Chapter Text
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Two weeks had passed since Error's confession. Things between Ink and him seemed normal - or at least, that's what they wanted everyone to think...and probably themselves even. However, some people had noticed the occasional awkwardness between the two. Those people, of course, being Dream and Blue. I mean, how could they not? They were literally Ink's bffs!
One Saturday night, Blue decided to...just ask about it.
Here's how it went:
Sprawled lazily across the couch, Blue's head rested on Ink's lap while his legs were draped over Dream's. Honestly, it was as if he'd turned them into a makeshift bed...it was a funny scene to witness. They were halfway through The Exorcist, watching while literally quaking in fright. He reached out lazily and grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bowl Dream was holding and shoved it into his mouth.
As he chewed, yesterday's lunch replayed in his mind. Ink and Error had been unusually quiet, both fidgeting with their food while he and Dream chatted about which movie to watch next for today's movie night. And then there was Error's excuse when they asked if he wanted to join them for movie night: "I have to finish the IT assignment."
Seriously? The assignment had been due over a week ago, and Error had already presented it in class! Couldn't you have come up with a better excuse?! Error!!
Anyway,
The memory nagged at him like a fly buzzing relentlessly around his room. Oh yes, it was this annoying.
It wasn't like those two to act weird...especially not with each other. They were like a pair of gloves: mismatched, yet somehow perfectly complementary. Okay, maybe that isn't the best way to explain it, but still...you get the point! They usually clicked, always chatting about interests, plans for the weekends, more and more stuff. But now?
It felt like the first day of school again - awkward, hesitant, unsure of what to say...
Blue's fingers drummed absently against the blanket sprawled across his chest, his eyes narrowing as he glanced up at Ink.
The artist looked like a frozen statue - sitting upright and not moving even an inch. His wide, mismatched eyes were glued to the flickering screen. Honestly, he looked like his soul was about to flee his body if the next jump scare was any worse than the last.
Something's definitely up with those two, Blue thought as he reached for more popcorn. The question of whether to bring it up made him hesitate for a solid five minutes before he finally decided to ask. Shifting slightly, he adjusted his position so his back pressed against the couch.
"Inky?"
Ink jolted, his focus snapping away from the screen as he glanced down at Blue. "Yeah? What's up?" he asked, his tone light but distracted. For a split second, his expression softened, almost appearing grateful for the interruption..
"What's with you and Error lately?" Blue asked, lacing his fingers behind his head as if his question was an everyday topic of discussion.
The shorty froze. His fingers gripped the edge of the blanket tighter for a split second before relaxing. He drew it a little closer to his chest, feeling a little cold for some odd reason. For a moment, it seemed like he'd forgotten how to talk...or breathe even.... A faint blush crept across his cheeks, betraying the casual front he desperately wanted to keep and portrait.
"O-Oh... Nothing..." he stammered, his voice cracking slightly. A nervous laugh bubbled up as he started fiddling with the frayed edge of the blanket, his eyes darting everywhere except towards Blue.
Blue arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Uh-huh... sure..."
"It's just, uhm...hm...uhm...uh....." Ink's words tripped over themselves as he scrambled for an excuse. His eyes flicked toward the screen, seizing the first distraction he could find. "OH! Look, another jump scare's coming!"
He pointed wildly at the TV, his voice unnaturally high-pitched. The other's eyes darted to the screen just in time for the next jump scare.... however, that jump scare didn't do its job to scare him. But it did work on Dream because he literally jolted and pulled the blanket tighter around his shoulders.
Blue let out a dramatic sigh, rolling his eyes as he sat up. With a quick yank, he threw the blanket off his chest, leaving Ink slightly exposed to the cold air of his living room. Reaching for the remote on the coffee table, he paused the movie just before the next scare, freezing the frame mid-scream.
"Wh-- Blue!" Dream protested, his tone thick with disapproval.
Blue, however, ignored him. He shifted to sit cross-legged between Dream and Ink, his expression serious now. "Ink, be serious with me. What's going on with you and Error? You two have been....like, avoiding each other for weeks now."
The youngest opened his mouth to respond, only to shut it almost immediately, like a fish out of water. His eyes flicked nervously between Blue and Dream, the latter now leaning forward with growing curiosity. His head tilted slightly as he tried to piece things together.
"What are you on about, Blue?" Dream asked, genuinely confused and curious..
"C'mon, Dream, you had to have noticed! Ink and Error have been acting totally off around each other lately. Like, they're so awkward! It's just... not like them..." He then sighed before turning his attention back to Ink. "I just wanna know what's up. Did something happen? Did you two argue? Get in a fight? What is it??"
Dream blinked, his bonebrows furrowing in thought before his face lit up with realization. "Oh yeah! I did notice something was weird. I was going to ask too!"
Ink groaned, his frustration clear. He tugged the sleeves of his sweater off his arms and crossed them beneath the fabric, looking like a skelly in a protective cacoon... trying to keep warm. "Can't we finish the movie first?" he mumbled weakly, his voice muffled by the fabric as he buried his face deeper into it. "...and then I'll explain..."
Blue stood up from the couch, now facing both of them. Hand firmly on his hips, he insisted, "Ink. You know how I am; once I'm onto something, I have to figure it out. I can't forget about it, even if I try."
Dream snorted suddenly, and gave a playful roll of his eyes. "Blue, we know about your ADD. No need to remind us."
The other snapped his head toward him. "...Not the time for jokes, Dream."
"I know, I know. Just trying to lighten the mood."
Ink wasn't in the mood for jokes. Honestly, he wasn't sure what he was in the mood for right now, other than to avoid the conversation completely. He didn't want to tell them. It wasn't his place to tell them either. Who would want to go around telling people that a guy confessed his feelings to another guy without any permission or whatever? That was not only disrespectful but also just... a dick move. He'd destroy Error's trust in him...and...it was bad enough he---
"I, uhm..." He stammered, struggling to come up with an excuse, but all the words felt stuck in his throat. Instead, he buried his face deeper into his sweater, his eyes locked on the horrifying image of the possessed girl on the TV, trying to distract himself from the weight of the conversation. "I... really... don't think I should be the one to tell you... it's... just..." He let out a long, heavy sigh as he slipped his arms back into the sleeves. "Ask Error if you're so curious. It's not my place to say."
Without waiting for a response, he stood up abruptly and walked towards the stairs. "I'm going to bed. This movie will give me nightmares if I keep watching it. Bonne nuit, les gars." Ink then went upstairs.
Blue and Dream sat in silence for a few moments, their gazes lingering on the spot where Ink had just disappeared. The quiet of the room felt heavier now, almost suffocating. Then, a soft buzz echoed through the living room, breaking the stillness. Ink had forgotten his phone.
They both glanced at the screen, noticing the familiar name that popped up: Error.
The message thread began with a string of hesitant texts:
- hey...
- I uh... I just wanted to check up on you
.. you seemed a bit down today..
- I hope you'll feel better tmrw..
.
- Uh..
- I know I said I wanted things not to get awkward between us...
- but
- ..if you're feeling like too uncomfortable or embarrassed to be around me, I get it.
..and if you want to stop hanging out, that's fine too.
- ...goodnight...
Oh, right. Geno wants me to invite you to dinner sometime, but I don't know if now is the right time. So, if you want to come over for one night, text me.
- ok, I'll leave you be now. Goodnight
, Ink.
Blue read through the messages, his soul sinking with each line. "This... this is... just..what happened?" he murmured.
Dream took a deep breath and glanced at Blue, his expression thoughtful. "I'm...not sure...but..at least now our suspicions have been confirmed: there really is something going on between them..."
Blue slumped back on the couch, massaging his temples with his fingers. "I... I just want to fix it, you know? I can't stand seeing them like this!" His voice softened, tinged with guilt. "But... uhm... about Ink... I didn't mean to push him like that. I just..."
"I know, Blue," Dream interrupted gently, his voice comforting but still serious. "You were just trying to help..." He sighed, glancing back at the phone, then stood up, holding it in his hand. "We'll talk to Error. Maybe he'll be willing to tell us what's going on..." Dream then turned back to Blue with a reassuring smile. "Maybe if we help them talk to each other, they'll make up. We both know how socially awkward Ink is and how he gets when we argue... all sad and avoiding conversations... He's probably feeling like that with Error."
Blue nodded. "Yeah... I guess you're right..."
Dream nodded before continuing, "For now, let's give Ink some space. " Then, he headed toward the stairs. "I'll quickly give him his phone, and we'll finish watching the horror movie, okay?"
"Okay..." the other yawned as he stretched his hand towards the popcorn bowl. He took a handful of them and put them all in his mouth.
....
Of course, as soon as Monday rolled around, Dream and Blue, aka the two detectives, as they called themselves, cornered Error to get to the bottom of everything that had been happening between him and their best friend.
Are you asking where they were? Why, of course, the college library. Literally, no one goes there, except maybe two to three seniors just to look up something. That was the setting for their interrogation.
Error glanced around, clearly uneasy under their intense stares. And honestly, who wouldn't be? Moments ago, they had grabbed his wrist mid-stride on his way to the cafeteria, yanked him aside, and practically dragged him into the empty library. At first, he thought he was about to get mugged. He had even mentally prepared to start throwing punches, only to realize it was just them. That didn't make it any less weird, though....
"Uhhh...what's this... about exactly?" he muttered, still eyeing them warily. His hand dipped into his jacket pocket and took out crumpled bills. He quickly counted them before putting them back in his pocket. Just enough to grab that fish and sticks meal he'd been dying for all day long, with a side salad to round it out. Just thinking about it made him more hungry.
Blue crossed his arms, leaning slightly forward with a sharp gaze. "You know exactly why we pulled you in here."
Error blinked, looking genuinely baffled. "Uhhhm.........not...really?"
Dream gave a light sigh and nudged Blue's side with his elbow. "Blue, let's just ask him quickly and normally... or the fish and sticks will run out."
Error's expression shifted slightly to a more calmer one. "Oh, you're getting that too?"
"Yeah, of course," Dream replied casually, his tone much lighter now. "It's practically the only good lunch meal they serve here. Tip: do NOT order the chicken soup. Don't ask why."
"Okay, okay!" Blue interjected while sighing heavily. "What's been happening between you and Ink? Did you two get in a fight? Have an argument? Did Ink offend you? Did you offend him---- Just- What's going on????"
The athlete shifted uncomfortably, leaning slightly against one of the bookshelves as his eyes darted away. "He...hasn't told you?"
"No! When we asked, he literally avoided telling us and said to ask you instead because 'it wasn't his place to say'."
"Oh...I see..." Error sighed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, still not looking at either of them in the eyes. "Uh... I don't think... I should tell you either----"
"What? Why?!?" The two asked almost in sync, leaning in with exasperated expressions.
"Well..." Error hesitated, glancing toward the side where a senior was quietly jotting notes in a notepad. They looked at Error, Blue and Dream. They clearly had heard the latter shout almost loudly and shushed them before going back to scribbling something down. Error's voice lowered on instinct, his tone tinged with guilt. "If Ink isn't willing to tell you, then...maybe I shouldn't either...."
Blue groaned in frustration, throwing his hands in the air. Dream, however, patted his shoulder, silently telling him to calm down. "Okay... Uhm... Let's adjust the question then: Did you two have a fight?"
"Oh, no, no.. it's nothing like that, I swear..." Error paused, struggling to find the right words. "It's....we didn't fight or argue, or anything....uhm....I'm at fault. I... uh... said something stupid, and now... things are just awkward between us."
The other raised a bonebrow. "What kind of stupid?"
The athlete shook his head, his gaze dropping to the floor. "It's...nothing...really....it really is nothing.." He paused, then looked up at them with a soft, sincere smile, the kind that begged silently for understanding. "...Let's forget about that and focus on getting those fish and sticks, hm? I know things will get resolved between us and...we'll be back to normal.."
The two detectives exchanged a silent glance, their expressions mirroring the same mix of sadness and confusion. But if Error wasn't going to share, why push him?
The trio exited the library and made their way to the cafeteria. Almost immediately, they spotted Ink sitting at a corner table, quietly munching on a sandwich while scrolling through his phone. On the table, three plates sat neatly - two filled with fish and sticks, one paired with a side salad, and the third with a serving of spaghetti.
Ink glanced up when he noticed them approaching, a cheerful smile lighting up his face in greeting. But as his gaze landed on Error, the smile faltered, just for a moment, before he quickly recovered. A faint, almost imperceptible blush dusted his cheeks, but he held onto his friendly demeanour.
"Inkkkk!!! You beautiful little beannn!!!" Dream exclaimed, rushing over to his friend and giving him a tight hug. A few people from nearby tables threw curious glances their way, but Dream paid no mind. "I love you so muchhhh!!!"
"Haha... I love you too, bud..." Ink chuckled awkwardly, giving Dream a pat on the head, like someone patting their eager golden retriever.
Blue raised an eyebrow, looking at his plate. "How'd you know I was going to order spaghetti?"
The artist smirked and explained in a mock-serious tone, "My intuition spoke to me."
"Uh-huh? Okkaayy..." Blue teased, rolling his eyes playfully as he sat down.
Dream quickly released his hold on Ink and plopped down beside him, his energy shifting to an innocent demeanour, like a happy child who'd just gotten what they wanted and now acted like an angel. He grabbed his fork and eagerly dug into the fish, his eyes lighting up in sheer joy. It was clear that he was happy to have his fish and sticks.
Ink then glanced at Error, clearing his throat. "..uhm.... Error?" He caught his attention before continuing, "I... wasn't sure if you wanted a side salad, so... I ordered it anyway."
The latter smiled gratefully at him. "Thanks. I was actually going to order one, so... perfect timing." He dug into his meal, savouring every bite. Although it was good, Error believed Geno's fish and sticks were better.
Blue, still chewing, glanced at Ink and frowned slightly. "Wait- Ink? Why did you get a sandwich?"
The artist shrugged, his tone casual. "I'm not that hungry... I already ate breakfast, so... yeah."
"Oh, okay..." Blue murmured, his curiosity satisfied for the moment, though a small, so small, frown still lingered on his face as he returned to his meal.
The artist continued munching on his sandwich until he noticed something - a horrifying discovery; his sandwich had olives. And he hates olives. With a grimace, he took off the top slice of bread and lightly nudged Dream with his leg, catching his attention. "Want olives?"
"Yes," Dream replied without hesitation. He eagerly picked out every sliced olive and added them to his plate.
"You don't like olives?" Error asked, his bonebrow raised as he watched the scene unfold with amusement and slight surprise.
"Yeah, I just can't stand eating them," Ink explained with a slight shudder.
"Huh... okay," Error muttered, while still watching Dream picking every sliced olive with his fork and placing them on his plate.
Then, another figure slid into the seat beside Ink. It was Nightmare, holding the same exact sandwich. As soon as he saw the olives on his brother's plate, he clicked his tongue, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "Are you still afraid of olives?"
"Wha-?" Ink's face immediately flushed rainbow from embarrassment. "O-Of course not!!"
"Afraid? What'd you mean?" Error asked, now genuinely curious to know Ink's reason for hating olives.
Nightmare glanced over at Error, then back at Ink, with a sly evil smirk, clearly enjoying the moment and opportunity to mess with the artist. "Oh? He didn't tell you?" He leaned closer to Error as if to whisper it to him but instead of whispering, he said it out loud for the other three to hear it, not that Blue and Dream didn't already know but still. "He told me (a long time ago) as a kid, he tried an olive and somehow broke his front tooth----"
"I DIDN'T KNOW THERE'D BE A SEED!!! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?!!!???" Ink slammed his hand on the table, making the three plates and one bowl rattle. If it was possible to create a bight heated rainbow without water and sunlight, Ink had done it - his face was so flustered with embarrassment. People around him glanced over at the commotion, specifically at him, but quickly returned to their own business and ignored the ruckus.
"Hah, yeah, yeah. It's still funny." Nightmare chuckled while munching on his sandwich proudly as if nothing had happened. "Also, it's not a 'seed', it's a 'pit', Frenchboy."
"Brother, please..." Dream interrupted, trying to defuse the situation. "Don't mention his little accident without permission----"
"DON'T WORD IT LIKE THAT!!" Ink exclaimed, his blush deepening as he turned his head sharply towards the younger brother.
"What?? How else am I supposed to word it?"
"Not 'little accident'!!!" Ink huffed, trying to collect himself. He then sighed deeply, attempting to calm his nerves. "So what if I'm afraid of olives? Hm?? At least I'm not afraid of dolls!"
Nightmare froze for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Ink. Clearly, the comeback hit a nerve. "I advise you to not get in an argument with me. We both know you'd lose."
"Right, of course," Ink muttered, rolling his eyes but still letting out a snort of amusement. "But you started it."
"I did, and I take full responsibility," the older brother said, shrugging nonchalantly. "You, on the other hand, won't."
"Mhm? Okay." Ink raised a bonebrow, clearly not backing down from the playful banter.
"You two, please! Just- apologize to each other!!! I don't want you arguing..." Dream said, his hand resting gently on Ink's shoulder, trying to calm the situation down and wanting to keep eating his fish and sticks in peace.
From there, the day continued as usual - or at least, as close to usual as it could get.
--/--
A week passed, and yet Ink and Error were still acting awkwardly around each other. And that made Blue's frustration boil over. He couldn't take it anymore.
Eager to put an end to the second-hand awkwardness that he experienced every time he saw them interact, Blue and Dream came up with a plan. The plan was simple: get the two to meet up without realizing it and from there, leave them to discuss their problems. Truly, this was the simplest thing ever (and totally not copied from a TV drama movie). Dream would convince Ink to meet him at the park on Saturday at noon, while Blue would do the same with Error. Once they arrived, the two would slip away, hiding behind a tree, or anywhere else they could find, and leave Ink and Error alone to talk things out. It was such a good plan...........right?
...
When Saturday arrived, they set their plan into motion. Successfully luring Ink and Error to the park, the two 'detectives' quickly found a hiding spot nearby. It was close enough to eavesdrop on their upcoming conversation but inconspicuous enough to keep them hidden in plain sight.
Here's how things went:
Ink stood waiting for Dream to return with the hot chocolate he'd promised when out of the corner of his eye socket, he spotted a familiar figure. Squinting slightly, he recognized that it was Error. What's Error doing here? he thought, his feet unconsciously moving toward him.
"Error? What're you doing here?"
Error turned around, equally confused to see him. "Ink? I was here with Blue, but he... suddenly took off...." His expression shifted as realization dawned. Letting out a tired sigh, he pinched the bridge of his nonexistent nose. "I see what they're doing..."
"What?" The shorty blinked, confusion written all over his face. What's he talking about?
"They're trying to get us to talk things out," Error muttered, his tone carrying a mix of irritation and reluctant gratitude.
"Wha-?"
"It's...nothing..." Error sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as if trying to shake off the awkwardness. "You came here with Dream, right?"
"Well... yeah?" Ink admitted, tilting his head curiously. "How'd you know?"
"Just.....a simple guess......" The athlete trailed off, his voice quieter now. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, unsure of how to continue.
The silence that followed felt heavy. Even more heavy than the snow surrounding them. Surprisingly, there was no one else in this park. Maybe because it was technically noon and people preferred to rest at home than go outside in this cold weather.
Oh, come on! Say something, you idiot! Error mentally scolded himself, his gaze darting everywhere but at Ink. He wanted to talk about their awkward interactions over the past few weeks, but the words just wouldn't come. Every possible opening felt too forced, too awkward...
Meanwhile, Ink fidgeted with his phone in his pocket, stealing glances at Error. It was obvious Error was struggling to say something, but the silence was stretching uncomfortably. Finally, Ink decided to throw him a lifeline. "Uhm... you uh... mentioned that Geno wants me to come over for dinner, right?"
Error blinked, momentarily surprised by the sudden shift in topic, but the tension in his shoulders eased slightly. He nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his 'lips'. "Yeah. He really, uh... wants you to try his cooking.." then his gaze dropped to the ground "But, uh... if you don't want to come over, that's totally fine! No pressure or... anything."
Ink hesitated a little. He looked to the side, shuffling his feet, before mustering his reply, "I'll... see when I can come over. I'll probably have to ask my dad first..."
"Oh- That's fine! Whenever you can, just text me," the taller one quickly assured, his tone almost too eager for his liking.
"Mhm."
Silence fell between them again, the kind that wasn't as heavy as before but still lingered awkwardly. Out of the corner of his eye, Ink thought he noticed movement behind a nearby tree. Squinting, he caught a glimpse of someone peeking before they ducked out of sight. Blue, he thought with an exasperated sigh. Ughh...Who else would it be, really...
Turning his attention away, he gestured toward a bench nearby. "Can we sit down? My legs are about to turn into ice poles if I stand in this spot for one more minute...."
Error let out a snort, amused by the analogy. "Sure."
The two walked over and settled onto the bench. As soon as Error sat down, he shivered, pulling his jacket closer. "Man, it's colder than I thought," he muttered, rubbing his hands together.
"Did you come with only a jacket and a T-shirt?" Ink asked, raising an eyebrow, though he already knew the answer.
"...yes..." Error admitted, his tone carrying a tinge of guilt and slight sheepishness. He had practice today, so..of course he'd put a T-shirt on.
Ink sighed and shook his head, though a small smile appeared on his face. Without hesitation, he unravelled his scarf and gently wrapped it around the other's neck. But as he did, a wave of déjà vu hit him like a tidal wave. Didn't Error give him his scarf one time? Probably...
"...you don't have to give me your scarf," Error muttered, his fingers brushing against the soft, warm fabric. His eyes widened slightly when he realized it was the same scarf he had gifted Ink for his birthday. The realization sent a faint blush creeping across his cheeks, and he instinctively tugged the scarf higher to hide it.
"I actually do," the painter said with a teasing grin. "Or Geno might blame me for getting you sick."
Error let out a small chuckle, his blush lightly deepening as he adjusted the scarf slightly. "Guess I can't argue with that..."
"Yep."
............
Silence again.
--/--
From their hiding spot, Blue groaned dramatically, poking his head out to watch the awkward scene unfold. "Oh my god... I literally can't stand here any longer," he huffed, throwing his hands up. "I just want to go over there and do the talking for them! They're hopeless!"
"Blue," Dream muttered, shivering as he hugged himself for warmth, "can we just go? I'm going to freeze out here!" But his plea fell on deaf ears.
Blue ignored him, his frustration bubbling over. "Why can't they just--UGH!" He abruptly scooped up a handful of snow, shaping it into a snowball with determination. "You know what? Screw it."
He aimed at the tree above Ink and Error, hoping to shake loose a gentle cascade of snowflakes to nudge them into conversation. Unfortunately, his plan went spectacularly wrong - the snowball veered off course and smacked Ink square in the face.
...
A stunned silence followed.
Dream gasped, slapping a hand over his mouth to stifle his laugh. "Ppfft-- Blue!" he hissed, his voice shaking with suppressed giggles.
"...Ooow.... Right in the face too......." Blue winced, cringing as he peered nervously around the tree. "It was supposed to hit the tree, not..." His voice trailed off as his gaze met Ink's fiery glare. "SORRY, SORRY, SORRY!!!" Blue squeaked, grabbing Dream's hand in a panic. Without another word, he bolted, dragging his giggling partner-in-crime along with him. "BYEEE, HAVE FUN!!!" he called out over his shoulder, vanishing into the distance.
Error glanced at Ink, who was still brushing snow off his face, irritation clear on his features. Though he found the situation amusing, like Dream had, he swallowed his chuckle quickly, not wanting to make things worse. Instead, he reached out and brushed a small patch of snow off Ink's forehead. The sudden contact made Ink shiver.
"Sorry, I'm not wearing gloves..." Error mumbled, his hand lingering for a moment before slowly pulling back.
"It's... fine." Ink caught Error's hand before it could retreat completely, lowering it gently into his own. He held it there, his fingers lightly tracing the cool surface. For a moment, neither spoke, until his gaze landed on a faint dent near the carpus bone.
"When did you hurt your hand?" Ink asked softly, curiosity and concern mingling in his voice as he looked at the injury. It looked old......but....still....it made him worry.
"A long time ago," Error replied dismissively while averting his gaze. "Don't worry about it...."
The artist's frown deepened as he stared down at the hand, uncertainty flickering in his gaze. He then sighed and looked up, meeting Error's patient, expectant pupils.
"I... I'm sorry if I appeared... distant," he started hesitantly, his voice sounding almost whisper-like. "I was... just worried."
"Worried? About what?" The athlete asked, his bonebrows furrowing slightly in confusion.
Ink swallowed hard, glancing to the side. "I mean... you literally confessed to me, and... I-I just feel like I'm hurting your feelings by acting like nothing happened..." His words quickened as he continued, "I know you said you wanted to keep things normal and pretend like nothing happened, but... J'ai l'impression de te faire du mal juste en étant là... même si tu voulais qu'on reste amis..."
Error blinked at the sudden change of languages... but...somehow, he understood what Ink was trying to say. His nonexistent lips curved into a soft smile as he let out a gentle sigh.
"Ink," Error said, his voice firm, "you overthink things way too much." Without a second thought, he pulled the artist into a tight hug, one hand resting against Ink's back.
Ink stiffened for a brief moment but quickly welcomed the hug.
"You don't have to worry about hurting my feelings or anything like that," Error continued, his tone resolute but kind. "You're not. You're a really, really nice, kind, and gentle person. You could never hurt me."
"...You... really think that?" Ink's voice was barely above a whisper, stunned by the sincerity in Error's tone.
"Mhm..."
The simple confirmation was enough to lift the weight off Ink's shoulders. His body visibly relaxed, and he let out a soft, almost self-deprecating snort. "...Je suis vraiment un idiot, moi..."
"Oi! Don't call yourself an idiot." Error scolded, letting go of the smaller one and looking at him intently. He clearly understood the French words this time...or at least part of them.
Ink blinked at him, surprised, before letting out a nervous chuckle. "But I--"
Before he could finish, Error cupped Ink's cheeks firmly, effectively silencing him. "As I said, you overthink things. So. Stop."
The artist's eyes widened in surprise, his words catching in his throat. The unexpected gesture left him flustered, his cheeks heating beneath Error's hands. "...d'accord," he mumbled while nodding softly, unable to tear his gaze away from the other's determined expression.
"Good." Error finally let his hands drop, his usual smirk creeping back onto his face, though a faint blush betrayed his composure. "Do you..uhm... want to grab hot chocolate? I know a uh...bakery nearby.."
"Yes, please. I'm about to freeze." Ink dramatically cried while standing up.
Error stood up as well, shoving his hands into his pockets to fight the cold. Just as they were about to head off, he hesitated. "Uhm..." His cheeks flushed a little deeper as he rubbed his arm awkwardly. "Can... we call this a... date? Uhm... I mean, only if you're okay with it! You don't have t--"
"...sure."
The word escaped Ink's mouth before he could fully think it through. His eyes widened slightly as he realized what he'd just said, his cheeks warming with a rosy hue. "I, uh... don't mind calling this a date..." He glanced away nervously, his fingers fidgeting slightly. "I guess... and.....uh....this...could perhaps be like a little exercise for me to get used to going on dates with people........." He suddenly waved his hands in the air, his words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "N-Not that, uh- that double-date or whatever wasn't a date- I mean, it wasn't really a date-date, but... Uh- UHM---"
Error couldn't suppress his laugh anymore, a soft chuckle escaping as he watched Ink trip over his own words. Shaking his head with a fond smile, he nudged him with his elbow. "Come on, let's go before you start stuttering like a broken cassette."
Ink blushed so hard that he appeared like a rainbow, making Error laugh even more.
"Aww, why are you blushing? I'm just trying to help you out."
".....lead the way, dumbass..."
"Heh, fine."
The two walked towards the bakery, their hands inside their pockets. The crisp winter air swirled around them, but neither shivered. Ink was a rainbow mess while Error just smiled like a total idiot, finding this whole scene absolutely adorable. Just as they approached the bakery's door, snow started falling. They didn't exactly pay attention to that fact, however. As soon as they peeked through the window, they saw two familiar faces....ah yes....one that's about to get it.
Ink immediately went inside, and tapped Blue's shoulder urgently. Blue, who slowly turned around, had that innocent, adorable smile, but it wouldn't save him now. It was too late.
As soon as he walks out, he's getting fired with snowballs......... revenge, bitch.
｡ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈• ｡ﾟ