Work Text:
Mu loved to draw.
It had become one of her favourite passtimes. She often spray-painted graffiti on the walls of Mafia Town, but now Hat had gifted her a sketchbook and she drew in it every day.
She mainly used pencils and pens, no colour. And she would draw whatever came to mind.
It turned out that Hat was on her mind very often.
Pages and pages of drawings all featuring Hat. From life or from memory or from pictures. She would redraw scenes from the movies Hat was in, or draw Hat while they were hanging out and Hat wasn’t looking.
And she never let Hat look at her drawings.
How could she? It was embarrassing. Hat would think it was weird and they would stop being friends and Mu didn’t want to lose them again.
But she would draw Hat. Every line felt like a love letter, and she knew it would remain a secret for herself alone.
—
Mu and Hat were hanging out on Hat’s spaceship. Hat kept inviting her over and Mu never knew how to say no. Leaving town had often made her feel guilty, but she couldn’t deny how much happier she was on the ship.
They were watching a movie together. Or, well, Hat was watching the movie.
Mu was watching Hat. The way she looked when she laughed at a funny scene, or the way her eyes sparkled when something excited her. And she would draw it. The scratching noise of pencil on paper was drowned out by the sound of the movie.
She was so focused on drawing that she didn’t notice when the movie ended.
“Did you like the movie?” Hat asked, startling Mu. They looked each-other in the eye, and Mu held her sketchbook close.
“Yeah, it was beautiful- I mean you were- I mean, I really liked the- the cinematography.” Mu was as red as her clothes.
“I didn’t know you knew that word.” Hat giggled- wow their giggle was cute - and they turned off the TV.
Mu didn’t want to admit that she didn’t actually know what that word meant.
“Did you draw something?” Hat asked, looking at the sketchbook. “I don’t know if I’ve really seen much of your art. Can I have a look?”
Mu was suddenly having trouble breathing.
She couldn’t say no. That would be rude, right? But she couldn’t let Hat look, she couldn’t. Hat was staring, waiting for her to say something. Mu was biting her cheek.
“Okay.” She said, and she knew their friendship would end as soon as she handed it over.
Hat nodded. “If you’re sure.”
Mu handed the sketchbook over and stared down at the floor. It suddenly got very quiet and Mu wished the movie was still going just so she had some kind of noise.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and tensed.
“You made me look so pretty!” Hat finally said.
“You are…” Mu muttered.
It was Hat’s turn to turn red, apparently. She handed the sketchbook back over. Before Mu could mentally prepare herself, Hat blurted out “I REALLY LIKE YOU!”
Mu was watching Hat again. Hat was looking at the ground now.
“Like…. Like-like?” Mu asked.
“M-maybe?” Hat said nervously, and she could tell Hat didn’t feel like talking anymore.
“I like you too.” Mu said, hugging her. “I-I draw you a lot, actually.”
Hat smiled.
Mu didn’t know Hat would smile at this situation. It made her feel all warm and fuzzy and she kept hugging Hat. She wanted to kiss them, but she wanted to ask first, so she would have to wait until Hat felt like talking again. And that was okay. One step at a time.
Mu was happy. So was Hat. They were both awkward and nervous and red but they were happy. They both loved each other, and it felt great.