Chapter Text
[ Wemmbu ]
Unfortunately, it had been a few weeks since Wemmbu last saw Flame's hot older brother.
For some reason, since that first day, Flame had insisted on them going literally anywhere else. They worked in the library, at Wemmbu's parent's house, Wemmbu's apartment, literally anywhere else under the sun. Wemmbu was starting to get annoyed. Cause why was Flame so insistent they work anywhere else after being so insistent they worked at his apartment? Wemmbu would never understand that STEM asshole. STEM majors and their ability to confuse Wemmbu had to be studied.
[ gc - third wheeling ahh wemmbu ]
people's princess
I JUST DON'T KNOW
WHY WE HAVEN'T
BEEN BACK TO THEIR
APARTMENT. I WANNA
SEE HIS HOT OLDER
BROTHER
sunflower🌻
i fear i can think of
a reason or two
eggcelent taste 🥚
bro nah shush babe
wemmbu bro, just like tell
flame u wanna see
what was his name again?
people's princess
manepear, but he said
i could call him mane
sunflower🌻
men vs not folding for
wemmbu 💔💔
eggcelent taste 🥚
nah cause ts is getting
RIDICULOUS
both of them is insane
< eggcelent taste 🥚 deleted a message >
sunflower🌻
LMFAOOO
messay ahh
people's princess
ok so like what did u
delete…
eggcelent taste 🥚
wouldn't u like to know
weather boy
sunflower🌻
hey so what episode do
we kiss egg
eggcelent taste 🥚
this one, come over
people's princess
ANDDDD im done. see u
heathens later. i gotta go
see clown
sunflower🌻
rest in peace our best friend
they got hit by a bazooka
eggcelent taste 🥚
every day i am reminded why
i fell in love with you
< people's princess went offline >
eggcelent taste 🥚
LMFAO
sunflower🌻
lowkey free him from us
eggcelent taste 🥚
bros fine
also w changing of the
subject
[ dms w idiot 🔥 ]
idiot 🔥
bro wya we need to finish
this essay
blob 👑
ik ur ahh ain't talking.
im literally omw to clown's
office to check on my essay
and then i'll come to ur
locker
idiot 🔥
oh uh i could come
wait outside?
blob 👑
nah bro ur good it
shouldn't be too long
idiot 🔥
alr see u soon
Wemmbu looked up from his phone and sighed, rolling his eyes as he went to pull his hair back into a ponytail, and dusting himself as he made his way to see Dr. Clown (The professor was such a stickler for cleanliness. He'd never say it out loud, but that man's face spoke louder than any words). But not only had Flame not wanted to go back to his apartment, he was being weird. Wemmbu wasn't sure how he felt about it. In all honesty, he kinda just missed his friend— which he'd never tell him that, but the point stands. Wemmbu's friend had sorta disappeared over the last few weeks— it was like he was trying to prove something. Gone was the cocky fuck that was FlameFrags, instead leaving a shell behind that Wemmbu didn't know what to do with.
Wemmbu speed walks to where he knows Clown's office is for their appointment. Because not only does Dr. Clown value cleanliness, but also timeliness. Wemmbu couldn't help but wonder how the asshole manages to scare everyone almost more than any other professor on campus. Like Wemmbu said, their hair is pulled back into a ponytail, eager to keep it off their neck as Dr. Clown liked to keep his office ridiculously warm— Wemmbu doesn't even think the man is cold-blooded, Wemmbu thinks he just likes to torment his students. Leave it to Dr. Clown to be a rage baiter extraordinaire.
Wemmbu hadn't been paying attention when he turned the final corner to the hallway that was Dr. Clown's domain when he rammed into a warm wall. Wemmbu wasn't even moving that fast, and wasn't even sure how he kept getting into situations like this. Because seriously— Walls? Warm? Oh gods, what am I in? A fucking rom-com?
But, as Wemmbu looked up, he found he wouldn't mind being in a rom-com— for the first time in weeks, Wemmbu was looking at Manepear.
He doesn't look at that different, aside from the fact he's wearing business casual clothes instead of the sweats he first met him in. And what can Wemmbu say, Mane looks absolutely delicious when he's dressed up like this. His blonde locs are pulled back into a ponytail, still reaching his lower back, his sunglasses were pushed up to his forehead so Wemmbu could now see purple eyes staring down at him curiously. Wemmbu felt their cheeks light up bright red because they had always been ridiculously bad at dealing with hot, older men.
"Oh, Wemmbu," Mane's voice is just as deep and soothing as Wemmbu remembers even from a couple weeks ago. His eyebrows are raised clearly in surprised. Wemmbu doesn't know if he's imagining the spark in the older's eyes— but he sure as hell isn't imagining the amused, small smile on the other's lips. "Here to see Dr. Clown?"
Wemmbu giggled a bit, embarrassed even as they stepped out of Mane's space. Because seriously, how does he keep embarrassing himself in front of Mane? Trying to save face and keep himself from doing something stupid, Wemmbu ran a hand through his ponytail, suddenly aware he wasn’t ridiculously dressed up. Sure, they weren't in pj's or something, but they weren't their best either. Gods of course the first time I forgot to do my make up I run into Mane.
"Yeah, I uh, have to check out something for my, uh, paper—"
"Oh, Wemmbu, you're— oh, what is this?" Dr. Clown's voice is light and teasing in that way only he seems to be able to make seem simultaneously evil but affectionate. But the worst part was how ridiculously invested the professor now sounded. "Do you two know each other?"
Wemmbu snapped their head to Dr. Clown in embarrassment, stepping even farther away from Mane and ignoring the heat on their cheeks. His eyes focused on the professor in earnest, eager to get out of Mane's heavy gaze. Wemmbu tried to keep his voice steady, bringing his voice back down to a normal, level tone. Because he was professional, dammit, "Dr. Clown! Hi, uh, you said something about me coming in for my paper?"
"Yes, but I'm much more curious on how you know my dear grad student, Manepear," Clown's lips spread even wider than the usual smile the older seemed to sport, if only to make the other people around him uncomfortable. It seemed to be his specialty, if Wemmbu was honest. His eyes flickered back and forth between the two interacting, like he had just come across something entirely too interesting to ignore, "and how Manepear knows you, Wemmbu."
"Oh, he had a project with my brother, Flame, and they visited the apartment. They haven't been back since though," Mane commented offhandedly, purple eyes trailing back over to Wemmbu as if he were silently asking. Wemmbu couldn't help but wonder how they were close enough to talk like that together, for it to almost seem natural. Wemmbu tried not to shiver under the attention Mane seemed to be giving him.
"Yeah, Flame's been dragging me literally anywhere but y'all's apartment," Wemmbu huffed. Annoyance rolled off of him in waves as he sighed, crossing his arms and glancing away. His bag shifted slightly on his shoulder as he looked back at Clown. Then, as if a bit disappointed, he turned back to Clown, "but, uh, I do have to go meet up with Flame for this project we're working on. So can I come in? Are you two done with your meeting? Or—"
"Yes, yes, come on in," Clown waved Mane off, eyes tracing back to him, and as if remembering something last minute, noted,"oh and Mane? Make sure you get those assignments graded for me."
Wemmbu paused for a second, watching Dr. Clown go into the office before turning quickly to Mane. He tried to summon every brave bone he had in his body, He not sure when he'd get this chance again— if he'd get this chance again. Tearing out a little piece of paper from his notebook, he wrote his name and number quickly, preceding to shove it into the other's chest. Wemmbu had never been very good at doing things without impulse after all.
Mane made a surprised sound, looking down at his chest, then lifted his eyes back up with a raised eyebrow. There was something suspiciously close to relief, maybe a bit of amusement in the older's eyes. Wemmbu hoped the other wouldn't reject him outright—hoped he'd text. Wemmbu didn't mind waiting. This was them putting themself out there first, so, you know. Wemmbu couldn't seem to stop blushing around Mane, but wasn't that the fun part? Wasn't it fun, that for the first time in his life, Wemmbu felt his heart beating fast. Felt his cheeks light up with red splotches, felt his mind thinking about something other than school. It was fun. It was exciting. And Mane was just so interesting. Was this how Parrot felt with Wifies? Was this how Egg felt with Rejoice? How Lomedy felt with Jaden?
Wemmbu turned this time, looking over his shoulder with a wink, trying for confidence, hoping it came off as teasing rather than the "running away" it 100% was. "Bye, Mane. Text me!" And then ran off to go to Dr. Clown's office, mostly to avoid the conversation, but also because he knew Flame was waiting for him and Wemmbu was gonna do well on that paper, dammit.
xxx-xxx-xxxx
I'm not sure if I should
call that brave or cowardly
wemmbu
i lowkey forgot i gave
you my number
would you believe me if i
said it was a rash decision
< wemmbu changed xxx-xxx-xxxx to mane 🦁 >
mane 🦁
No, I don't think I
would considering
how quickly you replied.
But I don't mind. I've wanted
your number since you came
over with Flame, so I'm glad
I finally have it.
wemmbu 💜
well i'm sorry to keep
you waiting :p
idk why flame wanted
to literally change everything
up after making it seem like
he wanted us to do it at y'alls
apartment, but yk idk what
goes on inside his head
mane 🦁
Flame is gonna do what
Flame is gonna do.
I did want to ask this in
person but considering
you ran I'll ask here.
I hope I am not presumptuous
in asking to go out to coffee
sometime?
wemmbu 💜
oh my god yes
i'd love to
when r u free?
mane 🦁
I should have some free
time this weekend. We
could get coffee and chat?
It doesn't have to be anything
too stressful, I don't want you
to stress. I don't bite.
Unless, of course, you're into
that.
wemmbu 💜
oh my god
you have no shame
mane 🦁
Not when it comes
to a pretty boy I've been
thinking about for weeks.
Wemmbu's face flared bright red, a little giggle slipping through before he could help it. He was sitting next to Egg and Rejoice, who had been talking about whatever those two talked about whenever they were riding that cloud nine. Wemmbu sometimes tuned them out because he was always third wheeling. Sometimes their friend, Loppezz, joined in on the fun. Wemmbu and her would talk about whatever while Egg and Rejoice did that whole oh my god I love you so much or sweetie you're so peak oh my god. They were both simultaneously jealous and disgusted.
"Woah what's got you flushing and giggling pretty boy?" Egg laughed as he attempted to look over his shoulder, a teasing grin already growing on his lips. Wemmbu was sure he was not gonna get out of this. He hated it when they called him pretty boy because he genuinely couldn't tell if they were teasing or not.
Wemmbu slammed his phone against his chest and snapped his head toward his busybody best friends, who were grinning at him. He did not want to have this conversation with them. He kinda wanted to figure things out with Mane privately first, wanted to make sure they were going to work. Wanted to make sure it was solid, wanted—
Rejoice was leaned against Egg, tucked against his side, blonde hair pulled back in a bun and his black eyes sparkled in mischief. He always did have a way with simultaneously appearing innocent and looking like he was going to cause the whole building to go down in flames. His hand was fiddling with Egg's hand that was sitting across his lap. Cracking the other's knuckles or stretching the fingers. The two of them were always touching, like they couldn't get enough of each other— Wemmbu wondered what it was like to be that obsessed with someone. He had seen it with his parents, and now he saw it with them. Egg's other hand was running through Rejoice's hair, curling his blonde locks around his finger occasionally, like it was a stabilizing force.
Wemmbu glowered over at them before crossing his arms and sighing. Golden eyes trained on the floor as he worked up the courage to tell them, "I… ran into Mane the other day," because who was he kidding? He couldn't keep anything from them, "and uh, I gave him my number. He just asked me to get coffee this weekend."
Rejoice sat up from where he was leaned against Egg immediately and gasped happily. He had always been the most energetic between the three of them. And while Egg frowned for a second at the loss of Rejoice's warmth, it was quickly replaced with a teasing grin.
Wemmbu could feel the heat on his cheeks tenfold with all the attention. He was all for attention, but only when it wasn't about something he was unsure about. Still, for all their teasing, Wemmbu knew they were genuinely excited for them. He knew they felt bad that he was third-wheeling all the time.
"Aw this is great, Wemm!" Rejoice leaned forward, excitement dancing in those black eyes, grin wide and genuine as he reached to wrap his hands around Wemmbu's colder one. "Ugh I'm so excited to see how it goes! You seem so into him. See, I told you, Egg. Wemmbu likes older men!"
Wemmbu squawked, but Egg just sighed in defeat. Wemmbu couldn't really argue, cause… "Yes you did, sweetie." Egg turned to look at Wemmbu with a wide, knowing grin, mischief glimmering in those light blue eyes Wemmbu had known for years and years, keeping him grounded when he lost himself. "keep us updated, Wemm. We're so excited for you."
Wemmbu kinda stopped listening after he looked back at his phone to see a text from Flame, because who know what those two were whispering about. But he did hear something suspiciously like both brothers is crazy.
"Seriously? A date with Manepear? Dr. Clown's graduate student? That's insane, Wemmbu." Parrot gasped as he looked up from his essay, and Wemmbu was about two seconds from smacking Parrot around the head if he kept that judgemental ahh tone. "Seriously, Dr. Clown is super fond of him. Just be careful."
"Gods you're so paranoid, I know your ass isn't talking when you're dating Wifies," Wemmbu pointed out as he leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow at Parrot with his arms crossed, matching that idiot's energy. I know his ahh isn't talking when he's dating that fucking smart ahh weirdo, "which, how's that going? Still weird and in love?"
Parrot rolled his eyes at the mention of his boyfriend, but the blush on his pale cheeks was enough to tell Wemmbu he hit on the jackpot. Then Parrot went on to do the greatest glazing Wemmbu had heard since Flame's self-glazing.
"Wemmbu, Wifies is perfectly normal. He's just ridiculously smart, like even for me. He's already got like five graduate program offers. But he's going to the PhD program that he got into, obviously. And he got a scholarship for it! Don't ask me how that's possible. Like, I have internships for over the summer. But, ugh, he's just so… but, that's why I like him. He's so devoted, and smart."
"Yeah, I don't think you'd ever have to worry about him being this crazy about anyone else. He's, like, obsessed with you, bro," Wemmbu shook his head.
Wifies was a senior with a double major in biology and engineering with a minor in philosophy. Wemmbu doesn't even know how he does it. But yeah, he can see why Parrot would be into him. Parrot seems like the the type of person who wants someone he can go ban for ban with in terms of intelligence. Also, Wemmbu had seen the way Wifies looked at Parrot, Wemmbu bets he'd be the type of guy to get on his knees and beg every time he fucked up— and Wemmbu knows Parrot's a little shit, so he's probably into that.
"But yeah, I got a date this weekend. I'm really excited."
Parrot looked up at Wemmbu, something flashing across his eyes before sighing. He looked like he was going to say something but just sighed again. Why is he always sighing like an old ahh man?? He put down his pen, biting his lip like he was contemplating saying something before sighing again in resignation— please pick a different emote, Parrot.
But then, Parrot's eyes softened, his smile more real than Wemmbu had ever seen it, "That's great, Wemmbu. I'm really happy for you."
Wemmbu perked up, his purple hair cascading down his back because he was recovering from a nasty ponytail headache. He went to pick at his nails nervously as he was being honest—he and Parrot weren't… friends, but they were in a lot of classes together. So, that's a sort of trauma bond you can't escape easily, "Thank you, Parrot. It means a lot."
Parrot laughed—real and genuine—before locking back in, as if wanting to get Wemmbu to understand something super serious. "But, for the record, you don't owe anyone anything. If anyone gives you shit, let me know, okay?"
"Okay scary Mr. Student Body Vice President," Wemmbu saluted Parrot before laughing.
"Can you two shut up? Some people are trying to work!"
Wemmbu snorted a little before saying over their shoulder, finally relaxing as he realized how excited he was. The apology genuine as he manged to keep himself balanced, keep himself from not getting too happy, not too sad and— "My bad, bro."