Ok I saved an answered ask in drafts to work on and post it later today but that ask has gone missing. It's not in my inbox, it's not in my drafts, it's not in my queue and I didn't accidentally mistap and post it. I am very sorry anon, I have no clue what tumblr did to it. I am also so very sorry it took me this long to actually answer a bit of it 😭
The ask was about some more situations between the boys at Ian and Val's wedding. I had put it off for way too long and wanted to share a little now. So we're travelling back in time a little to when the boys were not together, Micah still had long and Robyn short hair, and the situation with Vivian hasn't happened yet either.
This is part 1 out of 3.
You can find part 2 here and part 3 here
Morning
In a sudden wave of consciousness, Micah noticed he was inhaling Lissa's fur while the fox was curled up right next to his face. He blinked a few times and turned away, stretching his arms a little bit. It was morning. People were running up and down the floor and stairs. It was a big day. The last wedding in the Bower family was auntie Maisie's and that was fourteen years ago. Micah had barely been a year old, therefore he had no memories of that wedding. He didn't think he'd get to attend one at an age where he's capable of having memories of it, but uncle Ian had surprised everyone. In a good sense. If somebody deserved that great, perfect wedding day, it was Ian. And today was the day.
Micah rubbed the sleep out of his face before he sat up and turned to climb out of the single bed. He rose to open the curtains and follow his usual morning routine but he halted in his tracks. On an additional thin mattress on the floor was Robyn. Sweet Titan, right. Robyn was here. Micah was wide awake suddenly. He stood there frozen for longer than he wanted to. Robyn's hair seemed to be even more voluminous in this unkempt, messy way than it already was regularly. He was lying on his back, his chest rising and falling with every breath, one arm angled next to him, the other above his head. Peaceful and sound. Micah slowly approached the mattress and squatted down.
His heart beat slowly crept into his ears. The way Robyn was lying there... the way his mouth was slightly ajar and his lips and entire face looked so... kissable. Robyn had a deep sleep. Micah knew that. And it invited selfish, reckless thoughts into his mind. What if he just so very carefully and gently pressed his lips to Robyn's... just to finally have done it. Just to feel them for a second. Micah hated that he actually considered it for a moment. He couldn't. He cannot do that. Not without having Robyn's permission. Maybe if they were a couple, he could but that was the very problem. Micah loved Robyn in a way he never thought he possibly could, but they were not a couple. And Micah wouldn't do something as stupid as kiss his best friend while he was sleeping. That just wasn't right. Besides, there is no way Robyn can ever know about Micah's feelings anyway.
"Robyn." he poked the brunet's cheek. "Oi, sleepyhead."
Robyn groaned and swatted the poking finger away.
"We have to get ready. Don't make me pull away the blanket."
"You wouldn't dare." Robyn muttered.
"I would." Micah grinned. "Come on now, sleeping beauty."
"Sleeping beauty isn't woken up by poking." Robyn protested.
"What, ye want me to kiss ye?" Micah joked and pretended like there wasn't some desire to do so on his side.
"Hmmm would you?" Robyn opened one eye and smirked cheekily. He probably wouldn't if he knew this wasn't a joke to Micah.
"Get out of bed already, dumbass."
Having said that, Micah drew a golden circle in the air and the curtains opened. Robyn groaned and shielded his eyes from the light. He heard Micah walking to the small room where basin and chamber pot were stored. The door creaked as it closed again but halted just before fully closing.
"Ye better not still be lying around when I'm back." Micah warned. Robyn assured him he won't and only then did the door close with a tap.
Micah took a deep breath. He brushed the curls out of his face and stared at the floor for a second. What was that?!He felt his cheeks. Warm. Damn it, was he red in the face? Did Robyn notice? It was just a joke. Robyn doesn't actually want Micah to kiss him. It's just a stupid joke. Stop thinking about it. Stop thinking about him like that. He took another deep breath. He was just glad that possibly being red in the face was his greatest concern. It could've been much worse. He proceeded to his morning routine and tried to forget the whole situation. Pull yerself together! he ordered to himself.
When he exited the side chamber, Robyn was still on the same spot as before, staring out of the window while absentmindedly stroking Snowball's white feathers. Micah cleared his throat in a scolding tone.
"What? You said I better not still be lying on the mattress. And, lo and behold, I am sitting on it." Robyn argued.
Micah rolled his eyes.
"Just get ready. Ye know where the piss pot is."
"Yeah, yeah, relax. There's enough time." Robyn stretched his limbs.
"I'd rather not be late to my uncle's wedding because of yer shit time management actually." Micah countered, making the bed with a whip of his finger and putting out the shirt and kilt for the day.
"When has my time management ever been shit?" Robyn asked offended.
Micah said no words and merely threw the brunet a look. A look that said more than words ever could.
"Fine, alright. Point for you." Robyn pouted.
He stood up, stretched one more time and vanished behind the side chamber door.
Another whip and golden circle from Micah's finger and the messy blanket and pillow on the mattress became neat and tidy again. He usually doesn't care for a made bed but this was his grandmother's house and so he put on his best behavior. Or, well, at least better behavior than usual. Not that Micah was ever a problem child, but it was little things like holding back swears or keeping the room tidy that were different from how he would be acting at home in Bonesborough.
Micah pet Lissa shortly as she made herself comfortable in the made bed and he was about to slip the nightshirt over his head when someone knocked at the door.
He opened it a slit to see who it is.
"Madainn mhath, mo grian! (Good morning, my sun/sunshine!)" his grandmother Yvaine greeted him.
"Madainn mhath, sheamhair. (Good morning, grandmother.)" Micah smiled.
"Are ye lads awake, aye?"
"Aye. Robyn's in the chamber."
"I see. Would ye like a wee bite? I'll tell yer mother to safe some for ye then."
Micah considered the option. He himself wasn't really hungry and there'd be plenty of food after the ceremony but he didn't want Robyn to go without food. Especially considering Robyn often just forgot to eat at all.
"Sure. We'll be right down." he said.
"Good, good." Yvaine closed the door again and Micah could hear her footsteps descending the stairs.
Good thing he didn't change into the formal shirt yet. He opened a drawer with magic and donned a pair of plain trousers. He tucked the nightshirt into them and looked somewhat presentable. After a while Robyn stepped out of the side chamber again.
"Do ye have clothes with ye that ye dinna mind if they possibly get a bit dirty?" Micah asked.
Robyn hesitated to answer.
"Are- uhm... are there any activities I wasn't informed about?"
"No, I'm asking 'cause we're gonna go eat something downstairs." Micah chuckled amused.
"Isn't there food after the ceremony?" Robyn raised an eyebrow.
"Aye. But that's only in a few hours. I think we should eat something now."
Robyn eyed his luggage and decided to put on his trousers from yesterday. He didn't really think of taking more clothes with him than the outfit for the wedding and whatever he wore for the travel. But it was sufficient enough.
The boys descended the stairs and turned into the kitchen and eating area. Micah's parents and sisters were seated at the table, Yvaine walking between kitchen and other rooms restlessly.
"Mam, am biodh tu dìreach a’ suidhe airson diog? (Mum, would you please just sit for a second?)" Neil sighed exasperated.
"Is urrainn dhomh fois a ghabhail nuair a tha mi marbh. Tha uimhir ri dhèanamh fhathast, Nelly. (I can rest when I'm dead. There's still so much to do, Nelly.)" she replied in a serious tone before exiting the kitchen again muttering something about pastry decor.
Robyn stared into the room with the question of what was being said lingering on his tongue. Micah noticed and explained the situation. Robyn nodded. His eyes uttering a "thank you" that his mouth didn't open for.
"Morning!" Micah exclaimed into the room loudly.
"Look who it is. Mr. sunshine and Mr. twig." Makenna joked.
"Please stop calling me that. I know I'm thin, no need to remind me" Robyn pleaded with a frown.
"Ye'd have ta choke me to make me stop." she smirked and bit into her jammed bread, purposely showing off her defined biceps. Robyn grumbled as he sat down next to Micah.
"Morning, ye two. Did ye sleep alright?" Breena greeted before taking a sip from her mug.
"Like a wee bairn." Micah answered and reached for two mugs. He handed one to Robyn and silently asked for Robyns preferred type of brew. To which Robyn replied that he'll have whatever he had for the treats after dinner yesterday.
"Comin' from the mouth of someone who's never dealt with a wee bairn." Neil commented.
"Isna that all bairns do?" Micah mixed together the brew before pouring it into Robyn's mug and then his own. "Sleep, eat and whine?"
"No." Makenna replied. "They steal sleep if anything. Insufferable creatures."
"Ye never want bairns, we ken." Feya rolled her eyes.
"Kenna has a point though." Breena remarked. "The three of ye stole me enough sleep for years. Be glad Maisie and Lewis arena staying here."
"Sorry, that was who again?" Robyn joined the conversation, a little embarrassed he had to ask for that clarification.
"My aunt and uncle." Micah replied.
Robyn nodded as if he understood but it was obvious he was still lost on who exactly that was.
"Maisie's ma youngest sister." Neil chuckled and pointed to a picture on the wall behind him. A large family picture from a few years ago. Robyn was sure of that because Micah looked to be around 8 or 10 and Makenna and Feya looked younger too. "The one with the long, curly light blonde hair and patterns of lighter skin all over. Lewis, right next to her, is her husband."
"I see." Robyn smiled.
"They had another kid about two years ago." Micah added. "I suppose a noisy one the way we're told to be grateful they're not here."
"Oh, aye. I hear wee Conan is still not really keen on sleeping through the night. And Cassie and Lyle are barely any older." Breena reached for another piece of bread. "4 and 3, no?"
"6 and 5." Feya corrected.
"Truly?" Breena blinked a few times in surprise.
"Fey's right. Cassie was born when I was 13. If I'm 19 now, Cassie is 6, therefore Lyle is 5." Makenna explained.
"Titan, how time flies." Breena shook her head in disbelief.
Robyn appeared a bit overwhelmed by it all. All these names and ages and relationships. Micah's family was so big compared to his own. Robyn's family, in terms of blood relatives, consited of his mother, his grandparents, his great-aunt and great-uncle but there was barely any true contact between him and the latter two. They knew he existed and they sent birthday greetings every year but Robyn's never actually seen them. Robyn's entire blood-related family was the size of one family branch in Micah's blood-related family. He realised he's probably better off just addressing everyone as "Mr. Bower" and "Mrs. Bower" than by their names. Micah eyed him and, almost like he could see this exact thought process in Robyn's mind, he nudged him. He assured Robyn that he'll have the names and relationships down quickly and he doesn't need to worry.
After finishing the light breakfast, the family got up and decided to get ready for the wedding. Robyn began collecting the dishes and cutlery to carry over to the sink when Breena told him not to worry about it and with a green glowing circle in the air, the dishes flew over to the sink and began washing themselves, with a golden circle from Neil a wet cloth cleaned up the table, and a pink circle from Feya made the broom quickly transport any crumbs outside.
"Right. Magic." Robyn said quietly in a mix of embarrassment and sadness.
The family exchanged looks of sympathy. Micah took Robyn by the hand and suggested to go upstairs to get dressed up. Robyn nodded again, then the two boys slowly disappeared behind the door frame as the rest of the family watched.
"So, do we start taking bets as to how long it'll take Mike ta crack and confess?" Makenna asked dryly only to be met with Neil exclaiming her name in a scolding tone.
Upstairs again, Micah pushed the door close behind him. His hand still in Robyn's.
"Everything alright?" he inquired carefully.
"Sure. Yeah. Why shouldn't it be?" Robyn replied without looking at him.
"Does it bother ye when we use all those spells around ye?" he softly brushed his thumb over Robyn's knuckles. Micah gave it his best attempt to cover up that this little act of intimacy made his heart beat as high up as his throat.
Robyn looked up suddenly.
"Titan, no!" he pulled his hand out of Micah's to gesticulate while talking. "I mean- yes, maybe. But you're witches! You use magic to make life easier. I'd do the same if I still had it. Don't stop using magic just because I'm around."
"But if it upsets ye-" Micah reached out just to be pushed back again.
"The world doesn't revolve around me. I'm surrounded by people doing magic all the time. I need to learn to deal with it. Besides, it's not your or your families responsibility to make sure I'm never upset about anything."
"Ye're our guest and-"
"Micah." Robyn interrupted sharply. "Don't change your ways for me."
Micah swallowed his argument and nodded accepting. Robyn's teal eyes felt like they pierced right through him as he watched Micah's reaction. How could they be so dangerous and so beautiful at the same time?
Robyn sighed and suggested they forget this whole situation and get dressed for the wedding now, to which Micah simply nodded once again.
Robyn flashed a smile before going towards his suitcase and carefully laying out the shirt and pants. Micah watched him, still hung up on the previous situation. As if he was alone in the room, Robyn untugged the nightshirt and pulled it over his head, taking it off.
A feeling of panic overran Micah.
"W-what are ye doing?!" he asked fidgeting with his curls.
Robyn turned around and threw Micah a confused look. "I'm changing? Into the clothes I'll wear for the wedding?" he replied.
"In front of me?!" Micah blurted out.
"Is that a problem? We've changed in front of each other before, Mike."
"Aye, when we were kids! This is different!"
"Is it?"
Micah felt his face burning up and Robyn must've surely noticed that. He hated it. He fought with himself to avert his gaze from Robyn's bare torso but kept losing. Why did he have to make this so weird? Why couldn't he just act normal? Titan damn it, he should've never invited Robyn here. The longer Micah didn't respond, the more awkward the situation got. He knew that. And so, he took his shirt and kilt and excused himself from the room by claiming he needed help with wrapping the kilt from his father. Outside the room, his back pressed to the door, he took a few deep breaths to calm down again. What the fuck am I doing?!? he thought and desperately hoped Robyn would forget this had happened.
Getting these flowers out of his hair would be a pain in the ass later Micah figured as he placed the last stem of flowers in his red curls. At least they were pretty and made him feel somewhat pretty too. He took a final glance in the looking glass and adjusted the last stray hairs falling into his face.
"You look stunning."
He looked up the stairs and saw Robyn leaning over the corner of the staircase wall. His smile as warm and sweet as ever. Micah hoped his face wouldn't flush red again.
"Ye think?"
"You always do. But with this kilt and the hair, you look like a charming prince."
Shit.
His face was red again. He could feel the warmth on his cheeks and actually see the colour change creeping into them in the looking glass. If only Robyn knew what those words meant to Micah. But he seemed so very oblivious. Which was both, a blessing and a curse.
"Thanks." he smiled shyly.
Robyn skipped the final step of the stairs and placed himself next to Micah. He looked handsome too, Micah thought. His brown hair was combed back rather than falling to the side, he wore a white button-up with some ruffles around the neck and sleeves and a pair of black formal bottoms. It was simple but elegant.
Before Micah could return the compliment however, Robyn seemed to have caught a glimpse of Makenna and Feya in the parlor, Neil and Breena, along with someone Robyn assumed to be an aunt of Micah's, and Yvaine and Fergus as they hurried in from outside. All wearing something in that specific plaid pattern. He scratched his neck and asked if he won't stand out too much for not wearing a kilt in his case.
In that moment, all Micah's brain registered was Robyn and wearing a kilt and his thoughts ran rampant. He could hardly ignore Robyn's beauty as is. How is he supposed to handle him in a kilt? Micah quickly objected, assuring Robyn it's alright and that wearing a kilt is not mandatory or anything.
"And ye look great so don't worry about that much!" he added.
"What are ye talkin' about?" Makenna chimed in from the parlor. "Kilts are tradition."
Micah turned to his sister and, annoyed and mad at her for deciding to get involved, reminded her that not everyone has a kilt at their disposal.
"Is there a way to get one on short notice?" Robyn asked with a hint of urgency in his voice.
"Oh! I'm sure Mikey will lend ya one!" Feya pointed out. She immediately got scolded by Makenna to not move her head while she was braiding her hair and Feya smiled up at her sister apologetically.
"Can you?" Robyn grabbed Micah's arm and looked at him as if Micah was his last hope and the answer to all his dreams and desires. Micah stammered some vowels but gave no real answer. Of course, he had a kilt to spare but he still was certain that seeing Robyn actually wear one will break his system. But it was no use. How could he deny Robyn this? He wanted to fit in. To embrace and respect the traditions of Micah's family. If Robyn does not partake in it on a day like this, then when? He seriously needed to put his feelings aside. Perhaps even more than usually.
"S-sure. I'll find ye one." Micah smiled, covering up all the turmoil in his mind. Robyn beamed at him and followed upstairs.
Quickly enough, a fitting plaid fabric was found upstairs. Micah handed it to Robyn who looked at it in excitement. Like a little child getting that sweet they desperate wanted. Micah instructed Robyn to use his belt and informed him that if he needed additional pins, to just let Micah know. Wanting to give Robyn the same privacy as before (and really just protecting himself from staring and seeing things he shouldn't see), Micah was about to leave the room when Robyn uttered his name.
"I don't actually know how to put this on. Think you can help me?"
Micah froze, eyes staring at Robyn widely.
Right.
...
Fuck.
