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Rocket had always had such a pash for Sword.
He thought he was charming, optimistic, adventurous, kind–everything great. All of Sword’s qualities, in both his appearance and personality, had driven the rocketeer closer to him. It was his biggest wish to embrace the swordsman in one, passionate, and affectionate kiss; to become that man’s boyfriend. Husband, even.
Although, there was one problem; a Playgrounder; a Playgrounder Rocket specifically did not like; a Playgrounder named Skateboard.
Skateboard and Sword had declared themselves to be friendly rivals, and ever since then, they were practically best friends. Even when the rocketeer and swordsman decided that they’d do something together, almost always, Skateboard would come along. Probably because Sword invited him. It was annoying.. to Rocket.
“Don’t you have other friends to spend time with?” Rocket scoffed, while giving Skateboard the stink eye.
The red demon tried to keep his cool. “Yeah,” he said, while shrugging. Similarly to Rocket, Skateboard also got easily pissed off, and always had to calm themselves down.
“So hang out with them. You keep latching onto Sword and I.”
“I hang out with my friends,” Skateboard scoffed, “I just wanna hang out with my new friend . Plus, I’m not latching onto you two, either–Sword just invites me to come along with you guys.” The rocketeer noticed he didn’t acknowledge him as a friend. But that was fine, because Rocket didn’t acknowledge Skateboard as a friend, either.
Rocket grunted and folded his arms. “Are you trying to take him away from me?” He queried.
The skater looked taken aback, “No?! Why’d I ever do that?” His voice was sincere, and also signified how offended he was. Rocket often skipped to conclusions, and was one of the reasons why not many people liked him. Occasionally, even Sword was bothered by how Rocket skipped to conclusions and made accusations.
“I don’t know, maybe you like Sword or something,” said Rocket, accusingly.
Skate frowned. “I’m just tryna be his friend. Nothing else. Promise.” He was sincere at first.
“Whatever.” Rocket rolled his eyes. I’m watching you, Skateboard. Don’t make any moves on Sword. He silently threatened the ‘wretched’ Playgrounder.
* * *
It had been three months since that interaction. Three months ago, Skateboard and Sword had normal friendly interactions. Such as:
“Hey, you did good out there!”
“Thanks, man!”
Their tones never hinted at them being in a romantic relationship, they never touched each other in a lovey-dovey manner, nothing. They were just friends . But now, of course, they just had to change.
Skateboard just had to ruin everything–he just had to take my love from me. What did I do to deserve this again? Rocket thought, while watching Sword and Skateboard embrace each other in a passionate hug, and move their hands in more taboo areas on their bodies. He watched how they’d give each other sly grins, and tease each other about how they’d be in romantic relationships in the future.
“You two seem closer now,” Rocket observed, while furrowing his eyebrows and giving the two of them a small frown. Sword and Skateboard. Being close? As close as Sword originally was to Rocket? It felt like Skateboard was pulling the swordsman away from Rocket, slowly dragging him into a dark pit. A dark, endless, and depressing pit of being in a relationship with the skater.
Skateboard looked at Sword with a smile on his face, “I guess you could say that!”
“We’re not close! No way!” Sword jokingly scoffed, while lightly pushing Skateboard away from him. He had a bright and wide smile on his face. Skateboard laughed.
“He’s so cute . Sword’s pretty much my biggest fan,” the Playgrounder jokes, while having a smug expression on his face. Rocket hid the pained emotions he was feeling from within, and hid it with a neutral face–more so, a mask.
“Ha!” Sword laughed, “Don’t believe a word he says! I can’t stand Skateboard; he’s so annoying!” Playfulness radiated off of Sword, conveying how flippant his statement was. Rocket felt the jealousy build up in his heart, like poison. He felt it get pumped through his blood, up to his brain, everywhere. (Jealousy, for him, was like a disease. One with little to no cures.)
Skateboard slinked his arm around Sword, as if they were boyfriends , and dragged him close to his body. “We’ll probably end up married one day,” he quips.
That was it.
That final joke. It hit Rocket hard. Straight in the chest. He felt like glass that had been shot by bullets over and over; multiple holes that led to his inner fragility. Everything felt painful. Everything felt horrible. Skateboard was probably hinting at how he did want to be in a relationship with Sword in that joke.
“Ha-ha,” Rocket let out a fake laugh. “You’re funny, Skateboard.”
“I know.”
* * *
What could fix the severely broken glass? Well, almost nothing. Other than a replacement.
Rocket needed to confess to Sword, so he could replace everything broken in him. To restore his hope that he and the swordsman weren’t completely split from each other.
Sheepishly, the rocketeer looked down at the ground, his cheeks a pale red. Sword watched him attentively. Skateboard was not anywhere to be seen. Rocket took in a half-breath, “Okay... I’m ready to tell you, now!” Sword noticed Rocket’s pale red cheeks, and seemed to get a bit concerned. Why, though? The tiniest, most unnoticeable, drops of sweat slowly trailed down the rocketeers head.
“Sword, you’re such a g-great friend to me. You’re my best friend! And I love every moment that I get to spend with you– each moment is super special to me .” Rocket’s pupils must’ve been in the shape of pink hearts. “And, um.. During those moments, I noticed that.. I’ve fallen in love with you,” he said, finally.
The swordsman flinched. “O-oh.”
“What?”
“Well, um.” Sword looked away. A bead of sweat trickled down his head while he put one hand behind his neck. “You’re a good friend, Rocket.”
Rocket’s first time confessing to someone; Rocket’s first time experiencing rejection. He wasn’t sure how to handle it. He was always scared of rejection, and now he’s finally experiencing it. I hate love . He just felt like his heart had exploded, and not in a good way. In a way where, he was about to die. To shatter. To shut down. To rot away.
I bet you like Skateboard. Don’t you?
The rocketeer had a wounded expression, an expression that inflicted a guilty feeling onto Sword. “I’m- I’m sorry,” the swordsman apologized, with a quiet voice. “I need to go–I need to talk to S-skateboard ,” he said, while hurriedly walking away. Rocket watched him walk away. He felt like a soulless husk. One with multiple bruises and scars from every detrimental experience he’s had; the most distinguishable one being from today.
Why is it that You’ve only been friends with Skateboard
for three months now And that I’ve been best friends
with you for Five years Yet You still run off to
Him? I thought we were best
Friends. I thought we
Were BFFs.
* * *
Skateboard’s eyes shined once he saw his best-rival run towards him. “Hey!” he called out, while ecstatically waving. Sword didn’t greet him back, but only embraced the skater in a warm hug. Warmth radiated off of the both of them, as they both hugged each other. “Uh, Sword? What’s up?”
The swordsman and skater parted from the hug, but their bodies were still close. Perfectly close, or Skateboard’s liking. Sword looked at the Playgrounder with a pained and regretful look. “I feel so horrible,” he murmured.
Skateboard frowned. “Why?”
“Rocket confessed to me. My best friend of five years, and I..” the swordsman looked away. “I rejected him. It feels so wrong–”
In other words, he was implicitly saying “I rejected him. It feels so scary.”
“It’s not wrong to reject someone.” Skateboard crossed his arms and frowned, giving Sword a stern look. Is that Rocket kid making you feel horrible about yourself? Is he hurting you? The skater wondered. “Is there a reason why it feels wrong to you?”
Sword sighed and struggled to look at Skateboard, “Rocket isn’t just someone. He’s my best friend.” A tear ran down the Lost Temple demons’ face. His cheeks were red, probably because he was embarrassed. The teary eyed swordsman hugged Skateboard once more. “I feel like I just put myself in danger.” The skater unconsciously started to hold onto Sword tighter.
“Look man,” Skateboard murmured in a quiet, soothing, and affection tone, “You shouldn’t feel guilty for not liking him because he’s your best friend,” he stated. “Just keep him in the best friend zone! And be nice about it too,” Skateboard moved his hand to cup Sword’s warm cheek. “And also.. What do you mean you 'feel like you just put yourself in danger'?” He narrowed his eyes. He felt extremely protective over Sword. The swordsman quietly explained to Skateboard. Everything that Rocket's done. He explained that Rocket wasn't entirely aware, but that didn't make Skateboard feel any less anger towards the ex-Playground demon. Sword had a light half smile on his face while his friendly 'rival' cupped his face. While Sword smiled, the protective skater looked at the blue figure with curled and carved horns from behind:
Rocket.
Watching them hug each other, look at each other in the eyes, with love radiating off of the both of them, like warmth beaming off of fire.
An idea, with a mixture of both malice intent and benevolence, crossed Skateboard’s mind.
His hand moved to Sword’s chin, and he made sure to make the man look directly at him. “You don’t mind if I try something , right?” He asked, with a sweet yet slightly mischievous smile on his face. His cheeks were flushed, hinting at what he wanted to do.
Sword's muscles became tense as he froze in place. He looked bewildered, and as if he was trying to figure out what he wanted–debating whether he should agree to kiss the other, or not. He hadn't really kissed anyone, and because of this, he was probably experiencing a wave of emotions that he *probably* didn’t know how to handle.
The skater’s hand moved to the back of Sword’s head. He admired every little thing about Sword’s appearance: his scars from his past training, muscular build, and cute face. He also had a peculiar sandy smell, a smell that Skateboard quite liked. (He admired everything about Sword's personality too.) The swordsman looked uncertain.
Finally, Sword gave the skater a light nod, and Skateboard gave him a quick, sweet kiss. Nothing too special, at least to the more experienced-in-kissing demon. Sword, however, his face had turned a slightly pale red with a mixture of embarrassment and bliss. He looked as if he was about to collapse, right in Skateboard’s arms. His breathing was heavy and hot.
Rocket stood behind them. He saw their little kiss.
Skateboard knew he saw.
A chuckle came from the calmer demon of the two rivals, “Did you like that? Did you get Rocket off your mind?” Sword mindlessly nodded. “Good! Wanna do it again?” Once more, Sword gave the skater a mindless nod, this nod seeming more desperate.
The swordsman was pulled into another kiss. He closed his eyes and embraced the elation he received from the act. Their arms wrapped around each other. So warm; so comfortable; so sweet; so loving. Sword felt as if he’d plunged into an ocean of love. Despite the wave of love he felt, a sour feeling throbbed in Sword’s body; a feeling that made the act just barely incomplete.
Regret, sprinkled with fear.
A bitter feeling; a feeling that worried Sword; a feeling Rocket would be heartbroken at the sight of him kissing another; a feeling that Rocket might lash out; a feeling that Rocket could hurt him; verbally or physically. (Both hurt equally.)
The two of them parted from the kiss. Their faces were close together, and they could feel each other’s hot breath pressing onto their skin. A faint “Oh SFoTH..” came from Sword, causing Skateboard to softly chuckle. They kissed again. Tongues intertwining, few groans, and pure sloppiness. They parted from the kiss once more. A line of saliva leading from one tongue to the other. Sword looked away, with a flustered look on his face. Skateboard wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, while he stared at Rocket behind them.
Tears; a river of tears; red cheeks; trembling; broken glass; broken heart.
Furrowed eyebrows; frowns; sorrow; frustration; hatred.
* * *
Icy cold glares, from both Skateboard and Rocket. They stared at each other, fists clenched.
Can’t believe this bastard stole my best friend from me. Rocket thought. “Why didn’t you just hang out with your other friends ? Like I suggested?!” Rocket glowered at the skater, with nothing but pure hatred and anger. Angry tears ran down the rocketeer’s face.
No response from the other.
“You stole Sword from me. Y’know that?”
No response.
“I don’t know what I did to you,” his voice had become a voice of pure sorrow, confusion, and just a bit of frustration now. “I bet I did nothing wrong. I bet you were just jealous. Hm?”
Accusations, accusations, accusations. Everyone’s biggest problem with Rocket. He wasn’t even aware of how he’d hurt Skateboard, when he said “I bet I did nothing wrong.”
“I ain't jealous of you. Hell no! He just needs a break from you, (and your salty ass).” Skateboard clenched his board and looked away from the ex-Playgrounder. His eyes were dim.
That really ticked the ex-Playgrounder off. Rocket grabbed Skateboard’s collar and shook him. “You fucking asshole! He doesn’t need a break from me! You're lying!! I’ve done nothing wrong to you, yet you still stole my best friend?! I bet you’re the reason why he doesn’t love me!” Harsh words flowed out of the rocketeer's mouth while his blood boiled.
“Don’t fucking touch me, man!” Skateboard’s fist connected with Rocket’s face, sending the other back, and leaving him with broken goggles. Rocket quickly got back up, with pained tears running down his face, because he was hurt, both emotionally and physically. “You’d never know how Sword is feeling ’cus you hardly pay attention to his feelings. Only yours.” That hit Rocket straight in the heart. But he didn't want to believe what the skater had said was true. Because it wouldn't make sense, for him and Sword to be so close for years and for them to hide anything from each other.. It wouldn't make sense. Right?
The rocketeer landed a punch in Skateboard’s stomach–they went back and forth. By the time Sword finally split them apart, they were both severely bruised, especially Rocket, who was left with a split lip. They had blood running down their head, sides, and even had a couple of scars on their hands. Sword looked protective of Skateboard; his new boyfriend. “Sorry, Rocket.”
“Why are you choosing him over me?! Make up your fucking mind! You're so indecisive! Shit man.. You're hard to deal with. So annoying.” The most hurtful thing that Rocket had ever said to Sword. This only made Skateboard feel more protective over Sword, causing the fight between the two demons to escalate.
* * *
Final conversation between Sword and Rocket.
A pitiful look came from the swordsman. “I’m sorry, Rocket.”
“Why are you sorry?”
“I chose him over you.”
“It’s just love. I guess.”
“I think it was unfair that I chose him over you.”
“...”
“I’ve been best friends with you for, well, forever. But when I met Skateboard, it’s just…”
“You two were fine at first. You had normal interactions. You spent time with me. Then you slowly started to split from me; spent more time with him.”
“I’m sorry.”
“...”
“Will you ever talk to me again?”
“Maybe.”
“I hope we can fix our friendship, really.”
“Have fun with Skateboard.”
“I’ll see you when I see you.”
“Bye.”
A dry conversation. Devoid of any emotions, at least from Rocket. Full of emotions from Sword; full of sorrow; full of hurt; full of regret; full of fear.
Maybe love’s a curse, Rocket thought. It destroyed my friendship with Sword. I destroyed it; Skateboard destroyed it; Sword himself destroyed it.
I,
Fell in love
Too deep in love
Got mad when love wasn’t returned
Lashed out on another
Innocent other, no malice at the moment, other
Ruined my friendship with my love.
Sword,
Fell in love
Too deep in love
Not with me, though
In love with another
Ruined friendship(?)
Or he contributed to it.
Skateboard,
Might’ve fallen in love
Or just liked the looks.
I don't know. Bet he loved both.
Let's just say;
He fell in love with the looks
Too deep in love
Was hurt by my lashing out
Hated my treatment of Sword
And possibly unintentionally stole
From me, or
Intentionally stole from me
As revenge
(But I don’t think he’d do that. Too kind.)
He might’ve ruined friendship to protect Sword.
I,
Am sorry for ruining our friendship.
Sword,
Is sorry for contributing to the death of our friendship.
(I don't think he should feel sorry.)
Skateboard,
Might be sorry for running our friendship.
He might be sorry because Sword’s hurt
He doesn’t care for me
…
I still hate you, Skateboard
And your little friends
Slingshot and Boombox
I don’t care if they didn’t do anything
I hate you.
* * *
I saw Skateboard at the Skate Park today.
He told me that he hoped that I learned about the wrong things that I've done:
The verbal abuse; lashing out; conclusions; accusations; yelling; outbursts; occasional hitting; everything.
I told him he did wrong:
The stealing of Sword. And being aware of me watching him and Sword sloppily kiss. Ew. (That was really it.)
He said it wasn't stealing, but Sword's choice of love. And that I should accept it.
I could learn a thing or two from him, I guess.
I still hate you, Skateboard.
"I bet you'll find someone else," said Skateboard.
I did wrong, Sword did nothing wrong, Skateboard did very little wrong.
Love; rejection; sadness; hatred; splitting from one another; learning; finally, acceptance.