Chapter Text
"KC this is great and all but I really don't think we need to do anything about them," Zane huffed, cross legged on KC's bedroom floor. She had dragged him up here shortly after their previous conversation, insisting they use her corkboard.
Right across from him KC stood with her back to him, facing that very corkboard. She was pinning pictures and papers to it intently, drawing pink lines with yarn to connect them.
"Oh, relax Zane! It's all in good fun."
But Zane couldn't shake the feeling that maybe there was a reason Laurance and Garroth hadn't wanted their relationship known. Maybe this was too far. Maybe Zane should have kept his mouth shut.
"If you don't want to, we don't have to set the trap, but we should gather all the evidence we have now and try to make sense of it!" KC seemed to notice Zane's discomfort. That sounded better to Zane. "And then speak with some eyewitnesses to see—"
"Eyewitnesses??" Zane exclaimed, she crossed into uncomfortable territory again.
"You're not the only person to live with Garroth and Laurance."
"Oh." He supposed that was true. Maybe Dante or Travis would know something.
KC grinned and began to gather her things in preparation for the "witness interviews". Such things included a clipboard, notebook, bedazzled pen, and a pair of reading glasses.
"Since when do you have glasses?" Zane asked, just as KC was shoving another notebook into his hands
"Well, we've got to look the part!" KC insisted.
Without a second thought KC grabbed Zane and dragged him over to Dante and Travis's house. The pair looked ridiculous with their brightly colored notebooks and puff pens. Zane had never been more embarrassed. KC, however, seemed to be more excited than ever. She knocked on the door about a million times awaiting the two boys inside.
"Uh… hello?" Dante answered the door.
"Hey Dante!! Me and Zane wanted to talk to you and Travis about something! Are you free?"
"Umm… I guess? What's with…" Dante gestured to the pair at his door.
"You'll find out in a minute!! Go get Travis and let us in!" KC giggled.
Dante's eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he let the odd pair in. Travis was already sitting on the couch, watching them curiously.
"Well, don't you two look interesting!" Travis smirked. "Tell me KC, since when do you and Hot Topic hang out?"
"Dante sit down, we have business to discuss," KC ignored Travis, arranging the four of them in such a manner that KC and Zane could study them while they answered their questions.
Zane sat on the loveseat with KC, or at least he would be sitting on the loveseat with KC if she decided to sit. Right now she stood in front of the couch, eagerly waiting to ask her first question. Zane had, reluctantly, taken out his pen and paper.
"So boys, tell me, how was living with Garroth and Laurance?" Dante and Travis exchanged confused looks while KC finally sat down and began scribbling in her notebook.
"It was great," Travis started, "I mean, a little cramped and chaotic, but I enjoyed it."
KC hummed an acknowledgement of his words. Zane looked over at her journal to see crude drawings of Garroth and Laurance kissing in between her scribbles of writing. Irene, what had Zane gotten himself into?
"Why are you two asking?" Dante dodged the question. KC wrote a note about this. Dante was the key. Travis had lived with Garroth and Laurance sure, but Dante was also there. Dante had lived with just Laurance and Garroth. Surely he knew more than Travis.
Zane kept his head down, desperate to get out of this situation. How had he let this happen?! He looked like a complete fool right now. How was KC so unbothered? She still had a sly smile on her face, as if this wasn't the most embarrassing situation to be in. Zane, sitting here asking his brother's former roommates questions to determine if he was dating his current "roommate". This was madness. But Zane didn't say a word, scared that if he did he may remind everyone that he was present.
"Oh, no reason, silly. Come on Dante, answer the question, how was living with Laurance and Garroth," KC pressed him, eyes daring him to refuse again.
"It was fine. Great. I don't know? Good? That's a weird question. I love those two, had a great time with them. Just moved out 'cause it was getting cramped with all of us,'' Dante acquiesced. "Now you answer the question, what's going on?"
Dante and KC seemed to be in a stare down now. Blue eyes locked on golden. The gears in KC's head were turning, to tell him or press further. She couldn't seem to decide.
Travis looked over at Zane concerned, hoping for someone to share his confusion with. Zane's eyes darted between Dante and KC's, finally landing on Travis's. He shared his look of confusion. They were both a little afraid of what KC and Dante were going to do next.
"Alright guys, I think it's getting a little tense in here," Travis tried with no avail to get the pair to back down.
"Oh, Dante I think you know what this is about…"
"If you're here for shipping nonsense—"
"So you do know!"
"I never—"
"—Okay! Break it up! We're all friends here! We can have a normal conversation without all this weird secrecy." Travis said. "Anyone care to explain?"
"Fine… Zane had come to me asking about the nature of Laurance and Garroth's relationship, and I was trying to see if you two would know anything." KC confessed.
"Since when does Zane care about romance?" Dante asked.
"Since Garroth and Laurance have been acting ridiculous!" Zane finally spoke up. "I mean, those two idiots spend all their time in front of others flirting, insist they're only joking, and then can't seem to sleep in their own rooms! It's driving me crazy!"
"Woah, they're sleeping together?" Travus wiggled his eyebrows.
"Well…" Dante started, all eyes now on him. "They've never told me anything… but I got the impression there was… something."
"What! I never noticed anything?!" Travis objected.
"It wasn't anything crazy! They just seemed… awkward at times? In a way best friends normally wouldn't be…" Dante trailed off. "But you're telling me they're sleeping together? I'm not sure I buy it. I'm sure they would have said something to someone!"
"I don't know they're sleeping together! All I know is that I've never found Laurance in his own room." Then, much quieter Zane added, "And I saw Laurance sneak out of Garroth's room this morning."
"Oooh, it gets juicier by the minute!" Travis exclaimed.
"See!! This is why we had to come talk to you!" KC butted in, "Those two are being incredibly suspicious! We need answers!"
"KC we don't have answers," Dante said.
"It was worth a shot! Back to plan A!" KC stood up from the couch.
"Oh no, KC—" Zane started.
"Plan A?" Travis raised an eyebrow.
"We're going to have to gather evidence! We have to keep our eyes on those two!" KC said.
"That sounds suspiciously like stalking." Zane deadpanned.
"Don't worry Zane, we're not going to stalk them. We need to hang out with them and take notes on their behaviors, that'll prove it!"
"I think we've established that's not gonna be helpful. They already act like a married couple in a group. We need them to be alone," Travis added.
"You're right! We should all go to the mall and split up! Then we can watch how they act when they think we aren't there!" KC continued.
"I don't know guys, this seems kind of strange," Dante said.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but Dante is right. This is all weird," Zane agreed.
"You two don't have to be involved, but me and KC are gonna prove them once and for all!" Travis stood up from the couch. "Let's go invite them!"
Dante and Zane exchanged a rare look of understanding. They could either leave Travis and KC to make a mess out of things, or they could go along. Although neither would be quick to admit it, they were curious as to how this plan would pan out.
And so the strange group of mutual friends stumbled their way over to Garroth, Laurance, and Zane's. Praying to god they wouldn't ask too many questions.