Chapter Text
The Second Coming scanned the forest below the cliff he stood at the precipice of, hand resting on the hilt of his sword, but it was safe in its scabbard for now. He'd already cleaned the blood off of it.
“This is a fool's errand,” said the woman to his side. He glanced at Mitsi before looking back down, the evening sun glinting off her armor in the corner of his eye. He didn't respond. “They said he was dead.”
“They said they think he's dead,” The Second Coming corrected. Mitsi sighed, looking out below them.
“What are you even going to do if we find the prince?” she asked. “The king wanted him gone, and I don't want to be on the king's bad side by harboring an exile.” The Second Coming was silent again. Mitsi frowned at him before continuing. “I think dead things ought to stay dead.” That had The Second Coming looking over at her, raising a brow, and she sighed, pressing her eyes shut and turning her head away. “I suppose I'm not the best example.” He smirked and looked back out at the landscape.
“A forest,” he said, “on the edge of the kingdom. That's where they took him.”
“And the man with the map was conveniently killed by the explosion.”
“We may have to search across the entire border.”
Mitsi groaned. “You know I'm only doing this because I owe you the favor, Orange,” she said, but her tone wasn't cross—only tired.
“And when we find the prince, your debt will be paid.” The Second Coming turned away from the cliff and walked back to where they'd left their horses, Mitsi following reluctantly behind him.
She was right in thinking it was a bad idea to go behind the king's back like this, but The Second Coming had never cared much for authority. The exiled prince genuinely was a good man, and The Second Coming wanted to ensure his safety out of duty, but also he would really enjoy knowing how furious King Navy would be to learn that his hated son was safe and sound. Not that he would ever tell him. No, The Second Coming would take the prince somewhere far from the king's influence. It was his divine honor as a knight to do this. He murmured a prayer to the Cursors to aid him in this task before climbing onto his horse and riding off.
Chonk was a little confused that night. Usually he slept in Red's bed, but Red was in Orange's bed, and Purple was in Red's bed. But, the cat reasoned, he was caring for Purple right now, so he must stay with him anyway. Oh, but Red gave him the best scritches behind the ears!
Green laughed at the cat circling the hallway in befuddlement, looking in to where Red sat on the floor of his new bedroom and then to where Purple sat in the bed of his.
“Chonk, you can stay with Purple,” Green said, tossing a balled up sheet of paper through the door of Purple's room and causing the cat to chase after it. Purple chuckled, watching Chonk play with the paper ball.
“He just needs time to get used to it,” Red said, standing up. He went into Purple's room, the cat running up to him and meowing, trying to make sense of everything. “You want me to hang out in here with you guys?” Red asked, pulling the door closed most of the way until only a thin crack of candlelight showed through.
“He's a clingy cat,” Green heard Purple say on the other side.
Green let out a chuckle before going downstairs to the bathroom. He found Yellow brushing his teeth and joined him in preparing for bed, speaking idly around their toothbrushes, Yellow asking Green about haircare and Green asking Yellow about skincare. Green finished up, leaving Yellow to slather a face mask on himself, and headed back upstairs. He almost went right back in his room to go to sleep when he heard Red say something in the other room.
“Can I comb your hair?”
Green paused.
“You want to comb my hair?” Purple said, voice carefully neutral.
“Yeah, it's so long!” Red said. “It needs to be cared for. Green is always going on about how your hair is your greatest weapon in the looks department or whatever.” Green did always say that. “And you've been stuck in bed all day, so we need to get the tangles out.”
“Well...if you'd like, then sure.”
“Great! I think I left my comb in here.” Green heard the sound of the mattress shift and Red's footsteps on the floor. He took an instinctive step back, but Red didn't see him through the crack in the door. It was a moment until he heard Red sit back down on the bed. “Alright tell me if it hurts.”
“Don't worry,” Purple said. “I've got a tough skull.”
They fell silent, and Green strained to hear the pull of the comb through Purple's hair.
“How did you get it so long?” came Red's voice.
“Didn't cut it.” They shared a chuckle. There was another silence until Purple spoke again. “This reminds me of when my mother combed my hair every night as a child,” he said.
“I bet she was better at it than me.”
“Well,” Purple laughed again, “her hair was a lot longer than yours.”
There was more silence, only the sounds of the brush in Purple's hair, and Green found himself leaning forward, anticipating the next scrap of conversation. Yellow peeked his head around Green's shoulder, eyebrow raised, and Green gave a start. He didn't make any noise, only had a tiny heart attack. He went to his room, ignoring Yellow entirely, and closing his door on Purple and Red's conversation.
Green jolted awake to the sound of Chonk's cries. He leapt from his bed and ran to Purple's room, but the open door revealed that it was empty. Chonk cried again, from downstairs Green now realized, and another voice let out a low hiss.
“Hush, Chonk!” Purple's whisper floated up the stairs. “You're going to wake everyone up!” Chonk let out another yowl. Green was at the bottom of the stairs in a heartbeat, seeing Purple fully dressed in the clothes he had found him in, one hand on the front door handle. A moonbeam sliced through the window, revealing the panic in his eyes at Green's appearance.
“Purple!” he said. “What are you doing?” Purple drew a shaky breath, swallowing.
“Green,” he said evenly, “I...wish to express my gratitude for your help. You all have been very kind to me. But I have to leave.” Chonk cried out in protest.
“Leave?” Green's face fell. “What are talking about? You're still injured!” He took a step forward, but Purple jerked back as if he were standing right in front of him and not all the way across the room.
“Please,” Purple said, voice thick. “I just want to leave.”
“You'll die out there.” Green shook his head. “I'm not letting you go anywhere.” Purple's face hardened.
“You think you can tell me what to do?” he challenged.
Green let out a sigh, rubbing his eyes. “Purple, I'm not trying to hurt you, if that's what you think.” He took another step that had Purple pressed up against the door, knocking himself against the wood. He winced, hand going to his side. Chonk rubbed his legs, purring. “Please come back to bed,” Green asked. “I promise we can talk about getting you somewhere safe in the morning.” Purple just breathed for a few moments.
“You won't try to talk me out of leaving?”
Yes I will. “Of course I won't.” Green's brows drew up and he slowly held out a hand. “Please just come back to sleep. Think on this for another day.” While Purple stared at his hand in inner turmoil, Green heard a creak at the top of the stairs on the landing that went unnoticed by the other man. Their friends were listening, Green could sense it now, Blue with one ear pointed their way in focus, Red ready to charge down there, and Yellow staying him with a hand, leaning into Blue to hear more closely. But Green wasn't thinking about any of them. He only had his eyes on Purple.
Slowly, shakily, Purple reached for him. If he were anyone else, Green would've snatched up his hand and yanked Purple into a great hug. But he wasn't someone else. Purple put his hand in Green's, soft skin brushing rough calluses.
“Just until tomorrow?” Purple asked. His voice was steadier, tears shining like stardrops in his eyes.
“Just until tomorrow,” Green agreed.
“Don't get used to my presence,” Purple said, but the scowl he gave didn't have the intended effect, adorned by his tears. “We aren't friends.”
“I know,” Green said, carefully guiding him up the stairs. Purple clutched his forearm, taking uneasy steps. Chonk monitored. “I'm just someone who's trying to help.”
The other's weren't at the top of the stairs when they made it up, Green couldn't even see light under anyone's door, so Purple's pride was safe for now. Green took him back into his room, Chonk jumping onto the bed and pawing at the covers.
“Do you need help changing back into your pajamas?” Green asked.
“No,” Purple snapped, yanking out of his reach. “I'm not an invalid.”
“I never said the word 'invalid.'” Green's patience would have run out if this were anyone else, but he found himself remarkably calm. “I'm only offering my help.” Purple scowled at him, but then glanced away. He sighed.
“Actually, yes,” he said miserably. “That would be...very kind of you.”
Green helped Purple shed his clothes and then pull on the warm pajamas they'd given him. He helped him into bed and Purple laid down with a sigh, his freshly combed hair splaying across his pillow.
“If you need anything,” Green said, sending down a soft smile, “just send Chonk for me.” Chonk was currently curled up against Purple's neck, no doubt prepared for any sort of errantry.
“Thank you,” Purple whispered. He looked at Green, and those eyes shined so vulnerably in the dark. “Please don't tell the others about this.”
“I won't,” Green said, but the others already knew. They wouldn't say anything, of course.
“This is embarrassing,” Purple said, pressing a hand to his eyes. “You're just trying to help, and I'm making it so difficult for you.”
“Hey, don't even worry about it.” Green's smile stretched wider, and he sat down on the step stool beside the bed. “I promise you're no trouble at all compared to my friends. Just the other day, Blue was trying to see how many marshmallows he could stuff in his mouth and I had to give him the Heimlich.” Green heard the faintest creek of a floorboard in the hall, Blue's shame at being an idiot making itself known, but Purple didn't catch it. He only let out a soft chuckle.
“How kind of you.” Purple removed his hand from his face and looked at Green. Their faces were very close. He glanced away, opening his mouth to speak but then let out a sigh. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” Green said at once, leaning in closer.
“When I leave, could you...help me into town?” Purple asked. “Point me in the right direction?”
“You really want to go to Macintosh?” Green asked, frowning.
“I have family there. I'm sure they'll take me in.” They studied each other, amethyst eyes peering into emerald, and Green realized how beautiful Purple was.
Don't even think about it.
“Alright,” he said. “I can take you as far as you need.”
Purple closed his eyes and smiled. “Thank you.”
Green was very irritated with Red the next day, but he didn't know why. Yes, he did know why. Red had been hanging out with Purple all morning. That was the correct phrase, 'hanging out.' Sure he helped the others get things for Purple like breakfast or clothes or whatever, but after that he just...spent time in his room with him. Green could hear them playfully arguing over a card game upstairs, and he frothed at the mouth with jealousy. He glared into the flames as he fed the fire in the living room. He was the one who had the special moment with Purple last night, he was the one who stopped Purple from going out into the cold and dying, and now Red was benefiting from it? Green threw another log on the fire, letting out a huff.
“Do you think Red will convince Purple not to leave?” Yellow asked him. He sat on the couch behind Green, stitching up one of the shirts they had given Purple so that it would fit him better. Yellow was the best at sewing among them, so naturally he offered to take up the task. Green scowled at the way he calmly put the needle through the fabric.
“I could convince him,” Green grumbled. One side of Yellow's mouth lifted, and he shook his head.
“I'm sure you could,” was all he said. Yellow snipped the thread and stuck the needle back in his pincushion. He held up the newly improved shirt, appraising it and deeming it worthy. It was still far too lemony for Purple, in Green's opinion. Yellow tossed the shirt his way. “Take this up for me, please,” he said. Green snatched it out of the air, pouting. He went upstairs, but didn't listen at the door this time, knocking politely instead.
“Come in!” Red called in a sing-song voice. Green, still moody, clenched his jaw. But then he took a breath, relaxing before walking inside.
Red and Purple were sitting across from each other on the bed, game of cards between them. They looked up at him, smiling, but they were the sort of smiles that were already there when you arrived, not ones that your presence caused, and Green was beginning to grow irritated with himself, even more than he was with Red, for wishing he was in his place.
“Yellow finished fixing your shirt,” he said, fighting to keep a calm look.
“Oh, tell him how kind he is for me,” Purple said, reaching out to take it. Green purposely brushed his fingers against his, and Purple fumbled, shirt falling from his hand and catching the side of the bed by the sleeve. Blushing, he drew the shirt back into himself, pressing it against his face. “You are all being far too kind to the likes of me.”
“I think the likes of you is cool!” Red said. He placed another card. “Not cool enough to beat me, though.” Purple gasped, removing the shirt from his face, and giving Red a look of pure hatred.
“You cheater!” he screamed. Red only laughed obnoxiously when Purple snatched his cards away. His brows drew lower on his face as he looked through the hand, examining each card and then going through the played cards between them. He sat back against the bed, lip curling. “I still think you cheated.”
“Maybe I'll let you win the next round,” Red said. He gathered up the cards and began shuffling them again, and if Green had an ounce less pride, he would've asked to join them. Instead he left the room.
Green had to spend some serious alone time with his guitar in his room just to calm down, plucking put gentle, calming tunes. But it was for naught because Red had something to tell everyone when he came downstairs to do his share of the chores.
“Good news!” he said. “I managed to convince Purple to stay here for another week while he recovers,” and oh my goodness Green wanted to punch him in his freaking face!
“That is good,” Green said with a smile. “I think Blue had some more potions made for him.”
“Yup,” Blue said, drying off a plate Yellow had just washed and handed to him. “Tell him to ask for one before he's in excruciating pain.”
“You got it,” Red said, pointing at him. He took his coat from the hook, preparing to go out to the barn, and continued in a whisper, “I think I can get him to stay all winter if I...play my cards right.” Green rolled his eyes.
“You think so?” and this time, Green didn't quite keep his irritation in check. Red grinned, leaning in.
“Yeah,” he said impishly. “I do.” Green scowled after him as he left the house.
Objectively, Red managing to convince Purple to stay with them all winter was a good thing. It's just that...Green wanted to be the one to convince him. He swept the floor, grappling with his own stupidity and that of the situation at hand. He should be thanking Red for keeping Purple out of the cold. Instead he was as green with jealousy as he was by name.
“I'm so stupid,” he muttered to himself.