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“Black! I have a favor to ask. I hate to do this to you but could you please take my place in the fashion show later?” Gram looks down at Black (White), somewhat sheepishly. He knows this isn’t something Black would have agreed to a few months ago, but with his recent behavior Gram thinks he might actually have a shot. To air on the side of caution though, he asks in front of the rows of tents in view of all the people attending so Black is more hesitant to throw a punch.
White looks up at Gram without saying anything, the shadow of a grin crossing his face.
That worries Gram more. An evil grin could mean a number of things, none of which he wanted to discover at the moment. He had no other options though. He promised Nuch he would walk in the marriage equality fashion show and she would have his neck if he bailed and didn’t at least send someone in his place. “Look, Black. I promised Nuch months ago that I would help her out. I’ll treat you to a meal! A new helmet! Anything! Just pleas-” Gram rambled off frantically.
White broke into a full grin, forgetting to stop and consider how his brother would have acted in this situation.
“I’ll do it Gram! It sounds fun.” Gram looked at him, a mixture of relief and bewilderment on his face. That should not have worked out that easily. The Black he knew would fight against participating in something like a fashion show.
“Well, great!” Gram responded somewhat quizzically. He pushed the oddly-behaving Black back in the direction of Nuch’s tent and quickly scurried away before he could change his mind. What the hell had gotten into him?
…
Sean had been craving a crepe all day. He whipped his bike into a parking spot and wandered towards the site of the rally where people had been protesting in support of their cause. He wanted to check out the later afternoon activities and see what food they had. He hadn’t been able to come earlier in the day because Gumpa had loaded him up with bikes to repair.
To his left a large crowd was gathered around what appeared to be… a runway? He cocked his head and looked past the crowd, but it appeared the other tents were closed down for the evening activity. Not a crepe in sight. His gaze swooped back to the crowd and their entertainment. What Sean saw made him blink hard in disbelief. Was that? He pushed himself closer. It was, it had to be.
The music swelled as a short, almost... pretty boy walked towards him. Black. Legs adorned in silver sequins with a cropped top to match. None of his brazen exterior was present as he floated in front of the activists.
Sean’s mouth dropped to the floor. Something had definitely been wrong with Black lately and he couldn’t figure out why he was different, but this? This was absurd. Had his sudden disappearance been because of a self-awakening retreat? Black’s silver sparkles were surrounded by a sea of rainbow flags, flown in support of marriage equality.
Sean had nothing wrong with the event. In another, simpler life he himself would be standing there with a flag, but Black?
Gram and Black had, admittedly, been very close for a time. Sean didn’t think it was out of the question that Black was a little fruity. But, preferences aside, never, even if he was held at gunpoint, would Black be caught dead strutting down a runway in silver sequins.
Sean was so confused. This isn't Black. This cannot be Black.
White moved in front of the crowd with a flower-like elegance, soft yet strong. He had done some modeling while he lived in Russia and used this opportunity to showcase his ability. The crowd whooped and clapped for him as he swooped around the loop. Nuch whistled for him and gave him two thumbs up.
As White turned to retreat back to the tent, he caught sight of a familiar pair of eyes. A cocked eyebrow that hadn’t left his mind for weeks. A seasoned smirk that could turn deadly with one mention of Tawi.
Shit.
Sean.
White’s eyes widened with surprise and his eyes quickly darted away. How was he going to explain this one? His feet reached the end of the supportive crowd and he ducked into the outfit tent. Maybe if he just hid behind a rack? Or quickly shaved his head? Claimed amnesia?
Sean saw the surprise enter absolutely-not-Black’s eyes and pushed in the direction he was moving. He followed closely behind and shoved into the tent he entered, stopping directly in front of him.
White gulped and looked up at Sean.
Sean quipped “What– the hell??”
White had decided on a tactic.
The words rushed out, clearly frantic. “For all your talk of social justice Sean. If you don’t support LGBT you’re a coward. Tawi this, Tawi that, equality– it’s all importa–”
White quickly cut off and gripped at his chest. Sean grabbed him before he could hit the ground.
Oh God, not again. Sean thought frantically.
This had happened once before at the garage, but Sean hadn’t seen the beginning of the episode. His eyes dashed around in search of something, anything to help. Black, who Sean had lowered to the ground, whimpered and thrashed.
“Did you eat pineapple again?” Sean screeched while holding onto Black’s arms. He didn’t know if he should wait for it to pass or rush Black to a hospital.
Tears flowed from White’s eyes, “Black…. Black,” he whimpered.
“Black, what’s going on? Please,” Sean pleaded. He wiped the tears from the man’s face.
“Why are you saying your name?”
White’s labored breathing stabilized a bit. When he saw the concerned face in front of his own, he couldn’t keep up the façade. He weakly reached for Sean’s hand.
“My brother. We have to go to the hospital.” White paused and pushed himself up. How would Tod react to what he was about to reveal? Would he be angry if White brought someone else to visit Black?
Sean gazed into his eyes, confused. Brother?
“My name is White. I know you have many questions and I will explain myself later but, please, right now we have to go to the hospital,” White pleaded.
Sean was– well– he wasn’t actually that shocked. Things finally clicked into place. All the odd behavior, the complete lack of knowledge in fighting and auto repairs, it all made sense. He offered no words as he picked up Bla- White into his arms.
White was lifted into the taller man's arms.
“Why are you carrying me? I can walk!” White argued. Sean shook his head.
“Absolutely not.” Sean quickly started towards his motorcycle with White in his arms. “You just dropped to the floor and started writhing on the ground in front of me. I’m not letting your pretty feet touch the ground until we’re in a hospital.”
White acknowledged the pretty with interest but pushed it aside and focused on the task at hand, which was having a helmet shoved onto his head.
“Hold on tight,” Sean ordered as he secured White’s hands in place.