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Garden Raiding For Fun and Polyamo-profit.
Kel was beyond excited, and not for the usual reasons. No, he didn’t have a day off from his gig at Gino’s. Well he did, but that was more a pleasant addition to today. It wasn’t that he had gotten into community college after summer school, no, that had been celebrated two weeks prior, with a rather fun visit to Sunny. Was it the tentative scholarship he was offered for basketball if he kept his academic act together for a semester at said community college? No, that was during the trip to visit Sunny, and that was celebrated in a small bedroom for a few exhausting hours.
It wasn’t the 2 year anniversary, at least he was pretty sure. Oh wait, it could be...Oh shit!
With panicked purpose, Kel rolled up the sleeve of his old varsity jacket, checking his wrist. Neatly tattooed onto his wrist was 3 sets of numbers. A date to be exact, July 20th. The year wasn’t important, well at least right now. He visibly relaxed. A year had passed since the whole thing had come to light. Kel tried to stay mad, really, he did! But i mean, have you seen Sunny? It was like being mad at a puppy, a starved puppy!
He had cracked after two months before sending him a letter. Letters had turned to texts, Im’s and emails. Then a visit for a day. Then a week, then half of an entire summer. And a birthday where all he had to give was the 20 dollars and a confession. It had gone better than expected.
Then he had to go home of course, and maybe neglected his school work to chat with Sunny a tiny bit. A smidge. Okay he almost failed out senior year. Of course Sunny didn’t know until it was a hole that was slightly too much to dig out by the end of school year.
Turns out Sunny had so much free time because he had sped run his GED in 3 weeks after moving, and was focusing on therapy instead. He thought Kel was getting his work done, and he was wrong. But hey! He had managed to fix it, after Sunny gave him the cold shoulder for a week.
The tattoo was less of a gift and more of a reminder to Kel, He had spent so long anxious that he would miss more important moments with Sunny. He had been leaving himself constant notes, putting it in his phone, hell, he even wrote it on his mirror. But that important date always slipped his mind, so of course, he would get it permanently written onto his body!
Sunny was less than pleased when he had found out, at their first anniversary nonetheless. He cooled a bit when he found out that Kel had snagged some of his handwriting to make it match Sunny’s penmanship. It had been a good birthday after that.
Catching himself reminiscing, he shook his head out of the clouds. Maaaaaaaaan, undiagnosed ADHD was a hell of a drug. No, Sunny’s birthday was seventeen days away. He had said that he didn’t need a present, considering Kel had paid for his bus ticket, and had agreed to this plan.
Kel wasn’t sure at first in all honesty. He was a bit selfish at heart when it came to Sunny’s time. But he had warmed up to the idea, at least enough to give it a shot. He wondered if soon, he’d have a new set of numbers written onto his wrist.
Basil awoke in the middle of the night. Thankfully, it wasn’t the result of a nightmare, drowning in the floating blob of black tar, or anything like that. Honestly, he had no idea why he was awake at… what time was it? Grumbling, rotating his alarm clock to face him, he squinted at the red numerals.
Why was he awake at 3:13 Am? He didn’t need to use the bathroom, his anxiety wasn’t sending his brain to the no fun zone (patent pending), it seemed like it was nothing. Well maybe he could use a drink of water.
While filling his glass in the bathroom, just with the shower light on to prevent his eyeballs from being assaulted by fluorescent lighting, he heard a bump. Or he thought he did at least, brushing his wild hair behind his ear, he listened. Not moving an inch, he waited for something, anything. Nothing came.
With a newly emptied glass of water, he headed back to bed. Well, he was until he heard a loud thump and a muffled noise. Then he calmly made his way to bed. He didn’t squeal like a girl in surprise and hide under his covers, not at all! How dare you assume such a thing.
Sunny was in a bad mood. A foul mood, the kind of mood where everyone around you asked if everything was alright. Of course you’d say you were fine. But everybody asks about it, and you just keep getting more and more annoyed, and every attempt to escape the foul mood just makes you grumpier.
First he had woken up late, so had to skip breakfast to make his way to the bus terminal. Then the soda he brought to wait in line with had exploded all over him, leaving him drenched in sticky sugar water. Of course he had to get on the bus as fast as possible, so he didn’t have time to clean himself back up.
Then, of course, he got stuck next to a chatty granny who just went on and on about her grandkids. The combined weight of social anxiety and manners kept him stuck in that horrific annoying verbal hellhole. She didn’t even notice that he just started staring out the window at the hour mark. Oh well, the bus ride was only three hours.
Or it would have been, if the roach motel on wheels didn’t fucking break down! And of course, nobody had any phone signal, somehow, despite being on the side of the god damned highway! It wouldn't be so bad, if it wasn’t 90 degrees out there. But hey, there was a fucking bright side, a gas station just a half mile up the road!
So his pale ass just got some light toasting as he waited in the shade, with no water right? Oh no, that would be to fucking EASY wouldn’t it? No it took 5 fucking hours for a new bus to arrive! At this point, he was seriously beginning to wish there were some stairs to throw himself down. At least Mari didn’t have to put up with this bullshit, being 6 feet under.
What hurt the most is that he had planned so long, gotten Kel to get everything ready. If Kel had done what he had been asked to, he would have basically hurt Basil even more! By the time the bus rolled into the station he was sticky, covered in sweat stained clothes, and pissed off beyond measure. Nothing could improve his mood, nothing! He would be angry forever!
Well he would have at least pretended to stay angry, if he didn't arrive to the most wonderful sight. His boyfriend, that beautiful dumb man, was asleep on a bus station bench like a hobo. Empty chip bags and numerous empty Orange joe bottles. For a moment, Sunny wondered if he was a mass snack murderer, or a serial killer, considering he had left the bodies for all to see!
However that adorable snore drew him in, he needed quality time with his boy. Nudging him softly, Kel was up like a shot. “Wha? WHO, FIGHT ME BR- oh! Sunny!”
Mid-fight or flight response, Sunny had just plopped into his lap and hugged him tight. Once ruing his short stature, he now cherished it. He could straddle his 6’4 foot goof of a boyfriend like a cat and snuggle in. He could also get all the piggy back rides he desired. Truly, he was blessed to be a short king.
“Awwww….Bad day sunshine?” Smoothing back the sweat-slicked hair of the pale boy clinging to him, Sunny nodded with a sniff. “Want to just sit here a while until you calm down hun?” Another nod! Hah, two for two, you're on fire Kel. Now go in for the kill!
He gently wrapped his arms around the smaller teen and just hummed, rocking a bit. He could feel Sunny un-tense, a days worth of frustration and anxiety slowly melting away. First relax the sunshine, then take him home and cuddle him. An easy fix for sure, but for how, he was enjoying the moment.
Basil was positive something was happening outside. After the big thump, he heard a nearby car door shut. The house was deathly still, the only sound was the quiet hum of the AC. Maybe it was just people coming back from a fast food run! Or a long road trip, weary for their own bed. At 3:21 Am...on a Tuesday.
Well, there were no more noises outside, that he could tell. Basil laughed, the anxiety in it would be apparent to anyone with two ears. It was nothing, he was being paranoid!
Until he heard another loud thump and a swear. People were in his front garden! Or, well, near his front garden. They could be on the sidewalk for all he knew. Well, he thought that until he heard a loud deep “FUCK”
With another manly squeal of terror, his mind created a bunch of horrific scenarios. Snails, men breaking into his house, men who brought goats that would eat all his flowers!
Wait, seriously, that's….. what he was concerned with? Not someone who would break into his house, and brutally kill him, but his daisies? Upon reflection, yup, that's exactly how he feels. Huh. Something to unpack with the therapist later.
But another mumbled swear filled the night, and he could hear them circling around the house. Oh he might die tonight.
“Basil is gonna think we stuck him up” Kel could feel the rumble of Sunny’s deep voice as he pressed into his back, being carried the 10 blocks back to Kel’s abode. Sunny still rarely spoke, rather, communicating through touch and expressions, but it was always a treat to hear those dulcet tones. They made Kel shiver honestly.
“Er...about that, i uh...sorta forgot about inviting him?” Kel just kept moving forward, putting one foot in front of the other. In no way was he ignoring the death glare he could feel burning into the back of his skull.
“You forgot.”
“Yup!”
“You forgot to invite Basil. The one we were going to invite to a triad with a fancy dinner.”
“Uh-huh!”
“The entire point of me coming out here, through the hell known as a greyhound.”
“You know Sunny, if i didn't know better….” He stopped walking, letting the silence drum up some emphasis. “I’d think you were calling me a moron.”
And there was the backpedaling, sunny sputtered a bit as he squirmed. “N-nooo……”
“I feel like there's a "but" there sunshine, and it's not yours on my bed.”
The sounds of footsteps and crickets echoed out into the darkness. The only lights at this time were from passing cars and the thick cloud of fireflies that coated the area in early July. Kel was under the smug assumption that it was just teasing, That Sunny was just blushing that bright red he always did when even mildly teased. He wasn’t.
“You know...if you don't want to do this...i understand. It’s not normal to want...more anyway.” He could feel the quiet mumbles into the back of his jacket, the feeling of his lips moving through fabric sent shocks through him.
It had been incredibly brave of Sunny to tell him that he was poly. Sunny had assumed it would have been a deal-breaker, and had gone into the discussion with the attitude of a death row inmate, hearing his cell open.
Kel had admittedly been shocked at the time, and a bit angry. Was he not enough for Sunny? Was he lacking? He was so caught up in his own agitation and insecurity he didn’t even notice Sunny tearing up at first. He was only taken out of his own head by hearing the bathroom door of the small apartment slamming shut.
It took some time to get him to come out. Kel wasn’t the only one with worries it turned out. Through the door, thoughts of selfishness and perversion were expressed. Kel didn’t even entertain that thought for a moment. With a running start, he burst through the cheap door like the Orange Joe Man.
Kel jolted back to the present, his brain connecting in the most roundabout way possible, that Sunny was about to spiral into the bad place (patent pending).
Kel fished Sunny off his back. It was worse than he thought. His good eye was tearing up, his eyepatch was a bit askew, and his lip was wobbling. Being held by the armpits like a bad kitten just multiplied the effect of this look, it broke Kel’s heart.
“Sunny, I was just teasing you. I’m so proud that you came out and told me in the first place! And more importantly, I did forget about asking him. I’m not mean, just a dummy!” He planted a kiss on Sunny’s forehead, who gave a wobbly smile in return.
“A-are you sure? It’s a lot to ask for…. I’d understand.”
“Hey, I said i’d give it a shot and i mean it. Besides, should i really be mad about having two adorable boys? Two twinks and a hunk! The perfect combination.”
Sunny rolled his eye at him, grinning a bit wider. “Maybe a twunk at best. You're a bit too much of a pillow princess to be a hunk honey.” It was so hard to fluster Kel, that that made it all the more delightful when he managed to get a killing blow.
Kel did what he always did when he was embarrassed, go into a dead sprint, throwing Sunny over his shoulder.
“JESUS KEL SLOW DOWN.” He was not heeded as he was violently bounced around
Basil could call Polly to beat the crap out of the would be assailants! He once saw her beat off a mugger with a can of corn which was very impressive. The string of Spanish naughty words that followed was impressive too! Wait, no, she was visiting family this week, SHIT!
He had been mulling over his options for a bit now, hiding under his covers, trying to ignore the bumps, and soft bubberings that came through his cracked window, and he was quickly running out of them besides getting kidnapped, or dying.
I mean it's not like dying would be that b- No, bad Basil! Don’t let it set in, Sunny would kill him if he died. Well, find some way to bring him back from the grave first? Would Sunny be able to manage that? Maybe.
Kel maybe. He would turn heaven and earth to make him happy. Learning necromancy would not be the most extreme thing Kel did for that quiet boy, if the numbers on his wrist meant anything.
Oh who was he kidding, he was the most jealous bitch alive! They were so damn happy and adorable and perfect and he hated it so much. Oh and the cherry on top of this shit sundae was that of course, Sunny had noticed he was feeling down and came to visit!
He had to lie about worrying that their relationship would change with Kel in the middle. Basically pretending to be a needy bitch in a different way. He had been reassured and to be fair, they talked all the time, Sunny even visited a lot, not to just see Kel too.
But still, it's like being invited to a lovely dinner party, having a 5 course meal, but finding out that dessert would be served to the biggest dipshit there! The one that's tall, handsome, has a great smile….Basil realized that he was in the mood for jump rope.
A loud bang derailed the clusterfuck of a mental train of thought, making sure it was reduced to naught but ash. Oh yea, he was going to die.
“Kel, i thought you said you got everything.”
“I did.” Kel looked up from his phone. “All the meat is there.”
“Kel, where are all the vegetables?” Oh shit, he forgot about that. “I uh, ate them”
Sunny looked at him from the kitchen, one eyebrow slowly creeping up.
“You ate, for confirmation, enough vegetables for a three person meal. A day after you bought them no less…” Sunny was doubtful, and Kel remained silent, hiding his face behind a couch pillow.
“Fine. You don't wanna be honest? I'll ask Hero.” Kel froze, oh no. He couldn't be exposed like that! With a burst of athletic energy, he launched off the couch, hands outstretched for Sunny’s phone.
Two mistakes were made in this action. The first was that the lunge had too much power. He would fall flat on his face, there was no chance of obtaining the cellular device otherwise. The second was expecting Sunny not to predict this action.
This was proven false as he was sidestepped, falling on the cold kitchen floor with a thump. Sunny had faked him out, then broke his ankles. The shock was only punctuated with the feeling of a firm foot on his back. “Pathetic. I expected better.” This was said in a huffy tone of superiority, he probably thought he had a more Spaceboy vibe. However, it was more Sweetheart than anything. God damned he loved this pale man.
“ Don’t pleaseeeee ” his voice muffled by dirty linoleum, someone should mop the floor really.
Sunny didn’t get a text reply, oh no. He got a link to a YouTube video named “My bro is a cryptid.” With pure trepidation he opened the video, and what he saw didn’t surprise him as much as it should really. A shaky cam down the stairs, turning the corner and it was Kel alright. Slav squatting in front of the fridge while eating a whole ass cabbage, while pouring ranch onto it before each bite. “When i said you needed to vary your diet this is not what i meant…”
Kel knew what he was watching, he could hear the wet munches from his position under Sunny’s heel. “I can go get more! We still have tomorrow to take flower-boy on a date!.” Yes, appeal to his senses! Pretend you're a functioning adult with a back up plan!
“Tomorrow? The 4th of July. Where Othermart will be closed.”
Uh-oh that tone isn't fun. Kel was gonna be in trouble if this kept up. Not the fun kinda trouble where he was tied up and Sunny was in that corset, not the cold shoulder one. The no snuggling kind, the being called Kelsey kind! He needed to salvage this situation right damn now. At this rate, he would be served water instead of Orange Joe at every meal!
“Don’t worry, I have an idea!”
Basil was going to do this. He could be tough and strong, he could be a MAN! He wasn’t just some blonde flower twink who had serious mental health problems! He would defend his home, and his flowers to the DEATH. Or at least till he got hit once, then he would run away and cry, or collapse and cry.
Damn his therapist to hell for all this. What kinda bullshit idea is being honest with himself! It sucks and he can't stop. He hated not being able to lie to himself much anymore. Who cares if it's an “unhealthy coping mechanism” it worked god damn it! Why can't he just lie about his emotions for four years like before? Oh right the whole trying to murder Sunny bit….. And he IS being honest, he bet he looks super intimidating right now!
The mirror showed him that it was a lie. Blond messy hair, black rubber boots, overalls and a green shirt. The entire look held together with the garden hoe he had brought in so it wouldn't get wet. Oh god he was not intimidating, he looked like someone was trying to cosplay an animal crossing villager on Tik-Tok.
Well it was too late to back out now! He had decided he had stood by too long! He was going to defend his home, and take out some of this gay angst on that poor soul in his garden. He heard the footsteps just outside his window before he made his way to the back door. He would simply beat them within an inch of their life. And if they didn’t, well, he always had the compost heap to hide them in.
With a guttural scream he charged out the door, kicking it open with his squeaky rubber boots, flicking on the floodlights. “YOU ROBBED THE WRONG GARD-” The words died in his throat, his body was frozen, hoe raised over his head. His poor, poor garden was in shambles. Every patch was picked clean, some discarded and thrown to the ground, not ripe or too ripe. It was stripped of every edible thing possible. He could feel his eyes beginning to water.
All his hard work, all his spring planting. For NOTHING. Then his gaze fell upon the perpetrator of this horrendous act. “WHAT THE FUCK”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” It had been a pain to move Kel’s kitchen table out here, much less a camping range with a propane tank. The clearing was rather pretty, so perhaps it would work out. “Told you! Sometimes I'm right!”
Sunny was smoothing the tablecloth and setting out the candelabra when he realized something. “Kel, where are the vegetables?”
“Sunny, we passed an entire garden, where did you THINK we were going to get them.” Sunny just winced, looking over to his soon to be dead boyfriend. “I know he's protective of it, but he won’t get mad if we steal it for a nice date!”
“Kel you will not survive the n-” And he was running, impulsive as always. "At least don’t get your new shoes dirty....” He was gone by the time he had started that sentence as Sunny sighed. Well, if Basil did kill him, he’d owe him one murder cover up. None of this faked suicide crap crap. He had a plan this time. Though it would be a challenge to get access to a pig farm at this time of night.
Kel was currently hunched over the remains of the last of Basil’s tomatoes. Sure he had grabbed everything Sunny had needed to cook their meal, buuuut he had grabbed a little extra for himself. Okay a lot extra for himself. He couldn't help it. Sunny kept smacking his hand when he tried to reach for the garlic bread.
So every time he was sent, he skimmed some veg off the top. A cucumber here, a carrot there. He thought it would go unnoticed. But looking at the garden now, how could it not be, he had cleared out the place. Oh well, Basil wouldn't be that mad. Time to finish off those tomatoes, they were amazing!
As he dug into his sweet sweet prize, the flood light turned on. He froze, like a raccoon in the way of an oncoming car as an oddly squeaky battle cry rang out into the quiet night and the back door blasted open. “YOU ROBBED THE WRONG GARD-” He let his hoe slowly drop as he just stared at Kel, who kept eating the chocolate tomato he picked, the last one left on the vine.
Basil just stared at Kel as he ate the last of his tomato, taking in his ruined garden. “Did you...did you eat everything?” He just stared at the raccoon given human flesh as he chewed, his mouth too full of his PRIZE WINNING PRODUCE to answer yet.
He just tried to stare him down, unaware that this was less than intimidating, considering he had the stance and facial expression of an irritated toddler. The puffed cheeks sold the whole bit. 10/10 adorable right there.
Meanwhile, Basil was having the greatest mental breakdown known to man. Kel was Kel, a goofy jock with the brains of a golden retriever. How did he CLEAN UP SO WELL??? His hair combed and tied into a perfect ponytail, looking like the plume of a knight's helmet. He was wearing a black vest with a white shirt and dorky orange bow tie, completed with black slacks and polished shoes. He assumed they were polished before this. His nails were even manicured, in orange of course, he only noticed due to the GALL Kel had, to keep eating the tomato.
“YOU ATE EVERYTHING? YOU KNOW HOW HARD I WORKED ON ALL OF THIS?! I WAS GONNA WIN THE STATE FAIR WITH THIS YOU YOU DUMB DUMB HIMBO!” He kept stomping his feed, Kel knew he should be upset, but honestly this is sort of adorable. He was like a little prince that had been denied his dessert. Huh, he had no idea Basil could be this cute.
“Uh, I was hungry, and i don’t care. Your produce is good.” Oh god why did he say that, it was like he was TRYING to piss off flower-boy. Wait, no, maybe he could work with this. Yea! Basil would pussy out if he knew why he was here, or even if he was asked. That would make Sunny sad, and by default Kel! Besides, he didn't want Basil to be sad. That hurt some weird kinda thing inside them.
If Kel was right, then the twink may have some deep seeded repressed rage about him taking Sunny. He did find rotten flowers stuffed in their mailbox for days after they made it official. So if he was like Hero, all he had to do was make him angry, he’d try to murder him with that hoe, and he could be led to the candle-lit dinner. Perfect!
“J-just...just pay me back later Kel, I'm not in the mood to talk, or see you right now if I'm being honest. I'm having a bad night.” The shaky smile, and the red eyes made Kel stop for a moment. His face is a reflection of a night not too long ago, where Kel went to sleep, unaware of the violent battle happening a few feet from his slumber. He couldn't be left alone tonight, Kel knew this. Oh he was going all in.
“Fair enough, Sunny wants to see you tomorrow. He came into town to visit you, not me.” Basil grinned a bit, the hoe held tightly in his grip dipping a little. “Awww, that's ni-”
“Too bad I'm going to suck the soul out of him when I get back home.” The grin on Basil’s face was frozen, eyes wide as the ice blue pools met his own brown orbs. “Excuse me?....”
“You heard me, I'm gonna suck the SOUL out of Sunny. Or should i say daddy.” Kel just grinned wider, and he knew it was less friendly, and more staking his territory. “Mmm you would think he would be submissive but no, he gives me orders and I follow every single one. Eagerly.”
His hands were shaking now. Basil didn’t notice that Kel’s legs were coiled tight, anticipating something he didn’t know he was going to do yet. All Basil could see was a slowly growing red fog as his grip made the wood grip creak. Kel was just being thoughtless right, he wasn’t TAUNTING him, to his face? About Sunny, the person he must have known he was obsessed with. He wouldn't just hurt him like that would he?
“Oh I'm sorry, I forgot, you liked Sunny didn't you? Heh...too bad. I think he’s too good for you anyway”
“S-stop.” He was shaking now. Kel wouldn't lie, some part of him always envied Basil for how easily he got Sunny’s attention. Some dark part of him pushed for him to continue, after all, how would he make sure that Basil chased him?
“Mmmm he's all mine. And you can't have any bit of him besides friendly interactions. Oh, but that's not enough is it. You want more than that don’t you.” Kel pointed at him, finger punctuating the point. “All you ever wanted? Its mine, well…. Except for his right e-”
Kel had to duck as the metal whizzed by his head. Kel looked up out of shock, Basil was frozen in the back swing, the shattered tomato pole ignored as the flood light illuminated from behind, shading his eyes. Until he looked up, in this light, they were crimson orbs boring directly into Kel’s soul. He was shaking, but it was clear that it was in raw fury.
“Well then, guess ill have to TAKE YOU FROM HIM YOU FUCKING BASTARD.” The next swing made Kel yelp, jumping back as he fell flat on his ass, only to whimper as the next blow landed inches from his crotch, burying itself deep into the ground, what was exposed of the metal gleaming.
“Oh I'm going to enjoy this. I'M GONNA MAKE SURE NOBODY FINDS YOUR BODY. I'M GONNA USE YOU AS COMPOST, GROW A NEW VEGETABLE GARDEN, THEN FEED THE SALSA I MAKE WITH IT TO YOUR BABY SISTER. AND I'M GONNA MAKE IT BAD, SO JUST LIKE IN LIFE YOU'LL BE A DISAPPOINTMENT ONE LAST TIME” with this he wrenched the hoe out of the dirt, and prepared for another swing.
Kel had fucked up.
Sunny was just putting the finishing touches on the table when he heard the noise. It was high pitched and odd at first, but it just kept growing louder and louder as it approached. Quirking his head, he watched as Kel sprinted into the clearing, quickly hiding behind Sunny, crouching down in a hilarious effort to be smaller than him. “SUNNY I MESSED UP, SAVE ME.”
“Did you try stealing from a raccoon again? I swear you can buy Or- ” Basil came rushing out of the thicket, huffing and puffing like an angry bull as Kel squealed and pushed Sunny in front of him more. Basil’s eyes gleaming red before he saw Sunny then the shutdown of his rage was apparent. He stopped, looked down at the hoe in his hands, and chucked it into the woods. The nerves were back, but how much of that was an act. Considering before he met Sunny’s eyes, he glared at Kel, who squealed yet again.
“Sit down Kel. Basil, are you okay?” Sunny doesn't look that mad really, more concerned. He gently took his hand as Basil just drank in that contact. He was dressed up too, he had his hair combed and perfectly framed, a crisp white shirt with slacks and suspenders on. Black and white wingtips were somehow perfectly clean. A beautiful table was laid out in front of them, mood lighting already lit, and soft piano playing on a nearby boombox more suited for jock jams. But it was so cozy, so intimate. Basil was very confused. Why did Kel lead him here?
“I um...Kel said some things but...but I'm okay. If he promises not to do that again.” Kel thought he was home free, that he was safe. He was wrong, two pairs of shining eyes bored into his soul, making him feel the weight of sins on his back. “N-no problem.”
Basil had to admit, this was still a less awkward dinner then the first day Sunny left the house. The chicken parm was fantastic, and so was the salad and garlic bread. Honestly, he was impressed with Sunny. He turned his garden into the most fancy meal he had ever seen. “This was fantastic! Where did you learn how to cook like this, or where did you find this salad dressing!”
Basil may have forgotten to eat due to his… lack of skill in the kitchen, anything he tried to cook ended up a burned husk, at best. Sunny just grinned politely. “Oh, Hero has been teaching me a thing or two, he says i gotta keep Kel fed somehow.” He glowed at the praise, as Kel just stared at his empty plate. He couldn't make eye contact with basil, and had used the excuse of stuffing his face not to talk, but now had no excuse. He just gazed at the two sitting across from him, chairs so close they might as well been sharing one. Kel didn't know why he hadn't been ratted out yet, but the growing feeling of impending doom made him wary for what came next.
“Anyway, I’m guessing you're curious about what this is...all about. Kel asking you to come out here.” Kel didn’t ask him jack shit. He just mocked his loneliness and more. He just boasted and ran when he was about to be given what he DESERVED. But he’d keep his mouth shut for now.
“I know you felt left out when i started dating Kel.” Basil just dropped his fork, he couldn't look up from his plate. This was it, the day he knew would eventually come. He would be told he was too clingy, too needy. That Kel was the priority. He could do it, he could handle it without crying.
“I knew from the moment i visited you what was wrong. But i didn’t understand myself the best at the time. I uh….I feel like i have a lot more love then just one person could hold. I want to invite you into our relationship. You, Me, and Kel.” Sunny tapped his fingers on the table. “I would understand if you said…” But he was interrupted.
Basil was laughing, and not a good one, an unhinged, cruel thing. It was bitter, and hateful, and reminded him all too much of SOMETHING. This was some sick joke, the universe kicking him down the stairs. And making sure the jump rope was waiting for him. “Maybe you do Sunny, but Kel doesn't.” he pointed at the silent figure at the table, grinning with wicked intent. “All he did was MOCK my loss, and rub in every little romantic moment he has gotten that I can’t. You think he wants me around? He doesn't! Isn’t that right Kel.”
“Aren't I not good enough for him Kel? Isn’t that what you said? Why would you lie to Sunny that it was?
What he expected was some villainous reveal. That he led Sunny on, that he didn’t want Basil around. Some part of him still craved suffering, even if it was just so he could feel justified at the feelings in his bitter soul. He could twist the knife. If he couldn't have Sunny, then neither can Kel. Like a petulant child breaking a toy because he couldn't have it, he was prepared to ruin everything.
He did not expect a sniff. His own smirk of victory, thinking he had backed Kel into a corner, was fading bit by bit. His shoulders began to wobble, and the first sob wracked his form. Sunny went to reach for him, unsure of what to do besides provide some small level of comfort, but he jerked his shoulder away before looking up. His smile was gone, his mouth drawn in a thin wobbling line as the tears poured.
“I’I….I’m SCARED okay! Sunny cared about you, loved you so damn deeply from the moment you set eyes on him, and he saw you! I watched for my entire childhood as you two clung so closely, and i had to fight for his attention. I didn’t understand what it was at first, but it became more clear after the confession, after he spent every day by your bedside. You were soulmates, if anything!” He was getting louder and louder as the words tumbled out of him.
“I...over those three days i discovered a lot more about myself than i thought. I didn’t think I would ever have a chance when he found….you. I’m not pretty, or thoughtful, or smart. Even when you took his EYE, i was nothing compared to you. I couldn't compete! So i...took advantage. I confessed when you were indisposed, and I got what i wanted! I got a loving boyfriend who is beyond anything i could ever dream of but..” He clung to the edge of the table, fearful that if he let go for a moment, he would fall through the floor.
“I-I FEEL SO GUILTY ALL THE TIME. You’re my best friend too, Basil and I hurt you. I took the guy I knew you liked, and didn’t care! I hurt you and hurt you for my own selfish gain. And on top of that, I'm so scared that as soon as you join, I'll be forgotten. I care about you so damn much, I wanna see you healthy and happy, but i WANT Sunny too! I...I…” By this time He just broke down, fat ugly tears as he hunched over on himself. Trying to make his bulk smaller.
He felt the small hands of Sunny wrap around his bulk, but he didn't expect another pair to join them. Looking up, Basil was barely holding in his own salvo of tears. He tried to speak, but his voice wobbled and he simply stopped trying, he just clung to Kel as he cried too. Looking over to the pale teen, his lip was wobbleing too as his eye-patch became tear stained. “N-not you toooo….W-we’re just a sad boy harem now.” Sunny just pressed himself into his other shoulder, shaking.
The weak laugh he got from Sunny made his heart hurt just a bit less. Honestly he just felt fantastic as he let it all out. Damn, repression must run in the family. But he felt like somehow, this would all work out.
Normally, Basil would be afraid around this time. The barest of light was beginning to peek in through his blinds, the clock reading 5:57 Am when he checked it for the 20th time. There was no way he could sleep after tonight, even if he was supremely comfortable. He just looked at how the jade vine bracelet he was now wearing glinted off the morning light. He was never taking this damn thing off, not after finding out Kel picked it out. “It’s never ending, like us!” What a fucking dork….
A dork that was currently hugging around his waist, and drooling on his nice pillow, his hair tie long gone, his hair pooling around his head like a halo as he clung to Basil. He thought the snoring would get on his nerves, but it lulled him. Like some kind of saw tooth lullaby. He wiggled a bit, but could not escape his grasp. He would have to wake both of them to go to the bathroom, considering he was in two death grips.
Sunny currently had his head buried in his chest, nestled perfectly under his chin, his arms were wrapped a little higher than Kel’s, but were no less pleasant. He pressed so closely, he could feel every warm breath, and every beat of his heart. Sure he had dreamed of much more lurid affairs, and ones based on lust but this. This small moment of time, this window before everyone rose to face the new day, and as whatever this was? It was the most satisfaction he had gotten out of living in some time.
He intertwined his hands, twisting his arms, with his new lovers. The small pale hand had an adorable hemp bracelet with cat beads adorning it. The tan rougher one was a wimple brown hemp rope with 3 beads of orange sea-glass. As he interlaced his fingers, they gripped tight. Huh, maybe things were going to be okay after all.
