Work Text:
The clock showed eight in the morning when Cellbit finally got out of front of the computer, he had been there for five days and he honestly couldn't say how he managed to stay upright.
The blue-eyed boy took the last sip of coffee already cold in the mug and watched the board of clues, sighing tiredly. No sign of Felps, nothing he could use in his investigation. Cellbit felt exhausted, but he didn't want to give up, he couldn't, Felps was his best friend.
The boy with dark circles under his eyes and disheveled hair turned around, ready to go back to drowning in codes, anagrams or anything else that kept him awake at night. But before he could do that, a pink hair appeared in his office.
Mike's image was so nostalgic...
“Cellbit.” Mike started, always with a sober tone.
“Hi, Mike. Did you find anything? Anything.” It was the first thing that Cellbit questioned, anxious for some news.
“What...? No, Cellbit, I didn't find anything.” Mike answered and Cellbit just sighed, frustrated. “Cellbit...”
He thought about how to say this in a polite way, but quickly gave up, frowning and letting all the words he was stuck come out.
“Look, I can't take it anymore. Ever since Felps disappeared, you've been holed up in that dark place you call an office. This isn't healthy.”
“I-I can't rest until...”
“This. Is. Not. Healthy.” Mike interrupted, seriously. “Do you think we don't notice? Fuck! Just because Felps is gone doesn't mean you have to be gone too! Richarlyson misses you, we miss you, Roier misses you... Felps wouldn't want you to be like this because of him. So please go back to living your life.”
Cellbit remained silent, head down as he thought about what he had just heard.
“I...”
He wanted to say something, but even thinking so much nothing came to mind.
“I'm going to help Pac to clean up the Favela... Anything just send me a message.” He said already turning around, but Cellbit quickly got up, a little timorous.
“Do you... know where Richarlyson is?”
Mike sighed, looking Cellbit in the eyes again.
“With Bobby and Roier in that flower field near the beach.” He replied simplistic and the blue eyed boy nodded his head.
“Thanks.” Cellbit smiled small, even if Mike noticed how tired he was, it was good to see him smile after all this time.
“See you around, Cellbit.” The pink haired one waved casually and left the office at last.
Before leaving, Cellbit gathered some things in his backpack, like his camera and writing pad.
The path was calm, the sky was a vibrant shade of blue that highlighted the fluffy white clouds. The dark office made him forget how bright the day was, but as soon as his eyes got used to all that light, he managed to find the three he was looking for.
Bobby and Richarlyson were chasing each other under Roier's eyes, in a tag game of two children.
When Cellbit's gaze found the red-robed boy, he felt his face burn and the butterflies in his stomach begin to flutter uncontrollably. And just as they made eye contact, and Cellbit started to climb the small hill of the flower field, he heard:
“Gatinho!” Roier exclaimed excitedly, a gentle smile on his face.
“Hi, guapito.” Cellbit greeted a little shyly and quickly turned to the eggs that had stopped running. “Hello boys, how are you?”
The two little eggs jumped and nodded to the question and went back to playing.
“Sit here, Gatinho.” Roier pointed to the vacant spot on the picnic blanket and the blue-eyed boy did as he was asked. “Do you... feel better?” Roier asked a little uncertainly and Cellbit smiled in response.
“I had a conversation with Mike... To be honest, it was more of a monologue, he didn't seem interested in listening to what I had to say.” He said trying a more fun and light tone.
“But... Are you sure you're okay?” In a gentle gesture, Roier placed his hand on the older's cheek, making both blush exaggeratedly.
“Yeah.” Cellbit answered with certainty, taking Roier's hand and kissing it tenderly. “Mike made me realize that even if Felps isn't here, you all are here for me, and I can't abandon you like this anymore.”
Before the youngest could respond, Bobby and Richarlyson walked up excitedly and handed the two adults a note.
"Tag, you're it."
Cellbit and Roier exchanged glances for a moment before getting up and starting to run after the eggs.
And so the four stayed until sunset, playing and having fun before lying down together on the picnic blanket and watching the stars that began to appear in the purplish sky.
In that comforting moment, Cellbit allowed himself to sleep. No worries, anxieties or distress. Just enjoying the tender warmth that the people he loved provided him.
•
•
•
The vision that was transmitted by the screen was terrifying and the chill in the spine was inevitable. He had finally found Felps, finally after all this time.
But as soon as he turned around and found the white bear and that devilish smile of his, he understood... His friends... The image of so many people he loved began to emerge...
He thought how much better he should have enjoyed their presence. And, dammit, he knew...
Loneliness is the worst punishment.