrowed, but that was all.
Lance gently tilted her head up. Her eyes were starting to fill with tears. “Hey now, por que lloras? We’re not mad at you, mi niña.” She furrowed her eyebrows further and Keith noticed her ears flattening against her head. “We just want to know what you’re thinking. And we want you to know that’s not going to happen. Your dad and I love each other. We’re gonna do better for you and your brothers.”
“And even if we argue, it doesn’t mean we’re going to get divorced, love,” Keith added softly. “But we promise we’re going to try not to argue so much anymore.” Violet nodded and rubbed at her eyes. “We’re not mad, Vi.”
Violet nodded again and sniffed. “I was just scared because Giselle said her parents fought a lot, but they hit each other, and I didn’t know parents could leave each other, so I was confused and scared.”
“Vi-et! Vi-et!” The three of them looked over at Charlie who was struggling to try and unbuckle himself from his chair. “Vi-et no cry. No, no, no, Vi-et.” Keith smiled and unstrapped him, letting him down. Charlie immediately went to Violet and wrapped his arms around her legs, settling his head against her knee.
“Ari, Vi-et, off, off,” Oliver shouted from his own chair. He was kicking and squirming. “Ari! Ari!”
“Is… is he trying to say Charlie?” Lance asked as he unstrapped him. Ollie waddled over and did the same as Charlie, but he wrapped one arm around his brother too. Lance smiled and tucked Violet’s hair behind her ear. “Your brothers love you very much, preciosa.”
Keith gulped past the knot in his throat and took Violet’s hand over the table. “And so do we, my sweet little girl. Don’t be scared, okay? We’re a family. And everything’s going to be okay.”
“Enough heavy topics,” Lance said, discreetly wiping his eyes. “Why don’t we go to the park today? We can get ice pops from the Bon-Ice guy.”
Violet perked up and nodded, getting off the chair and taking her brothers to find their shoes.
A half hour later, they were at the playground and Keith watched the twins leading Lance to the playground, pointing insistently at the monkey bars until Lance figured out that he was expected to help them both on monkey bars… at the same time. Violet was playing with a faux steering wheel, shouting commands like she was piloting a lion.
Then suddenly all three of them were fighting against Lance, toppling him to the mulch on the playground. Charlie was tugging on his hair and laughing. Oliver hit him with tiny fists that Lance pretended hurt, but that only made Oliver laugh and call for Keith with shouts of, “Da-ee, ‘ook! Da-ee!” so he could watch how silly Papi was. Violet meanwhile was shouting in victory, her hair an unruly mess, long since frizzing out from her braid as she tackled Lance down over and over to unleash the twins on him.
His salvation came when the kids heard the bell of the Bon-Ice guy that sold ice pops. Keith went to buy them some and came back to Lance settling the kids at a picnic table before distributing the snack. Lance and Violet were arguing about who won their little battle, and the twins simply babbled to feel included, adding to the argument with gibberish.
Keith laughed as he looked at his kids and leaned against Lance. He wondered how he got so fucking lucky. He never wanted to let this go.
"Despise..? Well... I guess Xehanort is an obvious choice. Besides him, I suppose I despise Marluxia and Larxene, or whoever their Somebodies are now. I despise Axel. Out of all of them, though, I suppose I despise Vexen the most."
He is quiet for a moment. "I have moments where I hate people I know I don't really hate, too..."
"No, I'm just fine, thanks," Rikuto said, blood rushing to his face from embarrassment. Following Van around was going just fine up until they had to jump a tall fence. Now Rikuto was dangling upside-down by his pants leg. Stupid fence. Stupid jeans.
He squirmed and thrashed for a moment longer before giving up, flopping back down. His expression was sour. "....yes. Please help. I'm stuck."
Rikuto's frantic wiggling came to a sudden halt. Oh no. Oh no, no, no. Of all people to come across him like this (and honestly, he wasn't expecting anyone to be here, let alone find him), why did it have to be Sora? He fell limp from the shock, dangling upside-down in front of the newcomer and staring at him with gold-tinged eyes.
There was no way he was going to explain why, exactly, he was stuck in the vines in the middle of a godforsaken jungle, and leave with his pride intact. He was never jumping through dark corridors without looking ever again. Why was it Sora that came across him like this?!
"..." Rikuto was at a loss for words, and he hoped Sora thought his blush was more due to the blood rushing to his head instead of his embarrassment and the crush he still refused to acknowledge. "...yes. I feel dizzy."
