Chapter Text
Cole leaving was something that scared Geo, and that led him to do the cruelest thing he’d ever done. He lied to him. He made Cole believe that he needed Geo to unlock his rock form in order he wouldn't leave. How mean was that. It would have been easier to just reveal the truth to Cole when he had just met him. It really wouldn’t have mattered if he left back then. But something told him to bite his tongue about it, so he said nothing. Now, things were quite different. Geo..liked Cole. Maybe as something more than just friendship. And he feared that revealing the truth would make Cole get mad at him for lying, and resulting not just as that but also him leaving.
This time with Cole was amazing. The kids loved him. Bonzle would admit it but she was beginning to like and Geo…was having strange and new feelings for him. It 's hard to say. These feelings appeared probably three months after Cole decided to stay. It wasn’t something that he suddenly said or did, it was more a moment or realization.
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It just took a few more than a week for Cole to find his place.
It was like this:
After the night Cole decided to stay, Geo showed him where the bathroom was and how to make the kitchen work.
The second day, Geo helped Cole find some clothes. He also told him he could use any of his because they were pretty much the same height and it was really hard to find big guys sized clothes lost.
“There’s not many people of our kind out there,right?” said Cole, laughing “thank you”
The third day since Cole decided to stay he offered to cook.
“You know how to cook?” Asked Bonzle
“I have done it before, i got the idea” answered Cole.
And with that he got to work. It took longer than Geo usually did to cook, but it was definitely a lot less catastrophic. It was time to eat and
“mmmm!” Said both of the kids with their mouths full of…‘noodles’.
They didn’t say much after that, every time they finished they would go for more, so Geo (who didn’t did the same because his fangs wouldn’t let him) said “These are really good, Cole”
“Surely seems to” said Bonzle looking at the kids “It makes me wanna be alive again just to try them”
Cole smiled and Geo could swear that he even blushed a little. “Thank you…my friends used to say that I was not that good. Guess this proves they were wrong and I was always right”
“Thiss are amazzzing Cole!!!” Said Spitz with his mouth full.
“Hey, we don’t talk with our mouths full…but yes, Cole. I don’t believe them even though of that” Said Geo.
“They were totally wrong, Cole!” Said Fritz, about to take another mouthful. And Cole laugh and said “Thank you”
After a week in the land of Lost things it seemed like Cole had gotten used to how things worked there. He looked…happy.
After a month Geo felt bad about him sleeping on the couch. There was an extra room but it was crowded with things they had found and didn't know where to put. So he proposed, very polite and respectfully “You can sleep in my room until we get the other one empty”
Cole understood it as it was supposed to be understood and he said “Oh, Geo, that’s so nice of you, but you don’t have to worry. I can still sleep in the couch…thank you anyway”
“alright..but if you change your mind, you just have to say so” said Geo. Months after that, Cole would be regretting saying ‘no’ so much.
One day they were talking and Cole felt like telling something more personal to Geo. He said “When I was a kid, I used to see my parents with amazement. They loved each other so much. My dad would always make my mom laugh, always make her a poem or a song. She was his everything…I remember them, dancing. The way they looked at each other…it’s my favorite memory of ‘em”
“That’s beautiful,” said Geo.
“My dad’s also an artist. He would like you” said Cole
“I’m not an artist,” laughed Geo.
“Yes you are! Of course you are Geo” insisted Cole. By this point in their friendship they would still lay on the roof, but no longer at the edge. Now they would just lay in there. Looking at the sky, listening to each other's voices. “Do you…uuuh, do you remember your parents?” Cole asked “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to” he quickly added. Cole didn’t wanted Geo to believe that he had to share because Cole had.
“I don’t remember my parents…but I know they loved each other…You just don't happen to have a son with a species your whole one hates, haha they might have had some class of forbidden love, I really don’t know… When I was a kid I thought that not even them wanted me..Now that I’m grown I don’t think much about it..” shared Geo. Everything sounded so depressing for Cole, but Geo’s voice didn’t even cracked. “How strong” Cole thought. How could anyone ever not appreciate him…that was just nonsense to him.
“A forbidden love. That’s romantic. Being willing to risk so much just to be able to love someone…I think I’ve read something like that before” said Cole, not wanting to rub salt into the wound.
“Yeah, Romeo and Juliet..didn’t really like that one” smiled Geo.
And then they just talked about bad books and good loves.
In the second month, Geo woke up really early one day. He went down to have his morning coffee and found Cole sleeping on the sofa. His arms crossed on his chest, one leg off the couch and his mouth slightly open, it was…cute.
While drinking his coffee he saw the sun rising, then suddenly heard a sound. It was Cole. He was stretching and taking a looong morning yawn. He rubbed his eyes and then stopped just to look at Geo’s way.
“Geo?” He said with a tired tone “What are you doing awake?” And then he smiled “You scared me”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…I tend to wake up early, during winter.” softly answered Geo. Cole stood up and walked towards him. “It’s a nice morning…I don’t see any geysers. I don’t think Fritz’s waking up any soon.”
“Mmmm…it’s starting to get cooler here” noted Cole.
“It is..by the end of the month we’ll have snow… we should go and look for some winter clothes for you before that, I wouldn’t want you to catch a cold or something like that” said Geo
“Well…if you don’t think the kids are waking up any sooner we could go now. Maybe look in the ‘dangerous’ places we can’t go with them.” Suggested Cole.
“Yeah, I guess it's a good idea” agreed Geo. The “dangerous places”were not really that dangerous, but there was metal and glass that children could hurt themselves with so they avoided them. They went out after Geo finished his coffee. Even though the “perfect weather” was leaving them, the air was still as fresh as always and the wind was also being quite gentle. They started walking and Geo couldn't help but to notice how familiar Cole was with the land already. He moved with complete confidence. Like he knew exactly where he wanted to be.
“And…how’s it here when it snows?” Asked Cole. Slowing down to walk by Geo’s side.
“Not that rough I guess. Makes it a little hard to walk and even more hard to look for things, but I guess it's fun. The kids love it. The cold makes us want to stay home, and we..we take all of our blankets and do some kind of nest on the first floor. We talk and play, we also try to cook something sweet for dinner and then have a winter sleepover heh” told Geo.
“Dude, that sounds amazing” said Cole
“Maybe this year we could try and do some…‘cake’(? That’s what you told me you liked, right?” asked Geo, wanting to be sure. Cole gave him a big smile.
“Yes Geo, that would be lovely, thank you” said Cole and Geo smiled back. A few minutes later they were already looking for stuff. Some torn jackets, unfinished scarves, small gloves. Nothing worth it until Geo found a light blue sweater, it was big and soft.
“Cole, look!” Called Geo, while apoching Cole. “This one looks good” he said and handed the sweater to Cole.
“Uhh Cozy” he said smiling. He put it on his chest to see if it would fit. “Yeah that’s it…would be great if it was orange or black, blue is not really my color haha, makes me look ugly” said Cole. He said that most as a joke but still minded it. Anyway, he didn't expect Geo to approach him and, with a soft smile and say
“No” while delicately grabbing a corner of the sweater that was on her shoulder and lifting it up so it wouldn't fall “I don’t think that’s possible”. Then, he looked at Cole eyes “but if you would like something black or orange we can just keep looking” and with that he turned and walked away.
Cole wasn’t an expert in linguistics or anything, but was it an exaggeration to think that Geo had just declared that Cole was… pretty? I mean. Those weren’t the exact words he used, but he did say that he didn’t think it was possible for him to look ugly… that means he doesn’t think he is. Cole isn’t a narcissist either, but he knows he’s good looking… Yeah, there have been times when some insecurities would show up, but at the end of the day Cole felt good about himself... Maybe Geo meant it as a compliment, but you have to take into account that he didn’t have the intonation that is usually used when giving someone a compliment. Plus, Cole couldn’t even say thank you… although now that he thinks about it, Geo didn’t give him the moment to do so before leaving. That means he said it with the intention of… of what? He said it just because? And why does he care so much? Why is he thinking about it? Why does his face feel warm? Why is that feeling in his stomach? Why was he staring in the direction Geo had gone? Why was he still standing there holding the sweater instead of continuing to search?
Cole shook his head violently, trying to come back to himself. He inhaled and exhaled quickly, putting the light blue sweater into a backpack he brought with him and continued searching, doing his best to stop thinking about it. Of course, he failed, but in the end Geo found an orange sweater for him. And they just headed back to the rockery, where the kids were up and waiting for Cole to do the breakfast
In the third month the snow came as expected. The snow made the geysers horrendous sound shut, so the kids were sleeping better..more. Bonzle did too. Cole didn’t, Geo either.
On one hand, Cole already had a room on the second floor, and yes, it was comfy, but that didn’t kill his habits. So you would see him in the kitchen, just a few seconds after the sun rises.
On the other hand there was Geo, whose sleeping schedule changed in winter. So you would find him going downstairs, finding Cole in the kitchen every morning.
Geo remembers the day it happened. He woke up and went downstairs to meet Cole and make his morning coffee. Only this time Cole had made it for him. “Oh, thank you, you didn’t have to” said Geo with a tired tone, receiving the coffee.
“I wanted you to try something new,” said Cole, blinking to Geo, who’s mind was not really working yet, so he drank the coffee…but something was off. It tasted..good. Not like the bitter usual, this was perfect. “How's that?” asked Cole, smiling.
“Cole, this is delicious! how did you make it?” Asked Geo, now more awake and happy.
“It’s a secret way to make coffee. My father teached me, but since I’m not a big fan of coffee I don’t really use it.. thought you would like it, so..” said Cole.
“Man, I loved it! best coffee I’ve ever tried”, said Geo and then they just kept talking till the kids were up.
“Good morning!” Said both of them coming downstairs. Smiling to see that Cole had made breakfast for them.
“Morning guys” said Cole, widely smiling. “Did you dream of something today?”
Fritz shook his head. Spitz nodded “I did! I dreamed that we found a car and Geo let me drive it! and it was magic becausse you could fly with it” he said with enthusiasm.
Fritz laughed “that sounds cool, what was the color of the car?”
and they just kept going. Geo loved listening to them talk. They sounded like little adults, plus, their childish voices made it sound 100 times cuter. Cole would also talk to them, sometimes telling them about his adventures. Geo found that so charming. Cole was so good with the kids, so kind and a great role model for children.
Bonzle met them a bit later and they had breakfast together.
Later that day, they went to play with the snow. Bonzle was making a snowman, while the Kids had chosen to play snow wars. Geo was part of Fritz’s team, and Cole was Spitz’s.
“Wait! I’ve got an idea!” Said Cole, stopping the fight. He ran towards Geo “How about we do the thing?” He whispered while smiling.
“What thing?” Said Geo confunde.
“You know…” oh shit. Cole wanted to do the thing. It was lovely that he wanted to play with the children and all…but he thought Geo was the cause of that and he wasn’t. What if it didn't work this time? What if he finds out? “Yeah?” Asked Cole, tending his hand to Geo.
Please please please work, asked Geo in his mind. “Alright..yeah” as he helded Cole’s hand, while ‘activating’ his powers. A shinee colorful light went from his arm, through his hand to Cole’s and disappeared. Thanks Mily (or Guili) it worked. This time Cole elevated and some rocks surrounded his body. Soon he was bigger and made of rock.
“WOOW” said the kids “That was awesome!!”
Cole laughed and said “You better run, ‘cuz I’m gonna show ya what a real snow war is like”. That made the kids laugh and “scream”.
Fritz ran and grabbed Geo’s hand “Come one, we have to run!!”. Apparently Geo was part of the game.
They were chased by Cole (who was very careful all the time, mostly letting the kids attack him with snowballs) until he got a little tired, apparently doing the rock trick consumed a lot of energy.
He turned into himself again while falling he catched Geo making him fall. Both of them were laughing and for a moment all Geo could see was Cole’s smile.
“Oh no, he got Geo!” Said Spitz. Making him stand up and chase the kids.
“And now I got You!” while he carried Spitz in his left arm “And you too!” and he carried Fritz in his right arm. He turned around a couple of times and threw himself on his back in the snow, close to Geo. The children screamed and laughed. Cole let them go and turned his head to look at Geo. Both smiling at each other, the kids started the snow war all over again…
They played ‘till it was time for supper, the kids were tired so they went to sleep earlier than usual. Bonzle did so too “I’m not really that tired, I just want to end the book you found…it’s good, maybe you could read it when I’m done with it… goodnight Geo, night Cole”
“Good night Bonzle” said Cole.
“I hope you enjoy your book,” said Geo and again, they were left alone. It was getting even cooler, so they didn’t go to the roof. Instead Geo made some tea.
“I'm going to get my sweater, it's getting colder, I'll be back in a second.” said Cole. He had been wearing the clothes he arrived in, he said they were warm enough. He came back down with the light blue sweater…and that meant nothing.
They talked… nothing out of the ordinary. They finished drinking their tea and kept talking. Geo doesn’t really remember what it was about, but he does remember that he didn’t want to stop. He didn’t feel tired, he didn’t feel bored… he didn’t want to be anywhere else. So they just talked and talked and laughed until it got really dark. Even then Cole wouldn’t get up, neither would Geo. Apparently they were both more than willing to fall asleep on the couch.
Three months was how long it took for Cole to get completely comfortable with Geo.
At home, he would happily listen to his friends. joke around and play video games. But here, right next to him, he had someone completely different. Someone new. Someone who knew nothing about him and who seemed to have more interest than anyone he had ever met before. Geo was extremely empathetic. Always listening to Cole with a lot of attention, offering him comfort when he touched on a sensitive subject or being patient when he confused things.
Cole listened to Geo too. His stories of what it had been like for him to come to the Land of Lost Things. Meeting Bonzle, finding the kids, running into the rockery, his first confrontation with the hoarder, the moment he learned to handle his elemental powers, when he found his favorite vest and so on…Cole loved the way his voice changed. Usually it was kind of rough, but there were times when it sounded so soft and harmonious. That night they talked until their tongues ran out and when Cole realized Geo was about to fall asleep, he used all the energy he had left to be brave and say what had been on his mind since the first month he spent in the Land of Lost Things.
He took a breath and said “I don’t understand how anyone could ever forget about you, Geo” when he saw that Geo didn’t react to that, he assumed that he had fallen asleep. Cole, for his part, was ready to do the same. “Lately I feel like there’s no way to get you out of my mind.” That was the last thing he said and no, Geo didn’t listen to it…or maybe he did, but since it was so late, the next day he made himself believe it had just been a dream.
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Geo liked Cole…Maybe as something more than just friendship. For so many reasons. He wondered if he could ever have the chance to…
no, of course he will not.