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‘ Ridiculous. ’ Edgar scowled as he perused the selection of oil paints.
The craft store was full of men and women scrambling to either collect materials to shoddily create something “with love” or purchase an item straight up. Edgar assumed they’d write that off as “heartfelt” too despite it being essentially a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card. He picked a terrible day to restock his collection. The best alternative would have been to order online, but he was already here. No use just going back home to his idiots empty handed.
His idiots being Luca and Mike.
With the wretched “Saint Valentine’s Day” upon them, those two were extra annoying. They’d been giving each other gifts all week and kissing in various places that Edgar so happened upon. Thankfully, they were gone for almost the entirety of the week. They’d only be home in the mornings and at night to sleep. The rest of that time was either spent on dates or shopping to buy yet another box of chocolates that no one would eat or a stuffed animal that would be thrown into a pile and never seen again.
Edgar didn’t care what they did with their time. As long as he had his space in his studio and they didn’t bother him, he could deal with them. It was easier said than done, though. Mike always wanted to sit and watch Edgar paint. He’d ask a plethora of questions or make so much noise that it would disrupt Edgar’s focus.
Luca was different. If he was in the room, Edgar wouldn’t know until he turned around and saw him sitting on the floor. “Oh, don’t mind me!” He’d say, or “Just watching. Carry on!” It was strange how quiet he could be in contrast to Mike.
As Edgar bit back the urge to snap at the underpaid craft store cashier, he thought to himself. On the actual day of Valentine’s Day, Mike and Luca were probably going to be even more insufferable. They’d been going on dates, but chances were they’d want to shake things up. Stay close to home. Maybe make one of their shitty “pillow forts” in the living room and watch a movie. They’d snuggle up in there, so cramped they could feel each other’s heartbeats.
And what was Edgar to do if they ended up having sex on the floor? Was he to just never leave his studio for the rest of the night? His life? They’d done it before and he had the misfortune of walking in. But, get this, Mike had asked him if he wanted to join . Frankly, Edgar couldn’t stop thinking of that offer. Not because he wanted to take him up on it, of course! It was just so absurd to him.
He carried his own bag separate to the groceries Luca had asked him to pick up while he was out, along with some candies Mike requested. It would be a pain to have to scramble through all of them to see which one was his when he returned. This way, he could drop their stuff on the countertop and retreat back to his studio without having to run into either of them. Since his bag was lighter than the other two, he didn’t have to struggle with his keys, so that was a plus.
He ascended the stairs and made his way up to their shared apartment. He silently hoped the complex’s extremely fat cat would be sitting outside like always, but alas… it was not. What a shame.
He hadn’t seen it in a while. When he went out it was usually with Luca accompanying him, meaning they’d have to take the elevator. It wasn’t that Luca couldn’t make his way down the stairs with his crutches, it was just a bit dangerous if his legs ended up giving out. It was best to preserve energy with him, even if it meant missing out on studying the cat for artistic reference.
Edgar would have to remember to sneak a bowl of tuna fish onto his windowsill later. Perhaps it was still lingering around somewhere on the fire escape.
He only fumbled with his keys for a moment before unlocking the door and stepping inside. He stepped on the heel of his boot to remove it, doing the same to the other. Just as he’d put his bag down to remove his coat, Mike came barreling down the entryway.
“You’re hooome, Eddie!” He called, jumping and clinging to Edgar’s torso with both his arms and legs.
Edgar flailed, trying to keep himself balanced and keep the groceries from falling.
To his relief, Luca wasn’t very far behind Mike, although slower in approaching. “I’ll take these off your hands.” He smiled, retrieving both the groceries and Mike’s candy. Like a moth to a flame, Mike hopped off of Edgar and followed Luca— Or the trail of his candy, rather.
Just like Edgar had planned, once he’d taken his coat off, he bolted for his studio with his bag in tow. With a nervous swiftness, he replaced the missing jars of paint and flopped backward onto his bed.
He wanted today to be over. He wanted this week to be over. It was stupid anyway. Why was there an entire day dedicated to love? Wasn’t that super unfair to people who didn’t have someone they loved? Not just unfair— A major kick to the balls. He didn’t understand the tradition of chocolate, flowers, or stuffed animals. What “love” is shown through a cartoonish bear with heart shaped paws?
If he were to love someone, he’d get them something that he knew they would love. Something they could get use out of and enjoy. But he would be discrete about it. For instance, maybe picking up on the fact that his supposed partner’s favorite screwdriver was lost when a mysterious stray cat entered the apartment and buy him a replacement. Or maybe a new pair of earrings that his supposed partner had been eyeballing for months. Those kinds of things.
Just as he’d felt himself drifting to sleep after a stressful day, there came a knock at the door and a promise it would only get even more stressful.
He willed himself out of bed, pulling his door open.
“What do you want?” He didn’t ask with nearly as much venom as he usually would. Maybe it was because he noticed Mike had already switched his earrings.
“I was just wondering,” Mike swayed, “Luca and I are going to watch a movie after dinner. Do you want to—”
“No.” Edgar grumbled and made to close the door, but Mike had stopped him.
“W-wait!” The blonde whined. “You’ve been avoiding me and Luca all week… Is something wrong Eddie? You can talk to us…”
“See, the dilemma here is that I don’t want to talk to you. Can I please get back to my night now?”
Mike, however, was notorious for being stubborn. “Well, that’s just too bad!” He said, grabbing Edgar’s hand and beginning to pull him out of his studio, “You may have escaped us yesterday, but you’re not getting away tonight!”
Edgar didn’t resist nearly as much as he usually did, letting himself be pulled to the living room where Luca was placing a few pillows onto a blanket on the floor. “Can’t we just use the sofa bed?” Edgar scowled, sitting himself down on the edge of the blanket. Mike quickly knelt beside the blanket, forcing him to instead scoot to the middle.
“We won’t be able to watch the movie if we’re laying down, silly goose.” The blonde teased.
Luca sat down, laying his cane next to the blanket for easy access if he needed to get up again. “You’ll just pretend you’re sleeping if we lay on the bed, Edgar.” He joked, “There’s hardly enough space for Mike and I, I doubt all three of us could fit.”
Edgar rolled his eyes. Maybe that’s a sign I shouldn’t be here. He mocked the idea in his head but kept his thoughts to himself. He wasn’t sure why he did. It’s their fault for dragging him out here, he should have a right to voice how unhappy he was at the moment. Instead, he relaxed onto the blanket, “What are we watching?”
“Mike hasn’t seen The Wizard of Oz.”
“What?” Edgar was actually surprised, “Are you serious? Someone like you has never seen The Wizard of Oz?”
Mike shook his head, “Uh-uh! I said I’ve seen some of it! I’ve just never watched the whole thing, it never crossed my mind. Luca said that’s a crime!”
Edgar nodded in agreement, “He‘s right, it is. Everyone and their dog has seen The Wizard of Oz.”
“I told you he’d think so. It’s crazy, isn’t it?”
“Okay! I get it!” Mike whined, crossing his arms, “I’m watching it now, right? Isn’t that enough? Hush!”
Luca couldn’t help but chuckle at how Mike reacted when both he and Edgar teased him. Due to Edgar’s reclusiveness, the occasion was rare, but always delightful. Though few in number, he very much appreciated the moments they shared.
And to his surprise, Edgar was smiling too.
Briefly.
The moment that he realized what he was doing, he stopped and went back to a neutral, exasperated expression. Luca didn’t take it too personally. He knew how Edgar could be.
Once everyone was settled and comfortable, Luca put the movie on.
The movie itself didn’t hold up very well apparently. Mike was very displeased with the lack of color to the film for the first few minutes, but his frustration subsided once Dorothy entered the land of Oz.
Edgar wasn’t watching it as closely as the other two. He was just staring at the TV, not paying attention to what was happening on the screen. Occasionally if Mike or Luca reacted, he’d mutter a “Woah” or a “Wow” to make them believe he was watching along. Really, he just wanted to get this over with and get to bed.
Come to think of it, Luca did put down those pillows.
About halfway through the Cowardly Lion’s (terrible) song, Edgar leaned back onto the pillow and silently closed his eyes. Luca and Mike didn’t seem to say anything or take notice at all for the time being. Good… Maybe if Edgar pretended to sleep, they’d crawl into their bed and he could sneak back to his room while they were asleep.
The movie continued, but neither of them were adding their commentary anymore which was odd. Usually, those two never shut up, just feeding off each other.
“I told you he’d fall asleep.” Mike whispered with a sigh. Edgar kept his eyes shut, but he could hear rustling from Mike’s side of the blanket. He’d had his back turned to the blonde, opting to lay toward Luca just in case Mike tried to give him another “goodnight” kiss. He did not want a repeat of that incident. He should save those for Luca.
Speaking of Luca, there was rustling from his side too. “It was worth a shot. He seemed happy to spend some time with us. I don’t think he’d ever tell us that, though.” Edgar felt something be thrown across his body, then spread out. Must have been a blanket.
More movement from Mike’s side, this time, he heard the blonde get up and tiptoe away. “I just wish he was more open with us… I hope he doesn’t feel left out because we’re always doing things together.” There was an echo to his voice. He must have been in the bathroom with the door open. Probably removing his earrings. He took them out every night before bed, unless he was drunk. In that case, they stayed in until Edgar happened by his sleeping form and took them out for him.
Luca stayed put on the blanket. Edgar felt the man lay beside him and get himself comfortable. They weren’t going to continue with the movie? He couldn’t hear it anymore. Maybe it was just on pause until Mike finished with his earrings. “I don’t think he does. We always extend the offer to him to join us, but I just don’t think he’s a “romantic” type.” Luca chuckled. Edgar flinched, almost opening his eyes as he felt something touch his face. It was Luca, pushing his hair behind his ear.
“It just worries me,” Edgar didn’t hear Mike’s footsteps back over, but his voice was closer now. Combined with the sound of the floor creaking and the two blankets rustling, it was obvious he was getting himself comfortable too. “I love the both of you, but you’re two completely different people. Not that that’s a bad thing. I love the both of you for who you are. I just wish Edgar would give me some kind of sign if I’m doing something wrong… or tell me what I’m doing right. He’s such a pain sometimes.”
Edgar could have opened his eyes right there and went back to his room, but two arms wrapped around him from behind. The shorter male’s cheek pressed to the back of his neck. Edgar could tell he was pouting. Similarly, he felt Luca scoot closer to his front and carefully drape an arm just above his head.
“Well… I think we’re doing something right.” Edgar could hear the smile in Luca’s voice, “He bought us those gifts, didn't he? I think he’s just a little shy when it comes to relationships. He’s just got a different way of showing his love.”
Behind his eyelids, Edgar rolled his eyes. As if . He was only replacing something he knew went missing because of his carelessness. It wouldn’t have been fair to Mike if he’d brought back something for Luca and not him. No, it wasn’t that it wouldn’t have been fair. Mike would have gotten incredibly jealous and he would never leave Edgar alone.
Yes, that was why. It just so happened that this vile holiday was tomorrow. His gifts had no correlation to the date at all.
He could hear the movie resume and the two quieted down. Thank god. He thought he’d go insane if they didn’t stop talking about him.
…
Edgar lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling above. He was used to doing this. In fact, he did it every night. He’d stare at the ceiling until he subconsciously closed his eyes and went to sleep.
But tonight was different.
Tonight, his idiot— His boyfriends lay on either side of him, both fast asleep. Mike clung to his arm and Luca pressed the side of Edgar’s head to his chest as he slept.
‘ What a pain. ’ He wanted to think as he lay trapped between the both of them. But… Instead, he could only think of one sentence composed of nine words in total.
“Ah,” He found himself subconsciously saying it out loud, “This must be…”
He looked between the sleeping faces of Luca and Mike, both happily snuggling him close. Well. It didn’t hurt to indulge every once in a while. Edgar didn’t hide the fond smile on his lips as he slowly closed his eyes and drifted to sleep along with them.