Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sunny sat outside his new house, watching the movers take box after box into the home. He had just returned to faraway after 2 years of being gone. His old house had been taken by an old couple who moved in around a year ago.He was a bit upset about not being able to move back into his old home, since it was full of so many memories from before Mari passed. His new home however, was a few doors away from Basil’s.

Sunny watched his mom help guide the movers take the boxes inside. He wanted to help, but his mom had said there was no need and she would call him when she needed him.Sunny let out a sigh. In all honestly, he was terrified to be back. He wanted to see his old friends again, but he wasn’t sure they would even want to see him after knowing what he did to Mari.

He turned his head and noticed Basil’s house from afar. He couldn’t really see it all that well, but it seemed to have pretty much the same amount of plants, if not more. His therapist said it would be a good idea to At least try to reconnect with his friends, but he shouldn't feel like he has to become friends with them again.That he should let the friendship come naturally, and not try to force them back in his life.

He would’ve kept in touch with everyone after he moved, but he didn’t  have a phone back then when he left thus never getting any of their phone numbers. He wanted to send letters to them, but even so he wasnt sure on what he would he even say to them. So he simply didn’t  talk to him, despite him wanting too badly.

Basil looked through his room for his camera. Yesterday, while he was out volunteering at the new animal shelter that had opened up Polly decided to clean his room for him, he hadn't had a chance to all this week due to volunteering and applying to colleges. While he was thankful of course, he felt very frustrated on the fact that she moved a-lot of things making them hard to find.

He opened his closet to find his camera on top of the closet shelf, right next to his old photo album. why on earth would she put it there of all places? He grabbed the camera (along with the photo album.) and sat them both on his bed before closing the closet. He was originally going to take photos for a photography portfolio that he would use to apply to the colleges that he actually wanted to get into.

But..that could wait, he supposed. Its not like he was doing anything else today anyways and it would be nice to go through his photo album and relive old memories of his friends. Two years ago, after Sunny revealed the truth a-lot changed. Aubrey was extremely upset, and refused to talk to Basil or anyone else. After that summer ended, she went back to “the hooligans” and pretty much ignored Basil’s existence from then on. She still talked to Kel every now and then though.

Hero couldnt look Basil in the eyes again after that day. Which Basil one-hundred percent understood. After the incident, he barely wanted to look at himself either. Whenever Hero visited he always made sure to check up Basil, but never more than that. According to Kel, it was Hero’s idea for Basil to start going to therapy.

Kel was the only one who actually continued to actively be friends with Basil after Sunny told them the truth. Which Basil had to admit, he was surprised that Kel didn't avoid him or anything. Their friendship obviously wasn’t the same and Basil still felt distant towards Kel at times, but everything was okay now.

Basil continuously flipped from page to page in his photo album reliving the days when Mari was alive and everyone was happy brought a smile to his face. The memories of his childhood all came rushing back to him making him feel warm inside. He never truly mended his friendship with Sunny, due to him moving away but that was okay he supposes.

Thanks to therapy, he no longer felt dependent on Sunny which he honestly felt very proud of himself for. Before last year when he started therapy, he used to constantly think of Sunny everyday and think about all the things he did wrong and how awful he was and how everything would of been okay if he wasnt there that night.

He still thinks of Sunny from time to time, and still feels guilty. But he’s getting better now and his therapist says thats a good thing, even if it goes slowly. He also got diagnosed with BPD and he was now on Lorasidone to help. 

Basil’s thoughts were interrupted by another loud noise coming from outside. It sounded like a large truck, which had confused him because why on earth would their be a large truck in his neighborhood for? Especially so early. He decided he would go outside, out of pure nosiness to see what the noise was. He closed his photo album and left his room and headed for the front door.

Chapter Text

Sunny almost didn't see Basil walking out of his house, and when he did notice he felt his whole body freeze. While yes, he wanted to see him he wasn’t expecting too so soon. He wasnt even sure on what he would even say to Basil- “Hey sorry i left with zero contact after dropping a secret on our closest friends that may have changed the way they’ll view us forever!” .

What made matters worse is that Basil was staring right back at him, eyes wide. Sunny wondered what Basil could possibly be thinking of right now, he doubts its something good. He felt himself wanting to break the intense eye contact, as it was most definitely *not* helping him gain the courage to walk over there and speak to him. He didn’t know why, but he felt Somewhat afraid to look away as if somehow Basil would vanish from sight and they never would speak, or see each other ever again.

Sunny felt a hand on his shoulder, causing him to jump and turn around, breaking the immense eye contact. He calmed down however, when he saw that it was just his mom. “Yeah?” “I was wondering if you wanted to pick your new room or have me do it for you. What were you looking at?” . His mom looked up and once she noticed who exactly he was looking at she gave a long sigh. Sunny just stared at her.

“Sunny, baby i know you two used to be best friends when you were younger and your therapist told you to try to reconnect with your old friends but are you sure it would be the best idea to talk to him?” His mom said putting her hand on her cheek with a very worried expression. “i dont know..” Sunny said. He wasnt exactly *planning* on having an actual conversation  with Basil so soon just..a simple ‘Hi’ or something is what he wanted ( He wondered if a Hi would be too underwhelming, people on Tv always start with “Hi’s” or “Hello’s though so he hoped it wouldn’t be, he never was good at talking to people.) His mom gave another sigh. “Do what you please, after that fight you guys had last year, and your eye…” She said staring at  His eyepatch with gloomy look on her face.

“Im just..worried for your safety, thats all. But hey, your going to go to *college* soon I cant control everything you did as if your still a young boy.” She paused to give a small laugh. Sunny just stared at her blankly, he never thought one day his mom would be worried over Basil of all people possibly hurting him. “Anywho, if you must you can go talk to him and ill pick your room for you, or…you can pick your room now and-“ His mom was interrupted by one of the movers calling out for her. 

She smiled at Sunny. “Whatever you desire.” she said before walking off back into the house, expecting her son to follow her. 

Instead, Sunny stayed sitting on the porch staring at the door his mother disappeared into. He turns his head to see Basil still staring at him, Sunny assumes Basil didn’t want Sunny to see him staring considering how quickly Basil looked away when Sunny saw him.

Sunny felt torn on if he should take his therapist advice and *talk* to Basil, even if nothing major, but he didn’t want to worry his mother. Ever since Mari died and he grew depressed, becoming a shut in. She had been nothing but supportive. Constantly checking up on him, reminding him to take care of himself and things like that.

When they moved, and his mom got a new job and Sunny started going to school again she immediately got him a therapist and sent him to a psychiatrist the second she gained enough money to have the ability too. She’s always wanted the best for him, and Sunny understands why she would be worried for him.

Although, even considering their fight and how many years it been since he last saw Basil, he seriously doubts Basil would just start a fight with him again in the middle of the day after seeing him.(he still thought of the possibility though.) 

Sunny however has grown as a person since then, and he really hopes Basil has too, enough to not fight him again Atleast (or stab his good eye out.) Sunny ends up deciding to face his fears, and walk towards Basil.

When Basil walked outside of his home, he honestly was expecting to see one of those company brand trucks that just drive around or go to peoples houses to help out with things.

He certainly wasn’t expecting it to be a *moving* truck of all things, and he most definitely wasn’t expecting Sunny of all people to be moving just a few doors down from him.

Basil stood there in shock not not knowing what to do, say, or think. Sunny was staring at him also. He seemed to be staring from the exact second Basil walked out his house, which Basil wasn’t too sure on how to feel about that.

Seeing Sunny made Basil feel happy and a bit…upset at the same time. He did wonder sometimes on how Sunny was doing and if they would actually have a more healthy friendship now that Basil was in therapy, and he truly did want to mend his friendship with Sunny.

Although, he couldn’t help but feel like the universe was betraying him. As if they saw Basil getting better, and *finally* getting over his obsession with Sunny just for them to drop Sunny back into his life.

Even with Sunny staring at him as-well and all his thoughts and awkward the eye contact felt he couldn’t bring himself to let go of his gaze of Sunny.

He only broke it, when Sunny’s mom appeared behind Sunny and Sunny and his mom began talking to each-other.

Basil didn’t know what to do. When Sunny’s mom goes away should he try to talk to Sunny? Should he just run back into his house and pretend they never saw each other? (Basil could only wish it would be that easy.) Should he call Kel and tell him Sunny was back in town? 

Basil paused his thoughts. He felt someone staring at him. He looked back and saw Sunny’s mom staring dead at him looking…disappointed? 

Sunny’s mom went back to talking to Sunny but Basil couldn’t help but wonder why Sunny’s mom had suddenly looked up at him with that look. Were they talking about him? 

He decided to continue looking at them both, even though he couldn’t tell what they were saying.

Eventually, Sunny’s mom went away and Sunny looked back at Basil. Basil panicked and looked away immediately, afraid that Sunny would be weirded out at Basil staring during pretty much Sunny’s whole conversation with his mom.

Basil found himself panicking. Just what exactly was one supposed to do in a situation like this? What on earth could Sunny be thinking right now?? God, Basil wishes he was a normal person, and he wishes him and Sunny could just be two normal old friends seeing each other again and not two old friends who hanged a body one time together when they were twelve.

Basil could’ve sworn he heard footsteps, he looked up to see Sunny walking towards him slowly. Oh god.

Eventually, Sunny ends up right in front of him, and for a moment, neither of them say a single word to each other.

Next time he hears a noise outside, Basil decides he will just sit in his room and ignore it.

Now that Sunny was actually in front of Basil he felt his whole body freeze up again. Fuck. He attempted to calm himself down, all he had to do was look at Basil and say “hi” and that would be enough. Wouldn’t it? What if Basil got upset that all he had to say to him was just a stupid “Hi.” ? Sunny thinks the world would be a-lot easier if their were books on how to socialize that was mandatory for everyone to read as a child. Maybe then he wouldn’t be freaking out this much over saying “Hi.” or maybe he would actually know how to communicate his feelings properly. 

Sunny’s already standing a few inches away from Basil now, so its not like he can turn back.

“Um..Hi.” He somehow manages to get out. “Hi..Sun-Sunny..” Basil replied. 
Sunny is thankful Basil didn’t just immediately run off after seeing him. Okay, all he needs to do is continue the conversation..naturally now, like how people in movies do it. He watches tons of those dumb high school movies, he’ll be fine.

“Umm…its..uh…been..a while…?” Sunny says, his words coming out way quieter than he wanted. Basil doesnt say anything for a moment, which scares Sunny a bit. “Yea…it has..its ah…nice to see you again?” Basil eventually said giving an awkward smile.

“I-“ Basil started before being interrupted. “Im sorry.” Sunny blurted out. Sunny felt like it was something that had to be said, and he rather say it right now then later.

Basil blinked at him slowly before replying. “What are you apologizing for? If anything, i should be the one saying sorry to you.” Basil said in a dejected sounding voice. 

Sunny didn’t know what to say. So he decided to do what he does most of the time, and not say anything at all.

Basil gives a long sorrowful sigh before speaking again. “Im so sorry Sunny, more than you can even imagine. I regret what i did to us both constantly and if i could go back in time and stop what i did from ever happening i would, but…life doesn’t work like that. I- i had some..really serious issues when i was younger and i…was just so scared that one of the only people in my life who actually cared about me would get into serious trouble i just…I know thats not any excuse and in full honesty, I think I was kind of..obsessed with you back then. Im in therapy now if that means anything to you at all, but I would really like to start over with you Sunny, and be friends again. If you dont want to be— I completely understand and wont bother you any further.”

Finishing his apology, Basil took a breather and stared at Sunny waiting for him to either accept or deny the apology.

Sunny couldn’t stop himself from crying. Seeing the tears from Sunny seemed to send Basil into a panic because Sunny immediately felt Basils hand on his shoulder.

“Sunny..Im sorry i didn’t mean to make you cry I….do you want me to comfort you or to just leave you be?”  Basil said his voice sounding panicked.“No- I just…im so…im sorry i suck at this shit. I forgive you Basil, and I hope you can forgive me too. I would love to be friends with you again and have a start over at…this. I’ve actually started going to therapy too.” Sunny sniffled while wiping his tears. He wasnt expecting for Basil to react that way to his apology— or to Basil to apologize to him instead. During the apology, so many memories came rushing back to him he just couldn’t handle it. 

“Are you sure, Sunny? I dont want you to feel forced to be my friend again or anything-“ “Im sure.” Sunny interrupted. In Sunny’s eyes, Basil looked as if he was gonna start crying as-well. Sunny heard his name being yelled and turned around to see his mom calling for him from his new house. He looked back at Basil and gave him a teary eyed smile before going over to his mother.