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"Hey Al?" Google said, from the top bunk, "I don't wanna wake you up, but-" His voice was quiet, becoming inaudible as he trailed off.
"'ts no problem," Al rolled over to stare at the shadow on the ceiling he knew was his partner, "What's up?"
"I'm..." he had been practicing putting words to these kind of feelings, but it took a moment to find the right one. Anxious? He wanted something more specific than that. Scared? Not really. It wasn't... exactly fear. Uneasy? He settled on nervous, even though it wasn't a perfect fit, "Nervous, I guess."
"It's ok to be nervous for tournaments," Al's attempt at whispering was still bound to wake someone up, "Most important thing is havin' fun though, remember?"
"Yeah. I think I will have fun," Google wished he sounded more certain than he did, "Can I come down there?"
"'f course!" Al patted the blanket, "Dude." The robo-clone descended from the top bunk, taking the ladder 3-rungs at a time. He hopped off at the bottom third, landing deftly.
"Yo, nice one!" Al grinned.
"Shh!" Google echoed his expression, but glanced toward the hallway door, "You'll wake someone up."
"C'mon," Al scooted over, under the covers, "What's the thing Thera says? Oh yeah, do you wanna talk about what's makin' ya anxious or would ya rather get your mind off it?" Google climbed into the bottom bunk, but remained sitting up.
"It's just the Kanduka stuff. I heard something- probably just a rumor," he sighed, "Something that she looks like Order- maybe is her . But uh, I'd rather just... Get my mind off it."
"Here," Al flopped his head in Google's lap. Did he look worried, too? I mean, of course he'd care if this was related to Order. It meant a lot to him because it meant a lot to his partner, his friend.
"Juni taught me how to do a fishbone braid," Google spoke, already absentmindedly twisting Al's hair in his hands. Al gave a content hum.
"Used to do those for her all the time for soccer practice."
“Well now you gotta do one for me, too," he laughed.
Maybe he’d be fine, with Alabaster and his team in the stands. That was what Team Clutch was about, right? Right. He’d give it everything he had. Order had been defeated before. If it was even her, it could be done again. Google was going to hold out hope on this one. He deserved it, at this point.
“Thanks,” he mumbled, Al’s hair twisted in his hands.
“No problem, bro,” Al didn’t turn to look at him and dare mess up his braid, but the smile was audible in his voice. He was going to hold out hope.