Chapter Text
Four months, one week, and six days since they left.
Two months, two weeks, and five days since they disappeared.
“And you haven’t talked since then?”
“No. Neither of us have tried.”
“Laurance, you cannot be serious.”
Cadenza loves her little brother, but Irene this man could not make a good choice for himself even if it was in a life-or-death situation. She stared at him from across his couch with a disappointed look.
“I don’t know what to say to him, Cadenza!” Laurance throws his arms up defensively. “I’m not too sure he knows either.”
“Try ‘this isn’t working out, we should break up.’”
“Cadenza!”
“What? I’m serious!” Cadenza shrugged. “This is starting to take a toll on you, and I can tell. This relationship is only going to end one way.”
“Uh huh. And what would that be?” Laurance squints at his sister.
“The same way it did in high school, Laurance.” Cadenza shook her head. “You said it was starting to feel that way, after all. Which…”
“Hm?”
“Well… what did you mean by that?” Cadenza questions. “When you say your relationship with Gene feels like it did in high school? I mean, I know you guys weren’t the healthiest fruits in the—”
“You’re a dick, Cadenza.” Laurance stops her in the middle of her little gay joke, causing her to chuckle a little. “And I guess it’s… probably all of the carelessness and irresponsibility? You know how I was in freshman year.”
“So… you guys just aren’t weighing the consequences of your actions?” Cadenza arches a brow.
“Well—I’m trying, at least,” Laurance defends. “But Gene just… doesn’t seem to care who or what he hurts. Which was a trait I thought he’d moved on from.”
“Then why is it that you keep getting dragged down with him?” Cadenza rhetorically asks. “Even if Gene knows no better than he did in high school, you do.”
“I—”
“Don’t bother, I’ll answer it for you.” Cadenza interrupts. She scooches closer to Laurance on the couch, turning to look at and point at his face directly. “You miss Garroth.”
“...Well, yeah, of course?” Laurance looks at his sister confused. “He’s my best friend.”
“I- I don’t know…” Cadenza takes a minute to think, figuring out how exactly to explain what she means without implying the incredibly obvious. “You and Garroth are a very dynamic… duo. You equal each other out in a very positive way.”
“Yes, Cadenza. I think most best friends are like that.”
“Laurance, you’re going off the walls without him.” Cadenza finally puts it bluntly. “When Garroth isn’t around to keep you level, you become impulsive and make bad choices.”
“That’s not true,” Laurance argues. “For one, I was fine when I stayed back and everyone went to Love~Love-”
“We were busy taking care of our brother. Doesn’t count.”
“Nevertheless, Cadenza,” Laurance clears his throat. “Do you seriously think I’m more impulsive than Garroth?”
“That’s not what I mean, Laurance.” Cadenza groans. “Of course Garroth is more impulsive than you, he breaks down doors all the fucking time.”
“Then I need you to say what you’re thinking because you are not making any sense.”
Cadenza takes even longer to think this time, pursing her lips before she finally speaks up.
“When you and Garroth met, you weren’t in… the greatest headspace, you know? You were a delinquent in a bad relationship who thought he could get away with anything.” Cadenza explains, which only makes Laurance look at her in confusion. “But Garroth was the one who helped you get out of that spot. You went from that no-good shut-in to one of the most beloved in the school in less than a year. And—not trying to make you feel bad here, but you know as well as I do how bad I wanted to help you better yourself, and I couldn’t. I, your own sister couldn’t help you, but Garroth could.”
Laurance doesn’t say anything, but his face changes from one of confusion to a face filled with concentration, as if he was thinking really hard about something.
“And then every day afterward it was like you two were inseparable. Garroth and Laurance, the individuals, became GarrothandLaurance, the duo, one word.” Cadenza goes on. “Throughout high school, throughout college, and nearly every day after. You two—”
Cadenza’s rambling is interrupted by an involuntary gasp coming from Laurance’s mouth. She stops talking and looks at him—he’s just staring into nowhere, eyes completely wide, as if some realization had finally hit him after years.
“Uh, Laurance? You okay?”
“I’m in love with Garroth.” He blurts out without a second thought, his face unmoving. “Oh my Irene.”
“...Thank Irene you figured it out yourself.” Cadenza takes a deep breath of relief. “I did not want to have to be the one to tell you.”
Laurance looks at her offendedly. “...What does that mean?!”
“Well, I…”
“Is that what you’ve been implying this whole time?!”
“Well, was I wrong?” Cadenza crosses her arms, tossing Laurance a smart-ass look. “Because based on what you just said…”
“Oh fuck I really have to break up with Gene now, huh?” Laurance groans, burying his head in his hands. “Well—is it breaking up if we weren’t serious in the first place, or…”
“I don’t think that matters,” Cadenza clears her throat, making him finally look up at her. “Laurance, you need to end things. Whatever it might be.”
“I know. I know, Irene—” Laurance mumbles incoherently. “We haven’t spoken in days, Cadenza. I haven’t even figured out how to approach him period, let alone break the guy’s heart.”
“Break his heart?” Cadenza snickers. “You think pretty highly of yourself, don’t you?”
“Shut up, Cadenza.”
“Oh, you love me.” She jokefully hits him in the shoulder before she stands up. “And while I share the sentiment, I do have to get going. I told our parents I’d babysit.”
“Ugh—jealous.” Laurance rolls his eyes. “I need to make plans to visit them and Caleb soon. It’s been a while.”
“Well, once you dump your loser boyfriend, you’ll have the time to do so.” Cadenza teases, making her way to the front door. “Text me if you need me, okay? You forget too often that you can do that, baby brother.”
“Ew please do not quote Garroth right now.”
“Garroth doesn’t own the phrase ‘baby brother.’”
“Yeah, but he might as well.”
“...Fair enough.” Cadenza says, reaching for the doorknob. “I’ll see you later, Laurance. Love ya.”
“Love you too. I’ll let you know how everything goes.”
“You better,” Cadenza laughs before making her way out and shutting the door behind her, leaving Laurance by himself on the couch.
He groans loudly before falling backwards into a lying position.
Breaking up with Gene wasn’t easy when he had to do it in high school; he doubts it’ll be any easier this time around.
—
Four months and two weeks since they left.
Two months, two weeks, and six days since they disappeared.
“-And now Gene and Laurance are fighting, so he’s actually riding with us too.”
Sasha groans as she hands Reese, who she’s conversing with, another clean plate for him to put away. She really regrets not doing the dishes after closing yesterday when she was asked.
“Well—Weren’t you two and Gene originally pooled together anyway?” Reese questioned. “Seems like it’s more convenient to bring the people you live with.”
“Oh, no. Not Gene. Laurance invited himself into my car.” Sasha chuckles ironically as she aggressively scrubs another dish. “Gene’s been driving himself alone these past few days.”
“So that’s… five people?” Reese counted. “That’s every seat. That can’t be comfortable.”
“It isn’t.” Zenix enters the kitchen from the main eating area, where he’d just finished wiping down the tables, and hoists himself up on the counter. “In fact, it’s a constant fight over shotgun between the men.”
“You mean between you and Laurance,” Sasha corrects. “Dante and Vylad don’t seem to mind being crammed together at all.”
“You’d think they would mind with Laurance in the car,” Zenix comments. “They’re just lucky he’s too dumb to notice their desperation to be near each other.”
Around the corner, their conversation is being overheard.
“...Are they talking about us?”
“Oh yeah.”
“So… sounds like that plan worked..?” Back in the kitchen, Reese chimes in, despite not having been completely filled in. He knew enough.
“Oh yeah. They’re talking again.” Sasha smirks. “They haven’t said what they are but they’re something now.”
Dante glances over at Vylad.
He’s still only fixated on eavesdropping.
Dante’s going to think about what Sasha said for the rest of the day.
“You can’t tell anyone though,” Sasha told. “Dante’s mad at Gene, and Laurance would tell Garroth the moment he found the opportunity.”
“...Isn’t Garroth MIA?”
“Hence ‘the moment he found the oppor-’ hmm.” Sasha cuts herself off and slowly turns around, squinting. “Hmm…”
“...She knows we’re listening.”
“They’re listening,” Sasha shook her head. “Little eavesdroppers.”
“ You were talking about us!” Dante finally stumbles in, a loud sigh coming from behind him as Vylad follows. “And what part of ‘keep it to yourselves’ influenced you to tell Prince Gumball over here-”
“Dante, don’t be racist.” Sasha crossed her arms, Dante just reacting with a confused look. “Reese is cool. Also, he overheard my plans. So.”
“I won’t say anything,” Reese promises, holding his hand up. “You have my word. Lips are sealed.”
“Not as sealed as Dante and—” Zenix is cut off by Vylad popping him in the shoulder. “Um, ow!”
“It’s been three days and you guys are already insufferable.” Vylad rolled his eyes. “‘Why don’t we get on Sasha? She’s dating a ginger.”
Dante chuckles at this, so Sasha immediately shoots him a glare. “Dante, you don’t get to laugh, you dated the same ginger. Twice.” she clears her throat. “Also, we’re not dating, we’ve been seriously talking for barely a week.”
“Yeah, that’s like five years in lesbian.” Vylad snickers. “Where’s the U-Haul?”
“Says he who moved in before you guys were even aware of yourselves.” Sasha points accusingly. “Who’s the lesbian now?”
“...Think it’s still you, Sasha.” Vylad arches a brow. “...Are you on something again?”
“No, I just didn’t think before I spoke.” Sasha admitted. “My statement still stands.”
“We’ll see if it still stands in a week when you guys post the engagement announcement.” Vylad cackles. “Make sure you wait long enough so your guest list can make it. They’re still MIA”
“Oh yeah. Katelyn would be so fucking pissed if she wasn’t Nicole’s best man.” Dante adds.
“Wouldn’t she be the maid of honor?” Reese asks.
“Katelyn? No, she’d definitely be a best man. Or… best woman?” Sasha shrugged. “Wait, why the hell am I encouraging this conversation? Dammit.”
“Maybe I was being too generous with the week.”
“Maybe you were being too generous by saying you would open the doors today because we open in like three minutes.”
“No we-“ Vylad’s eyes widen as he glances over to the clock, which affirmed it was in fact 7:57. “Shit shit shit shit—”
Vylad runs out of the kitchen to go open the front doors to the cafe, and before anyone else in the room could continue the conversation—
“I wouldn’t have forgotten to open the cafe.”
Sasha sighs, Zenix looks down, and Reese just purses his lips and avoids eye contact.
Dante, who was not facing the direction of the voice, turns around and immediately rolls his eyes. “No, Gene. You would’ve forgotten to close it and LET IT GET ROBBED.” he snorted. “Oh wait. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID.”
“Oh my Irene, it wasn’t even that much.”
“They stole ten thousand dollars cash,” Dante argued. “Why did you even leave ten thousand dollars cash just sitting around?!”
“I didn’t exactly anticipate that we’d get robbed, Dante!”
“No one did, but that money still should have been in a bank account.” Dante barks. “But you have no sense of responsibility, apparently—”
“Oh, and you do?”
“More than you, apparently.”
“I taught you everything you know.”
“...I don't think so.”
Dante stomps off to the breakroom to calm down, leaving the other three to deal with Gene and his… mood.
Sasha looks at Zenix and Reese, who clearly have no intention of saying anything while he’s in the room.
She decides to bite the bullet and take a few steps closer. “Gene, I’m saying this as one of your best friends because I care about you. You need to get your shit together before you ruin every important relationship in your life.”
“Dante will come around. He’s just in a little… no-fun phase.” Gene scoffs. “I blame Vylad. He needs to stop squatting in his house already.”
Sasha just shook her head.
—
Outside of a few coworkers that no one actually knew that well, the dining room was relatively empty. Which was expected, of course. They aren’t open yet.
Vylad makes his way to the front doors and is about to reach for the key in his pocket when he notices Laurance standing at the host kiosk. But he’s not doing anything, he’s just… standing there.
“Uh…” Vylad walks up to the kiosk, looking at Laurance’s unreadable expression with concern. “Laurance? Are you alright?”
“Mhm.” Laurance keeps a low volume and continues staring down. “Just getting ready to open.”
“You’re not doing anything on there.” Vylad points out. “Are you okay?”
“I’m…” Laurance finally looks up. “Just counting the minutes.”
“Until we open..?” Vylad tilts his head.
“...Until they get back.” Laurance lazily shrugs. “It’s eight, you should probably open the doors.”
Vylad doesn’t push, mostly because he doesn’t have the time to.
—
“Seriously? You’ve been here every day the past week.”
“Well, food here’s just that good I guess.”
“Uh huh,” Sasha puts a hand on her hip. “You sure it’s the food?”
“Yeah, mostly the food,” Nicole chuckles. “But I guess the service is okay too. It’d be better if the hot goth girl sat with me, but it’s alright.”
“Nicole, you know I wanna, but I’m on the clock.” Sasha grins. “But I do have an extended break in an hour.”
“Are you guys really flirting right now?”
Sasha turns her head to face Vylad, who just looks done. “Why? Jealous?”
“Aw, Vylad, doesn’t Dante use any of the pick-up lines from his book with you?” Nicole teases. “You’d really think—”
“Okay, one ‘hot goth girl’ isn’t really a pickup—wait,” Vylad glares at Sasha. “Did you seriously tell her too?”
“Well me and Dante had a whole conversation before you guys were even…” Nicole trails off. “So no harm’s really done.”
“Irene Garroth is going to be so pissed when he finds out from someone who isn’t me.”
“He won’t.”
“I don’t believe that.”
—
“Hey, Gene!”
Gene’s taken off guard by the calling of his own name coming from behind him. He turns to see Laurance, running his way to him hastily.
Gene’s not sure whether he’s pleasantly or negatively surprised that Laurance is talking to him again. After what the brunette said the last time they spoke, Gene could tell that this was going to crash and burn—again—if he didn’t do something fast.
“Laurance,” he acknowledges when the other finally catches up. “Hey.”
“I know the last time we talked—”
“Was shitty?”
“Gene,” Laurance gives him a pleading look. “Can I ride with you today? I really think we ought to have a serious talk.”
“So now you want to talk to me?”
“Not like you tried too hard to reach me, either.”
Gene rolls his eyes. “Fine. Get in the car.”
Laurance shakes a bit at Gene’s demanding tone—another flaw he’d thought the older had gotten over. And just like high school, the tone encourages Laurance not to hesitate to listen, and he makes his way to the passenger seat.
A few tense minutes of silence later, they’re on the road home. Laurance catches himself glancing next to him every few seconds, but struggles to actually bring up the topic. It’s only when—
“Are you going to talk?” Gene’s nose wrinkles. “Or did you just want to be near me that bad?”
“I’d rather get into it at home.” Laurance sighs, tapping his fingers on his own lap anxiously. “If you don’t mi-”
“Actually, I kind of do mind.” Gene passive-aggressively interjects. “You begged to talk to me. You don’t get to back out and just get a free ride home.”
“That’s not what I-”
“Talk, Laurance.”
Laurance takes a deep breath and musters up the courage to approach the topic.
He wishes he had more time to think about the leadup, but he doesn’t. Gene doesn’t want to give him a second to think, so as a result…
“Gene, we need to break up.”
Word vomit.
Even if he was going to say that exact line eventually, he didn’t want it to be his opening.
Especially when it causes Gene to react horrifically; not with words of his own, but with actions.
Gene slams on the brakes so hard that they both lunge forward, the only thing saving them from a head injury being their seatbelts.
“Wh- Gene, WHAT THE HELL?!”
“You’re breaking up with me?” Gene’s eye twitches. “Why?”
“Gene, we are in the middle of the road.” Laurance scolds. “Pissed or not you need to keep driving.”
“I don’t see any cars. I think we have time.”
“Gene, I’m serious!” Laurance almost looks scared. “Start driving and I’ll-”
Laurance is interrupted by the noise of a loud, blaring horn overwhelming his senses. He takes a second to recover from the shock while Gene finally gets the car wheels moving again.
“Gene… we aren’t good together,” Laurance admits. “We weren’t the first time, we aren’t now. Whenever we’re together we’re reckless, irresponsible, and possibly even the worst versions of ourselves. It’s hurting you, it’s hurting me, and it’s hurting everyone around us.
Gene hums in response, but doesn’t actually say anything, so Laurance continues.
“It’s not a you thing, Gene. It’s not either of us. We’re just… not—”
“You’re lying,” Gene interrupts. “Well, maybe not entirely. But there’s something you’re not telling me. That’s not it.”
Laurance looks at him guiltily, but Gene keeps concentrating on the road, not sparing the brunette even a glance.
“Gene, that’s… I don’t know what you want me to say. That’s the truth.” Laurance half-lies. “It’s not because of us as individuals, we just-”
“You’re right,” Gene talks over him again. “It’s not because of us. It’s because of fucking Garroth.”
“Gene, he’s not even here!” Laurance starts getting defensive. “Don’t bring him into this. He-”
“No, nono. I let you talk,” Gene chuckles. “Now it’s my turn.”
Laurance nods, deciding that Gene is as deserving as anyone else to get to talk about their feelings.
“It’s Garroth. It’s always been Garroth, and it always will be Garroth.” Gene spat. “It doesn’t matter to you if there’s someone out there more deserving of your affections than him. Every part of you is his even when he doesn’t know it, even when he left you among the few still at the street while he and everyone else got to vacation.” he rambles. “You led me on and used me as a rebound, as some sort of replacement to fill Garroth’s void until he’s back.”
“...I’m sorry, Gene.” Laurance mumbles. “I didn’t mean to-”
“And the craziest part about this is that it isn’t even fair,” Gene clears his throat. “I mean, I rightfully had you first. I liked you better before you ever met him. I liked you at your lowest, while everyone else just wanted to ‘fix’ you and make you feel ashamed to be yourself.”
Laurance looks up at Gene. “What would you define as me being myself?”
“When you aren’t a stuck-up, no-fun dweeb.” Gene insulted. “I thought that when you asked me out again that you’d finally came to your senses. You don’t think we were brought back together for a reason?”
“...No.” Laurance shakes his head, keeping his lips pursed tight as Gene slowly pulls into the brunette’s driveway and stops.
“...Well, I guess thanks for-”
“You’re never going to have him.” Gene insisted, looking at Laurance with a smirk on his face and his arms crossed. “Even if he makes it back here alive, he’s never going to be yours. He’s never going to love you as anything more than his best friend. If he even still actually sees you that way.”
Laurance finds himself trembling some as he reaches for the car-door handle.
“Honestly, I don’t even know why you’re trying.” Gene cackles. “It’d probably be in your best interest to just stay with me, but hey, what do I know?”
“Nothing, Gene, you know nothing!” Laurance snaps. “Because if you knew anything you would know that my feelings on you are not dependent on Garroth. I’m a grown-ass man, Gene, and I can make my own decisions.” he finally pulls on the handle, making the door swing open. He steps out of the vehicle, turning around one last time. “At least Garroth knows that and doesn’t try to control them.”
Laurance slams the car door loudly and stomps his way inside before Gene can try to fill his head with anymore manipulative garbage.
The first thing he did when he got inside wasn’t hang up his coat or lock the door behind him or even walk any farther into the house.
He pulled out his phone from his back pocket and began typing yet another text.
To Garroth 🩵:
Laurance: I don’t know if you’ll see this, and I don’t really know whether or not I hope you do but it’s driving me insane that I’ve never said this to you.
Laurance: I love you.
Laurance: Hurry up. Get home safe, please.
…Another text to nowhere.
—
Four months and two weeks since they left.
Two months, two weeks, and six days since they disappeared.
How did he get on Dante’s doorstep?
He didn’t know.
But after last night—Irene, Gene was such a wreck . His good thing was gone and there was no way of getting it back.
No way of getting him back.
No way of getting her ever— no, no. He'd sworn off those feelings.
Gene stood in front of the door, staring at the welcome mat below him.
Could he even reason with Dante enough to get him to listen to him?
He should have thought about this more before just rushing here in the middle of the day. Shit, Dante might even be at work right now. Gene hasn’t really been paying attention to anyone’s schedule except his own.
…And Laurance’s.
Gene should go home. He shouldn’t be here right now, not when he’s so out of it and-
“What are you doing here?”
Gene looks up and is met with Dante’s unamused face. “...Dante. You’re home.”
“Yeah. Off today.” Dante shrugs. “Again, what are you doing here?”
“Uh—so Vylad’s not around, is he?”
“Uh, yeah, he’s upstairs.”
“Then who opened today?”
“I gave my key to Sasha a while ago.” Dante sighed. “You would know if you like… talked to me at all.”
“Dante, I’m sorry, okay, I know I’ve been distant, but…” Gene looked at Dante pitifully. “I need you more than ever right now. I’m so upset and—”
“ You need me more than ever right now?” Dante snickered. “Well, how the turn tables Gene.”
“Tables turn.”
“Whatever,” Dante rolls his eyes. “Why should I be there for you when you’ve been avoiding being there for me at all costs?”
“I was—going through stuff!” Gene sputtered. “Dante, you’re my brother. C’mon-”
“That’s a two-sided street.” Dante interrupts, crossing his arms. “You don’t get to just ignore me and then expect me to help you when you’re having a hard time.”
“Dante, I’m sorry.” Gene emphasized. “When did you suddenly become such a hardass?”
“You’re not making me want to forgive you anymore right now.”
“Dante, don’t be unreasonable, man.”
“Try again later.” Dante spat without hesitating to slam the door in his brother’s face.
Gene was left standing there in shock.
Dante was actually mad at him.