Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

California sighed. He was stuck in some boring meeting.

It was same old stuff as always. Florida was causing his usual chaos while DC attempted to stop him while trying to check in on the other states and failing miserably at both.

He'd gone quiet a while ago, opting to space out instead. Currently he was staring down the clock as it ticked slowly, like it was taunting him. It was rather annoying how loud it seemed. Cali had also lost track of how long had he been sitting here. An hour...two?

His thoughts were disrupted by Florida suddenly standing up from his chair, sending it crashing into the wall behind him. He made a beeline for the door, dragging Louisiana by the arm while giving some vague excuse before anyone could interject.

"Florida n-" DC grumbled, sighing in defeat he put his head in his hands, looking slightly more frazzled. He reluctantly (stupidly) continued on with the meeting, way too tired to deal with Florida's bullshit today. Probably a bad idea to let Florida out of your sight, especially with Loui in tow, but hey. Give the man a break. He's tired and doing his best, ok?

__

Ten minutes later and California was dragging himself out of his seat and down the hall. He didn't really know what he'd do, probably just chill in the living room before it got too loud to focus on his book.

"Oh C'monnnn! They just need a little push, it'll be fiiiinee."

His attention was drawn by Florida's voice as the sunshine state tiptoed away, closely followed by Louisiana. Not particularly a strange sight, the two were normally seen together. They were best friends and practically joined at the hip some days.

"I mean, you're not wrong, I doubt they've even realized." Loui whispered back.

What was strange, however, was that they were sneaking out of Texas's room.

Texas, who was still sleeping and had missed the meeting.

This would surely end well.

He decides to ignore it, assuming they were up to their usual antics and plopped himself on the couch, pulling out his book and losing himself in the story.

__

"...what in tarnation-Who the HELL stole my shirt?!"

Ah so Texas was awake.

He looked up to see the cowboy storm out in a white t-shirt in place of his usual button up, anger etched into his face.

He didn't look half bad.

Louisiana quickly busied himself with his drink to try and avoid suspicion but Texas's eye was drawn by the movement, and he whipped around to glare at him and Florida.

"Was it you two? Y'all are always pullin' shit like this."

"Who's to say" Florida responded, the shit eating grin on his face clearly giving him away.

"No." Loui said, having a much better pokerface, but the damage had already been done.

"Why you little sh- that was my favourite one!"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Cali put his book up, deciding to ignore that mess and his definitely not blushing face. They'd settle it out on their own.

Chapter Text

God fucking dammit. Of course. Just his rotten fucking luck.

Cali was standing in the doorway to his room, staring at his floor.

Or rather, the red button up that was lying smack in the middle of it.

How it had got there he didn't know.

Scratch that.

It was definitely Florida's fault. Why he had put it here though, he had no clue.

He realized he should probably move it out of sight. It was late, he was very tired, and he would rather go without that interaction tonight.

California shoves the shirt in his closet, telling himself he could return it un-detected tomorrow, and passes out on what is likely his bed.

Chapter Text

Another day, another meeting.

Texas was awake and present this time.
He had on a different shirt, this one modelled after his state flag. California caught his eye for a split second, before glancing away quickly as the heat of embarrassment rose to his face. Guilt about the shirt and butterflies mixed in the pit of his stomach.
Cali tells himself the butterflies are just from anxiety and nothing more.

He didn't catch the confused look on Texas's face.

As the meeting wore on, and DC got progressively more unkempt, California forgot all about the shirt.

__

A few months passed and California never returned Texas's button up. He kept forgetting, as you do.

And besides, it was buried far too deep in his closet to reach.

Not to mention the fact that it would be pretty awkward if he got caught. What was he supposed to say?

'Hey so I found your shirt on my floor a while back and instead of returning it I was a dumbass and hide it in the back of my closet for months. Whoops?'

He really didn't need Texas hating him more then he already did.

__

After a particularly tiring day, Cali trudged back to his room to finally go back to sleep.

He hadn't had a chance to really sleep the night before, he was too busy trying to devise a way to get rid of that pesky shirt.

First there was the problem of retrieving it from the back of the closet. Shouldn't be too hard, just take everything out, and not get stuck again. Piece of cake.

Then there was how to dispose of it...he could throw it in a bonfire. It gets rid of evidence easy enough and Texas seemed to have moved on from his old shirt, but Cali had a bad habit of catching on fire and he didn't quite feel like doing that for some stupid shirt.

There were other options, besides arson and destruction of property of course, like why not sneak it in and lie if he gets caught? Or just give it to him and tell him he randomly found it?

Thing is, he couldn't.

Cali seemed to have a pesky problem of forgetting to think when he was around Texas. It started a bit ago, and he had absolutely no idea why. It was absurd. He never had that problem before.

He would've skipped today's meeting to sleep, but it just had to be mandatory.

They didn't even get anywhere. Unless you counted DC's patience getting to it's limit but that was about it.

Cali took off his flannel and threw it on the floor somewhere.
He was asleep before his head even hit the pillow.

Chapter Text

California, unfortunately, woke up during regular morning hours.

God dammit.

He threw a blanket over his head and willed himself to go back to sleep, but apparently by some cruel fate he just had to get up now.

He got changed, found his glasses, other morning activities that I don't want to think of because I'm tired, and put on his discarded flannel before heading out to get coffee.

As he walked to the kitchen he could see Florida snickering out if the corner of his eye. He did find that a little suspicious, but whatever. He can do thoughts after coffee.

__

As he sipped his coffee he enjoyed the silence and peace of morning, something quite rare in the statehouse.

"Is..that my.."

California turned around to see Texas standing behind him. He hadn't even heard the larger state walk over.

Blinking slowly, trying to clear the fog from his brain he gave him a small wave.

"Oh hey Texas, good morning"

His smile faded as he saw the look of pure confusion on his face.

Texas didn't respond, he just stood there for a moment. California could practically see the gears turning in his head.

"Why are you wearing my shirt?"

California looks down.

Oh no.

And there it was, Texas's red button up, plain as day right where his flannel should be. How in the actual fuck did it get out of his closet??

"I-....uh..."

He could tell he was blushing. This would a great time to be able to think, but his braincells seem to have jumped ship.

"Yeah, why do you have his shirt?"

A wild Florida had appeared with the magic of chaos and was leaning on the counter with a smug grin, 'annoying shit who knew this was gonna happen' style.

"Well-....Er.."

"And you thought it was me!" Florida said, swiveling his chair around to face Texas with mock offense. "When the real thief was here all along"

He guestured towards California's direction.

"Care to explain yourself Cali?"

"I didn't steal it!"

"Mhm, suuure. And that's why you're red as a tomato."

"What are you implying?"

"Well that depends entirely on how you took it" Florida shot back.

California opens his mouth to protest his innocence when he's cut off by Texas.

"You know, if you wanted it you could've just asked"

Texas smiled warmly at California. His stomach did an annoying little flip flop.

"You look cute in it anyway"

He winks at him, before walking away like an innocent motherfucker who did not just pull that.

California can't breath. He's sure this is the end of him.

"So....You and Texas huh?"

Cali jumped, realizing Florida was still there. He would have denied that, of course, but his brain was still reeling.

At least now he didn't have to return the shirt

Chapter Text

Texas speed walks away from the kitchen.

Oh no.

Oh dear God.

What did he do.

He just- he just flirted with California. The bastard stole his shirt and he flirted with him. And he said he could keep it!

Why was this happening, why did he do that, he wasn't one to intentionally flirt with his rivals.

He didn't even like California like that he was annoying and stubborn and stuck up and a fucking know it all. 

I mean sure he found himself looking at him a bit more then he should, and California looks adorable in his clothes, and yeah maybe he's imagined what holding his hand might feel like, or if he kissed him, that chapstick he wears is really all it's cracked up to be but it's not like he likes him and-

Oh my god he likes California-

When did this happen??

Why was he not informed?? 

And he fuckin-

He freezes slightly in his walking, jumbling up his pace

It had finally clicked that Florida was in the room when he flirted with California.

S h i t-

If Florida knows then Loui knows and if those two know, then it's not long before everyone else does.

His whirlwind of a thought spiral was introduced to a whole knew train of concerns.

Did he have to ask someone in the West for their blessings? He knew that the state personifications in the South still preffered that but like the West might not. They might think it's stupid or hate him, but if he doesn't and they do want him to then they'll frown upon that. Who would he even ask? It's not like California has a parental figure among them and it doesn't seem like any are really close to him, but maybe that was just a Western thing?

Hell did he even want to date Cali? Maybe?

Did Cali want to date him? Probably not fuck- 

What if he asks for Blessings and the West hates him and they tell California and then Cali rejects him. That would be bad-

He walks by a state he vaugly recognizes as Tennessee, and gives him a small wave and a nod in greeting. Texas hoped he looked calm enough, and judging from Tennessee's face he was.

He had finally reached his room, entering quickly and locking it.

Finally, he was able to just let himself take a deep breath.

It was gonna be fine, if Cali didn't like him, that would suck but it's not the end of the world. Maybe he should just wait a while to figure this all out.

Yeah. That sounds good.

He shouldn't just jump into this.

He'll have time.