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That morning Robbie was sitting in his fluffy orange armchair, going through his Christmas presents, that got delivered by mail. There were various presents from his parents, namely a handmade purple jumper he receives every Christmas from his mother. Robbie usually uses them for one of his winter disguises. Then there was a gift from his older brother Glanni, who also included some drawn pictures made by his two daughters. Glanni also added a short message to the other side of the pictures that his nieces miss their uncle and urged him to visit them soon. Robbie admired those pictures for a second, then stuck them on his fridge, to join the pictures from the last year’s presents.
But there was one more present left. Robbie thought it was sent by one of his family members, but it seemed like someone other sent that one. Who would that be then? Robbie had no friends he was staying in contact with, and he already received his gift from his LazyTown friend Bessie. Sportacus also already dropped by and gave him a pair of woollen gloves in Robbie’s colors. So there really was no one he would expect a gift from.
Robbie stared at the gift box for good five minutes, contemplating whether he should open it or not. It could be anything, a trap from the kids, a prank, or in the worst case, a genuine gift from someone he forgot about.
“The dilemma won’t deal with itself.” Sighed Robbie and finally opened the gift box. Inside was a book of horror short stories and a large package of his favourite strawberry chocolates. Robbie wanted that book for a long time. One of the reasons he was so lazy and against all the noise the kids were making when playing sports and games was, that he wanted to enjoy his books in peace. This looked genuine enough. Robbie’s heart fluttered. Someone gave him such a nice present. He looked for a card from the sender but found none. Maybe there will be a note in the book. Robbie then hastily opened the book to discover a folded letter on a pastel purple letter paper decorated with small white roses.
Robbie quickly opened the letter to finally find out who gave him such a nice present. He unfolded the paper and his eyes fell on a handwritten letter. The handwriting was not familiar to him. Though he usually didn’t care about other people’s handwriting so for all he knows, it could be anyone from LazyTown.
Dearest Robbie,
I hope you liked the presents I prepared for you. I was nervous you might not appreciate the choice of the book. Enjoy it with those chocolates as well but be careful with them, I don’t want you to fall sick from eating too many sweets. But you already know that.
Why am I writing you this letter, you might wonder. The reason is simple. I wanted to make you happy with those presents. But I also wanted to relieve my heart from brimming with feelings. I fell in love with you. From the first time I met you, I couldn’t stop my eyes from following you, not in a creepy way, of course. Only later I realized my feelings reached the point of no return and that I love you from the bottom of my heart. I never said anything because I didn’t want to burden you with unwanted confession, and I was (and still am) in position where I can’t confess properly. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you directly out of fear you would hate me. I would rather you never knew about this, so I decided not to sign this letter. I hope you won’t resent me for such an immature decision.
With love
Your Secret Admirer
Robbie stared at the letter even longer than previously at the gift box. He read the letter once, twice, and then a couple more times, still trying to process the words he just read. Then he burst out laughing. That can’t be true. Someone just made fun of him. Clearly it can’t be an actual love letter. Surely the kids made this charade up just to rile him up.
Robbie dropped the letter on his kitchen table and ran to his periscope so he can check on them, sure that they are somewhere laughing at him. But he found no one. All the kids were busy with unwrapping their own Christmas presents. That pinky girl was just wowing over her new pink skirt and shoes combo. That Stinky boy was trying to prevent his younger sister from touching all the things that were "MINE". Three-ponytailed girl was just playing with PC guy on his new PlayStation. And then that candy eating brat was stealing chocolate decoration from the Christmas tree. Their usual behaviour, nothing out of line. He should check the street cameras just to make sure.
Robbie switched on his computer and went through the footage covering the day the gift arrived. But soon he realized the box came through mail like his other gifts. The kids couldn’t cause it then. Who was left? The mayor? But he was crushing over Bessie. Bessie then? She could be up to pranking him like this, but she would at least give him a hint, that it was her. The only person left was Sportablorb. It couldn’t be him, right? That blue menace was too nice to do such a cruel prank. And he already gave Robbie his gift, so it can’t be him either.
Robbie sighed. If it wasn’t Sportaflop either, then who? Robbie thoroughly inspected the whole box, the book, even the package with the chocolate in hopes the sender left there something he could use to reveal them. There was nothing. No sign of their identity. Robbie used all of his gadgets to scan or inspect the gift but not even a small hint was discovered. Robbie was hurt. This was both the best and worst gift he ever received.
The following day Robbie woke up too early for his tastes, so that he could drop by a local post to ask about the source of the mailed present. He lied about receiving a package intended for someone other and that the address was written down wrongly, so that he could snoop out the return address to give the package back to the sender. In reality he just wanted to knock on the person’s door and ask for a fucking explanation. Why they played a joke so cruel on him. The lady at the post office was reluctant at first but when Robbie told her he just wants to deliver someone’s Christmas present on time, she smiled and gave him the address.
Later in his car Robbie took a proper look at the address. Nothing felt familiar. A name he couldn’t even pronounce, from Mischief Town. How did someone from there even found out there’s someone called Robbie Rotten, let alone know him enough to either mean the letter seriously or mean it as a prank. It was just too far away. Robbie went there only once, for a precious component for his disguise machine. The local villain was quite clever, though not as clever as him, of course. But he still wanted to tell this Ipro-person, or how the hell the name was even pronounced, to just fuck off and leave him alone. Robbie started the car and off he went to Mischief Town.
It was early evening when he finally went past the Mischief Town sign. It took him another half an hour to actually find the correct street. Robbie parked the car in a parking lot nearby and walked to the correct house door with the gift box tucked under his arm. Before he could stop himself, he loudly knocked on the door.
For a few moments, nothing happened. Then the door opened and a man in yellow tracksuit with black pointy moustache and a goatee beard appeared behind the door. Robbie froze. His courage suddenly left him.
“Yes? How can I help you?” The man asked. Robbie blinked. The man had a thick accent from somewhere in the North. Robbie felt as if he heard that accent somewhere but couldn’t place it.
“I received a strange letter, and the return address is yours. Is your name Iprotalfyurin, right?” Robbie asked.
“Íþróttaálfurinn, but yes. What’s the letter about? I don’t remember sending any letters recently.” The man leaned on the door frame, unknowingly showing off his muscular shoulders. Robbie really thought he seemed familiar, which made it even more strange.
“The letter came in a gift box. Its contents are, let’s say delicate. If you sent it, you should know what’s inside, you even addressed it to me personally.” Robbie started to suspect that this muscular Ithro-guy really had no idea what was going on.
“I didn’t write any letter. I don’t even know you, why would I be sending you anything? Is this some kind of a joke?” The man started to look annoyed. Robbie really didn’t want to make him angry as that man could easily punch him.
“That’s what I want to know as well. The letter’s not signed and I can’t decipher whether it’s supposed to be just a prank or a serious letter. I don't even recognize that handwriting and no one I know could send it. I don’t know anything anymore.” Robbie felt hopeless. The man’s face softened.
“Can I look at the letter?”
Robbie dejectedly pulled the letter out of the box and handed it to the man. The man quickly went through it, his brow furrowing. When he reached the end, his brow lifted in surprise. He smirked and gave the letter back to Robbie.
“Can’t promise you anything but I can try to ask people, who know me personally to figure out whether someone used my address as a cover. Can you leave me your address so that I know whom to send the answer?” The man smiled. Robbie quickly nodded and wrote his address on a piece of paper the man gave him.
“Oh? LazyTown? That sounds familiar, I went there a few times.”
Robbie blinked. Went there a few times was hardly a connection to him but maybe this man can figure out the identity of his secret admirer. He thanked the man and left.
Sportacus was just going through his usual round of exercises when his phone rang. Who was that? He picked up and spotted a familiar name on it.
“Hi brother? What’s up?” he answered. He called with his brother pretty often, so it was hardly surprising that he was calling now.
“You naughty little brat. What did you even think?” His brother said instead of greetings. Sportacus froze. What did he do? Nothing came to his mind.
“Someone very odd just visited me. A tall man in a purple funny suit called Robbie. I think you might know him.” Was the explanation to the purpose of his call. Sportacus sighed in shock. Robbie! Robbie visited his older brother!
“Íþróttaálfurinn, I can explain—“
“You don’t have to explain anything. I read it all in that letter. So our little brother is so shy he can’t even man up and tell his crush, that he loves them properly? He has to hide behind his older brother? I thought you were better than that.”
Sportacus raised up to his feet and began wildly jumping to calm himself down from distress.
“I-It’s not like I couldn’t do it properly! Robbie is our town’s villain! And he clearly hates me! What am I supposed to do, to go to my supposed nemesis and tell him I love him? He would reject me and then I’d have to leave the city because I wouldn’t be able to look him in the eyes. I’d lose him. And I can’t do that!” He hastily explained. Íþróttaálfurinn sighed.
“Sportacus, you should see that Robbie guy when he came here. He was uneasy and when he realized I have no idea about who he was, let alone any letter, he looked so sad I’d hug him if not for his don’t-touch-me aura surrounding him. That poor guy was convinced the letter had been a cruel joke played on him. You really messed up big this time. Go apologize to him.”
The call ended and Sportacus was not jumping around anymore. Instead he dropped to the ground and hid his head between his knees. He had no idea this stupid thing with the letter will hurt Robbie so much. He only wanted to let Robbie know he’s loved by someone, even if he couldn’t bring himself to tell him personally. Robbie didn’t deserve this. Sportacus felt a single tear falling down his cheek, so he wiped it off and sighed.
Robbie didn’t even go straight back to LazyTown. He was a mess. He needed to talk to someone, and he certainly didn’t want anyone in Lazy Town to see him like this. That left him with one single person. His brother Glanni. He was nearby anyway, so he could stop by. Robbie stopped by and pulled his phone from a pocket to ring him up.
“Oh, Robbie, hi. What’s the matter?” His brother sounded genuinely surprised but happy, nonetheless.
“Glanni. I… Can I stop by? Like right now?” Robbie mumbled into the phone. He was too sad to pretend now.
“What happened? You sound terrible. Are you okay?” Glanni seemed worried. Robbie sighed.
“I don’t know. I’m nearby, can we talk?” He uttered.
“Of course. Penny and the girls are out now, they went to visit Penny’s parents, so the flat is free. When should I expect you?” Glanni asked. Robbie stopped for a second.
“I’m near MischiefTown, maybe in 20 minutes?” he estimated. Glanni hummed in answer.
“Just drive carefully. See you in 20 minutes.” Both of them said bye and Robbie dropped his hands. Then he crashed his head against the steering wheel in frustration. Why was everything so confusing these past two days?
When he arrived at the LiarCity, he got lost for a minute but then quickly found the way through the net of tiny streets. The district Glanni lived in was a true hell to navigate with a car, especially when it’s been a while since Robbie went there. But soon he was already knocking on the door of Glanni’s flat.
Glanni opened the door with a smile at first but seeing Robbie all miserable and on the verge of tears mad him drop the smile altogether.
“Come in, Robbie. Are you feeling all right?” He asked with concern in his voice. Robbie only shook his head. Glanni led him in and took off his winter coat and winter shoes. Then he stopped by the kitchen to pour them both a cup of hot extremely sweet chocolate and sat them both at the kitchen table. Robbie took a gulp of his brother’s delicious chocolate and his eyes filled with tears. This is what home tasted like. He missed this. And he very much needed it right now.
Glanni let him be for a minute to let him collect himself a bit, though still watching him carefully. He never saw his younger brother look so unhappy.
“I… it’s been rough few days.” Robbie explained. Glanni raised his eyes from the cup when his brother spoke up.
“I received a strange present. It was the best Christmas gift I got in a long while. Everything was great, except for the letter.” Robbie gently pulled a letter out of his suit front pocket and handed it to Glanni. He waited a moment for Glanni to quickly skim through the letter.
“What’s this supposed to mean?” Glanni asked, very confused. Robbie sighed.
“I don’t know either. I don’t even know who sent it. There was no name, no hint, not even a sign of whether it’s genuine or just a joke.” Robbie dropped his head.
“But you surely have an idea of who could send you something like this, don’t you?”
Robbie shook his head. “None whatsoever. It came through mail. And the return address doesn’t ring any bell. I even turned up to that address but the guy living there had no idea about any gift or letter. He doesn’t even know me, we never met, I’m sure of that.” He retold his findings. Glanni nodded but his face went dark.
“That’s too cruel. Whoever dared to hurt you like this, don’t let them get to me.” He growled.
Robbie dropped his head even lower and sighed before letting a small tear fall down his cheek. He actually had an idea who the sender could be, but it was just a desperate wish. Glanni grabbed Robbie’s shaking hands.
“Come here.” He hugged his brother. That sudden warmth and familiar smell after such a long time of touch starving brought Robbie on the verge of tears. He let his tears fall down and soak into Glanni’s black jumper.
“Had you someone in mind when you read that letter?” Glanni asked all of a sudden. Robbie froze for a second. Then a bright face of a certain smiling flippity floppity above-average hero flashed through his mind. He silently nodded.
“Oh, Robbie.”
That was it for Robbie, no more tearing up, now he was fully crying. He realized why that heartless prank made him so brutally vulnerable. Because he hoped it could be a genuine confession. He was never loved by anyone apart from his family. He thought that was enough but deep down he longed for someone, who would think highly of him. Who would admire him. Who would love him for who he is. And he hoped for that person to be Sportacus. The only person in all of LazyTown, who didn’t judge him for his villainy antics. Who wanted to be his friend even despite their rivalry. It was just a pointless wish.
A week after this whole ordeal, Robbie got accustomed to the fact that this Christmas disaster is simply a thing he should forget. Since there was no way of finding that person, he pushed it to the very back of his mind. He was so preoccupied with his own feelings he even forgot to contrive an evil scheme of how to ruin the Christmas for other Lazy Town residents. Guess he could consider it a Christmas gift for them then. He wanted to finally enjoy a bit of calm on his own, he deserved it.
Yet a mere few days after, he received yet another mysterious mail. This time it was only an envelope with a purple stationery paper similar to the last time. Robbie groaned. When will this end?
The envelope was addressed directly to him, in a similar handwriting when he opened it, a folded piece of paper revealed a short message.
I’m sorry for making you feel hurt. I’d like to make things right. If you would like to find out who I am, please meet me at a coffeeshop in Mayhem Town tomorrow at 4pm.
Your Secret Admirer
Robbie blinked. I’m sorry…what? The secret sender of the previous letter, which was so shy, that they didn’t even leave any hint to their identity, now suddenly wanted to meet him? Did the Christmas come again?
Robbie was puzzled. He was angry. The secret sender really was toying with him well. And he refused to dance to other’s tune. He was Robbie after all, a villain of Lazy Town, a foul fiend, a master of disguises and all evil. He won’t let others make fun of him. He won’t go there. The sender had their chance and they missed it. That was it.
He growled and put the letter on his small table next to his fluffy armchair, walking to the kitchen to calm down by baking a chocolate cake as a treat. He really did deserve it after this fucker toying with him.
Later that evening, after he shoveled down the whole cake and a pot of hot chocolate on top, his eyes came across the package of his favourite chocolates he received with that letter. He refused to even open them because he didn’t want anything that reminded him of that thing ever happening. He also put that book to the very back of his personal bookshelf. He didn’t want to even see that book, let alone read it. It hurt him that much.
And it was all because he thought of that blue Sportajerk every time he saw those items despite lacking any evidence of him being the sender. Though his point still stood. If not him, who then? He couldn’t exactly run around the town and ask every damn person whether they sent him something recently. Not only he would look like a lunatic, but his pride wouldn’t allow him. And so he concluded it was that person’s loss.
Though when he sat down to his fluffy armchair to watch some mundane stupid rom com to laugh at the protagonists and the sheer stupidity of that whole thing, his eyes veered towards that damn letter he imprudently left on the small table. He physically tore his eyes away to look at the stupid woman trying to explain to her boyfriend that she didn’t cheat on him, she just wanted to try how that other guy kisses or some other nonsense, Robbie didn’t care.
He glanced at the letter multiple more times before groaning angrily and picking it up again. He quickly skimmed through it to find he’s still as angry as before, only this time a new feeling emerged from the deep of his heart. He wanted to let that person know how angry he is, he wanted to yell at them like he wanted a few days back. He wanted to squeeze that person’s neck with his own hands.
Robbie bent his head backwards in frustration and kicked the poor armchair like a sulking child. Guess he’s going after all. Robbie jumped to his feet and began pacing across his lair to think through all necessities, the movie completely forgotten.
Dressed in his second-best purple-maroon suit, Robbie just arrived at the coffee shop. He was a bit early, due to his restlessness, but he thought the sooner this is over, the sooner he can yell his piece at the person for making him into a fool and fuck the hell out.
He chose a table a bit aside, for privacy, he doesn’t want others to hear about his love escapades, does he? Then he went to the counter to order the sweetest drink they have and a piece of cake to accompany that horrendously sweet chai latte he chose in the end. Just as he was putting his cup and plate on the designated table, the door opened, and two men walked in.
Robbie didn’t pay them any attention until he heard a familiar voice. A voice he could never miss in any environment. It was Sportacus!
"I still don't know why you wanted me to come here, brother. Why so mysteri--"
Robbie looked up to notice the Ithro-guy dragging Sportacus in by his elbow. Robbie dropped his fork in shock. That can’t be true. The Ithro-guy clearly said he had no idea who the sender was and now here he was. Did he lie to him? Robbie tried to process what for the sweet candy god was going on. Then his eyes crossed with Sportacus, who completely froze, shock apparent in his eyes.
Ithro-guy walked towards Robbie, dragging Sportacus closer, now without any sign of resistance. Robbie stood up, clearly taken aback, not knowing what to do. Should he yell at him? Or at them both?
"Hello, Mr. Rotten. Sorry for the inconvenience. Looks like someone has a lot to explain. Allow me to introduce you to my younger and reckless brother Sportacus. I assume you two already know each other very well." He shot his eyes on flabbergasted Sportacus next to him. Robbie blinked. What? What was going on? So who was that sender then?
"Wait a damn second, this time it's you, who told me to come here? But you said you weren't the one, who sent me the previous letter." Robbie objected. Robbie tried to make sense in his mind in chaos.
Ithro-guy nodded. Then he jolted Sportacus and pushed him forward. Sportacus looked at him as if he were asking him for help. Only that he was met with a stern face of his older brother. Robbie watched that change of looks full of questions. So this man right here was in fact Sportaidiot’s brother? When he took a good look of them both standing next to each other, they did share some similarities. Similar taste in terribly tight sportswear, similar blonde hair, similar moustaches, and similar toned figure. And that accent, oh yes, that accent. This was where Robbie heard it, that’s why it seemed so familiar before. Sportacus spoke in that same Nordic accent as this yellow-dressed lad.
"Brother, you can't do this. You can‘t force me." Sportacus pleaded. Íþróttaálfurinn only smirked at him.
"Indeed I can, my dear brother. It's your own fault. You shouldn't drag me into this. Now deal with it." With this Íþróttaálfurinn bid Robbie an apologetic look accompanied by a goodbye, turned on his heel and walked away from the shop. Only the now awkward Sportacus was left standing in front of him.
Robbie somehow got over his confusion and seeing that restless and nervous blue flippity floppity blob awkwardly blinking at him, his mischievous side took over. He smirked and crossed his arms.
“So?” He said with an exact precision of his pronunciation. Sportacus twitched in fear. It was apparent that Robbie was not happy to see him. Robbie nodded to the chair in front of him and Sportacus shakily sat himself down.
“Well… I…” stuttered Sportacus.
“Well?”
“I…I really didn’t want to make you feel bad. I just… couldn’t cope with myself anymore. My heart was bursting with feelings every time I saw you and I naively thought this would help me relieve myself. I was so selfish, it didn’t even occur to me, that you could feel hurt because of that stupid letter. I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m sorry for falling in love with you. Yell at me all you want, I deserve it.” Sportacus dropped his head down.
Robbie stared at him for a second. He was fully prepared to humiliate the secret admirer for making him feel so hurt and unwanted, despite the clear confession of being loved but sitting right here, watching Sportacus made him rethink the decision. He no longer wanted to make a fool out of him. He just wanted to let him know how much it hurt him.
“Do you regret sending that letter?” he asked quietly, so uncharacteristically for his usual antics. Sportacus raised his head, looking at him with those terribly beautiful blue eyes of his. He processed the question before shaking his head.
“I don’t. Everything said in that letter is true. I only regret that I just dropped it on you like that. It was not nice of me to leave you to your own devices, especially when I know that underneath all that villain persona is a little guy wanting someone to love them. I was just so scared to face you. Now I know it’s better to communicate whatever I want to tell you, regardless of the answer I get.” Sportacus explained. Robbie continued to look at him.
He tried to summarize his thoughts about the whole situation. At first, he was so happy. The present was so nice, and he did want that book for a long time. But the letter changed how he viewed it later. He was so sure it’s been a joke. It had to be. Because who would love someone like him, right? He’s good for nothing. He only makes plans that fail horribly every single time. The only plus is being saved by that Sportacook. But there was no way the sender could be him. He’s so outspoken all the time, jumping and running around like a loose spring. Which made Robbie even more convinced that the charade with the love confession just had to be a joke. Only that now every time his eyes landed on that letter, the book, or those chocolates, he was thinking about that blue dressed idiot.
Nope. He couldn’t tell him this. No way in hell. Only over his dead body, this was too honest. He sighed. His eyes landed on the fading smile of the blue elf in front of him. He rather took a bite of his cake to earn some time to think. Sportacus took a careful look at him.
“You know, you don’t have to say anything now. I know it’s too sudden and you probably want to think it through.” He said then. Robbie finished nibbling on his cake and gulped down half of his chai latte to clear his mouth.
“You’re really cruel. The letter, the silence, the confession, it’s all too cruel. I really hate you for it. Making me feel so hurt, so vulnerable, so undeserving of a proper asking out. Curse you.”
With every Robbie’s word, Sportacus’ face grew sadder and sadder. Call him childish but Robbie just wanted him to feel the same hurt he felt.
“You didn’t even take in consideration how I am going to feel about it. I don’t know what’s worse. Not letting me know it was you or not letting me give you an answer. What did you even think I would do with that information? Humiliate you? Laugh at you? Or badmouth you? I may be a villain, but I don’t joke with other people’s feelings and you of all people should know it. Shame on you.”
Robbie felt a wave of gratification washing over him. Getting all of those feelings out just felt incredible. Now for the last part, to give the considerably miserable hero a shock he will never forget.
“And do you know what was worst? That deep down in my heart, I still hoped the sender was you.”
Robbie almost whispered that last sentence. His eyes were carefully watching the deflated hero in front of him taking in the words said by Robbie. Sportacus blinked. Then he blinked again. Then he raised his eyes to look at Robbie, who moved his own eyes away.
“You…” Sportacus uttered. “You hoped…”
Robbie crossed his arms on his chest and awkwardly nodded, still not looking at the hero. Sportacus suddenly didn’t know where to put his hands. He wanted to jump as high as he could, he wanted to whoop as loud as he could. His low spirits were back up, much to Robbie’s disdain. He’d actually like to grill the hero for a bit longer, but he wasn’t that cruel. Not even him was that vengeful.
“That didn’t even cross your mind, am I right?” said Robbie quietly. Sportacus apologetically smiled.
“I’m such a fool, am I not? Oh, Robbie, I love you so much.” Said Sportacus. Robbie frowned, but underneath all that, he was in fact smiling.
“Don’t think you can win me back with such a rubbish apology. You have a lot to make up for to me.” He stated. Sportacus’ eyes brightened.
“Is that a yes to my confession?” He asked hopefully. Robbie made the biggest frown he could muster up and nodded.
“But don’t think this means we’re going out yet. I’ll wait for a proper asking out personally delivered by you. Only then I decide whether I want to consider it or not.” He shook his finger at Sportacus but not even that could make the Sportafool lose his excitement. Robbie picked up the now half empty cup of chai latte and hid a smile in it, while taking a sip.