Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The Psych Ward

7:56 AM

⸻⸻

Hu Tao: GUYS GUYS GUYS GUYS GUYS

Xingqiu: WHAT.

Hu Tao: I JUST HEARD FROM BARBARA THAT THERES A NEW STUDENT TODAY

Chongyun: a new student?

Xiangling: from where???

Hu Tao: okay okay hold on let me remember what she told me

Hu Tao: she said it was some guy from chenyu vale private. that one super rich school like across the city. not the tri-commission school or the sumeru academia. the other rich one.

Xinyan: wait wait wait

Xinyan: girl you mean the one where all those preppy kids go to???? the ones who hold up the line at the theater downtown????

Xingqiu: i thought it was the favonius military school kids who kept holding up the line..

Hu Tao: when tf have you seen any of those kids anywhere near the zubayr theater

Xingqiu: LAST WEEK?

Hu Tao: WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME WE SHOULDVE THROWN SHIT AT THEM OUT OF YOUR LIMO

Bennett: xingqiu has a limo?

Xingqiu: benny you’ve BEEN in my limo

Bennett: i have?

Chongyun: you were mostly unconscious considering instead of an ambulance, we called the limo to take you to the hospital whenever you got into some kind of freak accident that should’ve killed you. still don’t know how you survived getting hit by a car and going into multiple organ failure.

Bennett: OH!

Xingqiu: have you SEEN hospital bills in this day and age? i may be rich but even i’m scared of hospital bills.

Hu Tao: if youre rich whyre you here

Xingqiu: because i’m not going to chenyu vale private even if my life fucking depends on it, hu tao

Xingqiu: now WHO is this random guy that’s transferring into the school

Hu Tao: okay issue? dont know his name.

Xinyan: does barbara know???

Hu Tao: she does Not

Hu Tao: BUT THATS FINE!!! THATS FINE

Freminet: why aren’t you all getting ready for class?

Hu Tao: FREMINET

Hu Tao: ARE YOU AT THE SCHOOL ALREADY?

Freminet: ..yes?

Hu Tao: GET YOUR ASS TO THE COURTYARD. WE’RE GONNA SCOPE THIS NEW BITCH OUT

Freminet: we are?

Chongyun: are we?

Xingqiu: ykw. I’m down.

Xinyan: SO AM I LETS GO

Xiangling: WAIT I HAVENT FINISHED EATING MY BREAKFAST

Hu Tao: BRING IT WITH YOU

Hu Tao: lets go see the Fresh Meat

Xingqiu: EW DON’T CALL HIM THAT

Hu Tao: SHUT UP XINGQIU

[ Everyone has gone offline. ]

⸻⸻

Freminet, having been with these friends of his ever since he started his junior year at school, was used to the chaos they brought. He was glad to have friends who were so active and energetic anyways, but it..always was a bit much too. Going from being surrounded only by his siblings to suddenly having a bigger support net was a chance that was almost too hard to swallow.

If anything, it was only difficult because he never had to deal with it before.

Hu Tao zoomed in on her phone using her camera. There was a horde of other students in the courtyard, surrounding someone else. Xiangling was sitting near them on the bench, lunchbox on her lap, shaking coffee in a big thermos. She had tried to offer it to Freminet before she remembered he didn’t like coffee and passed it off to Bennett instead.

“I literally can’t see anything.” Hu Tao put her phone away. “There’s way too many kids over there.”

“What were you expecting?” Xingqiu flipped a page in his book. “He’s new. I didn’t see him, but I got to Barbara before we got here and she said that he’s even kind of cute. Besides also having money.”

“Where’s the money from?”

“His dad runs a big tea shop.”

“Source?”

“Don’t ‘source’ me,” he glared at her, “I asked my brother. I texted him, in fact. My dad knows his dad and they’re in a pretty tight deal about tea. I still didn’t get his name though, only his dad’s. Yip Tak.”

The bell rang, announcing another period. Considering the group were in study hall, they had all the time in the world to sit and watch for the new kid. Freminet messed with the sleeves of his cardigan as he watched the crowd of students run by and separate inside of the building. When the dust settled, the new student was finally seen with the leftover few.

Freminet’s eyes widened somewhat.

The boy was most likely older than him, with tanned, freckled skin, and dark brown hair dyed with red. White, neat scars settled on his forearms, and he wore sleek fingerless gloves. His jacket was heavily decorated, tons of fiery designs splayed on its surface, and vibrant in color. Around his neck was a choker, gold, and pretty.

His eyes were almost akin to the lanterns he would see floating in the sky during one of the city’s many festivals. Bright, blinding, a secondary sun in the usually dark and heavy sky. He lit up the courtyard with his free gestures of movement and the way he swayed side to side as he talked. Freminet found himself clasping his hands tightly as he stared.

Hu Tao snapped her fingers in front of him. “Freminet. Freminet!”

“Huh?” He whipped his head around. “Oh — ah — sorry..”

“What’s gotten into you?” She put her hands on her hips. Freminet mumbled an answer that didn’t seem satisfactory and his eyes swept back over to the boy. The final thing he noticed was that underneath his bangs, well hidden, were two metal bolts: an eyebrow piercing.

“I think someone’s interested,” Xingqiu lightly teased. Freminet caught it and his face burst into a dusty red. “Xingqiu!”

“Barbara wasn’t lying,” Xinyan patted Freminet on the shoulder, “the boy’s cute. Still don’t know his name.”

Hu Tao stared more at the boy and the other kids he was still with before a realization dawned onto her. “That’s Mika! He’s talking to fucking Mika! Freminet, you know Mika! Go and say hi and get that guy’s name before I have to dig it out of one of the class representatives.”

“Me?!”

“Who else? Xingqiu?”

“What the hell?!” He almost threw his book at her. “What’s wrong with me talking to him?”

“You’ll probably scare him off. You’re not the nicest thing around.”

“You’re not a saint either!”

“I’m better than you.” She stuck her tongue out.

“I swear to everything holy — !”

While the two argued with Chongyun attempting to drag his boyfriend away, Xinyan gave Freminet a reassuring smile. He instantly felt better and gave a hasty smile back.

“Don’t worry,” she encouraged him, “all you need to do is get his name. Maybe you’ll make a cool new friend too that we all can know. Go on.”

He nodded and made his way over.

“You’re not missing a lot,” Mika was all cheery, noticeably brighter and not sticking to being a wallflower, “we’re planning one of our school dances for the year and you came just in time for it. Has anyone caught your eye? I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone to go with if you don’t already have a few friends.”

The boy nervously rubbed his neck. “Ah, I’m not sure, there’s way more kids here than I was expecting..”

“Really? Where did you used to go?”

“A private school. It was so boring. I begged my dad to let me transfer because I couldn’t do it anymore. I already like it here better.”

“That’s amazing!”

Freminet took a deep breath and exhaled. He regained his bearings. “Um..Mika? Hey.”

“Freminet!” Mika clapped his hands together. “I thought you had Biology this period?”

“It’s study hall for me right now. Biology’s next.”

“Is our project for it due soon?”

“Not until next week, no..”

The boy was looking at him. “Hey! You probably don’t know me, sorry if I was taking up all of your friend’s time. Did you say you took Biology? That’s the class on the second floor, right?”

“Yeah — yeah, I did.”

“Do..you mind showing me where that is when you go? I kind of..got lost trying to figure out where to go. That’s if you don’t mind though, I can totally find someone else to help me, but I just got here and I have no idea where anything is. I asked the office and they told me it was on the second floor, like they expected me to figure it out from that — ”

He..talked a lot.

Like a lot.

Freminet’s head spun with how many words were pouring out of his mouth. He could barely grasp what he was saying. It wasn’t a bad thing though, he found his voice to be nice to hear, bouncy and upbeat with no trace of malice. It put him as ease as much as it made his heart race. All he could do was nod away.

The bell rang again.

Mika adjusted his messenger bag that was slung around his body. “I’ll leave you two to it. I have to get to Geography. It was nice seeing you, Freminet!”

And like that, he skipped away.

Glancing around briefly, Freminet caught no sight of his friends. They must’ve made a run for it when they heard the bell ring and went to their next classes, leaving him with the new kid and his initial mission to get his name. A nervous chill went through him. Why him?

“We should probably get to class,” said the boy. “I’ll let you lead the way!”

He could do that. Lead the way.

“Right, right..follow me.”

The two headed into the building and up the stairs to the second floor. Students rushed past and switched from classroom to classroom. He focused his gaze straight ahead and tried his best not to recognize the stray pushes and shoves from the other kids as he walked. Finally, at long last, they arrived to Biology.

He breathed a deep sigh of relief.

The boy grinned. “Thank you, I think I confused it with Chemistry.”

“It’s fine. We all do that once we come here. I still mix up the classes.”

“Glad to know I’m not alone in that. Oh! Mika said your name was Freminet, right?”

“That’s me.”

“I’m Gaming!” He held out his hand. “Yip Gaming! I’m a junior.”

He blinked. His name? He got his name!

“It’s — it’s nice to meet you!” He shook his hand. “Welcome to the school. I’m also a junior.”

“Cool! This place is better than I could’ve imagined honestly.”

“Seriously?” He opened the door to the class and the two walked in. “Was..the last school you went to really bad?”

He noticed it then. The brief lack of spark in Gaming’s eyes at the mention of his former school. In a flash, it had reappeared, and he wondered if he was seeing things.

“You could say that. But that’s in the past! I’m here now and that’s what I should focus on, you know? It wasn’t anything too bad. It was..just about family.”

“Ah..”

He could understand complicated family matters. He had his own after all. He decided not to pry and only nodded sheepishly. 

The teacher noticed them come in and after a few minutes of discussion, she had Gaming seated next to him, and told him to help him get caught up on what they were learning.

So they had more time to talk together. Through talking about their current project and the lessons that led up to it, Freminet found himself getting sidetracked in his mind, as well as in real life, as Gaming had a tendency to jump into side stories whenever he was reminded of something in their conversations.

Not like he minded though. He didn’t know someone could ever have so much to say.

It was interesting.

Before he knew it, the bell had rung again, and it was time for their next class. The one before lunch.

“By any chance, do you know where the art room is?” Gaming asked as they exited.

“..I think I do?”

“Do you mind showing me? If you can!”

Freminet didn’t have art next, he had algebra. If he showed Gaming where the art room was, it was below this floor and far from where his class was, he would for sure be a few minutes late at most. He always tried to be a model student, it would be easier to get by that way, but he liked spending time with this new boy, so maybe breaking one rule wouldn’t be that big of an issue? His teachers had always been lenient with him..

He nodded. “You can follow me, it’s near the gym.”

“Oh! How big’s the gym? What do you guys do? Is it fun?”

They headed off to the next class.

Chapter Text

The bell rang for the final time and school was dismissed for the day. Freminet trekked out of his class and headed to the office and sat down at one of the chairs. None of the receptionists even bat an eye and instead dialed a number on the phone before resuming their work. This was daily practice considering his circumstances.

After a few minutes, one of the receptionists eyed him. “You can go in, Freminet.”

He grabbed his backpack and headed into the room in the back of the office.

In a plush, leather desk chair, was the high school counselor, Wriothesley. He was also his temporary guardian as Lyney and Lynette attended college and couldn’t watch over him every day anymore. After a long debate of what to do, they enlisted the aid of the counselor, and he stepped up to the plate, not minding hosting Freminet in his own home.

It really was like he had a stable, perfect family, if he shut his eyes and thought about it. However, he knew once his siblings and him graduated, they’d come back full time, and they’d leave the city. They were never going to return.

He didn’t want to think about that. He shook his head to clear the thought away.

Sigewinne was coloring in a coloring book, all the crayons in her hands mismatched. She sat near the desk in her own little chair, almost too small to reach the top without the chair being lifted up a couple inches. When she saw him, her eyes sparkled.

“Fremi! Look what I drew.” She held up the coloring book. It was a mess of colors, definitely not the ones she had to use on the page, but it was a good effort. He attempted to smile.

“It looks..really nice, Sigewinne.”

“Thanks!”

Wriothesley patted her head and smiled at Freminet. “How was school?”

“It was fine. I met someone.”

“That sounds like you went out on a date.”

His face flushed, “No, we’re friends. He’s the new student, Gaming?”

“I see. He’s a nice kid. Everyone’s talking about him today.”

“Is he that popular already..?”

“His dad’s well known in the area. His teachers also all already love him. I’m glad to see that he’s adjusting already after moving from Chenyu Vale Private,” he sipped his mug full of tea. “But I hope he doesn’t get suffocated by all the attention.”

“I don’t think he will, he seems really..”

He thought about it for a minute.

“..extroverted.”

Wriothesley let out one loud laugh. “Maybe it’s a good thing. People will see him for who he is out of the gate and have no need to talk bad about him.”

It was a good thing for sure. Freminet merely smiled.

After a few minutes of talking and waiting around, Wriosthesley grabbed his things, namely his car keys, and led him and Sigewinne out. They piled into the car as all the other kids began to leave school. Some were picked up by family or they began their long walk home with their friends. Freminet fidgeted with his phone.

It vibrated. He looked at it. Wriosthesley started the car and out of the lot they went.

⸻⸻

The Psych Ward

3:31 PM

⸻⸻

Hu Tao: okay chat how are we feeling about the Fresh Meat

Xingqiu: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STOP FUCKING CALLING HIM THAT.

Hu Tao: YOU LITERALLY CANNOT TELL ME WHAT TO DO

Xingqiu: FUCK YOU

Xingqiu: anyways. he’s genuinely kind of cute. he’s in my geography class and everyone was all over him, but he pushed everyone aside to sit next to me because i was the closest to the board AND he thought i looked smart and he didn’t want to be left behind

Xingqiu: may be a little in love ngl

Chongyun: xingqiu? :(((

Xingqiu: NO WAIT CHONGYUN I’M SORRY I LOVE YOU

Xiangling: I CANT BELIEVE YOURE CHEATING ON CHONGYUN???

Xingqiu: I’M NOT PLEASE

Hu Tao: its your cheater era!

Xingqiu: NO!!!!!

Chongyun: xingqiu..

Xingqiu: chongyun please im sorry i’d never cheat on you. I’D NEVER GO FOR SOME PRIVATE SCHOOL NOBODY OVER YOU

Hu Tao: werent you almost a private school nobody

Xingqiu: HU TAO YOU’RE NOT HELPING ME

Chongyun: i forgive you. but you’re going to come over today and bringing ice cream. aunt shenhe’s out of town.

Xingqiu: YES DEAL

Bennett: me and razor saw him a lot! gaming, right? he’s so cool! i kind of wish i was as popular as him already..

Hu Tao: okay pause NOBODY is beating us in the popularity contest

Hu Tao: i did NOT get xingqiu to dress up w me for the school fashion show just for us to NOT BE FAMOUS

Xingqiu: we served btw

Hu Tao: no actually we did

Bennett: those heels looked really good on you!

Xinyan: genuinely do not think anyone could’ve done it better

Chongyun: are we still doing that again for this year’s fashion show?

Xingqiu: i will need to call chioriya boutique but yes

Xinyan: anyways the new kid seems pretty alright by me?

Xinyan: i can rock w him being loud. we need some LOUD bitches up in here

Chongyun: ah. i think he’s in my elective class.

Hu Tao: history of international teas?

Bennett: why IS that a class?

Hu Tao: shit idk im literally in a class for future funeral directors im beginning to think people just LOVE dying

Xingqiu: don’t we all?

Xingqiu: also deadass that is where ALL the boring rich kids go. why are you in that class, chongyun??

Chongyun: i already have liyuean exorcism studies and i needed another class to graduate. i talked to him when i got there. turns out he was forced by his dad to attend one class about tea. he’s..loud like xinyan said, but he’s genuine. and he called me pretty, so i don’t see a problem with him.

Hu Tao: YOOO?????

Xinyan: WHY DIDNT YOU TELL US THIS SOONER????

Xiangling: guys im waiting for my dad rn and i just saw xingqiu throw open his limo door and throw his backpack at his chauffeur i think we are in the WRONG timeline

Xingqiu: NOBODY CAN FLIRT WITH MY BOYFRIEND EXCEPT FOR ME

Xingqiu: also i didn’t throw it at him hard. he’ll fucking live.

Hu Tao: BRO CHILL NO ONE IS GOING TO TAKE CHONGYUN FROM YOU

Xingqiu: have you SEEN gaming??? HE’S THE EMBODIMENT OF EVERY GOLDEN RETRIEVER BOYFRIEND IN EVERY FANFIC

Xinyan: you read fanfiction?

Hu Tao: DID YOU READ 50 SHADES OF

Xingqiu: YOU’RE MISSING MY POINT?

Chongyun: it’s alright. i’m not interested in gaming anyways, as attractive as he is.

Chongyun: considering i’m taken and very much in love with xingqiu since we were children. and also i’m not going to take freminet’s future boyfriend away from him.

Xingqiu: oh

Xingqiu: CHONGYUN I’M GOING TO CRY. I WILL CRY. DO YOU WANT TO SEE ME CRY.

Bennett: aww!

Hu Tao: wait wdym freminets future bf

Freminet: HFDDJSDFJDHSJSDJDSDJS 

Freminet: CHONGYUN!

Hu Tao: oh shit FREMINET YOURE ALIVE

Hu Tao: WHAT IS CHONGYUN ON ABOUT

Freminet: IDON’TKNOWPLEASELEAVEMEOUTOFIT

Hu Tao: SPILL THE BEANS WHAT DOES HE MEAN YOUR FUTURE BF

Xinyan: HU TAO I NEED YOU TO SIT DOWN OR YOURE GOING TO FALL OFF YOUR SEAT IF THIS BUS HITS A RED LIGHT

Hu Tao: FREMINET!!!!!

Freminet: I DON’T KNOW. PLEASE.

Xingqiu: yun, did you really say that to start a fight.

Chongyun: maybe.

Chongyun: but i saw freminet showing gaming around today. he even was late to a few of his classes because he was giving him a tour.

Xingqiu: our freminet MISSING CLASS???

Xingqiu: actually insanity. he’s growing up SO fast

Bennett: not to alarm everyone, but gaming is on this bus with me!

Bennett: he saw me texting and he apparently saw freminet’s name and wants to know if we’re all his friends.

Xingqiu: SAY YES

Bennett: i did!

Bennett: oh..

Xingqiu: what?

Bennett: he wants to join the chat..

Xingqiu: oh fuck

Chongyun: oh no.

Hu Tao: YES YES YES

Freminet: NO.

Xinyan: doesnt he need to pass The Test first??

Bennett: The Test?

Xingqiu: we didn't do it with you because you’re too good for this world and we couldn’t do that to you. but The Test is us basically grilling the FUCK out of people to see if anyone vibes with them and if we all agree then we let them in

Xingqiu: literally blame hu tao for it

Hu Tao: OKAY FUCK YOU TOO

Hu Tao: anyways fine. gc rules. he has to survive The Test first

Hu Tao: are we all in agreement

Xingqiu: yeah

Chongyun: i’d say so, yes!

Xinyan: YEAHHHH

Xiangling: I AGREE

Bennett: i agree too!

Freminet: oh my god. please no.

Hu Tao: MAJORITY RULES

Hu Tao: TOMORROW AT LUNCH WE GIVE THE TEST

Hu Tao: PREPARE YOURSELVES

⸻⸻

Private Messages: Freminet, Xinyan

4:05 PM

⸻⸻

Xinyan: okay spill

Xinyan: why are you against the new kid joining the gc??

Freminet: it’s not like i’m against it, i’m just..

Xinyan: do you actually think hes cute??

Freminet: i mean, yes, he’s..very handsome. very nice too. and he’s already known by half the student body. me being seen with him would put too much attention on me. and i only showed him around, he shouldn’t remember me so easily.

Freminet: i’m also worried that he might be turned away by hu tao and xingqiu. they’re..really intense.

Xinyan: fremi listen i LOVE you okay i ADORE you

Xinyan: i adore you like i adore my guitar

Xinyan: but you are SO stupid its unreal

Freminet: XINYAN!

Xinyan: listen if hes tough like teflon then he will survive hu tao and xingqiu

Xinyan: AND i think hes kinda interested in you too

Freminet: i don’t think so.

Xinyan: you need..so much more confidence in yourself its actually insane

Xinyan: WHY dont you think youre good enough

Freminet: you know why..

Freminet: compared to lynette or lyney, i’m not..i don’t deserve the spotlight. and having someone’s entire focus be on me..

Xinyan: so its like stage fright. okay i can work with that

Freminet: what?

Xinyan: after we do that test tomorrow. come to the music clubroom

Xinyan: ive got a few tricks up my sleeve on how to get rid of that stage fright shit

Freminet: xinyan..

Xinyan: AND THAAATS FINAL

Xinyan: SEE YOU TOMORROW FREMINET

[ Xinyan has gone offline. ]

Chapter Text

The Psych Ward

12:32 PM

⸻⸻

Xingqiu: @Hu Tao i brought the binder what do i do with it??

Hu Tao: IM HERE IM AT THE TABLE

Hu Tao: GIVE IT TO ME

Xingqiu: DAMN OKAY

Bennett: do you guys mind if fischl sits with us today? she was supposed to eat in the courtyard with the drama club, but their teacher isn’t here today, so she can’t.

Hu Tao: omg ofc

Xiangling: I MISS FISCHL I CANT BELIEVE WE ARENT IN THE SAME CLASSES LIKE LAST YEAR

Bennett: she said she misses you too, xiangling!

Xiangling: FISCHL I LOVE YOU

Chongyun: barbara also wants to sit with us today.

Xingqiu: YES LET HER I HAVE TO ASK HER SMTH

Xinyan: ask her about…?????

Xingqiu: about the college, obviously

Xingqiu: her sister goes to the college of tevyat like all the way up the street

Xingqiu: i heard they actually have people making DRUGS on CAMPUS

Hu Tao: omg SCANDALOUS

Xinyan: this is NOT the 1900s guys can we please eat our lunch

Hu Tao: we r currently waiting on freminet and our Special Guest to arrive

Hu Tao: we must give him The Test

Hu Tao: @Freminet WHERE ARE YOU

Freminet: give me a minute. we’re on our way.

Xinyan: oh boy

⸻⸻

Freminet wanted to die.

He covered his face in his hands as Gaming rambled on and on. He was asking so many questions about his friends, wondering what the mysterious test was, and if they would like him. He had been curious about his friends since he had seen them leave when the bell rang on his first day. It was absolutely humiliating.

He had never wanted this. His friends were..not the kind that people would easily get along with. He didn’t know how he got along with them or tolerated any of their hijinks. Most of all, he didn’t want them involved with Gaming. He definitely wouldn’t survive Hu Tao and Xingqiu using their combined efforts to interrogate him and drag him for all he had.

It wasn’t as if his friends were relatively unknown, obscure kids too.

Xingqiu was the second son of the way too wealthy family that sponsored the high school and the college the most. The only reason he didn’t go to Chenyu Vale Private was because he wanted to piss his brother off by going to a public school. 

Chongyun and Bennett had old family roots in the city, Hu Tao’s family ran the largest funeral parlor in the nation (almost contrary to her personality if she wasn’t..like that), Xiangling helped run one of the biggest restaurants in the city because her dad owned it, and Xinyan was an talented musician scouted before her sophomore year even ended.

All his friends had history. They were even childhood friends, with the exemption of Bennett. All of them had history, mostly familial, and it was something he almost envied, having nothing of his own to hold besides..

“Freminet?” Gaming nudged his side. He jolted. “Ah — sorry — what? I wasn’t paying attention..”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes! Yes, I’m okay.” He glanced away from his eyes, the slight worry in them already too much to behold. “We should probably get our lunch. I’ll show you where everyone is.”

Gaming, while still concerned, nodded his head and playfully saluted. “Lead the way, Captain Freminet!”

God, he was going to die. He was going to have a heart attack and die.

They grabbed their lunch (Freminet watched as Gaming piled a large amount of char siu onto his tray, but not before offering money to the lunch lady and taking a bottle of water: that was a lot of meat) and left the lunch line, heading towards the left end of the cafeteria, near the large windows and doors that led to the courtyard.

“Freminet!” Hu Tao jumped up from her seat. “You brought him! Nice.”

“Please go easy on him, Hu Tao,” he pleaded.

“Yeah, sure, whatever, hi Gaming!” She waved and smiled sweetly. Gaming was most definitely fooled by her sweet demeanor, but Freminet knew she meant trouble. Xingqiu was seeming distracted, having a big binder opened and flipping through its contents. Chongyun was next to him, gnawing on a pastel blue popsicle that he got from the vending machine.

Gaming waved back. “Hi. You’re..Hu Tao?”

“That’s me. Oh, here’s my business card,” she pulled out an actual business card, it sat between her ringed fingers, “you’re healthy now, but you could drop dead in a minute! So get yourself a coffin just in case, okay? I’ll even give you a discount! How does ten percent sound?”

No! What was she doing?!

He was absolutely mortified, but instead of looking confused or even offended, Gaming laughed and pocketed the card.

“I think I’ll need it if my dad continues to lecture me over schoolwork,” he said. “Thanks a ton!”

Oh. That was a first.

Most people would be unnerved by Hu Tao. If it wasn’t the fact her family ran a funeral parlor, it would be the fact she kept promoting it. Gaming wasn’t most people. For that, his heart skipped a beat, and he was relieved. Xinyan shot him a reassuring glance, fingers mindlessly tuning her guitar, and rolling her eyes at Hu Tao’s antics.

They sat down at the table. Xingqiu looked through the folders of the binder before pulling out a sheet of paper and pushing it forward with a pen.

“Sign here,” he pointed, “here, here, and here. Sign there too.”

“What is this for?” Gaming held the pen, reading over the paper.

“Liability forms. We’re not going to be responsible for anything that happens to you if you’re with us for the first few weeks.”

“Since when did we have liability forms?” Chongyun raised an eyebrow.

He looked at his nails and stated plainly, “ever since Bennett drowned and had to be revived by Barbara when we broke into the swim club’s pool last week.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Bennett was next to Fischl, sheepish.

“Never apologize, Benny, it was absolutely not your fault. Nothing’s ever your fault. You could kill someone and I’d help you hide the body.”

“Thank you?”

Gaming signed the paper and handed it back over alongside the pen. Xingqiu slid it back into its folder. After that, the interrogation truly started.

Hu Tao and Xingqiu were dangerous when on their own, but together, they made a good team. They made conversation with the rest of the table, made a few pointed questions, and brought up a few scenarios that were sure to come to fruition the minute school let out. Freminet stayed quiet. He didn’t want to interrupt them.

Effortlessly, Gaming answered their questions, joined in on the conversation. He had a way with words, talking excitedly about anything that remotely interested him, even it was the typically reckless kind of situation that they always found themselves in. His enthusiasm was bright. Vivid. Beautiful.

..what was he thinking?

He messed with the gear cog earring on his right ear. It clinked lightly.

Soon, their trays were empty, and kids were packing up and leaving the cafeteria before the bell rang to officially announce the next class. Hu Tao looked satisfied and she crossed one leg over the other, rapping her fingers against her also crossed arms. The picture perfect image of mischief.

“I like you. You’re formally invited to our sleepover tonight!”

“A sleepover?” He blinked, eager. “Where’s it at?”

“My house,” Xingqiu raised his hand. “My house is massive, so we always have sleepovers there. My brother’s the only one there usually, but you can ignore him. Please ignore him, in fact. I think he feeds off attention.”

“What time should I be there?”

“Around..five. Unless you’re Hu Tao and you get there late, in which case it’s seven-thirty.”

She glared at him. “Dick.”

He grinned. “You are what you eat.”

Chongyun choked on his water. “What?!”

“Oh, what the fuck.” Xinyan groaned. “That’s fucking gross, Xingqiu.”

“So when anyone else makes the joke, people laugh, but when I do it, everyone loses their damn mind?!” He threw his hands in the air. “This is fucking homophobia.”

“Says the homophobe,” said Hu Tao.

“Says the — what?!”

And the two started arguing again.

Gaming elbowed Freminet in the side again. He jolted before he met his warm gaze.

“Your friends are so cool,” he whispered.

Freminet couldn’t help but chuckle. “Really?”

“Totally. I mean, you’re cool, so I expected your friends to be cool too, but they’re a riot.”

Gaming thought he was cool? His mouth opened to form a response before he closed it, his face mildly flushed. He nervously tucked some of his hair behind his ear and fidgeted some more with his cardigan and his earring. What could he even say to such a simple, genuine compliment?

He couldn’t meet the other’s eyes. “They’re your friends now too. Please don’t be bothered by anything they do. I promise they’re good people.”

Gaming laughed. A clear, happy sound.

Freminet’s heart skipped a beat.

Maybe he should go to the nurse. He feared he was having too many heart palpitations lately.

⸻⸻

The Psych Ward

3:30 PM

⸻⸻

Hu Tao: alright guys how are we feelin abt mr yip gaming

Xingqiu: DID ANYBODY NOTICE HIS PIERCING OR AM I GOING INSANE

Hu Tao: youre going insane

Chongyun: well, the groupchat is called the psych ward..

Xingqiu: okay fuck you guys too

Xingqiu: anyways he was totally staring at freminet the entire time. like, okay, we know you’re gay. that piercing isn’t hiding shit

Hu Tao: OMG RIGHT

Hu Tao: idk what those two were giggling and whispering about but i know it was something GAY

Xingqiu: chongyun GET IN THE LIMO

Chongyun: i’m getting something from my locker, be patient.

Xinyan: youre already going to his house??

Xingqiu: bitch he LIVES here

Chongyun: i already have spare things at his house, such as clothes and popsicles, so i don’t have any need to go home if we already plan on going to his house later.

Hu Tao: gay

Chongyun: very.

Xiangling: xingqiu do you have any snacks in mind..

Xingqiu: no i still have leftovers from last week’s sleepover

Xingqiu: BUT i don’t know what gaming likes

Xingqiu: i don’t want to make him feel left out

Hu Tao: AWWW SO YOU DO HAVE A HEART

Xingqiu: ACTUALLY SHUT UP

Freminet: i’ll ask him if you want?

Xiangling: omg freminet you are a GODSEND PLEASE LMK WHAT HE LIKES ILL BRING IT W ME

Bennett: oh! did he give you his number?

Freminet: yes, he did, before he went home.

Xinyan: should we add him to the gc???

Hu Tao: no. AFTER the sleepover he can join

Hu Tao: for reasons

Xinyan: ykw i can work w that

⸻⸻

Private Messages: Freminet, Xinyan

3:56 PM

⸻⸻

Xinyan: im waiting in the music clubroom!!!!

Freminet: sorry, sorry, i’ll be there. i’m asking gaming what he likes for xiangling.

Xinyan: wait what DOES he like.

Freminet: char siu.

Xinyan: char siu kinda bangs so that is SO valid

Freminet: well, i don’t know if it’s his favorite thing or not, but he ate a lot of char siu at lunch. i’m assuming he really likes it then. for snacks, he said he didn’t mind as long as it had flavor to it. spicy things, i’m pretty sure. xiangling’s going to have a field day once she hears that..

Xinyan: poor gaming

Xinyan: dead from xiangling’s choice of ghost pepper candy

Freminet: also, i’m here at the clubroom now.

Xinyan: YEAHHHH ALRIGHT

Xinyan: LETS GET READY TO ROCK

[ Xinyan has gone offline. ]

[ Freminet has gone offline. ]

Chapter Text

Xingqiu’s house would always be an impressive work of art.

Huge and lofty, it sat the farthest from the main city’s residential area, in a much more secluded suburban neighborhood. It even was gated. There was a whole fountain in front of the house! Made with modern, minimalist architecture in mind to fit in with the trends that people with too much money and time on their hands followed, it stuck out amongst the more cozy homes.

After Stage Fright Boot Camp (as Xinyan called it), Wriosthesley took the two of them to Xingqiu’s house. He had stayed later doing some work and having a meeting with the principal, so Freminet had taken advantage of that for a quick getaway from school to the sleepover. The counselor, after being told where the two were going, ruffled his hair and said that he would gladly take them over there.

Freminet, for the first time in his life, was incredibly, absolutely, definitely confident.

He had the majority of things he needed already in his backpack alongside Xinyan, so there were no pit stops as they traveled across the city to Xingqiu’s neighborhood.

“Have fun, kid.” Wriothesley tilted the rearview mirror to look at Freminet. “I’ll see you tomorrow like usual. Call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks a lot for the ride, Mr. Wriothesley!” Xinyan exclaimed as she leapt out of the car, dragging along with her that precious guitar case she carried around. It had flame stickers put across its surface; definitely from Sigewinne from the numerous times Xinyan visited.

Freminet firmly nodded. “Thank you.”

Wriosthesley was one of the few adults, Freminet thought, that did not doubt him and his capabilities.

Rather, he was fully assured of his skills. He said nothing more than that mere reassurance that yes, he could call him for anything, and waved to Freminet as he exited the car and closed the door. He drove off soon enough.

“You think Hu Tao’s going to be late?” Xinyan asked as she pressed the buzzer on the gates to be let in. The steel gates swung open and they entered, climbing up the stairs to the gigantic porch of the mansion.

He shrugged. “She always is. I wonder why she’s always late though.”

She scoffed. “I think she’s late all the time because she knows it pisses Xingqiu off.”

After she pressed the doorbell and let it ring, the door opened. Xingqiu’s older brother stood there. He looked a lot like Xingqiu himself, but dressed more formally, never as lighthearted as his younger brother. He seemed to have a soft spot for him and his friends regardless, as a small smile made its way onto his face once he saw the two of them. He stepped aside to let them in.

“Welcome, welcome,” he said. “Father’s not home right now, it’s only me in the house. Xingqiu’s in the backyard with his boyfriend and a few others who came earlier than you.”

“Cool. Thanks!” Xinyan set her backpack and guitar case down as she ran towards the backyard. Freminet bid a nod of greeting to his brother and also set his backpack down before following Xinyan to the backyard where everyone else was waiting. By the look of the clock as he passed it by, they had gotten here earlier than the set time.

The two pushed open the sliding door and headed into the backyard.

Like the actual interior of the house, it was mind-blowing and had so much space. Neatly trimmed and maintained grass rose from the ground. There were planted trees everywhere, surrounding the perimeter of the yard. The patio was made from pure stone and marble, complete with a functioning grill and other kitchen necessities.

The main part was the pool.

Xingqiu had an indoor pool that was one of those cool ones built into the floor and could rise on command, but he loved the outdoor one. There were floating tubes and seats bobbing about in the clear blue water. Sitting on the rim of the pool was Chongyun, snapping his popsicle in two so he could share with Xiangling, who was sitting next to him.

Bennett was swimming around clearly having the time of his life. Xingqiu was noticeably missing, but not for long.

“Freminet! Xinyan!” He called out, appearing from the other side of the house. Definitely the kitchen, if that sweet smell was anything indication. “You’re here! And early! Hu Tao could fucking never. At this point, I’m sure Gaming’s going to be earlier than her.”

“Where’d you put our swimsuits?” Xinyan asked. They had been here enough times for Xingqiu to have ended up keeping swimsuits in everyone’s sizes.

“There.” He pointed towards the small building connected to the patio by the pool. “Hurry up. We need to talk.”

Talk? About what?

The phrase alone made his heart race and the adrenaline pump in his veins. After he changed, he let Xinyan change first, he joined everyone else at the pool. He sat at the rim next to Xiangling. Bennett swam up to them, arms resting on the stone platform. Xingqiu, who had been wearing sunglasses up until this point, dragged said sunglasses up onto his head, amber eyes filled with determination. And they were aimed at him. Freminet shivered, but not because he was cold.

“Freminet,” he started.

“Yes?”

“You are the most down bad guy I’ve ever met in my short seventeen years of living.”

Wh —

“What?!”

Xingqiu sharply whistled. A butler came and handed him a tall glass of lemonade. He took one loud sip, pausing the conversation. Freminet was still reeling from what he had even said when he continued with his sentence.

“Yip Gaming has only been here for a few days and you’re staring at him like he took the moon right out of the sky and gave it to you. You’re down bad. Horrifically so. Extremely so. You’re so down bad that the only time I’ve seen you get that red is when Xiangling puts hot sauce on her food and you, without knowing, eat it and nearly die. ”

He was completely startled, only able to say, “what?”

“It’s obvious,” Chongyun said, pointing his popsicle towards Freminet. “You can’t keep your eyes off of him.”

“He’s — what? — why are we talking about this?!”

“Because you deserve a boyfriend!” Xiangling exclaimed, hopping up onto her feet. “You really, really, really deserve one!”

“Why would — ?!”

“Look at you!” Xingqiu almost spilled lemonade on himself from how hard he threw his arms out to emphasize the point. “Everyone at school thinks you’re cute! People want you. I mean, who wouldn’t? I know your brother and sister are really popular at the college uptown, it’s only right that you’re like them too.”

“What are you even getting at?” Freminet ran his hands over his arms. Goosebumps rose on his skin. He was far from deserving that popularity. As much as he wanted to be able to do so, he could never live up to the expectations set by the people who adore Lyney and Lynette.

“What I’m getting at,” Xingqiu gently pushed Xiangling a little to the side so he could sit down next to Freminet, “is that Gaming has competition if he wants you too. He’s definitely going to fight for you. That’s good. We like a guy who actually fights for the person he wants. It’s clear that he wants you. He also can’t keep his eyes away from you.”

“He’s in love with you,” said Chongyun, “he looks at you like your existence gives him a purpose.”

Freminet needed something to work his hands on. His fingers itched with the need to pinch and pull and piece together.

“I think you’ve overwhelmed him.” Xinyan stood behind Freminet and bent down to squeeze his shoulder. “You alright?”

He rapidly shook his head. His stomach churned.

Seeing his face, Xingqiu called out to the butler nearby. “Can you bring some water please?”

“Of course, sir.”

The butler did as requested and Xingqiu snatched the cup from his hands to quickly pass it over to Freminet. “There you go, drink. What is bothering you so much about this, Freminet? Come on, talk to us. We want to help. Do you need your phone?”

His phone — it would be much easier to type things out, wouldn’t it? He nodded. His confidence from before was nothing short of a ruse.

Bennett climbed out of the water. “I’ll get it!”

He ran off. He tripped on the way inside, but got back up and went back into the house to get his phone. After a few minutes, he came back, almost tripped again except he caught himself this time, and passed the phone over. Freminet set the cup of water down to swipe through his phone and open up an app.

Lyney, always observant of the emotions of those around him, downloaded it for him when he had gotten his phone. He told him it would speak for him when his body refused to cooperate, when he had the words but not the ability to speak them. He thought at first it would separate him from others further.

After all, who would want to talk to someone who barely could?

But Bennett had seen it on his phone and asked him about it. It turned out that it would be a good aid for Razor as well. It put him at ease and..it even made him happy. He unintentionally helped someone with something. Razor talked more as a result of having something to finally also communicate his complicated thoughts. It was a sweet memory, potent against the bitterness of the rest of his mind.

He typed his thoughts in. A messy declaration of everything he felt. And his friends, his friends, they listened.

Freminet looked at Gaming the same way, as if his existence gave him a purpose, a reason to continue forward. But he looked at him like how the moon looked at the sun, secondary to its position as the center of the sky, and always clinging to its warmth. Gaming had proved that he could fit in with the turbulent social climate of the school near instantly.

However, he lacked in that department. He couldn’t participate. All he could do was watch. If he wanted Gaming, he would have to step out of the bubble he had put around himself to actively pursue him, for he deserved nothing less than someone who showed that he could pursue him.

It was love at first sight.

A classic show of it, but something he wouldn’t humor.

He couldn’t do it.

There was silence after his phone rattled off the last of his thoughts. A deep sigh left Xingqiu. He took off his sunglasses.

“Freminet,” he started.

His voice was shaky. “Yes?”

“You are so stupid. Foolish, even! Why do you think you’re not worth it? Don’t answer that. I already know. You just told us. I’m sure Gaming would love you as you are. I think he already does. Who wouldn’t? You’re loyal, smart, a little socially awkward, but you’re genuine. Who wouldn’t want that in someone?”

Xinyan nodded. “What he said! You’re one of us, of course you’re worth everything. Gaming should know damn well that you’re a cut above the rest. I think that fucker should come and get you himself and not make you do all the work.”

“Do you think it was easy for Xingqiu and I to imagine ourselves as worthy of each other?” Chongyun leaned forward, smiling towards Xingqiu before directing it to Freminet. “It wasn’t until sophomore year that we managed to even work things out.”

“Yeah, after we played Spin the Bottle at Mika’s house and Xingqiu landed on you.” Xiangling mumbled. “We had to tell you guys that you were basically making out in front of a ton of people..”

Xingqiu’s cheeks went red. “You promised you wouldn’t bring that last part up! We just kissed, we weren’t making out!”

“I remember that differently,” mused Chongyun, causing Xingqiu to cover his face.

“The point is!” Xinyan rolled her eyes in amusement. “You deserve Gaming as much as he deserves you, Freminet. We all think that. You need to think the same. You need so much more confidence in yourself, it’s literally unreal.”

“Do you guys really think that Gaming and I..?” Freminet looked hard into the pool.

Everyone exclaimed, exasperated, but encouragingly, “yes!”

Xingqiu plopped his sunglasses onto Freminet’s head. “If I could get with Chongyun, then you can get with Gaming.”

Chongyun snorted. “You make it sound as if getting with me was an achievement.”

“You were voted as the prettiest boy in freshman and sophomore year.” Xingqiu huffed. “Do you know how many people I had to get through to even get to kiss you at Mika’s house!? I almost got jumped by some girls because they got jealous that we started going out! So, yes, it was an achievement!”

The patio door slid open. “Xingqiu, Hu Tao and your new friend are here.”

“Thank God. Tell them to come here.”

Hu Tao and Gaming came into the backyard. When Gaming saw Freminet, his smile widened.

“Freminet! Hey! This house is huge!” He greeted him first.

Freminet couldn’t help but smile too. Something about Gaming made him feel weightless. Weightless like how he was in the water. “Hi. The pool’s even bigger.”

He had this one in the bag.

He deserved love as much as anyone else did.

He deserved Gaming and all he could offer. Freminet would make sure he would not regret it.

⸻⸻

The Psych Ward

1:34 AM

⸻⸻

Freminet: thank you guys for everything you said to me today.

Xiangling: AWWW FREMINET OFC

Xinyan: YEAH DUDE WE GOT YOU

Chongyun: you’re welcome. you needed to hear it, i think.

Bennett: i’m glad you’re feeling better, freminet!!

Xingqiu: PLEASE don’t give me a scare like that next time, i genuinely thought you were going to throw up and i was so worried

Hu Tao: wh

Hu Tao: DID YOU GUYS HAVE AN EMOTIONAL BONDING MOMENT WHILE I WASNT FUCKING THERE??????

Xingqiu: MAYBE YOU SHOULD’VE GOTTEN HERE EARLY

Hu Tao: WHAT THE FUCK

Hu Tao: THATS SO NOT FAIR?

Hu Tao: I WANTED TO HAVE A BONDING MOMENT?

Xingqiu: SUCKS TO ALWAYS BE FUCKING LATE HUH???

Hu Tao: you BITCHVHFVDDHJJS

[ Hu Tao has gone offline. ]

[ Xingqiu has gone offline. ]

Bennett: should we stop them?

Xinyan: nah let them fight

Xinyan: quick xiangling sneak gaming your ghost pepper candy i want to see how he reacts to it

Xiangling: OMG YES

Xiangling: CMON ITS IN THE KITCHEN LETS GO WHILE XINGQIU AND HU TAO ARE DISTRACTED

[ Everyone has gone offline. ]

Chapter Text

Ever since he was young, Freminet had always been an early riser. It had started out as a habit brought on by his mother, who tinkered day and night with machines. Whenever she saw him awake and staring at what she was doing, she’d laugh, pick him up, and go make him some breakfast.

Then she’d bring him back to her studio and showed him what she was working on. From building and rebuilding alarm clocks to see how they would work from the inside and out to making a new fridge out of nuts and bolts and a ton of oil, she had always been creative with her mechanical pursuits. When he was older, she taught him how to make these things too, and even taught him how to repair a car.

Whenever he successfully completed whatever project she assigned him, she’d wipe the oil off his cheeks, and kiss his forehead, telling him that he was sure to be the world’s next best mechanic.

“Or engineer,” she’d say with her chin slotted between her fingers in thought, “you’re smart enough to be an engineer!”

It had always been the two of them alone in a small apartment in the worst parts of the city. With those memories came feelings that dared to drown him, but he refused to give in. He held on tightly to them. To the last remaining feelings parted to him from his mother. Even with no machines to wake up to, he still woke up early, just as when the sun began to rise.

He climbed out of the pillow fort he had been basically trapped in. After they had all run themselves ragged by playing in the pool, gossiping about who did what, and going inside to play some more and accidentally prank Xingqiu’s brother, they settled onto Xingqiu’s gigantic couch in his equally gigantic living room with the biggest TV he had ever seen.

In a few minutes, things had gone downhill and a pillow fight had started. Xingqiu had smacked Hu Tao over the head with a pillow and she hit him with one back so hard that he almost did a backbend over the couch, yelling at her the entire time while he did so.

To calm everyone after the pillow fight, Bennett grabbed the TV remote, turned on a movie, and made everyone put together a pillow fort. Xiangling ran to the kitchen to bring all the snacks she had brought (new ones for Gaming and everyone else to try) and they spent the late night watching really bad movies the entire way.

He looked back at the pillow fort.

Chongyun and Xingqiu were basically sleeping on each other, blankets wrapped around their bodies. Bennett and Xiangling were seated at the far end of the fort, surrounded by a few packets of snacks and some leftover popcorn. Hu Tao was by herself in the center, almost definitely suffocating in pillows.

Gaming was..not here. He thought he saw Gaming in the fort too, but maybe..?

He shook off the thought and went to his backpack. Unzipping it, he pulled out something.

A little clockwork penguin, constantly being reworked through the years. The last project he had ever completed with his mother. Freminet called him Pers, like the penguin in the fairytale books he always had his mother read to him before bed. He held Pers close as he made his way into the kitchen. He expected to be alone, but of course, that wasn’t the case.

Gaming was staring at some kind of large..machine. It had multiple faucets and too many buttons to count. When he heard footsteps, he turned around and saw Freminet standing in the entryway, Pers cradled in his arms. He smiled.

“Good morning!” He said. “My alarm went off. I don’t have work, but I decided to get up anyways and figure out how to work this beast of..whatever it is.”

“It’s a coffee machine,” he explained as he walked over and stood next to him. “Xingqiu said his brother consumes more coffee than anyone he knows.”

“How do..I turn it on?”

It looked complicated, but Freminet loved to decipher complicated things. He held Pers in one arm as he stretched upwards on the front of his feet to press the top button of the machine. The machine hummed to life. Gaming’s eyes brightened with the same spark and Freminet found it hard to look away.

“That’s so cool!” He exclaimed. “Okay, now how do I use it?”

“You get your cup,” he explained further, “and you put it under whatever faucet you want. Each faucet correlates with a specific type of coffee. I think Xingqiu puts the sugar, coffee creamer, and..whatever else in the cabinet above you.”

“Nice, okay, I think I got it. Do you want some?”

He shook his head. “I don’t like coffee. It..makes my heart hurt.”

“‘Cause of the caffeine, right?” Gaming talked on endlessly, continuing the conversation as if it was second nature. He made himself some coffee. “My dad’s totally the same way. He drinks tea all the time instead. I don’t mind the caffeine, I need it if I have to work late nights, and those happen a lot more than people think.”

Freminet slowly blinked. “You..have a job?”

“Oh! Yeah! Part-time delivery guy, that’s me!” He dramatically gestured to himself. “My dad hates it. He thinks I’m wasting my life doing nothing but delivering things to people, but I get to travel, so that’s his loss.”

“If your dad doesn’t like it, what about your mom?”

Gaming fell silent at that question. The machine hummed as it poured rich coffee into his cup. It was a bright red mug, definitely bought from some luxury kitchenware store. Freminet knew when he overstepped. His fingers pressed against Pers in an anxious rhythm.

He hurriedly tried to repair the situation. “I’m so sorry — ”

Gaming waved it away. “It’s fine, you didn’t know! She’s..been gone for awhile. It’s just been my dad and I for a few years now.”

This smile, Freminet noticed, didn’t reach his golden, lantern-like eyes.

His stomach churned as he continued to poke and prod at Pers. The penguin was cold to the touch, enough to shock him back into reality.

It had gone quiet between the two of them. He wouldn’t stand for that.

“My mom’s..also been gone for a long time.” He started, earning Gaming’s curiosity. “We used to live in a really bad part of town. It was just us. We didn’t have any money either. She worked everyday, trying to help the both of us, but she couldn’t make ends meet.”

He winded the small knob on Pers’s back. The penguin buzzed with energy.

“And what about your dad?” Gaming asked, strangely cautious.

“I don’t know where he is,” he replied. “I don’t remember him. It was always my mom and I, until she..”

Even if he tried, he would never be able to really remember what happened to her. Was it an accident? Was it on purpose? Whatever it was, it still ended with him standing in front of the doors of the city’s worn down orphanage, Pers in his torn backpack, and starving. A woman opened the door and let him in after he knocked.

That’s where he met Lyney and Lynette. When the two had outgrown the foster system, they took him with them, and he had received a second chance at life.

He felt pressure at his side. Gaming was leaning on him, steaming hot mug in hand, the smell of coffee lingering in the air. The sun had just begun to reach past houses outside the window and the kitchen bloomed with morning light.

“My mom got sick one day.” He picked up where Freminet left off. “Really sick. I used to live in the hospital because I didn’t want to leave her.”

“And you didn’t?”

“Even when she died, I was still in the room. I think I was crying, I can’t remember,” he sounded nostalgic of the entire thing, as if it was such a buried memory that even he couldn’t dig it out, “but the last thing she said was how much she loved me. When she got mad at me, she would always say that she wished she would’ve given birth to a chunk of char siu instead of me.”

That unexpectedly made Freminet giggle at the absurdity of it. Gaming smiled at that.

“She said that?”

“I know! I always told her whenever she said that, ‘it’s meat! Why would you want char siu instead of me?!’ and she’d roll her eyes and tell me to go clean my room or something. But when she died, she told me she would never want some char siu over me, and that she loved me more than anything in the world.”

“She must’ve been a good mom then.”

“The best mom.” He sounded so proud. “She even let me learn Wushou Dancing and made me a beast head for my performances.”

He tilted his head. “Wushou Dancing?”

“Yeah! Have you never seen it? I’ll give you an amazing show sooner or later. I love it. The beast head was..the last thing my mom gave me before she died. I always take it with me and use it for all of my shows. I can’t use anything else.”

The last thing..

Freminet looked down at Pers. He held it up towards Gaming.

“My mom helped me make him.” He explained. “His name’s Pers. My first friend.”

“I was wondering who this little guy was!” Gaming gently clasped Pers’s tiny flipper and shook it. “Nice to meet you, Pers! How’d you make him? He looks really complex..”

It wasn’t too difficult, Freminet knew Pers’s entire system like the back of his hand, but he saw the total admiration on Gaming’s face whenever he looked at him, and he preened at the attention. Words came easy to him when he was with Gaming. He found his explanations slipping out of him with no difficulty. Gaming was enraptured, hanging off of his every word.

Freminet was absorbed into the conversation with no need to even think about his next sentence. It was as if he was free of any previous issue he had with speaking to people.

Or, well, it was almost as if he had found his person. Someone who made all the bad things good and gave every problem a solution.

His heart soared at the thought. Someone to call his own, wouldn’t that be an amazing thing? He didn’t let go of that feeling as the two of them talked, with Gaming still leaning on him, applying a sense of safety that he thought he never could find.

⸻⸻

The Psych Ward but Someone Got Out

12:02 PM

⸻⸻

Xingqiu: okay so did we all just stand there and watch freminet and gaming talk that entire time before we just went back to the living room and waited for them to come back out

Hu Tao: I HATE GAY PEOPLE

Xingqiu: THAT’S LITERALLY HOMOPHOBIA

Hu Tao: see im not as homophobic as you tho

Xingqiu: WHAT THE FUCK

Bennett: they look really happy together! freminet’s been smiling a lot more often ever since he met gaming.

Xiangling: RIGHT LIKE FREMINET LOOKS SO HAPPY

Hu Tao: okay no but like slash srs

Hu Tao: ive literally never seen freminet that happy

Hu Tao: like full on he’s smiling all the time, he’s making more jokes, and he doesnt look like a kicked puppy. WHAT has gaming done to him. its fucking witchcraft

Chongyun: what can we do to speed up the progress though?

Hu Tao: okay what

Xinyan: chongyun PLEASE tell me youre not saying you want to actually matchmake these two

Xingqiu: LET MY BOYFRIEND SPEAK???? HELLO????

Chongyun: they’re clearly attracted to each other and even compatible. gaming is loud, passionate, and generous with his affection for people. freminet is quiet, intelligent, and extremely loyal to people he lets in. they could bring out the best in each other.

Chongyun: besides, we’ve been trying to keep it under wraps about how many people have crushes on freminet. people will stop talking to us about him if we find him someone to be with.

Hu Tao: okay but that still has to be a secret btw but its also NOT anyones fault that hes popular as shit in school and his siblings are fucking iconic

Hu Tao: like i GET it i get it actually. lyney and lynette are gorgeous

Xingqiu: arent they literally bsfs with that one supermodel from the college

Hu Tao: SHIT SEE FREMINET HAS CONNECTIONS THATS WHY PEOPLE WANT HIM

Xinyan: wait cuz...chongyun youre kind of cooking here

Chongyun: thank you!

Bennett: so what should we do?

Xingqiu: guys. guys i just had an idea

Hu Tao: whatever it is, INSTANT no

Xingqiu: FUCK YOU TOO THEN

Xinyan: NO NO. LET XINGQIU COOK.

Xingqiu: THANK YOU

Xingqiu: yk what high schoolers love more than anything

Chongyun: ..no school?

Bennett: no homework?

Xiangling: free food?

Hu Tao: YOURE ALL WRONG

Hu Tao: its dying, obviously

Xinyan: ngl i was gonna say drugs

Xingqiu: IT’S A PARTY YOU IDIOTS

Xingqiu: PARTIES! LIKE IN MOVIES!!!! WE LOVE TO PARTY AND HAVE DRAMA HAPPEN AT PARTIES

Xingqiu: how about i hold a party at my billionaire house and we set it up so freminet and gaming finally have the chance to talk about their feelings and get together. and ykw for good measure lets invite the entire junior AND senior grade

Hu Tao: nah nah nah youre thinking too small of a guest list

Hu Tao: i got some friends at palais mermonia AND the qixing trade school

Hu Tao: those bitches know how to PARTY

Xinyan: palais mermonia? the school thats literally gated?

Hu Tao: yeah i was hanging around there once becuz at the time i was taking the bus and the bus accidentally dropped me off and so i was just there. and i started talking to some of the kids and they thought i was cool so they snuck me in

Xingqiu: HOLY SHIT

Xingqiu: WE NEED TO INVITE THEM TO THE PARTY

Chongyun: honestly, just invite kids from all the schools we know.

Chongyun: so the tri-commission, favonius military, chenyu vale private, sumeru academia..

Xinyan: okay but CAN the house literally hold everyone

Xingqiu: i live in a billionaire’s wet dream of a mansion, xinyan

Xingqiu: of COURSE we can fit a fuckton of people in here

Bennett: and all of this will somehow get gaming and freminet together?

Xingqiu: i mean DUH

Xingqiu: what else happens at parties???

Xingqiu: this is going to be the HIGHLIGHT OF OUR JUNIOR YEAR!!!

[ Everyone has gone offline. ]

Chapter Text

The Psych Ward

5:03 PM

⸻⸻

[ Gaming has joined the groupchat. ]

Hu Tao: and here is our WONDERFUL AMAZING ONE OF A KIND GC

Gaming: THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME JOIN!!!

Xingqiu: yeah you deserve it. you’re actually like pretty cool

Xingqiu: anyways

Xingqiu: @everyone GET ONLINE WE HAVE A PARTY TO PLAN. SAY HERE IF YOU’RE HERE

Xiangling: here!!!

Gaming: HERE!!!

Freminet: here!

Chongyun: here.

Bennett: i’m here!

Hu Tao: obvi im here

Xinyan: HEREEE

Xingqiu: okay good

Xingqiu: HU TAO TAKE IT AWAY

Hu Tao: ALRIGHT FOLKS. FOR OUR JUNIOR YEAR ACHIEVEMENT. BEFORE WE BECOME SENIORS. WE ARE GONNA HAVE ONE OF THE BIGGEST, BESTEST PARTIES THAT OUR LITTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EVER SEEN

Hu Tao: we gotta show these people who the fuck runs this town

Hu Tao: AND WHO IS IT THAT RUNS THIS TOWN?

Xingqiu: IT’S US

Hu Tao: EXACTLY

Hu Tao: we already have our place. xingqius big ass mansion

Hu Tao: he already has his celebrity kitchen but we dont need that luxury shit we want the GOOD STUFF. xiangling can we count on you for that.

Xiangling: YES MAAM

Hu Tao: GOOD

Hu Tao: BENNETT AND CHONGYUN CAN WE COUNT ON YOU TO TALK TO ALL THE KIDS AT ALL THE OTHER SCHOOLS TO GET THEM TO COME TO THE PARTY

Chongyun: you got it. i’ll talk to mika and noelle. they’re on the student council, i’m sure they’ll be able to pull a few strings with palais mermonia, qixing trade school, and the sumeru academia.

Bennett: fischl, razor, and i can totally go downtown to the tri-commission school, favonius military, and chenyu vale private!

Hu Tao: PERFECT

Hu Tao: XINYAN. MUSIC?

Xinyan: i already got the BEST playlist. i even got barbara to review it for me. we are ready to ROCK

Hu Tao: thank fucking god i do not want any shitty song on that playlist

Hu Tao: FREMINET AND GAMING ILL ENTRUST YOU TO REVIEW THE GUESTLIST FOR OUR SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY

Gaming: wait do we have to keep some people out???

Hu Tao: yes.

Hu Tao: case in point do NOT let alberts gross ass ANYWHERE NEAR THE PARTY

Gaming: albert???

Xinyan: hes some perv super senior thats totally obsessed with barbara

Xinyan: razor bit him in the arm once when he tried to get a pic of her and now he has like this really fucked up scar

Gaming: OH MY GOD OKAY WE NEED TO KEEP HIM AWAY AT ALL COSTS

Freminet: we’ll do our best to make sure nobody uninvited tries to get into the party.

Hu Tao: ALRIGHT IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. XINGQIU AND I WILL ANSWER THEM

Xingqiu: the party is next weekend so you better be there

Gaming: can i ask for the time???

Xingqiu: idk get there at 8 maybe

Xingqiu: unless you’re hu tao, in which get there by 9

Hu Tao: IM NOT GOING TO BE LATE TO OUR CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT AS HIGH SCHOOLERS????

Xingqiu: YOU’RE LATE TO LITERALLY EVERYTHING. SHUT UP.

Gaming: i see..

Chongyun: what’s wrong?

Gaming: ive..never been to a party before, honestly!!

Hu Tao: OH SHIT REALLY???

Gaming: my dads SUPER strict and i dont know if im going to be able to go. it took me forever to convince him to even go to the sleepover, i dont know what he might think if i tried to ask abt going to a whole Party!!!

Xingqiu: oh that’s not good.

Hu Tao: YOURE TELLING ME

Chongyun: is there any way you can sneak out?

Gaming: i dont know..I REALLY WANT TO GO THOUGH

Freminet: …

Freminet: i’ll help you sneak out.

Xinyan: PAUSE

Chongyun: what?

Xiangling: WHAT???

Bennett: really?

Xingqiu: FREMINET????

Hu Tao: YOU. YOURE GONNA HELP HIM SNEAK OUT? SHIT I WAS GONNA DO IT BUT YOUUUU????

Gaming: YOULL REALLY DO THAT FOR ME???

Freminet: i will.

Freminet: i’m sure we can think of a plan to help you sneak out.

Xingqiu: shit freminet we can’t let you do all the work

Xingqiu: ALRIGHT PEOPLE ALL HANDS ON DECK. HOW DO WE GET GAMING OUT FOR THE PARTY???

Gaming: i know i can easily get out through my room’s window, but its on the second floor. my dad also has like..a lot of cameras

Hu Tao: okay WHERE are the cameras??

Gaming: on the front of the house, on our garage, and theres one like REALLYYYY close to my window

Freminet: if we get rid of that camera, would it be easier for you to sneak out?

Gaming: DEFINITELY

Freminet: do you know the model?

Gaming: uhhh

Gaming: no idea..here hold on let me get a pic

[ Gaming has sent an image. ]

Freminet: that’s a new model from the most recent fontainian collection of security cameras..

Freminet: expensive, but easy to dismantle. i’ll only need a screwdriver and scissors to cut the wires. i’ll be able to piece the camera back together so nothing looks suspicious, but it won’t be able to capture any footage. your dad won’t even look twice.

Xingqiu: dm me your address gaming i’ll make sure i can get someone to pick you AND freminet up once the camera’s out and you can sneak out

Chongyun: no, you won’t have to do that. i have an idea.

Xingqiu: OH SHIT WAIT YOU’RE RIGHT. YUN YOU JUST GOT YOUR LICENSE RIGHT???

Chongyun: aunt shenhe won’t mind if i take her car as long as she knows where i’m going. i’ll take freminet to gaming’s house and we’ll be at the party in no time.

Xingqiu: guys i love my boyfriend

Chongyun: pfft.

Chongyun: i love you too, xingqiu!

Hu Tao: GAYS

Hu Tao: GAYS!!!!

Xingqiu: THIS IS HOMOPHOBIA

Hu Tao: and yet im not as big as a homophobe as you

Gaming: THANKS A TON GUYS I CANT WAIT FOR THE PARTY

Gaming: ILL DM YOU MY ADDRESS CHONGYUN

Chongyun: alright. we should definitely get to work and prepare for the party.

⸻⸻

What was Freminet getting into?

Helping someone sneak out? Ever since Gaming had stepped into his life, he found himself doing anything for his happiness. His friends had always been reckless and chaotic, but he always found himself to be the sane man between them, not the one enabling their risky plans and indulging in some of them himself! What was going on with him?

He couldn’t stop himself though. He wanted to see him at the party. He had never been one for parties either, but he had to go, especially if Gaming was. Speaking of the party, he probably had to ask Wriothesley if he could go. He knew he would say yes, but he wasn’t used to being allowed to go anywhere.

His eyes drifted from his phone to the room around him. His bedroom, in fact. Colored in multiple shades of dull blue and gray, he had quickly gotten comfortable, transforming it into his safe space. Sigewinne even made a sign for him to hang from his doorknob in case he wanted to be alone. He used it a few times and each time, Sigewinne and Wriothesley respected it.

It was filled with numerous knick-knacks and other things, like shelves filled with books and his large closet, gilded, and complete with painted gear cogs. They were also designed by Sigewinne. She had a little talent for art.

On his bed was a mountain of cushions and pillows. Pers was nested between a few of them. He had a weighted blanket that covered the majority of the bed. Beside it was the bedside drawer, with tiny pieces of machinery he tinkered with before bed. His carpet was fuzzy under his feet as he got up from his wooden desk.

He exited his room. Sigewinne’s was across from his.

In the living room, Wriothesley was looking over some papers, hot tea sitting on the glass coffee table. Sigewinne was by his feet, messing with a puzzle, and the TV blaring some show in the background. It created a homey atmosphere, enough for Freminet to lower his guard.

“Mr. Wriothesley?” He stepped further into the room from the entryway.

He looked up. “What’s up?”

“Xingqiu’s having a party at his house this weekend,” he couldn’t help but mess with his fingers, “and I wanted to go.”

“Do you need me to drive you there?”

“No, Chongyun’s taking me.”

“Kid finally got his license?” Wriothesley sipped some of his tea. “Good for him. Who else is going to be there?”

“Hu Tao, Xiangling, Bennett, Xinyan, Gaming, all of my friends. We’re also inviting..the entire junior and senior grade. And maybe some people from the other schools in the city.”

“Full house.” He laughed. “Well, sure. I trust you. But what made you want to go out to a party?”

He fidgeted with his fingers more. “My friends are going, so I want to go too.”

Sigewinne looked up from what she was doing to stare at him. He felt a chill go down his spine.

“You like someone!” She exclaimed. “That’s why you’re going!”

“Wh — I don’t!” His face burned. “No!”

“Oh?” Wriothesley raised an eyebrow. “Freminet, are you going to a party because you have a crush on someone who’s going?”

He covered his face. “No!”

That wasn’t the reason! He swayed on his feet, already feeling faint by the fact that he was so easily seen through. He couldn’t even deny it anymore. He wanted to go for his friends first and foremost, but because Gaming was going to be there. He was going to sneak him out to be there. They were going to a party together. That meant he had to find the perfect clothes, steel his nerves, and step out of his comfort zone.

Wriothesley eyed him. He set his cup down. “Come here, Freminet.”

He scurried over and sat next to him on the couch.

“Are they a good kid?”

He nodded. “They are.”

“I know your friends are rowdy, but they’re not pressuring you to go because of this person, right?”

He shook his head. “I..really like them. And I want to be there for my friends too.”

A hum left him. “I understand then. As long as you’re not being forced to go, you can. However, if people try to offer you anything..”

Freminet’s eyes widened. “I’m — I’m not going to drink! Or smoke!”

A beat of silence.

“I know kids your age like to try and be adults, you know.” Wriothesley chuckled. “So I can’t tell you to do or not do anything. However, if anything happens, you can call me and I’ll pick you up. You can even call your siblings. What matters is that you’re safe. Got it?”

Freminet met his eyes. He nodded. “Mhm.”

Wriothesley ruffled his hair before he got up. “Good. Anyways, it’s time for dinner, don’t you think?”

Sigewinne jumped up. “Can I help?”

“Sure thing, ‘Winne.”

“Can..I help too?” Freminet asked.

Wriothesley smiled. “Of course you can.”

The three of them headed into the kitchen to start dinner.

Sigewinne declared it spaghetti night, so they made spaghetti. Freminet and Sigewinne set the table and Wriothesley poured more tea for himself before getting them their drinks. At some point, the door to the house opened, and in came Wriothesley’s husband, Neuvillette.

He was a busy man, Freminet found out. A retired judge for the nation’s most important court and now law professor, he often traveled in and out of the city for his job. He was the second person Freminet met when Wriothesley accepted Lyney and Lynette’s plea to care for him as they went to college.

Despite his aloof exterior, he was kind. He was there for Freminet’s first week in the house, an emotional pillar for that rough transition.

“I came just in time for dinner, it seems.” Neuvillette set his luggage down. Sigewinne gleefully went to hug him, but she only reached his thigh, and so she hugged his leg instead. He bent down to hug her in return. She let go first and skipped back to help with the cooking.

“It’s spaghetti night.” Wriothesley held up the fork from the pot with pasta twisted around it. “You almost missed it.”

“Fortunately, I didn’t.” He smiled.

The two attempted to sneak a kiss in, but it wasn’t enough to evade Sigewinne’s keen eyesight, and she gasped and pointed at them. Freminet couldn’t contain himself and he laughed.

Once they sat at the table together, they all had their plates filled with as much spaghetti as they could handle. Tea for Wriothesley, juice for Sigewinne, and water for both Neuvillette and Freminet. It wasn’t a silent dinner, but instead one full of chatter and catching up. It was lively, it felt like home.

All he would do to add to it was having Lyney and Lynette be with him at the table too. They deserved the same kind of happiness. They deserved to feel the way he felt whenever he was here: at peace. He knew, however, they wouldn’t allow themselves to feel that way.

He supposed that was why they gave him that chance instead.

Freminet didn’t want to spoil it. So, he enjoyed dinner in their stead. He hoped he could share a dinner like this with Gaming too.

Chapter Text

Xingqiu brandished a black card that had Feiyun across its surface. He held it between his pointer and middle finger, holding it up like it was a trophy.

“Is that..one of the black cards? Like the ones in movies?” Gaming marveled. “How rich are you, Xingqiu?”

“Enough to buy the entire mall ten times over and still have money left over.” He held out the card for Gaming to take and examine. “It’s the company card, but my brother gave it to me after I said I’d bring him home some food from the food court. It’s fine, they’ll write off anything we buy as a business expense anyway.”

“He’s literally the son of a billionaire.” Hu Tao crossed her arms. “He rides a limo to get to school.”

“Second son,” he corrected. “My brother does all the work and I get to have fun. Work smarter, not harder.”

“Do we really have to buy new clothes?” Freminet asked.

“If we’re going by the movies, absolutely.” Xingqiu took the card back from Gaming. “That includes a shopping trip where we get the weirdest stuff that money can buy. Besides, you need new clothes, don’t you? Let me spoil my dearest friends and buy you anything you want with company money.”

He did not like how mischievous that sounded.

After school let out, Xingqiu decided to drag them all into his limo and take them to the mall, citing that they had to dress properly if they wanted to even be seen at the party. Freminet tried to back out of it at first, he already had plenty of good clothes at home, but it was too late, and he texted Wriothesley a quick message as to where he went. At least he would be able to find more things to wear.

The group rode on the escalator to the second floor of the mall, walking through the crowds to get into the other side, where all the designer stores were. Freminet passed by a display of sunglasses that he recognized was the same brand that Xingqiu wore during their sleepover when they were around his pool.

“I love the people who make these,” said Xingqiu when he noticed him looking at the display case. Everyone else had scattered into the store itself. “They even make ones if you have a prescription. I have a prescribed pair.”

“Really?”

Xingqiu pointed to his eyes. “Why do you think I ride in a limo all the time? Because it’s cool and I like flaunting how much money I have?”

“..yes?”

“Okay, you’re not wrong, but it’s because light bothers the hell out of me. That’s what I get for reading books in the dark.”

Freminet picked up a pair. Icy blue lenses and silver frames, the brand name written on the sides. He put them on.

“How do I look?”

“Hm.” Xingqiu tapped his finger on his chin before he reached forward to straighten the sunglasses and tuck Freminet’s hair behind his ears. When he approved of what he saw, he smiled. “There we go. Those look amazing on you. Buy them. They’re only a few hundred dollars, they’re pretty cheap by my standards.”

Well, it wasn’t like he was spending his own money..

He bought them.

Xingqiu whisked him away with the sunglasses in a little box to the store next to the one they had been standing in. Apparently he had texted Xinyan something, for she followed them and they separated themselves from the rest of the group. The store they entered was huge. Clothes, shoes, makeup, everything, all on revolving hooks and shelves from top to bottom, it was a luxurious paradise.

“Hello, Mr. Xingqiu!” called the clerk. “Here with some friends?”

“Yes, ma’am!” He knew her? “We’re here for him specifically. His name’s Freminet.”

Wait, what was happening?

“Oh? What’s the occasion?”

Xinyan squeezed his shoulder as she leaned towards the clerk. “There’s a special someone he’s tryin’ to impress!”

“Huh?” He looked between Xinyan and Xingqiu. “What?”

The clerk clapped her hands together. “I see! I’ll let you have free control over the store then for whatever your makeover needs. Should I put it on the Feiyun card per usual?”

Xingqiu politely bowed his head. “Of course! Thank you kindly, ma’am!”

Then he turned to Freminet with nothing short of the devil’s grin.

He was in trouble.

“I left the card with Chongyun,” Xingqiu explained as he and Xinyan dragged Freminet to the changing rooms in the back of the store, “we’re going to need all hands on deck if we want to make you the cutest boy at the party.”

“Gaming needs to see you and pass out.” Xinyan emphasized. “We also need to give you more confidence in how you look.”

What proceeded was the weirdest two hours of his life.

Xinyan and Xingqiu had him try on everything in the store. Boots to heels before they settled on a pair of sneakers for him as they saw how clumsy he was with anything taller than an inch. A range of aesthetics from something pastel to something edgy, anything and everything in between, in all sorts of cuts, colors, and styles. For the experience, he tried on one crop top, saw himself in the mirror, and cringed so hard he almost crawled out of his own body.

They settled on something much more comfortable and fitting to what he liked instead of anything too new once they saw how he was losing confidence instead of gaining it. A fitted turtleneck and regular denim jeans. Xinyan’s addition was a bunch of belt chains hanging off his jeans with gear cogs on it. She put on a pair of clip-on piercings too.

Xingqiu fixed his hair again and had him put on the sunglasses, but instead of merely tucking his hair back, he took a clip from Xinyan and tied his hair back into a little ponytail.

“Hat or no hat?” Xingqiu held up a beret.

“That is so ugly.” Xinyan grimaced. “Put that back.”

“God, okay, noted. What about a headband?”

“No way.”

“I think Freminet would look great with a cute headband.”

“No.”

“Tough crowd today..”

Freminet looked at himself in the large mirror as he stood on the podium outside of the changing room. He didn’t know what to think.

Xinyan looked over him. “I feel like we’re missing something.”

“What’re we missing?” Xingqiu asked.

The two looked at each other.

“Makeup.” They said in unison.

They had Freminet sit down on the couch in front of the mirror and ran to grab some makeup samples from the clerk. They returned in a few minutes with every color and type of makeup that could even exist. The two compared the colors to his skintone and his face shape and his eye shape and — God, it was really a lot to handle. He just stayed quiet.

“You have more freckles than I thought you did,” Xingqiu noted as he pulled his sunglasses up to examine his eyes, “your eyelashes are..incredibly light too.”

“He’s blonde, Xingqiu. What did you expect?” Xinyan stared at him.

“Just give me the damn mascara.”

“Fine.”

He tilted Freminet’s head back a bit. “Stay still. I do not want to poke you in the eye.”

He stayed as still as a statue. Once he was done, Xingqiu lowered his head. Xinyan looked over his work and nodded approvingly.

“His eyelashes are light, but they’re also super long.” She commented. “I’m..kinda jealous?”

“Right?” Xingqiu closed the mascara tube. “Do you think we need eyeliner?”

“A little. Wait, hold on. I have an idea.”

For some reason, he wasn’t bothered by the process. Tired? Absolutely. He was at his limit with this much interaction and people touching his face, but he wasn’t bothered. He trusted his friends and..he did honestly want to look as good as possible for the party. He would be lying if he said he didn’t want to see how Gaming would react to him dressing up.

Xinyan took some eyeliner, eyeshadow, and a small packet of attachable..gems? She was careful not to pinch him with the eyeliner or dust any eyeshadow into his eyes. She plucked the gems off their sticky plastic and stuck them to the corner of his eyes as well as underneath. When she finished, she guided him back to the podium, to see himself much closer in the mirror. He slowly blinked. The eyeshadow sparkled as much as the gems on his eyes did.

“Now that,” Xinyan beamed, “is a superstar in the making! Look at you, Freminet!”

Xingqiu clapped his hands together. “I can’t believe it. We’ve done it. We turned him from a choir boy to a masterpiece!”

He..didn’t look half bad!

He even did a little spin, soothed by the clink-clink of the belt chains, and wowed by his own reflection. He might’ve been becoming a little vain!

“How do you feel?” Xinyan asked.

“I..feel good.” Freminet murmured. “Really good.”

“Yes! Let’s go!” Xinyan high-fived Xingqiu. “We’re buying this entire outfit. And the makeup too. You’re going to Xingqiu’s house first so I can do your makeup before you do your little Mission Impossible shit to get Gaming out to the party.”

He nodded, but stayed silent.

They bought everything once he changed back into his usual attire and wiped the makeup off. Not before they took a few pictures, of course.

“Where’d you guys even go?” Hu Tao asked when she saw them reunite with the rest of the group.

Xingqiu elbowed her and instead of answering her question, merely replied with, “you’re so not ready for the Freminet we’re going to bring to the party.”

⸻⸻

The Psych Ward

6:27 PM

⸻⸻

Hu Tao: okay so how much did we spend at the mall

Xingqiu: definitely over 50k

Xiangling: okay but it was SO worth it!!!

Hu Tao: RIGHT??? LOOK AT ALL THIS COOL SHIT WE BOUGHT

[ Hu Tao has sent multiple images. ]

Bennett: i dont think i’ve ever bought so many clothes in my life..

Chongyun: besides the shopping trip, do we have anymore plans with how the party should go and what we should do before then?

Hu Tao: nah i dont think so tbh

Hu Tao: we already got people coming, the foods ready, music chosen, AND we got our clothes too

Hu Tao: we shld probably get serious and talk abt how tf we are gonna get gaming out of his house tho

Freminet: i’m stopping at xingqiu’s house first so xinyan can do my makeup before the party. then chongyun will take me to gaming’s house, i’ll dismantle the cameras, and we’ll help gaming sneak out from his window and bring him back.

Hu Tao: thats SO much back and forth driving

Chongyun: it’ll be fine. i need to stop at xingqiu’s before the party starts anyway to get ready too.

Xinyan: ykw lets just all get ready at xingqius then

Xingqiu: that’s cool w me

Xingqiu: you guys can just bring your clothes and whatever and we can get ready here and then split up before the party. it starts at 8, so stop by at 5

Xingqiu: unless you’re hu tao, in which you need to be here by 7 or i’m calling the police to escort you to the fucking house

Hu Tao: I TOLD YOU IM NOT GOING TO BE FUCKING LATE GODDAMN

Gaming: that time sounds good actually!

Gaming: dads gonna be leaving at 6 and hes leaving me in the house by myself so we can totally disconnect the cameras once he leaves

Hu Tao: so he can leave you in the house by yourself but you cant..go to a party?????

Gaming: yeah no i dont get it either!

Freminet: that leaves me three hours to work..

Freminet: i can do that.

Hu Tao: NICE

Hu Tao: this party is going to be SO awesome

Xingqiu: atp if we aren’t the most popular kids in school already, by the end of the weekend we’re going to be talked about across the ENTIRE district

Hu Tao: EXACTLYYYY

Chongyun: i honestly can’t wait to see how this turns out.

Freminet: me too.

⸻⸻

MLM and WLW Hostility

6:34 PM

⸻⸻

Hu Tao: okay WHAT the fuck did you mean when you said i wasnt ready for the freminet thats gonna be at the party

Xingqiu: listen. i’m just going to have you look at these pictures

[ Xingqiu has sent multiple images. ]

Hu Tao: w

Hu Tao: WHAT THE FUCK

Xingqiu: RIGHT????

Hu Tao: SHIT IF GAMING DOESNT WANT FREMINET I KNOW LIKE 20 OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT HIM

Xingqiu: that number is going to become over 30 by the time that party even STARTS

Hu Tao: god xingqiu you dont understand im so proud of him

Hu Tao: he was a little guinea pig when we found him..

Hu Tao: NOW HE LOOKS LIKE THOSE GUINEA PIGS IN SPIKES

Xingqiu: he had a glow up i’m not even going to LIE to you

Hu Tao: he did. holy shit.

Hu Tao: im jealous of him

Xingqiu: ME TOO

Hu Tao: gaming? is NOT ready for him

Xingqiu: oh no yeah

Xingqiu: he’s definitely not ready. poor him.

Chapter Text

The Psych Ward

4:10 PM

⸻⸻

Xingqiu: okay so what’s everyone's eta

Hu Tao: just told dear old grandpa that im headin over to your house rn

Xiangling: dad told me to have fun! hes letting me walk to your place with xinyan

Xinyan: YEAHHHH WE OUT HERE READY TO GO

Xinyan: yk xiangling i still dont know what guoba is

Xiangling: hes my dog :D

Chongyun: that..cannot be a dog.

Bennett: he looks kind of like a bear?

Xiangling: bear dog!

Xingqiu: no yeah i have no idea what guoba is and i’ve SEEN him up close because i used to virtually live at xiangling’s house

Xingqiu: OKAY BUT CHOP CHOP GUYS WHAT IS EVERYONE ELSE’S ETA

Bennett: i’m bringing razor and fischl with me! we’re walking there too.

Chongyun: i just told aunt shenhe that i’ll be out for the night and taking her car. i’m driving to freminet’s now to pick him up.

Freminet: sorry, i was grabbing my toolbox for the cameras.

Freminet: @Gaming is your dad still at the house?

Gaming: god he IS hes taking FOREVERRRR to leave

Gaming: maybe get here by 6:30 cause he surely wouldve left by then

Freminet: understood.

Xingqiu: alright I’LL SEE ALL OF YOU (except gaming) IN HALF AN HOUR

Xingqiu: DON’T BE LATE OR YOU’RE STRAIGHT

[ Everyone has gone offline. ]

⸻⸻

Whistles echoed back and forth.

“You are marvelous, Xiangling!” Fischl clapped her gloved hands together. “That gown is most suitable for you.”

“You think?” She twirled around in her patterned dress. It was yellow like her eyes, fitted to her exact size, and the skirt reached to slightly below her knees. She had multiple brown bracelets around her wrists and her hair, skillfully done by Hu Tao (who took all of Xingqiu’s numerous hair products and tools), styled in an updo.

“Indeed! Such eye-catching fabric, such an endearing, lovely cut, it is perfection!”

Bennett gave a thumbs up. “You look great, Xiangling!”

“Aw, thank you!”

The group had gathered in Xingqiu’s massive bedroom. It was probably the size of an entire apartment. He had a whole wall’s worth of books in shelves, ranging from biographies, to fairytales, to romance novels, to classic, traditional poetry. He was even being tutored in calligraphy and had scrolls on his desk with repeated mantras and phrases he learned to replicate.

Freminet was a little jealous at how much money Xingqiu had, but everyone was, so it was normal. He sat patiently before the big vanity in the corner of the room as Xinyan applied the same makeup style she had given to him at the mall. The gems almost looked like sparkling icicles forming on the surface of a chilly window. His eyeshadow followed suit with that palette in mind.

She pinned his hair back into a ponytail and fixed his bangs. He took the clip-on piercings and attached them to his ears as she closed up the makeup she used.

The finishing touch were the sunglasses. She placed it on top of his head like it was a crown.

“You look so cool.” Xinyan said. “You transformed into a total rockstar!”

“Do I really look that nice?” He looked up at her.

“Uh, yeah?” She lightly whacked his shoulder. “Obviously. Give me your hands.”

He held them up. Reaching over to the side of the vanity, she grabbed a bottle of nail polish that matched his eyes. With an insanely stable hand (maybe it was because she played an instrument that required that?), she painted the color on, cleaning up any mess she made on his fingers. The color sparkled in the light. He admired it as she closed the bottle.

“The real last touch!” She beamed. “I wanted to give you press-ons, I know Xingqiu’s wearing them, so is Hu Tao, but you have to work on things and I thought they would get in the way.”

“Ah.” He was touched by her thoughtfulness. “Thank you, Xinyan..”

“No problem. I know Gaming’s goin’ to lose his mind.” She winked. “He’s goin’ to see you cut his cameras and swoon at the fact his prince is ready to whisk him away for an awesome night.”

He blushed. “I’m not a prince, you know.”

“Keep tellin’ yourself that.”

Shouts and commotion came from Xingqiu’s bathroom. Hu Tao shoved him out of it and he flipped her off, the two seemingly in another argument. Chongyun stepped out alongside them and shook his head, amused, always being able to keep a level head with them. He separated them and pulled Xingqiu along. Freminet noticed how their clothes slightly matched and on both their waists were tassels — he heard the story behind them.

It was Xingqiu who gave one to Chongyun at first as a way to encourage him towards his studies to becoming a true exorcist like the rest of his family was. He apparently almost cried when he took it and came back a few days later with one made in amber for Xingqiu. It matched his eyes, said Chongyun.

Neither of them even left their houses without the tassels. A sign of their bond.

Freminet hummed at the thought of that story. Maybe he could make something for Gaming — he had the tools after all.

Xingqiu rolled his eyes and sharply whistled. A butler appeared, holding a platter of crystal glasses with lemonade. He took the first one and held out his other hand. The butler gave him a plastic straw. It softly clinked as he plopped it into his glass and held it up. At his encouragement, everyone else grabbed the glasses available too.

“Why’re you drinking it with a straw?” Hu Tao stared.

“I’m wearing lipstick.” He glared at her. It wasn’t too heavy of some lipstick, not even intensely colored, but there was some shine to it. “I’m not getting it all over the glass. Anyways. I’d like to have a toast!”

“A toast?” Bennett asked.

“To us!” He exclaimed. “For setting the blueprint! We’re going to have the best fucking night of our lives. Can I get an amen?”

“Amen!” Everyone pressed their glasses together before chugging down the lemonade and devolving into more conversation as they finished preparing themselves. Xingqiu walked over and did a more gentle clink of his glass against Freminet’s. He smiled at him.

“And to you,” he whispered, “because you’re about to get yourself a boyfriend.”

He averted his gaze. “Are you sure?”

“Listen, Freminet,” he leaned in close, “you got this. You think you don’t, but you do. Live in the moment and stop worrying about if you can do this or that. Okay?”

Maybe he was right. He nodded. “Okay.”

When everyone finished, they split up to finish preparations. Freminet grabbed his toolbox and hopped into the passenger seat of Chongyun’s car. It was a nice car, it smelled like mint and flowers. It might’ve been from the swinging, evergreen-shaped air freshener that hung on the rearview mirror. Chongyun started the car and connected his GPS.

“Are you ready?” He asked.

Freminet nodded. “I am.”

The streetlights passed them by as they drove from one side of the city to another. Xingqiu’s side of town was suburban, but obviously filled with people with money and status. The neighborhood was made for celebrities and billionaires with too much space on their hands. Gaming’s side was..tinier. Private. His house looked like all of the ones on the street. It looked lonely.

“I’ll stop here,” Chongyun parked the car, “I can see the cameras.”

“They’re fixed one way.” Freminet looked out the window and squinted to get a better look. “All we have to do is stay out of its field of vision.”

“How are we going to get the camera we need to cut off?”

Freminet thought about it for a minute. Then he opened the car door, toolbox in hand, and got out. “I have an idea.”

The model of camera that Gaming’s father used didn’t have too good of a range when it was fixed in one direction, so it was easy to move outside of its sight towards the window where the camera they specifically needed to get rid of was. Below the windowsill was a ladder. How convenient. He set his toolbox down and opened it.

While it wasn’t hard to dismantle, it was still a security camera, and absolutely had a ton of metric screws that had to be removed so he could access the control panel. Chongyun watched him as he dug through his toolbox and pulled out a slotted screwdriver. He pulled out his wirecutter too. By the looks of it, the ladder could reach the window without a problem. The issue was how to avoid the security camera until he tampered with the panel.

“Let’s try to bring the ladder to the side of the window that the camera isn’t facing.” Freminet suggested. “The panel has to be on that side too..”

His heart was absolutely racing. By this point, Gaming’s father had certainly left, as Gaming had texted that his car wasn’t in the driveway and that it was safe to come over. However, he couldn’t believe he was even doing this. He was pretty sure it was absolutely illegal to go on private property and ruin someone’s cameras.

But for the sake of the party and being able to see Gaming, he steeled his nerves, and calmed his beating heart.

He needed to focus anyways.

Chongyun and him dragged the ladder to the side and held it against the wall, too far for the camera to see, but not too far that he wouldn’t be able to reach. Chongyun held the ladder down as he stepped up as slowly and carefully as possible, wirecutter and screwdriver in hand. Now that he saw the model up close, he wished he could take it for himself, and really see what was inside of it.

Okay, no! He had a mission to complete!

He set the wirecutter down on the top step of the ladder. Twelve metric screws, definitely not more than a few millimeters long. He picked the right screwdriver then. It slotted into place perfectly and he twisted and twisted. Each screw dropped into his open palm. He set them next to the wirecutter on the top step. The panel popped open and he examined its interior.

There were a lot of wires. Different colors too. He exchanged his screwdriver for the wirecutter. With a few snips, he cut the wires that were connected to the lenses of the camera and therefore capturing the footage. He screwed the panel back in and made sure the camera wasn’t jostled by what he did. Even the slightest movement could’ve been captured. Luckily, it didn’t seem to move at all. With the footage and sound cut from the camera, he made a thumbs up to Chongyun and climbed down the ladder. He put his tools away.

They moved the ladder to be directly in front of the window now and Freminet climbed back up to knock on the glass.

The window swung open.

“Freminet!” Gaming shot up to the window. “You’re here — !”

He seemed to stop himself. They were staring at each other in silence.

Gaming had already dressed up for the party, wearing something as fiery and vibrant as him, but with more skin showing. He exchanged his usual choker for something much more dazzling, something he most definitely bought while at the mall with the rest of the group. Big, silver bracelets matched the silver choker that reflected the warm glow of his bedroom light.

His red crop top lined in black streaks exposed his navel, in which Freminet noticed a bolt of metal. A..stomach piercing. He felt a little faint at that revelation.

He even had hooked piercings on his ears, but they were clip-ons like his own. His fingerless gloves matched his clothes and his shoes. He was even wearing shorts, revealing toned muscle underneath, most likely from the fact his job and hobbies were physically demanding. And yet in spite of it all, Freminet couldn’t look away from his eyes for long. Lanterns in the night, that was what they were.

Gaming opened his mouth, and then shut it again, astonishment on his face.

What could he even say? What could either of them say?

Chongyun cleared his throat. “Guys, we do have a party to get to.”

That snapped him back to reality and he hurriedly said, “right! Right, we’re here to take you to the party! Come on, we shouldn’t be late, or Xingqiu’s going to laugh at us..!”

Gaming visibly swallowed and nodded, rushed like him, broken from the spell he had clearly been put under. “Yeah! Yeah, you’re right, sorry — ”

He slid down the ladder and grabbed his toolbox. Chongyun shot him a knowing glance.

Gaming climbed out of the window and shut it before he got down the ladder as well, pushing it over to its side so it could lay where it originally was. Chongyun was the first one to head to the car as he had to start it up, cleverly avoiding the still working cameras on the way there. Freminet straightened up, toolbox in hand. Gaming was standing near him, waiting for him.

They met each other’s eyes once more.

“You..look really nice,” said Gaming. His face, flushed. He nervously rubbed the back of his neck. For once, he had no other words. He had been driven to pure speechlessness.

Freminet smiled brightly. “You too.”

They headed to the car and to the party.

The music was loud. The bass was pumping, enough to shake the walls of all the houses in the neighborhood. Kids from everywhere and anywhere were gathered in one big crowd. Some were lounging on the front porch, talking amongst friends, while others enjoyed the craze inside, dancing to their heart’s content. People were diving in the pool outside, raiding the kitchen,and ruining the guest rooms and bathrooms.

On top of the table in the living room were Hu Tao and Xingqiu, singing loudly to the music, and dancing with each other. People cheered them on and with each song that came on, they grew even louder, and more people joined them on the table. Chongyun, by this point, separated from him and Gaming, being pulled away by Xiangling.

“Holy crap.” Gaming cracked a grin at the sight. “This is epic.”

“It’s loud,” Freminet muttered, grimacing as someone turned the stereo up more.

“That’s the best part! Hey, how about we dance?”

He blinked. “Wh — dance?”

“Please?” Gaming almost pouted, giving him the equivalent of puppy eyes.

He wasn’t the best dancer. Not at all. He was too stiff for it.

But if Gaming wanted to dance..

How could he say no?

“Okay,” he conceded.

“Yes!” Gaming pumped his fist into the air before grasping Freminet’s hand and pulling him into the crowd.

Turns out that while he wasn’t the best dancer, Gaming surely was. He remembered that he had said that he did something called Wushou Dancing. That must’ve given him experience. He made it effortless, being gifted with beauty and flair that Freminet once believed he could only see in the artwork in museums. His insecurity flared up, he was ashamed that he could barely catch up, and was ready to leave to find solitude further in the mansion, but Gaming took his hand and interlaced it with his.

He didn’t even say anything. Their hands fit together as if it was meant to be.

That was enough to compel him to stay.

After they danced for who knows how long, they retreated to the backyard, in the corner farthest from the house and the pool. There was a large tree that held a bench chained onto one of its hefty branches. Gaming brought him a drink. Some fruit punch from the kitchen, red and sweet. It was in a red cup too. Freminet took a sip as Gaming sat next to him with his own cup in hand.

Laughter, music, and conversation floated around the two of them.

“You know,” started Gaming as he leaned back on the bench, “private school could never ever compare to this.”

He glanced over. “Did..something happen at your old school?”

A sigh left him. The light dimmed from his eyes.

“When Mom died, it was really hard to focus in school. I tried my best, but I couldn’t keep my grades up. My teachers said I had to move on. My friends said the same thing. I didn’t mind what they said, because I did have to move on, but what hurt the most was what my dad said.”

“What did he say?”

“Well, it was more like what he didn’t say. I barely had passed middle school when he put me into private school as a way to ‘motivate’ me. He always wanted me to take over our family business. He said that was what Mom would want. For me, their only son, to finish what she couldn’t. To keep our lives afloat.”

Freminet’s hands squeezed his cup. “He..didn’t care? That you were grieving?”

“I think he didn’t understand me. Or anything I wanted. I know he doesn’t mean to be overprotective, but it was awful playing by his rules when I was at Chenyu Vale Private. I felt like I couldn’t even breathe air without his permission.”

“You were..lonely.”

“I was, but I left that behind me! I’m here now. I’m at a super cool party in a billionaire’s mansion! I’m with my friends.” He turned to Freminet. “I’m with you.”

His heart started racing anew as they looked at each other. They had gotten closer, knees touching, close enough to be far into one another’s personal space. He found that he didn’t mind. He didn’t care if it was Gaming who dared to step into his bubble in which he had always tried to keep others away from. Still, he was nervous.

He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Gaming’s lips.

“I’m really not that special,” murmured Freminet, trying hard to keep his focus. “All I did..”

“All you did,” Gaming cut him off, “was show me that someone could understand me. That was enough. I mean, you didn’t even say I talked too much. You even listened. How is that not special?”

“Whoever said that’s a liar. You don’t talk too much. I think you don’t talk enough.”

He worried he would come off as mechanical. Stiff. Yet he was overflowing with words and emotions that he could barely string together. He didn’t know how to express it all. Gaming tucked some of Freminet’s hair coming out of his ponytail behind his ear.

“You think so?” He sounded so cautious, as if he was expecting for Freminet to take back everything he said.

He couldn’t take it anymore.

Their cups spilled onto the grass and dirt below them as Freminet pulled Gaming in and pressed his lips to his. He had never kissed someone before, he didn’t know if he was doing it right, but Gaming took it as it was and kissed him back in kind, lightly cupping his face in his hands. He could hardly hear the chaos of the party beyond the rapid beating in his chest.

When they parted, Gaming held Freminet’s hands tightly.

“What the hell did you do to me?” He laughed. “I feel like I might pass out!”

Freminet couldn’t restrain his own laughter and he watched how Gaming’s eyes widened at that. “I should be asking you that question.”

He really couldn’t stop laughing. It hurt, but it was the kind of pain that he wanted to last. Gaming flushed a pretty red and he averted his eyes.

“You’re too pretty for me, Freminet..”

But he cracked up too.

The night seemed to last forever. They danced, ate all the snacks they could get their hands on, and Freminet even joined Hu Tao and Xingqiu on top of the table back inside the house, above the crowd. He couldn’t hear anyone else’s cheers except for Gaming’s, who stood at the front, cheering him on as he danced, danced, and danced.

It was the best night of his life.

⸻⸻

Private Messages: Xingqiu, Freminet

11:02 AM

⸻⸻

Xingqiu: um

Xingqiu: freminet?

Freminet: yes?

Xingqiu: we might have a really big problem on our hands

Xingqiu: it’s about gaming and his dad.

Chapter Text

The door slammed open.

“What happened?” Lyney asked, heeled boots clicking against the floor with a purpose. Lynette followed him, back straight, head up, in position as her brother’s shadow. The cluster of teenagers around in the living room turned their heads to see the twins. Wriothesley, Sigewinne, and Neuvillette stood in the entryway of the room. Their shared presence intimidated those who hardly crossed their path.

“Lyney? Lynette?” Neuvillette looked surprised. “When did you arrive?”

“Not even five minutes ago.” He held up his car keys. They jingled. “Freminet’s friends called us. Now what happened? Who hurt him?”

“Nobody hurt him.” Xinyan fiddled with the tassels of her clothes. “It’s..”

“It’s Gaming’s dad’s fault!” Xiangling jumped up from where she was on the couch. “Who does he think he is, trying to keep him away from Freminet?! Away from us?! We’re his friends!”

Lyney crossed his arms. “Fill us in please.”

Xingqiu nodded. “I will. Gaming’s Freminet’s boyfriend and Freminet helped sneak him out to get him to my party a few days ago. And then he..fell off the map. He didn’t go to school. He didn’t talk to any of us. I had to ask my brother to ask my father where he went. Turns out his father found out he snuck out, took away his phone, and locked him in the house.”

“Now he wants to transfer him back to Chenyu Vale Private!” Xiangling said. “Or worse! The Millelith Boarding School!”

“I heard that those who go don’t come back the same.” Chongyun murmured, his hand gripping Xingqiu’s. “All for what?”

“Freminet..has a boyfriend?” Lyney was dumbfounded. “He never told us about him.”

“He wanted it to be a surprise.” Bennett said. “He really likes Gaming! We do too. When Xingqiu found out about what happened, he told Freminet, and..”

Xingqiu’s free hand pressed against his temple. “We called for an hour talking about it. He was..heartbroken, to say the least. We didn’t see him at school today, so we decided to come here, and that’s when Mr. Neuvillette told us that he barricaded himself in his room and refused to leave. You were our last resort.”

Lyney hummed. “I get it now. Thank you, everyone, for looking after our younger brother. We’ll handle it.”

The twins headed into the hallway that led to his room.

Hu Tao muttered. “Holy shit, they’re scary.”

“Right?!” Xinyan whispered back. “They look like they’re ready to murder someone..”

Freminet could hear them. Their footsteps. Lynette walked lightly, as if she were stepping on air, hardly a stray sound to be heard. Lyney had purpose in his steps, the jingle of his jewelry echoing through the hall. A knock at his door. He refused to reply, burying himself deeper into his bed, his weighted blanket applying the pressure he so desperately needed to slip away even further from reality.

They called for him.

He refused to reply.

Another knock, another call, he refused it. He had his arms wrapped tightly around Pers, eyes swollen and red, tears ready to spill out again. He made his own form of a pillow fort on his bed. Hidden from the world, he let himself wonder, and he let himself cry. He ached. He thought he could withstand the pain that was losing someone. Why did he still hurt then? Why did his tears continue to pour?

Another knock, another call, he refused it.

Another, another, a few more times, how many times did he have to stay silent? It wasn’t like he could speak anyways. His throat was raw from sobbing, his mind cluttered with fog and disarray. He had words to say, but he doubted they’d be coherent. One last knock and finally, the door opened, and closed behind who entered.

He had never locked it. He only put the sign up.

The bed adjusted to new weight.

“Freminet?” Lynette’s voice was gentle, her posture proper, but welcoming as she stood over the fort. “Are you okay?”

He peeked out from his fort. He shook his head.

“Do you want to talk to us? Do you need your phone?”

He shook his head again. She understood. Lyney was the one that chose to sit on the bed and near the fort. He looked perfect. He always did. He never left the stage in any sense of the word. Such was what he always delighted in as a magician and performer, Freminet knew. Lynette glanced at her twin.

“We didn’t know you got a boyfriend.” Lyney said. “Is he nice?”

He nodded. The nicest, he wanted to say.

“He gets along with your friends too from what I noticed. They adore him.”

Something about Lyney always made him want to talk. To divulge everything in his head. He clutched Pers even tighter than before. “Not more than me.”

His brother smiled sadly. “Of course. You miss him then, don’t you?”

Freminet trembled. The covers and cushions of the fort had been stripped away, leaving him exposed for everything he felt. He still held Pers close, so closely, but it did little to stop the rush of emotions that threatened to come out. His sister and brother looked at him with so much sympathy, so much understanding for his heartbreak. His eyes burned more. He set Pers aside shakily. His siblings waited for him with the most patience he had ever received in his life.

He sniffled and tried to wipe his eyes.

“Oh, mon chéri,” Lyney crooned sweetly, causing him to burst into sobs and fall into his open arms. Lyney held him close, with Lynette getting closer to rub his back and comfort him the best she could, with the little actions she did. Lyney ran a hand through his hair and hushed his cries, akin to what he always did when they were younger and so much more alone.

“I don’t want to lose him,” he said as he struggled for air amidst his sobs, “I can’t lose someone again. I can’t. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t — ”

“I know, I know,” murmured Lyney, “you’re not going to lose him. It’s okay. Shh, Freminet, it’s okay..”

“But what if I do?” He looked up at Lyney with watery eyes. “What if he leaves? They — they said he might transfer, he’s going to leave the city, and he’s never going to come back — !”

“Not if we have anything to do about it.” Lynette was firm. “If he means that much to you, we’ll get him back. We’ll fix this.”

“We..we will? How?”

Lyney hugged Freminet closer to him, protective against whatever turmoil lingered within him still. He couldn’t help but let Lyney continue to hold him, having not hugged him for a long, long while. “Whatever it takes, we’ll do it. All we have to do is, what, kill his dad? Piece of cake.”

Freminet weakly chuckled. “I think he still likes his dad despite everything. They..only have each other.”

“Ah, bummer. No homicide for us, it seems.”

“We’ll have to stave off our urges somewhere else.” Lynette deadpanned.

God, he loved them. “What’s with you guys and murder?”

“We were almost victims to a murder mystery on campus!” Lyney mindlessly ran his hand through his hair some more. “It still has a solid grip on everyone. Poor, poor Heizou, being swarmed by admirers far and wide for his work solving the case! His boyfriends hate that he has people confessing to him everyday now, but they don’t tell him that.”

Lynette hummed. “Besides, his father sounds controlling. To go to such lengths to isolate his son because he wanted the freedom to do what every person his age does? He must be a miserable old man.”

“Maybe.” Freminet didn’t exactly think that was the case. Gaming’s father must’ve had a reason for what he was doing. “What do we do?”

“We talk to him.” Lyney said. “That’s our best option.”

“But — ”

“You know where he lives, right? Your boyfriend?”

“His name’s Gaming, and I do.”

“Good! Let’s get going!”

“N — now?”

“Of course! Did you expect us to wait? No, no, we’re going now! We’ll talk to his father and settle things while you and Gaming reunite. How does that sound?”

He cracked a smile. “That sounds good.”

“Great.” Lyney moved his hands to Freminet’s face and cupped his cheeks, pulling him in to kiss his forehead, pushing some of his hair aside to do so. “Don’t worry one bit, mon chéri.”

The three of them exited the room together, as one, as if string tied together their souls.

Seeing him reappear, his friends jumped up from where they had been sitting, tense and awaiting something. Xinyan was the first to hug him, clearly worried, her usually steady hands shaking. “Freminet! Are you okay? We were worried about you. When you didn’t show up to school today, we thought..”

“I’m okay,” he returned her hug, “I’m going to get Gaming back.”

“You’re going to get him back?” Bennett tilted his head. “Does that mean you’re going to his house and seeing his dad?”

“Mhm.”

“We have to go too!” Xiangling declared. “For moral support!”

“I just want to creep his dad out.” Hu Tao brandished one of her business cards like it was a weapon, ready to strike.

Freminet stared in surprise. “You guys want to go?”

“For you, Freminet.” Xingqiu lowered his sunglasses from the top of his head. “And for Gaming. I also want to fuck with his dad. That’s what he gets for trying to keep us away from one of our friends. He deserves whatever hell Hu Tao and I decide to unleash on him and his house.”

He was so..touched by it. Their support. His sister and brother were behind him, silent, but they approved of it absolutely. They always stuck true to their promise to him years ago when they took him with them out of the orphanage: for him, they would do anything, and carry his burdens as their own. They were family after all. Family never abandoned one another.

He wanted to cry again, but for a much more positive reason.

“I don’t know if the car could fit everyone,” Lyney said.

“That is not a problem.” Xingqiu pulled out his phone. “Lixin, get the limo, as well as prepare a few snacks for the drive. Tell my brother that I’m not coming home for a few hours. I have business to attend to.”

“And is this business burying some overprotective father six feet under the ground?” Wriothesley joked.

He hung up the call. “Absolutely.”

After Neuvillette reassured the twins that their car would be fine, Freminet, his friends, and his siblings piled into Xingqiu’s limo and left the house to go to Gaming’s house. It was still light out when they left and he watched the shadows that danced on the sidewalk. Everyone bustled with nervous energy, bracing themselves for the worst. He too steeled himself. Lyney squeezed his hand and Lynette, his shoulder.

The limo pulled up in front of the house.

“Keep the limo out front, Lixin,” Xingqiu ordered as everyone got out, “we might need a quick getaway if things get out of control.”

“Of course, Mr. Xingqiu.”

The cameras scrutinized them as they headed to the front door. Freminet knocked once, twice, and three times. A good luck charm for himself. The door opened. The man that stood before him looked a little like Gaming, but not so much. He looked..worn. Not necessarily old, but haggard, as if life had done him one too many blows.

“Who are you?” was all he asked.

Lyney stepped forward, a hand on Freminet’s shoulder, steadying him and possibly himself too.

“You’re..Gaming’s father, right?”

“My brother said his name was Yip Tak.” Xingqiu brought up. “We’re here for your son, if you don’t mind!”

Yip Tak narrowed his eyes at them. Freminet stood his ground.

“Let us in,” he said, “we want to know if he’s okay. We haven’t seen him in days.”

He met that challenge and moved from the doorway. They pushed past him. Inside, the house was..deprived of life. It was pretty, with decorative plants and paintings in gilded frames, but it was only a house, and not a home. Even Xingqiu’s house, big and grand as it was, had more atmosphere to it. It was clear to see that despite everything, he, his brother, and his parents loved one another. There was a wall in their house designated for family pictures. A painted family portrait was there too.

Gaming’s house also had a family portrait. The only picture amongst empty frames.

“Is that..his mom?” Xinyan was speechless. “He looks exactly like her.”

It was true. Gaming took everything from his mother more than he did from his father. Those same lantern-like eyes and warm, sunny smile. She had a hand over his, kindness etched in her features. He looked so happy. His father looked so much happier too. They had once been a happier family. When she died, she must've taken that with her.

Grief changed people.

How much did it change Gaming’s father? How much did it still impact Gaming?

“Dad?” Gaming stood on the stairwell. “What's — ?”

“Gaming!” Freminet almost tripped going up the stairs, but he tossed himself into his arms as if he were weightless. Gaming caught him with unsurprising ease. He was absolutely shocked. “Freminet? What're you doing here? What's going on?”

“I heard what happened,” he explained, “and I’m getting you out of here.”

His expression contorted into something more..resigned. “Freminet..”

“So that is Freminet.” Yip Tak raised an eyebrow. “The boy who helped sneak you out. I couldn't find his name in your phone. You deleted it before you gave it to me because you didn't want me to find out.”

“I had to!” His hands clenched into fists at his sides. Freminet opted to stand next to him on the stairs, confused about what they were talking about. He deleted his name from his phone? “I didn't..I didn't want anyone involved in this. Not him especially.”

“You disregard everything I've tried to tell you.” His father put his foot down. “Why? I'm your father! All I want for you is to be safe and you don't even listen to that! All you do is put yourself in situations where you can get hurt!”

“You wanted me to be safe? That's it? That's the reason?” He threw his hands in the air. “You weren't this bad before! I could understand it more back then! You want me to do this, that, and you don't even think about what I want!”

“What you want won't lead to success or even stability in your life — ”

“Would Mom have wanted this?!” He snapped. “Would she?! She was happy for me no matter what I did! Why can't you be the same way?! Why aren't you happy for me?”

A beat of silence.

“Oh, shit, he did not just bring up his mom.” Hu Tao mumbled. Xingqiu grabbed her business card. “Quick, let's hide as many as we can while they're distracted.”

Their friends scattered into the house, slipping past the situation to do their own thing. Freminet stuck by Gaming. He stood closer and went to wrap his hand around his. He relaxed underneath his touch, but still held that tense eye contact with his father. A standoff, someone could say. Who would give in first? Who would concede to the other’s point? Neither of them looked to be ready to do that.

“Gaming,” his father tried to approach the stairwell, obviously hurt by what he said, “your mother — ”

“I can't do this forever, Dad.” His voice shook. He was holding tears back. “Mom wouldn't have wanted this. She would've wanted me to be happy. I want you to be happy for me. You don't even let me leave the house to do anything.”

“Gaming — !”

“People told me I had to move on. I tried. I tried so hard to do that. You never let me move on. I don't even think I know who you are anymore. I don't think I ever knew even before Mom died.”

He turned and went upstairs, letting go of Freminet’s hand. He followed him. Yip Tak tried to follow him too, but Lyney grabbed his shoulder.

“Sir, I believe we have a few things to discuss!” He said. “You've got no say in the matter.”

Gaming went into his room and toppled onto his bed, rolling onto his back, an arm thrown across his face to cover his eyes. Freminet closed the door behind him and sat next to him on the bed, glancing over the room. It was truly Gaming, with clutter everywhere, and hardly organized. He had posters on the walls alongside a few taped pictures.

He was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the tiniest sniffle.

“Gaming?” He slid closer to him.

“I’m fine,” he said, trying to hide it, but failing miserably, “I’ve just got sand in my eyes!”

“..we’re inside?”

“You’ve got me. Sorry.”

He sniffled again.

Freminet laid down on his back too and rolled onto his side to face Gaming. He didn’t look at him, arm still hiding his eyes. He pulled his arm away. Gaming turned his head to meet his eyes. He was still holding back his tears, keep himself together, and it wasn’t working. Freminet’s heart squeezed in his chest at the sight. He cupped the side of his face.

“It’s okay, Gaming. It’s okay.”

And he fell apart.

Freminet hugged him as he cried, unable to form words of comfort like his siblings, but deciding that he didn’t have to. He hugged him as tightly as he could, a way to ground both of them. Gaming didn’t even complain and hugged him back, shudders wracking through his body. How long they remained that way, he didn’t know. He waited until Gaming felt ready to let go.

“I don’t know why I’m still..”

“You miss her,” murmured Freminet, “your mother. You and your father both miss her.”

“If she were here, she’d figure something out. We would have our fight and be back to normal by dinner. I..we didn’t know how to go on without her, I think. We still don’t know how.”

“You can always learn. Maybe that’s what she would’ve wanted, for you two to work through everything yourselves and learn how to move on without her. I don’t think she’d want you to fight all the time and then never have a relationship again.”

He brightened up at that. “You’re right! But..I don’t know how to go about it. How to fix this.”

“We talk to him.” Freminet strengthened his resolve. “That’s our best option.”

They went back downstairs. In the living room was Lyney, Lynette, and Yip Tak. Tea had been prepared, most definitely by Lynette’s skillful hands.

Gaming rubbed his eyes. Freminet took his hand and guided him to the couch, sitting next to him and still holding his hand to support him. Lyney crossed one leg over the other. “Everyone’s here then! We can stage an intervention for whatever father and son have going on! So, Mr. Yip, please tell Gaming why you went to the lengths you did to keep him safe and what your feelings are about what he does.”

Yip Tak sighed. His hands clenched and unclenched.

“I don’t want you to end up like your mother.” He said. “Your mother worked until her dying day to help us — to help me with everything. We had nothing that was permanent. We had to focus on our business and eventually you when you were born. When she fell ill..”

Gaming squeezed his hand. He squeezed back.

“But did you have to do everything you could to stop me from doing anything I wanted?” He closed his eyes for a moment. “I’m not going to end up like Mom. The opposite, actually. I want to do everything that Mom taught me to do. Even if it’s risky or reckless.”

“Gaming..”

“I just want you to be happy for me and support me. That..can’t be too much for you, right?”

“Do you really not want to take over the family business?”

“Maybe it’ll change.” He shrugged. “I don’t know. What I want to do is continue Wushou Dancing like Mom taught me, hang out with my friends, go to parties, and be with someone special.”

At that last part, he looked at Freminet. Another squeeze. Both their faces were a little flushed at that remark. Yip Tak hummed in thought. Lynette sipped some of the tea.

“If you give him room to grow,” she suggested, “he’ll make his own choices. You’re already seeing that he’s trying to move on and grow. Let him. In turn, you should try to grow as well, being stuck in the past will do nothing to help you and your future. You should take the advice people have given him and apply it to yourself.”

Yip Tak lowered his head. “I know. I’m sorry, Gaming.”

“Dad..”

“You’re right. Your mother wouldn’t want this. She’d want you to make whatever decision best suited to you. I..was blinded by my fear that something would happen before you could even enter the world. Your mother passed too soon. I didn’t want you to do the same.”

Gaming chewed on his lip. “Dad..”

“If this is what guarantees your happiness, I’ll support it. I want you to be happy. Any parent would want their child to be happy. All you have to promise me is that you won’t have any regrets.”

With that, Gaming got up, let go of Freminet’s hand, and hugged his father. Yip Tak was taken aback, but slowly returned the hug, hesitating. He said, “I won’t have any regrets. I know I won’t. I promise. Just let me stay here with my friends. I’m so much happier here than I ever was at private school.”

“..okay. I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I know you just wanted the best for me.”

“But I still hurt you. A father is never supposed to hurt his children.”

“You did, but I forgive you, isn’t that enough?”

Yip Tak huffed out a weak laugh. “Yes, that’s enough.”

Lyney moved closer to Freminet and wrapped an arm around him, squeezing him by the shoulders. “How’s that for an intervention?”

“I’m glad they’re on the mend.” Lynette set her teacup down. “It’ll take a long, long time to move past their difficulties, but it’s better to start sooner than later.”

Freminet couldn’t agree more.

Gaming got his phone back and his father relented with his punishment, but let him off with a warning that he should just ask to go somewhere instead of breaking a security camera to sneak out in the dead of night. That one made Freminet profusely apologize for being the one to cut it off and insist that he repair it. He already knew how to do so anyways, and it would save money.

Their group of friends rolled in.

“Were you..eavesdropping?” Freminet stared at them.

“No,” Hu Tao looked away, “not until..the last part of the conversation!”

Xingqiu elbowed her roughly and she yelped before she elbowed him back. Xinyan pinched the bridge of her nose. “We weren’t tryin’ to.”

God, what was he going to do with them?

“Does this mean Gaming’s staying?” Bennett asked. Yip Tak nodded. “He will. I’m glad he’s made some reliable friends already.”

“Yay!” Xiangling was the first to hug Gaming. “I’m so happy for you, Gaming!”

“Fuck it. I feel nice today. Group hug!” Hu Tao also joined in on the hug. The others followed her lead, almost toppling Gaming over from the hug. Freminet had to oblige. They had to eventually let go before they sent each other sprawling onto the floor. Xingqiu was the first to let go and he raised his hand into the air, calling attention to himself.

“To celebrate, let’s have a sleepover at Freminet’s house!”

“Wait, why my house?”

“Why not?”

Lyney smiled. “I’m sure Mr. Wriothesley and Mr. Neuvillette won’t mind the extra company.”

Lyney proved to be right.

In fact, Wriothesley and Neuvillette seemed quite honored. Sigewinne was ecstatic to hang out with everyone too and showed them everything she drew. Lyney and Lynette decided to stay the night too, with them even doing a miniature magic show for the group, entertaining them as they’ve entertained countless others. When things winded down, everyone climbed into a makeshift pillow fort on the couch in front of the TV.

Gaming and Freminet were underneath a few of the blankets, the only ones awake as everyone else had drifted off to sleep.

He squeezed Freminet’s hand. “Thank you.”

He hummed. “For what?”

“For helping me. Thank you.”

“You helped me,” he rested his head against Gaming’s shoulder, smile on his lips, content, “all I did was repay the favor.”

Chapter Text

Freminet closed the door behind him. “I’m back from Xiangling’s!”

He noticed nobody was in the living room. Weird. He headed towards the kitchen. There, he found Wriothesley, Neuvillette, Lyney, and Lynette sitting at the table. Numerous folders and papers were gathered in a pile of sorts. Cups of tea in dark teal saucers in front of each of them. When he entered, the quiet chatter that filled the room stopped and they looked to see who came in. It was a little eerie. He grimaced.

“What happened?” He asked.

“Nothing bad,” reassured Lyney, “but it’s important. Sit!”

He did so. While he was closer to the papers and folders, he still couldn’t read much of what was written. He fidgeted with his hands. “You said it’s nothing bad, but the papers and the whispering at the table really make it seem like someone died.”

Lyney snorted. “No! No, no one died. It’s..about our plans about what to do while we’re still in the city.”

Oh.

Right.

When all three of them graduated, they’d leave the city. Freminet would attend college elsewhere. His fidgeting intensified. Wriothesley sipped some tea and he pulled out a folder from the stack. Freminet recognized the symbol on top of it. A hearth. He could now read his name clearly on the tab of the folder. Were those..his papers from the orphanage?

“Your siblings and I have come to an agreement.” Wriothesley said as he put the teacup down into its saucer. “Legal custody of you will be transferred from them to Neuvillette and I.”

“What?” He stared. “Do you mean — ?”

Neuvillette nodded. “Adoption, yes. While you were technically in our care since you entered your sophomore year, the legalities of the situation were vague and we only now settled things. Lyney and Lynette thought that it would be for the best if they gave us full custody as we would be able to solidify your legal standing in the system.”

He turned to his siblings in shock.

“However,” Wriothesley gave a coy smile, “we didn’t intend to leave them behind either.”

Lynette dropped her teacup, only narrowly catching it. “Huh?”

Now even Lyney was shocked! “What do you mean?”

“While they did age out of the foster system, we could still put ourselves down as their legal guardians. Neuvillette worked with a few case managers to find where Lyney and Lynette’s papers were alongside yours. Your situation was more complicated considering the amount of hoops we had to jump through, but your siblings’s is much easier.”

Wriothesley pushed forward two sheets of paper and a pen.

“Lyney and Lynette,” he said, almost dramatically so, “do you give us the honor to be your legal guardians? ”

Lyney’s eyes widened. “You’re — you’re serious?”

This was the first time Freminet had ever seen his witty and charmer brother be speechless. Neuvillette nodded his head, a faint, but kind smile on his face.

“Sigewinne already considers you family.” He said. “And you’re Freminet’s brother and sister. We couldn’t leave you behind. We’re aware of all that you’ve done for him and for each other, surviving the worst of it to make it out. Let us do this for you.”

Each of them survived off of barely anything. Scrappy, dingy apartments, hardly any food, and a constant, lurking danger that they could be separated. Yet they made it out. He looked at his siblings. They were clearly taken aback by the turn of events. It was a chance to have their own place to return to for once. Lyney took the pen and signed his name first, handing it to Lynette, who did the same.

Wriothesley handed the papers to Neuvillette and he put them into a folder on their own.

“This one’s for you, Freminet,” said Wriothesley as he handed one last paper, “you’re old enough to also give your consent. The court will see it as proof that you’re safe and able to give that consent.”

He nodded hurriedly and wrote his name on the paper. It went into the same folder.

“We’ll have to show up to court in a few days, but you’re all already apart of the family.” He nodded towards Neuvillette. “Right?”

He agreed. “Our home is yours as well.”

That was when Lyney sniffled before totally breaking down, clinging onto his twin, who rubbed his back, still in a state of awe too. Freminet’s fidgeting ceased. Upon the concerned looks of both Wriothesley and Neuvillette, he quickly reassured them, “Lyney’s fine. I think he’s just..overwhelmed.”

“I bet.” Wriothesley got up. “We’ll give you guys a minute.”

He and Neuvillette left.

“Does this mean we’re staying?” Freminet asked. Lynette nodded.

“We are, Freminet. We’re staying.”

He really needed to see a doctor.

It was concerning how fast his heart raced. It was also concerning with the amount of times it skipped a beat. This time, however, it wasn’t out of anxiety or embarrassment. It was out of pure elation and finally, hope for the future that was speedily coming his way.

⸻⸻

The Psych Ward

7:09 PM

⸻⸻

Hu Tao: okay is anyone going to mikas house before the festival this weekend or are we going straight to the festival

Chongyun: i’m stopping by with xingqiu.

Hu Tao: FUCK that means we ALL have to go

Gaming: i also wanted to go!!! i havent seen mika in a while!

Xinyan: hu tao if you dont want to go then we can just meet up at school for the festival

Hu Tao: yeah but i dont wanna be by myself WAITING for you guys

Hu Tao: AND BESIDES WE COME AND GO AS A UNIT YOU KNOW THIS!!!

Xingqiu: i mean yeah we’re literally the talk of the entire city after my party

Xingqiu: we show up ANYWHERE and people are all over us like hawks

Hu Tao: SEE EXACTLY

Hu Tao: okay but if im going someone has to pick me up im not about to walk half an hr to get to mikas house

Xingqiu: BITCH WE’RE RIDING IN THE LIMO JUST STAND OUTSIDE AND WE’LL PICK YOU UP

Hu Tao: GODDAMN OKAY

Bennett: is there dress code for the festival?

Xiangling: I JUST TEXTED NOELLE THE SAME QUESTION

Xiangling: SHE SAID NO we can wear whatever we want!!

Bennett: oh, okay!

Hu Tao: okay but we still need to dress up absolutely

Xingqiu: please say another shopping trip PLEASE THE LAST ONE WAS SO FUN

Xingqiu: and i want to use the company card again

Hu Tao: FUCK YEAH LETS GO

Xingqiu: YEAHHHHHH

Xinyan: a shopping trip doesnt sound half bad!

Xinyan: YKW IM IN

Freminet: when are we heading to the mall?

Xingqiu: day before the festival, let’s say

Xingqiu: maybe right after school?? i’ll just take everyone in the limo so just tell your parents or whatever where you’re going

Freminet: understood.

Gaming: ill tell my dad then!!!

Xiangling: my dad already said i can go!

Xinyan: how about this time we go past 50k for how many things we buy??

Hu Tao: XINYAN YOURE A GENIUS

Hu Tao: LETS BREAK THAT BANK

Xingqiu: LIKE YOU CAN DO THAT

Xingqiu: multi-billionaire company, remember?? this shit is ENDLESS

Hu Tao: we will just have to buy literally whatever the fuck we want then

Xingqiu: EXACTLY

Xingqiu: WE’RE GOING TO LOOK AMAZING

⸻⸻

Private Messages: Freminet, Gaming

7:20 PM

⸻⸻

Gaming: okay hear me out

Freminet: ..hearing you out?

Gaming: you, me, we split off from our friends at the festival

Gaming: aaaand you show me around the festival yourself because this is my first time experiencing a school festival and i literally do not trust any of our friends to do anything safe and i kind of want to just be alone with you

Freminet: am i just your tour guide?

Gaming: youre the one who showed me to class when i first got here!!!

Gaming: youre like my designated tour guide!

Gaming: the tour guide i cant stop looking at and will definitely have to ask to repeat everything youre saying to me because im distracted by how pretty you are

Freminet: you’re something else.

Gaming: SOOOOO is that a yes???

Freminet: you know i can’t say no to you.

Freminet: but it’s okay. i know the school like the back of my hand by now. we can easily get away from everyone else to be by ourselves. school festivals are always too crowded for me anyway.

Gaming: SEEEE MORE OF A REASON TO GO DO OUR OWN THING!!!

Freminet: the festival’s taking place in the football field so we can go into the gym. there’ll be few people there. and i know a spot..underneath the bleachers.

Gaming: underneath the bleachers???

Gaming: freminet thats SCANDALOUS

Freminet: i’m sure nobody will look twice.

Gaming: finally we will be able to talk to each other without hu tao calling us gay

Freminet: we can do more than talk!

Gaming: oh my god..are you thinking what im thinking??

Freminet: maybe.

Gaming: we can totally..HOLD HANDS!!!

Freminet: mm. think bigger than that.

Gaming: oh shit wait hold on let me think..

Gaming: okay. okay hear me out

Gaming: we can kiss.

Freminet: exactly. i know you definitely like kissing me in front of everyone, but..

Gaming: a little privacy never hurt anyone, right??

Freminet: right.

Freminet: besides we haven't had time to ourselves in a while, with everything going on, especially with the festival planning.

Gaming: YOURE RIGHT

Gaming: THIS IS OUR CHANCE

Gaming: anyways will i be seeing you for the shopping trip???

Freminet: you will. it’s a date!

Gaming: ILL SEE YOU THEN

Freminet: i can't wait.

[ Everyone has gone offline. ]