Chapter Text
The next day Carlos was walking on campus when he heard footsteps behind him. “Carlos, hey.” He turned around “Hey Nils.” He continued walking as Nilanjana joined him. “Where did you go yesterday?” “Oh, Cecil took me home.” Nilanjana cocked her eyebrow. 'what why didn’t you wait for us?” “I wanted to go home so Cecil offered to drop me off. I texted you about it.” Nilanjana took out her phone. “Oh yeah, sorry we- I was busy.” “I know, I didn’t want to bother you guys.” Nilanjana cleared her troath “Soooooo did something happen?” Carlos shook his head “oh gods no.” Nilanjana shrugged. “I can’t say I'm surprised.” Carlos rolled his eyes “asshole, c’mon were gonna be late.” Nilanjana laughed and they went to class.
A few days later Nilanjana and Carlos were sitting on the grass talking. Darryl came walking over and sat down beside Nilanjana. Before he knew it Nilanjana and Darryl were basically in each others laps. Carlos rolled his eyes and grabbed his phone from his pocket. One text from Cecil. “Hiii!” Carlos smiled and texted back.
“Hi, how are you?”
“I’m good, the radio station is fun but very tiring.”
“Yeah, same. College is destroying me. Luckily almost done.”
“I had a question. Do you maybe wanna go on a date with me?”
Carlos blushed and he dropped his phone. Nilanjana looked up. “What happened?” Carlos cleared his troath.“He asked me on a date.” Nilanjana gasped “Whattt. Go say yes.” Carlos picked up his phone and saw he got another message.
“Sorry that was kinda out of the blue. It’s okay if you don’t want to"
“Oh no sorry, I would love too.”
“Oh great. When are you free?”
“Would Wednesday at 7 work?”
“Yeah, amazing. Shall I pick you up?”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind. Where do you wanna go?”
It took a few moments for him to reply “Big Rico’s?” Carlos sighed, why does it always has to be a restaurant. Nonetheless he agreed, he’d be fine.
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It was Wednesday and Carlos had been ready for hours. He had put on his Lab coat; only for fancy accessions. He was pacing nervously around his small dorm. He got started by a knock on the door, he breathed and opened the door.
Cecil stood there with a smile on his face. “Hi” Carlos said with an awkward smile “Hi Carlos” Cecil said cheerily and held up flowers, they were cactus flowers. “Very old school I know.” Carlos smiled and took the flowers. “Thank you, they’re very pretty. You can come in if you want. I need to put these in water.” Carlos went back into his apartment as Cecil followed him in.
The dorm was messy; there was science equipment everywhere. Cecil stood in one of the only clean spots, leaning on his cane. Carlos grabbed a vase and put the flowers in and put them on the counter. He turned back to Cecil, and he perked up “Ready to go?” Carlos nodded and followed Cecil to his car; they headed to big Rico's. It was a short drive, as everything was.
When they arrived, Cecil parked and stepped out. Carlos hesitated and Cecil noticed “You alright?” Carlos nodded. “Sorry just not a big fan of restaurants. Even if it’s just big Rico’s.” He laughed nervously. Cecil cocked his head “We can do something else.” Carlos quickly shook his head “No, no It’s fine. I’ll be fine” he said and breathed deeply before smiling at Cecil. “I’ll be fine.” Cecil nodded “Okay, just tell me if you’re not.” He said with a smile. “C’mon let's go in”
The few people there were quiet. 2 agents of the secret police sat at the window They sat in a booth at the back. Laura, the waitress with branches growing out of her, took their order. Carlos chose the waffles and Cecil chose the pancakes. They both ordered a side of invisible corn.
They talked until the food came and ate in a comfortable silence. When they were done eating Cecil offered sharing desert, but carols declined. “Not much of a sweet tooth.” Cecil smiled “oh alright.” He said and took out his wallet and placing some money under the sugar tray, Carlos did the same and covered it back up. A few minutes later the money was gone, a receipt in it’s place. Carlos crumpled it up and put it in his pocket.
“So what now” Carlos asked. Cecil smiled “We can go back to mine if you want.” Carlos blinked at him and nodded. “I would love to.” They got up and walked back to the car, they got in a Cecil turned on the radio, Lenord voice came from the radio. He was saying something about a trading event out in the desert. Carlos wasn’t really focused on the radio, he was staring at the steering wheel, his eyes following Cecil’s hands. His fingers were tapping in beat of the weather report. A faint smile on his lips.
He was roused from his thoughts by Cecil's voice “Carlos, were here.” His voice was soft. Carlos looked outside, they were at an apartment complex. “C’mon” They got out of the car and Cecil dug his keys from his pocket. He let them in and hung the key on a hook on the wall next to the door.
They walked into the kitchen and Cecil leaned his cane against a counter “Want a drink?” Carlos nodded and Cecil opened a cabinet; he grabbed out two bottles and a shaker. He made a drink and slid it over to Carlos and poured one for himself. Carlos quickly drank asking for a new one. Cecil laughed and poured him another one, this one Carlos dark slower.
“You alright?” Cecil asked “Yeah. Good drink” he said. Cecil smiled and downed his. “It is” He walked over to Carlos, who quickly emptied his glass. Cecil stumbled and Carlos caught his and leaned against the counter to hold up their weight. “You alright?” Carlos asked. Cecil giggled “Sorry, I'm not very stable without my cane.” He let go of Carlos and planted his hands on the counter, effectively trapping Carlos against the counter. Cecil wrapped his arms around Carlos’s neck, and Carlos loosely wrapped his arms around Cecil’s waist. Scared he might fall again. Cecil leaned forward that their lips were almost touching. “Can I?” He swallowed “Yeah.” He leaned forward and they kissed.
He slid his hand down his back and pulled back for air. Carlos leaned his head into Cecil’s neck and kissed it. He smelled like Lavander and booze. “You smell good.” He murmured into his neck. Cecil laughed softly “Thank you” He mumbled. Carlos broke away from Cecil and he got pulled into the bedroom.
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The next morning Carlos woke up alone, he sighed thinking Cecil must've left. He rolled over to check his phone. 7:30, He frowned, he normally never woke up this early on free days. He heard noises from the kitchen; okay so he didn’t leave. He sat up and got out of bed, he put on the pants from the ground and a shirt and walked out to the kitchen. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
He saw him sitting at the counter, drinking a mug if coffee. But it wasn’t him, he looked different. He had tentacles coming from his back, his tattoos from the night before were gone. The only one that remained were the eyes on his hands and the one on his neck which were blinking. And there was an eye on his forehead which was looking around. He turned to Carlos “Morning!” He said cheerily.
Carlos was standing in shock trying to take in what he saw but managed to stutter out a good morning. Cecil tilted his head in confused “What, do I have something on my face?” Carlos shook his head. “You...Uhm have tentacles?” Cecil looked down at his arms. “Oh shit sorry. That happens sometimes, they were just stuck inside for too long I guess.” He blushed, embarrassed.
“Don’t be sorry- It’s cool.” He said. “Uh, can I have some coffee?” Cecil nodded and slid of the chair, glad for the distraction.
He opened the cabinet with a tentacle and grabbed a mug. He grabbed the coffee pot with a tentacle and filled the mug before handing it to Carlos. “Here you go.” He grabbed the mug from him. Carlos hummed and drank it and slipped on a stool, turning to Cecil.
“Sooo, what are you?” Cecil turned and frowned “What?” He asked and sat onto a stool. “I mean what kind of .... being are you?” Cecil shrugged. “I don’t know, I just am.” Carlos tilted his head. ”What about your parents? What were they?” Cecil froze for a moment. “Oh they were just human. I think” “What do you mean you think?” “Uh- I don’t remember a lot from my past.” He smiled “Ah- I’m sorry” Carlos said a bit ashamed. “Oh no no It’s fine really.” He said, the tenacles moved towards him. “Must not have been that important if I already forgot.” He smiled. “Oh alright.” He smiled awkwardly.
After a pause Cecil said, “People call me an “Ancient eldritch being” if that helps.” Carlos shrugged and frowned “Ancient?” He asked, “How old are you?” Cecil shrugged I don’t know, but I can’t be that old. I don’t even have an actual Job yet.” He said and looked at the clock. “About jobs, I better get going. Leanord doesn’t take kindly too lateness.” He smiled and slid of the chair. “Oh yes, OfCourse.” Carlos said, still slightly in shock.
Cecil headed to the bathroom and when he came out a few minutes later he look like his human-self. Carlos blinked at him. “What, why did you change back? Is it because of work?” Cecil shook his head. “Leanord normally doesn’t mind. But it tends to freak other people out so I try to avoid going outside like that.” He smiled. “I need to go.” Carlos led his to the door. Cecil leaned forward and kissed his forehead. “I’ll see you later!” He said and left. Leaving Carlos standing at the door flustered and stunned.