Work Text:
The inkwell festival came around once every year, it celebrated the island's history and was just a day of fun. At the end of it, just after sunset, fireworks would be set off. This was the casino's most productive day, mainly because everyone came to the third isle to celebrate.
Some people however...just don't celebrate. Not because they aren't from inkwell, but because they always light those damned fireworks.
Mr Wheezy was always one of those people, he hated fireworks. Well, he hated the noise of fireworks, he didn't mind the colors or light, just the boom. He had his reasons of course, but that wasn't important.
It actually kind of hurt being alone in the casino while everyone was out. He always stayed in his room with noise canceling headphones to avoid everything. He always got asked why he didn't just leave early, that's just because he would undoubtedly get distracted and not leave in time.
Today was not different, everyone was talking with each other, bantering about how fun it would be. Wheezy would just stay at the bar, smoking a cigar as always, tuning out the excitement. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted someone sit next to him, bouncing eagerly.
"So, any nice plans partner?" Asked Chips. The bubbly cowboy didn't usually get on his nerves, but today was just not the day.
"What would it mean to you?" Wheezy responded coldly.
"Well, you usually stay behind so I was curious what ya do. Mainly cause ah'm stayin back too!"
This piqued the older man's interest.
"You are?"
"Yeah, the festival isn't doing anythin new so I don't really see any point in goin." Chips finished his explanation with his trademark dorky grin, the same smile that guaranteed an extra tip from customers. Wheezy had to admit, it does work its charm.
"Well, I normally do boring stuff in my room so you're more than welcome to crash in, just don't be too loud, okay?"
"Hawt dog! You got yourself a deal!" It was that kind of enthusiasm that made it hard to hate the guy. Wheezy, unfortunately, was a victim of assuming Chips wouldn't make him smile. That is what most likely sparked their strange friendship.
......
Wheezy layed in bed with a book open and some noise canceling headphones to the side. Everyone hadn't been gone for that long but still, there was some good reading that needed to get done.
Things in the book were dulling down, but Wheezy still was lost in the world it created. So much so he didn't notice his bedroom door opening and Chips stepping into the room with a blanket, pillow, his phone and a small sewing kit.
"Hey partner! Hope you don't mind me not knocking, have my hands a bit full!" The younger man grinned. Wheezy looked up from his book and sighed before smiling. He patted a spot next to him, moving a bit to the side to make room for his friend. Chips plopped down, setting the pillow behind him, his phone on the nightstand and the blanket and kit in his lap.
"So, what's that for?" Wheezy remarked.
"Need to sew up my bandana, found a little hole in it. Then I'm going to just sew for fun, I find it relaxing!" Chips answered while untying the knot on his bandana.
"Really now?"
"Yeah, my ma taught me how to do it when I was younger and I always thought of it as a nice reminder of her." The younger man smiled.
"How is she now?" Wheezy asked, placing a bookmark in his book before setting it down.
"Oh...well, uhm..." Chips stuttered. "She, I haven't seen her in years. She, uhm, she...I last saw her when I was seventeen if I remember correctly." Wheezy could tell how sensitive this topic was and decided not to push it further. He moved back a bit and leaned on Chips.
"So, mind if I watch you work?" He asked.
"Oh, uhm, sure!" Chips answered, face getting a bit red from the physical contact.
He opened the kit and pulled out a needle and some golden yellow thread. To Wheezy's surprise, it took the young man only minimal effort to thread the needle before tying a small knot to keep it in place.
"So, what do you normally do today, y'know, if I wasn't here providing you free entertainment?" Chips asked, not looking away from his work.
“Doesn’t have to be free y’know, I can pay you.” The older man said sarcastically.
“What will you pay me with then, smokey?” The southern man chuckled. Wheezy’s eyebrows raised a bit.
“Oh, well, maybe you’ll just have to wait and see.” The cigar teased. This made Chips smile and giggle more. His laugh was like a passionate poison.
When Chips had finished patching up his bandana he wrapped it around his neck stump and began to tie the knot when he felt large gloved hands on his.
“Mind if I do it?” Wheezy asked. Chips face went red again at the feeling of touch and nodded slightly, making sure not to make eye contact. He turned so his back was facing his companion fully before. Then, Wheezy took the ends of the bandana and gently tied them into a small bow.
“Uhm, thanks!” Chips giggled. He spun the plates of his face around and looked down at the new tie. “Looks really cute!”
“Like you.” Wheezy muttered under his breath.
“You say somethin?”
“Nothing…”
“If you’re sure, partner.” Chips giggled again. He looked up and smiled, moving his face a bit closer to Wheezy’s.
“Well...any other, uhm, projects or stuff or...uhm...” Wheezy stuttered. His face was fully red and the end of his nose was even starting to let off smoke. He tried avoiding eye contact but it failed, he just couldn’t help but stare into the southerner’s big doe eyes.
“Yeah, but if there’s something else you’re thinking of I don’t mind.”
Tell him you think he’s cute. Tell him you want to kiss him. Tell him you don’t find him annoying like everyone else. Tell him he makes you feel safe. Tell him you trust him. Tell him he deserves the whole world. Tell him-
“If- If you have projects to work on then you should work on them, don’t just want to leave them unfinished! I’ll be back, just got to use the bathroom!” Wheezy exclaimed quickly before jumping up and dashing to his connected bathroom. Once in the bathroom he shut the door and locked it, slumping down and pulling his jacket tightly against him. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK! Why are you doing this to yourself?! Why are you letting him get to you like this?! Why can’t you be smart about this?!” He let boiling tears roll down his cheek and clutched his whole body tightly.
“ Wheezy? You okay? ” Chips asked through the door. “ You sound distressed. ”
Not him. Not now. No. No. No. If he sees you like this he’ll think of you differently. He’ll think you’re weak. You’ll never have a chance with him. He’ll never lo-
“I’m. FINE!” Wheezy shouted, letting the top of his head flame up in a short pillar of fire. His tears burned him with pain and only lasted a few seconds before evaporating into nothing. The fire on him lashed and heated up its surroundings.
It hurts! Why is he still here?! Why can’t he leave! I don’t want to hurt him! I can’t have him hurting! I-
“ Ow! ”
The quiet yelp shot Wheezy back to reality. His flames extinguished immediately and he stood up and unlocked the door, feeling how hot the handle had gotten. He threw open the door and gazed upon Chips clutching his hand and tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
“Fuck! Shit! Chips, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean for you to get hurt! I’m sorry!” Wheezy rushed over and pulled Chips in a tight hug while examining the burn on his hand. The smaller man sobbed into his shoulder and had his unburnt hand wrapped around his friend’s neck. Wheezy took a deep breath and picked up Chips gently, carrying him bridal style into the bathroom.
“Let’s get you patched up.” He walked in and set Chips on the counter before grabbing a rag from a small basket and running it under cold water.
“I...really am sorry, I don’t know what happened. I think maybe I got a bit overwhelmed. I really didn’t mean to hurt you.” Chips just sniffed a bit as Wheezy apologized. It was a real sinking feeling seeing someone so sweet and addicting, crying and broken. Wheezy took Chips’ burnt hand and pressed it against the cold wash cloth, he let the cool sensation wash over Chips before removing it after hearing a relieving sigh.
“I’m fine...I’ve been through worse, I’ll be okay as long as you’re okay.” Chips quietly spoke. Wheezy looked at Chips weakly smiling at him and felt his heart break. He sighed and pulled out a burn reliever cream and spread it on the wound before wrapping it in a gauze. “Are you okay?”
Wheezy thought about it for a moment, but he could only come to one conclusion. He put away the bottle and extra gauze before throwing the wet rag in the sink. He firmly placed his hands on the counter on either side of the younger man he was nursing.
You have to tell him. You want him.
“No, I can’t be okay while I’m seeing you in pain. I can’t be okay knowing I hurt you.”
Tears started forming again.
“I can’t be okay knowing you’re not mine. I can’t be okay knowing you don’t know how much I love you!”
Chips leaned forward and tightly wrapped his arms around the taller man and roughly mashed their lips together. Wheezy was shocked at first but welcomed the feeling. He slid his own hands to Chips’ waist and pulled him closer to the edge. The two parted briefly for air and fresh words slid out of Chips’ mouth.
“I love you too, you addicting hunk of nicotine.”
They pressed their lips together again and even let their mouths open a little to let their tongues explore each other's mouths. After a few minutes they parted once more and a string of saliva stayed to connect the lover’s mouths.
“Well dollface, guess this counts as your payment.” Wheezy smirked while tracing his thumb on Chips’ lips.
“You know, you’re cute when you remember our little jokes.” Chips said happily while leaning his head to the side, moving Wheezy’s hand to his cheek. Chips yawned a bit and Wheezy smiled.
“Yeah, worrying about you make me tired as well. Shall I carry you to bed, dear?” Chips nodded and let himself be picked up and carried to bed like he was some kind of royal. Wheezy set him down before gently clearing off some things. The younger man slid off his boots and climbed under the sheets, sighing softly as he felt his face press against a cold pillow. Wheezy undressed slowly down to just his undershirt and slacks before going under the covers as well, grabbing Chips and pulling him close.
“You have no shame, do you?”
“No, none at all partner.”
The two slowly fell asleep, forgetting about the loud noise of the fireworks outside the casino. Normally, they would still be as loud as up close to Wheezy, but today was different. This time he had someone, someone who cared about him, someone who stayed by him. Sleeping next to Chips made Wheezy forget all about the loud noise of the fireworks.
They wouldn’t bother him today.