Chapter Text
Basil: No.
Well that's not what Sunny wanted to see.
After finally retrieving his phone, courtesy of a particularly crafty pink haired woman, Sunny wanted nothing more than to explain what had happened. Judging by the response, Basil wasn't really in any mood to listen.
Sunny: Basil, please, there's a legitimate explanation, I promise.
Basil: Oh I'm sure there is. Please, enlighten me on what possible reason there would be to completely ignore me for two weeks.
Sunny: I never actually asked permission to go, my mom hates you for the eye, I got my phone taken away.
Basil: Jesus Christ.
Your message cannot be delivered.
Those were the exact five words Sunny did not want to see. He gaped at his phone, appalled by the response. He figured there would be tension, probably anger, but outright vitriol? That was certainly unexpected.
“So? How'd he respond?” Aubrey asked, ignorant to her friend's peril.
“Not well,” Sunny silently replied, sadness glazing his voice. “He just blocked my number.”
“The fuck?” she responded, snatching the phone from the stunned boy.
“Does he seriously have the gall to do that?” Kim, infuriated, asked.
“Apparently so,” Aubrey groaned out. She stared towards the ceiling as she passed the phone back to Sunny.
“Don't, just put it back for now. Don't want my mom knowing what happened,” Aubrey nodded, and complied. She shut the device down and placed it back in its holding cell, and locked the drawer once more.
A collective sigh emanated from the group of teens. Frustration and desperation had begun to reach a fever pitch. Sunny silently took the empty glasses of his friends and moved them to the sink.
“Hey, Sunny?” Aubrey started. Sunny poured dish soap into each cup, filling the bottom with a thin film. The scent of apples filled the air. It was just a misunderstanding, what didn't he get?
“Sunny?” The faucet was turned on by the frail boy, filling each cup to the brim with soapy water. He took out a small brush and scrubbed away. His breath accelerated. Is this how he felt all those years? Sunny began to cry-
“Sunny!” he was launched from his inner thoughts, tears streaming down his face and off his chin. Aubrey had a hard look, her lips pressed into a thin line, and her brow was furrowed. “We can make this right, okay? I'll talk to Basil, and try to explain it to him.”
“We'll make him listen!” Kim had a determined smile on her face.
“Don't give up hope, not yet,” Sunny nodded and slammed Aubrey into a hug. She wrapped her arms around the almost too thin boy, as he started to cry harder. Kim eventually joined in and hugged both teens.
o(〒﹏〒)o
“Who you texting?” Kel inquired, mouth full of delicious Gino's.
“No one anymore,” Basil put his phone in his pocket. He turned his attention to the TV. It was some Capt. Spaceboy rerereboot set in the 1400s but also the future called Neo Olde Tokyo, or something stupid like that.
Kel hummed and didn't pry further. He opted to check his own phone, almost alarmingly frequently. Basil didn't pay this any mind, as the concept of a phone was currently banned from his happy place.
Said happy place currently being a really terrible tv show and pizza. Apparently.
“Ugh, sorry I'll be right back,” Kel got up and stepped outside the house. He seemed dissatisfied by something. Basil, being the ever inquisitive child he was, investigated. He snuck up to the front of his house and placed an ear on the front window. “I'm sorry you broke into what?” Kel shouted into his phone. “Yes, that was a bad decision! You were supposed to help the poor guy not get him in more trouble!” Who was he talking to? “Ugh, nevermind.” a pause. “I'm at Basil's right now, I'll see you when I get home.” It was time to move back to the couch.
Basil didn't like spying on his friends, but Kel was acting a bit weird. More than just normal Kel weird. He didn't normally yell into the phone like that. While not nearly as levelheaded as his brother, he'd never had episodes like that.
The door opened, and the athletic teen made his way back in. “Sorry about that, family stuff, you know how it is.”
Now Basil was super suspicious. Kel never talked to Hero like that, and definitely never his parents, lest he be relegated to an early grave.
“Sure…” Basil gave his friend a side eye, but didn't question anything further.
A pregnant pause hung over the two boys. Basil wasn't sure how to navigate this. Kel was definitely lying to him but he wasn't sure where. Fat chance of it actually being a family member, so why would he have lied? Unless he was embarrassed, or it was someone Basil wasn't fond of. The only culprit there then would be Sunny, but Kel wouldn't talk that way to Sunny, either. Would he?
While Kel forgave Basil, the flower child wasn't sure whether or not he had forgiven Sunny. He needed more info.
Basil turned the volume down on the tv. “Hey Kel?”
The unruly teen turned to his friend, marinara sauce on his cheeks. “Wassup?”
He folded his hands. “Did you… ever forgive Sunny?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Well… you forgave me, which I'm grateful for, please don't misunderstand, but you never mentioned him,” Basil's knuckles went white from how much he was squeezing his own hand. A familiar anxiety began to crawl up his spine.
“Basil, I think part of me had already forgiven you both in the hospital,” Kel had a serious look on his face. He turned his gaze back towards the television but he wasn't really absorbing it. Basil stared at the profile of his shockingly rigid cheekbones. “You probably don't remember this, but after the ambulance and your first night in the ICU, Aubrey had the idea to try and clean up your house, water your plants, things like that. You know, make it look nice as an apology. When we got there though…” Kel shuddered. “There was a lot of blood. It was already starting to stain the carpet.”
“I'm sorry I put you through that.”
“No it- ack. Okay,” Kel turned to Basil. “I'm gonna say some stuff really quick. No interruptions,” Basil nodded. “I didn't tell Hero or Aubrey this at the time but I saw something else when I was cleaning your room. I managed to find your gardening scissors-”
“Shears.”
“Whatever, the point is they were still covered in blood. I'm thinking to myself ‘Oh I should clean these off,’ and so I took it to the sink, but the blood wouldn't come off. Do you get what I'm saying, Basil?”
“I-I…”
“I'm not here to judge, it's why I forgave you in the first place. Hell, way back, after everything first went down I caught Hero doing the same thing. I know how it goes, really,” Kel took a deep breath to try and slow down. “The point is, you already tormented yourself for god knows how long, Aubrey had already hurt you so much and the both of you nearly died twice in as many days. I was appalled at first, sure, but there's nothing more that I could reasonably ask either of you to atone for.”
Basil was stunned into silence. Tears were cascading down his fragile cheeks, blurring his vision into shapes and colors, rather than any specific objects or persons. His head was a mix of delighted, confused, and overwhelmed. His delightment came from the relief that his friend had been forgiven for everything. Regardless of how he felt about Sunny in that moment, at least he had that. Confusion came from the sudden revelation that not only did Kel know about his secretive tendencies, but Hero either had or was actively doing the same. The overwhelming sensation was courtesy of those two precious emotions battling it out all at once. All he could think to even do was cry.
Warmth spread over him as the basketball player wrapped him in another hug. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have dumped that all out at once on you. I know I'm not the best at talking to people, but I wanted you to know that I understand and care.”
“Th-thank you K-Kel, thank you,” Basil repeated that like a mantra, as he unloaded into the taller boy's chest.
o(〒﹏〒)o
Kel lounged in his bed. Whew, what a day. Emotionally he was downright exhausted. Physically, he was far too alert, however. He didn't like skipping his daily workout, but there were more important things to do. Namely wait for Aubrey to finally get back to Faraway.
The two had devised a plan to both find out what happened to Sunny, and cheer up Basil. Originally Kel wanted to visit Sunny at his apartment but, in Aubrey's words, “Knocking won't do shit, he'll just ignore you.” So he went to see Basil, instead. Kel suspected in the moment Aubrey still felt uncomfortable around him after everything, which he really couldn't blame her for. He accepted the plan without much pushback.
That being said, she was still taking forever to get ba-
Tink.
Ah, there she was.
Kel flipped up, and went over to his window. In his backyard he found the devil herself, Aubrey. Wait, why is Kim here?
“What is Kim doing here?” Kel staged whispered from his window.
“I needed a ride to Sunny's apartment, let us in!” Kel groaned silently but threw down a smallish rope ladder. Nothing crazy long, but enough to reach the second floor. The two girls made their way up the ladder.
“How'd it go at Sunny's?” Kel asked, giving a supporting hand as Aubrey and Kim struggled through the window.
“Not great,” Aubrey started.
“Sunny's dumbass mom grounded him, like he didn't already spend enough time inside,” Kim angrily whispered. “So pale.”
“On top of that Basil blocked his number,” Aubrey finished. “He didn't really take it all that well.”
“That explains the radio silence at least. But for real? Just blocked him?” Kel pulled the ladder back in and locked his window. Best not let his mom or dad see that from downstairs.
“Yeah, barely let the poor kid explain,” Aubrey continued. “Then he shut down for a hot minute. Kim and I managed to calm him down but he was seriously heartbroken.”
“That explains why Basil seemed angry,” Kel crossed his arms and sat on his bed. “He was under the impression that Sunny abandoned him.”
Aubrey and Kim both sucked air through their teeth. “That's not great,” Aubrey commented. Kim nodded in agreement.
Kel hummed, and started to brainstorm. How could he get them to make up? The easiest way would be to get them in the same room alone. That's definitely easier said than done. It's not like he could just go to Sunny's apartment and just-
o(〒﹏〒)o
“Thanks again for letting me in, Ms. Suzuki,” Kel said, a grin painted on his face.
“Of course, Kelsey! It's been so long since we've seen you, I'm sure Sunny will be delighted. What brings you by?” Sunny's mom guided Kel through the apartment. Kel wasn't sure if it was a fake smile or genuine happiness at seeing him, he guessed the latter.
“Well Sunny had invited me to go to Chuck E cheese for my birthday, but he missed it, and I didn't really hear from him,” the truth was, his birthday was four months ago. He was banking on Sunny's mom not remembering that.
“Oh I'm so sorry dear, I had no idea!” Score one for Kel. “Why don't you two spend some time together today then?” she knocked on Sunny's door.
The door opened slowly to reveal a fairly dejected Sunny. His eye met Kel’s. “Hey Sunny!” He gave the boy a familiar grin. Sunny’s eyes opened wide in both surprise and confusion.
“I’m so sorry you missed Kel’s birthday, I wish you had told me it was coming up!” his mother said. It was a confusing tone for Sunny. Her prior frustration at her son was almost nonexistent with Kel’s presence.
“Yeah, Sunny, it’s not like you to forget things!” Kel gave his friend a quick wink, signaling the intentions.
“I’m sorry,” he blandly stated. His face betrayed no emotions, but his eye told Kel everything he needed to know.
“Nah don’t worry about it bud, I came to see if it’s okay that I take you out, just the two of us!” Kel turned to Sunny’s mother, and gave her all of the charm he could muster. “Would that be okay with you?”
Sunny’s mom pondered this for a moment. Her hand reached her chin, and she stroked it slowly while she thought. “Yes, that should be fine. I think you’ve more than fulfilled the punishment Sunny. Thank you for being so cooperative. Let me grab your phone.” She smiled, and made her way to her office space.
Sunny waited to hear the telltale click of her door. “Your birthday is in November.”
“Yeah, I know you know that silly,” Kel whispered. “I’ll explain more in the car.”
“Okay,” he replied. As he did his mom came back with his cellphone.
“Please call if anything comes up, and let me know when you’re making your way back, okay?” She requested, holding it out to Sunny.
“I will mom, thank you,” and his phone was his once more. He pulled his mom into a hug. “I love you, mom.”
“I love you too, honey. Have a good time!” She kissed him on the forehead, and ushered the teenagers out the door.
o(〒﹏〒)o
Kel guided Sunny to his car. A small orange sedan that had certainly seen better days. But it still drove, which was the important part. The two boys climbed into the old vehicle, a deafening silence surrounded the two of them, with only the hustle and bustle of the big city to break it.
“So why did we lie to my mom?”
“That was a hell of a way to break the silence, Sunny!” Kel laughed. He started the car and pulled out of his parking spot. “Aubrey and I have a plan to get you and Basil talking again. He was really hurt yesterday, which is why he blocked you I think.”
Sunny cringed at that. “I want to apologize to him.”
“And you’ll get your chance, don’t worry. I’m not mad at you, if that’s a thing you’re concerned about. Basil wasn’t really thinking all that straight, but we’re gonna set things right,” Kel flashed Sunny a grin.
“Thank you, Kel,” Sunny hugged the side of his tall friend. “You don’t know how important this is to me.”
“I’ve got some idea about it,” he wrapped an arm around Sunny. “Now buckle down, we’ve got like a 45 minute drive and you’re manning the playlist!” Immediately as those words were spoken the nostalgic acoustic guitar of The Smith’s blared through the radio.
o(〒﹏〒)o
“Aubrey, where are you taking me?” Basil asked, annoyed that he had been dragged out of his house with a blindfold.
“It’s a surprise.”
“This isn’t very funny,” Basil said, nervously.
“Well good!” Aubrey said, weirdly excited. “Cause this may not be all that funny.” She took off the blindfold from an extremely annoyed Basil.
“Is that Sunny?” He asked, almost entirely furious. The venom from which his words came could kill a man.
“Hey that rhymed! Also yes. Listen,” She grabbed Basil’s chin and turned him towards her face. She had an intense look, and her iris shot daggers into his soul. “I had to break into his mom’s desk just so he could send those messages to you, and you just blocked him.”
“He abandoned me.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. Please just hear him out.”
Basil could feel his heart beat through his chest. It was the loudest noise he had ever heard. “Fine.” The two broke eye contact, and Basil turned towards a desperate looking Sunny, and a far too proud of himself Kel, standing in the secret hide out, on a picnic blanket. “What the hell…”
Kel waved, excitedly. “Hey Basil! Sunny wanted to clear some stuff up, and I think you should really hear him out!”
Basil didn’t say anything, instead he just gave Kel a look that said “I trusted you.” After holding his look for a moment, he angrily stepped towards the two. Sunny nervously looked at the flowerboy. A saddened regretful smile lined his face, and his eye glanced all over Basil as he approached.
Basil sat cross legged on the picnic blanket. Sunny immediately mimicked this, sitting right across from his friend. Kel stepped to the side and put one arm across his torso. “May I start you with something to drink my good sirs?” Jesus Christ.
“Water, please,” Sunny requested. Kel walked away for a moment as he poured a small cup for Sunny. “Thank you for coming, Basil.”
“I’m still mad at you.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Okay.”
The sound of water moving back and forth, the wind rustling the trees, cicadas, crickets, robins and blue jays scored the tense scene. Basil stared at Sunny. His one dark orb wavered back and forth between Basil’s eyes. He was desperately trying to parse out how Basil felt. Basil betrayed nothing. All he was sending was vicious anger.
“My mom doesn’t like you,” Sunny started. “After everything happened last year, she doubled down on ‘protecting’ me.” Sunny put air quotes around protecting. “I don’t hate her for this, but I’m mad she hates you so much. I forgive, and don’t blame you for what happened to me, and I didn’t want my missteps to fall on your shoulders again. I lied to my mom to come and see you, because I do genuinely love you Basil. I’m sorry.”
Basil let his lips fall more neutral. Sunny’s words spread across his head like a wet cloth. He took a slow, deep breath. “I’m still mad at you.” Sunny flinched. “It hurt me, after I poured so much of my soul to you, for you, only for the same thing to happen again. And suddenly I was alone again.”
Basil paused, to gauge Sunny’s reaction. “It hurts especially, because I love you too, and I can’t understand that. I don’t understand your decision to keep me in the dark about that.”
“I wanted-”
“Stop.” Basil held a hand out in front of him, and closed his eyes. “If you promise not to hide something like that from me again, then I forgive you.”
“Okay.”
“Say it.”
“I promise I won’t hold things like that from you.”
A moment of silence passed. Basil softened, finally. It was painful being angry for so long. “Okay. Thank you, Sunny.”
Sunny immediately crossed the blanket and hugged Basil. The small framed boy shook heavily on the gardener’s chest. Sobs racked his body as he tightly held the larger teen. Basil hugged his friend back, his own emotions getting the better of him, he too started crying. The two sobbed and cried. Wetness covered each shoulder respectively.
“I m-m-m-missed you, I’m s-s-so sorry,” Sunny cried, his voice struggled out.
“I-I-I missed you too,” Basil was about as much of a wreck.
Kel and Aubrey, content to watch from the sidelines, make their way over and join the couple’s hug. The warmth of the group filled Basil’s heart, his sadness had looped back up to being happiness again. The desperation of needing to know became a thing of the past.
“I love you so much, Basil.”
“I love you too, Sunny.”