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Chapter Text

Velvet
Status: Negative.
Health: 20%
Stress: 15%

Veneer
Status: Negative.
Health: 67%
Stress: 90%

//

The first thing she sees is green. She couldn’t make out much more than that. Bandages were wrapped around her face, obscuring her vision.

She could hear him breathing. He sounded like he had been running. Or crying. Probably both. She was relieved there was no ringing in her ears.

She could feel his arms around her, and his shoulder supporting her head. She noticed her feet were off the ground; he must be carrying her.

“Ven? Is that you?” Velvet whispers, struggling to find her voice.

“Yeah, it’s me. You’re awake,” Veneer replies.

“My face hurts.”

“I know. Just hang on, we’re almost there,” he assures her, but it sounded more like he was reassuring himself.

Velvet tries not to wonder about the pain in her face as she drifts in and out of consciousness. She wraps her arms around her brother’s shoulders, partially to help him carry her easier, but mostly for her own comfort. No matter what had happened, she knew he would keep her safe. He always did.

//

The next time Velvet woke up, she was still being carried. Only now, they were inside, and he sits her down. She feels her back against a wall and tile floor underneath her. Veneer throws down the backpacks he had been carrying as well as her, then he sits down beside her.

“Do you remember anything that happened back there?” he asks.

“Not really,” she sighs. The only thing she could recall from before waking up was screaming. Her throat was sore, so she assumed it was her own voice.

“That’s okay, I’ll tell you in the morning. You should get some rest for now.” He sounded tired, almost defeated.

Velvet agreed, she had been asleep while he carried her, but she was still incredibly exhausted. She wondered what he was going to tell her tomorrow, and if it had anything to do with the pain in her face.

“Is there anything I can do for you now?” Veneer offers.

“Hold my hand.”

Velvet was too tired to act aloof, she just wanted to feel safe. Veneer grabs her hand and holds it tight. She could tell something was wrong, but she was again too tired to think about what it could be. Leaning into his side, she rests her head on his shoulder.

“I love you, Vels,” Veneer says, and leans his head close to hers.

“I love you too,” Velvet mumbles. “You’re the best brother I could ask for.” As she drifts off to sleep, she swears she can hear him start to cry.

//

“I think I’m starting to remember what happened,” Velvet says. She was still drowsy, but more awake than she had been earlier.

The two were in an abandoned fast food place on the outskirts of the city, Velvet still resting against the wall. Veneer had checked the area, no sign of infected, but they couldn’t stay here forever. Velvet was still regaining her senses, and somehow hadn’t noticed something was missing from her face.

“Okay, what do you remember?” Veneer asks, sitting across from her.

“I was being attacked. I think I hit my head, and then the right side of my face hurt really bad, and there was screaming. I’m pretty sure it was me,” she tells him.

“Yeah, that sounds about right. Do you remember anything else?”

“Uh, yeah, I saw someone right before I passed out. I think it was you. Next thing I know, I wake up to you carrying me.”

“You’re right, it was me,” he takes a deep breath, and looks her in the eye. “I need to tell you something, and you’re gonna freak out, but just know that you’re safe. I,” he holds her hand and looks down at it, “I did everything I could.”

“Okay, just get to the point,” Velvet says, trying to hide her nervousness.

Veneer takes another deep breath.

“You lost your eye.”

Velvet figured she misheard him; her senses still weren’t all the way back.

“What?”

“This one,” he says, and taps the right side of her face. She has a rush of tingling in her face, as she realizes half her field of vision was missing. The bandages around her head weren’t covering her eye, they were there to protect the wound where it had been.

Velvet felt violently awake for the first time since she woke up. She struggles to stand up, then stumbles towards a mirror on the back wall of the restaurant. She lifts up the bandages, and sees that he’s serious.

“No… No, no, no!” she cries as she collapses back on the floor. Veneer runs to her and pulls her into a hug as she sobs, painfully aware the tears were only on her left side.

“You’re still beautiful,” he reassures her, gently rubbing her back while she sobs into his shoulder.

“You don’t mean that,” she snaps. “You should have just let me die, it would be better than living looking like this.”

“Well, you don’t mean that,” he scoffs. “Okay, stop being dramatic, we’re gonna fix this.”

“How could we possibly fix this, you idiot? I fucking lost my eye!” she yells at him, then breaks into sobs again.

“Come on,” Veneer brushes off her outburst and her tears, then helps her to stand. “Sit here.” He pulls out a chair from one of the tables, and Velvet obliges. He then grabs a pair of scissors from behind the counter, and walks back over to his sister.

“Sit up straight,” he tells her as he sections off her hair in the front.

“I don’t trust you to do this at all.”

“Too bad, I’m all you’ve got.” He smiles as he cuts Velvet’s hair to lay over her injured side. She would never admit it, but she found it relaxing.

“Are you giving me emo bangs or something?” she asks, and rolls her singular eye. She would have to get used to that feeling fast.

“Yeah, pretty much,” Veneer answers as he makes the finishing touches on her hair. “There, good as new!” He takes her hand, then leads her back over to the mirror. Her hair covered her injured side, and she was surprised at how well it had turned out. “What do you think?”

“It’s fine, I guess,” she shrugs, but smiles softly to let him know she liked it. Stars changed their hair all the time, she reasoned.

“See? I knew we could fix it.” Veneer smiles back at her in the mirror. He had changed his hair since the outbreak, too. He had to sacrifice his hair gel, but he couldn’t bring himself to cut it off, so now he had long hair down to his upper back. It made him look a little more like his sister, but he didn’t mind.

“I wouldn’t say we completely fixed it. I’m still missing an eye,” she responds, and jokingly nudges him on the arm.

Veneer’s smile drops as he looks down at the floor. “I’m so sorry,” he says quietly, while tears start to roll down his face.

“Hey, don’t cry! I was kidding, I actually love it,” she admits. “You did a great job.”

“But I couldn’t protect you,” he responds, the tears turning into sobs.

Velvet pulls him into her arms and holds him tight. “Yes you did,” she disagrees, “I’m still standing right here with you. You saved me, Ven.”

“But you still got hurt. I wasn’t fast enough,” he says, melting into her arms.

“I’m going to get hurt, you know. But I can handle it,” she assures him. “And I know you’ll always be there for me.”

It was a bad injury, but nothing she couldn’t come back from. She turns her head to the mirror, seeing herself holding him. At least she was still with her brother, that was all that really mattered. At least they had each other.

“And I’ll always be here for you,” Velvet continues, rocking Veneer side to side. “I’ll never leave you. I promise.”

Veneer looks up at her, starting to calm down. “I’m sorry, Vels, you should be the one upset, not me.”

“Yeah, you’re right. You big baby,” she laughs and shoves him on the arm. “Hey, let’s dance! I’m gonna have to figure out how to balance like this, might as well start now.”

“Okay,” Veneer agrees, brushing off his tears. “But we don’t have any music.”

“Hm, you’re right. I guess,” she sighs, remembering she’ll have to use her natural voice, “I guess we could sing.” She puts one hand on his shoulder, then holds his hand with her free one.

“Sounds good to me,” he agrees, starting to sway with her. “You know, if we practiced, I really think we could actually sound good. Just by ourselves.”

“Yeah, right,” she says sarcastically, but part of her believed him. For now, they sing off-key.

“Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something”

“Some of them want to use you,” Velvet sings as she spins Veneer around.

“Some of them want to get used by you,” Veneer sings in reply, then spins her in return.

“Hold your head up,” Velvet sings, then points at her brother.

“Movin’ on!” Veneer answers, now singing in a country accent.

“Why do you sound like a cowboy?” Velvet interrupts the song, but they keep swaying together.

“I don’t know! I’m gonna pick you up now,” Veneer responds, changing the subject. He effortlessly picks her up, throws her in the air, then catches her.

“Woah!” Velvet exclaims, stumbling around once she was back on the ground.

“Sorry,” Veneer says, helping her stand. He had realized too late her balance would be off until she got used to her injury. “I got excited. We should dance more often.”

Velvet smiles, resting her hands back on his shoulders. “Yeah, we should,” she agrees.

“So our dances don’t suck anymore?”

“That’s subjective.”

“Oh my gosh, remember when we learned the choreography to Bad Romance? Our parents were so confused,” he laughs, remembering simpler times.

“And we would make those awful outfits out of old Halloween costumes,” she joins in, laughing along with him. “We thought we looked so cool.”

“What do you mean? We did look that cool,” he says, and Velvet couldn’t tell if he was joking.

They stay like that until the sky turns pink, then orange, then purple, then black. Dancing, laughing, and singing off-key, it was almost like they were kids again.

//

A few days later, they had stayed up till dark, stars illuminating the night sky. The former stars laid on the grass outside, looking up.

“This would be a lot more fun if I knew the constellations,” Velvet comments. By now, she was starting to recover from her other injuries as well.

“Yeah, it would,” Veneer agrees. “Hey, I know, let’s make up new ones! It’s just us out here, after all,” he suggests.

“Hm, okay,” Velvet says, squinting to try and make out shapes in the sky.

“That one’s you,” Veneer says, pointing at the brightest star he could find. “So I guess that one’s me,” he shifts his hand to a smaller star next to it, the second brightest in the sky.

“And that’s our yacht,” Velvet adds, pointing at a group of stars that looked nothing like a yacht.

“That’s definitely the Rage Dome,” Veneer points at a group of stars that were vaguely in a circle. “What color is that star?” he asks, pointing at a star in front of the Rage Dome that seemed to flicker to a different hue the longer they looked at it.

“Maybe it’s multicolored? That one’s got to be that interviewer you liked,” she decides.

“I could see that,” Veneer agrees, not denying either of her statements.

“See all those stars scattered around us?” She points back at the stars Veneer had decided were them, noticing how her star seemed to be in the center of it all.

“What about them?”

“That’s all our hair gel. And nail polish, and makeup, and that kind of stuff.”

“Thank goodness! I don’t know who I am without my lipstick,” he laughs, leaning closer to her. “It’s getting cold, we should probably go inside soon.”

“Ugh, do we have to?” Velvet whines, disappointed. She was tired, but she was finally having fun again.

“Tell you what: we’ll go inside, and I’ll braid your hair, then we can name more stars tomorrow,” Veneer offers. She knew he was having fun too, but he was more concerned with her health.

“Fine,” she sighs, content with the compromise. Veneer helps her to stand, then lets her lean on him for support as they walk back inside.

The two sit together on a booth, they had found it was the least uncomfortable spot. Velvet lays her head on Veneer’s chest, using him as a makeshift pillow. He chooses different small sections of her hair to braid, making it last longer, as it was equally calming for both of them.

“Tomorrow’s my turn,” Veneer tells her. She wasn’t getting out of it, but she didn’t really want to. Still, she had to argue.

“But I’m injured! You’d force your injured, exhausted sister to be your pillow and play with your hair all night?” Veneer could hear the smile in her voice.

“Yes I would,” he agrees proudly.

Velvet starts to drift off to sleep, still feeling him braiding her hair. It was like the apocalyptic version of a spa day.

“Can I sing you to sleep?” Veneer asks, noticing her starting to fall asleep. Even after all that happened, he still liked to sing, even if he didn’t sound as good as when he was a star.

“If you must,” Velvet sighs. She would never tell him, but she thought nothing could be more perfect than this ending to their stargazing evening.

“Drop everything now
Meet me in the pouring rain
Spin me on the sidewalk
Take away the pain
Cause I see sparks fly, whenever you smile”

Veneer was terribly off-key, but Velvet couldn’t bring herself to care. She liked how he changed the words to match them.

“Get me with that blue eye, Velvet
As the sun goes down
Give me something that’ll haunt me when you’re not around
Cause I see sparks fly, whenever you smile”

The hum of his chest while he sings combined with the braiding is enough to put her to sleep for the night. Still, she kept smiling, which made Veneer believe everything might be okay.

.

Chapter Text

Velvet
Status: Negative.
Health: 81%
Stress: 19%

Veneer
Status: Negative.
Health: 89%
Stress: 22%

//

The first thing she sees is his bright blue eyes, staring into hers as she wakes up. They were in the back of an abandoned pickup truck, where they had fallen asleep watching the stars together. It had been one year since she had woken up to him carrying her, since they had danced and named the stars.

“Wakey wakey!” Veneer says, poking at her face.

“Ten more minutes,” Velvet mumbles, swatting at his hand and leaning back on his side.

“I already let you sleep in,” he tells her. “We should have gotten up an hour ago, but someone wouldn’t stay awake.”

“Okay, fine, I’m up.” Velvet sits up and rubs her eye, then turns her back to him. “Braid me!”

“What did we talk about asking nicely?” he asks in a condescending tone, referencing the counseling they had during and after prison. Velvet lets out a big sigh, then twists around to face him.

“Pretty please?” she asks sarcastically, giving him the biggest puppy dog eyes (or eye in her case) she could manage. “With a cherry on top?”

“Yeah, I’m just messing with you,” Veneer responds. He uses his fingers to comb out her hair, then ties it into a single braid. “Alright, turn around.”

He takes out a piece of cloth that looked like a scarf from one of their bags. He then wraps it around Velvet’s scar, and ties it into a bow at the top. Once it’s set, he takes out the shorter pieces of hair from her braid and lays them over the fabric, now covering the right side of her face.

“There! Looking sharp,” he says, laughing softly. Despite the world being in ruins, and it just being the two of them out there, the twins still liked to look good. “My turn!” Veneer turns his back to her, waiting for her to do his hair for the day.

Velvet braids his hair into the same style as hers, only his was somewhat shorter. Once she’s done, she pats him on the head.

“All done! Let’s get going,” she says as he turns around to face her. “Maybe we’ll finally find a place to stay today.”

Over the past few days, the twins had been walking, trying to find a new place to stay. Their last place, a hotel that might have been nice once, had finally been found by infected. They were running low on food, and weren’t really sure where they were going. Still, they were together, so they were convinced they would be alright.

“Yeah, I really hope so,” Veneer says as he stands up, then climbs out of the truck. He helps Velvet down, and they take out the various backpacks and suitcases they used for clothes and other necessities. There were some non-necessities too, such as a few makeup products they had managed to keep from their famous days.

The twins join hands without thinking, then start their walking for the day.

//

After a quick lunch break, they found themselves on a road, walking towards nothing they knew of. It was nothing compared to the roads on Mount Rageous, but at least it gave them some sort of path.

Veneer takes Velvet’s hand in his again, and swings it while they walk. He decides now is the perfect time to break into song. Velvet was used to it.

“Her name is Velvet!
She was a showgirl
But that was four years ago, when we used to have a show”

“Those aren’t the words,” Velvet interrupts.

“I know! I’m making a remix,” Veneer responds, then goes back to singing.

“Now it’s a disco
But not for Velvet
Still in that dress she used to wear, she makes her brother do her hair”

“Oh please, you love it,” Velvet interrupts again.

“Yeah, I do,” he admits.

“She sits there so refined
And drinks herself half blind”

Velvet shoots him a dirty look.

“What? Those are the actual words this time, and you are half blind now,” he says what she was thinking. “Sorry, that was in bad taste.”

“No, keep singing,” she encourages him. “I want to know what happens to this Velvet girl next.” Veneer shrugs and continues the song, still swinging her hand.

“She lost her youth and she lost her, uh, actually I can’t think of anything for this one.”

“Seriously? There’s so many things you could choose from,” she says, rolling her eye. “I lost my fame, my fans, my eye, most of my stuff, take your pick.”

“But none of those have two syllables!” he replies. “Hm, I give up. I’ll just skip to the next part. Now she’s lost her mind!”

“Shh!” Velvet shushes him, dropping his hand and putting a protective arm in front of him.

“Damn, I didn’t think my signing was that bad,” Veneer says, offended. Just then, Velvet grabs him by the arm and pulls him behind a car on the side of the road, hiding behind it.

“Do you hear that? I think there’s someone out there,” she whispers. Sure enough, she could hear faint footsteps and laughter.

“Yeah, I’m gonna take a look,” he whispers back. Veneer peeks over the car, then tells her what he sees.

“Two people. One blonde and taller, one with purple hair. Boy and girl, I think.”

“What are they doing?”

“Just walking and talking, from the looks of it. Wait. They have food!”

“Should we rob them?” Velvet suggests, ready to revert back to her life of crime.

“No! Wait, actually, maybe,” Veneer contemplates. “Shit!” He quickly ducks back behind the car.

“What?!”

“They saw me! I think they’re walking towards us,” he whispers.

“Dammit, Ven! What if they’re dangerous? Get your gun,” she whispers back, deciding they’ll threaten the two strangers before they have a chance to find them. “I’ll take blondie, you take the purple one.”

“Okay,” Veneer agrees, getting his gun out of one of their bags. In their time together during the outbreak, they had had to learn to shoot. Velvet was surprisingly good, while Veneer only seemed to be accurate when his sister was in danger. Still, they get ready to corner the strangers.

“If they kill us, I love you, dumbass,” Velvet whispers.

“I love you too,” Veneer replies, bracing himself. They nod at each other, then run out from behind the car.

“Hands up!” Velvet yells, pointing the gun at the blonde boy across from her. Veneer does the same to the girl with purple hair.

The boy quickly takes out his own gun, pointing it at both of them. They must have only had one between them, as the girl takes out a knife instead.

“Drop the weapons!” the boy yells. Some part of Velvet thought she recognized him, but she didn’t believe it. He was in all plain black, the star she remembered wouldn’t be caught in anything besides bright colors.

“You drop your weapons!” Velvet yells in response. To her surprise, the girl actually drops her knife. She motions for her friend to drop his weapon, as he gives her a look of confusion.

“Ritz, wait!” the girl says, a high-pitched voice that Velvet thought was oddly familiar. “Don’t you recognize them?”

“Wait. Ritz? As in Kid Ritz?” Veneer asks, his voice softening as he lowers his weapon.

“Oh my god. Veneer?” The boy takes a closer look at the twins. They had all lowered or dropped their weapons by now.

“It’s really them!” The girl squeals, a huge smile covering her face.

“What are you guys doing out here?” Ritz asks, now staring dumbfounded at the two of them.

“I could say the same thing about you!” Velvet responds, still in disbelief. Out of everyone they could have run into, it just happened to be the iconic interviewer from Mount Rageous? And a girl stranger, Velvet thought, although something about her seemed familiar. The girl was practically bouncing up and down, Velvet hoped she wasn’t about to pass out.

“We’re looking for a place to stay,” Veneer adds, still wide-eyed at the boy he recognized from all those years ago. Velvet assumed he was experiencing the same disbelief as her. Considering what Veneer had told her about him, though, he was probably feeling more than just disbelief.

The purple haired girl gasps at his statement, Velvet becoming increasingly worried she was going to have a heart attack. She smiles at Ritz, then back at the twins.

“You two should move in with us!”

“Orchid! Can I talk to you for a second?” Ritz takes her by the arm, dragging her out of earshot of the twins.

Velvet couldn’t make out what they were saying, but at one point she saw the girl gesture at her, then violently shake Ritz by the shoulders. He shrugged, uninterested, to which she pointed at Veneer and shook him again.

“Do you think he’s still mad at me?” Veneer whispers to her, his eyes on Ritz.

“Probably. We did torture little trolls, that couldn’t have been good for his image,” Velvet responds honestly. “But hopefully he isn’t too mad, this is our chance, Ven!” She shakes him in the same way the girl had shook Ritz.

“I know! An actual place to stay? And someone to talk to other than you? It’s almost too perfect!” Veneer replies, getting excited. “No offense.”

“Please, I can’t wait to get away from you for once in my life. Full offense,” she elbows him, letting him know she’s half joking.

“If I had known he was gonna be here, I would’ve worn something nicer,” Veneer sighs. Still had to keep up appearances.

“What’s wrong with matching flannels?” Velvet responds, picking up the knife the purple haired girl had dropped on the ground. It was a solid switchblade, with a purple handle with letter patterns on it.

She turns the knife around, looking at herself in its reflection. The same blue eyes, though one was gone. The same green hair, now cut and braided by her brother. Different outfits, but they were still matching. Her earrings sparkled in the reflection, studs she had had since she was little. Diamonds, she remembered.

“They’re coming back,” Veneer says, taking a deep breath. Velvet was just as nervous as he was, but she put on a confident exterior. If they could move in with these two, it really would be almost too perfect.

Ritz casually walks back to the twins, his friend grinning ear to ear. Like them, he looked the same, yet different. Same ombré hair, but he appeared to have lost his hat. He was wearing a plain black t-shirt and sweatpants, but made up for the dullness of his outfit with colorful tattoos down his arms. The same purple eyes that Veneer always gushed to her about after their interviews.

The girl had similar violet eyes, Velvet noticed. She wore a white racerback tank top, exposing a sleeve of tattooed flowers down her left arm. She also had a piercing on her right eyebrow; Velvet thought it really suited her face.

Her face. Velvet was staring. She quickly looks down, pretending she was only staring because she hadn’t seen another girl in ages, and not because said girl was extremely cute.

“You dropped this,” Velvet hands the knife back to the girl, using it as an excuse to get a closer look at her. Her eyes light up as she takes it back, their hands accidentally brushing together. The girl’s hands were incredibly soft compared to the sharpness of her knife. The feeling made Velvet’s heart flutter in a way she couldn’t explain.

But she had felt this way before, she realizes. Four years ago, before they were exposed as frauds, the last fan she had met. She quickly glances at her lips, confirming it was that fan who so excitedly asked for a picture all those years ago.

“Wait, I remember you!” Velvet exclaims, smiling down at the shorter girl. Her eyes light up again, this time with surprise.

“You do?”

“I do! I took a picture with you right before the car chase,” she reminisces.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe you remember me…” she trails off, smiling at Velvet with awe. “Oh, where are my manners? My name’s Orchid. I’m your biggest fan,” she introduces herself, reaching out to shake Velvet’s hand. She takes it, holding on a little too long to feel that softness again.

“She really is,” Ritz adds, “You should see her room.” Orchid blushes, making Velvet wonder just what could be in her room.

“Speaking of rooms,” Ritz continues, “You two can stay with us.”

“Yes!” The twins exclaim at the same time, then do a complicated high-five handshake.

“But! I have to ask you some questions first,” Ritz says, crossing his arms.

“What is this, an interview?” Velvet rolls her eye.

“Yes. First,” Ritz begins, “Are either of you infected?”

“Do we look infected?” Velvet responds defensively. Even if she was, she probably would have lied. It wasn’t like you could tell someone you’re infected and live.

“Of course we’re not,” Veneer adds, backing her up. “Duh.”

“Okay, okay, I just had to make sure. We aren’t either. Second,” Ritz continues, “What’s your type?”

Velvet and Veneer were lucky enough to be blood type B. If either were to get infected, they would have an entire month before the disease completely took over their mind. Or they were unlucky, as they would have the most prolonged loss of sanity. But that was only if they ever got infected, which was out of the realm of possibility. They could protect each other, after all.

“Uhh, kind of androgynous, rich, dyed hair,” Veneer describes, misunderstanding the question.

“Blood type, moron,” Velvet clarifies for him. “Type B, both of us,” she answers the question. Looking at Veneer trying to hide a smile, she realizes his misunderstanding might have been intentional.

“Yikes,” Ritz comments. “Good thing you’re not infected, I heard for that type the symptoms drive you crazy before you lose consciousness.”

“At least they’re not AB,” Orchid adds. “I couldn’t imagine the thought of getting infected and suddenly having less than 30 hours to live. That’s awful,” she shudders.

She was right, depending how you look at it, being type AB was the worst fate since the outbreak. For AB people, getting infected meant the disease would completely overtake them the next time they fell asleep. It would be a speed run of the infection, with no time to properly say goodbye.

“I’m type O,” Ritz answers his own question for the twins. Right in the middle, the infection would take one week until the final stage for anyone type O.

“Me too,” Orchid says. She looks down at the ground for a split second. As quickly as she looked down, she looks back up at the twins. At Velvet.

“Glad we cleared that up,” Ritz says. His gaze travels to Veneer, eyeing him up and down. “Huh.”

Veneer, obviously trying not to blush, eyes him back suspiciously. He puts a hand on his hip, shifting his weight. “What?”

“Nothing, it’s just, you’re shorter than me,” Ritz points out. “I guess I’m used to you in platforms.”

Velvet glances at her brother, waiting for his reaction. She aggressively blinks at him; only he knew it was a wink.

“Yeah, I lost my heels in all the chaos. Tragic,” Veneer explains. Tragic indeed, but the twins were secretly happy they could get away with wearing comfortable shoes now.

“I feel that. I lost my hat,” Ritz sighs.

“Good,” Velvet interjects, “You looked like a gnome.”

“Excuse me?” Ritz puts a hand over his chest, offended. “That’s rich, considering you stole my hairstyle.” He motions to her hair, then his own, assuming they both had an eye covered.

“Well, at least I’m not ruining mine with dye,” Velvet shoots back. “It’s the end of the world, who are you trying to impress?”

“Everyone, calm down!” Orchid steps in between them, patting Ritz on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s go home, we’re losing daylight.”

Velvet and Veneer nod at each other, then walk back to the car where they had dropped their bags. Once they were far away enough from Orchid and Ritz, they both breathe a heavy sigh of relief. Without talking, they knew exactly what the other was thinking. A mix of relief, excitement, and gay panic.

Walking back to their new roommates, Velvet sees Orchid’s eyes widen at how much she was carrying. She quickly walks towards her, holding out a hand.

“Here, let me carry some of that,” she offers. “I insist.” She takes a backpack that Velvet hands her, their hands brushing together again. She wondered whether her biggest fan could tell she was doing it on purpose this time.

Veneer and Ritz have a similar exchange, the latter complaining about how heavy the bag was. He must have had the one with Veneer’s fancy Hollywood robe that he refused to part with.

Once the bags were dealt with, the four start walking. The twins follow Ritz and Orchid’s lead, Velvet finding herself on Orchid’s left side. She takes a closer look at her tattoo, noticing how the flowers were orchids.

“I like your tattoo.” As she compliments her, Orchid’s grin returns, something about it making Velvet smile as well.

“Aw, thank you!” she responds excitedly, showing off her arm. “He did it for me, actually,” she adds, pointing at Ritz. Velvet looks over at him, seeing a few orchid flowers mixed with his other tattoos. From the looks of it, he had more tattoos than any of them.

“I have one too,” Velvet says, rolling up her left sleeve.

Two bold stars decorated her inner forearm, one slightly bigger than the other. Both stars had a V drawn in them, with slightly faded colorful music notes surrounding each one.

“Woah, that’s so cool!” Orchid comments, admiring the line work. “Where’d you get it?”

“Prison,” Velvet shrugs. “Me and Veneer got matching ones after we stopped being mad at each other all the time,” she explains, nudging Veneer on the other side of her. He rolls up his left sleeve, showing off the exact same tattoo on his arm.

“Oh my gosh, right! How was jail?” Orchid asks eagerly, as if she was asking about her day at school. “Uh, sorry, you don’t have to talk about it,” she adds, realizing it might be a sensitive topic.

After calling her brother every swear word in the English language, then ignoring him for weeks, their time in prison had actually brought them closer together. As always, they had each other. Their year of imprisonment felt like forever ago now, as the outbreak started only a few months after they were let out.

Since then, the twins had fallen into a routine: find somewhere to stay with enough food and shelter, have to leave once infected find it, try to salvage as much stuff as they could before they ran, repeat. Their new life in this dystopia had its highlights, though, like naming the stars. Velvet and Veneer had found they had more time than ever to practice their singing, Velvet discovering she didn’t hate it as much as she expected. Even if she had to work, it was worth it to sing with her brother again. Not like she would ever tell him, though.

“Jail wasn’t nearly as fun as I thought,” Veneer answers, sighing. “But we did get therapy. And cool tattoos!”

“It’s jail, it’s not supposed to be fun,” Ritz says, walking on the other side of Orchid. “Damn, it’s been so long! How old are you two now?”

“We’re 22,” Velvet answers.

“Me too,” Ritz replies, “That makes you still the youngest, Orchid.”

“Yeah, I’m still 21,” Orchid says. “My birthday is pretty soon, though! Only about two months!” Velvet smiles, imagining celebrating Orchid’s birthday with her. For some reason she struggled to explain, she couldn’t wait.

Veneer starts laughing, sneaking a closer look at Ritz. The latter narrows his eyes at him, as if to ask what was so funny.

“I guess we have to call you Adult Ritz now,” Veneer jokes, as Ritz lets out a heavy sigh.

“You really don’t,” Ritz rolls his eyes, hiding a smile behind them. “Just Ritz is fine.”

“What about Kid Rizz?” Velvet suggests, snickering. Ritz physically cringes, making the twins laugh even harder. Orchid joins in the laughter as well, to which Ritz hides his face in his hands and groans.

“When I chose my name, I really didn’t think this would be the outcome,” he responds, rolling his eyes again. He was trying so hard not to smile.

“Wait, Ven,” Velvet gets another idea as she sings, “If you’re blue and you don’t know where to go to, why don’t you go where fashion sits?”

Veneer gasps excitedly, then sings in response, “Puttin’ on the Ritz!”

“That reminds me, we should look for Ritz crackers at the store tomorrow,” Orchid adds, then goes back to laughing at her friend.

“You’re all terrible,” Ritz says dryly, but a snicker escapes with his statement.

“You’re terrible!” Velvet replies, cracking up. She then grabs Orchid by her arm and pulls her until they’re walking a few yards in front of Ritz and Veneer. “Come on Orchid, let’s ditch these clowns!”

Orchid laughs even harder, her face turning red. Velvet had a suspicion that wasn’t the only reason for her color change, as she gently lets go of her arm. She could hear Ritz and her brother laughing behind them, but now they were far enough away to have their own conversations.

She hears Veneer ask something about the store Orchid had mentioned, to which Ritz asks just how lost were they. Velvet was curious about the store too, but she had an even stronger lingering curiosity. Her eye darts to Ritz suspiciously, then back to Orchid, her gaze softening.

“So are you and Ritz, like, together?” She asks, deciding to take the risk. Her heart beats faster, anticipating the answer.

“Us? Oh no,” Orchid responds, laughing at the thought, “Definitely not.”

Velvet almost lets out a sigh of relief, but catches herself. The butterflies in her stomach intensify, reminding her of how she felt when she had met Orchid in front of the flashing lights.

“Besides, he’s not my type,” Orchid continues, “We’ve been best friends since the yearbook club in school. I got the pictures, he did the interviews. It was a good system,” she explains, and Velvet thought she could listen to her talk for hours.

“Oh my gosh, I can’t wait for you to see our place!” Orchid continues talking, Velvet finding her voice refreshing. “It’s kind of a mess, but we have hot water, and ooh, you should let Ritz read your tarot cards, and, sorry, I’m rambling!”

“No, no, you’re fine,” Velvet assures her. “Trust me, you have no idea how nice it is to hear a new voice.”

A big grin appears on Orchid’s face. “It’s just, like, you’re my favorite pop star ever, and now you’re gonna live with me during the apocalypse? It’s crazy exciting!” She says, a spring in her step.

“I’m excited too!” Velvet tells her, in disbelief that she still had a fan after all that happened. “A place to stay, food and hot water, and a friend to hang out with that isn’t my brother? It’s perfect!”

“Oh my god, I’m Velvet’s friend now…” Orchid realizes aloud. “I think I’m gonna pass out,” she adds, and Velvet wasn’t sure if she was joking.

“Don’t pass out, I have no idea where we’re going,” Velvet says. “Besides, then I’d have to carry you, and my arms are super sore.” Even though she was sore, she wouldn’t have minded carrying her. Maybe she would even get to later.

“No promises,” she responds. “But I think I’ll be fine, and we’re almost home.”

Home. It felt so right.

//

Talking to Ritz now was just as nerve wracking as when Veneer almost blew their cover during their interview. But it was just as exciting. They had reasonably lost touch after Veneer went to prison; he never thought he would talk to him again. Now, he was right next to him, about to be his roommate during the end of the world. Who would’ve thought?

“Are we almost there?” Veneer asks, wondering how much eye contact was the right amount. He fiddles with his hair, moving his braid to the other side.

“Yeah, just a bit more,” Ritz answers. “By the way, I love the new hairstyle. It suits you,” he adds.

“Thank you!” Veneer gives him a sweet smile, internally screaming. “I had a mental breakdown the other day and tried to give myself curtain bangs. It was, uh, something.”

“I think it looks nice,” Ritz tells him, comfortably meeting his eyes.

Veneer was right back to his days in Mount Rageous, always looking forward to the next time he’d see that special interviewer. His confident presence, his purple lipstick, the way he looked at him, it all made Veneer’s heart flutter. Losing all of that was easily one of the worst parts of his fall from fame. He could handle it now, though, as he was about to get it all back.

“And we’re here! Home sweet home,” Orchid’s voice snaps Veneer out of his daze. The four of them stood in front of a small house, nothing but a grass yard and shed surrounding it.

Orchid leads them to the door on the side of the house. She takes out a carabiner decorated with keychains from her pocket, then unlocks the door and holds it open for the rest of them.

It was a cozy house, with the living room and kitchen side by side. A pull out bed took up the main room, still in bed form and lazily made. A counter with two chairs divided the kitchen in the middle, and there was a somewhat functioning refrigerator in the corner. A hallway in the back led to the other section of the house.

Veneer sets his bags down, next to a line of cabinets and drawers. It seemed like Ritz and Orchid had been here for at least as long as he and Velvet had been in the hotel, and they had made a similar routine for themselves. Ritz sets Veneer’s bag next to him, then gestures around.

“So, what do you think? Not much compared to my apartment in the city, but we make it work,” Ritz smiles to Orchid.

“I don’t know,” Veneer shrugs, giving Ritz a judgmental look. “I’m into more of a boho chic style.”

“Well I love it,” Velvet argues.

“You do?” Orchid and Ritz ask at the same time.

“At this point, I love any place that has an actual bed,” she clarifies.

“Oh, that reminds me,” Orchid says, “You two can take my room! I usually sleep out here anyways. Come here, I’ll show you,” she skips off down the hallway, stopping at a half open door. She stands in front of it, defensively holding her arms out.

“Now, before we go in here, I need you all to know that I am not a stalker,” Orchid claims.

Veneer turns his head to Velvet, exchanging a worried glance with her. Oh god, she’s about to kill us, Veneer thinks, immediately jumping to the worst conclusion. Or do some crazy experiment on us. Or put us in a giant blender. Oh fuck, I don’t want to be blended, he shudders as Orchid opens the door, the four of them walking into her room.

There were no murder weapons, no giant blenders. Thank goodness. Instead, there were hundreds of photos lining a section of the wall.

Photos of Orchid and Ritz, back when they were little. Photos of them older, living in Mount Rageous. Pictures, magazine pages, merch posters of past stars, mostly of Velvet and Veneer. Some of them were even signed with Velvet’s elegant handwriting.

A certain photo caught Veneer’s attention, the same photo catching Velvet’s eye as well. Him and his sister back to back, in the middle of their dance on their car. Cameras flashed and signs shown behind them, giving them a glowing aura. Next to her brother, perfect hair, voice, and eyes, Velvet looked so happy.

He tilts his head to Velvet, watching her take in all the pictures of her from when they had been famous. He could tell how much she missed it as she grabs his hand, squeezing it tight. He missed it too, he tells her by squeezing her hand in response.

“Like I said, I promise I’m not a stalker,” Orchid repeats.

“She’s more of a hoarder,” Ritz adds, looking at the photo wall with them.

“No,” Velvet breaks her silence, “I think it’s really cool. I figured everyone hated us after, you know,” she sighs. “And I especially didn’t think we’d still have fans now.”

“I never hated you! I was your biggest defender, Ritz had to get me unbanned from social media so many times ‘cause I kept getting into arguments,” Orchid explains.

Speaking of Ritz, another photo stood out to Veneer. Ritz was definitely younger in this one, with hot pink hair. He was laying upside down on a bean bag chair, his eyes tinted red, holding up finger guns.

“You look high in this,” Veneer comments, pointing at the photo. Ritz leans down next to him, taking a closer look at it.

“I am high in that! Orchid, why’d you save that one?”

“How could I not save that one?” Orchid asks in response.

“Hang on, where is it,” Ritz mumbles, looking around for a certain picture. “Here it is! This is Orchid after getting caught for speeding,” he announces, pointing at the photo.

Orchid was passed out on the road next to her car, laying in what looked like an uncomfortable position. A cop was next to the scene, taking notes. In the front of the frame, they could see Ritz smiling and holding a thumbs up, his other arm outstretched holding the camera.

“How do you even speed in Mount Rageous?” Velvet comments.

“I like to live fast,” Orchid shrugs.

“Sounds fun. As much as I’d like to keep looking at myself,” Velvet doesn’t finish her statement, her next actions finishing it instead.

She walks over to Orchid’s bed, a decently sized queen. She then face-plants onto the bed, releasing a groan that had been building up for days. Velvet looked the most comfortable Veneer had seen her in a long time, as she sprawled out, tangling herself in the covers.

“Move over!” Veneer exclaims, flopping down on the bed beside her. It soon becomes a game of tug-a-war with one of the blankets.

“You move over!” Velvet yells back, whacking him with a pillow.

“Ow! She abuses me!” Veneer accuses, pointing at her and giving sad eyes to Ritz and Orchid.

“I do not,” she scoffs and rolls her eye.

“You kick me every night!” He turns back to Ritz and Orchid, arguing his case. “She falls asleep, and just when she looks all peaceful, she starts kicking me out of nowhere!”

He loved giving her a hard time about it, but he had grown used to her kicking. It barely ever woke him up now. At this point, he would be more worried if she didn’t kick.

Remembering a conversation he overheard earlier, Veneer suddenly sits up.

“Orchid, you said you have hot water, right?”

“Yeah! Bathroom’s over there, it’s a nice shower,” Orchid points to a door on the other side of her room.

Veneer locks eyes with his sister, then they both scramble off the bed towards the bathroom. Unfortunately for him, she wins the race.

“Ladies first!” Velvet sticks out her tongue, then slams the door in his face.

Accepting defeat, he follows Ritz and Orchid back to the main room. On the counter, there was a device that looked like a miniature boombox, with a screen attached to the back of it. Ritz had noticed what he was looking at, as he walks over and picks up the device.

“We have a music player! Got any requests?” He sits down, scrolling through the screen. “Also, I’m a huge BroZone fan, so you better get used to it.”

“Yeah, how about-“

Before Veneer could request a song, he’s cut off by a loud vocalizing from the shower. The three of them had the exact same idea as they all rushed back to Orchid’s room.

Ritz met Veneer’s eyes, trying not to snicker. Velvet’s voice cut through the walls.

“Rah rah, ah ah ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh la la
Want your bad romance”

Veneer looks over to Orchid, a huge smile covering her face. She looked just as excited as he assumed she looked when she used to watch his and Velvet’s concerts.

“I want your horror, I want your design
‘Cause you’re a criminal as long as you’re mine
I want your love
Love, love, love, I want your love”

“You sound great, Vels!” Veneer yells through the wall.

“Shut up!” Velvet yells back, offended that he interrupted her singing.

After a moment, she goes back to her shower concert, switching to another song by the same artist.

//

“Baby, now that we’re alone, got a request
Would you make me number one on your playlist?
Got your Dre headphones with the left side on
Wanna scratch me back and forth, back and forth? Uh-huh”

Orchid couldn’t believe she was hearing Velvet sing again. Not only that, but she was in her house, just behind that door. This was easily one of her top fantasies, it seemed too good to be true.

“Put your hands on my waist, pull the fader
Run it back with original flavor
Get the breakdown first
Up until the chorus to the verse, reverse”

Velvet had no idea how much Orchid wanted to put her hands on her waist. So she figured.

“I’m so starstruck
Baby, cause you blow my heart up”

“You’re number one on my playlist, Velvet!” Orchid yells to her excitedly. Her days of being a fangirl had never really stopped.

“Aw, thank you!” Velvet yells back from the shower. “Orchid’s my favorite now!” She adds, making Veneer sadly shake his head.

“You’re my favorite too!” If Orchid had died right then, she would have died happy. Very much alive, however, she could barely contain her energy as she bounces on her heels.

I’m Velvet’s friend! I’m Velvet’s favorite! She touched my arm! She doesn’t think I’m a creepy stalker! At least I hope not, she lets her thoughts race as Velvet continues singing. She almost whacked Ritz with a pillow as he started talking over her.

“You can get settled; Orchid and I will make dinner,” Ritz tells Veneer. “How does cold pizza sound?”

“Sounds perfect,” he answers.

Nothing could sound more perfect than Velvet’s voice, Orchid thinks as Ritz drags her to the kitchen. While he sets up the plates, she skips around and giggles like a little kid. Now that Veneer was in the other room, she could lose some filter.

“Are you gonna help me?” Ritz asks, side eyeing her.

“She was in my bed, Ritz! Oh my gosh, do you think she’ll have cute pajamas?” She could feel her face turn hot as she imagined what sleepwear Velvet might have.

“I guess not,” Ritz answers his own question, setting the rest of the plates.

“Maybe she’ll have cute flannel pants. Or, like, one of those satin sets from Victoria’s Secret,” she fantasizes. “Wait, speaking of that-“

“No one has lingerie during the apocalypse,” Ritz interrupts, practically reading her mind.

“Aw, man! Just let me have this!” Orchid dramatically drapes herself over the counter; she was the happiest girl in the world for now. “Well, I’m sure whatever she has will be super stylish.”

Just then, the shower turns off. Orchid stands up and shakes her hands in anticipation. Sure, she had seen Velvet in all kinds of stunning outfits, but she was so far away on that stage. Now she was only a room away, and Orchid would soon be able to see whatever gorgeous thing she was wearing up close.

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, Velvet strolls into the main room. To say Orchid was devastated would be an understatement.

Velvet’s hair was thrown into a messy bun, not wearing any of the cute options Orchid had daydreamed about. Instead, she was wearing the most basic, boring gray t-shirt and sweatpants.

Ritz joins Orchid on the other side of the counter, and nudges her arm. As much as she loved him, she wanted to smack that smirk off his face.

“Sorry for your loss,” he whispers to her.

“At least you still have Veneer’s outfit to look forward to,” she whispers back, knowing he felt the same way about Veneer as she did about Velvet.

Velvet joins them by the counter, taking a slice of pizza.

“What are you guys talking about?”

“Oh, nothing,” Ritz answers, handing her a juice box. “But that outfit is atrocious,” he adds, to which Velvet gasps, offended.

Orchid had to agree with Ritz, even if Velvet was the most amazing girl she had ever laid eyes on. She wondered how well Velvet could see, though, as her seemingly new bangs completely covered her right eye.

“Excuse me for not wearing my finest evening wear on this lovely apocalyptic night,” Velvet rolls her exposed eye. “I’ll wear something nicer tomorrow if it matters that much.”

Please do, Orchid thinks, happy again now that Velvet had confirmed she had more stylish outfits. The three of them sit on the pull out bed, luckily it was big enough that everyone could have room.

She could tell Ritz was hoping Veneer would step up his pajama fashion, as they hear the shower turn off once again. She watches his heart shatter as Veneer walks into the living room, wearing the exact same outfit as his sister. The disappointment in Ritz’s eyes was devastating.

“So, I guess we should get to know each other,” Ritz says once Veneer sits down with them. “I know, let’s play truth or dare!”

“Ugh, not that game!” Orchid exclaims. “You always ask the nosiest questions!”

“Being nosy is literally in my job description,” Ritz argues. “Anyways, Orchid, truth or dare?”

Her friend may be nosy, but Orchid’s opinion of the game changed as soon as she remembered Velvet was sitting right next to her. As long as none of the questions were embarrassing, she might get to share secrets with Velvet.

“Truth.”

//

Sitting next to Orchid, Velvet found herself excited about whatever she could reveal next.

“How did you realize you were gay?” Ritz asks. As he outed her, Velvet’s heart speeds up. She had her suspicions, but now she could be sure Orchid was like her. Thank goodness.

“You already know this,” Orchid answers, confused.

“Yeah, I’m helping you,” Ritz tells her.

Orchid’s eyes widen in realization, as she seems to remember why her answer is significant. She turns to the twins.

“I figured it out when I watched Sailor Moon as a kid.”

“We love Sailor Moon!” Veneer adds in. “I had the biggest crush on Tuxedo Mask,” he explains, “And don’t even get me started on Kunzite and Zoisite. Couple goals.”

“I know, right? I always liked the villains,” Orchid replies. “My favorite and gay awakening was Esmeraude.”

The name seemed familiar, but Velvet just couldn’t place her. Season two, maybe?

“Esmeraude… which one was that?” Velvet asks, her eye on Orchid.

“She was from the Black Moon Clan!” Orchid tells her, that adorable smile on her face once again. “She was super sassy, and had long green hair, and she had the best outfits. I especially liked the one where she took the crown and got these big shoulder pads. She was super badass!”

“Wasn’t she obsessed with that gross dude? Demande or something?” Veneer replies.

“Ugh, I know, she could do so much better!” Orchid groans in frustration. “I could totally treat her right.”

Aside from being obsessed with some dude, Velvet realized she had a lot in common with Esmeraude. This must be why Ritz had told Orchid he was helping her. Orchid had a type, and Velvet fit the criteria.

“Velvet, truth or dare?” Orchid asks, meeting her gaze.

“Truth,” she answers, eager to find out what she wanted to know about her.

“What made you change your hair? Don’t get me wrong, I love it, I was just wondering ‘cause it looks kind of uncomfortable.”

Oh. Right, Orchid probably wanted to see the rest of her face. She would be so disappointed, Velvet sadly realizes. Still, her injury would come out eventually, might as well tell them now.

“Veneer did it after I lost my eye,” she answers honestly. As expected, Orchid and Ritz freeze in shock.

“I’ve been her hairstylist ever since,” Veneer adds, smiling to her.

“Velvet, I’m so sorry,” Orchid breaks her silence. She almost reaches for Velvet’s hand, but pulls away at the last second.

“It’s okay, how could you have known,” Velvet reaches for her hand and takes it, giving her a reassuring smile. “I’m used to it. Besides, now I can do this!”

She takes her hand back, then briefly lifts up her hair on her right side and stares into Veneer’s soul. He yelps, despite seeing her scar often, she could still freak him out with it unexpectedly.

“Your turn!” Velvet playfully shoves her brother on the shoulder, letting her hair return to its normal spot.

“Ugh, Vels! Hm, okay. Orchid, truth or dare?” He asks, Velvet surprised he didn’t choose Ritz.

“Uh, truth,” Orchid answers, equally surprised.

“I lost my heels, Ritz lost his hat, Velvet lost her eye. What did you lose?”

The room falls silent as Orchid answers.

“My sister.”

Veneer was already squeezing her hand before Velvet realized he had taken it. Both of their worst fears had happened to the girl sitting just next to them.

Ritz gently rubs Orchid’s back as she sighs. She nods at him, letting him know she could talk about it.

“She’s that girl in the pictures who looked like me. She was just a year older than me, and she…” she trails off as a sob escapes her, tears forming in her eyes.

Veneer looked horrified, not only had he asked the question, but Velvet knew losing his sister was always a fear in the back of his mind. After hearing that, she was a lot less concerned about her eye. She would take that, or losing anything else, over her own sibling. Looking back over to Orchid, she watches her brush her tears, taking deep breaths with Ritz.

“I’m sorry,” Orchid sighs, her voice shaking.

“Don’t be,” Velvet assures her. Fear was still present in her eyes. It was a new feeling for Velvet, all she wanted to do was make her feel better. “Can I give you a hug?”

Orchid nods, moving over and snuggling into Velvet’s arms. It wasn’t how she thought their first hug would be, but she could tell how much Orchid needed it. Velvet needed it too, as she holds her tight.

“Her name was Opal,” Orchid continues, resting her head on Velvet’s shoulder. “She got infected, and we had to leave her. I don’t know what happened to her after that. She’s probably dead, at least I hope so, for her sake.”

“I hope so too, for her sake,” Velvet responds. “That’s awful. I’m so sorry, Orchid.” She felt so soft in her arms.

“I’ll be okay, Ritz takes good care of me,” Orchid sniffles, sitting up and taking a sip of her drink. “Thank you, Velvet.”

Her name sounded so nice in Orchid’s sweet voice. She wanted to hear it over and over again, that much love in just one word.

“Also, it’s your turn,” Orchid adds, her smile starting to return.

“Right. Ritz, truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

“No fair!” Velvet exclaims. Of course the interviewer would avoid the questions.

“There are no rules against picking dare,” Ritz tells her.

“Fine. I dare you to read my tarot cards. Orchid said you knew how,” she dares him.

“Ooh, fun! I haven’t done this in a while,” Ritz responds, getting up and taking a deck of cards from a windowsill. “So, how much do you know about tarot?”

“I know the Death card is bad,” Velvet answers as the rest of them shift around to give her room.

“Nothing then, got it,” Ritz comments, sitting down across from her. “I’m just gonna do the classic past, present, and future.”

“You can tell the future?” Veneer asks, intrigued.

“I wish,” he answers. “It’s more of like, a vibe to think about for the future, you know?”

Velvet didn’t really understand, but she was curious to see what the cards held for her. Out of the corner of her eye, she catches Veneer intently staring at Ritz’s hands as he shuffles the cards. Eventually, he sets three cards face down in front of her. She points to the first one and he nods, telling her to flip it over.

A girl with long purple hair and a flowing white dress laid face down at the bottom of the card. The sky in the background was an upsetting gray, with only a few stars, the rest obscured by clouds. The part that stood out the most to Velvet were the ten swords impaling the girl, her blood spilling out on the ground under her.

“Is she dead?” Velvet asks, concerned that her past was represented by this.

“If you think she is,” Ritz shrugs. “This is mostly about interpretation.”

“Okay, enlighten me. What’s this supposed to mean?”

“The Ten of Swords isn’t the best card to get, as you can tell,” Ritz explains. “It usually symbolizes defeat, loss, pain, the like. The swords could represent all the things impacting you in the moment, or maybe all the things you’ve lost.”

There were way more than ten things she had lost. First her fame and status, then even more since the outbreak. Sometimes it really did feel like swords in her back.

There was one thing she hadn’t lost, though, as she notices two stars together in the sky of the card. She looks over at Veneer, his eyes soft towards her.

“Alright, present,” she says, flipping over the next card.

Thank goodness, this one was a lot less threatening. Two people sat across from each other at a table, gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes. They were clinking their drink glasses together in the center of the table, Velvet noticing one drink was green, while the other was purple. In the background, there were flowers: roses, daisies, forget-me-nots, even some orchids.

“The Two of Cups! That’s a good one,” Ritz tells her, his tone shifting. He moves his hands while he talks, a habit she noticed Veneer had picked up, probably from him, during their time in Mount Rageous. “Most often, it means a new romance.”

Before she could stop herself, she glances to Orchid. Their eyes meet for a second, then they awkwardly glance away. In her looking around, she could tell Veneer and Ritz had a similar silent exchange.

“It also signifies relationships in general,” Ritz explains further. “It could mean something like a new friendship, or even a sibling bond.”

That made sense, she thinks as she looks around to Ritz and Veneer. A friend and a sibling, all together in the present.

“That’s a relief,” Velvet says, grateful the present was represented by such a happy card.

“Now, let’s see what the future holds!” Velvet excitedly announces, flipping the third card over.

“Yikes!” Ritz blurts out, looking at the card with her.

XVI: The Tower,
The card read. A large crystalline building was caught in an awful thunderstorm. The top of the building, which resembled a purple crown, had shattered off and was falling towards the ground. The rest of the building had caught fire, and so had the two figures that appeared to be falling out of it. That, or they had jumped. Velvet couldn’t decide which interpretation was worse.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” Ritz says after seeing the shock on her face.

“Do I even want to know?” Velvet asks sarcastically, trying not to let the fear slip through her voice.

“Typically, The Tower means sudden chaos and catastrophe,” Ritz says, his tone confused. “It’s basically the ‘all hell breaks loose’ card.”

Growing increasingly worried, Velvet takes a deep breath. It couldn’t possibly get worse than all the loss she had gone through, so why was something like this representing her future?

“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Ritz shrugs. He seemed genuine, so Velvet figured she could trust him. “Part of this is just chance, anyways.”

“So, this doesn’t mean everything’s gonna go to shit?” She was still trying to make sense of it all. Luckily, Ritz was the one who actually knew what he was doing, and he seemed unworried.

“Yeah, seriously, don’t worry about it. It might just mean you’ll have a bad hair day or something soon,” he assures her, lightening the mood.

“I’ll take that over being stabbed or set on fire,” Velvet responds with more confidence.

Just then, Veneer lets out a big yawn. Velvet yawns too, a wave of exhaustion reminding her she hadn’t slept properly in days. And there was an extremely comfortable bed waiting for her in Orchid’s room.

“Well, that was fun,” Velvet nods to Ritz as he cleans up the cards, knocking three times on the deck. “But if you’ll excuse me and Veneer, I think we need to seriously pass out.”

//

She never wanted her to leave, but Velvet would be just over in her room, Orchid remembered as she and the others stood up to exchange goodnights. She had hugged Velvet today. She hugged Velvet!

But it was while she was a mess over her sister. Not very romantic. Still, Velvet had wanted to comfort her, making her even more amazing than Orchid thought was possible. She would ask for another hug, she decided, a happier one.

“Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the boogeyman steal your soul,” Ritz wishes the twins a good night.

“I’ll try,” Veneer responds.

“And don’t forget, store tomorrow! You two are going to love it,” Ritz adds.

Right, the store! Orchid would get to go shopping with Velvet, it was almost like a date. Only they had to go to get nonperishables to not starve in the apocalypse. If she tried really hard, it might still be like a date.

“You got it,” Velvet says. She looks down to Orchid, her blue eye stunning as always. “Night, Orchid. It’s nice to meet you, for real this time.”

“You too, see you tomorrow!” If only Orchid could tell herself from four years ago that Velvet would be living with her. She thought that picture with her would be the closest she ever got to her favorite star, she was so happy she was wrong. “Um, Velvet, can I hug you again?”

“Of course!” Velvet responds, leaning down to wrap her arms around her back. Orchid hugs her around her shoulders, trying to memorize the feeling. Her unfashionable yet soft clothes, her hands on her back, her heart beating against her.

Velvet holds her tighter than Orchid had expected, to which she had absolutely no complaints. She nearly gasps as Velvet gently scratches the center of her back, in just the right spot that it sent tingles through her nerves. She figured this rush was the closest she would ever get to heaven.

All too soon, it was over. Velvet gave her a soft wave as she followed her brother to Orchid’s room, closing the door behind them. Orchid skips back over to the pull out bed, laying down beside Ritz.

“I saw that hug,” Ritz tells her, both of their faces turning red now that their crushes were out of the room.

“She’s so pretty,” Orchid starts rambling, Ritz was used to it, “And amazing, and gorgeous, and radiant, and I wanna kiss her so bad,” she tells him for some however many times, they had lost count.

“She seems more chill, too,” Ritz adds. “Thank goodness she seems to be over the whole kidnapping and torturing thing.”

“I would let her kidnap and torture me,” Orchid sighs dreamily.

“Girl, you scare me sometimes.”

“She’s just so-!”

Words couldn’t encapsulate all her feelings towards Velvet. Towards Velvet, who had had her arms around her! Twice!

Orchid takes a pillow from under her and screams into it, aggressively kicking her legs. Her next happy scream turns into a burst of giggles, as she takes Ritz’s hand and shakes it in excitement. Ritz smiles back at her, laughing along with her.

“You have to admit,” Ritz comments, “those outfits were atrocious.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I think she would look better without it.”

“Orchid!”

“What?! You’re thinking the exact same thing about Veneer,” she accuses, giggling as Ritz’s face turns even more red.

“Ugh! Give me that,” he takes the pillow from her and screams into it, confirming her suspicions.

“Orchid, did you see his long hair? And I didn’t think he’d be shorter than me! But that works out, I could hold him, and look in those pretty eyes, and kiss that gorgeous smile…” He fantasizes, Orchid listening intently. He was just as in love as she was.

“And they’re gonna live with us!” she adds. “Like, forever! I need you to pinch me so I know I’m not dreaming.”

Ritz pinches her arm. She was ecstatic that nothing happened, considering all the times she had dreamed about Velvet in the past. This time was real!

It was real, and they had all the time in the world. Orchid rests her hand back in her best friend’s, trying to fall asleep fast so she could see Velvet sooner. She wished she could speed up time.

//

Opal and her friend, a fun looking girl with big green pigtails, stared at Velvet from the photo wall. She had a sweet smile, just like Orchid’s. Veneer stood beside his sister, and she could feel his lingering fear as he held her hand.

“I love you so much, Vels.”

“I love you too.”

Orchid and Opal were with Ritz in another photo, they must have been elementary age here. Ritz was smiling big, with the most horrendous haircut Velvet had ever seen. The sisters were beside him, holding safety scissors and looking incredibly proud of themselves.

A certain photo caught her eye next. A simple photo, just Orchid and Opal with their arm around the other’s shoulder, smiling at the camera. Orchid had her eyebrow piercing in this one, and she looked closer to how she did now. It must have been close to the outbreak.

“Promise me that what happened to them won’t happen to us,” Veneer turns his head towards her, tears welling up in his eyes.

“I promise.”

“I love you,” he tells her again.

“I love you too,” she repeats, holding him in a comforting hug.

After a few deep breaths, Veneer lets go, walking over to his bag and taking a photo out of a small pocket. They didn’t have as many photos as Orchid, but they had been able to save a few in their adventures. He shows it to her, smiling ear to ear.

Velvet and Veneer couldn’t have been more than a few months old. They were in matching beanies, the only noticeable difference between them being Velvet’s long eyelashes. The twins were nestled together in a blanket burrito, happy as could be.

“I can’t believe we were this little,” Veneer comments. He takes a roll of tape that sat next to a camera on the dresser, then tapes the picture up next to a tour poster of them.

“We should recreate it,” Velvet suggests.

“Right now?”

“Yes!”

Velvet takes a blanket with sprinkle patterns from the bed, and wraps it around herself and Veneer as they lay down. It was so much better than sleeping in cars.

“You’re too tall for this,” Veneer complains.

“You’re just mad because you’re the shortest.”

“Not anymore! I’m taller than Orchid.” At the mention of her name, Veneer smirks, giving his sister a look. “Speaking of Orchid, I’ve never seen you so affectionate with a fan. Or anyone, really.”

“I like her! It’s so nice to talk to someone other than you for once,” she responds. She couldn’t help but smile as they talked about her new friend.

“She gets so excited when I look at her,” Velvet continues. “And her smile makes me want to smile. And she’s my biggest fan. And her hands are so soft, and…

Oh.”

“Uh huh,” Veneer nods at her. “Good thing you like her, ‘cause that girl is definitely in love with you.”

A fan she thought she would never see again, now just a room away. So many unexpected things had happened since the outbreak, it was nice to have an exciting one for a change.

“You’re one to talk,” Velvet says. “You’ve been pining after that interviewer since we got famous.”

“I know! I want him to just, like, press me against a wall and make out with me for hours.”

“Ven! Too much information!”

“Sorry!” He laughs, snuggling into the blanket around them while he daydreams about Ritz. Velvet didn’t get the hype.

“Then I want him to cuddle me all night, and tell me something nice until we fall asleep under the stars.”

“That’s gay.”

“You’re literally a lesbian,” Veneer reminds her.

“Hell yeah, I haven’t felt this gay in a long time,” she agrees, her mind wandering back to the cute girl she had spent the day with.

Eventually, neither could stifle their giggles, both of them a giddy mess waiting for their next day with Orchid and Ritz. The next day, and the day after that, then the week, then the month, then forever. Velvet couldn’t wait.

“It’s my turn,” Veneer tells her after they’ve calmed down.

“Shit, I was hoping you’d forget,” Velvet complains, not meaning a word of it.

She rests her arm around him, combing her fingers through his hair. Ever since the night they named the stars, they had kept up the tradition. No matter whose turn it was, it was equally calming for both of them.

Veneer’s breath slows as Velvet plays with his hair, he looked the most relaxed she had seen him since they had to leave the hotel. Seeing him so comfortable put her mind at ease, she could finally be confident they would be okay.

“You’re forgetting something,” Veneer says.

“Right,” Velvet responds. He still needed a lullaby, she remembered as she softly sang the first song that came to mind.

“I can’t help it if I make a scene
Stepping out of my hot pink limousine”

“Good one,” he comments as she continues the song.

“I’m turning heads and I’m stopping traffic
When I pose, they scream
And when I joke, they laugh”

As much as she missed her famous life, she loved the life she was about to start. She had her brother by her side, a friend from their days in Mount Rageous, and she even still had a fan. One fan was enough in this dystopian world, especially if it was someone like Orchid.

“I’ve got a pair of eyes that they’re getting lost in”

“No you don’t,” Veneer interrupts with a lighthearted snicker.

“I hypnotize by the way I’m walking,” Velvet responds by kicking him in the shin.

“Ow! At least wait until I’m asleep before you start kicking me!”

She smiles and pinches his cheek, then returns to playing with his hair. Veneer seemed to relax again as she smiled at him, starting to drift off to sleep.

“I’ve got them dazzled like a stage magician
When I point, they look
And when I talk, they listen

Well, everybody needs a friend
And I’ve got you, and you, and you
So many I can’t even name them
Can you blame me? I’m too famous”

She was lying, she could name them. Veneer, Ritz, Orchid. At least she was still famous to them, even if the rest of the world was in ruins.

“Haven’t you noticed that I’m a star?
I’m coming into view as the world is turning
Haven’t you noticed I’ve made it this far?
Now everyone can see me burning”

It was the first night in a while they hadn’t seen the stars. But they were still there, they would always be there, Velvet reasoned. The star right next to her was the only star she really needed.

“Now everyone can see me burning”

She scratches the back of his head as he exhales. He finally looked so happy, so peaceful. For a moment, everything was right in the world.

“Now everyone can see me burning”

.

Chapter Text

Velvet
Status: Negative.
Health: 86%
Stress: 10%
Blood Type: B

Veneer
Status: Negative.
Health: 90%
Stress: 12%
Blood Type: B

Ritz
Status: Negative.
Health: 87%
Stress: 11%
Blood Type: O

Orchid
Status: Negative.
Health: 89%
Stress: 15%
Blood Type: ???

//

“Good morning, Mount Rageons! This is Kid Ritz, here live outside Orchid’s room! Today’s weather forecast is sunny, and the agenda for today is heading to the store around noon!” Ritz announces in his best television host voice from the other side of the door. At the end, he loses his professionalism. “In other words, get the hell up!”

Velvet had slept the best she had in a long time, so comfortable in the soft sheets of Orchid’s bed. She slowly blinks awake, turning her head to Veneer beside her. She may have fallen asleep holding him, she couldn’t remember, but they clearly hadn’t stayed like that. Taking up way more space than she needed, Velvet found herself sprawled out on the bed, her hand on her brother’s face.

Veneer wakes up a second later, about to complain, but relaxes at the sound of Ritz’s voice. He swats Velvet’s hand away and pushes her back to her side of the bed, to which she rolls back over and kicks him halfheartedly. Veneer takes the pillow under him and lays it on Velvet, a very tired attempt at hitting her with it.

“Morning, Velvet!” Orchid’s sweet voice rings from behind the door.

“Orchid, help me! He’s abusing me!” Velvet groans back, still half asleep. While Orchid and Ritz enter the room, she flashes her middle finger at Veneer, then flicks him on the nose with it.

“Ow! She started it!” Veneer accuses, covering his face while she swatted at him some more.

“You started it!”

“Did not!”

“Did too!”

“You’re the one who started it!”

The fight had escalated, both twins leaning away while they smacked their hands at each other. Velvet breaks a smile as she hears Orchid laugh at their antics.

“Looks like you two slept well,” Ritz comments.

“Yeah, and we would have slept better if you hadn’t woken us up,” Velvet responds, now directing her sass at him.

“Please, Orchid’s the one who suggested we wake you up,” Ritz admits, while Orchid shakes her head and hides her face in her hands. There was nothing Velvet wanted to do more than take her hands away and look at her ecstatic smile again.

“Oh, okay then, I’m not mad,” she retracts her earlier statement. “Veneer, I’m gonna shove you off the bed now.”

“You’re so mean to me- ack!” He groans as Velvet shoves him off the bed, landing on the carpet. Despite her love for her brother, it felt extremely satisfying.

As she laughs, Veneer stands up and walks over to her side. He picks her up in a princess carry, lifting her off the bed.

“I’m the best sister ever,” Velvet states, happily kicking her legs.

“Yes you are,” Veneer agrees, then drops her on the floor.

“Ow! Fuck you!”

Before she could retaliate, Veneer runs into the bathroom. Velvet yells some more profanity at him through the door as she stands up, brushing herself off. She turns to Ritz and Orchid, accusingly pointing towards the bathroom door.

“Do you see what I have to live with every day?”

“I’ll take him if you don’t want him,” Ritz shrugs. Orchid playfully shoves him on the arm as Velvet eyes him with fake disdain.

Orchid obviously wanted the other twin, Velvet could tell as her eyes lit up as she walked towards her. It wasn’t a look someone gave just their favorite pop star.

“I’m on your side, Velvet,” Orchid says and sticks her tongue out at Ritz. “Come on, I’ll make you breakfast!”

Velvet follows Orchid out of the room, watching as her hands swing beside her. They were so warm, so delicate, so soft. All she wanted was to hold them some more, maybe for longer, maybe forever.

//

Diamonds glistened in the mirror as Velvet put in her earrings. She spun around, admiring her outfit: an off the shoulder scrunched crop top, paired with a green plaid skater skirt. She accessorized with a few rings, they were small enough she had been able to keep them in her travels.

She goes back into Orchid’s room, where Veneer was waiting for her. The four roommates had gone through their morning routines, Velvet deciding to get her shower after the store. Ritz’s hair products didn’t quite do it for her, but she figured she could find her own there.

“Is the outfit cute?” Velvet asks, spinning around and hitting a pose.

“Shoulders,” Veneer points out. “Scandalous.”

“Says the guy in a crop top,” she responds, rolling her eye. “You look promiscuous.”

Veneer was showing off his shoulders as well as his midriff, in a black cropped tank top with straps that crisscrossed around his neck. He paired it with pink shorts and matching pink leg warmers.

“Good! I need to be the hottest person at the store,” Veneer says, dramatically flipping his hair.

“Well that’s too bad, because I’m going to be the hottest person at the store,” Velvet crosses her arms, then flips her hair in the same way.

“Oh! That reminds me,” he sits down on the bed, motioning for her to sit with him. “What are we feeling for hair today? Braids, bun, maybe something fancy?”

Right, her favorite part of the morning. She sits down, her back to him. “Surprise me!”

//

Right, his favorite part of the morning. Inspired by their conversation about Sailor Moon yesterday, Veneer sections his sister’s hair into two halves. He braids each side, making sure to occasionally scratch her scalp like she liked. He then ties either braid into a bun, leaving tails at the ends. He had done this so many times it was almost perfectly symmetrical.

“There you go! Magical,” he comments as she turns around to face him. He routinely ties a cloth around where her eye used to be, tying it into a bow at the top and then covering the front with her hair. Without her having to ask, he had chosen a matching green cloth, knowing she wanted it to be a fashion statement.

“What do you think about mine?” Veneer asks, swishing around his own hair. “I thought about leaving it down, but I could always do a ponytail or something, I can’t decide.”

“Hm, half up half down. Best of both worlds,” she suggests.

“You’re so right,” he agrees, tying the top layer of his hair into a loose ponytail, leaving the rest down. He walks back to the bathroom mirror, trying to make the most of his attempted curtain bangs.

His sister joins him in the mirror, holding the camera that had been on Orchid’s dresser. They both strike a few poses, feeling like stars for a moment.

“We look so good right now,” Velvet says. “Do you think she’ll mind if I use this?”

“Yes we do,” he agrees, “and definitely not. She’ll probably be honored that you touched it.”

Velvet smiles as she holds up the camera to the mirror. She rests her arm around his shoulder, then snaps the picture. It automatically prints, then Velvet shakes it and eventually tapes it onto the photo wall.

Velvet and Veneer were showing off much more extravagant outfits in an older photo next to it. They were in matching holographic puffy jackets, tinted pinkish purple. The twins were on some kind of runway, posing for a photoshoot.

“Wanna go show off?” Velvet asks, striking the same pose as in the picture. She wasn’t as done up, but she looked happier. More authentic. More herself.

“Ooh, yes!” Veneer agrees, walking beside her as they strutted into the main room.

Orchid and Ritz had put much less effort into their outfits: Orchid in an oversized t-shirt and messy bun, Ritz in a similar off the shoulder top that was stained with blue hair dye. His hair was in a ponytail, showing off mismatched earrings in the three piercings on each of his ears.

Both twins pose for their roommates, ready to be the best dressed people at the store. Velvet twirls around, her skirt freely spinning around with her. When she turns her back to them, Ritz and Orchid both seem intrigued at something on her.

“Wait, Velvet, turn around,” Ritz says, to which Velvet gives him a suspicious look.

“Excuse me?”

I wish he’d ask me to turn around, Veneer thinks to himself. His sister seemed to read his mind as she gave him a disapproving look next.

“Oh my gosh, you have another tattoo! I love it!” Orchid comments to Velvet.

“Oh, yeah, that! Thanks! We got these together, too,” Velvet turns around, showing off the tattoo on her lower back, just above her skirt. It was an elegant violet crown with lots of points, with a golden V standing out in the center.

“Our artist was so cool. I hope they’re okay,” Veneer says, also turning around.

His tattoo was similar, with the same placement and gold V in the center. Instead of a crown, his had purple wings with gold outlines on either side of the V.

“Nice, I love the wings,” Ritz compliments. Veneer thought his heart was about to burst as he turned back around to face him.

“Thanks! I love yours too,” he gestures to Ritz, trying to catch a closer glimpse at his tattoos without being obvious.

“Thank you! Also, we need to figure out who’s gonna carry the wagon. Orchid and I usually take turns, but considering there’s four of us now, you know.”

“I think Veneer should do it,” Velvet volunteers her brother.

“I think you should carry it,” Veneer responds. “Wait, what wagon?”

“It’s in the shed, we use it to carry stuff from the store,” Orchid explains. “I also think Veneer should carry it,” she agrees with Velvet.

“Then we’re all in agreement! Veneer, you’ll take first shift,” Ritz decides, “And Velvet, you can take the second!”

“Fine, but I’m gonna bitch about it the whole time,” Velvet replies, rolling her eye.

“Looking forward to it,” Ritz comments sarcastically.

//

On the road to the store, Orchid was walking next to her new friend. She was walking next to Velvet. Next to her new friend, Velvet. She was literally living the dream.

“Okay,” Veneer announces, “I can’t handle walking without music.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t bring the speaker!” Orchid responds, but Veneer didn’t seem to mind.

“No, I meant we should sing something! That’s what me and Vels usually do.”

“I think Orchid should sing something,” Ritz interjects. “She used to be a theatre kid.”

Velvet and Veneer both turn to her with interest, Orchid trying not to blush at the former. Her, singing in front of Velvet? It seemed terrifying, but part of her wanted to.

“No way, I love musicals!” Veneer responds excitedly. “I’m a huge Falsettos fan.”

“Me too! My favorite’s Heathers! I was never a starring role, though, I was always just ensemble.”

Always cast as an extra, Orchid would have been thrilled just to be next to a lead for a scene. But it wasn’t so bad, the ensemble was just as important in a show as the lead actors. Just being close to the stars was enough for her.

“I’d like to hear you sing,” Velvet adds.

“I, uh,” she stutters, Velvet was looking right at her. There was some kind of spark in her eye, paired with her radiant smile. She was so amazingly beautiful, Orchid couldn’t fathom the thought of Velvet being impressed by her.

“You don’t have to be nervous around me,” Velvet reassures her. “Besides, I’m sure you’ll sound better than me and Ven used to. Come on, what’s your favorite song?”

“Well, obviously, it’s-“

“That isn’t by me and Veneer,” she adds, giving Orchid a nod.

She figured Velvet wanted to hear a song she didn’t know, but considering yesterday’s shower singing, she would recognize Orchid’s favorite song. Orchid takes the sunglasses off of Ritz’s head and puts them on herself, taking on an acting persona.

“Okay, Velvet, you’ve convinced me!” She turns around and walks backwards as she sings, putting on a performance for the rest of them.

“We are the crowd, we’re coming out
Got my flash on, it’s true
Need that picture of you, it’s so magical
We’d be so fantastico”

She makes a camera flashing gesture at the others, miming the lyrics. Ritz gives her two thumbs up and a silent cheer, hyping her up.

“Leather and jeans, garage glamorous
Not sure what it means
But this photo of us, it don’t have a price
Ready for those flashing lights”

Orchid takes off the sunglasses and rests them above her head, trying to get a better look at Velvet. Her favorite star was smiling right at her, giving her a rush of adrenaline to keep singing.

“Cause you know that, baby, I
I’m your biggest fan, I’ll follow you until you love me
Papa-paparazzi
Baby, there’s no other superstar you know that I’ll be
Your papa-paparazzi”

Velvet was enjoying her singing, giving Orchid that classic mix of nervousness and excitement that came with performing. It inspired her to take a risk, slightly changing a lyric.

“Promise I’ll be kind
But I won’t stop until that girl is mine
Baby, you’ll be famous, chase you down until you love me
Papa-paparazzi”

Orchid takes a bow while walking, the others applauding her. She hadn’t heard applause in so long, it almost felt like being among the crowd in Mount Rageous.

Only, they were applauding for her. Velvet was applauding her. She could feel her face turn hot, not that she minded.

“Orchid, that was amazing! I had no idea you could sing like that!” Velvet compliments her. She thought she might pass out in the best way possible, as she lovingly places a hand over her heart.

“I know, right?” Veneer agrees, equally impressed. “Girl, you’ve got a voice!”

“You should do the second verse,” Ritz suggests.

“Yeah, sing the rest!” Velvet agrees, and Orchid happily obliges.

“I’ll be your girl backstage at your show
Velvet ropes and guitars
Yeah, ‘cause you’re my rockstar in between the sets
Eyeliner and cigarettes”

At the mention of her name, Orchid winks at Velvet. Her heart flutters as Velvet blinks at her, tilting her head to indicate she was returning the wink.

“Shadow is burnt, yellow, dance and we turn
My lashes are dry
Purple teardrops I cry, it don’t have a prince
Loving you is cherry pie”

Orchid had cried about Velvet plenty of times over the years, just as any lovesick fan would. When she got arrested, she figured that was the last she would ever see of Velvet, aside from all the awful news that came out about her afterwards.

Now they were living together, and Orchid couldn’t be happier. Velvet was all she’d ever wanted since she first saw her, after all.

//

As the four walked into the abandoned store, Velvet couldn’t believe her eye. Sure, it was a mess, but from just looking around she could tell there were enough nonperishables to last a long time. Ritz had told them he and Orchid were lucky enough to not run into any infected or other people, so they came here to restock once a month.

The nonperishables weren’t all: there was a section for clothes, a section for beauty, and even more non necessities that were barely picked over. For a little while, Velvet could contain herself, unlike her brother.

Veneer runs straight to the cash registers, opening each one. He throws handfuls of coins in the air, twirling as they rain down around him. He was laughing almost maniacally as he frolicks through his newfound riches, completely ignoring the other three staring at him.

“Is he okay?” Ritz asks, a look of concern on his face.

“No,” Velvet answers. “I think he’s relapsing.”

Just then, Veneer skips off into the store, rushing to any section other than what they came for. Velvet rests her hand on her forehead and shakes her head, her brother’s laughs becoming more faint as shopping reclaimed him.

“Well, we’re never seeing him again,” Velvet shrugs. “Oh well.”

“I’ll go find him,” Ritz sighs, taking a handheld cart from near the registers. “Orchid, why don’t you show Velvet around? And remember to get stuff we actually need, no hoarding.”

“If you think she’s bad, you should see Veneer,” Velvet says. Orchid might have had an obsession with photographs, but Veneer was the one who could have been on Hoarders.

//

After searching the store and getting some things they needed, Ritz eventually found Veneer in the jewelry section. He had his back to Ritz, looking at himself in a small display mirror.

“Veneer? You good?”

“I’ve never been better!” Veneer turns around and stands up straight, towering over Ritz in the highest stiletto heels he had managed to find.

Along with the heels, Veneer was bedazzled in the most expensive looking necklaces and bracelets he could find. He had also hit the makeup section, Ritz noticed as he glanced at Veneer’s lips, colored bright red. He was wearing eyeshadow and highlighter as well, and countless other products swatched up his arms.

“What do you think of this shade?” Veneer smiles and walks closer to Ritz, leaning down to show off his lipstick.

“It’s-“

“Yeah, it’s more Velvet’s style,” he interrupts before Ritz could answer.

I was going to say it’s gorgeous, Ritz thinks. Okay, maybe he did like Veneer being taller. Sometimes. He may have a shopping issue, but part of Ritz found it charming. The bling suited him, although they had to keep their priorities in check.

“I’ll have to go back and look for one,” Veneer continues, “and I saw the cutest hair clips back there, and this really cool leather jacket-“

“You know we can’t take all that home, right?” Ritz tells him, and he could see Veneer’s heart break.

“Why not?”

“Because it starts with one thing we don’t need, then just one more, then another, and suddenly the whole house is a mess and we can’t find anything.”

“But I do need these!” Veneer argues, gesturing at all his jewelry. He must have taken at least 20 necklaces alone.

“You really don’t,” Ritz shakes his head, trying not to crack a smile.

“Okay, you asked for this.”

Suddenly, Veneer grabs Ritz by the shoulders and aggressively shakes him, looking down at him with wide puppy dog eyes.

“Please please please please please please-“

“Veneer!”

“-please please please with a cherry on top?”

Oh, his hands on his shoulders. And his stunning blue eyes. And his glossy red lipstick. Maybe Ritz could let a little unnecessary looting slide.

“Okay, fine! You can keep one,” he tells him, accepting partial defeat.

“Yay! You’re the best!” Veneer jumps up and down, kicking his feet. Ritz was impressed at how he seemed perfectly stable in those tall stilettos.

He starts to take off his jewelry, leaving one necklace. It was a sparkly gold chain with a heart locket, adorned with gems around the edge. He picks up the mirror, admiring the new look.

“You like it?” Veneer tilts his head to Ritz, his shoulders back and confident.

“Yeah, it looks good on you. I love it,” Ritz answers, making Veneer’s smile widen. He could stare at that smile for hours.

“Good! Because it’s a matching set,” Veneer reveals, taking another necklace out of the pile of jewelry.

This one was exactly the same as Veneer’s, only in silver instead of gold. He struts back over to Ritz and leans down, clasping the necklace around him in the back.

Veneer’s hands brushed against the back of his neck while Ritz stood extremely still, wishing he would do it again. The heels made him tall enough that his gold necklace dangled in front of Ritz’s eyes, the latter taking a closer look at all the gemstones on it.

Not really. He was actually taking a closer look at Veneer, and he would have made him take home the stilettos if they weren’t such an inconvenience to carry around. So much for necessities only.

“There! Now we match,” Veneer runs his hands along the chain of the necklace, then taps the locket. “See? A little shopping spree never hurt anyone.”

“I guess,” Ritz shrugs, trying not to act flustered.

Even if Veneer had lied to him all those years ago, seeing him so happy was enough to make Ritz forgive him. He may have kept his shopping habits, but he had obviously changed for the better. Ritz had a good feeling he wouldn’t lie like that again.

Still smiling, Veneer picks up the mirror and stands beside Ritz, close enough they could both see each other in it. Veneer tilts his head ever so closer, having to lean down to make them the same height.

“It looks good on you, too.”

//

Velvet had followed Orchid around the store, thrilled to have time alone with her. As she showed her around, they found themselves near the toy and entertainment section.

Something caught Velvet’s attention: a guitar leaned against one of the shelves, and it looked functional. She walks towards it, motioning for her friend to follow her.

“Orchid, look! I actually learned how to play a little bit before the outbreak,” she tells her, as the two put down their shopping baskets.

“Wow, that’s awesome! You should play something for me,” Orchid suggests. She quickly glances away from Velvet, her cheeks turning pink. God, she was adorable.

“I don’t know, I haven’t played in a long time.”

“Come on, please? I sang for you on the way here!”

Velvet couldn’t help but smile and give in. Even though all of them were there, she knew Orchid had been singing just for her, and she loved it.

“Fine, fine. For you,” she does that same blink, tilting her head. “But I can’t play with these on.”

She looks down at her rings, as fashionable as they were, she couldn’t exactly play while wearing them. Looking over to Orchid’s hands, she had an idea.

Velvet takes off each of her rings, then takes Orchid’s hand in hers. She delicately slides the rings on each of her fingers, making sure not to let go of her hands. How Orchid’s hands had stayed so soft, Velvet didn’t know, but as long as she had an excuse to touch them she was happy. Honestly, the rings looked better on her.

“Much better,” Velvet comments, picking up the guitar. As she tunes it, she catches Orchid looking down at the rings, running her other hand over each one. “Okay, let’s see if I remember how to do this.”

She strums the opening notes, quickly finding her rhythm. Orchid’s eyes light up as she plays, giving her that performance rush she missed so much.

“I gave too much of my heart tonight
Could you come to where I’m staying
And make some extra love?
That I could save ‘til tomorrow’s show”

Velvet made sure to look straight at Orchid, her smile contagious. It may not have been a stage, but having her biggest fan as an audience was more than enough.

“‘Cause I need somebody to remember my name
After all that I can do for them is done
I need someone to remember me”

The store was dark, but in her mind lights flashed around her. Velvet herself was the brightest star, after all.

“I need something bigger than the sky
Hold it in my arms and know it’s mine
Just how many stars will I need to hang around me
To finally call it heaven?”

If she could hold Orchid in her arms again, the feeling would have been close enough to heaven. She knew she was a star, but having a fan that still liked her made it feel real. She strums with more intensity, Velvet and Orchid both nodding to the beat.

“‘Cause I need somebody to remember my name
After all that I can do for them is done
I need someone to remember me”

Orchid would remember her. After all that had happened, she had stayed her biggest fan. Velvet had missed that feeling so much, as she spins around with the guitar, losing herself in the music.

“I need something bigger than the sky
Hold it in my arms and know it’s mine
Just how many stars will I need to hang around me
To finally get somewhere I can be all alone
Somewhere like heaven”

Velvet finishes out the song, then takes a bow. When she stands up straight, Orchid was grinning ear to ear, giving her a round of applause. Her favorite thing to hear, other than Orchid saying her name.

“Velvet, that was amazing! I didn’t think you’d be a Mitski fan!”

“You like her too? Girl, she’s one of my all time favorites,” Velvet says, happy to find they had so much in common.

“I know, right? I like Your Best American Girl.”

It was a good thing Velvet knew that one on guitar, too. She starts to play the beginning, repeating the notes as they talked.

“You should sing it for me,” Velvet encourages her.

“I don’t know, I’m nervous,” Orchid responds, looking down at the rings on her hands. Velvet had a feeling she wasn’t really that nervous, only mimicking her attitude from earlier.

“Don’t be. I like your voice.”

Orchid looks back up at her, a spark in her eyes. She takes a deep breath, and tells Velvet exactly what was on her mind.

“If I could, I’d be your little spoon
And kiss your fingers forevermore”

She takes a step closer, looking at Velvet’s hands as she played.

“But, big spoon, you have so much to do
And I have nothing ahead of me”

Velvet meets Orchid’s eyes, the two swaying softly. Orchid’s voice was so beautiful, as her emotion filled the space around them.

“You’re the sun, you’ve never seen the night
But you hear its song from the morning birds
Well, I’m not the moon, I’m not even a star
But awake at night I’ll be singing to the birds”

The two were in perfect rhythm, as they followed the other’s lead in the song. Orchid moves even closer, giving her that same loving gaze she always looked at her with. Velvet returns the gaze, glancing at her lips as she sang.

“Don’t wait for me, I can’t come”

“Velvet! They have Barbie Dreamhouses!”

Just as she was about to play the chorus, her brother interrupts, skipping around the corner holding a large damaged box. Ritz followed him, shaking his head in exasperation.

“I had two of these as a kid!” Veneer brags. Offended that he had interrupted their song, Velvet contemplates whacking him with the guitar, but decides to restrain herself.

“We’re not bringing home two Barbie Dreamhouses,” Ritz sighs. “We’re also not bringing home a whole guitar.”

“You’re no fun!” The other three exclaim at the same time.

“And this is what I get for being the responsible one,” Ritz crosses his arms, dramatically turning his head to the side. “Fine, I’m feeling generous. We can all get one thing we don’t need, but it has to be something small.”

“Deal!” Orchid exclaims, running over to Ritz and giving him a hug. Velvet wished she could switch places with him. She was equally excited, though, she really had missed shopping.

“Vels, have you seen the makeup section yet?” Veneer asks.

“Oh, I haven’t shown her that yet! We should go now,” Orchid suggests.

“Good idea!” Veneer happily kicks his feet, his high heels clicking against the floor. “They even have your favorite chapstick!”

“The cherry one?” Velvet responds.

“Ooh, they have the cherry flavor? I love that one!” Orchid asks, returning to Velvet’s side.

Of course she liked that flavor, they really did have a lot in common. Velvet couldn’t get enough of it. Her dazzling eyes, her adorable smile, Velvet couldn’t wait to spend the future with her.

//

When it was finally time to leave, the twins practically had to be dragged out of the store. The walk back home had given them enough time to get over it, though, satisfied with their new prizes.

Along with his new necklace, Veneer had also picked out a new lip gloss, after having Ritz determine which he liked best, of course. They had settled on a light pink, with gold flecks that reflected in the light. He was still wearing it now, hoping Ritz was still looking at it.

Veneer sat on the pull out bed behind Velvet, undoing her hair before her shower. Orchid and Ritz watched intently beside them.

“That looks like it feels amazing,” Orchid comments.

“It really does,” Velvet replies. “Ven, you should do Orchid’s hair next!”

“Sure! Hers looks a lot more manageable than yours,” Veneer agrees, taking out the last braid in her hair. “Okay, all set! Orchid, come here.”

Orchid takes Velvet’s place, while Velvet resigns herself back to her room. Veneer takes down Orchid’s hair, contemplating what style to give her.

As he felt her skin, he realized Velvet was right. Orchid did feel incredibly soft, a different yet comforting feeling. It matched her sweet personality, Veneer thought as he ran his hands through her hair.

He was incredibly happy to be with Ritz again, but Orchid had been a welcome surprise as well. After the game of truth or dare, he felt connected to her, in the way that they were both younger siblings. They both loved Velvet, they both loved Ritz. Veneer looked forward to getting to know her better; it was nice to have a friend.

“Oh my god, this feels heavenly,” Orchid comments as he parts her hair. “Ritz, you have got to try this.”

“Am I just everyone’s personal hairstylist now?” Veneer asks, though he didn’t really mind.

“Yes, me next,” Ritz answers eagerly.

Finally deciding what to do, Veneer takes two small sections of Orchid’s hair on either side. He braids each one, then joins them in a V shape in the back, leaving the rest of her hair down. His sister always liked when he scratched her scalp, so he does the same to Orchid. The softness of her skin made it equally relaxing as he assumed it was for her.

“So Velvet gets this, like, every day?” Orchid asks, tilting her head into his hands.

“Yeah, pretty much. It’s kind of our thing since she lost her eye. She usually does mine, too.”

“Wow, that’s like a free spa day every day! I’m so jealous!”

“Don’t be! Girl, this was fun, I’ll do your hair any time,” he offers, patting her on the shoulders.

“Aw, thank you!” She stands up as the shower turns off in the background, swishing around her newly styled hair. “I’m gonna, um, go give Velvet her rings back.”

Good, he was rooting for her. Velvet could use a nice girl like Orchid. Veneer was glad she had a romantic interest, too, focusing back on his own as Ritz sat down in front of him.

Veneer glances back at Orchid, and he was glad he did. She points at Ritz, then gives Veneer a thumbs up. He mouths a silent ‘thank you’ back to her, giving her a thumbs up as well. She turns the corner into her room, as he turns back to Ritz.

He had to admit, he was being a lot more intimate with Ritz than he had been with Orchid. He gently takes his hair down, running his hands through the ombré blonde and blue. Veneer had no idea what to do with Ritz’s hair, for now he was just enjoying having an excuse to touch him. While playing with his hair, he notices an industrial piercing through his left ear.

“Cool piercing,” Veneer comments, tucking Ritz’s hair behind his ear. He was so glad Ritz couldn’t see his face, he could feel he was blushing like crazy.

“Thanks! Funny story, actually. I literally got this one, like, a week before the outbreak.”

“Damn, that sucks! I couldn’t imagine dealing with that on top the whole end of the world.”

“Yeah, I know. At least it’s healed now, so don’t worry about touching it.”

Despite his reassurance, Veneer makes sure to be extra careful with him. He runs his hands through his hair some more, hoping this would never end. At one point, he accidentally brushes his hand down his neck, the back of his nails on his skin.

“Oh, right there,” Ritz sighs, tilting his head to the side.

Veneer’s heartbeat started to flutter, realizing what he had done. Was it too early? He certainly didn’t mind, but what did Ritz think?

“Sorry!” Ritz blurts out. “I mean, that felt really nice. Can you, uh, do that again?”

“Yeah, of course,” Veneer responds, more than happy to get to touch him like that again.

His nails trace down his neck, the feeling starting to turn natural. Ritz’s breath slowed down, relaxing at Veneer’s touch. Deciding to take a risk, Veneer runs his hands along his shoulders as well.

As Ritz leans ever so closer, Veneer brushes his fingers against the cut edge of his shirt. As he thought about whether to go further, the sparkly silver chain around Ritz’s neck catches his attention.

“You’re still wearing your necklace,” Veneer points out. He gently scratches on the chain, starting next to the charm and working his hands up.

“Yeah, I’m glad you picked it out for me. I like that we match.”

“I’m still wearing mine, too.”

“Perfect. Also, that does feel heavenly.”

Somehow, the same word had a completely different feeling coming from Ritz. Veneer continues to run his nails down his neck and shoulders, listening to his breathing to figure out what he liked best.

After a while, Veneer had fallen into a rhythm, happy to see Ritz so relaxed. He had dreamed of being this comfortable with him for so long, and now it was finally a reality. Just as Veneer traces his necklace again, Ritz slumps back onto Veneer’s chest, fast asleep.

He looked so peaceful, as Veneer stayed extremely still with Ritz practically laying on him. He figured he would want to be awake for this, though, so he decides to wake him up. Before he does so, Veneer quickly presses a soft kiss to the top of his head. Part of him hoped Ritz was able to feel it.

“Ritz? You okay?” Veneer whispers, gently tapping his face. As Ritz’s eyes blink open, he traces along the front edge of his shirt, wondering if he could hear his heart pounding.

“Oh no, did I fall asleep?” Ritz mumbles, his sleepy eyes making Veneer fall even more in love.

“Yeah, it’s fine. It’s nice to see you relaxed.”

“You’re so good at this,” Ritz comments, looking up at him.

Veneer pulls Ritz a bit closer, while the latter keeps his head on his chest. His hands find their place back on his shoulders, their breath starting to sync together. Veneer could tell Ritz was enjoying this as much as he was.

“We should probably make dinner soon,” Ritz mentions, not moving an inch.

“Yeah, we should,” Veneer agrees, though he never wanted to get up.

The two stay there for a while, simply comforted in each other’s presence. Since Ritz was enjoying this so much, Veneer sincerely hoped this could be a normal thing for them. He traces the necklace chain again, admiring how he looked with it on.

It would be a long time before dinner.

//

There was a certain photo that Orchid’s eyes always wandered to. Her most prized possession, she had plenty of copies of it.

Her and Velvet, the very first time they met. It had only been a second, but back then it was the most thrilling second of her life. She admires the photo as she had done so many times before, enamored with her red lipstick, her gorgeous hands, the cutout on her dress.

After staring at the photo, Orchid sits down on her bed. She takes off the rings, leaving them on the bedside table. When she looked back up, Velvet was leaning against the bathroom doorway.

“Hey, Orchid.”

To say it was an upgrade from last night was an understatement.

The first thing Orchid noticed was Velvet’s hair, down and still wet from the shower. She thought this was a better look than any extravagant hairstyle from her famous days.

As for sleepwear, Velvet had chosen an elegant maroon nightgown that went down to the middle of her thighs. It was cut in a deep V in the front, with lace details. The slip dress had thin straps and a small slit in the side, exposing even more of her thigh. Orchid could feel herself blushing, but she couldn’t look away.

“I like your nightgown,” Orchid tells her, admiring the star just a few feet away from her.

“Thank you! One of the few things I got to keep from my famous days,” Velvet responds, spinning around to show it off. “It’s really soft.”

Orchid couldn’t help but look her up and down, noticing the way the nightgown hugged her waist. She was the most stunning girl Orchid had ever been honored to lay her eyes on, the feeling only intensified by how her scarlet dress rested on her.

“I see Veneer did your hair. It looks good like that,” Velvet compliments.

She sinks into her hip, as if she could tell how Orchid was looking at her. As for Orchid, she could barely keep her composure.

“Velvet, can I ask you something kinda personal?”

“Go ahead,” Velvet responds, brushing her hair away from her unscarred side. Even with one eye, Velvet’s beauty hadn’t changed at all.

“Do you like girls?” Orchid looks her up and down again, her heart beating fast as she anticipated her answer.

“Uh, yeah,” Velvet answers, a bit more flustered than her usual confident personality. That was all Orchid needed to hear.

“Good.”

Without hesitation, Orchid stands up, throws her arms around Velvet’s waist, and presses her lips to hers.

She’s right, it is soft, Orchid thinks as she feels the velvet fabric in between her fingers. Velvet gasps in surprise at first, then reciprocates the kiss, her arms wrapping around Orchid. She could taste Velvet’s chapstick on her lips, cherries quickly becoming her new favorite taste.

Her lips are soft too, and she’s so beautiful, and her hands feel so… Holy shit! What am I doing?!

Coming to her senses, Orchid quickly pulls away. A wave of embarrassment crashes over her, as she turns away and covers her face in her hands. Still, the cherry taste lingered on her lips.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry! I don’t know what got into me!” Orchid starts to ramble, assuming she just completely ruined her chance.

“Orchid, I-“

“It’s just, I’ve had a crush on you since I first saw you, and now it’s the end of the world, and you’re right here, and you looked so pretty in that nightgown, but that’s not an excuse-“

“Orchid! Relax,” Velvet’s voice was soft as she saunters closer to her. She smiles down at her, gently guiding her hands away from her face.

“I’m sorry, Velvet.”

“Don’t be. I liked it. And I like you,” Velvet adds, running her hand down Orchid’s face, with a caress to her lips.

Woah. She had just kissed Velvet. All the times she had imagined it would never compare to this moment, her chest bursting an even better version of that rush from her first time meeting her.

And Velvet had kissed her back, Orchid could barely believe it as she touches her hand to her lips. Her fingers brush against Velvet’s, while she stares up at the stunning star right in front of her.

“You actually like me back?” Orchid asks, her face turning even more warm.

“I do,” Velvet answers.

Orchid stands frozen in front of her bed as Velvet walks towards the bedroom door, and shuts it. As she makes her way back to Orchid, she bats her eyelashes, wearing a flirtatious grin.

“Want me to prove it?”

“Yes,” Orchid breathes out, eagerly nodding. What happened next was something straight out of her fantasies.

Velvet gently pushes Orchid by her shoulders, but with enough force that she falls back onto the bed. As she rests back on the pillows, Velvet positions herself on top of her, so close that Orchid could feel every little adjustment she made. She holds Orchid’s face in her hands, and kisses her with even more intensity than the first.

As she feels Velvet’s lips on hers again, Orchid returns her hands to her waist, holding her closer. Velvet smiles in the kiss, leaving her gasping the next time she breaks away.

“Do you believe me now?” Velvet asks, brushing her lips against Orchid’s.

There was no doubt that Orchid believed her now, her fantasies had just become true. Still, she wanted her to prove it over and over again.

“I’m not sure, I think you should convince me some more.”

Velvet nods, then kisses her, Orchid reveling in the cherry taste of her chapstick. She gasps as Velvet’s hands travel from her face down to her neck, down her sides, ending at her hips.

Orchid’s heart was beating so fast, and she knew Velvet could feel it from on top of her. She didn’t mind, though; this was the best moment of her life.

“Am I going too fast?” Velvet checks in at the next pause.

“Not at all. I like to live fast,” she reminds her, initiating the next kiss.

Each kiss was just as perfect as the last, as Orchid runs her fingers through her long hair. It was still damp from the shower, but Orchid wouldn’t have it any other way. When she returns her hands to her delicate waist, Velvet glides her lips across her face, then whispers in her ear.

“Give me your hand.”

Velvet trails kisses back to her lips as she traces up the inside of her arm, ending at her hand. She interlaces their fingers, then presses her hand down into the pillow next to her. Orchid squeezes her hand tighter, to which Velvet reacts with another smile.

She slowly runs her free hand up and down Velvet’s back, feeling the soft fabric of her gorgeous nightgown. When she thought this couldn’t be anymore like her fantasies, Velvet’s hand inches down the back of her thigh. After a few traces along her skin, she wraps Orchid’s leg around her, entangling herself into her embrace.

“This okay?” Velvet asks, her lips barely leaving Orchid’s as she whispered.

“Better than okay,” Orchid responds, doing all she could to pull her even closer.

“You’re so soft,” Velvet sighs as she pulls her closer in return.

Both smiling uncontrollably, Velvet kisses her again with even more passion than Orchid thought was possible. She wanted to memorize everything about this moment: Velvet’s lips on hers, her hands on her, their fingers intertwined. They could have stayed there forever.

“Dinner’s ready!”

Or not.

At her brother’s voice, Velvet lays her head on Orchid’s shoulder. She groans in annoyance, kicking her legs. Orchid kisses her forehead, resting her hand in her hair.

“Just a minute!” Velvet yells back. “I am seriously going to kill him,” she whispers to Orchid, rolling her eye.

Orchid couldn’t help but giggle, she was extremely flattered Velvet wanted to stay with her. She couldn’t be happier, she had just lived through the most thrilling moment of her life.

“I guess we should get up,” Orchid sighs, though she never wanted Velvet to get off her.

“Okay, I guess,” Velvet responds sadly. As she sighed, her face lit up, getting an idea. “I know, let’s have a sleepover!”

A sleepover. Alone. With Velvet. This night just kept getting better.

“That sounds perfect!” Orchid agrees, feeling like she could die of excitement.

Velvet eventually rolls of her, then helps her to stand. They were both obviously disheveled, Velvet trying her best to fix Orchid’s hair. Trying to control their giggling, Velvet takes her hand and leads her to the door. Before opening it, she takes Orchid’s face in her hands and kisses all over, making her flustered again.

“I think you’re my favorite fan,” Velvet laughs. Her laugh was so beautiful, and so was she, and Orchid was hers. It was a dream come true.

Orchid stands on her tiptoes, resting her hands around her shoulders. Maybe she was greedy, but she didn’t care. Velvet was right in front of her, how could she not want to kiss her even more?

“One more,” Orchid says, then kisses her lips one more time. For now.

As she feels Velvet tug her waist closer, Orchid didn’t care that the world was in ruins. Despite the circumstances, this was all she ever wanted. Velvet was all she ever wanted.

//

Veneer was right across from her. Oh god. Orchid knew he liked her, but was it enough for him to approve of her with his sister? Sure it was, but anxiety told her otherwise.

But it was still the best day of her life, as she looked over to Velvet next to her. Her long hair still somewhat messy, her stunning nightgown looking even more stunning on her. After staring for way too long, she noticed one of the straps had fallen off her shoulder.

“Velvet, your nightgown,” she comments, brushing her fingertips up her shoulder as she slid her strap back up. Out of the corner of her eye, she catches Veneer and Ritz shoot each other a confused look.

The others talked some more, while Orchid tried to stay casual. Her gaze traveled from Velvet, then over to Ritz, then briefly to Veneer. The cycle continued for awhile, Orchid’s heart beating faster every time she looked at the twins. Eventually, Veneer noticed something was different.

“Girl, are you okay? You look, like, really stressed out,” Veneer comments, then takes a sip of water.

“Veneer, I kissed your sister!” She blurts out, to everyone’s surprise including her own.

Veneer spits out his drink, while Ritz’s jaw drops in shock. Velvet only shrugs and laughs at their reactions, resting her arm around Orchid’s shoulder.

It was about the reaction she had expected. Realizing she had won against Ritz, she flashes him a smug grin. Now it was only a matter of time before he confessed to Veneer, she figured.

“Excuse me! I mean, uh, congratulations!” Veneer’s face lights up, making Orchid breathe a sigh of relief. It happened faster than she expected, but she felt like they were all becoming one family.

“I knew you liked her, but I sure didn’t expect that on the second day,” Ritz chimes in, giving her a high five.

“Me either!” Velvet responds, then kisses her forehead. “But it was a good surprise. I don’t know how I ever lived without her.”

“You’ll never have to live without me again,” Orchid promises, snuggling into Velvet’s side.

As much as she had dreamed about Velvet, loving her was even more perfect than she had ever imagined. She couldn’t have asked for a better life.

“I’m super happy for you!” Veneer adds. “But Orchid, I need to tell you something.”

He leans forward to her, as the mood between them shifts. She leans forward as well, anticipating just what he had to tell her.

If looks could kill, she would have been long gone. His smile had vanished, now staring into her soul with those icy blue eyes.

“If you ever hurt her, I will kill you.”

Orchid couldn’t break eye contact if she tried, as her heart started to speed up. She could tell how protective he was of his sister. It made sense, they had been through so much together, but she was a brand new person to both of them. His piercing gaze reminded her of that, shaking her to the core.

Just then, Veneer bursts out laughing.

“Oh my god, that was priceless! You should have seen your face!” Veneer laughs, the others joining him. Orchid immediately relaxes, laughing along with them.

“You scared me! I thought you were actually gonna kill me or something!” Orchid cracks up, playfully swatting his arm.

“No, I trust you. I know you’ll treat her right,” Veneer assures her.

“Oh, Ven! Orchid and I are having a sleepover, so we’re kicking you out,” Velvet tells him.

At the mention of their sleepover, Ritz shoots Orchid an intrigued look. She fidgets with her hand repeatedly, barely able to contain her excitement.

“Sounds fun, but where am I supposed to sleep now?” Veneer asks.

“You can sleep with me,” Ritz offers.

Both his and Veneer’s faces turn red, realizing they’d get their own sleepover. Orchid leans back over to Velvet, the two trying not to giggle at the others.

“Uh, I mean, in here. Next to me,” he clarifies, glancing to and away from Veneer.

“Sounds good to me!” Veneer responds, sounding almost eager.

“You two have fun, then,” Velvet says, standing up.

Orchid suddenly finds herself off the bed, in Velvet’s arms. She’s strong, too, Orchid thinks, finding another thing about her to love. She blows a kiss to Ritz and Veneer as Velvet carries her off to her room, happy as could be.

//

Later in the night, Veneer laid beside Ritz, the two sharing blankets. Getting butterflies, he was incredibly excited to be alone with him again after the events of the day. He wished he could be as confident as Orchid was with Velvet, but laying next to Ritz was enough for him for now.

“Veneer?”

“Yeah?”

“Wanna stay up and talk?” Ritz asks, turning on his side to face him.

“Absolutely, I thought you’d never ask,” Veneer responds, turning to face him as well. “What should we talk about?”

“I don’t know, just whatever. Oh, I know! Have you ever killed anyone?”

“What kind of question is that!?” Veneer exclaims, taken aback.

“I don’t know, I’m nosy!” Ritz shrugs. “You don’t have to answer.”

He had almost killed that troll in his famous days, but of course Ritz already knew that. He was one of the first people who saw him accused, and Veneer could still remember that hurt look Ritz had given him. He hadn’t gotten it out of his head since that night.

Ritz’s eyes were softer now, though, putting Veneer back at ease. He assumed his question was for after the outbreak, which was a whole new type of pain.

“Yeah, some infected,” Veneer adds. “But they were already long gone, and luckily it was never anyone I knew. Still pretty fucked up, though.”

“Yeah, I can imagine. Me too,” he empathizes. “At the start, someone I knew got infected, and I had to…”

Veneer nods, hoping he could provide some comfort. He wanted to pull him into his arms and tell him everything was okay, but that might have been too forward. At least Ritz’s person was at rest, not missing like Opal.

“It was actually my ex girlfriend,” Ritz shares. “So, mixed feelings.” He laughs softly, trying to lighten the mood.

“Wow. I hope I don’t suffer the same fate,” Veneer says before completely realizing his implications.

“I promise you won’t,” Ritz smiles, Veneer hoping he was implying the same thing.

After talking some more, Veneer realized something was wrong. As fun as it was being next to Ritz, it was the first time in at least a year he hadn’t had Velvet beside him. He figured Ritz was feeling the same about Orchid, as his gaze travels to his hand.

“Uh, Ritz, can I ask you something?”

“Of course, go ahead.”

“It’s kind of embarrassing.”

“You don’t have to be embarrassed with me,” Ritz assures, only making Veneer fall in love more.

“Well, I usually sleep next to Velvet, so I’m kind of used to holding onto someone. So I was wondering, can I, um, hold your hand?”

Ritz nods, completely understanding. He takes Veneer’s hand in his, interlacing their fingers for added comfort. Their hands fit perfectly together, as if they were made for each other.

“Yeah, I totally get it,” Ritz says. “Orchid and I like to cuddle, too. It can get scary out here, you know?”

“Definitely,” he agrees, holding his hand a bit tighter.

As he looked at his hand some more, he noticed a cluster of doodles starting at his thumb, trailing to his wrist. He was decorated with smiley faces, hearts, and a few drawings of the S with six lines, all connected.

“Why do you have the S thing on you?” Veneer asks, brushing his thumb against Ritz’s.

“Oh, that one. Orchid did those, actually,” he explains. “She used to draw on me all the time in school, one day we just decided to make it permanent.”

“Aw, that’s sweet! When Velvet and I got ours, she pretended like she wasn’t scared, but she had to hold my hand the whole time. Honestly, I think we were equally terrified.”

“Yeah, Orchid was pretty scared for hers, but it turned out really well if I do say so myself.”

“It did, you’re a great artist,” Veneer tells him, smiling as his face lights up. “Tell me about some of your other ones!”

“Thank you! Most of mine were just impulsive, or I thought they looked cool. Like this one, I only got ‘cause they were having a sale on vacation,” he holds up his other arm, showing off a tropical looking drink with a pineapple on the rim.

“Hey, I love a good sale,” Veneer responds. He could have stared at him and listened to him talk for hours.

“You get it. It works out, I like piña coladas,” Ritz adds.

“And getting caught in the rain?”

“You know it.”

Ritz squeezes his hand, Veneer feeling their fingers perfectly intertwined. He moves ever so slightly closer.

//

A warm glow filled Orchid’s room as Velvet lit a few candles, setting the mood. After arranging them to her liking, she spotted Orchid in the bathroom doorway.

Her biggest fan had changed into a spaghetti strap tank top, with song lyrics on the front and two overlapping Vs in the background. Velvet recognized it immediately as merch from her tour, touched that Orchid had kept it. Orchid paired it with just black boxer shorts, with heart patterns on them.

“This is literally the sexiest outfit I have,” Orchid laughs, trying her best to pose for her.

Velvet thought she looked beautiful, complete with that adorable smile and her hair down with the braided V. Maybe she didn’t have elegant nightgowns like Velvet, but she didn’t need them to look perfect.

“You look stunning! I love the top,” Velvet smiles, then picks her up and spins her around. She loved the way Orchid giggled in the air, she could have listened to it forever.

When Velvet puts her down, she hugs her tight. As she looks over her shoulder, she notices the dates from the tour listed on the back.

“I remember this one,” Velvet says, tapping the date for the Boombox show.

“I was there,” Orchid tells her, “Front row!”

“What about this one?” Velvet asks, tapping the next date.

“Yeah! Front row, again.”

“And this one?”

“Mhm!”

Velvet shakes her side to side in the hug, feeling that same excitement from whenever she went out onstage. She was so glad Orchid hadn’t waited any longer, as she felt her waist in Orchid’s arms.

“So, what do you want to do?” Orchid asks, snuggling into her arms.

“I was thinking we could do makeovers,” Velvet suggests. “What did you pick out at the store?”

“Ooh, good idea! I got this eyeliner thing,” Orchid says, sitting down next to a bag. She takes out a small package, including a thin brush and liquid eyeliner. Velvet sits down across from her, studying her face.

“I’m not sure how to use it,” Orchid tells her. “I was actually hoping you could show me how.”

“I’d love to. I’m a bit of a makeup artist,” Velvet flaunts.

She opens the eyeliner, already having an idea of what to do. Then, she tucks Orchid’s hair behind her ears for more space to work with, and to get to touch her again.

“I used to do this style a lot, but I haven’t in a while since it’s symmetrical,” Velvet explains.

Orchid closes her eyes, letting Velvet work her magic. She draws diagonal lines starting at each end of her face, working their way in and over her eyes. Once she connects each line, it makes the shape of an audio wave with sharp points.

She missed doing it on herself, but doing Orchid’s makeup was even more enjoyable. The style suited her, perfectly symmetrical and bringing attention to her gorgeous eyes. Velvet takes out a small mirror from her own things, then holds it up for Orchid.

“What do you think?” Velvet asks, grinning as Orchid admires her reflection.

“I love it! I usually only wore lipstick back in the city, so this is a new look,” Orchid says, striking different angles in the mirror. Her huge smile only added to her beauty.

“I’m so glad you love it,” Velvet responds. “My turn!”

Velvet passes the eyeliner to Orchid, then closes her eye, leaving her hair over her right side. Even if Orchid was new to makeup, at least she only had one side to worry about, Velvet figured.

“It’s pretty easy, just like drawing, but with makeup instead of paper and pencil,” Velvet assures her. She feels the soft brush next to her left eye as Orchid attempts a wing.

When she opens her eye, Orchid was looking at her with a loving curiosity. Orchid’s hand travels to Velvet’s right cheek, gently caressing her face. She asks just what Velvet was afraid of.

“Can I see?”

Despite her nervousness, Velvet nods. She had seen it once, though only briefly, but Velvet figured she would see her scar again soon enough.

Orchid’s hand was so tender as she pushed Velvet’s hair back, uncovering the rest of her face. They share a long gaze in comfortable silence. There was a hint of sadness in Orchid’s expression, but it was mostly love.

“You’re so pretty. Does it hurt if I…” Orchid breaks the silence, hovering her hand over the scar.

“No, I know you’ll be gentle,” Velvet smiles softly.

There was so much love in her touch as Orchid traces her fingers over the right side of her face. Velvet tried not to think about her missing eye too much, but the way Orchid touched her made her feel more beautiful than she ever had before.

“Hold still,” Orchid tells her, picking up the brush and eyeliner.

She relaxes as she feels Orchid paint smooth lines around her scar. Orchid grins with awe, then holds up the mirror to show her.

Velvet gasps.

A star framed where her eye used to be. She didn’t quite know why, but tears started to well up in her eye. It was like Orchid knew exactly what she needed.

“You drew stars around my scars,” Velvet whispers, her gaze locked on her reflection.

Just then, Orchid sets down the brush and snuggles into Velvet’s arms. She lays her head on her chest as Velvet holds her close, never ever wanting to let go.

“You’re my favorite,” Orchid whispers back, combing her nails through her hair.

Velvet couldn’t have imagined anything better than this. It had taken the end of the world, but she would go through it all again to have this moment with Orchid.

Realizing she had forgotten something, Velvet reaches into her bag, taking out a lipstick. It was a deep maroon, matching her nightgown.

“I almost forgot, a look is never done without lipstick,” Velvet comments, while Orchid moves to sit across from her again. Orchid nods, then slightly opens her mouth for Velvet to apply the lipstick.

Instead, Velvet applies it onto herself, not too concerned if it was smudged. She then kisses Orchid on the lips, transferring the lipstick. She holds her face as Orchid gasps excitedly, then rests her hands on top of Velvet’s.

When she pulls away, Orchid’s lips were extremely smudged with scarlet lipstick. It didn’t turn out how she expected, but the smudged look was even better.

“It was an idea,” Velvet shrugs, holding up the mirror to Orchid.

“Well I love it!” Orchid touches her hand to her lips, giggling at the look. She would look even better with more, Velvet thought as she reapplied the lipstick on herself.

She leans in close, then kisses all over Orchid’s face, decorating her with red kiss marks. She holds up the mirror as Orchid laughs harder, loving every second of it.

“You want more?” Velvet asks, tapping each kiss mark.

“Yes please!” Orchid answers, her face turning pink under all the lipstick.

“Then come here,” she responds, patting her lap with a flirtatious grin.

Velvet only felt more enchanted with her as she takes Orchid by her waist, moving her to sit in her lap. Orchid’s legs wrap around her as she makes herself comfortable, anticipating the next kisses.

Each kiss left another lipstick mark as Velvet trailed her lips from her face down to her neck. As Velvet kissed all over her shoulders, Orchid held her tighter, encouraging her for more. Wanting to hear her laugh, Velvet leaves more kisses on her neck, trying to find the most sensitive spots.

“Can we move onto the bed?” Orchid asks, pressing kisses onto Velvet whenever she could. “I liked it when you laid on me.”

“Definitely,” Velvet agrees. She picks up Orchid as she stands, then lays her down onto the bed. She tries to recreate their scene from earlier as she lays down on her, this time under the covers.

That now familiar smile was back as Velvet presses her lips to Orchid’s, able to feel her fast heartbeat against her. She trails kisses down her neck and shoulders again, listening to her soft laughs as she went back over the kiss marks.

“Velvet,” Orchid breathes out as she holds her closer.

“What is it?” Velvet asks, her heart fluttering the same way as when she heard fans cheer her name.

“Oh nothing, I just like saying your name,” she responds, relaxing under her. The next kisses on her were even more impassioned, Velvet smiling as she felt Orchid’s breathing speed up.

“Say it again.”

“Velvet.”

“Again.”

“Velvet.”

“Again.”

“Velvet.”

“Again.”

“Velvet, I love you.”

She freezes.

As Velvet looked down at Orchid, her long green hair fell over her shoulders, framing around Orchid’s face. The kiss marks she had left on her only made her more beautiful, as she looked up at Velvet with the most loving smile she had ever seen.

“I know, you’ve only known me two days. You don’t have to say it back. But I do love you,” Orchid repeats.

“Other than Veneer, no one has told me that since my last performance.”

She watches Orchid’s heart break at her confession. Orchid rests her hand on Velvet’s face, right under her painted star.

“Oh, Velvet,” she sighs, brushing her thumb against Velvet’s lips. “I never stopped loving you. And I never will.”

As she falls in love all over again, Velvet takes Orchid into a passionate kiss. She flips over in the kiss, switching places so that she laid under Orchid.

“I love you too,” Velvet tells her after the kiss. “You make me feel like I’m a star again.”

“As long as I’m here, you’ll always be a star.”

As Orchid initiates the next kiss, Velvet was the brightest star that had ever been.

//

In the morning, or possibly early afternoon, Ritz was greeted by the smiling face of Orchid above him.

As his eyes adjusted, he noticed she was covered in red lipstick marks anywhere that her skin was showing. She was grinning ear to ear, practically jumping with excitement.

“Morning, sleepyhead!” Orchid says cheerfully, poking him awake. “I see you made a move,” she comments, pointing at his and Veneer’s hands.

They were still interlaced, as Veneer stayed asleep soundly beside him. He looked so precious, his long hair falling over his face as he breathed deeply.

“He’s actually the one who asked. What are you doing up?”

“I’m gonna surprise Velvet with breakfast! It’s the least I can do for her,” she answers, skipping into the kitchen.

Being careful not to wake him, Ritz slips his hand from Veneer’s, slowly standing up off the bed. He joins Orchid in the kitchen, leaning against the counter. Along with all the lipstick, her shirt was on backwards, and her hair had a serious case of bed head.

“You’re a mess,” Ritz comments, eyeing her up and down.

“You’re just jealous,” Orchid taunts. She turns out her leg, showing off red kiss marks on her inner thigh.

“Maybe I am,” he agrees with her, looking back over at Veneer, still sleeping peacefully.

“We gave each other makeovers! And then we said I love yous, and then she,” she bursts into giggles, her face turning red as she continued to prepare breakfast for her star.

“I think Velvet would want you to spare me the rest. But I’m sure it can’t be as scandalous as me and Veneer holding hands,” Ritz jokes, looking at his hand that had held Veneer’s all night.

“Oh, definitely not,” Orchid laughs. “I can’t believe you two held hands before marriage, that’s just indecent.”

“I know, right? We even-“

He interlaces his own hands and squeezes, demonstrating how he and Veneer had held each other’s hands. But he is interrupted, as a scream from Orchid’s room pierces the air.

Before Ritz or Orchid could react, Veneer was already up and halfway through the hallway. He meets his sister, letting her collapse into his arms as she sobs.

“Velvet! Vels, what happened? I’m here. I’m here,” Veneer comforts her, the way he held her seeming like it was second nature.

A horrified look was on Orchid’s makeup stained face as she and Ritz looked at each other, then quickly joined the twins in the hallway.

“I woke up, and, and you weren’t there,” Velvet explains to Veneer, hyperventilating. “And then I remembered I was with Orchid, but she wasn’t there either, and I was all, I was all alone,” she breaks into sobs again, hiding her face in her brother’s shoulder.

“It’s okay, I’m here. We’re all here, you’re not alone,” Veneer assures, patting her back as she starts to calm down.

Velvet eventually lets go, brushing off her tears. She takes a few deep breaths, looking around at everyone. Her gaze falls on Orchid.

“Velvet, I am so sorry,” Orchid apologizes, looking up at her.

“It’s okay, how could you have known?” Velvet responds, regaining her composure. She steps towards Orchid, then kisses her forehead. “Just don’t let me wake up alone again.”

“I won’t!” Orchid promises, giving her a nod.

As the girls embrace each other, Ritz and Veneer breathe a sigh of relief, happy to see Velvet’s panic have only been a moment. Still, it was weird to see the confident pop star so shaken up over just being alone. Ritz understood, though, he didn’t particularly like being away from Orchid for a long time.

“Your shirt’s on backwards,” Velvet comments, noticing the tour dates on the wrong side.

“You did that!” Orchid laughs, her smile glowing.

“Huh, I guess I did,” Velvet shrugs, laughing along with her.

As Ritz looks over to Veneer, he was awkwardly staring at the ceiling, taking a few steps backwards. When their eyes meet, they give each other a nod. He follows Veneer back into the main room, leaving the girls to themselves.

//

“Veneer! Wake up!”

Veneer’s eyes shot open, hearing this was never a good sign in his experience. His hand was no longer in Ritz’s, making him even more uneasy.

After a day of losing to Ritz at card games, they had fallen asleep beside each other again. Veneer hadn’t seen much of Velvet or Orchid other than getting snacks, as they wanted to spend the day together. He was happy for them, though, and even more happy to have time alone with Ritz.

“What? What’s going on? Is Velvet okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” Ritz assures him. “Sorry, I should have been quieter.”

“No, it’s fine,” Veneer replies, calming down. Thank goodness, it had just been Ritz shaking him awake. “But what are we doing up? It’s the middle of the night.”

“I know. Come outside with me,” Ritz says, standing up and grabbing something from a nearby cabinet. His hair was still somewhat messy from sleeping, and he was in a hoodie with The Bop On Top logo. It was a struggle to look away from him.

Veneer thought about complaining, but realized the stars would be especially bright this time of night. And he would be watching them with Ritz, just the two of them. He sits up, his heart quickening at the thought.

“Okay,” he shrugs and agrees. “But seriously, what’s going on?” He stands up and puts on a red jacket that had been laying on the couch.

“You’ll see.” Ritz takes his hand, Veneer instantly relaxing at this, then leads him outside. He was right, the sky was clear, showing the stars as bright as they could be. The star standing next to him seemed uninterested in the sky, instead messing with the little box he had taken from the house.

The two lean against a wall, when Ritz takes out a cigarette and hands Veneer his lighter.

“Light me up?”

“Oh! Aren’t those, like, really bad for you?” Veneer asks, concerned.

“Yeah, I guess,” Ritz shrugs.

“Do you have a death wish or something?”

“Maybe,” Ritz winks. “Just kidding. I don’t do it so much anymore, just every now and then with Orchid. I didn’t want to intrude on her and Velvet, but I didn’t want to leave you alone, so I got you up.”

Veneer noticed he had been staring at him for too long, so he nervously looks back up at the sky. He was oddly flattered, Ritz knew he struggled with being alone, and trusted him enough to take him outside on this beautiful night. The night wasn’t the most beautiful thing, though, Veneer thought as his gaze wandered back to Ritz.

“But seriously, can you light me?” Ritz asks, holding his cigarette out for him.

“Oh, right. Sure,” Veneer says, switching on the lighter. The warm glow of the fire made Ritz look even more alluring as he took a long drag, then exhaled. Even if it wasn’t healthy, Veneer couldn’t help but think he looked extremely cool.

“So why do you still smoke, considering everything? I’m just curious, I don’t judge,” he clarifies.

“I guess it’s relaxing for me,” Ritz answers, the smoke swirling around him. “Something about the breathing. And being outside.”

“That makes sense,” Veneer responds. He had a point, the deep inhale and exhale did seem like it was calming.

“You wanna try?” Ritz offers, holding the cigarette out to him. Veneer’s first thought was that it was an indirect kiss; he was glad it was too dark for Ritz to see him blushing.

“Um, yeah, okay,” Veneer responds, letting their hands touch as he takes it.

“You don’t have to, don’t let me pressure you.”

“No, I want to,” Veneer says with more confidence. Hoping to get a taste of Ritz’s lips, he takes a drag on the cigarette.

Unfortunately, instead of the quiet, indirect kiss he had anticipated, the smoke sends him into a coughing fit. Ritz quickly takes the cigarette from his hand, and pats him on the back.

“You okay? That was an, uh, attempt.”

“That was terrible!” Veneer exclaims in between coughs. “What the hell do you like about this?”

“I told you, it’s the breathing!”

Once he stops coughing, Veneer clears his head. It was a bad attempt, but he just had an indirect kiss with Ritz, and damn did he want another one.

“Okay,” he sighs. “Let me try again.”

“You sure? That looked rough,” Ritz says, a reassuring hand on his back.

“Yes, I’m sure! I just have to breathe better, right?” Veneer takes the cigarette back, caressing Ritz’s hand as he does so. He takes a drag with a supported inhale, then exhales, reveling in the second indirect kiss. At the last second, he exhales smoke right at Ritz, making him start coughing.

“Hey!” Ritz waves the smoke away, clearing his throat.

“Ha! See, I can do it just fine now. Guess you’re not as cool as you thought,” he teases him, giving him a smirk.

“Hm, maybe. But check this out,” Ritz says, taking the cigarette back. He caresses his hand the same way Veneer had done to him, it must have been intentional. He inhales, then exhales a ring of smoke, just like Veneer had seen in movies.

“Impressive,” Veneer comments, falling even more in love.

“Thank you! It’s nice to show off,” Ritz responds, laughing. “After the first few times, Orchid wasn’t impressed anymore.” He lights another cigarette and passes it to Veneer, the two casually sharing it.

“Well, consider me impressed,” Veneer says, smiling softly at him.

“Hey, is that my jacket?” Ritz asks suddenly. Veneer’s face felt hot again, realizing the jacket he had taken was a size too big on him. Even so, it was so comfortable he hadn’t noticed until now.

“Oh, I think so, sorry,” he responds, though he wasn’t sorry. It was almost like being wrapped in his arms.

“Don’t be. Me and Orchid share clothes all the time,” he says, taking another drag on the cigarette. All the lessons Veneer had learned about smoking meant nothing to him now, he would gladly sacrifice his health for this moment. He hoped, however, that him and Ritz sharing clothes could be more intimate than just as friends.

They shared the cigarette some more, Veneer wondering if Ritz could taste his lips on it. He hoped so. The smoke continued to swirl around them, their inhales and exhales being the only sound in the otherwise silent night. When Veneer managed to tear his gaze from Ritz, he looked up at the stars. That’s right, the stars!

“Can I show you something?”

“Anything.”

“Do you ever look at the stars?” Veneer asks, sitting down against the wall. Ritz joins him, the two a bit too close.

“Not really,” he answers. “I mean, they’re there, they’re twinkly, that’s about it.”

“Then you’re in for a treat,” Veneer says, holding up a hand to the sky. He takes a risk and leans against Ritz, his breath shaking as he leans back into him. He points at the brightest star in the center of it all.

“That one’s Velvet,” he shifts his hand to the second brightest star, next to Velvet’s, “and that one’s me. That’s our yacht,” he points out, gesturing at a group of stars.

“How is that a yacht?” Ritz asks sarcastically. He rests his arm around Veneer’s shoulder, leaning even closer. Veneer looks away from the sky, watching Ritz continue smoking. If it had been anyone else, it would have bothered him, but not this time. He had never wanted to kiss someone so badly.

“We named most of these right after Velvet’s injury,” Veneer explains. “She named that one. If you cover an eye and squint, and you’re also really tired, it might look like a yacht,” he shrugs, feeling Ritz’s hand on his shoulder.

“Yeah, fair enough. What’s that really flickery one? I thought it was blue, but now it looks more orange, wait, it’s red now,” he asks, squinting at the flickery star in front of the circle of stars. Veneer was hoping he would point that one out.

“That’s you.”

Ritz gazed at the sky with awe, the stars reflecting in his eyes. Ever since he had started paying attention to the sky, Veneer had only seen the stars in his sister’s blue eye. Seeing them in Ritz’s violet eyes was an entirely new sight, and it was beautiful. The stars in the sky or the star next to him, Veneer couldn’t decide.

“Oh,” Ritz sighs, smiling at the sky.

When he looks back at Veneer, he catches him staring. Veneer takes a deep breath, feeling Ritz pulling him close as they get lost in each other’s eyes. They tilt their heads closer together, Veneer practically able to taste the smoke on his lips. It was almost perfect. Almost, but not quite right. At the last second, Veneer pulls away, sacrificing the moment.

“I’m sorry I lied to you.”

Ritz looks into his eyes again, this time with surprise.

“I regret it,” Veneer continues, “every day. The things we did, I just, and you thought…” he trails off, nervous to say the wrong thing. He still couldn’t get the way Ritz had looked at him that night four years ago out of his head, he had to make it right.

“I forgive you,” Ritz says, holding Veneer’s hand tightly in his. “You’re right, what you did was awful, and you did lie to me.”

Great, I missed my chance to kiss him, and now I fucked up this apology, Veneer thinks, his heart speeding up again.

“But I can see you’ve changed. You’re a good person, Veneer. And I don’t hate you. I like you a lot,” Ritz reassures him. He looks down at their hands together, and if it was any lighter Veneer would have been able to see him blushing.

“So I forgive you,” Ritz says, pulling Veneer into a hug, “and just don’t lie to me again.”

“I won’t,” Veneer promises in a whisper. He wraps his arms around Ritz, melting into the hug. This was a thousand times better than the feeling of his jacket.

“I’m glad,” Ritz whispers back, brushing his lips against Veneer’s ear. The latter knew it was intentional, his heart now speeding up from something other than anxiety.

“If you don’t mind me asking, why did you do it?” Ritz asks. “If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine.”

“Like I said, I was afraid to stand up to Velvet,” Veneer answers, hugging Ritz tighter. “But that wasn’t all of it. There was the money, and I loved performing, being on TV, all that stuff. And meeting you,” he adds, taking another risk. He then sighs, and continues, “But it was mostly because of my sister. Seeing her smile, knowing I was part of the reason for that, it was the best feeling in the world.”

“I love how you love,” Ritz replies. I love you, Veneer almost confesses, but something stops him. Something was still missing.

//

“I love how you love,” Ritz blurts out, not thinking beforehand. To his relief, Veneer smiles, holding onto the hug.

“I do really miss performing,” Veneer sighs.

“Yeah, me too. Watching you perform, I mean. And I miss my show.” But I especially missed you.

“Mhm,” Veneer agrees, resting his head on his shoulder.

“Hey, you should sing something for me! If you want,” Ritz suggests. His heart was beating fast, but so was Veneer’s. He didn’t care how good or bad of a singer Veneer was, he just wanted to watch him perform again.

“Okay,” Veneer agrees, much to his delight. “But you can’t make fun of me. And me and Velvet have actually been practicing since the outbreak,” he adds.

“Of course I won’t,” Ritz nods, letting go of Veneer as he stands up. He stands up as well, leaning against the wall with his cigarette. Veneer moves away from him, using the grass as a stage.

“I’m kind of nervous,” Veneer admits, “so I’m just gonna do the end.”

“Whatever you want,” Ritz says, watching him intently as he takes another drag. Veneer takes a deep breath, then starts singing, quietly at first.

“It’s totally late
I see a woman on Atlantic
Without a second of debate
I grab her hair and she goes frantic”

Ritz’s eyes widen, he hadn’t expected such dark lyrics from that sweet face. Still, he sounded surprisingly wonderful.

“I wrap my hands around her neck
With all the passion I can rally
We’re by that club that’s owned by Beck
I dump her body in an alley”

Veneer starts giggling while he sings, the lyrics didn’t quite match with the vibe of the night. He was getting into it, though, swaying to an imaginary accompaniment. Ritz laughs along with him, watching as his long hair flows in the light breeze, the stars giving him a spotlight.

“I sweat a little bit but I’m still numb
That was kinda whatever but it was mostly dumb
I walk home wondering what it all means
Would I feel different if I lived in Queens?”

Veneer sighs dramatically, his movements indicating it was part of the song.

“Who’s to say?
It doesn’t matter anyway”

God, he was gorgeous. Ritz couldn’t deny it, and he didn’t want to. This was love. He would wait until the end of the song, though, as he was enjoying the performance. Veneer could tell, as he tapped his heel to the beat and became more expressive with the song.

“‘Cause I can’t feel a thing anymore
I can’t feel a thing anymore
It’s all been done before”

The stars seemed to shine even brighter with each note. Out of all the many times Ritz had seen Veneer perform, this private show had to be his favorite.

“And everything’s a horrible bore
And living is a terrible chore
You know that it’s true
There’s nothing new to do
There’s nothing new to do
There’s nothing new to do in Brooklyn anymore”

Veneer sways faster, indicating the tempo change. He smiles at Ritz while he sings, that same handsome smile he used to wear at his concerts.

“There’s nothing new to do in Brooklyn anymore
There’s nothing new to do in New York anymore
There’s nothing new to do in America anymore
There’s nothing new to do in the universe anymore
Yes, it’s all been done before
There’s nothing new to do in Brooklyn anymore!”

The singing had left Veneer breathless, as he poses, then takes a dramatic bow. Ritz makes his way towards him, their eyes meeting once again. He drops his cigarette.

“For the record, I don’t actually feel that way,” Veneer says once he catches his breath. “Especially not right now.”

“Veneer, that was amazing,” Ritz breathes out, taking a step closer.

As the stars shine above them, Veneer takes Ritz’s hand and brings it to touch his face. Tilting his head into his hand, he lets out a soft laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Ritz asks, feeling Veneer’s hand against his. Veneer shakes his head and smiles, as if he had been waiting for this moment forever.

“Just kiss me already.”

.

Chapter Text

Velvet
Status: Negative.
Health: 88%
Stress: 8%

Veneer
Status: Negative.
Health: 91%
Stress: 17%

Ritz
Status: Negative.
Health: 90%
Stress: 16%

Orchid
Status: Negative.
Health: 93%
Stress: 7%

//

Whatever they had been waiting for, Veneer was done waiting. A current ran between them as he held Ritz’s hand to his cheek, gazing into those gorgeous starry eyes.

“Just kiss me already.”

It was an immediate reaction; despite him having made the request, Veneer gasps as Ritz kisses him on the lips. He breaks into a smile, throwing his arms around his shoulders, as Ritz’s hands find their place in his hair and around his waist.

At the end of the kiss, it took a moment until Veneer could open his eyes again. Once he was able to look at Ritz again, he knew this was meant to be. He was still in his arms, and the feeling was exhilarating.

“Can we do that again?” Veneer asks, a huge dumb smile stuck on his face. The kiss he had wanted all night, or even since his famous days, was finally his. Of course he wanted more.

Ritz nods and kisses him again, pulling him even closer. It was just as thrilling as the last; Veneer still hadn’t registered that this was really happening. Just the two of them, during the end of the world, kissing under the stars. It was like a wildest dream come true.

Still in the kiss, Veneer was high on emotions, wishing he could get even closer. He jumps up onto Ritz, wrapping both legs around his waist. Ritz attempts to catch him and fails, stumbling until they were a tangled mess on the ground.

Veneer had ended up on his back, breathing heavily after the fall. As he looked up at Ritz, the stars shone behind him, making him glow like one of them. Just as he thought he couldn’t get anymore stunning, he was proven wrong once again. A few clouds had moved in, but he didn’t mind, the one star above him was the only one that really mattered right now.

“Are you okay?” Ritz asks, snapping him back to the moment. Ritz tries to stifle a laugh after having fallen on him, but Veneer wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Yeah, this is better. Now I can see you under the stars.”

He pulls him down for another kiss, taking his hand. They interlace their fingers as they had done so naturally the past two nights, only now it was complete with that perfect kiss.

As he squeezes his hand, Veneer feels a drop of water transfer from Ritz’s hand to his. Then another raindrop on his face. Then another, then another, until it was pouring rain.

“I guess we should go inside,” Veneer sighs sadly. He never wanted this moment to end, but maybe it didn’t have to.

“Why? I love the rain,” Ritz responds, then holds his face for the next kiss. Veneer smiles and holds him tighter, the rain only adding to the thrill.

Rain falling around them was the only sound in the night, other than their inhales and exhales. Considering how they were laying, it was mostly Ritz getting rained on, but he didn’t seem to mind. He only kisses Veneer over and over again, as if he had been waiting for this for years.

As Veneer opens his eyes to look at him again, lighting strikes the dark sky behind Ritz. Before the next kiss, they were startled by a loud crack of thunder, while the rain poured heavier.

“We should probably go inside now,” Ritz suggests, laughing softly. He brushes Veneer’s hair, now wet from the rain, out of his face.

Veneer had other plans. He could finally kiss Ritz as much as he wanted, a little thunderstorm wasn’t about to interrupt him.

“Your chances of getting struck by lightning are extremely low.”

He pulls Ritz down by the front of his hoodie, perfectly timing the kiss to the next strike of thunder. Ritz tightens his hands around his shoulders, the next kisses matching the intensity of the storm.

They stay there outside, until the distance between the thunder and lightning was as nonexistent as the distance between them. They were so close that Veneer could feel their heartbeats together, both fast with adrenaline. And something else. It was perfect; nothing was missing.

“I love you,” Veneer whispers in between kisses.

“What?!” Ritz yells over the storm, not having heard him.

“I said I love you!” Veneer repeats louder, holding Ritz’s face in his hands.

“Oh! That was fast,” Ritz responds. Even though they were shivering from the storm, his face went warm in Veneer’s hands.

“And we could all die tomorrow! I love you, so why not say it?” He smiles, watching Ritz smile in return.

“Good point. I love you too,” Ritz confesses, then presses his lips back on Veneer’s.

It was like they were made to hold each other. Veneer runs his hand through Ritz’s hair, giggling softly as he felt it soaked from the rain. He then moves his hand to his lower back, tracing stars under his hoodie.

At the next breath between kisses, the wind inconveniently whips Veneer’s hair into his face, getting stuck in between them. Ritz moves it out of the way, but the same thing happens again at the next pause, then the next.

“This is getting difficult,” Ritz comments.

“You mean you don’t want my hair in my face while you kiss me?” Veneer responds, playfully rolling his eyes.

“Is that sarcasm?”

“I think I had a sarcasm once.”

“That’s… oh my god. Wanna take this inside?” Ritz finally suggests, trying his best to shield him from the rain as they stood up.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

//

“Do you hear that?” Velvet whispers, gently shaking Orchid awake. “I think I hear singing.”

Her lover felt so warm in her arms, tucked in as the little spoon. Not fully awake, Orchid takes her hand and kisses each of her fingertips.

“I’m sure it’s nothing, go back to sleep,” Orchid mumbles.

She turns over to face Velvet, pulling her into her arms. Even if she was half asleep, Orchid knew exactly what she wanted. Velvet loved that about her.

“Okay,” Velvet agrees, mostly to have an excuse to cuddle her. She could have sworn she heard her brother’s voice belting outside, but she knew he was safe just in the other room.

She fell back asleep, comforted in the softness of her pajamas, the bed, Orchid’s arms. It didn’t last long, though, as a loud crack of thunder startled them awake.

Velvet’s heart speeds up as she pulls Orchid closer. She had never liked thunderstorms; they were too loud and unpredictable, not to mention they messed up her hair. As the thunder rumbles outside, she nuzzles her head into the crook of Orchid’s neck. The storm had woken her up as well, as she cradles Velvet in her hands.

“Velvet, are you scared of thunderstorms?” she asks, protectively holding her.

“Absolutely not,” Velvet lies, her voice muffled by how close she was to her.

“It’s okay, I won’t let you get hurt,” Orchid consoles, seeing right through her lie. “You’re safe with me.”

And she was. In just three days of knowing her, Velvet felt the safest a girl had ever made her feel. She couldn’t get over how amazing the girl cuddling her was.

“I love you, Velvet.”

And there it was, her new favorite sentence to hear. As long as Orchid loved her, she didn’t need to be afraid of anything.

“I love you too.”

It was so nice to be held.

//

The two could barely control their laughter as they rushed towards the door, getting even more soaked with rain.

“After you,” Veneer offers, holding the door open for Ritz.

“Such a gentleman,” Ritz comments, pulling him inside the house as they closed the door.

He looks at Veneer for a moment, taking in his radiance. He had just kissed Veneer! Sure, Ritz had imagined it plenty of times, but what had just happened was even better than his wildest dreams. He might have gotten a little kiss-happy, but he could tell neither of them had any intention of stopping.

It was easily the best night of Ritz’s life. Nothing could ruin this, as the rain continued to pour outside. Nothing, except for a bad play on words.

“That was electrifying,” Veneer breathes out, a mischievous grin on his face.

“That joke belongs on your criminal record,” Ritz rolls his eyes, grinning back nonetheless. He steps closer, a hand on Veneer’s shoulder as he backed him against the wall.

“Next to the tax evasion charges?”

Being out of the storm didn’t change the electricity running between them. Now up against the wall, Veneer grabs the front of Ritz’s hoodie and pulls him in for another electrifying kiss. Ritz follows his lead, leaning even closer onto him as he took Veneer’s free hand, intertwining their fingers and pressing his hand against the wall next to him.

It was more thrilling than he’d ever imagined. The taste of rain lingered on Veneer’s lips, and Ritz could have enjoyed it forever.

“You’re freezing,” Veneer says, feeling Ritz shivering against him.

“Yeah, we should probably get changed,” he suggests, backing away. Veneer takes a nearby towel and dries off his hair, while Ritz takes off his hoodie. Now in just a black tank top, he could feel Veneer’s eyes on him.

As Veneer rooted around for something to change into, Ritz had a better idea. He makes his way towards him, gently turning him around. The star couldn’t have been more gorgeous as Ritz brushed his hand against his face, down to his neck.

“Need any help?”

Veneer traces along his hand, but gives him a confused expression. “What do you mean? I’ve been changing since I was little.”

“No, I mean,” he shakes his head, trying not to laugh. I’m in love with a criminal, and he’s stunningly stupid, he thinks to himself lovingly.

“Like this,” Ritz explains, by helping him take off the red jacket he had accidentally stolen. He doesn’t break eye contact as Veneer’s eyes widen, realizing what he was really suggesting.

“Oh! Actually, I think I do need some help,” Veneer responds, his voice lower.

His hands barely leave Veneer as he helps him undress, listening to his laugh as he left kisses all over him. Ritz trails kisses down his shoulder, tracing the outline of the wings on his lower back.

“I missed you so much,” Ritz whispers, smiling as he pulls him closer.

“I can tell,” Veneer responds with a grin. “I missed you too. Now come on, I’m cold.”

He would never have to miss Veneer again, he realizes happily as he takes a pajama set out of a nearby drawer. They were a shiny white, decorated with his signature colorful pattern. He had to admit, the button up top and matching shorts looked better on Veneer.

Ritz feels the satiny fabric on his star as he buttons up the shirt, scandalously leaving the top one open. He traces along the embroidered R on the front as Veneer’s cheeks go pink, looking beautiful as ever in the nicest thing Ritz had managed to keep.

“Pretty,” Ritz compliments, then pecks him on the lips. Each time he kissed him was just as thrilling as the first, Veneer’s ecstatic smile adding to the moment.

“Your turn,” Veneer says, sliding his hands under his tank top. Before Ritz could lose himself in the soft touch of his hands, he backs away, remembering Veneer hadn’t yet seen his scars.

“Wait!”

Veneer’s confusion quickly turns to concern on his face, walking closer to him but keeping his hands to himself. “What? Is everything okay? I’m so sorry, I-“

“No, it’s not you,” Ritz interrupts, looking at the floor. He knew how sweet Veneer was, but for some reason he couldn’t shake down that all too familiar feeling of not being enough.

“You can tell me,” Veneer responds, carefully taking Ritz’s hands in his. He holds them tight, looking up at him with those loving blue eyes.

Ritz takes a deep breath. He usually wasn’t this nervous, but this time was different. He was confident that Veneer was the love of his life, and all he wanted was to make him happy.

“Sorry, you know, I’m trans. I have scars from my top surgery, and, um, I didn’t want you to be alarmed,” he explains, his gaze returning to the floor.

“Please don’t ever apologize.” Veneer caresses his cheek, gently tilting his head up so their eyes met. “I don’t care what you have or don’t, I just want you.”

He was perfect. Ritz could have melted right then and there, but Veneer continues, making him fall in love all over again.

“Ever since our first interview, I really wanted to hold you and kiss you. You being trans doesn’t change that. I’m gay, you’re a guy, so I don’t see the issue,” he smiles that sweet smile, causing Ritz’s heart to flutter more than it ever had before.

Thunder and rain filled the silence as Ritz was speechless. He had never been so in love; he still couldn’t believe that they had been reunited. But as he felt Veneer’s fingers intertwined with his, he might have been just a little grateful for the infection that disrupted the world.

“I love you,” Ritz breathes out for the second time that night. He hugs Veneer in the best hug he could’ve imagined, then presses his lips to his.

“I love you too,” Veneer responds after the kiss, tracing down his back. Remembering he was still drenched from the storm, Ritz takes Veneer’s hand, placing it back under his tank top.

“You okay to keep going?” Veneer asks, drawing those now familiar stars on his lower back.

“Definitely.”

“I have a bit of a request.”

“What’s that?” Ritz asks as Veneer helps him undress. Veneer’s face then lights up with excitement.

“Is it okay if I kiss your scars?”

Ritz could feel he had some dumb expression stuck on his face, but he didn’t care as he nodded almost immediately. He runs his hands through his long hair as he felt soft kisses along his scars, then all over him.

“You’re so handsome,” Veneer comments as he presses kisses to the tattoos he hadn’t seen yet. Ritz couldn’t help but laugh, revealing that he was ticklish.

The feeling was perfect, even if he was shivering from the cold. Eventually, though, he had to say something.

“Veneer, as gorgeous as you are, I am freezing cold.”

“Oh! Right,” Veneer remembers the entire point of why they were undressing each other. Ritz found it incredibly flattering that he had forgotten.

“Wait here, I have the perfect thing for you,” Veneer taps Ritz on the shoulder, then walks over to one of his bags.

As he walked back over, Veneer was holding out the most luxurious Hollywood robe that Ritz had ever seen. It was a rich indigo, with faux feather details on the edges.

Veneer stands close behind Ritz, sliding the robe onto him. Ritz wondered what compelled him to keep such a glamorous garment during the apocalypse, but he was so glad he did as he felt the soft fabric of it against him.

He could feel Veneer’s heartbeat against him, too, as he leaned his head over Ritz’s shoulder. A gasp escapes his lips as Veneer tugs his waist closer, tying the robe in front.

“I know what you’re thinking, and you can see me in it later,” Veneer whispers in his ear, practically reading his mind. His arms were tight around his waist, as he pressed a trail of kisses down his neck. He then traces along the embroidered V on the front of the robe; Ritz could only lean back into his arms as his heart beat even faster.

When Ritz thought this night couldn’t possibly get better, Veneer quite literally sweeps him off his feet, into a bridal carry. The world seems to fall away around them as he spins him around in a kiss, only the thunderstorm outside remaining.

He could barely form a thought as he looked up at Veneer, in awe of how beautiful he was. Veneer pulls him closer for another kiss, smiling as Ritz runs his fingers through his hair.

Eventually, Veneer lays him down on their bed, then lays on top of him. Neither of them could stop smiling as Veneer kissed all over his face, happily kicking his feet.

The two snuggle under the blankets, holding each other close. They laid on their sides, facing each other, and Ritz couldn’t tear his gaze from that gorgeous smile if he tried. As Veneer cuddled into his arms, all he wanted was to hear that sweet voice again.

“I want to know everything about you. Tell me all your secrets,” Ritz whispers, caressing his face in his hand.

“Hm, I’m left handed,” Veneer offers, “but that’s not really a secret. Oh! One time, when I was little, I threw up from eating a single blueberry.”

“How does that even happen?!”

“I don’t know! But Vels still won’t let me live it down.”

Ritz moves his hand from his face into his hair, twirling it through his fingers. He watches his face go warm as he traces stars on the back of Veneer’s neck, trying to find the most sensitive spots.

“I have an even better secret,” Veneer continues.

“Spill.”

“Back when I was famous, I had an illegal pet monkey.”

Now that’s a scandal. Before he could stop himself, Ritz snort laughs. Somehow, that seemed perfectly on brand for Veneer.

“I can’t believe I never got to document that,” Ritz responds. “What was its name?”

“Her name was Snorkles, and she was my best friend,” Veneer reminisces dramatically. “Even though she bit me and my sister multiple times.”

“Wow, I should have gotten myself an illegal pet monkey. What else you got?”

“Huh, I can’t think of anything else that you haven’t already heard about.”

“Good. Then no more secrets between us,” Ritz decides, pulling him closer.

“Definitely not,” Veneer agrees.

“Promise?” Ritz holds his pinky out, gesturing for Veneer to take it.

“No lies, no secrets. I promise,” Veneer answers.

He connects his pinky with Ritz’s and squeezes, sealing the promise. Finally, Ritz could feel even more safe in his arms. No more lies, no more secrets.

//

Ritz had gotten the best sleep that night since the outbreak, possibly in his whole life. As he slowly opened his eyes, they met Veneer’s, just silently enjoying each other’s presence.

It was probably the afternoon, considering their increasingly nocturnal sleep schedules. Ritz could have stayed there even longer, though, with Veneer cuddled in his embrace.

The calm didn’t last nearly long enough, when Velvet and Orchid come out of their room. Ritz turns his head to see Velvet stopped in her tracks, eye wide at the sight before her.

“What the hell happened out here?!” Velvet exclaims, gesturing at everything.

Her reaction made sense, considering how Ritz and Veneer were tangled in each other’s arms, wearing each other’s pajamas. Their clothes from last night in the storm were still strewn across the floor; it must have been quite a sight.

“I think I have an idea,” Orchid implies, to which Velvet gives her a suspicious look.

As Ritz turned his head back to Veneer, the latter had a look of panic all over his face.

“Shit!” Veneer whispers, realizing they had been caught.

“Follow my lead,” Ritz whispers back, sitting up to face the girls.

“We went out for a smoke,” Ritz explains to Velvet, now at normal volume.

“Without me?” Orchid asks, offended.

“I wasn’t about to barge into your room,” Ritz responds. He was fine not knowing what went on there.

“Wait, Ven, you smoke now?” Velvet asks, the suspicion not leaving her face.

“I’m in my bad girl era,” Veneer shrugs.

Ritz could tell Velvet still wasn’t convinced. Even if she killed him, though, he could die happy right now.

“We got caught in the storm,” Ritz explains further, “so we had to change.”

“I let him borrow my robe since I’m so generous, and he returned the favor,” Veneer says, adding to their made up story.

“Yep!” Ritz agrees, nodding for emphasis. “Then we, uh, cuddled for warmth, since the rain was really cold.”

“Okay…” Velvet nods slowly, considering their story. “Sounds plausible enough.”

Thank goodness, they could wait a little longer to figure out how to break the news. Ritz breathes a sigh of relief.

“We also totally made out in the rain. It was hot,” Veneer adds nonchalantly.

Oh well, they were going to find out eventually.

“I was actually pretty cold,” Ritz remembers, then pecks Veneer on the lips.

When he looked back over to Velvet, she was frozen with her mouth agape, unblinking. Orchid tries to move her jaw up, but it falls back down once she moves her hand. He was starting to get worried at how little she was breathing, when Orchid runs over to them.

“Finally!” Orchid exclaims, holding out both her hands.

Ritz gives her the strongest high-five he ever had, leaving a sting. She looked almost as ecstatic as she did the night she kissed Velvet. (Almost.)

“You too!” Orchid holds out her hands to Veneer, and he slaps them with the same intensity. She leans over the back of the couch and hugs them both, then kisses both of their cheeks.

“So, did you see his red Calvin Klein boxers?” She asks Veneer in a mischievous whisper.

“How did you know that?!” Veneer replies, taken aback at her accuracy.

“Lucky guess,” she shrugs.

Orchid makes her way back to Velvet, who hadn’t moved at all. Ritz watches with concern as she pokes and shakes her, but Velvet only returns to the same shocked face. He didn’t think she would be this surprised, but she was wearing the exact same expression as when her brother outed them as frauds on live television.

“I think you broke her!” Orchid claims, shaking Velvet even more.

Velvet eventually snaps out of shock, clearing her throat. Her eye darts from Orchid to Veneer, then lands on Ritz. Her protective big sister instincts were painted on her face as she frowned at him with disapproval, though he could tell from her eye she was just pretending to be dramatic.

“Okay, fine, whatever. He’s been lusting after you ever since our first interview, anyways,” she shrugs, confirming her approval.

“Aw, I knew you’d be happy!” Veneer responds, softly clapping his hands with excitement.

“I guess I am,” Velvet decides, then turns her gaze back to Ritz.

Even though she only had one, her icy blue eye was piercing as she stared into him. She still hadn’t lost that slightly terrifying presence from her famous days.

“Just know, whatever you do to him, I do to you.” Velvet defensively crosses her arms, her tone threatening.

“Works for me! I’m bi,” Ritz shrugs, accepting her threat.

“Wait! I didn’t mean it like that!” Velvet poorly defends herself, her face going red. Ritz and Veneer both burst out laughing, Orchid joining in as well.

“Orchid! Not you too!” Velvet hides her face in her hands, regretting her choices.

“Come on, Ritzy! Stop trying to steal my girl,” Orchid says, adding to his implications.

“I can’t believe you would cheat on me with my own sister,” Veneer scoffs, playing along.

“Noooo! I’m lesbian! I’m lesbian!” Velvet throws her hands up, and skedaddles out of the room. Orchid had bent over the couch, laughing so hard she could barely stand.

“Sorry Orchid, Velvet and I are actually in a secret relationship,” Ritz pretends to confess, as the others gasp in shock.

“Oh no, I can’t have that! I guess I’ll just have to… kill you all!” Orchid laughs maniacally as she leans towards them, then shoves them both.

In all the chaos, Orchid ends up upside down on the pull out bed, unable to control her laughter. It was one of Ritz’s favorite sounds, especially mixed with Veneer’s laughs beside him.

Maybe it wasn’t the same excitement as being a celebrity, but his days in the city didn’t compare to how much fun he had now. Surrounded by his best friend and favorite twins, one of whom he was in love with, was a better life in this dystopia than he could’ve ever asked for.

//

The next night, Veneer had switched from holding Ritz’s hand to holding Ritz. He was so comfortable in the arms of the person he loved, listening to his soft inhales and exhales.

It was heavenly, like he had fantasized this moment for years. And yet, Veneer couldn’t fall asleep. He gently taps his arm, wanting his attention.

“Ritz? You awake?”

“Can’t sleep?” Ritz blinks open his eyes, seeming to have the same problem as him.

“No,” Veneer sighs.

He couldn’t get over how stunning the person across from him was. He figured he would never see Ritz again after his last performance, and assumed he wanted nothing to do with him once the truth came out. Now, during the apocalypse, he had ended up in his arms as his lover. Who would’ve thought?

Ritz rolls off the bed and stands, motioning for Veneer to join him. He had stolen a pair of gold pajama shorts from Veneer, paired with a tour shirt that he had kept from the twins’ days of fame. As for Veneer, he had borrowed an oversized t-shirt from Ritz, which was even more oversized on him.

“You drink?” Ritz asks, leading him into the kitchen and looking around for something with alcohol.

“You’re a bad influence,” Veneer says, remembering how he had been introduced to smoking the night before. “But yeah, I do sometimes. The hotel we stayed at had a nice bar, but Velvet was a horrible bartender.”

“Not surprising,” Ritz comments as he pours them both a shot of liquor. He slides the glass over to Veneer, as he holds up his own.

Veneer raises his glass and touches it to Ritz’s with a satisfying clink. They gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes, about to take a sip, when Ritz pauses.

“I’m just going to warn you now, this isn’t going to taste good,” he warns.

“With Velvet’s drink mixing skills, I’m sure I’ve had worse,” Veneer shudders, then smiles at Ritz’s responding laugh. “Cheers!” He tilts his glass to Ritz, then downs the shot.

//

“This house is too small,” Ritz claims, waving his hands for emphasis.

Veneer didn’t really care, he was happy to live in any house as long as Ritz was there. His vision was a little blurry, but as long as he could gaze into Ritz’s gorgeous eyes he was content as could be.

“We should expand!” Ritz suddenly decides, running over to Veneer and eagerly taking his hand.

“Whatever you say,” he sighs dreamily, only half listening.

“We’ll take out that window,” he points to a window in the kitchen, “and put in some galvanized square steel, and I’ll borrow some expansion screws from Midori…” He looks around, surveying the house.

If he was more sober, Veneer would have had some questions about the name Ritz had mentioned. For now though, in this intoxicated state, he was just along for the explanation. Ritz’s cheeks were an adorable shade of pink, most likely from the alcohol.

“And we’ll put in an environmentally friendly wood cabinet over there for our out of season quilts,” Ritz slurs out, eagerly pointing at a corner.

While Ritz made plans for renovating the house, Veneer had more manageable ideas. He takes the music player from the counter and scrolls through the screen, looking for the perfect song.

“What are you doing?” Ritz leans over the counter, glancing at the screen.

“I want to dance with you,” Veneer tells him, tapping the song of his choice.

The opening chords of Wildest Dreams fill the space as Veneer leads him into the center of the kitchen. He takes both of Ritz’s hands and connects them to his waist, grinning flirtatiously as he slides his hands down to his hips. Veneer then rests his own hands on Ritz’s shoulders, starting to sway to the music.

He makes sure to adjust his hips in Ritz’s hands, watching as his face turns even more red. Veneer runs his hands along his shoulders as they sway together, losing themselves in the slow dance.

“Say you’ll remember me,”

Veneer sings along,

“Standing in a nice dress
Staring at the sunset, babe”

“Now that’s something I’d like to see,” Ritz suggests, pulling him ever so closer.

“Velvet probably has a nightgown I can borrow,” Veneer contemplates, face going warm at Ritz’s request.

“I wasn’t serious,” Ritz responds, then breaks into a giggle. Veneer laughs as well as he goes back to singing along, feeling Ritz’s hands move up and through his hair.

“He said ‘No one has to know what we do’
His hands are in my hair, his clothes are in my room”

Ritz interrupts with a pleasant surprise. He runs his thumb over Veneer’s lips, singing the next verse back to him.

“And his voice is a familiar sound
Nothing lasts forever
But this is getting good now”

“He’s so tall, and handsome as hell,” Veneer takes back over, as the line perfectly conveyed his feelings towards Ritz.

“He’s so bad, but he does it so well,” Ritz sings in response, tracing his fingertips across his chest. Veneer couldn’t help his eyes going wide at his implications, as they sang together for the next chorus.

“And when we’ve had our very last kiss
My last request is

Say you’ll remember me
Standing in a nice dress
Staring at the sunset, babe
Red lips and rosy cheeks
Say you’ll see me again
Even if it’s just in your wildest dreams”

Their voices blended together in a slurred harmony, swaying with more intensity. Veneer was so glad they were together in more than just a wildest dream as he sings the beginning of the bridge solo, matching Ritz’s previous implications.

“You’ll see me in hindsight
Tangled up with you all night
Burning it down”

Ritz grabs his waist, leaning even closer as he sings the next lyrics.

“Someday when you leave me
I bet these memories
Follow you around”

Veneer smiles as they repeat the bridge, this time together. He twirls him around, feeling like they were the only two lovers in the world, simply enamored with each other.

At the slow, quiet part after the bridge, Veneer returns his hands to his shoulders, feeling his waist back in Ritz’s arms. They touch their foreheads together, still swaying to the music.

“Say you’ll see me again
Even if it’s just pretend”

When the next chorus swells, Veneer picks Ritz up off the floor, spinning him around the kitchen in his arms. As he puts him down, he catches him in a dip, gazing into those beautiful violet eyes.

Even though he had lots of dance partner experience, he had never danced with someone like this before. He found he could still easily lead, him and Ritz matching each other’s rhythm as they spun around the kitchen. He almost ran into the counter a few times, but Ritz quickly brought him back to the dance, his hands finding their place on Veneer’s hips. From his reactions, Veneer could tell Ritz had never danced with someone like this before either, but neither would want to experience this with anyone else.

As the song ended, Veneer couldn’t imagine the dance ending with anything other than a kiss. So he does just that, pulling Ritz in by his shoulders and pressing his lips to his. Considering they were both drunk, it wasn’t the best kiss he had given, but it was just as electrifying as any.

He takes a moment to look at Ritz after the kiss, taking in his beauty. He was about to lean in for another kiss, when he tilts away, noticing Velvet and Orchid in the hallway.

“Who is blasting Taylor Swift in the middle of the night when we’re trying to sleep?” Velvet groans, rubbing her eye. She was in a simple black nightgown, Orchid on her arm in a tank top and pair of Velvet’s shorts.

“We’re dancing!” Veneer shakes his hands, then twirls Ritz around.

“Are you drunk?” Velvet scoffs, noticing the liquor bottle left on the counter. She walks towards it and picks it up, swishing it around.

“Aw, without me?” Orchid yawns, joining Velvet by the counter.

“I know, right? Come on Orchid, we need to catch up!”

Velvet brings the bottle to her lips and takes much more than a sip, while Veneer and Ritz watch in borderline horror. On the contrary, Orchid had a love struck expression as Velvet slammed down the bottle, then slid it to her. Orchid takes the bottle and follows, but drinking less as her face contorted from the taste.

After wiping off her mouth, Velvet makes a sharp turn towards Veneer and Ritz with a judgmental expression. She puts one hand on her hip and points at them with the other, shaking her head.

“You two? Dancing? Come on, we all know I’m a better dancer than Ritz,” she claims, and she was probably right, though Veneer would never agree out loud.

“Oh yeah?” Ritz takes the bait, walking towards her. “I sincerely doubt that.”

“Fine then, I’ll prove it. Ven, come here!” She takes Veneer’s hand and leads him to the other side of the counter, giving them a long length of space to work with.

He stands across from her, ready to show off their dancing skills. He bows as she curtsies, then they shake hands in the middle. Velvet lets go of his hand as she slowly takes a few steps backwards into the hallway, still holding out her hand.

When Velvet breaks into song, Veneer knew exactly what she was planning. He steps backwards as well, holding out his hand towards her the same way. Immediately recognizing the song, he joins in.

“Now I’ve had the time of my life
No, I never felt this way before
Yes, I swear, it’s the truth
And I owe it all to you”

Velvet bolts into his arms as he lifts her off the ground, holding her high in the air. She looked like she was flying as she spread her arms out, a bright smile at the applause from Orchid and Ritz. Despite their normal attitude towards practicing, they had managed to perfect this lift, having wanted to recreate it ever since they saw it.

“Okay, put me down now, I think I’m gonna barf,” Velvet says from above him, her hands now clinging to his shoulders.

He gently places her down as they hold hands, then take a grand bow for the others. Her smile only widened at the applause, which made Veneer smile as well. It was one of his favorite sights, after all.

//

Orchid was living out her dream at the apocalyptic version of a party with her favorite superstar. She applauds eagerly after the amazing lift, incredibly impressed with their strength.

“See? I’m a much better dancer than bowling alley carpet looking dude over there,” Velvet claims, a hand on her hip with pride.

“‘Bowling alley carpet’?!” Ritz gasps, holding a hand to his chest. “Is that supposed to be an insult?”

“Mmmhm!” Velvet nods, sticking out her tongue.

“Well, you look like you play the flute,” Ritz shoots back, eyeing her with hostility.

“You’re just mad because I stole your girlfriend!”

“Orchid has never been my girlfriend!”

“Oh, right. Girl friend, then,” Velvet shrugs, then walks even closer to him, getting in his face.

She was Velvet’s girlfriend. The thought made Orchid want to melt into a puddle of love and admiration, but she stayed on her feet as her girlfriend(!) and best friend argued some more.

Velvet suddenly breaks into song again, this time aggressively and right in Ritz’s face. She waves her hands and bounces her shoulders to an imaginary beat, then holds an L up on her forehead to taunt him even more.

“Me and your girl friend playing dress up at my house
I give your girl friend cunni- OW!”

Before she could finish the lyric, which already had Orchid blushing, Veneer interrupts by whacking her over the head with a pillow. Velvet quickly gets a pillow of her own and hits him back, their intense pillow fight suggesting this was a normal occurrence between them.

Wanting to join in on the fun, Orchid takes a pillow as well, Ritz following her. Orchid sneaks up behind Velvet and playfully hits her with the pillow, the two of them now focused on each other.

“Orchid!” Veneer’s voice distracts her, as she turns around to face him.

She barely had time to react as Veneer whacks her with his pillow, laughing at the surprise on her face. Deciding to take the theatric route, Orchid clutches her chest, pretending to breathe heavily.

“Velvet…” Orchid sighs, collapsing into the arms of her lover. She coughs a few times for dramatic effect, then slides onto the floor.

Velvet quickly sits down and holds her as she acts out her death, then sticks out her tongue as she goes limp. Orchid had to admit, she would do anything to die in Velvet’s arms, as she threw her arm around Velvet’s shoulders.

“Nooo!” Velvet cries out, but it comes out as more of a laugh as she shakes Orchid in her arms.

“That’s cold, Veneer,” Ritz shakes his head disapprovingly.

Orchid wasn’t selling her death very well as Velvet laid her down, then stood up. She remained on the floor, but had her eyes open and positioned herself to watch the ensuing chaos.

“What are you gonna do, kill me?” Veneer taunts, flipping his hair.

“Nah, I’m gonna kill your sister,” Ritz threatens.

Velvet hides behind her pillow as Ritz raises his own, ready to strike. As he swings down, Veneer jumps in front at the last second, taking the hit and sacrificing himself. He falls back into Velvet’s arms, causing her to sink to the ground a second time.

Orchid and Ritz could barely contain their laughter at Veneer’s equally dramatic death performance. Ritz lets out a giant gasp at Veneer’s sacrifice, holding his hand over his mouth for added effect.

“Don’t… forget… me… bleh.” Veneer combs through his sister’s hair one last time, then slumps over onto her shoulder. She fake sobs for a moment, then places him next to the already dead Orchid.

“Hi, Veneer,” Orchid greets him to the floor afterlife.

“Hi, Orchid. Sorry I killed you.”

“No worries! I forgive you,” she assures, then they watch with anticipation as Velvet stands up to face Ritz.

The two survivors circle each other menacingly for a while, wondering who would make the first move. Velvet seethes with rage, Orchid could only imagine the anger she felt at Ritz for killing her brother. Even though it was an overdramatized drunken pillow fight.

“You know what, I don’t want to be stuck with you.” Ritz drops his pillow, then raises his arms in surrender. “Take me out, Velvet.”

“Gladly!” Velvet smiles deviously, then whacks him in the face with her pillow.

Ritz follows suit in his theatric death, struggling to the ground until he, Orchid, and Veneer laid in a tangled pile of limbs. Having been the first to die, Orchid was happy for the company, but the last survivor was who she really wanted to join her.

“Aw, now I’m all alone,” Velvet sadly realizes, then pouts.

“Not for long!” Orchid comes back from the grave, sitting up just enough to hit Velvet on her right side. Velvet’s knees wobble, then she collapses onto the floor beside the rest of them. Orchid snuggles over to her, feeling the silky fabric of her enticing black nightgown. It wasn’t quite as jaw dropping as the maroon one, yet it still made Orchid’s heart race.

On the topic of nightgowns, Veneer suddenly sits up and taps his sister on the shoulder. “Oh, Vels! I need to borrow one of your nightgowns.”

“I wasn’t serious,” Ritz adds, seeming to reference an earlier conversation that Orchid hadn’t been there for.

“Sure, go ahead!” Velvet agrees, to which Veneer stands up and skips off to her and Orchid’s room. “Get the blue one, it’ll look good with your eyes!”

Soon after, the remaining three had recovered from their pillow fight deaths. As they do another round of shots, Veneer comes back, posing in the hallway.

He was in a flowing, light blue babydoll nightgown, that did indeed look good with his eyes. Adding to the look, he had also hastily applied a vibrant red lipstick and rosy blush. His seductive poses were probably for Ritz, but Orchid couldn’t tear her eyes away from how confident her friend’s presence was.

“I need to document this,” Orchid declares, then runs into her room to get the camera.

When she comes back, she snaps a few pictures of Veneer in the dress, while he posed for her as if it was second nature. The attraction was purely aesthetic; she had to admit it was some of her best work. She hoped her sober self would agree.

“I feel like a pretty princess,” Veneer says as he poses for the camera.

“You are a pretty princess!” Orchid agrees, and he so was. Though not as pretty as his twin, but she left that part out.

After the mini photoshoot, he seemed to get an idea, as he picks up an indigo robe that was laid carefully next to his bed. He offers it to Orchid, when she recognized it from Ritz wearing it last morning.

“Here, for my favorite photographer,” he hands it to her, returning the favor in his own way.

“It’s very soft,” Ritz adds, speaking from experience.

“Aww, you’re the best!” Orchid giggles happily, skipping off to her room to change.

In Veneer’s elegant robe with her hair down, Orchid looked like a classic diva. She gave them a spin when she came back, as Veneer applauded and walked towards her.

“We should get a picture!” Veneer suggests, handing Velvet the camera.

He gives Orchid a big hug, resting his head on hers. Velvet snaps the picture and it prints, encapsulating their ecstatic smiles. He shakes her side to side and holds her tight, successfully redeeming himself for killing her in the pillow fight.

“You two are such cutie patooties,” Velvet giggles, all the alcohol clearly taking its hold on her. “But not as fabulous as me!”

Velvet breaks into song for the third time that night, as she takes a spoon from the sink and uses it as a microphone.

“All my greatness
It doesn’t come for free
All my talent
It doesn’t grow on trees”

Aside from her slurred voice and uncoordinated movements, she truly looked like the same star Orchid had been in love with for so long. She had seen this song performed live so many times, and yet this drunk and slurred version immediately took its place as her favorite.

“Take a breather
They’ll take it all away
If the top is where you wanna stay!”

Velvet dramatically drapes herself onto the counter, laying on her back as she sang. With Velvet in her fitted black nightgown with a sweetheart neckline, the only thing keeping Orchid under control was the fact that Veneer was right next to her, adding in his parts of the song.

“You gotta work hard
To make it look easy”

“Ooh, easy!”

“You gotta live fast”

“So fast!”

“Keep making that money!”

Velvet then stands up, recreating her choreography. She spins down to her knees and crawls to the lyrics, only she crawls towards Orchid, not breaking eye contact. She uses her hips much more than what was originally choreographed, leaving Orchid’s heart racing.

She couldn’t tear her eyes from Velvet if she tried. Out of the corner of her eye, though, she catches Ritz cover Veneer’s eyes with a bowl from the sink.

“If you want to be as famous as me
You gotta work, gotta work, gotta work
Watch me work!”

Velvet had made her way to Orchid, dipping herself into Orchid’s arms at the end of the song. She spins herself out of the dip, and her lips and hands were on Orchid before she had a chance to react. She melts into the kiss, this was one of her fantasies of course, when the other voices snap them back to reality. Velvet keeps her hands on her shoulders, running her fingers through the trim of the robe.

“Get a room!” Ritz yells, blushing from having seen too much.

“Please! I need to bleach my eyes,” Veneer shudders. “No offense, Orchid. Full offense, Vels.”

“Oh, grow up!” Velvet scoffs, then completely changes the subject, noticing the bowl in Veneer’s hands. “Seriously, do you really wanna revert back to selling air in bowls?!”

“We never sold air in bowls!” Veneer responds, as if they had had this conversation before.

“Yes we did! It was awful! And you were all like…”

“…buy our air, bitch,” Veneer slurs, holding the bowl out with sad eyes. “But, girl. We grew up in the suburbs. Our parents were dentists,” he reminds her.

“We had nothing!” she disagrees, “you had to beg for food!”

“If you say so,” he sighs, accepting defeat. He then holds the bowl out to Ritz, giving him the biggest puppy dog eyes he could muster. “Please sir, I want some more!”

“Oh, call me that again,” Ritz immediately responds, his face going red.

Orchid lets out a snort laugh, while Velvet covers her ears at Ritz’s request of her brother. She loudly sings more of her song, trying to avoid anymore interesting remarks.

“Haters wanna be me or be with me
Yeah they’re f- f- fuh… freak… freaking… 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓀𝓎… fuh…”

She seems to forget the lyrics to her own song as she stumbles around, holding onto Orchid’s borrowed robe for support. It isn’t enough, as Velvet falls on her face.

“Ugh… I’m alive!” Velvet flashes a thumbs up. Orchid was still concerned, though, leaning down to the floor to check on her closer. She made sure to get her camera, in case of a silly photo op.

All the thoughts left her brain as Velvet pinned her to the floor, kissing her in a way that they absolutely should not have been in front of the others. Then her hands were under the robe on her shoulders, and Orchid sincerely hoped they could, in fact, get a room.

“Seriously, get a room,” Veneer cringes, his hands covering his eyes. “I am officially traumatized.”

“Fiiiine,” Velvet rolls her eye, then rolls off Orchid and stands. Before Orchid could stand, she was picked up and thrown over Velvet’s shoulder, already being carried to their room.

“Have fun you crazy kids!” Ritz calls after them. Velvet uses her free arm to flip him off, before turning the corner into their room.

//

Ritz wasn’t as traumatized as Veneer, but he was more than happy to have him to himself after they exiled the girls. Especially in that pretty blue nightgown.

Veneer breathes a sigh of relief, returning to his content state. He sits up on the counter, then motions for Ritz to come over as he pats his legs.

“Come here! I want to be taller,” Veneer requests, and Ritz obliges, of course.

He stands in between his legs as Veneer looks down at him, petting his hair. Ritz had to admit, even though he liked being the taller one, he had missed looking up to meet Veneer’s eyes.

Veneer was practically irresistible in the dress, his lips still a shiny red. Leaning even closer, Ritz rests his hands on his thighs, under his nightgown. “Is this okay?”

“Yes sir,” Veneer giggles, then pulls him in for a kiss. Ritz could feel his lipstick smudged on his lips, and the connection was electric.

Veneer deepens the kiss as he wraps his legs around Ritz, this time supported by the counter. He was clearly enjoying being taller, even if it was artificial.

“I have a question for you,” Veneer whispers as they just barely break the kiss.

“Ask away.”

“What would you do if we were still rich and famous?”

It was a great question, Ritz almost mad that he didn’t think of it. He thinks for a moment about his answer, although it was hard to think clearly with all the alcohol and Veneer‘s hands now massaging his shoulders.

“Hm, I’d take you on vacation,” Ritz answers, fantasizing about his idea. “And we’d stay at some fancy resort. Wherever you wanted.”

“Ooh, we could go to the ocean!”

“I hate the beach,” Ritz blurts out. Realizing his bluntness, he backtracks. “But I’m sure I’d like it if you were with me. And we’d go for a swim, and sand would get everywhere so we’d have to go back to our suite.”

“We’d have a suite?”

“Of course, nothing but the best for you.” Ritz moves his hands to Veneer’s waist, pulling him closer as they discussed their impossible plans.

“So you’d take me back to our suite, and then what?”

“Whatever you want. We wouldn’t be sleeping, though, I can tell you that much,” he grins, then kisses his cheeks, wondering how much of the blush was makeup and how much was him.

“I’d like that,” Veneer agrees, tightening his legs around him at the kisses.

Ritz wished they could make their plan a reality, but sharing kisses with Veneer in their quaint kitchen was all he really needed. Who was he kidding, Veneer was all he really needed.

//

In her intoxicated state, Velvet could barely keep herself together with Orchid as she shut the door behind them. She couldn’t get enough of her excited gasping breaths, as she pressed her against the wall, next to the photos.

As beautiful as she looked with the purplish robe, Velvet figured she would look better without it. She takes the end of the bow in front in between her fingers, waiting for Orchid’s permission.

Her biggest fan nods within the second, taking Velvet into a fast kiss as she untied the robe and slid it down her shoulders. Under it, Orchid was wearing pastel pink boxers, and a bra that clearly did not fit her.

“I borrowed it, I hope that’s okay,” Orchid laughs, noticing Velvet’s confusion.

“What’s mine is yours,” Velvet reassures, then holds her face as she returns her lips to hers.

In between kisses, she couldn’t help glance at the photo wall. In a lot of pictures, there was a girl who looked just like Orchid, often paired up with a girl with green pigtails. She vaguely remembered mentions of a sister, but Velvet was too drunk to remember all the details. She let curiosity get the best of her.

“Who’s that girl in the pictures? The one that looks like you?”

//

Oh no. Please, not right now.

“My uh, my sister, Opal,” Orchid stutters, already feeling the tears well up in her eyes.

“She looks nice. Is that her friend?” Velvet asks, and Orchid assumed she was talking about the green haired girl.

“Yeah, her name is, her name was Midori. She was a big fan of, of you and Veneer. She was a good friend…”

Orchid couldn’t hold it in anymore as tears started to run down her face. Great, this was just perfect. She was in Velvet’s bra, pressed in between the wall and Velvet, Velvet, who she had only imagined moments like this so many times before.

And here she was, a pathetic mess, crying over her dead sister and friend. It was probably the alcohol heightening her emotions, but even sober she could barely stand talking about her sister’s fate.

“Aw, I’m sorry,” Velvet apologizes, leaning down and kissing away her tears as they fell. “Let’s talk about something else.”

Orchid liked that idea. But as she felt Velvet kiss her tears away, she came to a realization.

She had Velvet. She had exactly what she wanted. And if she could have Velvet, she didn’t need anything else. Not her sister, not her friends, not even herself.

Just Velvet.

//

After showering her with kisses, Velvet could tell Orchid was feeling better, back in the moment. Once her sniffling had stopped, she pulls Velvet back onto her, kissing her with even more passion than earlier.

“I have a request,” Orchid says, gazing into her eye with intent.

“Oh?”

“Can I kiss your tattoo?”

A great request, Velvet thought as she held out her left arm with the two stars. They sit down on the edge of the bed while Orchid takes her arm, kissing over the stars. She trails even more kisses down her arm, ending at her fingertips.

“That was nice, but I meant your other one,” Orchid clarifies.

Oh, an even better request. She loved the way Orchid’s smile lit up as she took her soft hand to the strap of her black nightgown. They slide down both straps together, the nightgown still held up by how form fitting it was.

Velvet then lays down on her stomach on the bed, hugging a pillow. “You do the rest,” she tells Orchid, relaxing at the touch of her hands.

Orchid’s soft fingers trace down her as she slides down her nightgown, resting it at her lower back just below her tattoo. Velvet loved the chills she got as Orchid’s lips brushed against the golden V in the center of the crown.

Orchid divides her long hair in two, laying each section on either side of her to expose the rest of her back. Velvet feels even more kisses on each point of her tattooed crown, perfectly combined with the sensation of Orchid tracing up and down the sides of her waist. She couldn’t be more comfortable as Orchid pressed a line of kisses up the center of her back, making it to the nape of her neck.

“You’re so beautiful,” Orchid whispers, wrapping her arms around her now bare waist.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.”

“Really?”

Orchid was more excited about her comment than Velvet had expected, but she was happy to do anything to see her fan smile at her. She sits up when Orchid gets up to get her camera, wondering what she had in mind.

“I want these for the wall, so you should probably be covered, hm. Hold this,” Orchid seems to have an artistic vision, holding up the sheets in front of Velvet.

Velvet holds the sheets to her chest, covering herself while leaving her back with her tattoo exposed. She felt more beautiful with every second of her spontaneous photoshoot, as Orchid arranged her hair to her liking.

Once she had set the scene, Orchid sits behind Velvet in what had to be an uncomfortable position. She appreciated how she was doing all she could to get the best angle.

“Look back at me,” Orchid says. Velvet does so and twists her head to face the camera, looking back over her shoulder.

Orchid snaps the picture with a loud flash, and it might have been the best picture than anyone had ever taken of her. The lighting was dark and moody, but still enough that Velvet’s tattoo was visible, centered in the curtains of her hair. She looked glamorous with the sheets scrunched in her hands, along with her seductive gaze back at the camera. Her scar peeked through her hair, but it didn’t look unnatural; in fact, it added to the elegance of the photo.

“Woah…” Velvet sighs, looking over Orchid’s shoulder at the photo. “Can we do another one?”

“Yeah, of course! Umm,” Orchid hums, trying to come up with an idea for the next photo. “Lay down on your stomach, like you were earlier.”

Velvet does so, covered well enough by laying on her chest. She puts her arms back on the pillow as Orchid arranges the sheets around her. Orchid then sits on her knees beside the bed, angling the camera towards Velvet.

“Okay, turn your head and look at me,” Orchid instructs.

“Do I look hot?” Velvet asks, leaving her lips slightly apart for the shot.

The camera flashes.

“You look divine,” Orchid answers. “Like a goddess.”

A goddess. Oh, she liked that. Especially coming from the voice of her biggest fan.

She certainly looked divine in the photo, her sleepy eye peeking through her hair that laid over her face. The rest of her looked tall and slender, with her nightgown still down at the bottom of her tattoo. The sheets arranged around her gave the illusion of her laying in clouds, hands draped over the pillows.

“Let’s take one together,” Velvet suggests, sitting up but keeping the sheets in front of her for the next picture.

Velvet leans her head on her shoulder as Orchid angles the camera towards them. It was just like their first picture, yet so, so different. The same two people, brought back together in unimaginable circumstances. Velvet wished she could have known her before the outbreak, but at least now they had the rest of their lives to spend together.

A second before the flash, Velvet surprises Orchid with a kiss on the lips. Through the shock, Orchid manages to keep the camera up, capturing the moment.

It was blurry and chaotic, and yet Velvet liked it even more than their first picture together. Her eye was closed while Orchid’s were open with surprise, and so much love behind them.

“We can hang these up tomorrow,” Velvet decides, taking the photos and camera and placing them on the bedside table.

She then takes Orchid by her waist and lays down on the bed, positioning her photographer on top of her. She guides her hands down to her nightgown, then slides it off over her head, watching Orchid’s face turn that familiar pinkish red blush she loved so much.

As Orchid leans down for a kiss, Velvet runs her hands through her short hair, mesmerized at how soft it was. Orchid gasps in the kiss as Velvet’s hands travel down her back, to the clasp of her bra. She undoes the clasp, and whispers those words that were stuck on her mind.

“You’re so pretty, it hurts.”

.

Chapter Text

Velvet
Status: Negative.
Health: 69%
Stress: 17%

Veneer
Status: Negative.
Health: 69%
Stress: 13%

Ritz
Status: Negative.
Health: 69%
Stress: 19%

Orchid
Status: Negative.
Health: 69%
Stress: 7%

//

After a night of, well, she couldn’t remember all the details, Velvet woke up to the worst hangover since the day after her 22nd birthday. To make it even worse, someone was banging on the door outside. At Ritz’s voice, she rubs her forehead and sighs.

“Velvet! Are you decent?!”

“Morally? No,” she groans. To her side, Orchid was waking up as well, equally drained.

“No, I mean, are you dressed? I need the bathroom, I think Veneer autographed me last night,” Ritz says from behind the door. Velvet looks down.

“Uhhh. Give me a minute!” She stumbles out of the bed and picks out her favorite cardigan: a light green, with pink and orange star patterns down the sleeves. She wraps it around herself, then crashes back in bed with Orchid. “Okay, you can come in now!”

Ritz steps into the room, and despite her awful headache, Velvet bursts out laughing. His face was scribbled over in Veneer’s signature, if you could call it that. As he goes to the bathroom to wash it off, Veneer tags behind him, still in Velvet’s nightgown and looking incredibly proud of himself.

“Hey, Ven. Nice work,” Velvet sighs, as her brother sits down at the edge of the bed.

“Hey, Vels. I assume you’re equally hungover?”

“Uh huh.”

“I’m so sore,” Orchid adds, trying her best to stretch out. Velvet pets her hair, realizing she was just as sore combined with the hangover.

“From what?” Veneer asks. He quickly realizes the answer to his own question as he holds up his hands, taking it back. “Never mind, I don’t want to know.”

But it was too late.

“Your sister,” Orchid asserts.

Veneer looked like he could cry. Ritz saves him, though, walking out of the bathroom with some marker still on his face. He sits down with them, trying to fix Veneer’s disheveled hair.

“I’m gonna pretend you’re sore from her kicking you all night,” Veneer decides.

“Actually, she’s never kicked me,” Orchid realizes aloud.

“What the hell, Vels?! You’ll kick me, but not her?” Veneer huffs, taking it personally as he crosses his arms.

Velvet was sure some part of her brother missed her kicking, but she was too sick to argue about it. She was happy to know that she didn’t kick Orchid as she takes her into her arms, gently rubbing her back.

“You know, it’s been almost a week, and we haven’t even taken them to the lake yet,” Ritz mentions, changing the subject.

“Lake? What lake?” Veneer asks.

“There’s a lake not far from here,” Ritz explains. “Orchid and I found it on one of our walks. It’s really nice.”

“As much as I’d love to take them, there’s no way I can make it all the way out there today,” Orchid groans.

“Yeah, me too,” Velvet agrees. “My head feels like it’s gonna explode.”

“Same,” Veneer sighs in agreement, resting his forehead in his hands.

“Hmm, let’s go in a day or two, then,” Ritz suggests. “We’ll take the speaker, make a day of it.”

“Sounds perfect,” Velvet nods, then slumps her head onto Orchid’s shoulder.

Veneer and Ritz laid down on the bed next to them, the four of them a snuggled mess of pain. Aside from her head feeling like it could burst, Velvet was so cozy in her favorite cardigan, surrounded by her family. She doesn’t protest as Veneer takes her arm, touching the soft fabric of her sweater to his forehead.

“Veneer, I need you to nurse us back to health,” Velvet mumbles.

“I need you to nurse me back to health,” Veneer disagrees, holding her hand in his.

She noticed their hands were all connected in some way, with her free hand in Orchid’s and her brother’s in Ritz’s. If not for her throbbing headache, Velvet would have wanted to stay here forever.

//

A day later, the four had made it to the lake, recovered from the party. It was more beautiful than Velvet expected: a huge, serene lake in the center, with open sky around it. Next to the lake, there was an old swing set that was surprisingly still functional. A less functional car was parked on the grass: a convertible, that may have once been a vibrant purple. Nearby, there was a blacktop with a basketball hoop.

Velvet and Veneer had chosen matching blue crop tops, paired with a denim skirt and high waisted shorts respectively. They had braided each other’s hair, then had an argument over who could braid their significant other’s hair better.

Ritz carried the tote bag with their speaker and snacks, in an off the shoulder graphic tee. Meanwhile, Orchid had taken the opportunity to steal one of Velvet’s tank tops, which was a bit big on her, making her look all the more adorable.

As Velvet looked out at the lake, she could almost hear it calling her name. It was the perfect opportunity. She steps behind Veneer, then picks him up in a princess carry.

“Vels? What are you-“

Succumbing to temptation, she tosses him into the lake before he could get another word out. She loved her brother more than anything in the world, and yet getting to chuck him in the lake was incredibly euphoric.

“Jeez, Velvet!” Ritz exclaims, while Orchid laugh dies beside him.

“Maybe I’ll throw you next,” she threatens, triumphantly flipping her bangs.

As Velvet laughed victoriously, it was too late when she noticed the hand around her ankle. She screams as Veneer drags her into the water, taking her down with him.

Luckily, it was shallow enough on the end that they could both stand. After the chaos of her kicking him as revenge, they eventually find their footing. She still had water in her mouth, so naturally she spits it at him. A camera flashes from above them.

“I’m sorry, Velvet, that was too good,” Orchid gasps through her laughs.

“No worries, I’m sure I look amazing,” Velvet flaunts, pushing her now soaked hair back to her right side.

“I’m sure you do,” Veneer agrees with a smirk.

When Velvet turns to him, he aggressively splashes her. She screams as she launches herself at him, starting the fight all over again. From above them, she could hear Orchid and Ritz’s laughter as the camera flashed.

//

Later in the day, the twins had dried off well enough. When she wasn’t fighting her brother in it, Velvet loved looking out at the lake, enjoying the calmness of it all.

Veneer was setting up the speaker, trying to decide on something they could dance to. He finally decides on a song, then makes his way to Velvet. She takes his hands as he holds them out, while Orchid and Ritz take a similar position beside them.

Velvet had to admit, she missed her brother. It was weird, she saw him every day, but now they weren’t the only two people in the world. Of course, she loved her life with Orchid and Ritz, and yet sometimes she only wanted to dance with the person who knew her better than anyone. She assumed the other two felt similar at times, considering they were like siblings in a way.

As she sways with her brother, he sings along to the lyrics.

“If at any time she’s in a jam, he’ll be by her side
But she doesn’t realize she hurts him so much
But all the praying just ain’t helping at all
‘Cause she can’t seem to keep herself out of trouble
So she goes out and she makes her money the best way she knows how
Another body laying cold in the gutter, listen to me”

Velvet playfully rolls her eye as Veneer sings to her. She realizes he had changed the pronouns to match them as she smiles, joining in for the chorus. Throughout the song, Orchid and Ritz join in as well, the four of them harmonizing together.

“Don’t go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to
I know that you’re gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you’re moving too fast”

As they all dance together, Velvet notices Orchid give her dance partner a mischievous grin. Ritz shakes his head, to which Orchid lightly shoves his shoulder.

“I know you know it,” Orchid says, then directs her attention to the twins. “He knows it!”

“Please, no,” Ritz begs.

“Oh, come on, you gotta!” Veneer urges, as Velvet nods in agreement.

“Come on, show us what you got!” Velvet encourages, the rap section of the song approaching.

“Fine.” Ritz lets out a sigh, then puts the rest of them to shame as he perfectly recites the entire part, giving it his all.

“I seen a rainbow yesterday
But too many storms have come and joined
Leavin' a trace of not one god-given ray
Is it because my life is ten shades of gray
I pray, all ten fade away, seldom praise him for the sunny days
And like his promise is true, only my faith can undo
The many chances I blew to bring my life to anew
Clear and blue and unconditional
Skies have dried the tears from my eyes, no more lonely cries
My only bleedin' hope is for the folk who can't cope
With such an endurin' pain that it keeps them in the pourin' rain
Who's to blame for tootin' 'caine into your own vein
What a shame, you shoot and aim for someone else's brain
You claim the insane and ain't this day and time for fallin'
Prey to crime I say the system got you victim to your own mind
Dreams are hopeless aspirations in hopes of coming true
Believe in yourself, the rest is up to me and you”

He takes a bow as the others wildly applaud, then returns his hands to Orchid’s. The rest of them join in harmony for the chorus once again, a perfect blend of all their voices.

And yet, Velvet’s diamond earrings remained intact.

//

The party had moved closer to the blacktop, all of them enjoying their snacks. Ritz watches in confusion as Veneer walks over to the blacktop. He picks up a ball, bouncing it a few times.

Ritz thought Veneer didn’t seem like the sporty type, but he had surprised him so many times over the past few days that it wouldn’t have been so much of a shock. He takes a step closer as Veneer nods to him.

“Ritz, this one’s for you.”

He shoots the ball, and completely misses the basket by at least a yard. Veneer looked heartbroken at his failure, but it was easily the sexiest thing Ritz had ever seen. If only Velvet hadn’t been right next to him.

“That was so hot,” Ritz responds nonchalantly.

“No one wants to hear that!” Velvet interjects, while Orchid cracks up beside her.

“I do!” Veneer disagrees, his pride returning after his epic fail.

“You two are gross,” Velvet shudders, completely disregarding her behavior with Orchid.

“You’re gross,” Ritz rolls his eyes at her, noticing the sky was turning hints of a warm orange. “The sun’s setting, I guess we should get home soon.”

It wasn’t exactly dangerous at night, but Ritz would have preferred to walk home when they still had light. On the way home, they walked together with the twins in the middle, all holding hands.

//

“You know, I’ve never been sketched before.”

Veneer was posing towards the back of the pull out bed, while Ritz sat across from him with his sketchbook. It had been a few days since their lake trip, and it had just occurred to Veneer how he could put his boyfriend’s(!) artistic skills to use.

He runs his hands through his long hair as he poses, still in button up pajamas from last night. He noticed Ritz hadn’t started drawing yet, but he didn’t mind as long as his eyes were on him.

“Are you drawing me promiscuously?” Veneer wonders aloud as he strikes another pose.

“I wasn’t planning on it. Do you want me to?”

“Hm, show me what you have so far.”

“I actually haven’t started, since you keep switching poses every five seconds.” Ritz gives him a disapproving look, but the blush on his face told Veneer what he was really thinking.

“Fine, fine, I’ll stay still. Oh, I know!”

The perfect pose came to Veneer’s mind as he lays down against the armrest. He drapes his arms over himself as he looks over at Ritz, narrowing his eyes. Still, he couldn’t help but smile as Ritz seemed to get the reference.

“Don’t say it.”

“Draw me like one of your French girls,” Veneer replies, trying to make his voice as sultry as possible.

“You know, we can come back to this later,” Ritz says as he sets down his sketchbook.

Veneer’s attempt at seduction seemed to work as Ritz moves over to his spot on the bed. He smiles even wider as Ritz sits on his lap, tracing along his face down to his neck.

Ritz’s hands make their way to the first button on his shirt, stopping when Ritz meets Veneer’s eyes. He nods, his heart speeding up when Ritz undoes the first button.

When his hands reach the second button, they repeat the interaction, Veneer giving him an even more eager nod. At the third, Veneer sighs as Ritz kisses his neck, trailing kisses to where his shirt was unbuttoned.

“Want me to do the rest?” Ritz breathes out against him, immediately returning to those soft kisses.

“Yes please,” Veneer approves, losing himself in the touch of his gorgeous hands.

He rests his hands on Ritz’s shoulders, as he works his way down each button. Veneer’s breath quickens with each kiss, excited with anticipation. He was so focused on Ritz, that he noticed too late when Orchid came out of her room.

“Morning, guys, how’d you-“ She interrupts herself as her eyes adjust, catching Veneer and Ritz in their position. “Woah! Am I interrupting something?”

“Um, yes!” Veneer answers, feeling his face go warm at their witness.

“Orchid, get out!” Ritz adds as he sits up, still on Veneer’s lap.

“I’ll be out in a sec, I’m making Velvet tea,” she explains as she walks to the kitchen and starts to heat up water.

“Can’t you make it later?” Veneer asks. On the bright side, at least it was Orchid who walked in on their scene and not his sister.

“I’ll only be a few minutes. Just pretend I’m not here!” Orchid suggests, having no intention of leaving until her tea was done.

“That’s not how this works!” Ritz shoots back.

“Listen, it’s fine if you two want to get your freak on. No judgements here,” Orchid shrugs.

“You really don’t have to phrase it like that,” Veneer responds, covering his increasingly pink face in his hands.

“This is not working,” Ritz sighs in exasperation. His face lights up, though, as he seems to come up with a solution. “I have an idea. We should go camping!”

“I hate camping,” Veneer blurts out. Ritz frowns, but he decides to stand his ground. “There’s bugs, and I don’t have all my stuff, and the ground is too hard to sleep on.”

“We can bring lots of blankets, and we’ll just go for one night!” Ritz argues, taking his hands.

Veneer gives him a look, indicating he still wasn’t convinced. As much as he loved Ritz, he really hated camping. It completely went against all the glamour Veneer stood for.

“The tent has a skylight, so we can see the stars,” Ritz adds.

At the mention of the stars, Veneer immediately changes his mind. Why didn’t Ritz say that part first?

“Deal! Let’s go tomorrow, we can set up at the lake,” Veneer agrees, Ritz smiling at his sudden change of opinion.

“I think camping is a great idea,” Orchid adds. “It’ll just be the two of you, so you can be as loud as you want!” She smiles sweetly, her innocent expression contradicting her implications.

“Orchid!” Ritz yells, as if he was used to this.

“What?! I’m in full support, you two going out means I get Velvet all to myself,” she puts a hand on her hip, a devious smile on her face.

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” Veneer shudders.

He hoped the tea would be done soon, as this conversation just kept getting more uncomfortable. The universe listened to him as Orchid turned back into the kitchen, then carried the cup back to her room.

“I’ll let Velvet know about your plan for tomorrow,” she offers, then turns the corner.

As soon as she leaves, Veneer surprises Ritz with a kiss, quickly pulling him back down. He let him know how excited he was for their trip with the kiss, running his fingers through the blonde to the blue of his hair.

“You’re carrying the wagon,” Ritz tells him at the next pause.

“I’ll do it because I love you,” Veneer begrudgingly agrees.

//

The two of them had packed well enough, putting everything in the wagon that Ritz was forcing Veneer to carry. Veneer had packed an extra bag, but refused to tell Ritz what it was, claiming it was a surprise. Considering their plans, Ritz was happy to let that secret slide.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Veneer says, leaning against the counter. He was snacking on a pack of crackers, waiting for the girls to come out and say goodbye.

“I can’t either, but I’m glad I did,” Ritz responds, taking a cracker from him.

He noticed they were ritz crackers. Classic.

“Yeah, I’m sure you’re excited,” Veneer smirks, moving his ponytail to the other side. He then takes a ritz cracker, and holds it delicately in his left hand.

“This is you before tonight,” Veneer effortlessly crushes it in his hand, “And this is you after.”

Ritz wasn’t sure exactly what Veneer was implying, but he definitely wanted to find out. He didn’t mind that his face felt like it was on fire.

“With your consent, of course,” Veneer adds, then licks the remaining crumbs off his hand.

“You have my consent,” Ritz practically chokes out. He felt lightheaded, in the absolute best way possible.

Veneer takes his hand, interlacing their fingers as they had done so many times before. Right as Ritz leaned down for a quick kiss, the girls finally showed up from their room, interrupting the moment.

“Are you two being weird out here?” Velvet asks, crossing her arms.

“You could say that,” Veneer shrugs.

He takes his sister into a hug, while Ritz hugs Orchid beside them. He would miss her, but it was only a night, and at least he wouldn’t have her interruptions. She squeezes him tight, patting his back.

“Have so much fun! Don’t get murdered out there!” Orchid lets go of the hug, wishing them well.

“The lake would be a perfect place for murder,” Velvet contemplates. “No one can hear you scream.”

Veneer then leans to Ritz, and whispers something in his ear. His statement left him nearly breathless, as his eyes went wide. He couldn’t control the obvious flushed look on his face if he tried.

“What are you two whispering about?” Velvet interrogates.

Ritz tries to cover Veneer’s mouth before he can repeat it, but he was too late.

“Oh nothing, just that I want him to make me scream,” Veneer says casually, as his sister dons a look of pure horror.

“Ew! Get out!” Velvet yells, taking Veneer by the shoulders and shoving him to the door. Orchid attempts to shove Ritz the same way, but she was laughing so hard she could barely use any force.

“Have fun!” Orchid yells through her laughs as she helps Velvet shove them out the door. “Be safe! Stay hydrated!”

//

By the time they had set up the tent, the sky was already turning a warm pinkish orange. The lake was calm, and beautiful as ever.

It wasn’t the most beautiful thing, though, as Ritz focused his gaze on the gorgeous star standing across from him. It was just the two of them tonight, swaying on the grass, fingers intertwined.

Veneer wore lipstick around sometimes, but today was surprisingly not one of those days. He was in a basic t-shirt with his pink shorts, and his hair was tied back in a ponytail. Ritz had borrowed a cropped hoodie from him, but the most important part of his outfit was the silver heart necklace Veneer had picked out for him. Veneer wasn’t wearing his matching one, which Ritz found even more surprising.

A light breeze from the lake brushes against them, as Ritz takes one of Veneer’s hands. He touches it to his lips, making eye contact as he kisses his hand.

“May I have this dance?” Ritz asks, watching Veneer’s lips curve into a smile.

“Of course, my dear,” he plays along, resting his hands on Ritz’s shoulders.

“Did you remember the speaker?”

“Oh no! I completely forgot!” Veneer dramatically gasps, a bad attempt at pretending it was an accident. “I guess you’ll have to sing for me.”

Ritz gives him a disapproving look, which Veneer replies with a bashful grin. He was so adorable, Ritz would’ve done anything he wanted to see that smile.

“Did you ‘forget’ on purpose?” Ritz accuses.

“What? No! Definitely not… maybe. Yeah, I did,” Veneer confesses.

“You’re the singer here,” Ritz reminds him, goosebumps raising as his hands met Veneer’s waist.

“Come on, I sing for you all the time!” Veneer argues, then looks up at him with puppy dog eyes. “Pleeease?”

Okay, that was more than enough to convince him. Veneer’s face lights up as Ritz nods, then inhales. Veneer smiled even wider, immediately recognizing the song.

“All I am is a man
I want the world in my hands”

As the song started, Ritz brought his hands to Veneer’s face, gently holding it as they swayed together.

“I hate the beach
But I stand in California with my toes in the sand
Use the sleeves of my sweater
Let’s have an adventure
Head in the clouds but my gravity’s centered”

He glides his hands down to Veneer’s neck, following the lyrics. In return, Veneer brushes his nails along the chain of Ritz’s necklace, sending a chill down his back.

“Touch my neck and I’ll touch yours
You in those little high waisted shorts”

Ritz wasn’t strong enough to pick him up, but he takes the lead, spinning him around the lake as he sang the chorus.

“He knows what I think about
And what I think about
One love, two mouths
One love, one house
Just us, you find out
Nothing that I wouldn’t wanna tell you about, no”

He takes Veneer into a dip, both of their blushes intensifying as the sky darkened. It really was more perfect than Ritz could’ve imagined.

“‘Cause it’s too cold
For you here
And now, so let me hold
Both your hands in the holes of my sweater”

After the dip, Ritz takes both of Veneer’s hands in his, feeling his pulse fast with anticipation. As he keeps singing for him, Veneer takes the opportunity to spin him into a dip next. Towards the end, Veneer lifts him up, holding him close.

The sky was clear, more and more stars starting to come out. They were beautiful as ever, but Ritz wouldn’t have minded if it was raining. It was a good thing it wasn’t, though, he decided as he remembered the tent’s skylight.

As their dance ended, Veneer rests his head on Ritz’s shoulder. He tugs his waist closer, still swaying slowly as Veneer pulled him into his arms.

“You ready? I set up a bunch of pillows,” Ritz whispers, guiding them both closer to the tent.

“Mhm! Oh, that reminds me! Wait here,” Veneer instructs. He then takes a purple lipstick from his pocket—Ritz recognized it as his own—and hands it to Ritz. “And put this on.”

It was getting darker by the minute. Ritz worried he wouldn’t be able to apply it well without better light, but Veneer answers his concerns before he gets them out.

“Don’t worry if it looks bad, I’m gonna mess it up anyways.” Veneer kisses him on the cheek, then walks into the tent and zips it closed behind him.

Ritz put on his lipstick the best he could while he waited. He takes a moment to look up at the stars, his eyes darting to Veneer’s star first. He then looks over to his own, as it flickered through different colors. In his stargazing, he realized that the brightest star was in between his and Veneer’s. It wasn’t like he could move the stars, so he chose to be grateful they were at least in the sky together.

“Okay, I’m ready!”

Veneer’s voice brings him back to reality, as Ritz makes his way back to the tent. He steps in and zips it closed, then turns around to face him.

Holy fuck.

Ritz froze, completely speechless as his cheeks burned hotter than lightning. He wished he could burn the scene before him into his mind.

Veneer laid on his stomach, dressed in his luxurious indigo robe. It fell down his shoulders, bringing Ritz’s attention to the gold heart necklace that glistened around his neck. He had taken his hair down, twirling it around his fingers as he kicked his legs back and forth in the air. Battery powered candles were arranged around him, along with flower petals scattered over his robe. He gave Ritz an enticing smile, showing off his classic green lipstick.

The stars shone down on him through the skylight, reflecting in his stunning blue eyes. He was easily more beautiful than all the stars combined, they only served to give him the perfect lighting he deserved.

“Veneer, you’re…” Ritz breathes out, struggling to find the words that even came close to describing him.

“Amazing? Gorgeous? Irresistible?” Veneer
offers, rolling over onto his back. He runs his hands down the robe, those hands that Ritz would be holding soon.

“Everything,” Ritz answers.

He stays still for a moment, taking in the star in front of him. It registered that this was real, even in the end of the world, he was reunited with that person he never thought he would speak to again. And Veneer had done all of this for him. In just a moment, Ritz had completely fallen in love all over again.

“Well don’t just stand there!” Veneer suddenly exclaims.

Before Ritz knew what was happening, Veneer sits up just enough to reach the front of his hoodie. He drags him down to lay on top of him, their lips meeting in a mess of quickly smudged lipstick.

As Ritz looked down into his starry eyes, the smudges of green and purple lipstick on his face made him even more beautiful, if that was possible.

“I got the fake candles so we wouldn’t set the tent on fire,” Veneer explains.

Good thing, too. They wouldn’t be burning it down, at least in the literal sense.

“I love you,” Ritz blurts out. A rush of emotion came over him, as he rambled out all his feelings to the gorgeous star under him.

“I never loved anyone after you. After you went to jail, I just couldn’t feel that way about anyone else. At first I didn’t want to admit it, you being a criminal and all, but now that you’re back after four years all I want to do is just love you and hold you and kiss you and love you.”

Veneer’s gaze softens, as he caresses Ritz’s face above him. He presses a soft kiss to his lips in response, his hand traveling into his hair. After the kiss, Veneer’s lips were smudged with even more violet.

“I love you too,” Veneer responds, tracing along the silver chain around Ritz’s neck. “Losing you, it… It was one of my biggest regrets. I never should’ve lied, but now that you’re here, I just want you again.”

“Then I’m yours.”

Ritz leans down for an even more passionate kiss, feeling the fabric of Veneer’s robe tangled in his fingers. They only break the kiss for Veneer to slide Ritz’s hoodie over his head, then immediately return to each other, their breaths turning into sighs.

His heartbeat quickens as Veneer turns him onto his back, carefully arranging a pillow under his head. As Ritz looked up at him, his green hair fell over his shoulders, with his lips smudged in purple and green. Combined with the stars shining behind him, he looked ethereal, like some kind of angel.

Ritz didn’t feel the need to stifle his laughs as Veneer kissed over his scars, with just as much love as that first time.

“You’re gonna get lipstick all over me,” Ritz comments, though he would have loved to be covered with kisses if they were from Veneer.

“That’s the point,” Veneer giggles, resting his hands on Ritz’s waist as he kissed him even more, decorating him with purple and green lipstick marks.

The stars shone even brighter as Ritz combed through his long green hair, losing himself in the softness of Veneer’s touch. He had been right since the beginning.

It was heavenly.

//

It was getting late, but Velvet and Orchid had no plans of going to bed, instead opting to have a fashion show with Velvet’s salvaged clothes. Orchid had chosen a lilac nightgown that complimented her skin tone, and paired it with a purple scarf tied in her hair. She had looked around for Ritz’s purple lipstick to complete the outfit, but she couldn’t find it anywhere.

As Velvet struts into the hallway, Orchid had to admit her outfit didn’t compare to the gorgeous star in front of her. Velvet had picked out a leopard print top, detailed with pink lace trim. She matched it with a pink miniskirt, and a leopard print cloth wrapped around her scar and tied in a bow.

It made Orchid smile every time she really thought about it: Velvet lived with her! And not only that, now Orchid could hug her, or kiss her, or dance with her whenever she wanted.

“Girl, you look so pretty! Do you wanna dance?” Velvet asks, as if she had read her mind.

“You look stunning! Beautiful! Amazing!” Orchid showers her with compliments, succeeding in her goal to make her blush. “Of course I do! What do you want to dance to?”

“I was hoping we could sing together,” Velvet suggests.

A duet with Velvet. To say Orchid was honored was an understatement. Velvet’s voice was easily her favorite thing to hear; it had only gotten more enchanting since they were reunited.

“I’d love to!” Orchid agrees, taking Velvet’s hands in hers as she met her in the hallway. They bop side to side, finding their rhythm as Velvet starts the first verse.

“She was a Playboy, Brigette Bardot
She showed me things I didn’t know
She did it right there, out on the deck
Put her canine teeth in the side of my neck”

Velvet tilts her head and places Orchid’s hand on her neck, referencing how it was one of her favorite spots to kiss. Orchid didn’t really have a favorite, though; getting to kiss Velvet at all was more than she could’ve asked for. Velvet continues the song, Orchid increasingly infatuated with her voice, her beauty, her.

“I’m in the hallway waitin’ for ya
Mini skirt and my go-go boots
I just want you to make a move
So slow down, sit down, it’s new”

She spins Orchid around, then points at her, indicating for her to pick up the next verse. Orchid spins Velvet around, watching her high ponytail flow around her in a stunning whirlwind of green. Orchid takes over the song, the two making their way into the main room.

“I just wanna get to know ya
Guess I didn’t quite think it through
Fell in love with the thought of you
Now I’m choked up, face down, burnt out”

They join hands, pulling on each other to stay stable as they spun in a circle together for the chorus. Velvet’s smile as she sang reminded Orchid of all her live performances, only now that smile was within arms reach.

“Hit it, Orchid!” Velvet exclaims once they reach the bridge. They link arms and skip around each other, bursting with energy as Orchid gives it her all.

“Well, back at my house
I’ve got a California king
Okay, maybe it’s a twin bed
And some roommates”

“Don’t worry, we’re cool,” Velvet chimes in, switching their arms and skipping the other way, while Orchid finishes the bridge.

“I heard you like magic?
I’ve got a wand and a rabbit!
So baby, let’s get freaky, get kinky
Let’s make this bed get squeaky!”

Velvet joins in for the last chorus, her voice soaring over Orchid’s main melody. She turns back to face her, taking Orchid into her arms.

“Baby, why don’t you come over?
Red wine supernova
Falling into me”

They sway in half time, taking in each other’s presence as they held each other closer. Orchid couldn’t believe she had landed in Velvet’s arms after the apocalypse, and yet she would go through all of it and more to experience this moment.

“I don’t care that you’re a stoner
Red wine supernova
Fall right into me”

Orchid could have easily fallen into her, her presence so enticing that she didn’t need anything other than Velvet in this life. She was such a bright star, even brighter than a supernova. Instead, though, they fell onto the unmade pull out bed, laughing as they intertwined their fingers.

“I’m so glad it’s just us tonight,” Orchid says, giggling as she kisses each of Velvet’s fingers.

“Me too,” Velvet agrees. “I wonder what they’re doing.”

“Each other, probably,” Orchid responds, despite her better judgement. As expected, Velvet whacks her in the face with a pillow.

It was very deserved, but Orchid still wanted to fight back. She takes another pillow and hits Velvet with it, matching her enthusiasm.

The fight escalates until Orchid finds herself pinned under Velvet, their laughs filling the room. She holds up her arms in surrender, happy to accept defeat. Instead, she’s met with another smack from Velvet’s pillow.

“I win!” Velvet cheers, raising her arms in victory.

“Ugh… you killed me,” Orchid groans theatrically, pretending to go limp under her.

“I’ll just have to resurrect you then,” Velvet decides. She leans down and softly kisses Orchid’s top lip, caressing her face as she does so.

It was more than enough to resurrect her, as Orchid returns the kiss, throwing her arms around Velvet’s shoulders. It might’ve been morbid, but she’d be fine with dying if it meant Velvet would kiss her like that again.

“You can’t die before you take my picture, I worked hard on this outfit,” Velvet flaunts. She moves off of Orchid and stands up, then helps her to stand.

While Orchid gets her camera, Velvet sits up on the counter, crossing her legs. Orchid tries to find the best angle, positioning the camera to capture Velvet in all her glory.

No photo could properly capture the divinity that was Velvet, but Orchid tried her best as she snapped the picture. The flash perfectly reflected in her blue eye, sparkling out against the rest of her outfit.

“Let me take yours,” Velvet slides herself off the counter, then takes the camera from Orchid. She hands her the printed photo of herself.

Orchid copies her pose, sitting up on the counter and crossing her legs. She holds the picture of Velvet up next to herself, kissing it while Velvet snaps the photo.

Velvet might have been an even better photographer, as Orchid had never seen a better picture of herself. She certainly wasn’t as radiant as Velvet, and yet the photo her girlfriend had taken of her made her look almost as such.

After setting down the photos, Velvet lifts Orchid off the counter into her arms. She hoped she would never put her down as she kissed Velvet’s neck, wrapping her arms and legs around her.

“Hey, Velvet, you wanna know something?” Orchid asks, snuggling into her embrace.

“What’s that?”

“I have a crush on you.”

“Really? I never would have guessed,” Velvet laughs, a wonderful laugh. “You know, I have a crush on you too,” she pretends to confess, as if Orchid wasn’t currently clinging onto her as her girlfriend.

“Good.”

//

Veneer had been awake for awhile, but he continued to pretend he wasn’t as he felt a kiss on the nape of his neck. He had slept cuddled in Ritz’s arms as the little spoon, and he had no intention of moving as he held their hands together to his heart.

His robe was lazily retied around him, a perfect feeling combined with the rise and fall of Ritz’s chest behind him. He was trying not to think about having to get up, and secretly hoped his boyfriend couldn’t walk so they could just stay there forever.

“Are you awake?” Ritz whispers, slightly leaning over to look at him.

“No,” Veneer groans, tightening his hand around Ritz’s. “I need a true love’s kiss to wake me up.”

“I’m your true love?”

“I sure hope so, otherwise I’ll never wake up.”

Ritz follows his instruction, turning Veneer onto his back. He kisses his lips, his disheveled hair brushing onto Veneer’s face. The sunlight behind Ritz made the feeling even warmer, though Ritz was the only star he really wanted right now.

As they break the kiss, Veneer flutters his eyes open, taking in the star above him. After last night, he didn’t hate camping anymore.

“Looks like you’re my true love,” Veneer sighs, still sleepy despite having been awake first.

“I’m so glad,” Ritz replies, then presses another true love’s kiss to his lips.

Veneer wraps his arms around his shoulders, hoping they could stay there for as long as possible. Knowing they’d have to take the tent down ruined the fairytale atmosphere, so Veneer only tried to focus on Ritz’s lips on his.

“We should start packing up soon,” Ritz unfortunately reminds him.

“I don’t wanna,” he complains, attempting to distract Ritz with kisses all over his face. It doesn’t work.

“We have to take down the tent, then I’ll give you more kisses,” Ritz negotiates.

“Fiiiine.”

As soon as Veneer agrees to get up, something in the tent comes loose. The whole thing collapses onto the two of them, still laying down together. They look at each other for a second, the top and sides of the tent now fallen around them, then burst out laughing.

“I guess that solves that problem,” Ritz shrugs, fighting with the skylight that was now draped over him.

“Wow,” Veneer comments. “I’m surprised that didn’t happen last night.”

“Not the time!” Ritz exclaims, but his face going pink revealed he had been thinking the same thing.

“Ritz.”

“What?”

They pause for a moment, Veneer gazing into his eyes with intent. He couldn’t keep himself from grinning, as he gave an accurate assessment of last night’s events.

“That was electrifying.”

Ritz groans and rolls his eyes, then presses his lips to his with enough intensity that they could forget all about the collapsed tent around them.

//

“Do you think they’ll be back soon?” Velvet asks, laying down an uno card on the pile in between them. Orchid sat across from her on the pull out bed, struggling to hold her increasingly large hand of cards.

“Hm, I don’t know. Maybe they died,” Orchid jokes, laying down her next card.

Velvet snickers, organizing the cards in her hands. “Maybe. But you’re definitely about to die.”

“Huh?” Orchid gives her a confused look, taken aback at her comment.

“In this game, I mean,” Velvet smirks, then lists off her cards as she lays another, then another down on the pile. “Skip. Reverse back to me. Skip again. Reverse again. Plus four, new color is green. Uno.”

Velvet had that mischievous glint in her eye, and Orchid would be lying if she said she didn’t love it, despite her grand loss. Orchid sighs and takes off the cardigan she had borrowed from Velvet, stripping down to her sports bra. She draws four, then has to draw at least four more before she could put anything down.

As she lays down her card, the front door opens, saving her from defeat.

“We’re home!” Veneer announces cheerfully, dragging the wagon through the door.

That wasn’t the only thing he was carrying; Ritz was being carried on his back, his head slumped over Veneer’s shoulder. When she took a closer look, Orchid noticed they both had faint remnants of green and purple lipstick on their faces.

“Welcome home! Is he, uh, okay?” Orchid asks, standing up to get a closer look at her best friend.

“Orchid, I need you to,” Ritz groans, holding up a hand for emphasis, “I need you to file a lawsuit. For, uh, damages to The Bop On Top property.”

“What property?” Orchid responds.

“Me,” Ritz answers, then slumps back onto Veneer’s shoulder.

“He’s fine! I insisted on carrying him home,” Veneer adds. Ritz gives a thumbs up. Veneer looks Orchid up and down, then changes the subject. “What’s with the outfit?”

Orchid looked down, realizing she was in a sports bra, pair of Ritz’s sweatpants, and holding a large stack of uno cards. It was certainly an outfit.

“We’re playing strip uno,” Orchid explains.

“What’s strip uno?” Ritz asks, his arms still rested around Veneer’s shoulders.

“It’s like strip poker, but neither of us knew how to play poker, so we went with uno instead. I’m losing!” She shows off her hand of too many cards with pride.

“Congrats!” Veneer applauds, sharing her enthusiasm despite her losing to Velvet.

“Hey, you two,” Velvet joins them, the other cards in her hands. She uses one pile to gesture to Ritz. “Did you break him?”

“I-“ Veneer starts, but his sister interrupts him.

“Never mind, I don’t wanna know. More importantly,” she sets down her last card, “I win.”

///

Velvet was snuggled in Orchid’s arms as usual, the two finally deciding to sleep for the night. It had been about three weeks since she had met her biggest fan, for real this time, and found out she was the girl she loved.

Finding the perfect girlfriend hadn’t been in Velvet’s plans for the end of the world, but it was a welcome change getting to have fun with her every day. She never knew she could love a fan so much, but Orchid treated each of their kisses with the excitement of their first, neither ever tired of the feeling.

She still didn’t know how she ever lived without Orchid, but she smiled as she remembered she never would have to be apart from her again.

“Orchid, I just realized,” Velvet starts, “We’ve been together for like three weeks, and I’ve never even taken you out on a real date.”

“I don’t need a date if I have you,” Orchid sighs, her voice adorably sleepy.

“What kind of girlfriend doesn’t take the love of her life out on a date? We’ll go tomorrow,” she decides.

Orchid cuddles her closer when Velvet calls her the love of her life. Velvet couldn’t get enough of her.

“I’d love to,” Orchid agrees.

//

“Nonsense, I’ve always wanted to get my sister ready for a big date!” Veneer protests, sorting out a variety of clothes and makeup for Velvet to choose from.

It was just her and her brother in Orchid’s room, while Ritz was getting Orchid ready for her date in the main room. She said she didn’t need Veneer’s help, but she was secretly happy to have it.

“Besides, doing your makeup is so easy since I don’t have to make it even,” Veneer adds, to which Velvet rolls her eye.

“Make it glittery,” Velvet demands. “I want her to look at me, and be like, totally starstruck by how gorgeous I am.”

“I think she feels that way about you no matter how you look,” Veneer responds, carefully applying the sparkliest eyeshadow she had onto her left eyelid. “That girl’s obsessed with you.”

“I know, isn’t it great? We’re like, equally obsessed with each other. I love her.”

“I love her too, she’s such a sweetheart.”

Veneer reminded her of Orchid, sometimes. They were both so sweet compared to Velvet, and they always got excited at the little things. She was so lucky to have these people so precious to her in this dystopia.

“What color lipstick?” Veneer asks after applying her highlighter.

“Red.”

“Definitely,” he agrees, seeing the vision as he took her maroon lipstick, being extra precise as he put it on her.

He hands her a mirror, then goes over to her clothes and jewelry to pick something out. She makes a kissy face, admiring her glossy red lipstick complimenting the glitter on her left side. The glitter matched her diamond studs, which glistened in the reflection.

When she closed the mirror, Veneer was holding up an outfit: a gold miniskirt, paired with a black modern corset top and matching gold necklace stacks. They were some of the nicer clothes she had saved, considering they didn’t take up a lot of space.

“I love it,” Velvet approves, taking the clothes from him and going into the bathroom to change.

As she changed, she caught a glimpse of her scar in the bathroom mirror. She didn’t flinch, which surprised her. Ever since her first sleepover with Orchid, she had felt more comfortable with it, even growing to like it when it showed through one of her pictures. Orchid was right, she was still so pretty.

She still liked to wear her hair over it, though. It reminded her of how much her brother loved her, how he could fix even the worst of situations.

“How do I look?” Velvet asks once she returns to the bedroom, showing off with a spin.

“Fabulous!” Veneer applauds, then pats the bed in front of him. “Hair next. What do you want?”

“Hm, just my regular ponytail, I think.” She sits down, then hands him Orchid’s light purple scrunchie from the bedside table. “But use this.”

“You got it,” Veneer responds as he combs through her hair. He brings it up and ties it into a high ponytail with the scrunchie, leaving her bangs down. “Pretty!”

“My favorite hair stylist,” she responds, patting his head as she stood up.

For the finishing touch, Velvet walks back over to a bag with her clothes, and picks out an extremely boring gray hoodie. She zips it up, the hoodie practically covering her whole outfit.

“What are you doing that for? You looked gorg,” Veneer criticizes, giving her a confused look.

“I have a plan!” She announces. “I’ll spare you the details, but it’s a surprise for my favorite fan.”

“Playing favorites, Vels? What would our fanbase have to say about that?” He jokes, as if there were more than two people in their fanbase.

“She’s the only fan I care about,” Velvet replies, swishing her hair with pride.

//

They had said their temporary goodbyes to the boys, Orchid following Velvet out to their date. To Orchid’s disappointment, Velvet was in some lame gray hoodie, but her glossy red lips made up for it. If she could kiss those lips, she didn’t care what Velvet was wearing.

Orchid and Ritz had tried to throw together a cute outfit, and done her hair into spacebuns. She wore a shorts with one black side and one purple side, paired with her white tank top that showed off the tattooed orchids down her left arm.

“So, where are we going?” Orchid asks, looking up at her girlfriend.

“It’s a surprise,” Velvet smiles, taking her hand. She swings their hands as they walk, holding a backpack around her free arm.

“Are we going to the lake?” Orchid guesses.

“Definitely not,” Velvet answers, thought her face turned pink, confirming Orchid’s suspicions. “By the way, no reason at all, but, uh, how do we get to the lake?”

“You’re adorable,” Orchid comments as she takes the lead while they walk.

Velvet blushes harder at her comment, which made Orchid feel like her heart could burst. She could make Velvet blush. Even with her face pink and half covered by her hair, Velvet was still the most beautiful girl Orchid had laid eyes on.

//

A gorgeous sunset painted the sky, tinting the lake a mix of orange, pinks, and purples. There was just enough breeze to gently brush against Velvet’s skin, nearly as soft as Orchid’s hands. They had made it at the perfect time for Velvet’s plan, as she breathed in the fresh air.

Without revealing anything yet, she takes Orchid’s hand and guides her to the broken down convertible. She sets down the backpack and takes out a blanket, then lays it over the hood of the car. She then takes out the speaker, and sets it on the side of the hood.

Orchid lets out an adorable gasp when Velvet suddenly picks her up, then sits her down on the blanket. She lets her legs hang off the front, swinging them back and forth while she waited for what Velvet had in store.

“You know, I would’ve charged a whole lot for a private show like this back when I was famous,” Velvet hints, scrolling through the music player.

“Private show?” Orchid inquires, making herself comfortable on the edge of the car.

“You’ll see,” Velvet winks as best she could, tilting her head to the left.

Once she finds the song, Velvet turns the speaker up to full volume, and presses play. As she struts in front of the car, she could already tell Orchid was struggling to contain herself.

She starts by slowly unzipping her hoodie, showing off her somewhat revealing outfit. As Orchid’s face goes red, Velvet tosses the hoodie to her. Orchid eagerly catches it, holding it close to her chest as her eyes were locked on Velvet.

Velvet shakes out her hair when the heavier drums kick in, putting the scrunchie back on her wrist. With her hair down and stylish outfit, Velvet felt like a star again, that performance rush kicking in.

She could tell Orchid was enjoying the show, inspiring Velvet to take it up a notch. She runs her hands through her long hair, taking them down to trace her sides, her waist, her thighs. When the lyrics start, she sings along, circling her hips while she pointed at Orchid.

“Ooh, baby, don’t you know I suffer?
But ooh, baby, can you hear me moan?
You caught me under false pretenses
How long before you let me go?”

Velvet strides towards her in half time, until she stood in between Orchid’s legs. She could hear her breathing speeding up as she gripped the sides of her thighs, then whispered the next lyric in her ear as she pressed against her.

“You set my soul alight.”

Before Orchid knew what hit her, Velvet had lifted her off the car by her waist. She doesn’t take her hands off, instead holding her tighter as she brought her into the dance. Orchid was loving every second of it, not breaking eye contact as Velvet sung along to the chorus for her.

“Glaciers melting in the dead of night
And the superstars sucked into the supermassive
Glaciers melting in the dead of night
And the superstars sucked into the”

Velvet guides her in the dance, moving their hips in time to the beat. They were much closer than a normal dance, but Velvet wouldn’t have it any other way as she felt Orchid’s hands tight around her shoulders.

“I thought I was a fool for no one
But ooh, baby, I’m a fool for you
You’re the queen of the superficial
And how long before you tell the truth?”

Orchid gasps as Velvet kisses her jawline, leaning down to whisper in her ear again. Velvet leads her closer back to the car, telling her exactly what she thought of her.

“You set my soul alight.”

Once they had made their way to the convertible, Velvet picks her up again, sitting her farther back on the hood. This time, she joins her on the blanket, straddling her lap while the music blared around them. It was the only thing she could hear, aside from Orchid’s gasps as she pressed her lips fast on hers.

They stay there for the entire instrumental break, Velvet pressing her shoulders hard against the windshield as they felt the sound waves. When Orchid pulled her waist closer, it took all of Velvet’s self control to keep from accidentally breaking the windshield.

“What do you want?” Velvet whispers, trailing her lips down to Orchid’s collarbone as the chorus started up again.

“You,” Orchid answers, her heartbeat so fast against her.

“And what’s my name?”

“Velvet,” she breathes out, though barely audible over the music blasting around them.

It wasn’t enough, not nearly enough. She needed to hear her name on Orchid’s lips. She needed her applause, her excitement, her love. She needed to remind her biggest fan why she held that title.

“I can’t hear you,” Velvet urges.

“Velvet,” she gasps, louder, but not loud enough.

“Louder.”

“Velv, Velvet,” she struggles out even louder, perfectly timing her name to the superstar lyric.

Velvet felt like a star, no, a goddess as Orchid repeated her name. She had stopped singing along, instead focusing her lips on Orchid, though the music kept going.

“And the superstars sucked into the supermassive”

Orchid digs her nails into the back of Velvet’s thigh, with enough pressure to make her gasp. She only kisses her with even more passion, inching her hands under Orchid’s shorts as she smiles in the kiss.

“And the superstars sucked into the supermassive”

There was nothing else in the world, only the star, her favorite fangirl, and the music filling the space around them. It felt like fire; Velvet had never known anyone this crazy about her, and right now she only wanted to make her even more mad with love.

“And the superstars sucked into the supermassive”

The sound waves added even more pressure on Velvet, combined with Orchid’s hands on her. Still, her hands were so soft, so perfect, Velvet hoped they’d never leave her. The rest of her was soft too, as Velvet kissed her lips, her collarbone, her shoulders, anywhere she could get to in their mess of infatuation. As long as she had Orchid, she still had her fame, her rush, her passion.

“You set my soul into the supermassive”

//

Back at the house, Veneer and Ritz had made the spontaneous decision to get into Ritz’s hair dye. They had settled on a few blue streaks in Veneer’s hair, just enough to change things up while keeping his iconic green.

Veneer sat on their bed in front of Ritz, wearing Ritz’s hair dye stained formerly white shirt. He was looking forward to the results, but part of him wished the process would never end as he felt Ritz work his hands through his hair.

“Hey, Veneer, what were you like before you got famous?” Ritz asks, making conversation as he folded another piece of foil around a dyed streak.

“Oh man, I was a total loser,” he answers honestly. “I pretty much just followed Velvet around all the time and did what she said.”

“So, the same!” Ritz comments. Veneer rolls his eyes, despite Ritz not being able to see it.

“Hey, I’m plenty independent now!”

“Yeah, right.”

“You’re lucky you’re so handsome,” Veneer responds, then continues his answer to the original question. “But seriously, we were so unpopular that the most attention I ever got in school was getting bullied.”

“I’m sure those assholes were just jealous,” Ritz assures.

“Yeah, you’re probably right. What about you? What was little Ritz like?”

“Hm, you know how there would always be one kid who asked a question about every little thing the teacher said?”

“Ugh, yeah,” Veneer groans. “Those kids annoyed the crap out of me.”

“I was one of those kids.”

Luckily, with his back to Ritz, his boyfriend wasn’t able to see his face go red with embarrassment. To his relief, he heard Ritz’s laugh behind him.

“Yeah, I was definitely annoying,” Ritz agrees, taking another section of his hair. “Why do you think I became an interviewer?”

Ritz wraps the last piece of foil in Veneer’s hair, then turns him around. He attempts to run his hand through his hair, but they both laugh when Ritz’s hand gets stopped by a section of foil. He adapts to the situation, caressing Veneer’s face instead.

“You’re gonna look so pretty when it’s ready,” Ritz predicts.

“Oh, am I not pretty now?” Veneer teases, bringing his hand to meet Ritz’s.

“No, you’re pretty,” Ritz compliments, gently laying him down against the arm of the couch. He rests both hands on Veneer’s face as he lays on him, getting even closer. “You’re so pretty.”

“Now you’re just saying that,” Veneer teases again, in the hopes that Ritz would repeat it even more.

“You’re so pretty,” Ritz says again. “You’re the prettiest boy I’ve ever seen. And you’ll look even prettier with this,” he suddenly takes the brush, which still had dye on it, and brushes it over Veneer’s cheek.

Veneer snatches the brush from him and aims it at him, trying to paint anywhere for revenge. Ritz steals the brush back, the fight escalating until they were both a mess with blue dye.

“You’re gonna get hair dye all over me!” Veneer exclaims, though not concerned since he was in Ritz’s hair dye shirt.

“Relax, it’ll come off in the shower,” Ritz reassures, decorating him further with the brush.

“In that case, you can help me get it off,” Veneer responds.

Ritz freezes for a moment, his face going that pink blush Veneer adored. It was the perfect opportunity for attack, but Veneer passes it up, instead deciding to throw his arms around Ritz’s shoulders and kiss all over his face, which was stained with blue.

Their laughs fill the room as Ritz takes him into his arms, kissing him back. Veneer remembered Ritz had told him it would take about thirty minutes for the dye to take hold, and he could easily do this for thirty minutes. When Ritz finally touches his lips to Veneer’s, he brings his hands into his hair, but he’s again interrupted by pieces of foil. They break the kiss with a storm of giggles, one of Veneer’s favorite sounds from the love of his life.

//

Orchid was still in a daze, as she felt the cool water of the lake against her skin. Skinny dipping with her favorite superstar surprisingly hadn’t been on her long list of fantasies, but she was on board as soon as Velvet suggested it. She rested in Velvet’s embrace at the edge of the lake, listening to her heartbeat while she traced up and down her arm.

It was comfortably quiet, a contrast to their earlier moment at sunset. Orchid had repeated Velvet’s name so many times that for a moment, it was the only word she could muster. Now having calmed down, Orchid could think of more, like Velvet’s perfect cupid’s bow, the perfect curve of her waist, the perfect feeling of her hands.

“Do we have any towels?” Orchid softly breaks the silence. Despite her question, she would’ve stayed in the lake forever if Velvet wanted.

Velvet thinks for a minute, then meets her gaze.

“Fuck.”

“This was your idea!” Orchid teases, pushing a wave of water at her.

“I didn’t plan this part! But you can use the blanket on the car on the way home,” she offers, pushing the water back at her. It felt almost as nice as her hands.

“That poor car,” Orchid comments. “It must feel violated.”

“Probably, but you were the one getting deflowered,” Velvet responds, then breaks into a giggle.

“But we’ve already-“

“It was a joke,” Velvet explains. “Get it? Deflowered? ‘Cause your name’s Orchid,” she laughs at her own joke, Orchid joining in once she understood.

“Well you got, uhh,” Orchid starts, but nothing came to mind. “I can’t think of any fabric puns for your name.”

Velvet only laughs harder, pulling her closer into her arms. She kisses on Orchid’s hair, her spacebuns barely intact. Orchid waves her hand through the smooth water, watching as it flowed around them.

She doesn’t focus on the water for long, instead returning her gaze to Velvet. Her eyes were blessed to look up at her in this light, radiant by the stars shining down on her.

Velvet’s eye lights up as she looks past Orchid, out into the lake. It was the most awestruck Orchid had seen her, as Velvet turns her head all around, staring at the water.

“Orchid, look!”

Orchid followed her gaze, looking down into the water.

It was an amazing sight: the stars reflected down into the water, illuminating the entire lake with starlight. They were like sparks on the water, each star’s reflection flickering around them. An especially bright star shone down right in between them, glimmering in front of Velvet as if it was made for her.

“Woah…” Orchid sighs, trying to meet Velvet’s enthusiasm.

She was beyond grateful to share this moment with her, though she wished she could match Velvet’s excitement about the stars. In all honesty, she wasn’t that concerned with them. The stars were too far away, too unfathomable, too untouchable to warrant her attention.

Instead, Orchid wanted to look at the star within reach. The star that she had essentially devoted her life to, ever since she first saw her on a screen. The star that loved her back, that had proved herself even more perfect with each moment. Velvet herself was infinitely more celestial than any of the stars in the sky.

“Why do you like me so much?” Velvet asks suddenly, once she meets Orchid’s gaze.

What kind of question was that? How anyone could not love Velvet, Orchid didn’t understand.

“You’re Velvet,” she answers simply.

Velvet seemed dissatisfied with her answer, but her gaze was still soft. “I mean, specifics. Why do I get to be your favorite?”

Get to be Orchid’s favorite. Velvet seemed to take it as an honor, even though Orchid getting to be in Velvet’s presence was much more of an honor from her point of view. Maybe that’s one of the things she liked about Velvet.

Maybe it was the way she always wanted Orchid to feel safe, like asking permission, comforting her when she got sad, even like that close hug the first day she moved in.

Maybe it was the way she still had her radiance, her beauty, her glow, even after her fall from fame.

Maybe it was the way she stayed strong, even after the world was in ruins. She had lost a part of herself, but she never let that stop her.

Maybe it was the way she made Orchid feel, like she was special, worthy enough to touch the stars. It was better than a rush, better than euphoria, better than heaven.

It was love.

So, Orchid told her.

“I like your confidence. I like your smile. I like the way you hold me,” Orchid lists, though she couldn’t possibly describe everything she liked about Velvet. “Back when you were famous, you just had this, like, aura about you, like no other star I’d ever seen. Whenever I saw you, you’d make me so excited, and you seemed excited too just to be onstage, and it made me so happy,” she tries to explain, hoping to make Velvet understand how amazing she really was.

“You make me happy, too,” Velvet responds, holding Orchid’s face in between her hands. “When you look at me, your eyes light up, and I like knowing that it’s because of me, and I wanna make you feel that way as much as I can.”

It took a moment for Orchid to process her words. They had been together for what felt like forever, but was only a few weeks. And still, she was in shock that Velvet wanted her.

She wanted to make Velvet feel those feelings too, she wanted to remind Velvet that she was the brightest star of them all. Brighter than all the stars reflecting in the water.

If she looked really close, it was almost as if Velvet was glowing, just by herself.

//

As they reached the house, Velvet approached the door with Orchid on her arm. They had managed to swap outfits, though Orchid was wrapped up in the blanket they had brought.

Candlelight filled the main room, revealing that Veneer had Ritz had stayed up. They had been cuddling, but quickly stood up to meet the girls.

“You’re all soggy!” Veneer points out to Velvet, seeing as how she had nothing to dry off with.

“Your hair is blue,” Velvet notices aloud.

She took a closer look at Veneer, focusing on the blue streaks within his green hair.

It suited him, even matching his bright blue eyes. Velvet had to admit, though, it made her a little sad. She and her brother didn’t look as alike now.

But she could get over it. They were still twins. Still together. Nothing could change that.

Right?

.

Chapter Text

Velvet
Status: Negative.
Health: 89%
Stress: 7%
Blood Type: B

Veneer
Status: Negative.
Health: 96%
Stress: 8%
Blood Type: B

Ritz
Status: Negative.
Health: 92%
Stress: 6%
Blood Type: O

Orchid
Status: Negative.
Health: 90%
Stress: 8%
Blood Type: ???

Opal
Status: INFECTED: STAGE III
Health: 0%
Stress: 0%
Blood Type: AB

Midori
Status:
Health:
Stress:
Blood Type: AB

[Not much is known about the disease. The outbreak was so sudden and devastating that hardly any data could be observed before society collapsed. However, four distinct stages can be determined in infected individuals.

STAGE 0: Immediately after being bitten by an infected. There are no visible symptoms at this stage, other than heightened emotions (though this can also be credited to the stress of coming in contact with infected). Ringing in the ears begins.

STAGE I: An individual is infected, but still has most functioning skills. This stage starts about an hour after Stage 0, once the disease has spread throughout the body. The ringing in one’s ears becomes more present, along with more visible/noticeable symptoms such as eye twitching, skin going cold, and emotional outbursts. The individual may also experience desire to hurt or infect loved ones, but they are able to control the urges at this stage. Additionally, their dreams will become extremely vivid, usually consisting of their loved ones and/or the person that infected them.

STAGE II: This stage is only experienced by Type B and some unlucky Type O patients. The symptoms of Stage I are intensified, and it is more difficult to control the urges to harm loved ones. It becomes even more challenging to control one’s actions and feelings as well, as all emotions are felt to their peak. Ringing in the ears is even more loud and prevalent. The vivid dreams will continue, along with hallucinations taking place during the day. Most infected commit suicide before reaching this stage.

STAGE III: All consciousness is lost. The person is no longer themselves, their body no longer theirs. They are dead in all aspects besides physical. Despite their body becoming a vessel for the disease, even Stage III infected will still try to infect their loved ones first. At this stage, it is most merciful to kill the body and end their suffering.]

//

It had been a month since finding Velvet, easily the best month of Orchid’s life. They had fallen into a routine, and despite the world ending, it was the best life anyone could ask for. They all went for walks, cuddled, danced, like some kind of fantasy.

Orchid was currently living a fantasy: she had fallen asleep on top of Velvet, her head rested on her shoulder while she snuggled into her arms. She could feel Velvet’s breath on her neck, the rise and fall of her chest. Orchid never wanted to get up.

Unfortunately, however, it was the day for a store run.

“Wake up, lovebirds!” Ritz yells through the door. Velvet and Orchid respond with a groan in unison.

She attempts to roll off Velvet, but she literally couldn’t move as Velvet started to trace patterns on her back, sending her into a trance. Orchid felt her girlfriend’s lips soft on her neck, in a very romantic attempt to get her to stay in bed.

“Mm, we need to get up,” Orchid sighs, with no intention of leaving Velvet’s embrace.

“Five minutes,” Velvet mumbles.

“Get up, or we’re leaving without you!” Ritz threatens. Even though he couldn’t see it, Velvet flips him off.

If Orchid didn’t get up, then Velvet couldn’t get up, she decided. She could stay there for just a few minutes, give her a few kisses before they had to start the day.

“If I had to get up, you do too!” Veneer’s voice cuts through the door, sounding just as tired as Orchid felt.

Orchid sighs and rolls off Velvet, the latter letting her this time. It was just one day, and she could cuddle her soon after the store. They’d have plenty more cozy mornings together, she figured.

//

“I think Ritz should carry the wagon this time,” Velvet suggests, sitting on the counter and kicking her legs.

“You’re the worst, you know that?” Ritz shoots back, though Velvet knew he loved her as much as the others. “Fine, I guess. Do you all have everything? Snacks, weapons, all that?”

“Huh?” Velvet perks up, wondering if she misheard him. “Why would we need weapons?”

“Wait, did you seriously not bring your guns and whatnot last time?” Ritz asks, looking just as confused as her.

“It’s just for caution,” Orchid explains. “There’s always a chance, but luckily we’ve never run into anything.” Her switchblade was in her hand, and she spun it around a few times before putting it in her pocket.

Oh, that explained it. With all the happiness of the past month, Velvet had nearly forgotten they were living in the apocalypse. It was still good to be cautious, she figured, as Veneer checked their ammunition.

The last time she had seen any infected was a bit more than a month ago, but it had been an easy kill. She and Veneer could protect each other, and fortunately they couldn’t have recognized the infected. That was an unexpected bonus of only having her brother; she had never watched anyone she loved die.

//

Orchid had chosen one of her purple t-shirts, paired with shorts borrowed from Ritz. She looks down at her hands: adorned with some of Velvet’s rings, and green nails that Veneer had painted a few days ago.

She soon finds her hand in Velvet’s, swinging their hands on the path to the store. It was a beautiful day, barely any clouds, with a breeze of fresh air. But the day wasn’t nearly as beautiful as her girlfriend, whose hair was in two braided pigtails, wearing a hot pink tank top with Orchid’s purple and black shorts.

“Okay, it’s too quiet,” Veneer announces. “As you all know, I can’t walk without music.”

Orchid had sang for them last time, before she had even kissed Velvet. Even then, Velvet had seemed enchanted with her singing, making Orchid’s heart flutter as she remembered her smile. It seemed like Velvet was going to sing this time, though, as she offered a suggestion.

“Ooh, what about Love Game? I love that song,” Velvet says.

“Good one!” Veneer agrees, then turns to Ritz as he starts singing. He moves his shoulders to the beat, walking his fingers up Ritz’s arm, while Ritz’s cheeks went pink.

“Let’s have some fun, this beat is sick
I wanna take a ride-“

“No, not that one!” Velvet interrupts, before he could get the full lyric out. “The other one!”

Orchid brings her gaze back to Velvet, who straightened her posture and tried to find her rhythm. As Velvet started the song, she turned around and took Orchid’s hands, walking backwards as she sang to her.

“I’d die for you
Lay it on the line, I do
You know my heart is true”

They interlace their fingers, Orchid losing herself in Velvet’s voice. She sang so beautifully, like the song was part of her.

“Babe, I ride with you
Love so deep it leaves a bruise
Baby, I’m black and blue”

Her love for Velvet was even deeper, though Orchid hoped she would never do anything to hurt the love of her life. She only wanted to love her, to be with her as much as she possibly could.

“People screaming out in the dark
While my heart is breaking apart
Get so far I’m back to the start
I love you, girl, I love you”

While she sang, Velvet gives Orchid a spin. She then interlaces their fingers again, their simple walk to the store becoming a dance between the lovers.

“Wish I knew, knew how
See you running out of my life
Won’t you man up now
Look me in the eye and tell me”

Orchid never wanted to run out of her life, though she was still captivated by her singing. She looks Velvet in her eye, only one, but the most mesmerizing shade of blue she had ever seen.

“Why is you messing with my mind?
Yeah, guess it’s just a love game, love game
And you’re playing with my heartstrings, heartstrings”

Velvet deserved to be on a stage, with lights and a crowd of thousands, but Orchid hoped she could be enough for her. She takes her hands down to her waist, not daring to break her gorgeous gaze. She feels Velvet’s hands on her shoulders, walking in time while they sway to the beat.

“I’ll step with you
Close my eye and dance to lose
To your rhythm and blues
Girl, I’ll do for you
Give it all just let me use your love
Just be my muse”

Orchid was happy to be her muse, to give her as much of that rush of fame she knew she missed. She wanted nothing more, she’d go to any length to stay by her side.

While Velvet kept singing, the boys fell in step as well. It was like a private concert, with Velvet as the star, as she should be. She caresses Orchid’s face at the bridge, and even though they had been together a month, Orchid still felt like her heart might explode.

“I fantasize
You can’t decide
I’m in denial
But still I’m right here waiting by your side”

Even though they were lyrics, Orchid could tell Velvet meant the last line. She had stayed by Orchid’s side, too, and Orchid trusted her love more than anything. It was the best love she had ever experienced, to have someone she admired so much love her just the same.

After all the heartbreak she had gone through, Orchid was finally the happiest she had ever been. She hoped it could stay like this forever, surrounded by her surviving family, by her star’s side.

//

“We’re heeeere!” Veneer announces excitedly, throwing the doors open. Orchid follows him in, and as soon as she looks out, her heart drops.

Things were knocked over, strewn across the floor, out of place. There wasn’t significant damage, but enough that meant someone else had been in the store in the last month. Orchid couldn’t explain it, but it gave her an awful feeling inside. She takes Velvet’s hand beside her.

“Did you do that last time?” Velvet accuses her brother.

“No!” Veneer shoots back, holding a hand to his chest. “I don’t know what could’ve happened.”

“Probably just people passing through,” Ritz chimes in. “I wouldn’t be too surprised, I’m sure there’s more people like us.”

“You’re probably right,” Velvet shrugs. “It looks like whoever was here is gone, so at least they didn’t run into us.”

Orchid still had a bad feeling, but Velvet’s reassurance was enough to convince her it was just anxiety. She was right, it seemed like whoever was there had come and gone. Someone just passing through, probably. Hopefully.

After deciding it was nothing to worry about, Veneer was visibly starting to get antsy. He nods to Velvet, then takes a long look at Ritz.

“Go,” Ritz nods. At his okay, Veneer gives him a big kiss on the cheek. To her surprise, Orchid was met with a kiss on the cheek next, then a pat on the shoulder from Veneer.

In practically an instant, Veneer had taken his sister’s arm, and the two were lost to the store. They were close enough that Veneer’s laughs filled the store, having the time of his life.

“We’re never seeing him again,” Ritz jokes.

“I think they’re both relapsing,” Orchid adds.

“At least he’s not frolicking through coins this time.”

“I thought it was cute,” Ritz grins, then sighs dreamily. “My adorable little shopping addict.”

“You’re so down bad,” Orchid responds, giving him a nudge on the arm. She then takes his hand, as the two walk in to restock.

“You’re one to talk!” He accuses, and Orchid completely agreed.

“One hundred percent. I am proudly down horrendous for my amazing, beautiful, wonderful, breathtaking-“

“We get it.”

“-divine, perfect girlfriend.”

She swings his hand a bit, just like Velvet liked to swing hers. Velvet reminded her of him sometimes, though she wouldn’t dare tell her that. For one, they cared so deeply for Orchid, and not to mention their matched sass. She loved them both so much it hurt, but it was the best kind of hurt, to have so much love she didn’t know what to do with it.

With her hand in Ritz’s, she hoped she could at least show some of it, as she squeezes his hand while they walk and talk. He squeezes in response, then she does it again, and they repeat until they were both giggling like little kids.

//

After a while, Orchid and Ritz were mostly done with necessities, deciding to let the twins run off and have their fun. The twins must have split up, considering Velvet and Veneer’s occasional maniacal laughs were coming from different sides of the store.

Just then, a loud clatter rang throughout the store. It startled Orchid enough to make her gasp, but Ritz puts a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m so glad we don’t have to pay for whatever that was,” Ritz laughs, meeting her gaze. “I bet that was Veneer. He’s a mess. A hot mess,” he sighs again, pretending to swoon.

“You’re just as bad as me,” Orchid rolls her eyes.

“Nowhere close,” he denies, and he was probably right. “I think we’re done here. Wanna split up and find them?”

“Good idea,” she agrees. “I love you.”

She wasn’t sure why that last part slipped out, it just did. They said ‘I love you’s all the time, but that one felt just slightly different. Just a little more urgent.

“I love you too,” he responds casually, then leans down to give her a hug before they split up.

Copying Veneer, she gives Ritz a kiss on the cheek, while he gives her one back. His embrace was so familiar, so safe. She almost didn’t want to let go, but quickly broke the hug as she remembered Velvet was waiting for her. She skips off into the store and waves goodbye, leaving Ritz with the wagon.

//

“I can’t believe he wouldn’t let me keep these,” Veneer says to himself, admiring the Barbie Dreamhouses in the toy aisle.

He had quickly found his stilettos from their last trip, then made himself at home. His eyes eventually land on the guitar, carefully set down from when he interrupted Velvet and Orchid’s singing.

As he reaches for it, he hears a loud crash from somewhere else in the store. He shrugs, assuming it was Ritz and Orchid, or his sister, getting into hijinks.

Nothing to worry about, as he started to tune the instrument.

//

Velvet had found herself in the jewelry section, knowing exactly what she was looking for. Once she finds it, she picks out a matching one for herself, then slips them into her pocket.

She browses some more, not looking for anything particular, when a clatter sounds through the store. Velvet shrugs to herself, figuring it was probably her brother getting into shenanigans.

The next time she turns around, Orchid had found her.

“This would look great on you,” Orchid mentions, pointing at a necklace decorated with gemstones. She points at even more jewelry, “or this one, or this one, or this one!”

“You’re so cute,” Velvet responds, hugging her from behind and nuzzling her head into the crook of her neck. Orchid gives her those adorable giggles, resting her hands on top of Velvet’s.

“Ritz and I are about done,” Orchid tells her. “Did you get anything you wanted?”

“Definitely.”

“Ooh, can I see?”

“Not yet. But I’ll show you later,” Velvet promises. “Should we go meet up with the others?”

“Actually, I have to use the bathroom. You can go, though, I’ll find you!”

Velvet spins her out of her embrace, then pecks her on the lips. It was enough to make Orchid blush, to which Velvet pats her head.

“Okay, I’m sure we’ll be dragging Veneer out kicking and screaming,” Velvet laughs, then turns to go search for the others.

“Velvet, wait!”

Before they could part ways, Orchid had grabbed Velvet’s hand, keeping her in place. Orchid’s hand was tighter than normal.

“What is it?” Velvet asks, meeting her eyes.

“Nothing. Just this,” Orchid gives her a big smile, then stands on her tiptoes and kisses all over Velvet’s face. “I love you. Okay, now you can go!”

Smiling uncontrollably, Velvet waves her off as they part ways. Just before she was out of view, Velvet calls back to her.

“I love you too!”

//

Orchid had a spring in her step, deciding to take a bathroom break before the long walk back. She was satisfied with herself, having given her girlfriend so many kisses, and yet that awful feeling she had at the beginning of their trip hadn’t gone away.

It seemed to get even worse as she approached the door, but she stuffed it down. Probably just anxiety from being away from Velvet.

Right, she could just think about Velvet! She had never loved anyone so much. Her sister used to say she was obsessed, and maybe she was. But if Opal could see her and Velvet now-

Wait. Why was she thinking about Opal? She’s gone. She’s probably dead, Orchid reminded herself as she twisted the doorknob.

Velvet. Velvet should be on her mind. So she tried to think about her star, her lover, while she opened the door and shut it behind her.

When she turned around, her entire world shattered.

Her sister.

Her sister, who she thought was dead, was now across from her in the store bathroom. Her eyes met Orchid’s, no, her eye—Opal’s right eye had been scratched out.

She wanted to scream, to pinch herself and see if it was a dream, to run up and hug her sister. But Orchid could only stand still, frozen, eyes locked on the scene in front of her.

Opal seemed frozen as well, but she was clearly alive, her remaining left eye twitching uncontrollably. It had gone completely purple, along with her teeth having sharpened, the rest of her body twitching as well. She was holding someone, another infected, with long green hair slumped over Opal’s shoulder.

Only, she wasn’t holding her. At a closer look, Orchid realized their limbs were tangled together, inseparable. Both of them, Opal and Midori, infected almost beyond recognition.

Midori wasn’t twitching, though, not a movement from her as Opal sharply turned to face her sister. The green haired girl’s head only lulled to the side, the rest of her limbs limp tangled in Opal’s. Tears welled up in Orchid’s eyes as she realized: Midori was already dead.

Despite the tears streaming down her face, heart pounding in her chest, Orchid still couldn’t move. She tried to pick up her feet, cry for help, but nothing came out. She never thought she would see her sister again, but here she was, just a few steps across from her.

Opal’s head twitched slightly, as if she was trying to take a closer look at Orchid. There was nothing behind her eye as she took a struggling step towards Orchid, her friend dragging behind her.

Even though her infected sister was struggling towards her, Orchid was still rooted to the ground. How did she get here? How could she follow me? Why can’t I move?

The thoughts raced through Orchid’s head, who was still frozen in horror. Opal only staggered closer.

And closer.

And closer

and closer

and closer until

//

“There you are!”

Ritz was greeted by a smiling Veneer, in his stilettos and holding the guitar. He finishes tuning it, then strums a few times, testing out different chords.

“Orchid and I are finished,” Ritz mentions, setting the wagon near a shelf. “Do you play?”

“Yeah! I learned a bit with Vels, I think I’m pretty good,” he flaunts. “Want me to play for you?”

Oh, to be serenaded by Veneer. Ritz wanted nothing more.

“I would love that.”

“I knew you would,” Veneer responds, sitting down on the floor with the guitar. “Have a seat.”

Ritz follows, sitting across from him. He pays close attention to Veneer’s delicate hands on the strings, the softness of his voice as he started to sing.

“I wish I could keep you from abusing yourself
For no reason at all
Counting backwards, things you endured
Pitting them up against happier lives”

Veneer picks up the pace, switching up his strumming as the song progressed. He was feeling the music, softly swaying while he sang for his lover.

“That’s not the way to hurt me
That’s not the way to hurt me

I’ll show you the way to hurt me”

His gaze meets Ritz’s at that last line, with a glint in his gorgeous blue eyes. They matched the blue streaks Ritz had put in his hair, falling over his shoulders. He strums with even more intensity, bringing out the emotion in his voice.

“In search of a soft sound from another planet
In search of a quiet place to lay this to rest
Striving for goodness while the cruel men win
There’s no part of me left that can feel or hear it”

The instrumental part lasted for a while, with Ritz watching Veneer’s hands as he made the instrument sing. Ritz loved those hands, how they intertwined perfectly with his.

Nothing could ever ruin this moment, Ritz thought as he swayed along with Veneer. The soft sounds of his guitar playing made him look so beautiful, even ethereal. It was like this was where he was meant to be, a star despite all circumstances.

A voice joined in the song, just beyond the aisle. Velvet’s voice.

“He’ll never let you hurt me”

She walks down the aisle, in that same ethereal manner with her voice soaring over the music. Velvet looks down at Ritz, swaying in time with him as she repeated the lyric, this time almost directed to him.

“He’ll never let you hurt me”

“I’ll never let you hurt me,” both twins sing in unison, finishing out the lyrics.

Veneer keeps playing, while Velvet vocalizes the ending. As the song came to an end, the only sound was the lingering final chord. It eventually fades, leaving the three of them in a comfortable silence.

A silence, that was immediately broken by a piercing shriek from across the store.

“Where’s Orchid?!” Ritz quickly stands up, already out of the aisle before he got the question out.

“She went to the bathroom,” Velvet answers with the same urgency, matching his pace.

“Oh my god, oh fuck, oh my god, ORCHID!” He calls out for her, following her voice to the bathroom.

Velvet takes his hand, the three of them sprinting towards the screams. After what felt like a half second or ten years, he could finally see her.

His best friend, sobbing with her back against the closed door. Her knife was dripping with blood, with even more red splatters across her face. She was struggling to hold it closed, letting out another sob whenever the door shook behind her.

Ritz gets to her first, taking her into his arms while the twins take her place holding the door. Orchid sinks to the ground, her entire body shaking in his embrace. He holds her the tightest he ever had, running a hand up and down her back to try to regulate her breathing.

“Infected?” He asks, though he already knew the answer.

A screech from inside the bathroom answers him, along with even more shaking on the door. The twins keep holding it closed, while Orchid nods, soaking Ritz’s shirt with her tears.

“It’s, it’s, it’s my,” she stutters, “I don’t know how she got here, she, I don’t,” she breaks into sobs again, hiding in Ritz’s embrace.

Without her saying it, Ritz came to the horrifying realization. Not only was it an infected behind that door, it was Opal. He started to feel tears run down his face, but he ignored them for now, he needed to be strong for Orchid.

She yelps again when there’s another screech, combined with the sound of a mirror shattering.

“Is…?” He asks, his tone implying the rest of the question.

“Midori’s with her, they’re, they’re like,” she gasps out, interlocking her fingers to try to explain. “But she’s, but she’s already dead.”

Ritz pulls her even closer, trying not to imagine the scene beyond the door. While holding the door shut, the twins listened in, piecing together what was going on. Upon figuring out it was Orchid’s sister in the bathroom, Veneer started crying as well.

“What do we do?” Veneer asks, barely keeping his composure.

“We need to kill her,” Orchid answers.

They fell silent for a moment, all besides Opal’s noises. Ritz was thinking the same thing, but to hear it from Orchid made this all too real. He could barely process the last few minutes, instead focusing on his arms around her.

“I can’t,” Veneer sobs, “I can’t do it, I’m sorry, I can’t kill someone’s big sister.”

It was a given that Orchid wouldn’t be the one to kill her, and Veneer’s statement made Ritz want to burst into sobs. He was about to speak up, when Velvet talks instead.

“I’ll do it.”

The other three turn their heads to her, while she takes a deep breath. Orchid gives her a nod.

Velvet takes the gun out of her shorts, then disappears behind the door.

Ritz keeps holding Orchid, while Veneer joins them on the floor. He places a hand on her back, but she quickly takes him into the hug, squeezing both of them.

“Hey, you’re taking this really well,” Veneer comforts, pressing a kiss on her forehead. “I mean, she’s your sister, if anything like that happened to Velvet, I…”

At the mention of Velvet, a gunshot pierces the air. Orchid flinches, as if she was the one feeling it.

They could hear the bodies collapse.

//

As Velvet shut the door behind her, time froze.

The first thing she noticed was Opal’s missing right eye. The same eye as hers. That alone made Velvet want to throw up, not to mention their intertwined limbs, bloodstains on their clothes, infected and disfigured beyond help.

Velvet raises the gun, aiming at Opal’s forehead. This was her lover’s sister; she wanted to make it quick. Orchid had loved her so much, at least Velvet could do her a kindness and put her out of her misery.

She looked so much like Orchid. Their hair the same shade of purple, what little of Opal’s face she could see nearly identical to Orchid’s. Velvet couldn’t imagine being in either of their places, losing someone in that awful way. Someone that mattered so much to both sisters.

From the pictures Velvet had seen, Opal looked like a wonderful friend and sister. Maybe they could have been friends. They were the same age, after all, and they both loved the same girl. She hoped Opal would have approved of her.

Their eyes met, briefly. For a moment, they were the same.

Just two big sisters.

With a tear running down her cheek, Velvet pulls the trigger. Opal falls to the ground instantly, taking Midori’s body down with her. It gave Velvet an odd sense of comfort, knowing they would stay twisted together forever. At least in all this tragedy, they had each other. At least they weren’t alone.

Opal wasn’t alone, and neither was Velvet, she remembered. Without looking back, she leaves the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

“It’s done.”

Velvet sinks to her knees with a sigh, noticing the blood splattered on her clothes. She didn’t know how to feel, she had just killed someone, someone important to someone important to her.

Before she could process, Orchid leaves Veneer and Ritz’s arms, scrambling into Velvet’s instead. She buries her head into the crook of her neck, sobbing even harder now that she was holding Velvet.

“Thank you, I love you, thank you,” Orchid rambles in between gasps.

Velvet cradles her head, when she notices her shirt was ripped at the bottom. The missing fabric was wrapped around her upper arm, covering part of her tattoo. Blood was running down her arm from the wound, dripping to her fingertips.

“You’re bleeding!” Velvet exclaims, reaching out for the injury.

Before she could touch, Orchid flinches away with a gasp. She holds her hand over the fabric, putting pressure on the wound.

“I stabbed her, and she, she scratched me,” Orchid explains, still shaking. “It’s just a scratch, though, I’ll be okay.” She looks up at Velvet with a soft smile, then squeezes her in a tight hug. “Thank you, Velvet.”

“Oh, thank goodness,” Velvet sighs in relief, squeezing her in response.

She didn’t even want to think about Orchid getting hurt, much less infected, but luckily it had just been a scratch. Orchid’s explanation put her at ease, as they all started to calm down.

“We should go home,” Veneer suggests, his breath still shaky.

“Yeah, we need to get cleaned up,” Velvet agrees, helping Orchid to stand. Even when she could stand, Orchid still clung onto her, tighter than usual.

She never let go of Velvet, even for the entire walk home.

//

Her reflection stared back at her, as Velvet washed the blood off her face. She had changed into a red t-shirt and plaid pajama shorts, and taken her hair down to reset herself.

It was almost hard to look at her reflection. She had killed infected before, but it was different with Opal. It had been someone Orchid loved, but at least she had meant it in kindness. She hoped Opal wasn’t hurting anymore, wherever she was.

Velvet steps out of the bathroom, to find Orchid staring at her photo wall. She was standing oddly still; Velvet figured she was having similar thoughts about her sister.

“I can’t imagine what you’re feeling right now,” Velvet starts, putting her arm around her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. “But I’m here for you. If you want to talk, or just stay here, I’ll do whatever you need.”

Before she could react, Velvet was slammed against the photo wall, Orchid’s lips on hers. If this was what Orchid needed, Velvet was happy to oblige. She reciprocates the kiss, wrapping her arms around her waist as Orchid pushed her harder against the wall.

It reminded her of their first kiss, in a way. The surprise, the excitement in Orchid’s lips. Only this time was more intense, almost desperate. Orchid barely gave her a chance to breathe, when something was wrong. The kiss tasted… salty.

Velvet breaks the kiss and opens her eye, to see tears streaming down Orchid’s face. Orchid didn’t seem to notice, going in for another kiss, but Velvet stops her, holding her face in her hands.

“You’re crying,” Velvet tells her, brushing off her tears. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, uh, I don’t know,” Orchid answers, resting her hands on Velvet’s. “I love you.”

“I love you too. Hey,” she perks up, getting an idea, “Why don’t you borrow my nightgown? The red one. It’ll look great on you.”

Her idea worked, as Orchid smiles again, wiping away the last of her tears. She excitedly finds the nightgown, then skips into the bathroom to change.

While Orchid was changing, Velvet took her focus to the photo wall, noticing some of them had fallen down in the kiss. She takes a look at the ones on the floor: a photo of Orchid, that she had taken under the stars. A picture of Ritz and Orchid in matching suits, seemingly for a school dance. A recent photo of Velvet and Veneer, where she gave him bunny ears without him knowing.

And a photo of Opal and Midori, wrapped in each other’s arms in a tight hug. As soon as she saw it, Velvet’s breath quickened, the picture reminding her of how she had found them in the bathroom. Intertwined together, just like in the picture, and they were still like that, their blood spilling out on the tile floor-

Velvet takes a deep breath, putting the picture face down on the dresser. She shakes her head, as if she could shake out the memory.

Orchid then comes out of the bathroom, taking Velvet’s thoughts back to the present. She had to admit, her nightgown looked better on her lover. It was a bit big on Orchid, falling just below her knees. Still, she looked beautiful, with her hair down and the maroon nightgown hugging her features.

“Hey, Velvet.”

Orchid leans against the doorway with her left arm. She had cleaned off the blood, but the ripped fabric stayed wrapped around her upper arm, covering some of her tattooed orchids. It seemed like the injury wasn’t too serious, though, considering Orchid’s reassurance.

“You look so pretty!” Velvet exclaims, rushing towards her biggest fan. She picks her up by her waist, listening to her giggles as she spins her in the air. “Feeling better?”

Orchid pauses for a moment, as Velvet sets her down. She comes to an answer when Velvet takes her into a hug.

“Yeah. Let’s do something!” She says, with that urgency and enthusiasm Velvet loved so much.

“What should we do?”

“Whatever you want,” Orchid answers, squeezing her arms around her waist.

“Then I want to dance with you,” Velvet decides, letting go of the hug and taking her hand.

She leads her into the main room, where Veneer and Ritz were cuddling on their bed. Unfortunately for them, they were about to get interrupted.

“We’re dancing!” Velvet declares, while Orchid picks a song from the music player.

“Ugh, but I’m so comfortable,” Veneer whines.

“Too bad!” Velvet responds. “You losers can watch, we’re better dancers than you, anyways.”

Veneer accepts her compromise, moving to sit on the back of the couch. Ritz follows him, resting an arm around his shoulders.

“Found it! It’s the instrumental, too,” Orchid announces.

She presses play, and it was like she and Velvet were the only two people in the universe. The introduction fills the space around them, while Orchid sinks in her hip to the beat. With a smirk, she starts to sing, her voice amazing as ever.

“The demon queen of high school has decreed it
She says Monday, 8 a.m., I will be deleted
They’ll hunt me down in study hall
Stuff and mount me on the wall
30 hours to live, how shall I spend them?”

There was a spark in Orchid’s eyes, like nothing Velvet had ever seen. She loved it, watching her girlfriend get so excited to perform for her star.

“I don’t have to stay and die like cattle
I could change my name and ride up to Seattle
But I don’t own a motorbike
Wait. Here’s an option that I like
Spend these 30 hours gettin’”

As she sings, Orchid looks Velvet up and down, like she was memorizing every part of her. She takes her hands through her long green hair, down to her shoulders, then her waist. When Orchid belts the next line, Ritz covers Veneer’s eyes.

“I need it hard, I’m a dead girl walking
I’m in your yard, I’m a dead girl walking
Before they punch my clock
I’m snapping off your window lock
Got no time to knock, I’m a dead girl walking”

Something was different about Orchid, and Velvet couldn’t place it. She had heard her sing plenty of times, but never with this much intensity, this much devotion to Velvet. And Velvet couldn’t get enough of it, it made her feel like a star again, as she joins in the song.

“Orchid? What are you doing in my room?”

“Shh…” Orchid presses a finger to her lips, that glint in her eye meeting Velvet’s gaze. She then grabs Velvet’s hips, pulling her closer when she sings the next lines.

“Sorry, but I really had to wake you
See, I decided I must ride you ‘til I break you”

“Smoke break?” Ritz whispers to Veneer, noticing him getting increasingly uncomfortable.

“Yes please,” Veneer whispers back, then follows him outside the house.

Velvet and Orchid paid them no attention, only focused on each other. The singing and dancing came natural to Orchid, her hair flowing while Velvet’s nightgown shifted with her. She lost herself in the music, her voice reserved for Velvet.

“Tonight I’m yours, I’m your dead girl walking
Get on all fours, kiss this dead girl walking
Let’s go, you know the drill
I’m hot and pissed and on the pill
Bow down to the will of a dead girl walking!”

Velvet follows her request, taking a knee before Orchid. She looks up at her, her ‘dead girl walking,’ to see the loving smile covering Orchid’s face. She takes her hands to Velvet’s face, tilting her chin up as her voice became gentler.

“But you know, you know, you know
It’s ‘cause you’re beautiful
You say you’re numb inside
But I can’t agree”

Orchid raises Velvet to stand, their places changing so that she looked up at Velvet. Even through lyrics, Velvet loved how Orchid called her beautiful, giving her that familiar feeling of fame.

At the next line, Orchid gestures her arm outwards, in the direction of the store. Velvet wasn’t sure if it was intentional, but she didn’t care, she only wanted to hear her sing for her.

“So the world’s unfair
Keep it locked out there
In here it’s beautiful
Let’s make this beautiful!”

Orchid’s voice rises with the music, her riffs like second nature. She could have been a star, even surpassed Velvet in another life. They were content here, though, in the life they had made for themselves. Despite everything that had happened, even just today, Velvet didn’t want to be anywhere else.

“That works for me,” Velvet responds, following Orchid into the instrumental break.

She lets Orchid take the lead in their duet, spinning, pushing, pulling Velvet all around the room. Orchid’s hands barely left her, always finding their place somewhere on her lover. She sings the next chorus with so much intensity, so much urgency, like Velvet was her sole source of life.

“Yeah, full steam ahead, take this dead girl walking!
Let’s break the bed, rock this dead girl walking!
No sleep tonight for you
Better chug that mountain dew”

“Okay, okay,” Velvet accepts, matching Orchid’s enthusiasm.

“Get your ass in gear
Make this whole town disappear!”

“Okay, okay!” Velvet repeats, with even more excitement. She watches Orchid’s smile widen as she puts her hands on her, feeling every inch of the scarlet nightgown.

“Slap me, pull my hair
Touch me there, and there and there
And no more talking

Love this dead girl walking!”

Velvet takes the backing vocals, letting Orchid’s voice soar over hers. She follows her lead, dancing around the room once more. It was as intense as a last duet between lovers, and yet Velvet had the rest of her life to give Orchid everything she dreamed of.

At the final harmony, Orchid takes Velvet into a dip. They stare into each other’s eyes as the music fades, Velvet breathing heavily in Orchid’s arms. The shine in Orchid’s eyes had only gotten brighter, like the reflection of a star.

“I know the actual choreography,” Orchid whispers into her ear.

“I don’t,” Velvet whispers with a grin. “Wanna show me?”

She didn’t think Orchid was strong enough to pick her up, but she was quickly proven wrong. In a single sweep, Orchid lifts Velvet into an effortless bridal carry. Careful to avoid her injury, Velvet rests her arms around her, listening to Orchid’s breath speed up as she kissed her neck.

Velvet loved how Orchid loved, bordering on desperation with each kiss. It was like Velvet was her air, her water, her shelter, and Velvet only wanted more of that feeling.

It was then she noticed Orchid’s hands were freezing cold, but she didn’t care, because they were still so soft.

//

The day was still beautiful, not a cloud in the sky as Ritz passed his cigarette to Veneer. After the events of the store, the deep inhales and exhales were more calming than usual.

Ritz tried not to think of the bodies of his dead friends, though he was glad he hadn’t seen them. Seeing Orchid’s reaction was traumatic enough. At least she wasn’t badly injured, he was sure she was telling the truth about it not being serious. Orchid knew not to keep things from him.

“Ritz?”

“Yeah?” Ritz takes his gaze to Veneer, snapping out of his thoughts.

“Does Orchid seem… off? To you?” He takes a drag on the cigarette, a contemplative look in his eyes. “I mean, her sister died today. I’m glad she doesn’t seem upset anymore, but like, if something like that happened to my sister…”

Veneer shudders as he trails off, passing the cigarette back to Ritz. It was odd to see him like this, though Ritz knew how much he loved his twin. He realized he had never seen Veneer cry before today.

“Honestly? I think she’s relieved,” Ritz gives his opinion. “Ever since Opal got infected, we’ve pretty much just acted like she’s dead. Knowing she’s really dead now and at peace, it’s… nice.”

He spoke honestly, happy that Opal could be at rest. It was what she would’ve wanted, especially after hurting her sister.

Veneer nods slowly, understanding the situation. He sniffles, his eyes watering slightly.

“I guess that makes sense,” Veneer responds. “Do you think you could, um, tell me about them? Opal and Midori?”

“Yeah! Oh my god, Midori had the biggest crush on you,” Ritz laughs, remembering the height of Veneer’s fame. “We’d always fight about it, and she was salty since I was the only one who had a chance with you.”

Ritz gives him a nudge on the shoulder, lightening the mood. At Veneer’s encouragement, he tries to think of more stories.

“Oh! She and I came out around the same time. We switched clothes and pretended to be each other.”

“Did it work?”

“Not really, since she’s green and I’m purple,” Ritz shrugs. “But Opal humored us.”

“What was Opal like?”

“She was so sweet, like a less crazy Orchid.” Ritz didn’t think Orchid was completely insane, but she did have her moments. “She would always say Orchid was too obsessed, but I think she had a little crush on Velvet, too.”

“I guess it runs in the family,” Veneer laughs, the water in his eyes having disappeared. “You know, I’m happy they had each other. I couldn’t imagine going through all that alone.”

“Me too. If I ever got infected, I’d want to be with you,” Ritz confesses, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “And Orchid, I’d want her around, too.”

“Aw, that’s sweet. What about Velvet?”

“She’s the last person I’d want to be stuck with,” Ritz jokes, though it was partially true. Of course, he loved Velvet, just not to the extent of the others. He figured she felt the same way about him.

“You don’t mean that,” Veneer playfully rolls his eyes, twirling one of the blue sections of his hair.

“You’re right, I don’t. Mostly.”

Veneer scoffs, amused at Ritz’s pretend rivalry with Velvet. They stand in the quiet for a bit, taking in the beautiful day around them. Ritz had to admit, he was a little rattled by Opal and Midori, but he could handle it with his friends by his side. The people he could trust.

Eventually, Veneer takes a deep breath, then breaks the silence.

“So you think Orchid will be okay?”

“Definitely.”

//

“Velvet.”

“Again.”

“Velvet, I love you.”

“Again.”

“I love you. I love you.”

Her hands, her lips, her voice, they were all made for Velvet. With each I love you, Velvet only wanted more.

Orchid’s eyes were still so bright as she laid under Velvet, holding on like letting go would mean her death. Her hands were cold, yet that same soft Velvet knew too well. Her body shook with each kiss, with each change of Velvet’s hands on her, and yet she only urged her to keep going.

“I love, I love you,” Orchid gasps out, holding onto Velvet like she was her lifeboat. Her grip was stronger than usual, but Velvet welcomed it.

She brushes her lips against Orchid’s, enough for them to touch, but not enough to kiss. When Orchid tries to kiss her, Velvet backs away, instead wanting to make use of her voice.

“Say it again.”

“I love you, oh god, I love you-“

No. That wasn’t right. That wasn’t her name.

Before Orchid could get another sentence out, Velvet rolls off of her and stands up. In Velvet’s nightgown, Orchid looked so small, yet so gorgeous left on their bed. She wouldn’t be there for long.

“Up,” Velvet commands, with a motion of her hand.

Orchid stands up, finding her place across from Velvet. Her breath heaves as she looks up, her gaze filled with nothing but awe. Velvet brushes her thumb across her soft lips, then gives the next direction.

“On your knees.”

In an instant, Orchid drops to her knees. Velvet sits down on the edge of the bed, looking down to meet her eyes.

She takes a moment to caress Orchid’s face, tilting her head up. Her face was almost perfectly symmetrical, aside from the piercing on her right eyebrow. Her hair was down and messy, just long enough to brush against the lacy straps of her maroon nightgown. Her tattooed flowers were as gorgeous as her, though they were interrupted by the fabric tied around her scratch(?).

And she looked so good on her knees, for her star. Orchid’s eyes were so beautiful, so much that Velvet barely noticed her left eye twitching. She could have stared at her forever; each hitch of Orchid’s breath making Velvet feel like a goddess.

Right, she had to correct her mistake.

“Now, what’s my name?” Velvet asks, keeping her face rested in her hands.

“Velvet,” Orchid answers, touching her hands to Velvet’s legs. Her touch was so delicate, as if Velvet was something divine to be worshipped.

“That’s better,” Velvet replies, satisfied. “Do you want to kiss me?”

“Please,” Orchid breathes out, like that was all she ever wanted.

Still on her knees, Orchid rises just enough for her lips to meet Velvet’s. It was obsessive, it was desperate, and Velvet couldn’t get enough of it as she pulls Orchid into her arms.

From her position, Orchid could still make Velvet gasp, reaching her hands under her shirt. She doesn’t let Velvet breathe, only deepening the kiss as she scratches down her back.

Velvet wished she could give Orchid every star she made her see, along with every star in the night sky. She could give her one star, though—herself.

“I love you,” Velvet whispers into the kiss.

“I love you,” Orchid echoes.

The desperation in Orchid’s voice only made Velvet pull her closer, careful to avoid her injury. She was so close, yet so far away, down on her knees while Velvet sat comfortably on their bed. And still, Velvet could feel her touch, her lips where they belonged on hers.

The kiss soon became salty, but this time, neither acknowledged it. With Orchid’s red nightgown tangled in Velvet’s fingers, she couldn’t bring herself to break the best kiss she had ever been given.

But Orchid could. She backs away just enough to have a clear view of Velvet, then places a hand on her cheek, right under her scar.

“Please, Velvet, please, I need to see you,” Orchid begs, seeming not to notice the tears flowing from her eyes.

Velvet nods, then takes Orchid’s hand. She uses it to push her hair back, fully exposing her scar.

“You’re so beautiful,” was the last thing Orchid said before silencing herself with another kiss.

There was so much Velvet wanted to tell her lover, and she hoped she conveyed it through her hands on her. She couldn’t put into words how amazing her biggest fan made her feel. How after everything she had done, someone could love her this much.

The devotion was there, in Orchid’s soft hands, her lips, her arms around Velvet. She couldn’t let go if she tried, but neither ever wanted to let go. With Velvet as the star, and Orchid as her admirer, Velvet hoped this would never end.

//

Later that day, Ritz sat next to Orchid on the pull out bed, all of them finishing up their dinner. He was happy to see her smiling and laughing, after everything that happened just a few hours ago. She had certainly calmed down, and was back to the best friend he knew better than anyone.

“I’m done! We should get to bed now,” Velvet says eagerly, like she was planning something.

For a moment, Orchid had the faintest expression of sadness at her words. She quickly perks up, though, and takes her hand as they stand up. Ritz and Veneer join them, standing across the girls to say their goodnights.

Orchid hugs Veneer first.

//

Veneer had grown to care for Orchid, nearly as much as his own sister. They had a lot in common, and she had proved to be one of his best friends.

He could relate to her—them both being younger siblings. He was almost as horrified as she was when they found Opal, then when Velvet had to kill her. Veneer couldn’t imagine losing his own sibling, or anyone he cared about, so he hoped he could give Orchid the comfort she needed.

The hug was tighter than usual, but Veneer welcomed her embrace. He had noticed she was in Velvet’s red nightgown, the same nightgown his sister was wearing when Orchid first kissed her. It was soft, but not as soft as Orchid’s skin.

Even if she didn’t know it, she gave him comfort. Veneer loved to see someone love his sister like Orchid did. They were perfect for each other, although obsessed at times. During the apocalypse, though, he figured some obsession was perfectly normal. But he trusted that Orchid would never hurt his sister.

“Night, Orchid. I love you,” he whispers, then kisses the top of her head.

“Night, Veneer. I love you too,” she responds, with a kiss to his cheek. Her lips were cold.

After one last squeeze in the hug, she moves to Ritz.

//

Ritz holds his best friend tight in his arms, cradling her head into his shoulder. It was a long hug, but neither let go. The twins were busy with their own goodnights, anyways.

Her arms were his sanctuary. He could feel her heartbeat, though her hands were cold around him. She nuzzles her head into his shoulder, and he memorizes the feeling.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

He didn’t know why she was thanking him. Before he could ask, she continues.

“For everything,” she sniffles, hugging him even tighter.

“Hey, you okay?” He asks, gently rubbing her back. The velvet fabric was soft on his hands.

“Yeah,” she nods. “I’m just so lucky to have you. I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

They loved each other more than they could say. He had been with her through so much, each shared horror bringing them closer together. He couldn’t imagine not having her through all of it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he promises, with a pat on her back.

“Tomorrow. Yeah.”

She gives him one last squeeze in the hug, tighter than he thought was possible. It felt good, though, to feel in her embrace how much she loved him. It felt like home.

She gives him a kiss on both cheeks, then repeats. He does the same to her, trying to match her hold around him.

Orchid stays clinging on him, until Velvet taps her on the shoulder. She then quickly breaks the hug, taking Velvet’s hand.

“Come on, let’s go! I have a surprise for you,” Velvet says, practically dragging Orchid to their room.

Ritz was curious what the surprise was, but he figured he’d find out tomorrow. He stays in place a moment, waving his best friend goodnight.

As she enters her room, Orchid turns back to meet Ritz’s gaze, just for an instant.

She smiles.

//

“Come on!” Velvet urges, pulling Orchid through the doorway and shutting it behind them. She could barely contain her excitement; it was finally the perfect moment for her surprise.

First, Velvet lights a candle. The flame doused the room in a warm light, with a soft floral scent. Once the scene was set, she takes out a small black box from one of the drawers.

“Remember when I was in the jewelry section, and I wouldn’t show you what I picked out?” Velvet reminds her, hiding the box behind her back.

“I do,” Orchid nods, a look of curiosity in her unusually bright eyes.

“Good. ‘Cause I want to show you now.”

Their tragedy at the store wasn’t about to stop Velvet’s plan. She had been planning for a few days, and no matter what happened, she wanted to do it now. Putting Opal to rest had brought Velvet closer to her lover, and what she was about to do would certainly make Orchid feel better.

For the second time that day, Velvet takes a knee before Orchid.

She brings the box in front of her and opens it, showing her the ring she chose: a gold band, with two gems displayed in the center. They were green and violet, set close next to each other. Flower details decorated around the gemstones, shining in the candlelight.

Velvet looks up to meet Orchid’s gaze. She grins wide at her biggest fan, then asks the question.

“Orchid, will you marry me?”

Orchid lets out a gasp, covering her mouth with her hands. She was stunned, speechless. Velvet had expected that.

She hadn’t expected Orchid to burst into tears.

Still holding the box, Velvet quickly stands up, throwing her arms around Orchid. She didn’t know why she was crying, but she only wanted to hold her. Orchid’s body shuddered with sobs in her arms.

“Velvet, I’m in-, I’m, I’m in-“ Orchid gasps, but stops herself, putting her hand over her mouth. The tears wouldn’t stop, as she hid her head in Velvet’s shoulder.

“You’re what? What’s wrong?” Velvet asks, keeping her voice soft.

“I’m just so in love with you!”

As Orchid took a few deep breaths, Velvet realized they were happy tears! Her sobs turn into giggles, her laughs only getting louder while she hugs around Velvet’s waist.

“Yes, Velvet, yes, I want to marry you,” Orchid accepts, smiling bigger than Velvet had ever seen.

Velvet lets go of the hug, then takes Orchid’s left hand. She slides the ring onto her finger; it was a perfect fit. She then takes out her own ring from the same drawer, and puts it on herself.

As soon as they were matching, Velvet lifts her fiancée in the air, listening to her happy squeals as she spins her around. Once she puts her down, Orchid throws her arms back around her.

“I love you so much,” Velvet starts. “I’ve only known you a month, but it’s been the best month of my life. I never thought anything could be better than being famous, but like, you make me feel even better than all my fans combined.”

Orchid’s tears kept coming paired with laughs, barely taking her gaze from the rings on their fingers. She shakes her head, smiling with disbelief.

“I- this- you- it’s crazy! I mean, I first saw you on a screen, and now you’re asking me to marry you! I never thought I’d see you again, Velvet, but I’m so happy I could love you,” Orchid rambles, then kisses her on both cheeks. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you, Velvet!”

Velvet responds by kissing her lips, letting Orchid curve her body into her embrace. It was better than any fantasy. Orchid was going to be her wife!

“We’ll get married in the kitchen, tomorrow,” Velvet plans, then pecks her lips, “and Ritz can officiate,” another kiss, “and Veneer can walk me down the hallway,” another kiss, “and then I’ll be your wife!”

“You want to be my wife,” Orchid realizes aloud, looking at her ring again.

Even though they were happy tears, Velvet still kisses them away. She wanting nothing more than to be Orchid’s wife, and for Orchid to be hers. It felt so good to hold her biggest fan, now fiancée, soon to be wife in her arms.

“Velvet, you’re everything to me, I never want to leave you,” Orchid confesses, taking her hand and interlacing their ringed fingers.

“Good, ‘cause you never have to leave me!” Velvet reminds her, pressing another kiss on her cheek.

They were getting married! Velvet was engaged! She would go through everything, her rise and fall from fame, the outbreak, losing her eye, killing Opal, and even more a thousand times over just to have this moment with Orchid. She never knew a fan could be so precious, could make Velvet feel so amazing.

“Can we take a picture?” Orchid asks, eventually breaking the hug to reach for her camera.

Velvet nods, putting her arm around Orchid as they sit on the edge of the bed. Orchid holds the camera towards them, putting her free arm around Velvet and resting her head on her shoulder.

They both hold up a peace sign when the camera flashes.

It was so similar to their first picture together, and yet so, so different. They had been through so much, both alone and together, and had somehow managed to find each other after all of it. And now, with matching rings around their fingers, they were going to spend the rest of their lives together.

Looking at the picture, Velvet couldn’t fathom how beautiful her fiancée looked in her favorite red nightgown. She wanted the image permanently in her mind, but a photo would do.

“Let me take one of just you,” Velvet suggests, taking the camera from her. She tucks Orchid’s short violet hair behind her ear, then holds her camera in front of her.

Orchid poses with her hand over her heart, showing off her glistening wedding ring. She grins, her eyes bright with love captured in the flash of the camera.

Once it prints, Velvet kisses the picture, then kisses the real Orchid beside her. After the kiss, she lays both photos on the bedside table, where Orchid had laid her knife earlier.

“Okay, now let’s get to sleep so I can marry you tomorrow!” Velvet claps her hands, then stands up and blows out the candle.

It took a moment for her eye to adjust, but Velvet could soon see Orchid tucking herself into the covers. Velvet couldn’t have that—she makes her way to Orchid’s side of the bed and tucks her in herself, then kisses her forehead with a big smile.

Once Orchid was settled, Velvet crawls in beside her, then takes her into a tight hug in bed. Orchid’s breath was faster than usual, but Velvet assumed it was just excitement.

“You’re so pretty,” Velvet giggles, then kisses her future wife’s soft lips.

“You’re prettier,” Orchid argues, then returns to her place kissing her fiancée.

The kiss intensifies, until Velvet rolls onto Orchid, essentially recreating their second ever kiss on their bed. Just like usual, she feels Orchid’s hands run through her hair, and it felt so good she didn’t care that her hands were freezing.

Unlike their first kiss, though, Orchid was the one in the maroon nightgown. Its fabric stayed tangled in Velvet’s fingers as she rolls to her back, switching places with Orchid.

Orchid kisses her once. Then again, slightly changing the position of her hands. Then again, slightly changing the angle of her lips. Then again, and again, as if she was trying to find the perfect kiss to wish Velvet goodnight.

Velvet had a secret: every kiss was perfect.

The last was just a bit more perfect. Orchid holds Velvet’s face in her hands, just like Velvet did so often to her. When their lips meet, Orchid brushes her thumb along Velvet’s right cheek, under the scar she had grown to be comfortable with. The kiss lasted a long time, but all good things must come to an end.

Once Orchid was satisfied, she moves down, until her head rested in the curve of Velvet’s waist. She loved any cuddles Orchid gave her, but this time was oddly different; Orchid usually liked to be right next to her face while they slept.

“You’re so far away! Why don’t you come up here?” Velvet comments, cradling Orchid’s head next to her.

“I’m good here,” Orchid responds, then leans over and kisses Velvet’s right side, right above her waist. She then returns to her position at her side, laying an arm over her.

“Okay. Then you can wake me up with kisses in the morning,” Velvet whispers, resting a hand in Orchid’s hair. “Goodnight, Orchid. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you soon,” Orchid whispers back, concluding their engagement.

They stay cuddling together, in silence besides Orchid’s soft breaths. Her inhales and exhales were enough to put Velvet to sleep, getting her even closer to their wedding.

Right before she drifted off, though, Orchid breaks the silence.

“Hey, Velvet?”

“Yeah?”

Orchid lifts her hand up to look at her ring, then lays it back on Velvet. “You’ll always love me, right? No matter what?”

“What kind of question is that?” Velvet whisper-laughs, her smile present in her voice. “Of course I’ll always love you. I’ll love you ‘til the day I die, then even after that. I promise.”

“Thank you, Velvet.” Orchid hugs tighter around her waist, like she was seeking protection. “I’m so happy I can be yours. I love you so much, I’ll never stop loving you, really. No matter what, I’ll love you forever. You know that, right?”

Of course Velvet knew, but it was so nice to hear it from her now fiancée. And now that they were getting married, she could hear Orchid’s voice for the rest of her life.

“I know,” Velvet nods, gently rubbing Orchid’s back. “Can you say my name one more time?”

“Velvet.”

She knew she said one more time, but…

“Again.”

“I love you, Velvet.”

For once, Velvet was satisfied. With her fiancée clinging onto her, her brother and friend safe in the other room, she didn’t want anything more.

Finally drifting off to sleep, Velvet let the corners of her mouth turn up. She felt the safest she had ever been, her fingertips comforted by the softness of Orchid’s skin.

For a moment, Velvet wasn’t a star.

Just a girl in love.

.

Chapter Text

Velvet
Status: Negative.
Health: 92%
Stress: 2%
Age: 22

Veneer
Status: Negative.
Health: 96%
Stress: 4%
Age: 22

//

“A little bit of this, and a little bit of that…”

Velvet hums to herself behind the bar, mixing together each liquor bottle she could find. Her brother sat across the bar, serving as her taste tester. He had found all of her mixes were awful, but she was determined to get it right one of these times.

“There! Try this,” Velvet smiles, then passes the glass to Veneer.

He takes a sip. Instead of the disgusted face he had made after all the other drinks, he takes a thoughtful expression. Eventually, he gives her a satisfied nod.

“This one’s actually pretty good! You should try it,” Veneer offers, passing the glass back to her.

She finally had it! Velvet had to admit, she was surprised—she figured she was too drunk to come up with anything good. With the glass to her lips, she takes a sip, and…

Immediately spits it out.

“EW! That’s disgusting!” Velvet exclaims, sticking out her tongue to rid herself of the taste.

“HA! Gotcha!” Veneer bursts into laughs, pointing mockingly at his sister. “You totally fell for it!”

“You’re the worst!” Velvet crosses her arms, then dramatically huffs to her side. “Especially on my birthday.”

“It’s my birthday too,” he reminds her, taking a sip of a safe drink near him.

Velvet had expected to spend her 22nd birthday at some club in the city, surrounded by people and flashing lights. She certainly hadn’t expected to be spending it with one eye gone, in an abandoned hotel during the apocalypse.

She had, however, wanted to spend it with her brother. She still was, and that was enough for her.

For their special day, they had chosen matching robes, stolen from one of the many hotel rooms. They weren’t quite as nice as their custom robes from their famous days, but they could make it work.

“I don’t know about you, Vels,” Veneer leans over the bar, giving her a mischievous grin. “But I’m feeling twenty two.”

They were intoxicated enough to break into song, even if there was no audience to perform for. After all they had been through, they found they liked performing for each other just as much.

“Everything will be alright if,” Velvet sings in response, “you keep me next to you!”

She swings herself over the bar, meeting Veneer on his side. Taking his hands, she sways with him, harmonizing the rest of the chorus.

“You don’t know about me
But I’ll bet you want to
Everything will be alright if
We just keep dancing like we’re
Twenty two!”

As the song continues, Velvet skips down the hallway, taking her brother with her. Still holding hands, they dance around the hallways without a care in the world. Happy as could be, Velvet picks up the next verse.

“It seems like one of those nights
This place is too crowded
Too many cool kids”

“Who are Velvet and Veneer anyway? Ew,” Veneer adds in, and Velvet couldn’t help but giggle while she sang the next lines.

“It seems like one of those night
We ditch the whole scene
And end up dreaming
Instead of sleeping”

Eventually, Velvet finds a room they hadn’t trashed yet, and pulls Veneer through the door. She climbs onto the king sized bed and stands, then helps him get up to join her.

Velvet could feel the smile on her face as she jumps up and down, her hands still holding Veneer’s. He joins in the fun, singing and jumping on the bed with her like they were little kids.

“Yeah, we’re happy, free, confused, and lonely in the best way
It’s miserable and magical
Tonight’s the night that we forget about the heartbreaks
It’s time!”

They repeat the chorus, circling each other with laughs through the lyrics. Velvet couldn’t help it, it was partially the alcohol, but mostly the sight of her brother so happy to be with her.

Once the song was over, they didn’t break eye contact, still swaying together even without music. After a moment, Veneer takes his hands to her face, gently squeezing her cheeks.

“Velvet!” He says her name, tears welling up in his eyes. He was still smiling, the biggest smile Velvet could remember, and yet his watery eyes made the expression look painful.

“Ven! Why are you crying? What’s wrong?” She asks, placing her hands on his.

“Velvet! You’re you again!”

Velvet freezes, not caring that her mouth stayed agape. What did he mean? She had always been Velvet.

“You’re drunk,” she slurs. “I’ve always been me!”

“But you’re you! You’re my big sister! I love you!”

Before she could react, Veneer throws his arms around her, taking her into the biggest hug he could manage. A tear rolls down her cheek as she reciprocates the hug, realizing what he means.

She had always been Velvet, but she hadn’t been herself in years. Fame had transformed her, staying with her even after Veneer outed them as frauds. It had taken a global outbreak, losing her eye, and countless other horrors to finally get herself back. Velvet still didn’t know every part of who she was, but she could find out with him by her side. She hugs him even tighter when she realizes she never wants be anyone else ever again.

“I love you,” she echoes, tucking her head into his shoulder. “I love you. I love you so much.”

He kisses her forehead, and she wanted to burst into sobs and laugh and squeeze him and melt into his arms. She stays upright, though, holding her brother like she had so many times before.

“I love you, Vels,” he repeats. “I love you.”

//

After a bit of sappy drunk crying, the twins headed up to their main room—the luxury suite. The room was almost as big as their room from their famous days, with enough style to guarantee a five star rating. The bed was huge, like an ocean of blankets, and yet Velvet still managed to invade Veneer’s personal space every night. (He never minded.)

For now, they sat on the bed, still unmade. They had brought up more bottles, which was probably a bad idea, but it was their birthday. They could handle a little headache in the morning.

“What now?” Veneer asks, swishing around a glass of wine. He made sure Velvet knew it tasted much better than her mixes.

“Let’s play Confessions!” Velvet suggests, perking up.

Confessions was a game they had made up, or maybe found in a book, Veneer couldn’t remember. Basically, they would set a time, and spill their hearts out to each other until time was up. It was one of Veneer’s favorites, he liked seeing Velvet put down her walls for a bit.

“How long?” Veneer responds.

“Uhhh, I dunno, until we feel like it? You start.”

“Hmm. I was in love with Kid Ritz,” he offers.

“Oh please, everyone and their mom knows that,” she rolls her eye, moving her glass around for emphasis. To Veneer’s surprise, nothing spilled.

“He’s so fine,” Veneer sighs dreamily, remembering the crush he would never see again. “I know I got my license suspended, but I could take him for the ride of his life.”

“Ew! I did not need to know that!” Velvet shoves him on the arm with a scoff.

“I can’t help it! Anyways, your turn,” he lightly shoves her in return.

Velvet takes a long sip of her drink. She then moves closer to him, her lipstick stained lips in a grin.

“I love being the little spoon,” she confesses.

“I knew it!”

Ever since the outbreak, and especially after losing her eye, Velvet was clingier than ever. She didn’t need to tell him her love language was physical touch, he could tell just by the way she held him. Sure, she had always been a bit clingy, but now she couldn’t even sleep without cuddles.

Honestly, Veneer felt the same. Though he loved being held, he loved holding her just as much. She always looked so peaceful, comforted in his embrace. Until she started kicking him, but deep down he knew that was just another way of her showing affection.

“Especially when you put your arm around me, and I can hold your hand,” Velvet continues. “It’s my favorite.”

When they weren’t holding each other, Veneer was usually the little spoon. It made sense, he was the little brother, both age wise and physically. He loved being tucked in her arms; it was the safest he could feel.

Holding her, though, was just as comforting. It didn’t happen as often with her protective personality, but when he got the chance, he cherished every second of it.

“I like spooning you,” he responds honestly. “You’re very, uh, snuggleable? Is that a word?”

“I don’t think so. But thanks,” she pats his cheek, giving him a soft smile. “And it’s your turn.”

Veneer takes a sip from his glass, contemplating what to confess next. After a minute, he has his answer.

“I watch you sleep sometimes.”

At his confession, Velvet takes on a horrified expression.

“You’re weird!” She accuses, pointing at him.

“You just look so peaceful, and you always hold me so nice,” he explains, trying to defend himself. “I just like seeing you relaxed!”

“Still weird,” she rolls her eye.

Velvet takes a long pause, looking into his eyes. Her face had a hint of guilt, like she was hiding something.

“I like watching you sleep, too,” Velvet admits.

“You’re just as weird!” He shoots back, secretly happy that she did the same thing as him. He wondered what he looked like while he slept—was he calm and cuddly like her, or did he sleep like a dying Victorian child? Only Velvet knew.

“I guess I am,” she shrugs. “I really like holding you.”

“I like when you put your arm around my shoulder, or hold my hand,” he tells her. “It makes me feel safe.”

He had known her all his life, and she never stopped being his favorite person. Velvet didn’t know it, but she made everything better. Even when she was mean, she could fix it with a nice squeeze of his hand. Words couldn’t possibly come close to conveying Veneer’s love for his sister, but he could always try.

Velvet sniffles, when she reaches her free hand out to his. He takes it and holds it tight, no intention of letting it go.

“I want to make you feel safe,” she squeezes his hand. “I never want to hurt you again. Never ever.”

“You won’t,” he reassures, and means it. “I know you won’t. And I have another confession.”

“What is it?”

“When you lost your eye, you weren’t all the way unconscious.”

Velvet leans in with interest. It was a rough topic for both of them, but that was the whole point of the game. As much as he wanted to block it out, he still remembered the night vividly.

The blood across his sister’s face, the empty spot where her eye was supposed to be. Her screams, that he still heard in his nightmares. Her body limp in his arms, like a barely breathing corpse.

But sitting across from him, her hand in his, she was alive and well. They had made it. That was all that mattered.

“When I found you, I was so scared, I thought you were dead,” he explains, trying to keep his tears at bay. “But you, but you reached out for me. Like, you barely moved your arm, but I knew it was for me.”

“Oh, Ven…”

“I just held you and cried. You weren’t all the way awake, but I think you said my name. I was so scared, Velvet, I thought I lost you,” he couldn’t help it, tears were running down his face at this point.

He takes his hand back to wipe his tears, when she wraps her arms around him. She pulls him close, so close he could feel her heart, alive and beating. It was his favorite feeling.

“You won’t lose me,” she promises. “I’m not that easy to get rid of.”

He laughs softly, her embrace immediately calming him down. She was right, after almost losing her, he would never leave her side again. Not for anything.

“I thought of another one,” she says, patting his back before ending the hug. “I’m really scared to die.”

“I won’t let that happen,” he promises.

“No, I mean, like, when we’re old. It’s gonna happen someday, and… I’m really, really scared. What if I never see you again?”

What was he supposed to say to that? He was scared, too.

But honestly, he was more afraid of her dying first. Of course, if that happened, he would commit suicide without a second thought. Even so, he didn’t want to think about losing her. If they had to die, he wanted to go first. He wanted to die in her arms, not the other way around.

“I don’t think death is strong enough to separate us,” Veneer decides.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

She rests her hand on his knee, and takes another sip of wine.

He didn’t know if love transcended death. They would both find out eventually, and it was a terrifying thought. He wanted to hope, though, that they could be together even when their time was up.

“You’re my everything,” she slurs, then bursts into sobs.

In her outburst, Velvet manages to spill her drink all over herself, which only makes her cry harder. Veneer had barely set his drink down when Velvet throws herself into his arms, soaking his shoulder with her tears.

“Hey, you’re my everything, too! What’s wrong?” He asks, rubbing her back to try and calm her down.

“I don’t know, I’m fucking wasted,” she answers through shallow breaths.

“Watch out, you’re gonna develop dad’s drinking problem,” he responds, making her laugh in between sobs.

She smiles, her same beautiful smile even through tears. If Veneer could make her smile, he had everything he wanted.

“I know what’ll make you feel better,” Veneer entices. “Do you want your present?”

Velvet perks up at the mention of her present. Veneer brushes off the last of her tears, then walks over to a drawer.

He wished he could buy her all the presents she deserved, but he had still managed to find something with their limited selection. From the drawer, he takes out a champagne colored calf-length nightgown, with lace trim around the edges. Velvet stands up when he hands it to her, holding it up to herself.

“It’s clean, I promise,” he assures. “I found it in some suitcase, and it reminded me of you.”

“I love it! I’m gonna try it on right now,” she gives him a hug, then skips into the bathroom.

When she comes out, the nightgown fit her perfectly, like it was always supposed to be hers. It made her bright green hair pop, and complemented her simple yet elegant diamond earrings. She then takes her wine stained robe, and drapes it over herself.

“Now we match! How do I look?” She gives him a spin, then strikes a pose.

“Girl, you look stunning!” He compliments, then picks her up in another hug.

“Wait, we don’t match yet!”

Once he sets her down, she goes straight for Veneer’s drink. Before he could process what was happening, she tosses the wine onto him, staining his robe the same as hers.

“There! Now we really match,” she declares triumphantly, placing a hand on her hip.

“What the hell, Vels?!”

At her laughs, he forgives her. He still puts up an annoyed front, crossing his arms.

“Oh, relax! I have something for you, too,” she hints, making her way to her bedside cabinet.

Velvet takes out a pink perfume bottle, filled about halfway. Once she hands it to him, he notices a few little stars drawn around the label.

“Happy birthday! I found it in one of the rooms. Sorry it’s half used, but I thought you would still like it,” she explains.

He sprays it on himself, and is instantly transported to a utopia of strawberry and vanilla. Once he comes down from the initial high, he hugs his sister again to thank her.

“Velvet, you know me so well,” he says, giving her a big squeeze.

“Oh, that’s good,” she revels in the fruity yet sweet scent. “Gimme some!”

“Nope!” He taunts, hiding the perfume behind his back. “It’s my present!”

Velvet lets out a big sigh, then looks down at him with the most dramatic puppy dog eyes he had ever seen. He had already been joking, but that was enough to make him comply.

“I’m just kidding, here,” he says, then gives her a spritz on her neck.

“Aww, you’re the best!”

She takes him into her arms once again, squeezing him just as he had done to her. This time, she gives him a bunch of forehead kisses—his favorite—while shaking him side to side.

“Aw, my little baby, I love you sooo much,” she hums, ruffling his hair.

“I’m only two minutes younger!” He protests, but still loved being held in her arms.

“Shh, just let me have this,” she whispers. “My baby brother, my little, uhh… I dunno.”

“You’re drunk.”

“So are you,” she reminds him. “I guess you can’t be a baby if you’re drunk?”

“I guess not,” he agrees, still holding onto her. “But I still want you to be my big sister.”

“I’ll always be your sister!”

//

After a long and treacherous trek up the hotel stairs, the twins had finally made it to the roof of the hotel. While they could’ve just slept in their suite, for their birthday, they wanted to sleep under the stars.

They got their wish: there wasn’t a cloud in the dark sky, revealing the stars shining bright as ever. They provided enough light for the twins to find their way around the empty rooftop pool, cabanas, and hammocks all around the level.

Velvet eventually finds a hammock to her liking and lays down, staring up at the sky. Just as Veneer joins in her stargazing, she motions for him to come over.

“C’mere!” She urges, still matching him with her wine stained robe over her new nightgown.

“Why, so you can kick me all night?” He responds, already making his way to the hammock.

“Yes!” She confirms. “And I wanna hold you.”

He joins her in the hammock, while she tries to make room for him. He ends up laying on her side, his head rested on her shoulder. It was surprisingly comfortable, with one of her arms wrapped around him, the other holding his hand. He couldn’t see the stars as well, but there was only one star he really needed: the one holding him.

“I don’t feel like a 22 year old,” Velvet says, squeezing his hand tighter. “I still kinda feel like a kid.”

“Yeah, me too,” he agrees. “It’s scary, getting old.”

“Yeah.”

As much as he was scared to get older, he was glad to never go through his childhood again. There were some good times, but most of it was spent lonely and wanting more.

Now, he never felt lonely. He always had his sister, who he could talk to about anything and everything. She had gotten kinder to him after everything they had been through, but she was still the same sister he knew and loved. He didn’t need anyone other than her. He didn’t need fame, money, fans, or anything else.

Just Velvet.

Velvet snaps him back to reality when she runs her hand through his long hair. He didn’t even need to remind her it was his turn.

“I want a lullaby,” Velvet requests.

“But it’s my turn,” he responds. “I get the lullaby.”

“But it’s my birthday!”

“It’s mine too!”

“I’m older!”

“And I’m younger!”

“Fine! Let’s sing together,” she finally decides.

Content with the compromise, Veneer lets himself relax into her embrace. She still smelled like his perfume, her hand still twirling through his hair. One of her legs hung off the side of the hammock, gently rocking them side to side.

He didn’t know what he would do without her. She truly was his everything, through all the highs and lows.

“You’re the only friend I need,” Velvet starts.

“You’re the only friend I need,” Veneer echoes.

“Sharing beds like little kids”

“Sharing beds like little kids”

“Laughing ‘til our ribs get tough”

“Laughing ‘til our ribs get tough”

“But that will never be enough”

“But that will never be enough”

They lay in a content silence, not yet asleep, just comforted in each other’s presence. Veneer almost didn’t want to fall asleep, instead wanting Velvet to keep playing with his hair while she rocked their hammock.

“Night, Ven,” she whispers, squeezing his hand tight. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

He could feel her pulse through their fingers intertwined.

“I love you,” he repeats, just because.

.

Chapter Text

Velvet
Status: INFECTED: STAGE 0
Health: 16%
Stress: 90%

Veneer
Status: Negative.
Health: 92%
Stress: 11%

Ritz
Status: Negative.
Health: 89%
Stress: 8%

Orchid
Status: INFECTED: STAGE III
Health: 0%
Stress: 0%

//

Maybe I’ll kill her tomorrow.

I love you.

Maybe I’ll infect her, then we can lose our minds together.

I’m sorry.

Maybe I’ll hurt her so bad we both die, and I can see her again.

I love you.

I’m sorry.

I love you I’m sorry I love you I’m sorry I love you I love you I love you I love you

//

The thoughts raced through Orchid’s head, accompanied only by the piercing ringing in her ears.

She was dreaming, she quickly realizes as she looks up to find a mirror in front of her. She takes a minute to admire Velvet’s nightgown, her favorite nightgown, that she wouldn’t be getting back. It was too big on her, resting below her knees, but still showing off her shape.

Orchid barely ever wore anything so feminine, until Velvet. She never wore her hair down. Until Velvet.

And she had never looked better.

She smiles at herself, running her hands over the nightgown, where Velvet had laid her hands hours before. Her wedding ring glistened in the mirror.

Her smile drops when she remembers she wouldn’t be able to marry Velvet. Not only that, she had lied to her friends, her fiancée, just to have one last night in her arms.

It was worth it.

Orchid had lied about her blood type at the start of the outbreak, of course. Even now, she wasn’t sure why, it just seemed like the safe thing to do. If she had told people she was type AB, they might have killed her at any risk of infection, knowing she only had one day before she was gone.

Though she felt sick all day, Orchid truly believed she had made the best of her last hours with Velvet. She had her last dance, her last kiss, her last time falling asleep in her arms.

She never believed she would see her sister again, much less get infected by her in the store bathroom. As soon as Opal’s teeth had met her skin, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her last day alive.

Orchid takes her hand to the fabric tied around her arm. She unties it, revealing the bite mark in the middle of her tattoo. The ringing screams even louder.

After a while, a figure joins her in the mirror. Someone who looked just like her, missing the horrid disfigurations Orchid remembered from the store. She gasps when she sees her sister, standing right beside her.

“Opal…”

“I’m not Opal,” the girl interrupts. “But you’ll be seeing her soon.”

“Then who are you?” Orchid asks, not taking her gaze from the mirror.

“That’s not for you to know,” she responds.

They stand in silence. If it wasn’t her real sister, Orchid had no interest. She ignores her, instead looking down at her wedding ring.

Opal peeks over her shoulder, looking at the ring with her.

“Why did you do it?” Opal asks.

“Because I love her,” Orchid responds, gripping onto the nightgown.

“But you’re going to hurt her.”

Orchid looks up at the mirror, noticing her sister’s, or the figure who looked like her sister’s, eyes had gone completely violet.

She was going to hurt Velvet. Sure, she had slept next to her side instead of her face—she didn’t want to take her other eye. But she was still going to hurt her.

Did she want to hurt her? Was it the infection driving her crazy, or was it her own doing? She didn’t know. Did she want to hurt the star she admired, loved, worshipped so much?

…

…

No!

The tears were already in Orchid’s eyes when she realized she had made a terrible mistake. In her mad desire to die in her arms, she was going to kill the girl she loved.

“No, I don’t, I…” Orchid chokes out, finally turning away from the mirror to face her sister. “I don’t want to hurt her!”

“Are you sure?”

“No! Yes! Please, I can’t, I need to go back! You need to let me wake up! PLEASE!”

“You’ve already made your choice.”

“NO!” Orchid begs, taking Opal by the shoulders. “Please, just one minute, my knife is right there, I can slit my throat, it’ll be quick, please, please,” she sobs, willing to do whatever it took to save Velvet from herself.

“You should’ve done that when you had the chance,” Opal responds. “But you didn’t, you just had to be with her. You’re obsessed.”

Orchid only sobs harder at her words, each statement correct. She should’ve killed herself as soon as she knew she was infected. But she wanted to spend her last hours with Velvet. She was obsessed. So obsessed, she was going to kill the one person she loved more than anything.

Opal tilts Orchid’s head up, so that their purple eyes met. She asks a question that Orchid simply didn’t have an answer for.

“Who are you?”

No, she did have an answer. Velvet’s fan. Velvet’s admirer. Velvet’s defender. Velvet’s lover. Velvet’s fiancée. Velvet’s bride. Velvet’s wife.

“You’re so consumed by her, you don’t know,” Opal continues, as if she could read her mind. Orchid figured she probably could.

“I’m hers,” she answers. “That’s all I need to be.”

“You say you’re hers, and yet she’ll be dead soon all because of you. Look at you. You stole her nightgown. Her heart. Her life. For what?”

“Because I love her,” she repeats.

“Your love is violent. Can’t you see, it’s destroyed you both?”

Orchid clutches at her nightgown. Velvet’s nightgown.

“I just,” she gasps out, “I just wanted to love her. I just wanted to be with her, I…”

“You’re selfish,” Opal tells her what she already knew.

All she could do was cry. She couldn’t undo what she had done. She couldn’t save Velvet. She had let her love consume her, corrupt her, until there was nothing left looking into the mirror.

“Can I,” Orchid asks, barely a whisper, “Can I see her one more time?”

Opal nods, waving her hand to the mirror. The reflection shifts, until it shows Velvet and Orchid together in their bed.

Orchid’s body was already twitching in Velvet’s arms, her breaths shallow and uneven. The cloth around her arm had fallen off, revealing her bite wound reopened, blood dripping down her tattoo.

Through all of it, Velvet slept soundly, cradling Orchid’s head with her ringed hand. Even while asleep, she was the most beautiful girl Orchid had ever seen.

Her last words, Velvet’s name, lingered on her lips. It tasted like cherries.

“Are you ready?” Opal asks, bringing her back to the dream.

She would never be ready to leave Velvet.

But she had to go.

At least I made her happy. I got to love her. I’ll always love her.

I’ll always love you, Velvet.

For a short time, she had everything she ever wanted. That could be enough for her. It had to be.

“I’m ready,” Orchid finally responds.

She takes one last look in the mirror, which had shifted back to her reflection. Her eyes were completely purple now, just like Opal’s. Her wound bled the same maroon as her, no, Velvet’s nightgown.

Velvet would be with her soon, a month at most. She could apologize to her then, though she couldn’t imagine her love ever forgiving her. At least she got to love her. That was all she wanted.

Opal holds out her hand to Orchid.

With one last glance at her wedding ring, she takes it.

//

Ever since she was a little girl, it had been a secret dream of Velvet’s to get married. She had thought of her dress, the guests, her man of honor, her vows, even the catering.

Of course, during the apocalypse, most of those plans were now impossible. But she didn’t care—her bride made it perfect nonetheless.

Orchid’s head was still cradled in her arms, rested in the curve of her waist. She feels a kiss on her right side, just as she had requested last night.

Then another.

Then another.

“Morning, beautiful,” Velvet mumbles, running a hand through her hair.

Orchid doesn’t respond.

“You sleep okay?” Velvet asks, taking her hand to her back.

Her skin was cold. Again, she doesn’t respond. But the kisses don’t stop.

Her embrace, though tighter than usual, was so comforting. Like the rest of her, Orchid’s lips were so soft. And her teeth, her teeth were so sharp as they sunk into Velvet’s skin.

“Orchid, what are you-“ Velvet interrupts herself with a gasp when her lover’s teeth break her skin, as if it was glass. “Orchid! You’re hurting me!”

Filled with confusion, concern, and most of all fear, Velvet tries to push her off. Her grip was tight, but Velvet eventually catches a glimpse at her face.

It clicks in an instant.

The fabric around Orchid’s arm. The hysterics after they found Opal. That last dance. All those desperate and urgent kisses. The tears when Velvet proposed.

It all made sense. It could only mean one thing:

She’s infected!

Velvet shrieks, and shrieks again, but not nearly as loud as the ringing piercing her ears. Tears were streaming down her left cheek from the pain, or maybe from the sight of Orchid’s eyes.

Those eyes that gazed at her with so much awe were now completely violet. They showed no fear, no love, no emotion, nothing.

Those lips Velvet used to stain red were now stained with her blood. Orchid clearly wanted more, as Velvet had to fight off the sharp teeth that used to smile so brightly.

Those soft hands that used to caress her now clawed at her—they wouldn’t be satisfied until she was ripped to pieces. Their nails scratch down her back, and Velvet thought she saw stars-

//

The first thing she sees is…

Nothing.

Then a little less nothing. A figure, maybe?

The first thing she hears is her name. She would’ve known that voice anywhere. But where was she?

The first thing she feels is something dripping down the right side of her face. She thought it was tears, but when it reaches her lips, all she could taste was blood.

The next thing she feels is the hard floor underneath her, and the inability to move. She had a feeling the mangled body of whatever lied next to her wouldn’t be moving at all, ever.

A twitch of her pinky was all she could manage. Then her index, then her wrist. Then her forearm.

At her last twitch, she finds herself brought into the arms of the figure. They were soft, comforting, and all too familiar. Her head lolls into his shoulder, when she hears a voice.

To her surprise, it was her own voice. Barely a whisper, she mumbles the only name she knew.

“…Ven…Veneer…”

//

“VENEER! VENEER! VEN-“

Velvet interrupts herself with another scream, when Orchid claws down her shoulders. Orchid’s screeches overpowered her own; Velvet never imagined such horrific sounds could come from a voice so sweet.

Amidst all the noise, Velvet almost didn’t hear the door barge open. Veneer and Ritz gasp and freeze in unison as soon as they saw the scene before them.

Veneer’s freeze only lasted a millisecond.

“Ritz, help her,” were the only words that left him as he ran out of the bedroom.

Like a soldier following orders, Ritz rushes to his best friend, trying with all his strength to pull her off Velvet. His horror was present in every single movement, even as he finally pulls her off the bed.

Through her tears, Velvet could see Ritz brace for Orchid to attack him. But she doesn’t attack at all—she only tries to escape his arms, lunging towards Velvet.

Velvet backs up against the edge of their bed, the bed she had been held in for so long. Now the sheets were covered in blood, the blankets ripped in shreds by the hands of her lover.

Those few seconds waiting for Veneer felt like eternity, but he eventually runs back in with an urgency reserved only for his twin. As soon Velvet saw the gun in his hand, she knew exactly what he was going to do.

“Ritz, move!” Veneer directs, raising the gun to Orchid.

Ritz releases Orchid from his grasp and backs up until he stood behind Veneer. With his staggered movements and terror-filled expression, Velvet wasn’t sure if he was breathing.

Veneer takes a step towards Orchid, who could barely stand on her own. She takes a single step towards him, and it was over in an instant.

“NO!” Velvet screams, scrambling across the bed towards her fiancée. No! NO! They were supposed to be together forever!

“Velvet, she’s already GONE!” Veneer yells back, his last word muffled by the gunshot.

Velvet could feel her own heart break as the bullet pierced straight through Orchid’s.

Orchid takes a shaking hand to her heart, but only for a second. The fall onto her knees was the most graceful Velvet had ever seen her, watching in horror as she collapsed onto the floor. The blood pooling around her was indistinguishable from the maroon of her nightgown.

Without anything to stop her, Velvet rushes to her lover’s side. She brings her into her arms, the sobs overtaking her as she watches Orchid struggle to breathe, move, attack, anything.

A second body hits the floor. Both twins gasp in shock when Ritz collapses without a word. Veneer rushes to his side and touches his neck, then lets out a sob of relief.

“He’s just passed out,” he confirms. He reaches out for his sister. “Vels, I-“

“Don’t touch me! Just GET OUT!” Velvet shrieks at him, pulling Orchid to her chest.

Veneer didn’t know what to do, so he does what she says. He takes Ritz into his arms and carries him out of the room, not taking his eyes off Velvet until he was past the door. The gun stayed on the floor.

“Orchid, Orchid please, please, we have to get married, right? You said yes, remember? You said yes,” Velvet begs, a desperate cry to no one.

The body in her arms responds with a weak whimper. She raises a bloody hand, but it only falls on Velvet’s shoulder.

“It’s okay, hold onto me, just hold on, hold on to me,” Velvet says softly, knowing Orchid couldn’t hear her.

Orchid holds on anyways, her hands growing cold the longer they grazed Velvet’s arms. Velvet hugs her tight—it was all she could do.

“It’s gonna be okay, we still have to get married, okay? You’re gonna be okay, I love you, I love you, it’s okay, you’re okay,” she rambles to the twitching body in her embrace.

Orchid answers only with the blood soaking her already scarlet nightgown. She takes her shaking ringed hand to Velvet’s cheek, right under her scar.

They weren’t the eyes of her lover, but Velvet couldn’t take her gaze from them as Orchid caresses her face for the last time. Velvet lays her hand over Orchid’s—it was still just as soft.

“I’m right here, okay? I’m right here, I’m here, I’m right here,” Velvet comforts, her voice breaking the longer she tried to get through, but no amount of screams were loud enough to reach Orchid.

The hand under Velvet’s finally slips out. It falls to the floor, staining the ring in red. It didn’t move, not even a twitch, not even the tiniest reach.

Orchid lets out the tiniest whine. It would’ve been unintelligible to anyone else, but Velvet swore she could hear her name, one last time, hidden in her infected groans.

Her gaze widens towards her star, her lover’s light reflected in her emotionless eyes.

A shaky inhale.

A smooth exhale.

//

Velvet had seen death plenty of times.

Caused it.

Nearly experienced it.

Just yesterday, she had taken the life of Orchid’s sister.

She could still see the violet eyes that stared into her right as she pulled the trigger.

She could still hear the instant collapse of the tangled bodies hitting the tile floor.

And the quiet after.

The quiet.

The silence of someone gone from this world, never able to make another sound.

Never able to say another name.

//

“Orchid, please, what’s my name? You know this, please, please just answer me. Come on, wake up, what’s my name? You need to wake up, please, please just wake up,” Velvet pleads, her voice barely coherent through the sobs shaking her.

There was no answer from the limp body laid in Velvet’s arms. No words from the red stained lips. Not even a blink from the glazed over violet eyes.

The only words Velvet could manage weren’t words at all. The cries, the sobs, the screams of a star who had lost her shine.

The body wasn’t Orchid’s anymore, and yet Velvet couldn’t let it go. The soft touch that had become Velvet’s home didn’t hold her back.

Her sobs only grew stronger as she lays beside Orchid, soaked in the mix of their blood underneath them. The burning of her wounds was nothing compared to her heart shattered into pieces, her soul shredded as much as her body.

As she held Orchid’s head to her chest, there were no breaths, no kisses, no quiet ‘I love you’s.

Just silence.

//

“Don’t touch me! Just GET OUT!”

Velvet was safe.

That’s all that mattered.

I killed her I killed her I killed her I-

Velvet’s safe!

He had hit Orchid in the heart; she would be gone in minutes. She certainly didn’t have the strength to attack, so Veneer does exactly what she says, like he had done all his life. He carries Ritz out of the room, not taking his eyes off his sister until he was through the door.

He lays his unconscious lover on their bed, then sits beside him, and then it hits him.

Orchid was infected. She had been since the store.

And now she was dead.

Dead. Deceased. Lifeless. All because of him.

But she was hurting Velvet, and now Velvet was safe, and that was all that mattered.

But Velvet’s lover was dead, Ritz’s best friend was dead, Veneer’s friend was dead, but she was hurting Velvet, but Veneer killed her, but she was hurting Velvet, but now she was dead, but she was hurting Velvet!

The breath caught in his throat, his vision blurred, and all he could hear were the screams of his sister from the other room.

Without thinking, he takes the unconscious Ritz into his arms, anything to feel him alive, breathing, his heart still beating.

Then the sobs start, or maybe they had already been there, Veneer couldn’t tell as he felt the hot tears run down his face. It was unfair, so unfair—he was right here holding his lover, while Velvet could never hold hers again.

//

It seemed like days before Ritz’s violet eyes started to flutter open. As soon as he woke, he throws his arms around Veneer, squeezing him the tightest he ever had.

“Oh, Veneer, thank god, I just had this awful nightmare,” he rambles in a panic. “Orchid was infected, and she was attacking Velvet, and then you shot her, and then I don’t remember but it was-“

A wail from Velvet’s room interrupts him.

What was Veneer supposed to say? He could barely breathe at all, how was he supposed to tell Ritz that his best friend really was infected?

“Veneer? What happened?”

“I…”

Another sob from Velvet’s room.

“It wasn’t a dream,” Veneer finally chokes out.

For a second, there was silence. In that silence, Veneer watched as Ritz’s face contorted through every emotion, until he landed on a single one: rage.

“So she… lied.”

“I’m so sorry-“

“She LIED! About Opal, the scratch, that she’d see me tomorrow! About her BLOOD TYPE!”

He was in tears just as much as Veneer was, only his were from a place of broken trust. Veneer knew how much he hated lies, and here they all were, each one from his dead best friend.

“I TRUSTED her! I trusted her with my life, Veneer, and she lied about EVERYTHING!” He stands up, practically storming to the hallway, but Veneer grabs his arm before he could move any further.

“You can’t go in there!” Veneer pleads. “Velvet’s still in there, she-“

“I don’t care!”

Ritz tries to snatch his arm back, but Veneer doesn’t let go. He knew he had the strength advantage, and his sister needed to be alone with Orchid.

“You can’t!” Veneer repeats with even more urgency. “Velvet’s in there!”

“I need to see Orchid!”

“You CAN’T!”

Ritz manages to pull his arm from Veneer’s grasp, and rushes down the hallway.

No, he couldn’t let him see Orchid, not like this, not while she was still with Velvet. He had to protect her, from what, he didn’t know; all he knew was he couldn’t let Ritz in that room.

Without another word, he grabs Ritz’s shoulder, pulling him back to face him. He didn’t even notice his other hand was raised.

“I need to see her-“

Veneer hadn’t realized what he had done until he felt the sting of his palm, and saw the handprint on Ritz’s cheek.

It worked; Ritz was finally still.

He was still, all because Veneer had hit the person he was supposed to hold.

But Velvet’s safe.

Orchid was dead, Velvet was bleeding, and now Ritz was hurt, all because of him. What kind of a friend, brother, lover, was he?

“I’m, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to,” he apologizes, as Ritz takes his hand to his reddened cheek.

Ritz responds only with a burst into sobs. To Veneer’s surprise, he throws himself into his arms, the arms responsible for that mark.

“She can’t be gone,” Ritz cries into his shoulder. “She can’t be, I love her, I need her, she’s my, she’s my best friend, she can’t be dead, she just can’t,” his voice quiets, until it was nothing but a desperate whisper.

Veneer didn’t know what to say, so he says nothing. The girl that had sung and danced and smiled all day yesterday would never sing or dance or smile again. It happened all too fast.

The sobs from Ritz weren’t nearly as loud as Velvet’s, but they were still just as heartbreaking. Whatever happened next, Veneer had to protect them both.

He didn’t know what else to do.

//

It had been two minutes, maybe three. Or maybe an hour, or two, or six. Whatever amount of time, Velvet didn’t care, was spent holding the body of her lover.

She couldn’t scream anymore if she tried. Her movements had become robotic: her hand through Orchid’s hair, up and down her back, the occasional kiss to her forehead.

It was during another forehead kiss when Velvet feels a hand to her back. She didn’t need to look up to know it was her brother.

“Velvet, it’s just me,” Veneer whispers, kneeling beside her.

“We were gonna get married,” Velvet mumbles. She lifts up Orchid’s hand, and shows him the ring. “I proposed last night.”

Veneer doesn’t respond. Velvet expected that; how could he?

“She said yes. Ritz was gonna officiate. You were gonna be my best man and walk me down the aisle.”

“I would’ve liked that.”

The three stay in silence, for a little while. Only Orchid’s silence was permanent.

She knew. Orchid knew, and she didn’t tell anyone, she just fell asleep beside Velvet as usual.

Wait! Orchid had laid beside her waist, not her face, deliberately avoiding her remaining eye. Could she have been protecting her?

Velvet pulls her body even closer when she realizes Orchid had done one little thing to protect her, even though she knew she’d wake up infected.

She would’ve made the perfect bride.

“I think we should bury her,” Veneer finally breaks the silence. “She can be under the stars.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m gonna start digging before it gets dark. Come out when you’re ready, okay?”

“Okay.”

As she hears Veneer leave the room, it dawns on her: bury. Digging. Grave.

She would be under the stars, but Velvet would never see her again. She would never see Orchid again, not her smile, not her face, not her hands.

She grabs Orchid’s hand and interlaces their fingers, painfully aware that she couldn’t feel a pulse.

//

Just like yesterday, it was a beautiful day. It mocked Velvet as she stepped outside, and her heart broke again when she saw the shovel in Veneer’s hands.

“Where’s Orchid?” Veneer asks, his voice cracking at her name.

“I put her on the bed. I, um, I had an idea,” she struggles out.

“What is it?” Ritz asks, sitting beside Veneer. He looked exhausted.

“Her photo wall, I, I think we should…” She trails off when she starts to sniffle.

The others seemed to understand. Veneer sets down his shovel, and joins her with Ritz by his side.

“Not all of them, just the ones she really likes,” Velvet attempts to continue.

“I had the same thought,” Ritz agrees, his voice quiet. “I think she’d want to have some. I… I want her to have some.”

Velvet nods, laying a hand on his shoulder. If she stared into his violet eyes long enough, she could see Orchid’s. She never wanted to look away.

Just then, he wraps his arms around her in a tight hug. She hadn’t had as many hugs with Ritz, but his embrace was warm; just what she needed. Velvet could tell he needed it, too, as she lets his head rest in her hand.

Part of Velvet still thought this was a dream. Any minute now, she’d wake up next to Orchid, and they’d get married like they promised. Velvet would be dressed in all white, and she’d let her brother walk her through the hallway to the love of her life.

She realized it wasn’t a dream when Ritz squeezes her tight, and she doesn’t wake up. Instead, she flinches when his hand grazes her waist, right against her bite wound.

She didn’t have the time to think about the ringing in her ears.

“She,” Ritz starts, holding onto her like she was his salvation. “She was… I don’t… I…”

//

Ritz had always known what to say. He could always fill an awkward silence during interviews. He could report on every part of an event, even those little details that others overlooked. He always had a new question, always a new story to find.

But he couldn’t interview a dead girl. There was nothing to say. He couldn’t ask her why she did it, why she lied, why, why did she lie?

Why did she lie?

Where was she now?

When did she decide staying with Velvet was more important than telling the truth?

What did she really want?

Who was she?

All the answers would be in the ground soon. Ritz tucks his head into Velvet’s shoulder, trying everything to block out the sight of the half-dug grave behind him.

All he could remember was a bang. The next thing he knew, he was being slapped across the face by his favorite hand to hold. And now he was in the arms of Veneer’s sister, Orchid’s lover.

Her embrace felt like Veneer’s. But her hands felt like Orchid’s—so soft, everything she loved held in her fingertips. She squeezed so hard it almost hurt.

//

Orchid’s gorgeous smile greeted Velvet from countless photos on the wall. Was Orchid smiling at her now?

The answer was obviously no—the real Orchid was laid out on their bed, her body covered by one of their blankets. Velvet tried not to break down every time she glanced at the outline in the covers.

“I want to keep this one, if that’s okay,” Veneer says quietly.

He was looking down at a photo, and as Velvet and Ritz join him, the silence was so loud.

One of their first nights together, their party, that Velvet barely remembered because she was so drunk. But she at least remembered the nightgown Veneer wore in the photo, a cute baby blue. Her nightgown.

Him and Orchid were both smiling ear to ear, wrapped in each other in a tight hug. Veneer’s head rested on top of hers, both rosy cheeked and happy as could be. Orchid had borrowed Veneer’s glamorous indigo robe, and though it was too big on her, she looked like a classic Mount Rageous diva.

Velvet knew she had taken the picture, but she couldn’t remember taking it. It was like Orchid died again—Velvet had already lost another moment with her. It made her want to scream, but her throat was so tired she wasn’t sure if she could.

“You should keep it,” Ritz assures. “She’d want you to have it.”

Velvet’s eye lands on another photo from that same night, one she knew Orchid had to have. She carefully pulls it off the wall.

It was as blurry as her memory of that night, but somehow, she remembered that picture clearer than the others. When she had surprised Orchid with a kiss at the same time as the flash, capturing all of Orchid’s love and awe and amazement. Velvet was wrapped in nothing but bedsheets, with Orchid’s free hand in a chaotic attempt to keep her covered for the picture. She could almost hear their laughs through the photo.

But there weren’t any laughs from the bed where they had taken that photo—only the silence of the body that laid there.

“This one,” Velvet tries to say, but it comes out a whisper.

“Yeah,” Veneer agrees. He points at another photo, turning to Ritz. “What’s this one?”

As Velvet looked closer, she could make out a photo of Ritz and Orchid in a fancy looking bathroom. It was a mirror selfie, with Orchid holding up her phone for them both to strike a pose. Only, Orchid was in a navy blue gown, her natural hair covered by a long wig in the same color. Ritz wore his hair in soft curls, in a tuxedo with the bow tie in his signature pattern.

“Some Rage Dome event, it was after you guys, so I don’t really remember what it was for,” Ritz explains. “But Orchid wanted to go, so I snuck her in. She’s banned there, but I think her disguise did the trick.”

Velvet didn’t need to ask why Orchid was banned from the Rage Dome—she knew it must have somehow been because of her.

“You two look so cute,” Veneer comments with a sad smile.

“We did,” Ritz agrees.

While the others picked out more photos, Velvet wanders to the dresser. There was a photo face down, and as soon as she flips it over, she remembers why she had left it that way.

Opal and Midori, wrapped as tightly in each other’s arms as they had been in the store. With the flip of the photo, Velvet could almost hear the gunshot that had taken Opal’s life for good.

“Velvet? What’s wrong?”

Velvet almost jumps, but quickly calms when she feels her brother’s hand on her back. He leans over her shoulder, and looks at the photo in her hands.

“That’s a good one,” he nods. “They should be with her.”

Right, both sisters were infected and dead now, killed by the twins. Velvet tried not to think about how she would be joining them soon.

“When was this?” Ritz asks, pointing at two photos side by side.

In both photos, Velvet and Orchid were in the same pose: sitting on the counter with their legs crossed. Only, in Orchid’s, she was holding the picture of Velvet to her lips.

“That was when you guys went camping,” Velvet recalls.

She remembered that night well: they had the house to themselves, free to sing and dance around the kitchen. Velvet had killed her in a pillow scuffle, then effortlessly resurrected her with a kiss.

Velvet takes the photo of herself down, and adds it to the collection. On second thought, she takes Orchid’s picture down as well. She didn’t want to separate them further.

After picking out some other photos—shots of Velvet and Veneer in their famous days, Opal and Orchid smiling side by side—Velvet notices Veneer at the bedside table.

“What are these?” He asks, holding up the two photos from last night. From the proposal.

“That was when, yesterday when I, um, when I-“ she tries to explain, but the words catch in her throat.

Just yesterday, Velvet had made Orchid the happiest girl in the world. Now, she could never feel that happiness again. But even while infected, in her last hours, Orchid had looked so beautiful, her smile as radiant as her.

Veneer takes a closer look at the picture, and notices the ring on Orchid’s finger. After that, he could put it together. He takes her into a hug, and he was almost as soft as Orchid.

“She was gonna be your sister,” Velvet sobs out.

“I love you so much,” Veneer responds, which only makes her cry harder. As he held her, she could feel his hands shaking. But she didn’t care, all she wanted was his warmth, his hand cradling her head with the softness only meant for his sister.

//

There was one more photo Orchid needed. At least… at least she had plenty of copies of it.

Velvet takes a copy off the wall. She glances at herself first: her extravagant hair, her red lipstick, the cutout of her dress. Right before her fall from fame—little did she know she just met her biggest fan.

Orchid didn’t have her piercing yet, and Velvet couldn’t tell if she had her tattoo at that point. But she had the same smile Velvet had grown to adore, those vibrant purple eyes filled with life. She kept the shirt she was wearing that night. Velvet would know, since she stole it just the other day.

They were almost close enough to touch as they held up their hands, both in peace signs. Nearly identical to their photo from last night, that Velvet couldn’t believe she had to let go of. But Orchid should have it. She had to have it.

“That was the best night of her life,” Ritz comments, looking over her shoulder at the photo.

Right, he was there too, watching Velvet’s last few hours of fame live. He probably saw Orchid ask her for the picture.

Her hands were shaking as she held it. When a teardrop falls and blurs Orchid’s face, Velvet lets out a sigh. Not taking her gaze from the photo, she knew it was time.

“I’m gonna get cleaned up, and, and get her ready,” she tells the others. “You guys can go outside.”

Veneer pats her back softly, then leaves the room, holding the photos they had all picked out. Ritz follows him with his head down, then shuts the door behind him.

Velvet turns back to Orchid, and covers her mouth to muffle the sob.

Her body was on autopilot as she takes a washcloth from the bathroom, then soaks it in the sink. She came back to reality upon seeing the mirror—her clothes were still stained with blood. Whether it was hers or Orchid’s, she couldn’t decide which was worse.

She takes the washcloth back to the bed, and sits beside Orchid. She still looked the same when Velvet takes off the covers, her eyes still closed, her lips still red.

The blood came off effortlessly. As gently as she could, Velvet brushes the washcloth along her face, down to her chest and arms, until the only maroon that remained was that of her nightgown.

Once Velvet was done, she presses a kiss to Orchid’s forehead. She could feel the cold against her lips.

“There you go,” she hums, tracing a hand over her soft skin.

She looks around, not knowing what for, then wraps her arms around Orchid’s shoulders. Her sobs came out as weak sighs, barely able to muster any more sound.

“Please, Orchid, please wake up,” she begs, to no response.

The only answer was silence.

“I guess I should get changed, shouldn’t I?” Velvet asks, remembering she hadn’t changed since last night.

Again, no answer.

//

Veneer’s arms were incredibly tired. It was hard to dig a grave with shaky hands.

“The sunset’s pretty,” Ritz mumbles beside him.

He was surprised Ritz had seen the sunset—Veneer couldn’t remember seeing his head up since they picked out photos.

The two sat on the grass, the stack of pictures in between them.

Veneer had once heard that when an artist dies, they get to paint the sunset that night. Orchid’s love was nothing short of art, so was she up there in the clouds now? The violet streaks across the sky, were those her, too? The golden light that shone down on Ritz, was that his best friend, trying to reach him one last time?

The real Orchid came through the door soon enough, wrapped in a blanket, carried like a bride in the arms of her fiancée. Velvet was dressed in all white, her hair pushed back, leaving her scar out in the open.

She still looked beautiful as ever.

//

Veneer and Ritz were already sitting beside the grave when Velvet stepped out of the house, holding her fiancée in a bridal carry. She brings her closer, being extra careful with her as she sits down beside them.

They stay in silence for a while, all five of their eyes glued onto Orchid.

Today was supposed to be their wedding, but instead, Velvet sat before the grave of her lover, her body in her arms. Her white t-shirt and sweatpants weren’t nearly formal enough, but they were the only white she had, and she knew Orchid wouldn’t care what she wore. She had only ever wanted Velvet, just the way she was.

Ritz finally breaks the silence.

“You were my…” he starts, struggling to find his words. “I loved seeing you happy. She wasn’t always so happy, you know,” he reveals to the twins.

Velvet couldn’t imagine Orchid as anything but the happiest girl in the world.

“She never thought she’d find real love,” he continues. “Especially after you, she told me… she didn’t think she could love anyone again. But she didn’t have to, ‘cause she found you, Velvet, and you loved her, you loved her so much. So… thank you. Thank you for making her happy,” he trails off, his voice just a whisper at the end.

Velvet didn’t know what to say. Ritz didn’t know what else to say either—Velvet figured whatever was going on in his mind couldn’t be put into words.

“I’ve never had a friend like her,” Veneer adds. “Orchid, you’re one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met, and…”

He moves closer to his sister, and lays a hand over Orchid’s heart.

“I’m so sorry.”

At his own apology, Veneer bursts into the most hysterical sobs Velvet had ever seen. He only repeated those words—I’m sorry—through hyperventilating breaths.

Before he could hug Orchid, Ritz pulls him away from her body, taking him into his arms. He rubs his back as Veneer collapses onto him, his entire body shaking.

“I gotcha,” Ritz whispers, laying his head on Veneer’s. His eyes looked nearly as dead as Orchid’s.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he chokes out, practically hiding in his embrace. “I love you, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…”

Ritz doesn’t respond, but he takes his gaze to Velvet as Veneer’s sobs persisted.

What was she supposed to say? She had prepared for Orchid’s wedding, not her funeral.

She takes a moment to look at the sky. Orchid would have loved the sunset.

Veneer’s sobs turn to hiccups, and eventually quiet.

Velvet takes Orchid’s hand in hers, looking down at her ring.

Finally, she knew what to say.

“I, Velvet,” she begins, “take you, Orchid, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness,” she pauses, takes a deep breath, then continues. “…and in health, to love and to cherish, ‘til death…”

‘Til death do us part? No, that couldn’t be it. She had to think of something else, something better.

“And death will never part us,” she decides. “You will be mine, and I will be yours, forever and always. And when I see you again, I’ll take you back into my arms as if you were never taken from me. And my promise has never, and will never waver; I will always love you, Orchid.”

She squeezes her hand, and Orchid doesn’t squeeze back.

“That was lovely, Vels,” Veneer replies, after a while. He had finally calmed down enough to sit up, keeping his hand in Ritz’s.

Velvet knew what came next, but something was missing. She looks to Ritz.

“I need to go in and get something, um, will you hold her?”

Ritz nods, and without a word, he takes Velvet’s place holding her bride.

//

It hadn’t yet been a day, but it felt like eons since Ritz had last held Orchid in his arms. This time, though, she didn’t hug him, didn’t kiss his cheeks. All he could feel was her cold skin.

Again, he was struck with that awful feeling of not knowing what to say. His best friend in his arms, and he couldn’t come up with anything to say to her.

But he could at least hold her hand.

But that wasn’t enough, so he brings her into a hug, letting her head rest on his shoulder. Her nightgown was soft against his fingertips, that velvet texture he knew she loved.

He remembered seeing Velvet in it the night of their first kiss. Fitting; she would be buried in the same spot as his and Veneer’s first kiss. He thought she would’ve liked that—she had always loved love.

“I love you,” he whispers, not knowing whether she could hear it.

//

Velvet takes Orchid back into her arms when she comes back out, while Ritz sits beside her once more.

She had picked out her favorite red lipstick, the shade she used to decorate Orchid’s face in kisses whenever she could. Keeping Orchid propped on her lap, she applies it onto herself, then takes her body back in her arms, hand in hand.

Ritz nods.

You may kiss the bride.

Velvet leans down and lays a kiss on Orchid’s top lip, just gentle enough to leave a faint lipstick mark. She hoped she could feel it, wherever she was.

“Uhm, can I…?” Ritz starts, gesturing to the lipstick. Velvet wasn’t sure why he needed it, but she hands it to him anyways.

He twists it up, then paints it onto his own lips. He then leans down to Orchid, brushes her hair out of her face, and kisses her left cheek. Velvet thought she heard him whisper, but whatever he had to say wasn’t for her ears.

A lipstick mark was left on Orchid’s cheek. It matched her lips, the scarlet of her nightgown, but still, something was missing.

Ritz hands the lipstick to Veneer.

It smudged as he applied it onto himself next, his hand shaking uncontrollably. Velvet had never seen her brother struggle to put on makeup—watching him continuously mess up his lipstick made her uneasy, like it wasn’t even him.

When Veneer’s lips were finally a matching red, he takes Ritz’s spot beside Orchid.

“I love you so much. I’m sorry,” he repeats, leaning down to her other cheek.

With a caresses to her face, he gives her a kiss, leaving a third maroon mark. It was obvious which was his; Velvet could still see him shaking.

He doesn’t leave Velvet’s side, and lays a hand on her back. It was then she realized she hadn’t let go of Orchid’s hand. She wasn’t sure if she could.

Each silent second felt like a year as the three looked to Orchid, to her grave, then back to her.

She didn’t look like Orchid. Still in the same clothes, she didn’t look like the girl Velvet had proposed to. Even with their kisses laid on her, her face was unmoving, unable to form her adorable smile.

Part of Velvet wanted to look at her eyes, to see if they had returned to their natural violet. She knew in her heart that they hadn’t.

Maybe she could pretend Orchid was sleeping, just for a moment. The kisses could resurrect her, like in the stories, right? Tucked in her blanket, her hair still down, she’d wake up any second.

Wake up.

Please, wake up.

Wake up!

Velvet was met with no movement, not even the slightest twitch. The last she heard of Orchid’s voice were screeches turned to weak groans, until she gave out her last breath. She’d never hear that sweet voice again—no more exclaimed ‘I love you!’s, no more happy squeals at Velvet’s every touch. Held in her arms, and yet she was gone.

//

The sun had set, leaving the sky a cloudless dark indigo. Velvet wasn’t sure how long they all had been outside.

She knew she’d have to lay Orchid down, but she just… couldn’t. Over and over again, she willed herself to move, to lay her to rest, but all she could do was stay stationary.

“You gotta let her go,” Ritz tells her, his voice the most monotone she had ever heard.

“I can’t.”

She didn’t have the energy to feel selfish, but she knew holding Orchid couldn’t last forever. But she wanted her, she wanted the touch of her soft hand, until the last second.

That’s it—her hand. Her ring.

Velvet takes off her own ring first, then takes off Orchid’s. They matched, but it was clear which was Orchid’s; it had to be the one with its grooved details tinted red.

She slides Orchid’s ring onto her own finger, and promises herself to never take it off. Orchid wouldn’t be taking hers off either, as Velvet slides her ring onto her bride. She holds her limp hand up to admire the ring one last time, before pressing a gentle kiss to her fingertips.

Now Orchid could have a part of her, forever. That wasn’t nearly enough, but it had to be.

Velvet gives her one last hug, a tight squeeze, and a last kiss to the top of her head. Orchid’s body only slumps with the movements, wilting in her embrace. Her vision blurs with tears as she carefully picks up her bride, and lays her down in the earth. All she could hear was the ringing in her ears as she wraps the blanket around her, for in case she ever got cold late at night.

Her face was calm, still as adorable as the day she was reunited with Velvet. Her hair laid nicely, just above her shoulders, its rich purple complementing her lilac skin. The body that used to be so warm, that Velvet wanted to hold at every moment, was pale, lifeless. Could it at least keep the memory of Velvet’s touch?

She wanted to memorize every part of her: every lock of her hair, every crease in her nightgown, until nothing was forgotten. Velvet could at least have that—a final memory, to carry with her until she saw her again.

Ritz and Veneer join her, arranging Orchid’s photos around her. Velvet takes Orchid’s favorite picture—the night they met—and sets the photo in her cold hands.

Framed in her photos, Orchid looked like a sleeping princess. Even beneath the ground, she could still be with the people she loved, if only in pictures. Velvet hoped she’d like it under the stars.

Only after she was done did Velvet realize she could never feel those soft hands again.

//

The bed was cramped—there was no question that Velvet would move into Veneer and Ritz’s bed. But it felt unbearably empty, with the absence of the girl buried underground.

Veneer had put on a spritz of his perfume, hoping to give his sister an ounce of comfort to get through the night. She laid in his arms, her head to his chest.

In her hands was a picture of Orchid: the one she took last night, of her in her scarlet nightgown, hand to her heart. Her eyes were filled with nothing but love. The ring Orchid wore in the picture was now on Velvet’s finger, never to be taken off again.

Veneer’s back was to Ritz, who had taken his place as his big spoon. From Ritz’s deep breaths against him, he assumed he was already asleep. Good, he needed the rest.

“Are you comfy?” Veneer asks his sister, catching a glimpse at her scar. It took all his self control not to shudder.

“Yeah,” Velvet murmurs.

“That’s good. I’ll be right here if you need anything. Just tell me, okay?”

“‘Kay,” she responds.

He had known her long enough to hear a faint tone of guilt in her voice. He ignored it. She was the person he could trust, no matter what.

She must hate me. I killed the love of her life. But she’s safe…

He missed cuddling with her. And he wanted to cuddle her to sleep again sometime, but not like this. Not while she struggled to keep in her sobs, holding the last photo of her dead lover.

“Can I rub your back?” He wasn’t sure if her wounds were recovered enough, but figured some kind of touch would relax her.

“Mhm,” she nods, snuggling in closer.

Veneer had only ever seen Velvet so weak one other time: the night she lost her eye. Now, his tall sister looked so small in his arms; any spirit she had left was in the grave outside.

He gives her a goodnight kiss on her forehead, listening to her breathe in time with his hand on her back. Up, down, up, down.

Up, down, up, down, up, down, and no matter how much he tried to comfort her, his hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

//

“I do.”

It was the happiest day of her life. Velvet looks around the room: her brother, who had just walked her down the aisle; Ritz, their officiant; the faces of all their friends in the rows. Many held up cameras, flashing through the ceremony, capturing every moment.

And of course, her bride, right across from her. Orchid was in a tuxedo, her hair in an updo decorated with flowers. Her cheeks were that rosy pink Velvet loved so much, with her lips in a wide grin.

Velvet wore a classic white gown, detailed with matching flowers and a triangular cutout on the right side. She had made sure to wear Orchid’s favorite red lipstick.

“Then you may kiss the bride!” Ritz exclaims.

Without hesitation, Orchid throws her arms around Velvet’s waist, and seals their union with a passionate kiss. Though she was expecting it, Velvet still gasps in excitement, smiling against Orchid’s lips.

“I love you,” Orchid whispers into the kiss. “I love you so much.”

Velvet knew something was wrong when Orchid’s nails claw into her back. When she breaks the kiss, she opens her eye, and screams. The cameras kept flashing.

Orchid’s previously rosy cheeks were now a pale lavender, and the only sight of red was the blood dripping from her mouth. Not only had her eyes turned completely violet, but her tuxedo had vanished, replaced by Velvet’s red nightgown.

“I love you, Velvet, I won’t ever leave you,” Orchid promises, but no, this wasn’t Orchid at all.

Velvet inhales to shriek again, for her brother, for anyone, but Orchid presses a finger to her lips.

“Shhh. Don’t bother. They can’t hear you.”

She gasps again, when Orchid slams her hard against a wall. With a quick glance behind her, she found it was the wall of photos. Though the altar had disappeared, the cameras kept flashing.

“And even if they could, they wouldn’t care,” Orchid continues. “You’re a pathetic, lying fraud. I’m the only one that stayed loyal to you, don’t you see?”

“This is a dream! You’re not her,” Velvet realizes aloud. “You’re, you’re what took her from me!”

“Oh please, that honor goes to your brother,” she laughs softly, a horrid distortion of Orchid’s precious giggles. With a grin, she caresses Velvet’s face, leaving a smear of blood down her cheek.

“You can’t hurt me,” Velvet asserts, her voice shaking.

“Really? Then what’s this?”

Orchid brings her hand down to her waist, at the cutout of her gown. As soon as it met her skin, she could feel the bite wound her lover had left on her. Velvet convulses as the burning sensation spreads through her body, just as it had that morning. The noise of the cameras flashing was now replaced by a high pitched ringing.

She could barely scream as Orchid scratches down her arm, effortlessly tearing through her skin. Orchid’s arm was stained red, too—blood spilling out from her own bite wound, painting the flowers of her tattoo.

Velvet almost collapses from the pain, but Orchid catches her before she could fall.

“Stop,” Velvet begs as soon as she catches her breath. “You’re not Orchid, she’d never do this to me, you’re not her, she’d never…” She trails off with a groan in pain, holding onto Orchid for support, despite all her instincts telling her to get out.

“Are you sure? Did you really know her? Then tell me why she fell asleep with you, knowing damn well she’d wake up infected.”

“You’re not her,” Velvet repeats.

“But I could be. I can be anything you want. That’s what you really want, isn’t it, Velvet? Someone you can change, who won’t complain?”

“No,” she answers, but part of her wasn’t sure. What would she do to have Orchid back? Could she get her back?

“That’s too bad,” Orchid shrugs, then brings her into a hug. She whispers into her ear, “Do you know what I want?”

Velvet was almost too terrified to answer, trapped in the arms of not the girl she loved, but a horrific illusion of her. Still, she had to know.

“What do you want?”

“You.”

Orchid takes her hand and interlaces their fingers, just as Velvet had done for her so many times. She knew whatever was holding her hand wasn’t the girl she fell in love with, but she couldn’t bring herself to let go.

“I want you too,” Velvet whispers, not knowing who she was talking to, not knowing if she was lying, not knowing much of anything. “But not here. Not like this.”

“Aw, that’s too bad,” Orchid sighs with disappointment. Without warning, she rakes her nails down Velvet’s back, exactly as she had that morning. “Well, we’ll be together soon!”

Velvet wanted to scream, but she was so terrified that no sound would come out. Terrified of this thing that had taken Orchid from her, but even more terrified of what would happen once she succumbed to the infection. What if this was what waited for her on the other side, and not the sweet fangirl she had grown to love so much?

A bitterness caught in her throat, until she bursts into angry sobs, at the infection, at Orchid, at herself. But even in her trembles, she couldn’t let go of her.

“I want her back! Why did I have to lose her?!”

“But I’m right here!” Orchid comforts, taking any opportunity to hold her closer.

“You’re not her,” Velvet cries, but collapses into her embrace. She doesn’t protest when Orchid brings her closer, running her cold hands through her hair. It felt just like her, almost.

“You’re not her…”

//

For the first time in at least a month, Veneer wakes up to his sister’s kicking. Only, this wasn’t her normal kicking: she thrashed frantically, clinging onto him too tight.

“Velvet!” He whisper-yells, shaking her awake. “Vels, wake up! It’s just a nightmare!”

She used to get nightmares frequently, especially after losing her eye. But this was even more intense than her normal dreams; he had never seen her in such a panic.

Once her eye opens, she immediately pushes at his arms, clearly disoriented.

“Orchid?! Orchid is that you?!”

“It’s me, it’s your brother, you’re safe now,” he assures, hugging her close as she regains her senses. “It’s okay, I’m right here, I gotcha.”

She only responds with shivers, crying into his embrace. She could at least hug him back, keeping Orchid’s photo pressed between them. Her trembling arms were still warm, but Veneer shoots up to sit when he feels something missing.

“Where’s Ritz?!”

The body behind him was missing, leaving only empty space. He scans the room—no sign of him.

“I don’t know!” Velvet scrambles out of the bed and tears through the blankets, to no luck.

“Oh my god, oh my god,” Veneer tries to control his breath, but he couldn’t keep his thoughts from spiraling.

First Orchid, now Ritz? No, no this can’t be happening, he couldn’t lose another friend, not again, not again, please not again please not him not him too-

“C’mon, he might be outside!” Velvet urges.

In all his stress, he hadn’t realized that Velvet had dragged him all through the house, with Ritz still nowhere to be found.

“Yeah, outside,” he breathes out, letting her hand guide him through the door.

The smoke danced through the night air, spinning and swirling like it was alive. And there he was, sitting before Orchid’s grave, wrapped in one of her jackets, a cigarette to his lips.

Another cigarette was placed atop Orchid’s resting place.

Ritz wasn’t looking towards her, though; he was staring to the stars.

In an instant, Veneer collapses beside him, already sobbing while he brings him into his arms. Ritz barely reacts, but does reciprocate the hug. Veneer could feel him snuggle closer as he kisses his forehead.

“Oh my god, Ritz, I thought I lost you too,” he gasps out.

He could feel his sister’s hand on his back, who had joined them on the ground.

“I’m still here,” Ritz reassures, his voice still an unsettling monotone.

Veneer already missed the cadence of his voice; it was like the light left his eyes as soon as Orchid was gone.

“Hey, we should go back inside, it’s warmer in there,” Velvet suggests.

“Okay,” Ritz agrees.

The three stand up, and Veneer makes sure to take Ritz’s hand. The latter takes a drag, taking one last look at the sky.

Something inside Ritz must have broken in that moment.

//

Velvet was trying to lead the other two back into the house, when she hears a horrified gasp behind her.

She turns around to see Ritz, frozen, pointing towards the sky. His chest was heaving, tears streaming down his face as his pointing hand shook, the smoke rising from the cigarette between his fingers.

“She’s not in the stars!” Ritz exclaims, dropping Veneer’s hand and running back to Orchid’s grave. He frantically waves his cigarette as he paces, the smoke zigzagging across his every movement.

“She’s not in the stars, Veneer!” He repeats, “She’s not in the stars! We didn’t put her in the stars!”

“What’s he talking about?” Velvet asks, while Ritz continues to point towards the sky.

“We didn’t give her a star,” Ritz answers. “She’s not in the stars!”

Velvet looks up to the sky, and in an instant, she understood. In the stars, she could see herself, Veneer, Ritz, all their possessions, but Orchid was nowhere to be found. Ritz was right—she was never in the stars.

“Hey, it’s okay, we can give her one,” Veneer suggests, taking a step towards him.

“It’s too late!” Ritz claims, his breath quickening.

Veneer takes another step towards him, and holds out his hand. Velvet expected Ritz to take it like usual, but he had the complete opposite reaction: he flinches away, covering his face.

Velvet didn’t know why Ritz would refuse his lover. Maybe it was because he killed Orchid, maybe something else had happened between them. She could worry about that later—she was more concerned with the sight of Ritz clutching his chest.

His eyes widen as he trembles, struggling to find his footing. His breaths were short and uneven, desperately gasping for air. From his expression, he didn’t know what was happening, but Velvet did. She knew exactly what this was—she had seen it too many times to count.

Velvet could grieve tomorrow. Right now, she needed to get Ritz to breathe. She shoves past her brother and lays her arms on Ritz’s shoulders, looking into his terrified eyes.

“Ritz, I’m right here, I need you to breathe. Just breathe,” she tells him, her voice slow.

“I, I can’t, I can’t,” Ritz stutters through hyperventilating breaths.

“I need you to try. I know you can do it. Here, sit down.”

She keeps her hands on his shoulders, taking a deep breath as they sit down. He tries to follow her example, his breaths reaching a fast but stable state. She briefly touches her fingers to his neck; his heart was racing, but still beating. That was all she needed.

“We’re gonna get you through this. I’ll be right here the whole time,” she assures.

He responds with gasps, nodding up and down.

“Okay. Tell me five things you can see,” Velvet instructs.

His eyes dart around for a second, examining his surroundings. While he looks around, Velvet takes his cigarette, and hands it to Veneer. He had taken a seat beside them, keeping his distance.

“Uhm, your eye,” Ritz starts. “The moon. The shed. The house. And, uh, my hair.”

“Good. Now, give me four things you can feel.”

Ritz closes his eyes, and reaches out to touch Velvet’s knee. His breaths stayed fast, but he could push through.

“Your pants. The ground. My jacket,” he lists, then grabs her hand. “Your hand.”

“You’re doing great,” she encourages. “Three things you can hear.”

“Uh, my blood. Your voice.”

Velvet was jealous. All she could hear was the ringing in her ears.

Ritz pauses for a moment, creating a silence. In that moment, Velvet knew she was looking at Ritz, but her soul could only see her little brother. She had guided him through this so many times, it was like second nature to her. She gives Ritz’s hand a squeeze.

“The breeze,” he decides.

“Good. That’s really good. We’re almost done; give me two things you can smell.”

“The smoke,” he answers. “And, um, Veneer’s perfume.”

Veneer leans in, but keeps his hands to himself. Velvet takes a deep breath, guiding Ritz through his own.

“One thing you can taste.”

He takes another pause, and lands on an uncertain answer.

“Um, cigarette smoke, again. Is that okay?”

“That’s perfect. You did it! Good job,” she commends.

She holds out her arms, letting him come to her for a hug. She threads her fingers through his ombré hair, resting a hand on his back. His heart was back to normal, taking deep breaths in her embrace.

She could hear him crying, but it was a natural cry. He needed it.

“What, what was that,” Ritz breathes out, finally starting to regain his composure.

“That was a panic attack,” Veneer explains, still keeping his distance. “I have anxiety, I used to get them a lot. Have you ever had one before?”

“No, I thought, I thought I was gonna die,” Ritz responds.

“It’s okay,” Velvet reassures.

It was a lie. Nothing about this was okay.

Holding Ritz, it occurred to her that she had never kissed him before. So she kisses the top of his head, in the exact same spot she had kissed Orchid hours before. He holds onto her, just a little bit tighter.

While Ritz let his tears flow, Velvet takes her gaze to the sky. Her star seemed just a little bit brighter tonight.

At the sight of her star, it finally dawned on her:

She had exactly one month to live.

.

Chapter Text

Velvet
Status: INFECTED: STAGE I
Health: 50%
Stress: 87%

Veneer
Status: Negative.
Health: 78%
Stress: 92%

Ritz
Status: Negative.
Health: 81%
Stress: 79%

Orchid
Status:
Health:
Stress:

//

“Do you know how stars die?”

It had been three days since Orchid died. Three days since Velvet had been infected.

The nightmares refused to cease.

Orchid’s bloodstained smile grins up at Velvet, contradicting her emotionless eyes. The lacy straps of her scarlet nightgown left her bite mark in full view, pooling red in her tattooed orchids. With her hair down and disheveled, she looked everything and nothing like the girl Velvet loved.

“They explode,” Velvet answers.

She had tried, over and over again, but there was no point in her attempts to escape the illusions. All she could do was go along with this… thing, until Veneer woke her up.

“That’s right!” Orchid squeals, circling her star. “A supernova.”

Just a second ago, they had been standing in a dark void. With a wave of Orchid’s hand, the space illuminates in a blinding light. Traces of hues across the spectrum race behind Orchid, encircling the two of them. A low hum fills the air, but Velvet could barely hear it over the ringing in her ears.

“When a star runs out of fuel, it collapses on itself,” Orchid explains.

While Orchid manipulates the waves of light around her, she keeps circling her. Velvet was getting dizzy, squinting to see her against the blazing light.

“Then it explodes! It kills its planets, its asteroids, even nearby stars!” Orchid continues enthusiastically, skipping through the chromatic elements. “Isn’t it divine?”

To think the death of a star could be beautiful intrigued Velvet—one last light before the silence. The colors were certainly ethereal, each hue more radiant than she had ever imagined.

“Some even turn into black holes!” Orchid adds, the low hum growing louder. “Then they get to take and take and take, until nothing can escape them. Not even light!”

She plays in the wisps of light some more, smiling back at Velvet every so often. Once she gets bored, she approaches Velvet, forcing her into her unsettling gaze.

“But that’s not the only way they die.”

Orchid snaps, and the colors vanish, replaced by silence. They were alone again, while Orchid circles Velvet in the dark.

“Some just fade away,” Orchid laments, sadly shaking her head. “They get smaller and smaller, until they’re so tiny they’re essentially forgotten. Then they sit there, cold and dead, with no one to even remember them.”

Velvet couldn’t think of a worse fate. To burn so bright only to fade into nothing—that had been her greatest fear. If a star had to die, shouldn’t it get to shine one last time?

“So, Velvet…”

She blinks, and Orchid disappears. Right as she starts to relax, she feels a tap from behind, and nearly flinches in fear. She didn’t have to guess who stood behind her, as she turns around to face the love of her life.

“What will you choose?”

In her hands, Orchid held two spheres: one black, only visible from the ring of light surrounding it; the other white and dim. Before Velvet could answer, Orchid crushes both of them with a sadistic smile.

“You’re in charge, you can have it either way. What will you choose?” she asks again.

“You’re not her,” Velvet deflects.

“You’re dodging the question. Tell me, will you supernova and take everything with you, or go quietly, alone?”

Being alone brought Velvet unimaginable dread, even more so than being infected. She’d have to face it soon, unless…

“You could have everything,” Orchid entices.

She could have everything. She could take everything with her. She could stay with everything, and everything would protect her, until the end.

Velvet had always wanted everything, after all.

As she considers, Orchid takes her hand. The instant their fingers intertwine, the low hum returns, and light rushes back to them.

Velvet couldn’t let her know the thoughts of everything racing through her head. She snatches her hand away.

“You’re not her,” Velvet asserts. “You can’t hurt me anymore. He’ll wake me up if you try.”

“Are you sure? Maybe he got tired of your kicking and got up.”

“No! He’s never left me before, he won’t start now.”

“Maybe he’s scared to leave you. Scared of how you’ll react.” Orchid takes a step closer. “But not me. I never want to leave you.”

“Stop twisting her words. I know you’re not her, you can cut the act,” Velvet snaps with a glare.

“But I can be her, if you want.”

Velvet freezes as she watches the figure blink. The violet pools of her eyes swirl round, until they shift completely into Orchid’s true gaze. The eyes of her lover stare back at her.

“There, is that better?”

“Stop,” Velvet chokes out, her breath quickening. She tries to back away, but Orchid grabs her hand once more.

“You finally have someone who doesn’t mind changing for you, and this is how you react? What a shame,” Orchid sighs.

“I don’t want to change anyone!”

“We both know that’s not true.”

“Maybe I did, but…” she admits, uncertainty present in her voice. “But not anymore. Just leave me alone!”

“Oh, Velvet,” Orchid sighs, with a caress to her face. “That’s the one thing I can’t do. I’m part of you now. You can’t get rid of me, no matter how much you want to.”

No, there was a solution. There was a clear way out.

“Then I’ll kill us both,” Velvet decides. “Before I become like you.”

She had to, right? She couldn’t let herself turn into this. For everyone’s safety, for everything.

But what about my everything?

“You’d do that to your poor brother?!” Orchid exclaims, taken aback. “He’ll be devastated! What are you gonna tell him? He doesn’t even know you’re infected, does he?!”

“No, I…” she trails off, realizing her decision would be even harder than she thought. Orchid was right—she hadn’t told Veneer she was infected. She had planned to keep it that way, but what would happen once she reached the final stage?

“That’s what I thought,” Orchid says. “Why don’t you be a supernova, and take him with you? Take Ritz while you’re at it, too. I want to see him again.”

No matter what Velvet chose, nothing would end well. She could infect Veneer and take him with her, which wasn’t an option. Or she could leave him with so many unanswered questions, which seemed just as cruel.

“You’re the brightest star anyone’s ever seen, it’d be a shame if you didn’t make a grand exit,” Orchid continues. “He’d be happy to go with you. Or he’d be too afraid to say no.”

The reminder of her brother’s fear towards her stung worse than her wounds. Sure, they had made up again and again, but it was still there, no matter how much both of them tried to hide it. Orchid was right: he’d do anything for her, even give up his life.

For a second, she considers Orchid’s words. She immediately blocks them out.

“If I did that to him, I would never forgive myself,” Velvet tells her.

“But you wouldn’t have to. You wouldn’t be yourself. You’d be like me.”

Again, she was right.

“I’m not going to hurt him,” Velvet snaps. She thinks of herself asleep beside him, wrapped in the same blanket, tucked safely in his arms. She hoped he’d wake her up soon.

“What if he asks? He might want you to take him with you,” Orchid suggests. “Will you do it then?”

“I’m not going to hurt him!” she repeats. “I love him! I’ve… I’ve hurt him enough already,” she trails off, remembering the way she used to treat her brother. It made her feel sick.

“If you really loved him, you’d infect him.”

“I won’t hurt him!” she shouts, over the low hum, over the high ringing.

“If you say so,” Orchid shrugs.

As the colors swirl, Orchid wraps her arms around Velvet, holding her close. Velvet couldn’t bring herself to push her away. Her bright eyes, her scarlet nightgown, her tight embrace—it was almost like the real thing. The only difference was how her hand rested on her bite mark, pressing into the wound.

Laying her head on Velvet’s shoulder, Orchid stands on her tiptoes, and tucks Velvet’s hair behind her ear.

“Just think about what I said, Velvet,” Orchid whispers. “You might change your mind.”

She looks up at Velvet with Orchid’s eyes one last time. In that instant, a green ray of light strikes her from behind.

Orchid lets out a gasp as the beam pierces through her heart. Her body collapses, lifeless, into Velvet’s arms.

“Orchid! ORCHID?!”

Velvet had to squint past the blazing lights to see the outline of her lover. She knew this wasn’t Orchid, but no, she couldn’t lose her again, not again, please not again-

A violet wave hits Velvet hard in the back.

She expected to see the colors swarming around her, but as she collapses, all she could see was complete and utter darkness.

//

At a gasp from his sister, Veneer darts awake. She was already crying when his eyes adjusted, holding onto him for dear life.

“Velvet! Vels, what happened? Was it another nightmare?”

She answers only with hyperventilating breaths, any words lost in her hysterical blubbers.

He had to get her upright, if it was all he could do. He carefully takes her shoulders, and props her up against the back of the bed. Her breaths start to find their rhythm, but she was still just as disoriented.

“I’m, I’m sorry I was, I was such a bad sister,” she stutters out. “I never, I never should’ve treated you like that, I never wanted to hurt you…”

Okay, this was bad. Veneer knew how awful she felt about how she treated him, but ever since prison, she almost never brought it up. This hadn’t been a normal nightmare.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, I love you, I’m right here,” he consoles.

It wasn’t helping—her wails continue as she throws her arms around him.

“I want her back!” she cries. “I want my Orchid!”

“I know, I know.” He kisses her forehead. That doesn’t help, either.

“I want my girl! I want my wife back!”

She was delirious, he realizes, while her manic sobs fill the room. If he could bring her mind back to his arms, back to the futon bed, that would be enough.

“I want Orchid! I want my Orchid!”

“She’s right here,” Veneer responds.

Beside Velvet laid her photo of Orchid, from the night of their proposal. She must have let go of it in the chaos. He picks it up, and holds it in front of her.

“That’s your Orchid,” he tells her. “That’s your wife.”

“That’s my Orchid,” she echoes. “That’s my wife.”

“Mhm, that’s her.”

“That’s her.”

He watches as her eye scans the photo. She runs her fingertips over it, as if she could feel her through the film.

“Give her a kiss,” Veneer instructs. “She’ll feel it.”

Velvet takes the picture from his hands, and kisses it. Veneer wasn’t sure whether it was true, but if it gave his sister even an ounce of comfort, he’d tell her anything.

He thinks of Orchid, buried underground, her face decorated with kisses. Could she feel those, too?

“That’s her,” Velvet confirms to herself.

It wasn’t really her. It was just a picture.

“Yeah, that’s her,” Veneer agrees. “And I’m right here. I gotcha.”

He gives her another hug, and kisses her temples. Holding her photo, she was finally calming down.

“We’re here,” a tired voice behind him adds.

Oh.

He had forgotten Ritz was there, too.

Ritz reaches out a hand to Velvet, and she takes it, while she cries into Veneer’s shoulder. He brushes off his sister’s tears, but is met with ice cold skin.

“You’re so cold!” Veneer exclaims. “Here, lemme warm you up.”

He quickly takes the comforter, and wraps it around her. He had to sacrifice some of Ritz’s covering, but Velvet was more important he was sure his lover didn’t mind.

“I don’t want to go back to sleep,” Velvet whispers.

There was one emotion, hidden deep in her gaze. It was rare, but it was undeniably there in her single blue eye:

Fear.

But what was she afraid of?

“That’s okay, I’ll stay up with you,” Veneer offers. He cradles her head in his hand, gently brushing his nails against the nape of her neck.

“I’ll stay up, too,” the voice behind him says. His and Velvet’s hands were still touching.

“Thanks, guys,” she murmurs, her voice breaking.

Veneer could tell something was still wrong.

Of course something was wrong. Orchid was dead, and Veneer killed her.

“That feels nice,” Velvet says.

//

Five days since the infection. Five days since Orchid died. It was probably the early evening, but the time of day was the least of Velvet’s concerns.

Veneer still didn’t know. His hands felt the same as they always did, through her hair, down her back, only they held a slight shiver.

When she wasn’t crying, sleeping, or showering, Velvet usually found herself in her brother’s arms. Neither had much to say outside of the embraces they shared; those were their conversations.

Ritz was there, too. She’d hold his hand sometimes.

“Can I get you anything? Are you hungry?” Veneer offers.

The answer was yes. She had never been so hungry. And he was right there for the taking.

She could have gone for his shoulder, his hand, his arm. It would only take a quick bite, and he’d be exactly like her. Then they could at least lose their minds together.

“No,” she answers.

No. She wasn’t going to hurt him. She had to do this by herself, for his sake.

“‘Kay,” he says, still stroking her hair. “Just let me know, okay?”

“I miss her,” Velvet blurts out.

“I miss her too,” Veneer agrees.

How could you miss her?! You’re the one that murdered her!!!

“I miss her so much,” Ritz adds from behind Veneer. “Velvet, maybe… you should try talking to her.”

“I can’t talk to her. She’s dead.”

“Like, to her grave and stuff,” he explains. “That night she died, I went out to be with her. It was kinda nice, until… you know.”

Velvet couldn’t erase the image of Ritz frantically screaming at the stars, realizing Orchid wasn’t among them. When he couldn’t breathe, flinched away from Veneer, and sobbed into her arms.

She’d do it in the daytime. Velvet wasn’t sure what comfort a silent grave could give her, but she was willing to try anything.

Anything to make sense of it all.

//

As always lately, the sky was perfectly clear, as clear as her last day alive.

“Hey, Orchid.”

Silence.

“Ritz said I should talk to you,” Velvet tells Orchid’s grave.

More silence.

It was a lovely morning. Though not as lovely as the mornings she used to share with Orchid, when they were both awake, but refused to leave each other’s arms.

The main thing she missed, besides Orchid herself, was holding her. She always looked forward to their naps, when she could snuggle her close, and feel their hearts sync together.

This time, they were far from synced: Velvet’s, irregular and erratic, and Orchid’s, not beating.

The closest Velvet could get was laying beside her grave. Could it count as holding hands if one was underground? Velvet wondered, as she places her hand over where Orchid’s were. She imagined their softness, their warmth, but she knew in the ground they were cold and decaying.

Someday, there would be no evidence of those hands that once held Velvet with so much tenderness. Luckily, Velvet would be dead long before that happened.

“I keep seeing you,” Velvet admits. “But it’s not you, it’s like… some fucked up hallucination.”

It was comforting to hear silence, instead of the distorted voice of her lover that had invaded her mind. The ground was hard against her head, but Orchid’s presence in it made it ever so softer.

“It told me to kill Veneer. It says I should infect everyone, and I want to, but I, I don’t,” she rambles. It felt so good to get it out, that she couldn’t stop once she started.

“I feel like I’m going crazy. I don’t know if you wanted to infect us all. I don’t know why you did it. But I hope you know I still love you. I love you so much.”

She had loved Orchid as she had sunk her teeth into her skin, robbing her of her life. She loved her as she screeched and clawed at her, and as she bled out in her arms.

“You made me feel like I was a star again. But like, I could just be me around you, and you wanted me anyways. Even when I looked like a soggy demon out of the shower,” she giggles.

Looking up at the cloudless sky, she realized this was the first time since Orchid’s funeral that she had been without her brother. But she didn’t feel alone; she was with Orchid, and Veneer was right inside if she needed him.

“Honestly, you’re, like, the coolest person I ever met,” Velvet tells her. “You’re so funny, and you make me happy. I’m really glad I could make you happy, too.”

Getting her feelings out felt nice, but it didn’t cure the aching in her chest. She wanted Orchid beside her, holding her hand and making her smile.

Instead, Velvet couldn’t block out her last sight of Orchid’s body: her lips red with Velvet’s last kiss, her pale hands holding the photo of their first encounter. Part of her didn’t want to forget it. She wanted to keep every single memory of the girl she loved, even the ones that left her horrified.

“I miss you. I miss holding you, and kissing you, and our little photoshoots, and when we’d sing together,” she rambles.

Velvet wasn’t sure if she could ever sing again.

She kisses her own fingertips, then lays them back on the grave. When she glances over, two soft purple eyes stare back at her.

They weren’t the emotionless violet gaze Velvet had grown used to—they were her real eyes, and this was the real Orchid. Her kiss stained lips weren’t the grin Velvet had learned to fear—they smiled at her with the familiar love she missed so much.

Orchid sits up atop her grave, bathed in the sun’s warm rays. They shine through her violet hair, her maroon nightgown, her lilac skin, giving her the glow of what Velvet could only describe as an angel.

“Orchid? Oh my god, is that you? Is it really you?”

Her wife nods, lifting her left hand to show her her ring. Her other hand was behind her back.

“Orchid,” Velvet sobs, sitting up only to collapse into her arms.

Orchid holds her tight, resting her head on Velvet’s. She hadn’t said anything, but the feeling of those soft hands were more than enough.

“Please, please come back,” Velvet pleads. “I love you, I love you so much, I love you, I love you…”

All she could do was cry into her lover’s chest, praying this would last forever. Orchid would come inside, and see her friends, and marry Velvet, then everything would go back to normal.

“I love you, Velvet,”

a distorted voice whispers into her ear.

No.

No!

No, no, no! This was the real Orchid! It had to be! This was the real Orchid—Velvet’s infected brain was just trying to trick her.

She just had to look at her. That would fix this. She was awake, so this couldn’t be the wrong Orchid, right? No, it had to be her. It had to be the fan Velvet fell in love with.

But before she could catch a glimpse of Orchid’s face, she feels a metal blade brush the center of her back.

“No, no please, please don’t do this,” Velvet finds herself begging, but it was no use.

A wail escapes her as Orchid’s knife drags down her back, leaving a trail of blood along her spine.

I remember when you used to run your hands through my hair, and you’d brush against that spot. It made me feel beautiful.

Just when she thought it was over, Orchid aligns her knife’s point just below Velvet’s shoulder blades.

“Stop, please, please stop, no, no,” she winces in anticipation.

Through the tears clouding her vision, Velvet could make out Orchid’s grin as she watched her tremble in her arms.

No. This wasn’t the real Orchid.

The real Orchid was in the grave underneath her.

“Please don’t, I can’t, I can’t-“

Velvet didn’t have time to think about how much of this was real, when the dagger slides through the layers of her skin. She screams.

“Orchid, PLEASE,” she sobs, stuck clinging onto her. “It hurts, I, I need…”

At her shivers, Orchid hums, caressing her ringed hand to Velvet’s cheek. Velvet almost sighs in relief, but just as she feels a kiss to her forehead, the knife twists.

Velvet hadn’t shrieked so loud since the morning Orchid died. All the anger and grief from that day was focused in her back, in the jabs of the dagger she once passed to her soft hands.

“I love you,” she pants, one last attempt at making the pain stop.

Somehow, those words worked. Orchid slowly extracts the knife from her back and lets her go. When their eyes meet, Orchid’s grin had disappeared.

“So you still love me?” Orchid asks.

“Yes, of course I love you,” Velvet answers through hyperventilating sobs, trying not to scream from the burning sensations in her back.

“‘Kay. That was all I needed to know!”

Velvet’s blood drips onto Orchid’s collarbone as she holds her knife to her neck.

“I love you too. See you tonight,” Orchid winks.

“Wait, Orchid, DON’T-“

In one clean slice, Orchid slits her own throat.

Velvet shuts her eye, but still feels the blood splatter across her face. She brushes it from her scar, but when she looks down at her hand, there was nothing there.

Orchid was gone. In her place were a few dandelions Ritz had put on her grave yesterday.

“VELVET! HELP!”

All the pain leaves her body when the door to the house slams open, and her brother runs out in tears.

“HELP!”

//

With Velvet outside with Orchid, it dawned on Ritz that he was alone with Veneer for the first time since Orchid’s funeral.

The two of them were standing against the counter, sipping on lukewarm juice boxes. Ritz hadn’t had much to say since his best friend died, but in the past few days, something had been bothering him.

He wanted to tell Veneer, so why did he feel so nervous? They had agreed on honesty, after all. It was just a question, and Veneer was his boyfriend, so what harm could it do?

“Hey, Veneer, can I ask you something?”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Uhm, you know how at night, you cuddle Velvet, and I spoon you?”

“Uh huh.”

“Well, um…”

Why am I so nervous? I love him! Why am I scared?

Ritz wasn’t used to stumbling over his words. Even on the spot, he could always improvise. Those skills must have died with Orchid, as he found himself insecure to tell Veneer what he wanted.

“I was wondering if, um,” he starts, “you could hold me sometime. Even just for a little bit. I… I miss you.”

He didn’t want to seem selfish. Of course, he understood that Veneer had known his sister way longer than him, so naturally they were closer. Not to mention Velvet’s nightmares.

Speaking of Velvet, Ritz couldn’t explain it, but something was off about her. It was obviously her grief, but he couldn’t shake the odd feeling he had whenever he touched her cold hands.

“Yeah, I can talk to her about it,” Veneer offers.

Ritz catches himself sigh in relief.

“But I honestly don’t know,” Veneer adds. “With her nightmares and all, and she was with Orchid when…”

“When she died,” Ritz interjects.

“Yeah.”

Don’t say it don’t say it don’t say it don’t say it

“I feel like you’ve been ignoring me,” he blurts out. Despite his promise of honesty, he immediately regrets his words.

Veneer sets his drink down, and turns to face him. His eyes were soft, but cautious.

“What do you mean?” Veneer asks.

“You’re always holding Velvet, but you never hold me. And you’ve barely kissed me anywhere since it happened.”

Ritz takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” he adds. “I just… I just want to love you.”

“Velvet’s my sister, I have to take care of her,” he responds.

“But can’t you take care of me, too?”

You’re making it worse! Stop it, he criticizes himself.

“I’m trying,” Veneer sighs. “My sister just lost the love of her life.”

“I loved her too.”

The air turns to an uncomfortable silence. Veneer obviously wanted to drop the issue, and Ritz was at a loss for words. Maybe he had gotten through to Veneer, maybe he would talk to Velvet. But after bringing it up, Ritz felt like even more of an afterthought.

He didn’t feel like fighting. Giving Veneer space seemed like the best option right now, and he needed space, too. He decides he should regroup with his best friend—even if she was in the ground, maybe her presence would give him the answers.

“I’m gonna go talk to Orchid,” he tells him. He sets down his drink and turns towards the door, but before he could take a step, a hand latches around his wrist.

“Velvet’s out there,” Veneer says.

“Then I can talk to Orchid with her,” Ritz replies, turning back to face him.

“She needs time to grieve. With Orchid, by herself,” Veneer argues.

“She’s never told me that. I don’t see why I can’t be with her.” Ritz regrets his statement instantly when Veneer’s grip around his wrist tightens.

“I’m sure Vels’ll be back soon. You can see Orchid later.”

“I want to see her now!” Ritz bursts out. He knew this was a bad idea, but as he felt his emotions rising, he couldn’t stop himself. “Let me go!”

“I’m sorry, I can’t let you do that.”

Veneer’s exasperated sigh only made the anger worse. What did it matter if Velvet was there? Ritz wanted to see his best friend! Would Velvet really mind that much?

“Let go of me!”

“No!”

Ritz tugs at his wrist, but it was no use—Veneer was obviously stronger than him. He tries anyway, his maneuvers failing to shake off the hand on his wrist, which was only squeezing tighter. It was starting to hurt.

“What’s wrong with you lately?!” Veneer snaps.

“What’s wrong with me?!” Ritz shouts back. “You’re the one acting fucking psycho!”

“Ohhh yeah, I’m the fucking psycho for what? Keeping my sister safe?”

“She’s not gonna die if I go out and grieve with her! Maybe she’ll like the company, I don’t know! Just let me go!”

“I know you’re upset, but-“

“Shut up! Let me go!”

Ritz wasn’t having it anymore. If he had to drag Veneer outside, fine. He was going to see his friend.

He turns away from his lover and steps forward, not caring what would happen to him.

A harsh twist on his wrist causes him to gasp. When his arm is wrenched back, he slips.

Ritz had barely gotten past the counter when he loses his balance. In the split second before his head meets the corner of the countertop, he shrieks.

//

Ritz’s shriek echoes through the house, as Veneer stares at the blood on the hard surface. In an instant, Ritz had collapsed onto the floor, red flowing into his blonde hair.

“Holy shit! Ritz?!” Veneer yells, rushing down to his side and shaking his shoulders. “RITZ!”

He touches his hand to his head, and it was quickly painted with a splotch of blood. Already hyperventilating, he leans down to Ritz’s face and lays a hand on his neck—he was breathing, and his heart was beating.

Running on adrenaline, Veneer throws the door open, and screams for his sister.

“VELVET! HELP!”

She was touching her back and looking at her hand—Veneer wasn’t sure why; there was nothing there.

“HELP!”

Velvet drops the dandelions that were in her other hand, and follows Veneer inside.

//

She gasps at the sight before her: Ritz was passed out next to the counter, with its edge splattered with blood. She follows Veneer as he collapses next to him, supporting his head with his hand.

“What happened?!” Velvet demands.

“It was an accident! I didn’t mean to,” Veneer sobs, pulling Ritz’s unconscious body to his chest.

“You did this?”

“I didn’t mean to!” he repeats. “We got into a fight, and he slipped, and, and, and then he hit his head, and now he won’t wake up,” he chokes out.

“Okay, okay, umm… he might have a concussion? I don’t know doctor shit, hang on,” she suggests.

Velvet leaves her brother with Ritz while she runs to Orchid’s room, and digs through a pile of their clothes. She returns with one of the cloth pieces she used to cover her scar.

While Veneer supports Ritz’s body, she wraps her fabric around his head, and ties it off tight against the spot where he was bleeding. Out of habit, she kisses his forehead.

“C’mon, we should put him on the bed,” she directs.

Both twins lift him up with extra support, and lay him down on their bed. Veneer arranges the pillows under his head, while Velvet feels for his pulse. Listening for it was useless—she wouldn’t be able to hear it over the ringing in her ears.

Veneer’s hand was shaking as he lays it on top of Velvet’s, over Ritz’s heart.

“Is he gonna be okay?” Veneer asks.

“I don’t know,” Velvet answers. “I… I don’t know.”

//

The half hour before Ritz moved felt like eons. Eventually, though, his eyes blink open, and glance toward Velvet’s direction.

“Ven… Veneer…” he mumbles, lifting his right hand next to her.

“He’s in the bathroom,” she whispers. “He’ll be right back.”

Ritz grins, and from his short breaths, it seemed like he was trying to giggle.

“Hi Veneer,” he mumbles, leaning his head slightly towards her.

“I’m Velvet.”

“Hi Veneer,” he repeats. “What happened to,” he pauses, and his eyes roll back to the ceiling. “…to your eye?”

“Don’t worry about it,” she plays along. “You just relax.”

“Mmmkay.”

When Veneer comes back, she waves him over. He gasps, and quickly takes his place on Ritz’s other side.

“Oh my god, you’re awake, I, I’m so sorry,” he sobs, caressing his face. “I’m so sorry, I love you so much, I’m so-“

“Hi Velvet,” Ritz interrupts. “You… look… awful,” he strings out.

“He thinks I’m you,” Velvet clarifies. “He must think you’re me.”

“Veneer, hand,” Ritz requests.

“I guess that’s me,” Velvet says, while her brother tries to control his breathing.

Velvet grabs Ritz’s hand, but as soon as she does, he winces in pain. She lets go, and switches to playing with his hair instead.

“Hurts…” Ritz mumbles.

“Your hand?” Velvet asks.

“Mmm.”

Carefully, she lifts up his arm. His wrist was limp, and at a closer look, she saw that it was bruised. Some tattooed doodles on his hand had become distorted from the injury.

Her brother gasps and reaches for his hand, but then pulls his arm away. Instead, he hides his face in his hands, and bursts into tears.

Velvet raises her intact eyebrow. “Ven, did you do this?”

Veneer’s sobs only grow more hysterical, every time he looks at his lover.

“Veneer!” she snaps.

“Shhh!” Ritz interjects. “Too loud!”

“Sorry!” both twins respond in unison.

“It was an accident,” Veneer whispers. He leans down to Ritz, and kisses his cheek. “I’m so sorry. I love you so much. I promise.”

“You’re pretty,” he giggles, and shuts his eyes. Just like that, he was asleep.

Ritz was asleep, and Veneer was panicking. It was perfect: Velvet could infect them right now. There was nothing she wanted to do more.

But no, she couldn’t. She couldn’t hurt her brother anymore. She couldn’t let that thing win.

Instead, she touches Ritz softly, threading her fingers through his hair as he slept. It was then she notices a flash of color behind his ear.

“I’ve never seen this one before,” she comments, bending his ear forward to get a closer look at the tattoo.

The flashes were colorful fireworks, traveling down before they reached his neck. They were all shapes and sizes, like the fireworks that used to go off as Velvet sang her heart out in the city.

“Oh, I love that one,” Veneer adds.

“I guess you’ve seen them all,” she says, keeping a hand on Ritz’s shoulder.

“Yeah. He’s so beautiful,” he responds, his voice breaking. “I love him so much.”

“You should tell him more often.”

Velvet could never get enough of Orchid saying she loved her. She missed it more than anything—that reassurance that someone other than Veneer could still love her. Despite all the voices screaming at her to kill Veneer and Ritz, she hoped they could experience that love, too.

But after seeing him collapsed on the floor, bleeding from his head, she was as unsure as Ritz.

//

Eight days since Orchid died. Two days since Ritz’s head hit the counter.

Veneer had barely left his side; he only left him alone when Velvet wandered off. She did have her time alone, though, like right now.

She had gone out to visit Orchid. Every time she had an outburst, she would scream her name, as if she was reliving that day. Veneer only hoped his hugs and words were enough, but he knew deep down they weren’t.

He was still a murderer.

This time, when Velvet went out, he caught a glimpse of a gun in her waistband. He didn’t ask.

Now, Veneer sat up on the couch, while Ritz laid his head in his lap. Ritz could form a complete sentence again, and he could move around without falling. He didn’t seem angry anymore, but Veneer was still trying to acknowledge him as much as he could.

He couldn’t hold him at night, though. Velvet’s nightmares were only getting worse, and some nights she flat out refused to sleep. Not to mention, her body had been especially cold at night, and she needed all the warmth she could get. Veneer had never heard of being so cold as a result of grief, but no matter what, Velvet needed him. Velvet needed him. Velvet needed him.

“You feeling okay?” he checks in, tracing his hand down Ritz’s arm. He stops when he reaches his sprained wrist, wrapped in Velvet’s scrap fabric. Another piece was bandaged around his head.

“Yeah, just tired,” Ritz sighs.

Veneer was tired, too, but something had been keeping him awake. Apparently, he was also too tired to keep it to himself.

“Do you still love me?” Veneer blurts out.

“What kind of question is that?” Ritz immediately retorts. “Of course I still love you.”

“I murdered Orchid,” he answers. “And I hurt you. And I couldn’t protect you all, and now she’s dead…”

“You didn’t have a choice,” Ritz comforts. “She was infected. We couldn’t have saved her.”

“I know, but I still killed your best friend.”

“She would’ve wanted you to protect me and Velvet, and you did.”

Ritz was right—Orchid would have wanted Velvet to be safe, even if it cost her her life. And Velvet was safe, and really, that was all that mattered!

After some more cuddling, Veneer changes the subject.

“Ritz, can I tell you something?”

“Always.”

“You’re my first boyfriend,” he confesses.

Ritz sits up in shock, then touches his hands to his head with a groan, and lays back down on Veneer’s lap.

“What? How?” Ritz demands. “You’re gorgeous! Weren’t the guys, like, obsessed with you?”

“Not ‘til I got famous,” he shrugs. “Before that, I swear I was the only gay guy in my town. I don’t think I met another queer person until we moved. I mean, other than Velvet.”

“Wow. That must’ve sucked.”

That didn’t begin to describe it. Before he even knew the term ‘gay,’ he knew he liked boys the way he was supposed to like girls. And Velvet liked girls the way she should’ve liked boys, so naturally, the twins believed for a while that something must have gotten mixed up in the womb.

After a lot of research, they found there was nothing wrong with either of them, at least in how they loved. But it wasn’t until the city they could finally have some sense of belonging, even if they were frauds.

“Yeah, it got really lonely. I thought there was something wrong with me. Like, the suburbs weren’t as terrible as Velvet says, but it wasn’t fun, either,” he admits.

“I’ve always lived in the city,” Ritz says. “I guess I wouldn’t know.”

“Lucky,” Veneer smirks. “I’m glad you did, ‘cause then I got to meet you.”

“So you’ve really never had a boyfriend before?”

“Nope. I’ve been on a few dates, kissed some guys at clubs, but it never went further than that. You’re kinda my first, well, everything,” he tells him.

“Wow,” Ritz repeats.

“Yeah. But I’m glad you’re my first! I wouldn’t want anyone else,” he assures. “And I’m so glad Velvet met Orchid. Not having love when she was younger, it kinda really messed her up.”

“But she had you, right?”

“Yeah, but I wasn’t always enough. When we were kids, sometimes she’d come over to my room, and I just held her while she cried for hours.”

Late at night, he still heard her sobs, burned into his memory. The tears of a little girl who just wanted to be loved, who couldn’t bear the thought of being unwanted.

“Oh my god… I can’t imagine Velvet of all people feeling like that,” Ritz responds.

“I loved her the best I could, and I told her she was beautiful, but I don’t think she believed me until we moved. She had her first kiss in prison, you know.”

Veneer certainly didn’t miss his childhood bedroom, where he had to console his beloved sister that she wasn’t unlovable. That was part of why he waited so long to confront her—in Mount Rageous, she was finally somebody, finally happy. And he had ruined it.

But even in prison, it wasn’t all terrible. Honestly, he thought Velvet had more fun in jail than her entire childhood. Even if she wasn’t famous, she was infamous. That was better than being a nobody.

And then she had met Orchid, who broke the limits of love. Orchid, who loved her despite her faults, who just wanted Velvet, whoever she was in that moment. Veneer couldn’t have asked for a better sister-in-law.

“I always thought she was beautiful,” Ritz tells him. “And I love her.”

“You should tell her,” Veneer suggests. “She’d want to hear it.”

“I love you, too,” Ritz adds. “Please don’t ever doubt that. I love you no matter what.”

“I love you,” Veneer echoes.

He brings Ritz’s face to his, propping him against himself. With a soft smile, he touches his finger to Ritz’s lips.

“So I’m your first love?” Ritz asks.

“You’re my true love,” he reminds him.

Ritz nods. At his approval, Veneer gives him a quick kiss on the lips. Then, he brings him into a hug, and kisses the fabric over his head injury. He feels against his neck—the silver necklace chain hadn’t left.

“I’m sorry,” Veneer whispers. “It won’t happen again.”

“You promise?” Ritz mumbles against him. “You’re not gonna hurt me again?”

“I promise. I love you so much. I promise.”

//

The next day, Velvet was in her usual spot beside Orchid’s grave. As usual, there wasn’t a cloud in the evening sky.

Velvet hadn’t had any visits from Orchid during the daytime since the dagger in her back, thank goodness. Since then, she always brought a weapon with her, just in case.

“Hey, Orchid,” she starts. “I think Ritz’s head is getting better. Neither of them know I’m infected. I’ve been sneaking off to our room to check on the bite. I miss you.”

She gives Orchid her normal rundown, that she was doing bad, Veneer was doing bad, Ritz was doing bad. A soothing silence responds.

One thing breaks the silence: the door creaking open. In it stood Ritz, a pack of cigarettes in his good hand.

“Hey, Velvet,” he waves. “Can I sit with you?”

“Where’s Ven?”

“In the shower. I left him a note.”

“Yeah, come here,” she offers, patting the spot beside her.

He takes a seat next to her, then takes her hand. Velvet liked the feeling of his hands—they weren’t nearly as soft as Orchid’s, but they told their own story.

Neither had anything to say. Or, there was nothing to say. She wondered what was going through Ritz’s head, now that he had lost his best friend. He loved her as much as she did, but it was a different kind of love, one that she didn’t know.

“I wanted to tell you something,” Ritz breaks the silence. “Um, can I see your face?”

Velvet’s hair covered her scar, like normal. She wasn’t expecting him to ask for her face, but she didn’t have any protests—he had seen it plenty of times. She nods.

His hands were incredibly gentle as he runs his fingers through her overgrown bangs, and tucks them behind her ear. They reminded her of that first sleepover, when she had been so nervous to show Orchid her face. But she had still called her pretty.

“Can I touch?” he checks in.

Again, she nods. She lets out a breath she didn’t know she was holding, when his hand grazes where her eye used to be. It felt… heavenly.

“What did you want to tell me?” she asks, leaning her head into his hand.

“I think you’re beautiful,” he gives her a soft smile. “I always have.”

She returns his grin, and lays a hand on his cheek. His cheeks glowed the same purple-ish rose that Orchid’s used to.

“Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself,” she begrudgingly compliments.

“I love you,” he adds. “I really do. I love you.”

She freezes, just for a second.

“Why?”

“‘Cause you loved Orchid, and you take care of me,” he answers. “And I can see you’ve changed. You love so much, and you’re so beautiful, and I don’t know, I guess I’m under your spell. I love you,” he repeats.

There was no spell, and they both knew it. Velvet had been herself again since her 22nd birthday, not the malevolent Mount Rageous superstar, but just Velvet, as she was.

She could finally see, though, that she was still a star in his eyes. They were the same violet as Orchid’s.

“I love you too,” she tells him, placing her other hand against his face. “I love you.”

It felt good to say it, but even better to hear it. She wanted to hear it from Orchid, but this could be enough.

He looked a lot like Orchid. His soft lilac skin, his big purple eyes, his awestruck grin.

He looked a lot like Orchid, and his lips felt a lot like hers.

//

She looked a lot like Veneer, and her lips felt a lot like his.

Before Ritz could process what was happening, Velvet’s hands travel into his hair, as she brings him into her embrace.

Her lips had a faint cherry taste, mixed with an even fainter lingering of smoke. He suspected she had been stealing his cigarettes, but he never imagined he’d find out from such a breathtaking kiss.

Is this what Orchid tasted? Is this how she felt? He hoped so—it may have been the best feeling in the entire world. He had seen Orchid hold her waist for kisses, so he follows her example.

He knew who Velvet was pretending he was. It was obvious, just like how he should be pretending she was Veneer.

He doesn’t. He revels in Velvet’s kiss, Velvet’s hands, a disgraceful part of him wishing this would last forever.

How could he not? Her hands were gentle, and he could be confident she loved him. Though not as much as she loved Orchid, but if he could take her place, he could be close to her again, if only for an instant.

She was mean sometimes, but he felt safe to be mean right back. She had never hurt him. She helped him, when he had his first panic attack, and first head injury. He trusted her.

“I love you,” he repeats into the kiss, desperately going in for more.

It wasn’t out of depression or desire—it was purely out of love. Love for Orchid, and now between the people she left.

His face was on fire as Velvet aligns her teeth with his bottom lip, while he melts into her arms. Before she bites down, she gasps, and shoves him away.

“I’m sorry!” Ritz pants, unsure if he’d ever regain his composure.

He locks eyes with Velvet, who was fighting for breath. She touches her hand to her lips, with a look of horror in her remaining gorgeous eye. It twitches.

“I don’t know why I did that,” she says. “Oh my god…”

“It’s okay! I’m, um, I’m not in love with you,” Ritz assures.

Velvet hides her face in her hands—it was as red as Veneer’s on the night of their first kiss. On second thought, he and Velvet were in that same spot now.

She brings her head back up, and purses her lips. Her face scrunches up, like she had just tasted something sour for the first time.

“Yeahhh, I definitely don’t like boys,” she cringes.

“Should I feel validated or offended?” he shoots back. “…I liked it.”

“I’m glad one of us did,” she shudders. That was a lie he’d let slide. “I don’t know, I think I’m just PMS-ing,” she adds.

“Girl, me too,” he sighs with a soft laugh. “Wait, now I’ve kissed everyone here,” he realizes aloud.

Velvet dons a second look of shock. She points to him, then Orchid’s grave, then back to him, her horrified silence speaking louder than any words.

“Oh, before we found you, um…” he trails off, but he had to be honest. “Me and Orchid used to, uhm, mess around. Just as friends! We got bored, and-“

“Stop! I get the gist!” Velvet cries, her dramatic reaction causing Ritz to laugh. She glares at him, but there was no real malice behind it. “I can’t believe you used to have… relations with my wife.”

“Don’t even start,” Ritz scoffs. “You just kissed your brother’s boyfriend.”

“You got me there,” she sighs, then looks to the grave. “Sorry, Orchid. I think the inf- I think I’m losing it without you.”

“Honestly? I think she’d be into it,” Ritz claims.

“You’re right, she so would,” Velvet agrees with a snort laugh. “Can we just hug?”

Her laugh sounded divine; he hadn’t realized how much he missed her smile. I guess that’s what happens when you’re around her, he thinks to himself.

Eagerly, he cuddles into her arms, and lets her hands travel through his hair and along his back. She gives him a kiss on the cheek, then nods to herself.

“This. This is better,” she affirms.

Ritz didn’t want to ruin the moment, so he waits a few minutes before saying anything. Velvet had let him into her divinity, and he never wanted to leave.

“We have to tell Veneer,” he decides.

“Do we?” she whines.

“Yeah,” he sighs. “I don’t think he’ll be mad. But I don’t think he’ll be into it…”

Velvet scoffs, and lightly flicks his arm. She accepts, only after they compromised to stay outside a little longer. It didn’t matter if they weren’t in love, if Ritz could be in Orchid’s place, he had exactly what he wanted.

Really, he just wanted a hug from someone he could trust.

//

Veneer’s sister and his lover awkwardly stare at him, as he swishes around a glass of water. They had held hands, then stopped, then held hands again at least three times.

“So, you two wanted to tell me something?” he inquires.

Ritz fumbles with his necklace, but stops when his hand cramps up. “Yeah, we wanted to tell you, uh,” he starts.

“That we! Um,” Velvet tacks on.

“We’re, uhh, we,” Ritz picks up.

“Before we tell you, um,” Velvet takes over. “We’re both very emotional and I think our cycles synced and I’m definitely a lesbian.”

“Noted,” Veneer replies. “You two are acting really weird. You can tell me, I’m sure whatever this is can’t be that bad.”

The worst thing that could happen had already happened. Hell, if Ritz kissed Velvet or something else unfathomable, he wasn’t sure he’d be fazed. He takes a sip of water.

“Veneer, I kissed your sister!” Ritz confesses.

Veneer spits out his drink, and remembers to aim it at his sister at the last second. Velvet hides her face in her hands, both to hide her red cheeks and protect herself from the water.

“I kissed him,” Velvet admits.

“I kissed her back.”

“It didn’t mean anything.”

“It was a, um, friend kiss,” Ritz establishes.

Despite the initial shock, Veneer found himself neutral towards their ‘friend kiss’. At this point, he was just glad they were getting along. If a little kiss made Velvet happy, he wouldn’t doubt Ritz’s loyalty.

He bursts out laughing, and so does his sister. Reluctant at first, Ritz joins in, but soon they were all cracking up. Veneer hugs them both, and stands on his tiptoes to kiss their cheeks.

“I love you both so much,” Veneer tells them. “I’m just happy you love each other. If you wanna kiss, go for it.”

“Trust me, that was my first and last kiss with a boy, I don’t know why either of you like that,” Velvet assures.

Veneer was fine with that, too—more for him.

It would take a while, and even then, they would never truly accept Orchid’s death. But with his two living favorite people in his arms, Veneer could feel a faint glimmer of hope.

Things were gonna be okay.

//

Nothing could fix this. Velvet didn’t want to admit it, but she knew there was no cure. No amount of trying to ignore it would stop the passage of time.

Later that night, she was in Orchid’s and her room, ‘getting ready for bed,’ as she had told the others. Veneer must’ve been tucking in Ritz—she figured that would give her enough time to check on the wound.

She slips off her shirt, and rinses a washcloth in the bathroom sink. She makes her way back to the bed where Orchid used to hold her, and winces as she touches the washcloth just below her bra. It cooled the burning sensation, but did nothing to quiet the piercing ringing.

Her other wounds had started to heal, leaving only the infected bite on her right side. She could still make out the impression of Orchid’s teeth in her skin, a bitter reminder of her fate.

Velvet hadn’t looked at the photo wall much. The first thing she noticed were the empty spots of the wall, where those pictures were now underground. So many kisses, so many moments, buried with her biggest fan.

At least she’d get to see Orchid soon. She’d have to leave her brother, but that was better than hurting him. She only hoped he wouldn’t be mad at her for keeping her sickness secret.

For now, she had to cherish every single second with him. Orchid would want her to take care of him, up until the end. He was her everything; all she wanted was everything.

“Hey Vels, you ready for bed?” a voice speaks from the hall. “You’ll never believe this, but Ritz is already asleep, I think those room temperature Spaghettios knocked him out- OH MY GOD! VELVET!”

She had panicked and scrambled for her shirt, but it was still in the bathroom. In a desperate attempt to keep her secret, she covers her side with the washcloth, but it was too late. He saw the bite.

Veneer gasps, and tears fill his eyes as he stares at the wound. Still sitting, wearing his pajama pants, she gives him the iciest stare she could manage with one eye.

“Close the door,” she orders.

He closes it.

“Don’t tell Ritz.”

“I won’t,” he promises immediately.

They stay in silence for a full minute. Veneer’s hands covered his mouth in utter terror, while Velvet tried to think of what she could say to make him not panic.

There was nothing she could say. Instead, she had to stand up, her hand just barely reaching his mouth as he screams.

“Shhh!” she urges, but no shushing would put an end to the muffled screams in her palm.

She presses her hand further, praying she could quiet her brother’s pained wails enough to keep Ritz asleep. The only thing worse than her brother finding out would be if they both did.

It was no use—he wouldn’t be quiet. There was one more thing she could try.

She removes her hand from his mouth, and slaps it hard across his face. It stung her hand and her heart; she had never hit him before, and she didn’t want to start now. But this was an emergency, and she needed him quiet.

“Shut up! You’re gonna wake him up!” she snaps.

That seemed to calm the screams, but only left room for more panic. His shrieks replaced by hyperventilating sobs, he collapses into her arms.

“I know, I know,” she hums, cradling his head to her shoulder.

“No! NO!” he begs, desperation screaming through the cracks in his voice. “Not you, please, you can’t, you can’t die too, I need you,” he rants. “I need you!”

“I know,” she repeats. “I love you so much. And I’m gonna stay with you, right up until the end, okay?”

She was crying too, onto the person she loved most. She didn’t want to leave, either.

What she really wanted to do was sink her teeth into him, and never let go. She wanted to claw down his arms, his back, anywhere she could reach, until they were so entangled that he could never escape. Even if she had to snap his neck, or scratch into his wrists, all she wanted was to keep him beside her, until there was nothing left of either of them.

At the mental image of her brother infected, bleeding out as she intertwined her limbs with his, her mouth started to water. She gulps, but it does nothing to quiet the hunger burning in her stomach.

Veneer takes a few deep breaths, reigning in his sobs. Tears were still flowing from his heartbroken eyes as he lets go of her, and stands across from her.

He lets out a short exhale, and shuts his eyes tight. As he does so, he rolls up the left sleeve of his t-shirt, and gives the order.

“Do it.”

She looks at his scrunched face, then to his exposed shoulder, then back to him.

“What?”

“Please just do it!” he pleads, pushing his shoulder towards her. “Just make it quick.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“It’s been what, a week? We’re both type B, so we won’t be that far apart, and then we’ll-“

“What are you talking about?” she repeats.

“For fuck’s sake, we’re losing time! Infect me already!”

Velvet gasps, and steps back.

No. This is just what Orchid, no, that thing, told her would happen. He wanted her to infect him; he wanted to go with her. She could be a supernova.

“Please!” he sobs, gripping her shoulders. “Velvet, I can’t do this without you!”

“No,” she refuses. “I’m not infecting you. You’re my baby brother.”

At her response, he shrieks again, and she muffles it with her shoulder. She shushes and holds him, but it does nothing to calm him down.

If only he knew that was exactly what all the voices in her head were screaming at her to do. It would be so easy, he was right here, and he wanted it.

“Velvet, please,” he sobs, “please, I can’t live if you’re not here. I won’t do it.”

“Yes you can,” she refuses. “I know you can. Ritz is a good boyfriend. He’ll take care of you when I’m gone, and-“

“NO!” her brother interrupts. “You’re right! He will take care of me, but I don’t want that!”

Velvet gasps, while Veneer regains his standing. He meets her eye, all three clouded with tears.

“You’re right!” he repeats. “Maybe we’d go on living, and bury you with Orchid, and me and him would stay together. And maybe one day in a few years, I’d wake up next to him, and you wouldn’t be the first thing on my mind. But I don’t want that!”

A sob escapes her, as her brother points an accusing finger towards her.

“Ven, please…”

“No! I don’t want to live in a world without you! If you die, I’m going with you, whether you like it or not,” he threatens.

He wasn’t getting it. If he died, he wouldn’t be able to remember her. And, let’s face it, if he died, Ritz wouldn’t last very long either. Then there would be no one left to know her name.

That was truly the worst fate she could fathom. The desire to be remembered burned infinitely brighter than the desire to infect them all.

“Veneer, please, you have to stay alive-“

“You promised you’d never leave me! You told me all the time that you weren’t gonna die! Why didn’t you tell me you were infected?!”

“Because you had just killed Orchid!”

At the reminder of her, Veneer bursts into sobs again. They were only a few feet away from where Veneer had shot her, and Velvet held her as the light left her eyes.

“She bit you,” Veneer puts it together. “And I couldn’t protect you,” he sobs, staring in terror at the wound.

“None of us knew she was infected,” Velvet comforts.

“But I should’ve known! Dammit, it was obvious! And I couldn’t protect you, and now you’re gonna die!” He collapses onto his knees, unable to stand as he cries on his sister. “It’s my fault, I couldn’t save you, I’m supposed to protect you!”

“It’s not your fault,” she tells him, sinking to the floor with him. “None of this is your fault.”

“You lost your eye because of me! And now you’re gonna… you’re gonna turn into what Orchid turned into!”

“You saved me!” she argues. “If you hadn’t killed Orchid, I’d already be dead. And if I’m gonna turn into what she did…”

Midori. Opal. Orchid. All three of them had reached the final stage, and immediately attacked their loved ones. As much as she wanted to, Velvet couldn’t let that happen to her. She made a promise that what happened to Opal and Orchid wouldn’t happen to her and Veneer, and she intended to keep it. No matter what, she couldn’t let herself do what Opal did to her precious sibling.

“You’re gonna have to kill me,” she whispers.

She cradles her brother’s head into the crook of her neck to muffle his wails, while he clings onto her. His warm hands felt so comforting against her freezing skin, even though they were shaking.

“I still have three weeks,” she tells him. “And I want to spend them with you. I want to look at our pictures, and hold you, and I want to see the stars with you.”

Based on how fast Opal died, Velvet wanted the bullet to the head.

She could see her future: her and Veneer, watching the stars together. She’d lay her head on his shoulder, and he’d tell her she loved him.

She would say it back. Then, she wouldn’t exist.

“I’m not gonna let you die,” Veneer chokes out. “I’m gonna take good care of you, even if you aren’t… you. If I have to die, then I don’t care.”

“You’re not dying on my watch,” she promises. “And Ritz won’t let you die, either.”

“I don’t care. I don’t care what he says. I just need you,” his voice quiets, until it was a hushed cry. “Velvet…”

He meets her gaze as he says her name. Her hands were shaking too, as she cups them around his face.

Velvet couldn’t think of anything else to say to him, to make the anguish go away. As a last resort, she tries her own language, the one that Veneer had grown up with.

Gently, she presses her forehead to his. They stay like that for a while, sitting across from each other. Veneer places his hands over his sister’s.

“Breathe,” she whispers.

When they were little, before Velvet could even say ‘I love you,’ she had learned to nuzzle her nose with his to show affection. She was supposed to take care of Veneer, and love him more than anything. She was still that young girl in some ways, when she didn’t know her little brother just yet, but knew how much she loved him.

With a soft smile, she nuzzles his nose in that same way. The smile was mostly for him, just like how the perfume he wore every night was mostly for her.

“I love you,” Veneer whispers with a big exhale. “At least let me check your bite.”

She nods, and helps them stand up together. Veneer was as calm as he could be right now, and was already making good on his promise of being her caretaker.

Velvet lays down on her and Orchid’s bed, moving her arm out of the way of the wound. Her brother takes the damp washcloth, and touches it to the mark.

“Does that hurt?” he asks.

“Yes and no,” she answers through gritted teeth.

“Do you think an ice pack would help?”

“Maybe. But Ritz might see it.”

“Right… hmm,” he pauses, contemplating how he could help her while deceiving his lover. “I’ll sleep on it. For now, wear something loose.”

The twins’ medical knowledge mostly consisted of dentistry. Outside of that, they had seen movies, and knew a little bit from injuries as kids. Velvet agreed with her brother; the wound probably needed to breathe.

“Wait here,” he says, going to get something from the main room.

He returns with one of his oversized t-shirts. It had a print of a sunset, with the words ‘Vacay Island’ written in bold letters. They had gone there soon after getting out of jail, just to have some sense of normalcy. She knew her brother loved the beach—she’d do anything to take him back.

“Arms up,” he instructs.

“I know how to put on a shirt,” she protests, but sits up and lets him put it on anyways.

He gives her a hug once she was settled. She reciprocates, running her fingers through the faded blue streaks of his hair. She then lowers her voice, and whispers into his ear.

“Don’t you dare tell Ritz. I mean it.”

“I won’t, I promise you.”

Even though she loved Ritz, Velvet had a gut feeling that something awful would happen if he found out. Part of her wanted to tell him, so that the three of them could make the most of her last few weeks. But her intuition commanded her to keep him in the dark.

“We should get to bed,” she sighs.

“Yeah,” he agrees. “I’ll hold you. I won’t let you go.”

She knew he would hold her as he had the past few nights, but his promise was still refreshing. She had yet to tell him what really happened in her nightmares, but that was a conversation for a later time. He was overwhelmed enough.

//

My sister is dying

It’s all my fault. I did this. It’s all my fault. I didn’t protect her. It’s all my fault. Everything is my fault.

I’m sorry, Velvet. It’s all my fault. I love you. I’m so sorry

Veneer was trying even harder not to move tonight, holding his sister to his heart. His thoughts race, wondering how he could have prevented this, how he could have been better.

She answers with a soft, unconscious kick.

//

It had been a full week and a half since Orchid died. Ever since Veneer found out about the infection, he hadn’t left Velvet, and checked on her whenever he could.

She wanted to tell him not to think about it, so they could be present in their last days together. But it was hard to, when the symptoms were getting worse.

Velvet had to constantly control her urges to harm the others—especially Veneer, who begged her to infect him at every opportunity. The ringing was unbearable, and she saw her eye twitch every time she looked in the mirror.

That wasn’t the only thing she saw in the mirror. Sometimes, Orchid would stand behind her, only to vanish the second she turned around. She hadn’t appeared in the daytime other than that first time at her grave, but Velvet couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her.

She used to love being watched. She stares at the photo wall now, admiring herself from when her fans were in the thousands. Velvet didn’t need them if she had her one biggest fan, but now she was gone, too.

Veneer was washing his hair. Ritz was somewhere else. She didn’t know where.

Everyone in the photographed crowds was smiling at her, while she smiled at her brother. They were nearly glowing, radiant in the gaze of the city.

The glow was fading. She could feel it draining from her every second, from the wound in her side, from the scar that disfigured her once beautiful face.

If she could shine, just one more time…

Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t heard the shower turn off. Her brother stops in the doorway, a towel wrapped around his waist.

“Oh, hey, Vels. You feeling okay?”

Lately, none of them had been eating that much. Despite having one less mouth to feed, their appetites had died with her.

Velvet tried to quiet her hunger with food, but quickly found out it was no substitute. Her brother offered her his plate sometimes, and she would accept, but it did nothing to fight the urges she felt, knowing she could make him like her with just one bite.

It was the same craving she had felt in Orchid’s teeth.

The only hunger she could feel anymore, might not have been hunger at all.

It might have been love.

She couldn’t tell—the two were becoming indistinguishable.

“Um? You’re staring,” Veneer says, crossing his arms.

Her brother knew he could trust her—sure, she teased him, but never wanted him to feel self-conscious. Especially about how he looked, but it was obvious why he was hiding it.

Veneer had always been skinny, but never unhealthy. Now, standing across from her, his upper body exposed, I could infect him easily, she had to do a double take.

His ribs were nearly visible, and his collarbone protruded from his skin. Even his face was losing its softness, and the natural rosy hue of his cheeks had gone dull. If she didn’t know better, she’d say he was ill.

“Oh please, we grew up together, me in a towel shouldn’t faze you,” he scoffs, trying to direct away from the issue.

“You haven’t been eating,” she states.

“You need it more,” he refutes.

“You look sick.”

“You are sick.”

She didn’t have an argument. She could scold him for not eating, but that wouldn’t stop him from giving her his food. Ritz hadn’t said anything during their meals—part of Velvet suspected he was scared to bring it up.

“You have to take care of yourself,” she protests.

“I have to take care of you.”

Velvet found herself at a loss for words once again. Her brother would do anything for her, except prioritize himself.

As a big sister, she had to take care of him, even if she was dying. What little she could do for him had to be enough.

She places a hand on his shoulder, and gives his colorless face a concerned look.

“…Is it weird if I hug you right now?” she asks. She didn’t really care if he was in a towel—no matter how awkward it was, she wanted to hug him as many times as she could before she could never hug him again.

“No, it’s not,” he sobs, and throws her arms around her.

His skin was still damp from the shower, but it gave her the warmth she so desperately needed. Still, his embrace had changed; he was becoming a shell of himself. He had always been strong, but in her arms, her brother felt… fragile.

“Come on, Vels, please,” he whispers.

Her teeth were mere inches away from his shoulder. He didn’t need to say it—she knew exactly what he wanted.

“I told you, no,” she refuses for the thousandth time.

His hair smelled like Orchid’s conditioner. Like she saw parts of her in Ritz, Orchid’s presence was undeniable in Veneer as well. The love they shared for Velvet was different, but the magnitude of that love was the same.

Orchid’s love now appeared as the pangs in her throat, her heart, her wounded side. It forces her to let go of the hug, just before she could give way to the urge.

“Is something wrong?” her brother asks, reaching out for her hand. “I mean, something new?”

“No, it’s… I dunno,” she sighs. “You should get changed. I’ll go.”

“No!”

She had started to make her way to the doorway, but stops at her brother’s exclamation.

“Sorry, um, I don’t want to leave you alone. …Like this,” he elaborates. “I mean, if that’s okay with you.”

“Oh,” she responds. He was right—she knew it was a bad idea to be alone this late into the infection. That didn’t solve the awkwardness, but at this point, nothing that trivial could bother her. “Yeah, okay, but I’m turning around,” she adds, faking a displeased tone.

She turns around and covers her eye, while he changes into a mismatch of clothes stolen from the others. Wearing her clothes had always given him comfort—she hoped they still would after she was gone.

Fitting enough, she hoped she’d die in something of his. She already had Orchid’s ring, so maybe being buried with a part of her brother meant she would still be with him, wherever she ended up.

“I’ll brush out your hair,” she offers once he was dressed.

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to.”

She takes a comb from the bedside table—it was next to Orchid’s knife—and sits down on the bed, patting a spot in front of her.

It seemed like Veneer was about to protest, but Velvet could see the change in his face when he realized how much he wanted her tenderness. He sits in front of her, and tosses his wet hair over his tank top. (It was actually Orchid’s tank top; the one she had worn the night of her and Velvet’s first sleepover.)

Her brother’s affection when they slept was the same as it had been since she lost her eye. Only, their lullabies were lost, replaced by a silent impending dread. He still played with her hair, and kissed her forehead, but now they didn’t alternate.

It felt good to be the one caring for him, as she runs the comb through his long green hair. Even when all the knots were gone, she doesn’t stop, and instead massages the comb along his back. She crosses each of the tour dates, wondering where that girl in the front row was now.

“I’m gonna miss this,” she sighs.

“Please don’t remind me,” he whispers, his voice shaking.

//

Yet another day of Velvet and Veneer having their private talks had passed, until Ritz found himself sleeping against his lover’s back once again.

After his injury, he mistakenly believed Veneer would change his ways. And he had, for a little while, back when there was room for them to cuddle when Velvet was elsewhere.

Something must have changed Veneer’s mind, because Ritz was once again lucky if he glanced his way. Even when Velvet went outside, Veneer followed her, and never bothered to invite Ritz. He wasn’t going to risk inviting himself to grieve, so he stayed inside, alone.

He wasn’t going to confront him—he learned his lesson last time. Though Veneer had promised not to hurt him, Ritz thought it best to wait it out. This couldn’t last forever.

In the middle of the night, Ritz wakes up to rustling from the twins beside him. Still half asleep, he could partially make out their conversation:

“Did you…nightmare?”

“Mhm.”

“…go outside…stars?…feel better…”

“Okay.”

“‘Kay…let’s go.”

To Ritz’s surprise, Veneer had noticed he was awake. He taps his shoulder and whispers, while he and his sister sit up.

“We’re gonna go outside for a bit so she can see the stars,” he tells him. “You just go back to sleep, okay?”

Ritz nods with a sleepy groan, and shuts his eyes. There was no point in saying anything else.

//

There was one thing he hadn’t tried for his sister: the stars. Maybe they’d give her comfort; at least they’d get her away from the nightmares.

Velvet was in her black nightgown, with Ritz’s red hoodie zipped over it. She stares up at the stars, a mix of awe and despair in her eye.

“I’ve been seeing her,” she confesses.

“In your nightmares?” he assumes.

“Yeah, but… it’s not her. It’s hard to explain, but she’s, like, infected, but she can talk, and she tells me all these awful things, like how I don’t really love you-“

“I know you love me,” he interrupts. “And I know that’s not the real Orchid. She loves you.”

“Sometimes she… stabs me, or tries to hurt me again.”

“Then that’s definitely not her. She’d never want to hurt you. I’m sure the real Orchid would kick her butt,” he adds with a soft laugh, glancing at her grave.

Velvet tries to smile, but it was no use. Her face falls, back to its stagnant depression.

“I don’t know what to do,” she admits.

His sister always knew what to do. Seeing her so lost made him uneasy—his source of reliability was fading fast.

Right now, it was up to him. He scours his mind for an idea to ease the pain, and lands on the constant throughout their interwoven lives:

Music.

“Maybe you should sing something,” he suggests. The only accompaniment was the gentle breeze outside, flowing through their hair.

She responds with a sarcastic eye roll. “Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious. Music always makes me feel better. Singing might help,” he encourages. “Just try it. I don’t care if you sound bad.”

“Fine,” she reluctantly agrees.

She takes a step back, until she was in the same spot he had performed his first solo for Ritz. Now in Ritz’s place, he leans against the wall of the house, eyes locked on Velvet.

“From the heart,” he adds.

“From the heart,” she echoes, stepping into an imaginary spotlight.

It takes her a moment to think of a song. In her contemplation, her eyes dart to him, to Orchid, to the stars, and back to him. Once she lands on a song, she begins, her once proud voice now barely a whisper.

“Think my brain is rotting in places
I think my heart is ready to die”

Veneer wasn’t expecting her to look up for his approval, but he gives it nonetheless. With a nod, he encourages her to keep going.

“I think my body’s falling in pieces
I think my blood is passing me by”

Her voice grows more confident with each line, as she keeps tempo with a tap of her heel. At the chorus, her eye narrows, piercing into him.

“Honey, what’d you take? What’d you take?
Honey, look at me
Tell me what you took, what’d you take?”

He had the answers: first, her fame, and all her fans. Her popularity, her glory, her status, everything that made her happy. He was the reason she lost her eye; he couldn’t save her in time, so he was responsible for its destruction. Then, when Velvet managed to find her last remaining fan, and fall in love with her in the midst of the apocalypse, he had taken that, too.

All of it. He had taken all of it. It’s all my fault.

“Honey, what’d you take? What’d you take?
Honey, look at me
Tell me what you took, what’d you take?”

As she repeats the chorus, Velvet’s gaze travels to Orchid’s grave.

Orchid had known she was infected, and stayed with Velvet anyways. In doing so, she had taken the most important thing: Velvet’s life. And, with her death, she had taken the memories of Velvet’s last admirer.

Orchid was the sweetest girl Veneer knew, but she had a side that had only revealed itself once she was gone. She wasn’t so innocent, either. Especially if she would do what she did to his sister.

“I think my fate is losing its patience
I think the ground is pulling me down”

Velvet experiments with her range, her pain showing through her voice. As much as Veneer wanted to run to her and hold her, he stays still, watching her raw emotion shine through.

“I think my life is losing momentum
I think my ways are wearing me down”

By this point, she was practically screaming the lyrics. He had never seen her sing with so much anguish, though the spotlight of the stars shone on her as they always had. Her eye twitching, she takes a deep, shaky breath.

“But if I gave up on being pretty, I wouldn’t know how to be alive
I should move to a brand new city and teach myself how to die”

She shrieks, just like in the song.

//

Velvet was nearing the second chorus, when she sees her.

When she blinks, Orchid had appeared with that wicked grin, standing against the wall next to her brother.

Veneer couldn’t see her—he doesn’t react when Orchid lays her disfigured, wounded arm around his shoulders, and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

Before Velvet could interrupt her song, Orchid distracts her with a knowing wink. She points up, towards the sky.

Velvet follows Orchid’s direction, looking up towards her star, in the center of it all.

It flickers. Once. Twice.

Then, it bursts.

She shrieks.

//

Only, it wasn’t part of the song—Velvet’s screams persist, as she falls backwards onto the grass.

In an instant, Veneer slides to his knees beside her, and takes her into his arms. His embrace did nothing to calm her shrieks; she only thrashes against him, screeching in agony.

She kicks her legs, flails her arms, shakes her head, all while screaming towards the sky. Her eye was so wide and focused, he wasn’t sure if she could see him. Eventually, her unintelligible screeches start to form words.

“HURTS! IT HURTS!”

“What? What hurts? Velvet, what’s happening?!”

“IT HURTS!”

Gasping for breath, Velvet points straight up, towards the sky. But the gasping only lasted so long, when her convulses morph into a disturbing, maniacal laugh.

She laughs and laughs and laughs, while her hand unfolds, grasping at the stars. She brings her other hand past him, reaching up, desperately grabbing at something she could never reach.

He looks up, and gasps.

Velvet’s star’s brightness swells tenfold, until it was comparable to that of the moon. Its radiance dominates the night sky, outshining every star that dared to glimmer in its presence.

Veneer clutches onto his sister tighter, shielding her from the light. Her wheezes fluctuate, until they were entirely replaced by violent sobs.

She cries and cries and cries, staring into her star as it tears itself apart.

“It’s okay, I’m right here, it’s far away, it can’t hurt you,” he consoles, with a caress to her face.

“VENEER!” She scream-cries his name, grasping at his shirt, his hair, his shoulders, wherever she could reach with her freezing hands. “Veneer, I- I can’t- I don’t-“

She interrupts herself with a wail, barely able to breathe through her spasms.

“What is it? Velvet?! Tell me!”

“I DON’T WANT TO DIE!”

Her outburst must have been louder than the ringing she had told him about. She repeats herself, over and over again, causing her brother’s heart to shatter.

“I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna die! I’m so, I’m so scared,” she confesses.

“I know, I’m scared too,” he responds in a shaky whisper.

“I can’t die! I was supposed to live forever!” she shrieks, once again reaching for the stars.

The light casts shadows across her tear stained face, making him notice all its features. Even though it was scarred, it was the same face of his twin sister, of the little girl that had always loved him, no matter what.

“I wanted to get old with you! I wanted to get all gross and wrinkly, and, and, you’d still think I was pretty, and we’d look at all our pictures,” she rambles, “and I wanna make up little dances with you, and I don’t care if they suck!”

He couldn’t console her, he couldn’t tell her that she wouldn’t die, that she’d grow up with him. He couldn’t fix this. He could only listen to her cry in agony as she breaks his heart.

“I just want to be with you, but what if there’s nothing?! How am I gonna hold you?! I’m not ready! I need more time! I need more time!”

He would never be ready. He would never be ready to lose her.

There was nothing he could say to fix it, to make it go away. He couldn’t even pretend that she wasn’t dying, when her star was already dead.

“Please don’t leave me,” he begs, against his better judgement.

“What if I do? What if this is it? What if I never see you again?”

“No,” he sobs, squeezing her closer.

“I’m gonna die, Veneer! I’m gonna die!”

At her expression of the truth, she lets out another wail towards the sky.

He wanted to beg her to take him with her. This may have been the one time it would work, but that would be selfish. She needed him, not his pleas. She needed him.

“I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna die!”

Her spasms were confined in his embrace, but weren’t hurting her any less. She screeches in between sobs, while all he could do was hold her.

A month from now, he wouldn’t be able to hold her anymore. In a sickening way, he was grateful for this moment—she was still alive, and she was still in his arms.

“I’m here,” he comforts. He could do nothing more than simply be here. “Just hold onto me. I gotcha. I’m not going anywhere.”

His words seemed to give her some solace, as she takes a pause from her screams and sobs to catch her breath.

“Velvet,” he says her name through his tears. “Don’t look up. Look at me. I’m right here.”

Her gaze finally shifts from the sky to him, and she cups his face in her hands. If they hadn’t been the precious hands of his sister, he would have flinched away from the cold.

“Stay,” she pleads, her asymmetrical face contorted in fear. “Stay with me ‘til the end.”

“I will. I promise. I’m always gonna stay with you. And…”

She leans in with interest—her cries had quieted enough to hear what he had to say.

“I’ll always choose you. You’re always my first priority. Do you understand?”

“…yeah.”

“Good. Let’s get you back inside, okay?”

She accepts with a nod, taking deep breaths, like how she used to instruct him to do. Not wanting to risk her trying to stand and falling, he picks her up into a princess carry.

Velvet didn’t have any protests; she leans her head on his shoulder, her body shaking as she wraps her arms around him.

“I’m scared to go to sleep,” she mumbles into his shoulder.

“That’s fine. You don’t have to. I’ll stay up with you.”

Normally, she would scold him for refusing to sleep. They both knew, though, that she desperately needed his help to get through the night.

He brings her through the door, with one last glance at the supernova before he shuts it. Once inside, he turns to see Ritz, sitting up. He sighs, anticipating the questions he’d have to answer.

“What happened? Is she okay? I heard yelling,” he says, his voice tired.

“She’ll be fine. She just got a little spooked about Orchid. Everything’s fine.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Ritz didn’t have anymore questions, so he slumps back onto the bed. Veneer lays his sister on the opposite side, then crawls in the middle of them, bringing up the blankets.

It had become a routine for Velvet to snuggle in his embrace while he rubbed her back, whether she planned to sleep or not. Nevertheless, he wouldn’t dare fall asleep before she did.

She was awake—he could feel her heart beating against his chest. The smell of her shampoo, the sound of her breaths, the little movements of her hands; they all proved she was alive.

But in the sky, that wasn’t so. Velvet’s star had burned out long before its light ever reached her eye.

Its explosive fate was predetermined, ever since the day it began to shine.

.

Chapter Text

Velvet
Status: INFECTED: STAGE I
Health: 45%
Stress: 92%

Veneer
Status: Negative.
Health: 62%
Stress: 93%

Ritz
Status: Negative.
Health: 71%
Stress: 63%

Orchid
Status:
Health:
Stress:

//

“Good evening, Mount Rageous. This is Kid Ritz from The Bop On Top. I’m here tonight with breaking news regarding the now imprisoned fake singers Velvet and Veneer. As of 10:00 PM, Velvet has been pronounced dead.”

Every screen in the city was illuminated with Ritz’s face. A collective gasp emerges from the cars along each road, which had all slowed down to hear the news.

All except one.

Velvet’s mind was racing with questions: How did she get here? Why are they saying she’s dead? Who killed her?

She blinks a few times, recognizing that she was in the passenger seat of the broken down convertible from the lake. Only now, it was perfectly functional on the roads of Mount Rageous. The driver was in a different outfit than normal, but Velvet recognized her immediately.

She wore a leather jacket over her maroon nightgown, and her hair was tossed into a messy bun. A cigarette dangled from her non-driving hand, its filter stained with red lipstick.

“What’s happening?” Velvet demands, gripping Orchid’s shoulder. “Where are we?”

“You’ll see,” she answers, gesturing towards the nearest screen. “He had a lot of media training after you got arrested.”

Ritz continues:

“She died from blood loss from ten stab wounds, all inflicted by her brother. Veneer is currently being held and heavily guarded; the only explanation as of now is that he’s gone insane. The images we are about to show may be disturbing, so viewer discretion is advised.”

The screens take on photos from the prison: a white blanket over a body, which Velvet assumed was hers. Veneer, being dragged away from the scene, blood splattered across his face. The other prisoners, peeking out from their cells, as the doctors confirmed Velvet was deceased.

“I’m not dead yet! What is this?!” Velvet shouts at Orchid. “Ven would never hurt me like that!”

“Did you forget?” she meets her gaze with her unsettling violet eyes. “This is how it happened. Don’t you remember what comes next?”

Velvet inhales to tell her no, she had no idea what was going on, but Orchid interrupts.

“Oh, well. Just watch. It’ll come back to you.”

Ritz appears on the screens once again, his eyes wide with shock. He touches his earpiece, nodding along with it.

“Wait, I’m getting new information, um, oh my god. Veneer attacked a guard and got hold of her gun. Before she could confiscate it, he… he shot himself in the head. He died instantly.”

Velvet gasps along with the city, while Orchid seemed unbothered. She takes a sharp turn, causing Velvet’s head to spin more than it already was.

“What?! NO! Veneer’s alive! We both are! I’m dreaming, and he’s holding me right now,” she tries to convince them both.

“Oh, Velvet, that’s a nice thought,” she hums. “No, this is what really happened. He killed you, then killed himself so he could apologize. Trust me, it’s what he wanted.”

“Mount Rageous, I’m sure we can all agree that this is heartbreaking news,” Ritz states. “While Velvet and Veneer’s crimes are inexcusable, they did not deserve to die. We’ll be mourning them deeply—I know I will be—and I hope we can reminisce on the brief joy they brought to this city.”

He takes a deep breath. It was subtle, especially on a screen, but Velvet could see the exact moment he broke.

“I loved them. I really did. I wanted to be Velvet’s friend, and Veneer’s… Life is short. Tell that boy you like him. Tell your friends and family you love them. I don’t care if they were frauds, I still love them, and I’m sorry, I can’t do this. You’re gonna need to get someone else.”

He takes out his earpiece, and walks offscreen, holding back tears. A sob could be heard off camera, before the screens cut back to their normal broadcasts.

All Velvet could hear were whispers of the other cars, as Orchid sped through the city.

“So, you really don’t remember?” Orchid inquires.

“No.” According to her memory, they had gotten out of prison, and then everything since the outbreak. Only one reality was true, and Velvet wasn’t sure what to believe.

“That’s okay, I’ll tell you,” Orchid responds. “Ritz got fired soon after all that. He was a mess after you guys died. After he broke down crying during a live interview, they couldn’t have him on the show anymore. Besides, he basically admitted to being in love with a criminal.”

As far as Velvet knew, Ritz stayed famous until the outbreak. She couldn’t imagine him doing anything but his old job.

“Your parents gave him a job as their receptionist,” Orchid adds. “They were just happy someone still cared about their kids. It was the least they could do. They let him see your ashes.”

Velvet, stabbed to death ten times by her brother. Veneer, a bullet through his head, just so he could be with his sister. Ritz, a tired receptionist, burdened by the sight of the stars’ combined ashes in his bosses’ living room.

There was one part of this she did remember—an agreement between her and Veneer when they were kids. They promised that no matter what happened, their ashes would be mixed together, so they could hold each other even in death.

“What about…” Velvet starts.

“Orchid?”

“Yeah. What happened to her?”

“She moved in with Ritz,” she explains. “She needed the company, and he wanted to keep an eye on her. You never knew her other than your picture together, but your death destroyed her.”

“Oh…”

“Ritz helped her a lot, though. A few months later, he asked her to marry him. Mainly so she could have his money. It was really sweet, here, watch,” Orchid waves her hand, and one of the screens glitches to a scene of Orchid and Ritz in a field of flowers.

//

Ritz gets down on one knee. He didn’t have a ring, but he takes her soft hands in his.

“Orchid, I know you’re not in love with me, and I’m not in love with you,” he begins. “But you’re my best friend, and I love you so much. Honestly, I don’t think either of us can ever fall in love again, after…”

“Velvet,” Orchid offers.

“Right. But you’re my favorite person, and I want to use the money from my old job to give you the wedding you deserve. I know I’m not the spouse you wanted, but I would love to take care of you and provide for you as your husband, if you’d be okay with being my wife.”

Orchid’s lip quivers, and she sinks down to her knees to meet Ritz. She kisses his cheek, then throws her arms around him.

“Yes! Yes, you can be my husband,” she accepts through happy tears. “And I’ll be your wife, and I’ll make you breakfast, and you can call me corny pet names,” she plans.

“That sounds perfect,” Ritz sobs, as they both collapse together on the ground. “Honey,” he adds. “I love you. I just want to make you happy.”

“You do make me happy. I love you too.” She kisses his nose, with a giggle that was unmistakably Orchid’s. “Sweetheart.”

They embrace lying down, while the flowers caress them in sun-kissed petals. If not for the sadness in their eyes, they would have looked like the happiest couple in the world.

//

“The wedding was nice,” Orchid explains, speeding up the car. “They both wore suits. Opal caught the bouquet.”

Velvet couldn’t help but be envious of Ritz in this alternate world. But she was grateful to him, too—he gave Orchid the one thing she never could.

“After the honeymoon, they just played house,” she continues. “They weren’t super romantic, but Orchid ate up those pet names. He really did make her happy, for a while.”

The nearby screens glitch to snapshots of this other reality, in which the twins were dead, and Ritz and Orchid had found solace in each other. They seemed more mature, and they had matching green streaks in their hair. Photos lined the streets: the two hugging at the altar, then out on a dinner date, then watching TV while they snuggled in bed.

The way Ritz held her was eerily familiar—Velvet used to hold her like that.

One photo twisted Velvet’s heart in a way she couldn’t explain. Orchid was at her kitchen counter, and she had been in the middle of preparing food when Ritz had interrupted her with a hug from behind. Sunlight poured in through a window, kissing their laughing faces with its warm rays. Their smiles were contagious; it was hard to believe they were married any reason other than love.

Orchid’s hair was longer, and she had gained weight, making her beaming face glow brighter than ever. She looked so much healthier than she had when Ritz proposed, and was just as happy as she had been with Velvet.

“She looks so beautiful,” Velvet sighs from the passenger seat. “But it can’t be real. Me and Veneer are still alive.”

No, none of this was real! It couldn’t be! Right? Or was she already dead, and the past four years had been just an illusion? No, this had to be a trick. Some crazy infection symptom. Or maybe Velvet was the crazy one. At this point, she had no choice but to go along for the ride.

“We haven’t even gotten to the best part yet!” Orchid exclaims from the driver’s seat. “Wait ‘til you see what happens to her!”

She accelerates, zipping the car through each path of the city, while the screens played through even more scenes of this healthy Orchid’s life.

Velvet was still struggling to determine what was real when Orchid slams on the brakes, in front of the biggest screen yet.

She takes a drag on her cigarette. “Your parents paid Ritz pretty well. He was a good husband—he and Orchid even quit smoking together. Speaking of, you want some?” She offers the cigarette to Velvet.

“Uh, sure, thanks,” Velvet reluctantly accepts. As soon as she tasted her wife’s lips on it, she knew she wasn’t giving it back.

“No problem. Anyways, they lived the married life, bought groceries together, went on trips, normal stuff. Then, on the anniversary of your death, Ritz got a text from Orchid. Something like ‘I love you, thank you for everything,’ that kinda stuff. He rushed home, but it was too late when he got there. He found her with her knife in one hand, her picture of her and you in the other, and ten stab wounds in her body.”

Before Velvet could even gasp, her driver tells her more.

“He asked her a bunch of questions, but all she would say was your name. By the time the ambulance got there, she was already dead.”

The screen in front of them flickers to a scene of a colorful bedroom. A young woman, with long purple hair and an anti-eyebrow piercing above her left cheek, was sprawled out on the bed. She was in the exact outfit she had been wearing when she met Velvet. The once sage green sheets were drenched in her blood, pooling from her self inflicted wounds.

A young man then barges into the room. He had short blonde hair, and was dressed business casual, his lanyard still around his neck. He screams her name.

//

“ORCHID!”

Ritz runs to the bleeding woman on the bed, and collapses beside her. He dials the emergency line, and uses his free hand to support her head.

“MR Suburban Unit, what is your emergency?”

“My wife just stabbed herself with a, a switchblade ten times,” he explains through hyperventilating breaths. “She’s bleeding a lot. Please send someone quick, I love her, I love my wife, please,” he breaks down.

“We’ll have someone there ASAP. Where are you?”

He gives his address, then hangs up. He grasps Orchid’s hand, only to feel her pulse slowing down.

“Sweetheart,” he sobs. “Why? Why’d you do it? Why’d you do it?”

“Vel… Velvet…”

“Velvet’s not around anymore. We saw her ashes, remember?”

“I want… Velvet…”

“Okay, I’ll get you Velvet. I’ll have someone get my laptop, and we can watch all her interviews in the hospital. How’s that sound?”

Orchid smiles, and rubs her thumb against Ritz’s hand. Her breaths were shallow, and her eyes were already starting to glaze over.

“Just hang in there, baby, okay? The doctors are gonna get you all fixed up. I just need you to keep your eyes open for me, can you do that? Just keep those pretty eyes open, sunshine.”

Orchid blinks slowly, as a tear falls from her eye. She slips her hand out from Ritz’s and kisses her shaking fingertips, then touches them to Ritz’s lips.

He interlaces their fingers, and returns the kiss to her fingertips. While he squeezes her trembling hand, he presses a kiss to her forehead.

“It’s okay, sweetheart, I’m right here, and I’ll be right there in the ambulance,” he promises. “Honey, why’d you do it? I thought you were happy here…”

“Velvet…” she answers, for the last time.

Anything Ritz could try was hopeless. He kisses her cheek, holding back his sobs enough that he could still see her face.

“I love you. Stay with me now. I love you.”

Orchid refused to listen. In her final breath, she smiles up at Ritz. As her eyes roll back, the color drains from her face, and her hand falls limp. Her lips were still in a faint grin. Whether she was smiling about Ritz, Velvet, or something else entirely, was lost the second her heart stopped.

“Orchid, no! NO! You can’t die! Why?! WHY?! You were happy! You were finally happy! Wake up! Please, wake up! I need you!”

//

“She was,” Orchid laments from the driver’s seat. “She really was happy.”

The scene plays out: the paramedics show up, and assess Orchid’s body. Ritz sobs and begs for them to bring her back, to give her his blood, but they tell him it’s no use. She was dead.

“But she chose you,” she tells Velvet. “She was his sunshine, his sweetheart, his everything. She had it good, but she wanted you more. She always chooses you.”

On the screen, Ritz was crying over Orchid’s body, desperately trying to shake her awake. Her purple and green hair fell over her unmoving face, framing her smile frozen in time.

“Why are you showing me this?! I’ve seen you die enough!” Velvet cries out. “Why’d she do it?!”

“Because she loves you.”

Orchid presses on the gas, cruising right past the images of her body being carried into the ambulance. Her eyes weren’t on the road; they were locked on Velvet.

“I love you, Velvet.”

“You did this,” Velvet accuses. “I don’t know if I’m alive or dead, or what the hell is going on, but whatever happened, it’s your fault. Let me out.”

“I’ll always choose you, Velvet.”

Her purple eyes twitch, and her head tics to the side. Her hands claw into the steering wheel, just as they had clawed into Velvet the morning she died.

“Let me out!” Velvet shouts.

Velvet had no problem jumping out of moving cars, especially if the driver was spasming with Stage III disease. She tries to unbuckle the seatbelt, only to find that it was stuck. The panic was setting in as she turns her head back to Orchid, only to see her blood drip from her sharp teeth.

Orchid lets out a whoop as she speeds up, faster than Velvet had ever driven. Her squeals didn’t resemble the real Orchid’s; instead, they resembled those screeches that filled their room as Velvet was torn to pieces.

“Come on, you used to love it when I took you for a ride!” Orchid bursts out laughing, and shoves Velvet hard on the shoulder. “Or, actually, you were dead before we even met! I dunno,” she shrugs.

Velvet’s head was spinning more than the car, unsure where and when, if ever, she existed. The screens were glitching faster, to mismatches of each reality, refusing to reveal which was real.

“Maybe you should’ve killed Veneer when you had the chance,” Orchid contemplates. “Then you’d still be famous! Or alive! Or I’d still be alive! Wouldn’t that be divine?!”

Velvet breathes shakily while Orchid yells over the engine, rocking back and forth. When she catches a glimpse of her face, there were tears in those empty eyes.

“None of this is real!” Orchid exclaims. “Maybe I’m you, or maybe you died a million years ago! We all die, anyways!”

She takes a hard turn, heading directly towards a screen at the end of the road. With narrowed eyes, she floors the gas pedal, sending them straight into its path.

“Orchid!” Velvet screams, the wind slamming her into place. “Slow down! We’re gonna crash! SLOW DOWN!”

“Are you alive or dead? Is Veneer still alive? Orchid’s always dead, but you never know about the others. Is anything actually real?” she questions. “You’re about to find out!”

Velvet shields her face, as if it could become anymore disfigured. Her world was upside down, and the only constant was that Orchid always chose her, no matter what, for better or worse.

A million lives flash before her eyes, right as Orchid gives the gas one final tap. The last thing she sees is her wife’s smile, as she crashes them straight into the unknown.

//

Velvet’s gasp echoes through the house, as she jolts awake. First, she assesses her surroundings: she still had one eye, and the ringing in her ears was unbearable. But, it confirmed one thing: she was alive.

Her brother was also alive, proven by his immediate startle awake. He places a hand on her back, as she heaves with hyperventilating breaths.

“Velvet! What’s wrong?”

“Where am I? Is it really you? Where’s Orchid?” she interrogates.

“She’s buried outside, it’s really me, you’re safe in our bed,” he assures.

“Okay. Okay, so this is real, and that was a trick, and… What about Ritz? Get him up,” she directs.

“Vels, I don’t think-“

Velvet rolls her eye, and leans over her brother to shake Ritz awake. He looked just as he always had, but somehow more tired.

“Ritz, wake up!” she urges, tapping on his face. “Are you okay?”

At her question, he sits up, his eyes wide. There was a hint of confusion in his expression, like he never expected her to check on him, or to be checked on at all.

“Um, yeah, as okay as I can be,” he answers. “Are you?”

“I don’t know, I’m… I’m really dizzy…”

The room was still spinning, the morning sunshine blurring into her vision. Everything was upside down, left, right, and backwards, in a swirl of shapes and colors. The crash hadn’t been real, but the effects of it certainly were.

By the time she could distinguish between different objects, she found herself collapsed onto Ritz’s chest. She imagined he was copying what he had seen Veneer do, as he cradles her head in his unharmed hand.

“My head hurts,” she groans.

“Mine too,” he sighs. “I gotcha.”

Along with Ritz’s hand in her hair, she could feel her brother’s hand on her back, being extra careful to avoid her wound. The initial shock was wearing off, but a coughing fit quickly overtakes her.

Veneer and Ritz prop her up while she fights her throat. When she pulls away, there was blood on both of their shoulders.

She and her brother knew why, but Ritz didn’t. Velvet could feel even more coughs building up, possibly into something worse. Whatever was going on with her, she needed to get somewhere Ritz couldn’t see it.

“I think I’m gonna throw up,” she says with haste.

“Okay, let’s get you to the bathroom,” Veneer offers, instantly understanding the situation. “Ritz, I don’t think you’d wanna see this.”

“Uh huh,” he sighs.

Velvet hadn’t been entirely lying—as soon as she stands up, a wave of nausea overwhelms her. Veneer lets her lean on him as he guides her to the bathroom, then shuts the door for added privacy.

She falls onto her knees, clutching at her stomach. Her brother sits beside her, anticipating whatever would happen next.

She hated feeling like this. Curled up on the bathroom floor, she was weak, powerless. She should be the one caring for Veneer, but instead, he was losing himself to care for her. Neither of them were the stars they had once been. Stars were supposed to burn, not cry and fizzle out.

“What’s really going on?” Veneer checks in.

Velvet coughs a few times, leaving blood on her sleeve. “I had this awful dream, where me and you were dead, and, and I was in a car with Orchid, and then she crashed,” she rambles. “And now I feel like I’m gonna-“

She covers her mouth just in time, then leans over the toilet and retches. Veneer was quick to hold her hair back, giving her some sense of dignity.

When the gagging subsides, Velvet opens her eye, to see nothing but red underneath her. All she could taste was her own blood, so she looks at Veneer to confirm he was seeing this.

“Ven, it’s… it’s blood.”

“How long has it been?” he asks, referencing the infection in its entirety.

“Tomorrow’s two weeks.” A full two weeks since she had lost the love of her life.

At the realization, Velvet gags again. Her brother takes her hair in his hand, using the other to gently rub her back as she heaves. She hiccups in between, her eye watering from the burning in her throat.

“That’s good, get it out, I gotcha, girl,” he soothes. “There you go. Just keep breathing. …We should be doing this at the club.”

Velvet’s body allows her a pause to laugh at his statement, and it felt so fucking good to laugh, just for once. Then, she was right back to hurling, as her own blood spills down her chin.

“Oh, there she goes,” he says. “Okay, you just do what you need to do, I’m gonna look at the bite real quick.”

She nods, and gives him a weak thumbs up. One of his hands was still holding her hair, while the other lifts up her shirt just enough to see the wound. After he assesses it, his comforting hand travels to her back, softly tracing along her tattoo.

“It’s not bleeding, I think you’re gonna be okay for now,” he claims, a hint of doubt in his voice.

She leans back, and turns around to face him. “I think it’s over. Get me some water.”

He follows her command, and fills up a cup on the bathroom sink. He sits back down after rinsing a washcloth, and hands her the cup.

It may have been the best water she had ever tasted. While it didn’t satisfy the thirst for blood clawing at her throat, it was still euphorically refreshing.

Once she chugs the water, Veneer dabs the washcloth on her face and neck. Though it was lukewarm, it felt so warm against her freezing skin. In a way, it felt like Orchid’s hands.

She was here, in the bathroom. Not the nightmarish version of her she had grown to fear, but the real Orchid, glimmers of her soul in the aura of comfort.

“Can you hold me?” she asks him, shivers in her voice.

“Always.”

Veneer holds out his arms, and she shrivels into them. Her head finds its place on his chest, letting her relax to his steady heartbeat.

He was unhealthily skinny, but his embrace was still that of the brother she had always known. His gaunt fingers thread through her hair, and his thin lips press a kiss to the top of her head.

“Please take me with you,” he whispers.

“No.”

That was it. Veneer begged whenever he could, but found that asking over and over again wouldn’t make her budge. Neither would his wearing tank tops to bed, or strategically positioning his shoulder or neck against her mouth.

It was hard to believe the supernova happened just hours ago. Velvet’s head hurt too much to think about it; instead, she was focused on Orchid’s shirt on her brother.

“Orchid wore that top for our first sleepover,” she reminisces. “She said it was the sexiest outfit she had.”

“Oh. I don’t feel very sexy,” Veneer replies.

She tries to laugh, but it comes out just a hum. It hurt like hell, but still, Velvet liked talking about her. Anything to remind her of the real Orchid, the real girl she loved.

“Yeah, Orchid wore it better,” she claims. She adds in a whisper, “I miss her.”

“I miss her too.” He holds her closer. “Do you wanna talk about it?”

There was so much she wanted to say. She missed everything, from her soft skin to her stupid jokes to her adorable laugh. She missed waking up with Orchid nestled in her arms, and the little kisses they shared when neither of them wanted to get up.

It was so unfair—after just a month, the girl who loved her more than life itself had her own life ripped from her.

“Sometimes she’d kiss me right here,” she tells him, pointing over his heart. “I never thought… I never thought a girl could love me as much as she did.”

Veneer was the only one she would ever dare tell about her insecurities, in that falling from fame made her unlovable. But Orchid had showed her that wasn’t true, and died proving it.

All her fans loved her when she was a star; of course they did. But Orchid was different—she loved her all the time, whether she was a star, a criminal, or just herself. Velvet never had to be anyone else around her; Orchid would always see her as perfection.

Now, those eyes that saw perfection were eternally closed, covered by earth. All of that love, that adoration, that worship, gone. If Velvet’s divinity could no longer be seen, did it still exist?

“Loving you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Veneer assures, “and I’m sure Orchid feels the same way. You’re beautiful, Vels. All of you.”

“Even if I’m going crazy?”

“Especially when you’re going crazy. I need you to remember I’m here, and I love you, no matter what.”

Veneer had proven that time and time again. Whether they were kids, superstars, criminals, or just themselves, he had loved her just the same. Even when she was a jerk. Even when she was losing her mind.

“I love you too,” she echoes.

“You must be hungry. Want me to make you breakfast?”

“My appetite’s kinda gone,” she sighs; her stomach was still unhappy. Food was probably a bad idea, but of course her logic didn’t stifle the hunger for the life of the person holding her.

“How about your tea? I’ll make you some,” he offers.

She nods, not bothering to remind him that her tea was actually Orchid’s. She lets him help her to stand, and after a bit of stumbling, she finds her balance.

As they walk through her and Orchid’s room, Velvet pauses at a pile of clothes on the bed. She beckons Veneer over, and holds up a pastel pink satin robe.

“You look cold. Here,” she offers.

The real reason she picked it out for him was to help her resist the urge to infect him at every second, and they both knew it. Neither wanted to bring it up.

She drapes the robe over his shoulders, then ties it in the front. Then, they continue the path to the main room, squeezing each other’s hands.

Velvet sits down on the pull out bed, while Veneer starts her tea in the kitchen. Ritz was beside her, wearing oversized basketball shorts and one of Orchid’s cardigans.

She felt like she hadn’t seen him in a while. Of course, they talked to each other every day, but he was in another world. A world without the dread of the infection always in the back of his mind.

“Hey,” she gets his attention, lightly tapping on his cheek.

He turns to face her, his violet eyes still sleepy. “Hey, Velvet. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, all good,” she lies. “Maybe something I ate. Or I’m dehydrated. I dunno.”

She did know, but it wasn’t like she could tell him.

“The sky’s weird,” she changes the subject. “There was a supernova close to us. I mean, like, a few hundred light years. You can probably see it outside right now.”

“Woah. Once in a lifetime event,” Ritz comments flatly. “I wish I could be excited.”

“Me too,” she sighs, leaning her head on his shoulder.

She spoke without speaking, as she takes his hand and traces around his fingers. His hand was shaking, but it was the kind of shake that came from a lack of touch. Velvet knew it well.

“You have pretty hands,” she tells him. “They’re soft.” Not as soft as Orchid’s.

They fall into a comfortable silence, but it was soon broken by Veneer, when he returns with one cup of tea.

One cup.

//

One.

Ritz knew it wasn’t for him.

Seriously?! One?!

Velvet had sat up to take her tea, leaving Ritz enough space to have an outburst. He knew he should keep his head down and wait out the neglect, but just seeing that one cup, realizing his lover hadn’t even bothered to ask if he was thirsty, sent him over the edge.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” Ritz rolls his eyes. He throws off his blanket, and stands up to face him.

“Oh wonderful, what did I do this time?” Veneer sighs with exasperation.

“I don’t know, maybe you could ask, ‘hey, Ritz, my boyfriend that I’m supposed to love and care for, would you like some tea to comfort you grieving your dead best friend?’”

“Guys, please don’t fight-“ Velvet starts, but Ritz wasn’t done.

“Velvet, it’s not the end of the world if Veneer takes a moment to make me a drink, too, right? Or if I want to go outside and grieve Orchid? You’re not gonna fucking die, right?”

It was too late when Ritz realized he hit a nerve. Veneer’s eye twitches with a quiet rage, and he storms over to meet him, at an arm length distance. Ritz braces for whatever he would have to endure next, while Veneer’s shouting fills the room.

“Leave her OUT OF THIS!”

//

Veneer realized he had gone too far when Ritz flinches, but he couldn’t stop. Velvet was more important right now. Velvet needed him.

“You have no idea what my sister’s going through! Sorry I can’t be your personal servant!”

Sure, he had promised to take care of Ritz, and he would have to in just over two weeks. That is, if he decided to stay alive. But these weeks were his last moments with Velvet, and he couldn’t afford any distractions.

“‘Servant’?! That’s rich,” Ritz scoffs. “I’m thrilled when you look at me like I’m trash, ‘cause at least you’re looking at me. Like right now! You look like you hate me. Do you hate me? Huh? Do you?”

The answer yes was looking good right now, but that was a lie even Veneer wouldn’t tell. He loved him, he just needed him to shut up sometimes. A lot of the time.

“I don’t hate you-“

“Oh, you look like you want to hurt me so bad. What’s it gonna be? The kettle? A knife? Do you wanna stab me? Or do you just want to use your hands like normal?”

Veneer hated that this was normal now. He never wanted to hurt the boy he loved, but if his sister’s safety was at risk, he’d do anything. Anything at all to keep her safe.

“I’m not going to hit you!” Veneer seethes, barely controlling his temper. If that counter had been a little harder…

“Yay! Wow!” Ritz applauds. “He’s not going to hit me! Isn’t he such a good boyfriend?! Does he even want to be my boyfriend anymore? Do you not love me anymore?!”

At Ritz’s accusation, Veneer starts to realize just how awful of a boyfriend he had been. But was being a good boyfriend really a priority, when he had to be a good brother…?

No, no, this was wrong! Ritz was the love of his life! He couldn’t lose him, too. But Velvet needed him. Ritz just didn’t understand.

“Of course I still love you, I just-“ he starts, but Ritz cuts him off.

“Actually, I don’t give a shit.” Ritz’s face falls flat, and he storms towards the front door. He opens it, with no reaction whatsoever to the second star burning through the daylight.

“Where are you going?!” Veneer shouts, following him to the door.

Ritz whips his head around, fear, anger, and hurt painting his gorgeous violet eyes. His face was red and contorted, his heartache spilling from every tear streaming down his cheeks.

Ritz’s next statement stung worse than any slap.

“Where do you think?! Outside! To someone who actually CARES about me! That YOU KILLED!”

Veneer couldn’t tell the difference between the sound of the door slamming in his face, and his own heart breaking. Before he could say another word, he starts to hiccup, then bursts into tears.

He hides his face in his hands, but quickly feels another pair of arms wrap around his shoulders from behind. He grabs onto those arms, feeling the true reason why he was put on this world.

“I love you,” his sister whispers, with a kiss to the top of his head.

He never wanted to hurt Orchid. Even now, he wished there was something else he could’ve done, that wouldn’t have ended in him being a murderer.

“I didn’t want to kill her!” he cries out. “I loved her! I love her so much, I just want her back, Vels, I want her back!”

“I want her back, too,” she sniffles. “You… you had to do it. She was gonna kill me.”

“You’re still gonna die! And now Ritz hates me! And I deserve it,” he sobs.

Velvet turns him around, and lets him collapse into her arms. He had missed her holding him, and he just wanted to be held, but not like this. Not when he had broken everything in their lives, just like he always did.

“He doesn’t hate you,” she assures, and kisses his forehead. “He loves you so much. But you need to talk to him. …I don’t like it when you guys fight,” she adds.

If Velvet said to talk to him, Veneer would certainly try. He didn’t like fighting with Ritz, either. He’d probably just make it worse, but if Velvet was upset, he’d do anything to make it right. Velvet needed him.

“I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to say to him,” he says, melting into her tight embrace.

Whenever he got into fights with Velvet, he would always end up giving in and doing whatever she wanted. The one time he didn’t, they got sent to prison. Now, in her final days, he wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

It wasn’t like that with Ritz. Veneer knew he needed to talk to him, but any conversation they had lately devolved into an argument. It didn’t help that right now, Ritz was outside with his best friend, whom Veneer had killed.

“I murdered her! She’s dead because of me!” he spirals. “I murdered his best friend!”

“He didn’t mean what he said,” Velvet reasons. “When I’m mad at you, I say dumb stuff, right?”

He never thought what she said about him was dumb. It was only the truth.

“Yeah…” he mumbles.

“But you know I still love you. And I know you still love me. So you should go out there, and remind him how much you love him.”

Even if he tried to make it right, he couldn’t bring Orchid back. He couldn’t undo what he had done to her, to Ritz, to everyone.

Truly, he only had one regret—that he couldn’t protect Velvet from getting infected. Everything he had done since had been for her, and if it would make her the slightest bit safer, he didn’t care who got hurt. As long as his sister was safe. She needed him.

And he needed her, more than anything else.

“But I can’t stop hurting him,” he cries. “I love him, but I just… I can’t… I don’t know!”

“Are you sorry?”

Veneer hadn’t been expecting that question, but he had an immediate answer. After some thought, the answer became more and more clouded, and he didn’t know how to respond.

“I don’t know! I didn’t want to hurt him, but he… I was trying to keep you safe. He’d try to kill you if he found out. You’re everything to me,” he reminds her.

He hadn’t given a yes or no, but to his relief, Velvet didn’t push it. She just gives him a tight squeeze, with another forehead kiss.

“He’s not gonna find out,” she reassures. “So don’t hurt him for me. If this is really it for me, I want you two to get along. I love him, too. I want… I want you both to be happy.”

Veneer had always been so concerned with his sister’s happiness, that his own wasn’t really a priority. Besides, if she was happy, then he was, too. It was uncanny to hear that statement from her, as if joy could be found while his everything was about to die.

“Give him a hug, if he’s okay with that,” she advises. “Holding you always makes me feel better. Or just hold his hand. Just let him know you’re there.”

It was true, he missed holding Ritz. He had to put Velvet first, but he had missed all the caresses he shared with his lover. He missed intertwining their fingers and kissing his hands, kissing his lips, being tucked in his loving arms.

“I miss him,” he admits aloud.

“Then tell him. He’s right out there. I’m sure he misses you, too.”

“Why would he?”

“‘Cause he loves you,” she emphasizes.

He sniffles and hugs her close, trying to regain his composure before he’d have to talk to Ritz. “I love him. I love him so much.”

“You don’t need to tell me. Go tell him.”

His sister was right—it was up to him. If he could fix it with Velvet all those years ago, he could fix it with Ritz.

But that left one key problem: talking to him now would mean leaving Velvet alone. He refused to leave her side for more than a couple minutes, and she refused to leave his.

“I don’t wanna leave you here.” He squeezes her tighter.

“I’ll be okay. I really want you two to make up. Besides, I think I’m done throwing up for today,” she adds with a snicker.

“Are you sure? You’re not gonna…” he trails off, unable to voice his fears—that Velvet might take her own life to protect him.

“I’ll be right here,” she promises. “And I wanna see you love him like you love me.”

That was an impossible request—his love for his sister was astronomical compared to his love for Ritz. But he would try, if it would make Velvet happy. He wanted to make Ritz happy, too.

“Okay. I’ll be back soon,” he decides.

“You got this. I love you.”

//

After some big sister advice, he was ready to make things right. He had to lie about Velvet’s condition, of course, and he had to prioritize her. But other than that, both he and his sister wanted Ritz to be himself again.

For the first time since Orchid died, the sky was alive with clouds. They blocked out the sun, but failed to obscure the lone star in the daytime sky, tearing itself apart for all to see.

Ritz was next to Orchid’s grave, leaning against the wall of the house. His head was down, uninterested in the sky’s anomalies.

Veneer takes a deep breath, and puts on a soft smile. He stands next to him, and lays a hand on his shoulder, but Ritz shrugs it away.

“What do you want?” he snaps. “Are you gonna yell at me again?”

“No,” he answers calmly. “I want to talk with you.”

“I didn’t mean what I said,” Ritz confesses.

Veneer hadn’t expected such honesty so soon. It didn’t surprise him, though—Ritz valued the truth more than anything.

Ritz finally brings his head up, to meet Veneer’s eyes. “You really want to talk?”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re not lying to me?”

“No,” Veneer lies. “I promise.”

Ritz’s sincerity continues, “I know you had to kill Orchid to save us. She was already gone. I just said that to hurt you, but… I don’t want to hurt you. She wouldn’t want us to fight.”

“I don’t want to hurt you, either,” he agrees. “You’re right, she’d want us to just be… us.”

Ritz had let his guard down, and so had Veneer. He takes his hand to Ritz’s—it was healing nicely—and brushes his thumb against his palm. Ritz reciprocates the touch, until their fingers were interlaced.

“I miss us,” Ritz confides.

“I miss you,” Veneer tells him.

“I miss you too.”

Veneer wasn’t sure how long he had been lost in those pretty eyes, when it occurred to him that he hadn’t been alone with Ritz in days.

Ritz must have been having the same thought. In that instant, he wraps his arms around Veneer, and presses a hard kiss right in his lips.

As quickly as the kiss happened, it was over. The two stood motionless beside the grave, neither wanting to leave the other’s arms.

“I need you,” Ritz whispers, before returning his soft lips to Veneer’s.

If Veneer could have stayed here forever, he would have. He runs his hand through Ritz’s hair as he had done countless times, although it felt even better now that they had made up.

But as much as Veneer loved him, cherished him, adored him, at his lover’s statement, he came to the horrifying conclusion that he didn’t need Ritz.

“I want you,” Veneer breathes in response.

For once, the water on their faces wasn’t tears. They look up in unison to see the first raindrops since Orchid’s death falling from the dark clouds.

The pause only lasted a second. Veneer takes the lead this time and kisses him again, and right now, there was nothing he wanted to do more. Almost nothing could stop him, especially not a little rain. Besides, Ritz loved the rain.

Soon enough, the rain wasn’t so little anymore. As the downpour increased intensity, so had Veneer and Ritz, until they firmly believed they were the only two people in the world.

//

Ritz knew he was greedy, but that didn’t stop him from wanting more. This was his chance to have all of Veneer’s attention, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to pass it up. He decided then that he’d do anything to keep his focus, anything he wanted.

Another kiss was interrupted by a burst of lightning, followed by a strike of thunder. Ritz didn’t care—all he wanted was to keep holding onto him—but Veneer had other plans.

“Wanna take this inside?” Veneer directs, leading him over to the shed. That was fine by Ritz; he certainly didn’t want to go back in the house and lose this moment.

The two were soaked with rain by the time they stumbled into the shed, and shut the door. Ritz stands across Veneer for a moment, taking in the boy he loved, finally looking back at him.

They were both panting, Ritz could tell from the rise and fall of Veneer’s satiny robe. But Ritz wouldn’t be satisfied until they were both entirely breathless.

Ritz lets out a gasp when his lover slips behind him, and shoves him against the cabinets. He could feel Veneer’s necklace dig into his back, and could barely form a thought as kisses trail down his neck. And it felt so amazing to be kissed, that it almost made up for everything else.

He reaches behind himself to toy with a faded blue lock of Veneer’s hair, when he’s met with a tug at his waist. Pressed in between the shed’s cabinets and the love of his life wasn’t where Ritz expected to be, but he wouldn’t trade it for anything.

“I missed you so much,” Veneer whispers into his ear, his hands snaking down to his hips.

“Doesn’t seem like it,” he sasses.

His lover challenges, with a caress along his thigh. “Want me to prove it?”

“Please,” he breathes out.

Ritz was so starved for affection, that even the tiniest brush of hands was a miracle. This sudden proximity was almost too much—almost, but never too much.

The lack of distance between them wouldn’t make him forget about what he had done. But he was willing to let Veneer change his mind, or change him in general.

“You know,” Veneer hums, walking his fingers to the drawstrings of Ritz’s shorts. “I read somewhere that keeping on wet clothes can make you sick. You don’t want that, do you?”

“No, no I don’t,” he answers, his face going warm. This might be his only chance alone with him—he wanted to get as close as possible.

“That’s right.” His fingertips graze under his shorts, just over the waistband of his boxers. “I need to hear you say yes, okay? Tell me if you want to stop.”

“Yes—I never want you to stop.” Part of Ritz wanted him to hurry the fuck up, but part of him couldn’t get enough of the soft touches against his waist. What happened next felt even better, though, as he feels those pretty hands slide down his legs, revealing his previously covered tattoos.

The kisses against the back of his thighs felt like heaven on earth, like how Veneer’s love used to feel. Ritz didn’t care what Veneer wanted from him—he just loved being wanted. Anything to be loved. Anything to be wanted. Anything.

“Please,” he repeats, this time in a shaky sigh. “Please, let me see you, I need to kiss you,” he urges.

Veneer listens, but not before standing up with another tug at his waist. He leans over him, and shoves the counter clear. He then flips Ritz around, and kisses his lips as he lifts him up, his arm wrapped around his thighs.

Ritz quickly finds himself sat on top of the cabinets, pressed against the wall and his lover. He wraps his legs around him, so this time, Veneer couldn’t leave. It was especially easy to squeeze around his waist, as it was so thin from his refusal to eat. But he didn’t care what all the stress and malnourishment had done to him—Veneer was still the most gorgeous star he had ever felt.

Thunder roared outside, but the only sounds Ritz cared about were Veneer’s electric whispers in his ear. He hoped he’d get struck by lightning before this had to end.

“I wanna kiss your scars,” Veneer requests in between kisses. “Can I see you?”

“Yes, please, yes,” he begs.

He stares down at Veneer as his hands travel to the first button of his orchid-colored cardigan. Soon enough, all the buttons were undone, and the cardigan was slid off his shoulders.

“You’re so handsome,” Veneer whispers, trailing kisses down his neck, down his chest, along his scars. “I wanna remind you how much I love you.”

“I love, I love you too,” Ritz struggles out, grasping at his hair, his robe, anything to make sure he wouldn’t leave.

The taste of rain lingered on his lips, though it was undistinguishable from the taste of the star he loved. The kisses he loved seemed to graze every inch of his scars, until they found their way back to his lips. He’d let Veneer kiss anywhere, and he hoped he would, if it would regain his affection.

“Please don’t stop,” Ritz whispers against him. “I miss you so fucking much. I just want you back. I love you.”

Veneer answers with another kiss, his hands finding their place in his hair and around his waist. Ritz wanted it all—the kisses, the affection, all the love he’d been deprived of for so long. He still wasn’t sure if it was real love, but pretending it was was plenty for him. Veneer was here. That was all he really needed. It didn’t matter what was going through his lover’s head.

The little whispers against his skin were things Ritz had heard countless times, but not since Veneer started despising him. You’re so handsome. I love you. You’re beautiful. I love you. I want you. I love you. I want you.

As for Ritz, all he desired in the storm was to be wanted. And he had that, even if the kisses on his neck were starting to hurt. He could feel those hands that had caused him so much pain over every inch of him, only now they were tender against his bare skin.

Veneer pauses just for a moment, only to run his thumb across Ritz’s lips.

“Close your eyes,” he instructs, pulling him even closer. “Can I tell you a secret?”

Ritz does as he says, so that every kiss, every touch that came next was an electrifying surprise. “I thought we said no more secrets.”

Though the thunder crashed outside, Ritz had no problem hearing Veneer’s gorgeous voice whispered against him.

“I know. I just came up with this one. Wanna hear it?”

“Tell me,” Ritz urges, holding onto his shoulders like it was the last time, “please tell me.”

Something had been different about the twins, so maybe Veneer was finally about to tell him what was going on. He combs his hands through his long wet hair, anticipating the news.

Instead, Veneer’s secret was something Ritz never would have guessed in a million years.

“I want to make you my husband.”

Ritz’s eyes nearly burst open, but remembering Veneer’s direction, he squeezes them shut. Before he could even say yes, Veneer interrupts him with a kiss on the mouth.

“I mean,” Veneer backtracks, traveling kisses back down. “We couldn’t,” a kiss to his neck, to his sternum, “‘cause of,” to his scars, “…

…

…

Velvet!”

“Wait!”

Veneer gasps in horror, and rips himself away from Ritz. He knew it was over, but in a lasting attempt, he squeezes tighter around Veneer’s waist, but it was no use. By the time Ritz opened his eyes, he was gone.

The only evidence of him was the shed’s door left swinging open. The rain poured inside.

//

How could he be so stupid? His sister was terrified of thunderstorms! And to make it worse, she was sick, and he had left her alone! In what world had this been a good idea?!?

Veneer didn’t have time to close the door. He rushes out of the shed and into the house, to find her curled up in tears in front of the counter.

“Vels! Vels, c’mere, I gotcha,” he soothes, sinking down to hold her.

“Veneer, I, I didn’t think, I,” she stutters, and flinches when thunder claps outside.

He shields her with his embrace, hating himself for not being with her when the storm started. He never should’ve left her in the first place.

“She said she’d, she’d protect me,” Velvet gasps out, covering her ears. “She lied! She’s not here to protect me!”

“I’ll protect you,” he promises. He hated seeing her so scared like this—normally, his sister wasn’t afraid of anything. Now, all her worst fears were starting to resurface, and all he could do was hold her.

She cries into his chest, but soon enough, her cries started to overpower the storm. That was good—it was quieting down.

“It’s moving away,” Veneer tells her. “It’ll be over soon. Just hold me until then. You’re safe right here.”

“Where’s,” she sniffles, “Where’s Ritz?”

Oh, right. He was still in the shed. He’d be back once he got dressed, Veneer figured.

“Don’t worry,” he reassures. “He’s fine.”

//

How could he be so stupid? He should’ve known he couldn’t have Veneer all to himself. Velvet took priority. He should know by now that she’s more important, always.

Warmth tingled through his skin, but it was fading fast. The rain coming in through the open door left a chill.

He looks down at his legs, open around the empty space where Veneer had been seconds ago. He snaps them shut.

His face started to feel warm, but not in any way that would shield him from the cold. The heat wasn’t love, or excitement, or electricity. It was embarrassment.

Ritz couldn’t count the number of times he had just said yes, with the idiotic assumption that Veneer wouldn’t leave him alone. Everything had felt heavenly, but was it worth it, if he was just going to be abandoned again? Is this all he wants from me? Is this all I’m good for? If I knew he was going to leave, would I have still said yes?

He didn’t know the answer. What he did know was that he hated feeling like this, but he still didn’t know what this was.

Subconsciously, his fingertips graze over his scars. Maybe, if he touched them, he could get a lingering feeling of his lover. But it was no use—the lips that had screamed at him, then kissed him there, were gone.

At least he had Veneer’s back to stare at while he cried himself to sleep. Even when the twins were talking privately, they were just in the other room. But now, for the first time, he was truly alone.

Or had he always been alone?

His uninjured hand touches his bruised wrist. It makes its way to the back of his head, which still throbbed sometimes. Finally, it brushes against his cheek, where he had felt Veneer’s hand for the first time after Orchid stopped breathing.

Her cardigan was behind him. He bundles it up, and holds it to his chest, praying for some sign of her.

In the depths of his mind, he knew Orchid loved Velvet more than him. That was natural. But even so, she would never let him feel like this. He buries his face in the cardigan while the tears start to fall, and he didn’t know why he was crying, because this was how it had to be, but he couldn’t stop.

He imagines her arms around him, hugging him tight. He imagines her kissing him on the cheek like she used to, and telling him she loved him. It was still her voice in his head, but now, it was only in his head.

Before he could get a hold of himself, he finds himself sobbing into her cardigan. Crying over this made him even more of an embarrassment—it was his fault for letting it happen—but he couldn’t contain the wails that escaped him.

I should just be glad I’m alive, he convinces himself. He had seen Veneer kill for Velvet. Whenever he crossed a line, he couldn’t shake the fear that he’d be next, but a part of him didn’t mind. Especially now, he wanted to see Orchid more than anything.

His mind wanders back to all the times before, when Veneer would love him with no intention of leaving. When he’d hold him close at night, and talk to him for hours about anything and everything. He missed their conversations, and above all, he missed him.

Part of him hoped that Veneer would come back and carry him home. Eventually, he accepts that no one was coming to save him, and stands up. He kisses the cardigan, hoping Orchid could feel it, then wraps it around himself. All alone, he redresses himself, feeling his face still hot with humiliation.

On the walk back to the house, he stops at Orchid’s grave.

“I love you.”

If she could, he knew she would say it back. If she could, he knew she would stay.

When he opens the door, he wasn’t surprised at all. The twins were on the floor, holding each other, and Veneer was consoling his sister as the storm quieted down.

Ritz catches a glimpse of her face. It was red and puffy, streaked with tears down her left side. Her gaze darts to him, and they lock eyes.

Ritz crosses his arms, shielding himself with the cardigan. His hands shake, as anger builds up in his chest.

This was her fault. Velvet was the reason Veneer left him alone. Velvet was the reason Veneer felt the need to hurt him. Velvet was the reason Orchid put them all in danger. All of this was for Velvet.

“Ritz!” Velvet exclaims, standing up and running towards him. “Oh my god, you look terrible! Are you okay?”

Concern filled her expression, which was a new development since her famous days. Nevertheless, he couldn’t fathom why she’d be worried about him, when she was the reason for his suffering.

He wanted to tell her he hated her. He wanted to tell her all sorts of awful things, like how it was her fault Orchid was dead, and she should have died instead. He wanted to take out all his pain on her, until she felt just as horrible as him.

Instead, he collapses into her arms.

//

“Ritz! What happened? What’s wrong?”

He had just been glaring at her, so she hadn’t expected him to throw his arms around her. She holds him close when he bursts into tears.

His only answer was unintelligible sobs. It was as if he was hiding in the crook of her neck, like he didn’t want her or Veneer to see his face. Velvet didn’t want to think about how he might be hiding from Veneer.

She knew now what her brother was capable of, and she wasn’t surprised. He had always prioritized her, and she had expected him to. But Ritz was her friend, and even if she couldn’t tell him the truth, she wanted to see him safe in her final days. With a sickening feeling in her stomach, she glances at his neck, and she only hoped those marks were out of love.

She tucks his hair behind his ear, and whispers so that only he could hear. “Are you hurt?”

He squeezes her shoulders, and shakes his head. Good—at least he wasn’t hurt physically. But she could hear the pain in his cries, and couldn’t imagine how awful he was feeling inside.

If she had to guess, Velvet assumed that something more than a hard conversation had happened outside. She didn’t want the details, but she wanted to know why he was so upset, and above all, take care of him. It felt odd, wanting to care for him in the midst of everything else, but she missed her friend. She missed the boy Orchid loved with her entire heart, right up until she smiled at him for the last time.

More than that, though, she liked the way he clung onto her. It made her feel needed, wanted. She wanted him to feel safe, of course, and that would make him want her even more.

“Veneer! Get him some water!” she demands. She gently pulls away from Ritz to grab him a blanket, but he clings onto her tighter. “You’re freezing, I’m getting you a blanket, I’m staying right here,” she explains.

Velvet wraps a blanket around them both—she was also freezing, as usual—and sits with him on the edge of the bed. Veneer returns with a glass of water and hands it to her, which she then holds to Ritz’s lips. Ritz’s cries stopped for a moment as he drank, but quickly return, as he snuggles into her arms.

Her brother sits down beside them, keeping his distance. He says nothing.

“Veneer,” she accuses, “What did you do?”

“I, I don’t, I-“ he stutters, but she wasn’t having it.

“Veneer!”

“I started it,” Ritz interjects through his sniffles. “We were talking, and I kissed him, and we went in the shed and we were gonna… but, but he realized you were alone and scared ‘cause the storm, and, and ran out.”

Ritz had confirmed her suspicions, but in doing so, the sliver of his face she could see had turned red. Again, she wasn’t surprised that Veneer had left him to take care of her. She couldn’t imagine him doing anything else.

But she knew what it was like to feel unwanted, and she didn’t want to even imagine her friend feeling that way.

Even now, she yearned for that attention, that adoration. If Veneer didn’t accept it from Ritz, Velvet certainly would, if only for a hint of that familiar rush. Maybe it was the affection, maybe it was because his eyes held Orchid’s wonder, but her heart started to speed up.

“I’ve got you now,” she assures, stroking his hair. “What do you need?”

“Her,” he chokes out.

“I know. I need her too. Here.” She offers him her left hand, so that he could feel Orchid’s ring.

Ritz runs his fingertips over the red-stained grooves of the ring, then gives it a delicate kiss. Velvet returns the gesture with a kiss to his cheek, which was still streaked with tears.

“I love you,” she reminds him. “And Orchid loved you so much.”

Veneer adds in, “I love you, too.”

Finally, Ritz turns to face him. His eyes on Veneer didn’t change his expression, still flushed and contorted with heartbreak. Unlike earlier, he didn’t seem angry—just upset.

“Then… why don’t you act like it?” Ritz asks, his voice breaking. He reaches out, and lays a hand on Veneer’s knee. “Why do you keep leaving me? I just want to be with you…”

Ritz trails off, deciding to hide his face in Velvet’s shoulder again. He snatches his hand away from Veneer, afraid of the risk of his words.

Velvet gives him a tight squeeze, and starts to rock him side to side. She wondered if this was how Veneer felt whenever he consoled her. After everything she had been through, it felt nice to be the one doing the consoling for once, even if all she wanted to do was infect the boy in her arms.

“I’m…” Veneer starts, “I’m sorry.”

Based on their conversation earlier, Velvet wasn’t sure if he was lying.

“I just need you to love me,” Ritz whispers. “I need you.”

“I do love you,” Veneer promises. “I don’t know… it’s just, she’s gone, and I…”

“It’s okay,” Ritz sighs.

The memory of that day was engraved in Velvet’s mind—Orchid’s infected screeches, and her face as the light left her eyes. Even if Velvet wasn’t going to die, she didn’t believe any of them would recover from Orchid’s death. The house was too quiet without her.

She keeps holding onto Ritz, and kisses the top of his head. He seemingly had nothing more to say, but he reaches out his hand towards Veneer. He takes it, and they interlace their fingers, like they used to.

Based on what she knew, Velvet understood if Ritz didn’t want to forgive her brother. At times, she didn’t feel like forgiving him, either. But their intertwined fingers gave her the faith that they would be okay, even after she was gone. She could see the love between them, even if they didn’t know how to express it. She only hoped it could get them through it when she had to die.

In her arms, Ritz looked the smallest he ever had. Her love for him couldn’t make her tell him the truth, but she wished that when she was gone, he’d remember how she held him. She rubs circles around his lower back, hoping her touch could give him some kind of comfort, like it did for Orchid and Veneer.

“I love you,” Velvet repeats. “I love you both. I’m gonna stay with you. I’m never gonna leave,” she promises. It was a lie, but he didn’t need to know that.

Either Ritz or Veneer responds with another “I love you,” but she couldn’t tell over the ringing in her ears.

//

Tucked in that night next to Veneer, Ritz didn’t know what to think. Veneer had even made a compromise—he still only held Velvet, but laid on his back, so that Ritz could see his face. That had to be enough for Ritz, he convinces himself.

Though Veneer wasn’t holding him, Ritz couldn’t rid himself of his touch. He could still feel his hands on his waist, his whispers in his ear, his lips over his scars.

And yet, he wanted Veneer to touch him again, but… gently. A hug just for the sake of holding him. A kiss just for the sake of feeling each other’s smiles, knowing that they would make it through this.

Did he forgive Veneer, not only for today’s mishap, but for everything else? Not really. Did he still love him, though? Of course. He had no one but the twins. He needed them, especially the love of his life.

What he really needed was Orchid. He had thought about joining her plenty, but always decided against it. He wasn’t sure why—it would help the twins out, so it seemed. Maybe it was the hope that Veneer would be sad if he was gone, that convinced him to stay.

For now, maybe he could see Orchid in his dreams.

//

The ocean breeze blew through his hair, as the birds sang in the sky above him. They seemed unbothered by the second star in the evening sky, its self-destruction shining through the pink and purple hues.

Ritz had never been fond of the beach, but he didn’t mind it now. While he loved the little house he had made into home with Orchid, being somewhere else for once was refreshing. Besides, he got the sense he was dreaming, so he wouldn’t wake up with sand everywhere.

He walks along the beach, taking in the ocean’s relaxing scent. Soon after, though, he sees that he isn’t alone.

A figure stood on the shoreline, his face hidden by his long green and blue hair flowing in the breeze. He was adorned in a baby blue nightgown, and his gaze was focused on the sunset.

“Hey,” Ritz approaches.

The figure tilts his head to Ritz, wearing a red-lipped grin. Rosy blush sparkled on his cheeks, bringing out the color in his face that had been gone since he killed Orchid.

“Hi, Ritz,” he greets, smiling at him with that loving expression he missed so much. “Do I look pretty?”

Veneer playfully spins around, his nightgown swishing around him. Ritz recognized it as Velvet’s nightgown, the one she had let him borrow. She was right—it did look beautiful with his eyes.

“So pretty,” Ritz answers.

This was his Veneer, the one he had fallen in love with. And the one he was still in love with, trapped under the overprotectiveness he felt for his sister. But this was a dream, and Velvet wasn’t here.

Veneer giggles with a glint in his blue eyes, and brushes the loose hair away from his face. “Hmm… Can I serenade you?”

The last time he had heard Veneer sing was right before he had heard Orchid scream. He missed that angelic voice that blessed his ears, that managed to make him forget about anything and everything else.

“Please do,” Ritz returns the grin, feeling the tide wash around his ankles.

Veneer’s face lights up, unlike the dull face Ritz saw when he was awake. He takes a deep breath, then envelops Ritz with that sweet voice.

“Inescapable, I’m not even gonna try
And if I get burned, at least we were electrified”

Still, he wanted Veneer to touch him. He wanted to caress his face, trace along his gold necklace, feel his waist in Veneer’s hands.

But Veneer kept his distance, without so much as a reach, only circling Ritz as he sang.

“I’m spilling wine in the bathtub
You kiss my face and we’re both drunk
Everyone thinks that they know us”

Veneer’s eyes were only on Ritz. He revels in the loving gaze—even though it was a dream, it was still Veneer, looking at him, without another obligation in his mind. Maybe he could just dream forever….

“But they know nothing about
All of the silence and patience, pining in anticipation
My hands are shaking from holding back from you”

He finally reaches out for Ritz, to which he reaches back, an electric current running between their fingertips. At the last second, Veneer pulls his hand away with a knowing grin, leaving Ritz reaching for nothing. It seemed as if Veneer wanted to touch him, but something, some external force, was holding him back.

“All of the silence and patience, pining and desperately waiting
My hands are shaking from all this”

Ritz finds himself pining for the boy in front of him, as he had done back in his famous days. Veneer was always who he wanted to be with. As scary as it was, that was still all Ritz wanted. All he needed. And now, it had to be. He had to trust him, he had to—which meant he had to trust Veneer would learn how to love him the way he needed. For now, he had the lover of his dreams, if only for a moment.

“Say my name and everything just stops”

“Veneer,” Ritz breathes out with a playful smirk.

Everything stops.

The color drains from Veneer’s face, and the breeze suddenly ceases, leaving him standing frozen. For a terrifying instant, his expression was completely blank. The only thing stopping him from looking infected were the contracted pupils of his eyes.

Veneer’s stillness was then broken by a convulsion, as he doubles over, clutching at his left side. He moans in pain, and when he removes his hands, they were covered in blood. A red stain quickly seeps into his nightgown, pooling from his ribs.

Grasping at the wound, he staggers towards Ritz, until he loses his strength and collapses onto him. Ritz tries to hold him up, struggling against the dead weight of his injured lover.

“Veneer! What’s happening?! What’s going on?! Why are you bleeding?!”

“You…”

Losing stamina by the second, Veneer sinks further down, until he was nearly on his knees. He uses the last of his strength to tug at Ritz’s shirt, while his other hand clutches his ribs. Veneer manages to look up at him, betrayal in his eyes.

“You did this to me.”

With those words, Veneer finally collapses onto the ground. Blood seeps into the sand from his wound, framing him in red. The tide washes over him, as he had no energy left to avoid the ocean’s force.

“VENEER!” Ritz screams, kneeling down into the water. It was getting stronger, and they didn’t have much time before the waves would submerge them both. “Veneer! I love you! Wake up! WAKE UP!”

It was too late. The water starting to surround them was already tinted red. Ritz holds Veneer’s head up to avoid the tides, but it was pointless—he wasn’t breathing.

“You’re… you’re pretty,” Ritz tells him. As he knelt, the cool water had reached his chest. “You’re so pretty.”

Ritz holds his pretty lover to his shoulder. He wasn’t scared of the waves approaching him. Veneer was already dying, and Ritz welcomed the ocean’s wrath. In his final second before the wave’s crash, Ritz nestles his head into the crook of Veneer’s neck, and hugs him tight.

//

“VENEER!” Ritz shouts himself awake, startling the boy holding him.

Holding him. Veneer was holding him.

“I’m so sorry,” Ritz mumbles through shivers, “I’m so sorry! I’m sorry! I didn’t want to hurt you!”

“Huh…?” Veneer groans. “What’s wrong? What are you talking about?”

Ritz frantically touches Veneer’s left side, feeling for the wound, but all he could feel was the smooth skin of his increasingly skinny body. He sighs in relief; it was just a dream.

“I had a bad dream about you,” Ritz admits. “You were hurt, and you died, and it was my fault somehow, and you were bleeding,” he rambles.

“I’m okay,” Veneer assures. There was a bigger problem, though, the reason Veneer was holding him—Velvet wasn’t there.

“Fuck!” Ritz exclaims, his eyes widening. “Where’s Velvet?”

Veneer pauses for a moment, thinking in some twin mindset that Ritz didn’t understand. He was oddly calm, as he slips out of the bed, then pulls the covers back over Ritz.

“I think I know where she is,” Veneer says. “But you should stay here. You need the rest, okay?” He squeezes Ritz’s shoulders, then leans over his face, his heart pendant dangling down. “Kiss?”

Ritz nods, to which Veneer gives him a gentle kiss on the forehead. He would’ve liked to know if Velvet was okay, but if Veneer wanted to take care of him by letting him sleep, he would gladly oblige. Besides, Velvet would come back safe. She always did.

//

Veneer couldn’t explain it, but as soon as he realized she wasn’t in his arms, he knew exactly where she was. Ritz seemed content with his lie, and it was true that he wanted him to get some sleep, but it was even more important that Ritz didn’t see a possible infection episode.

He turns the corner into Orchid’s room, and there she was, staring at the photo wall. She was eerily still, with a smile plastered on her lips, but no emotion in her eye. If he looked even closer, her pupil was dilated.

“Velvet.”

She snaps her head around to face him, and the rest of her body follows. Her smile never vanishes.

“Vels, what’s going on? It’s the middle of the night. Come back to bed.”

Her face remained still, aside from the twitch of her eye.

//

Velvet
Status: INFECTED: STAGE II
Health: 40%
Stress: 0%

//

Her brother was asking her questions. She couldn’t hear the words, but she liked the shapes his face made.

He had two pretty blue eyes, like she used to have. The blue in his hair was fading, and she liked that. It meant he looked like her again. He was wearing her robe. She liked that, too.

She really liked his hands. They were always there to hold her. She takes his left, and caresses it in her own hands.

His hands were what took Orchid from her. His hands were the undoing of her fame, of everything she ever wanted.

She looks at the photo wall, and sees herself and her brother happy, famous, and in their prime. She looks at her brother across from her, and sees him worried, sickly, and in the worst condition he had ever been in.

He was still talking, but the only thing she understood was that she liked the sound of his voice. She kisses each of his fingertips, and pretends each one is her brother at a different point in time, whether it be their childhood, stardom, or just weeks after the outbreak.

His hand was so thin, yet so soft. There was barely enough for her to bite into, so she let it be. If she was going to infect him, which she wasn’t, she’d want to do it somewhere more satisfying, like her favorite shoulder to sleep on.

Instead, she holds it in her hands, and runs her thumbs over his protruding bones. She could feel his eyes on her, but her only focus was on his hand, the one that cradled her, played with her hair, and destroyed her dreams.

“Velvet? Can you hear me?”

Her eye narrows as she presses down, as she feels the corners of her mouth turn upward.

“Ow, Vels,” he winces, “that kinda hurts.”

She loved him so much, even if he had taken everything from her. She loved him, and she wanted to show him just how much she loved him.

The greatest love she could give would be to infect him, but she had already told Orchid she would never do it. She couldn’t let her win.

Orchid was there, of course, laying on her bed, watching from empty eyes. Velvet paid her no attention—all she cared about right now was her brother’s hand.

She squeezes harder, and presses down.

She presses down, and down, and down, until the bones break with a satisfying snap.

Veneer bites his lip to muffle a wail, while Velvet looks back up at his face. Tears well up in his eyes, which were still filled with love and admiration.

She looks into his eyes, then down at his broken hand. Then up to his eyes, then down to his hand. To his eyes, to his hand.

Oh my god… what did I do?!

She could finally see him, really see him. Veneer was still biting his lip to muffle his pained cries, and his hand had quickly turned red and swollen.

A second later, Velvet had no memory of breaking his hand. All she knew was that she did it, and now her brother was in pain because of her.

“Holy shit, Ven, I… I don’t know what’s happening to me. I didn’t mean to-“

“Do the other one.”

Veneer interrupts her, as he holds out his right hand, smooth and unharmed. “Break it.”

“What?”

“I said break it!”

He was determined—he braces for the pain as he positions his unbroken hand in hers, and waits for the next snap.

Velvet’s lips lay agape in horror, realizing what he wanted. He wanted the pain, for some reason she didn’t understand.

“What? No!” she refuses. “What are you saying?!”

“I want you to break it! Please, Velvet, just break it…”

“Why?!”

“Because you were smiling!”

Whether the tears in her brother’s eyes were from emotional or physical pain, she assumed both. There was still so much love in his gaze, staring up at her. Slowly, she pulls her hands away from his.

“You looked happy! I just want to make you smile,” Veneer chokes out.

“Oh, Ven…” she responds, “Hurting you doesn’t make me happy.”

She wasn’t sure if that was true. Whatever she had felt while breaking his hand was lost to the infection, but she had a terrible instinct that… it had felt good.

“I said I never wanted to hurt you again, remember?” she reminds him.

“That was before you got infected!” he shoots back. “Vels, please, just do it! I’m begging you!”

He sinks to his knees, and holds out his hand for her to break. He was crying in anticipation, but that didn’t stop him from kneeling in front of her, allowing her to hurt him in whichever way she pleased.

She wanted nothing more then to accept his offer, and claim his hand, his eyes, his heart, for herself to take.

Instead, she kneels down to meet his level. She gives his tear-streaked face a soft caress, and tilts his head up to meet her gaze.

Velvet didn’t know what to say, at least not with words. For now, she brings him into her arms, and softly kisses his forehead.

“Just do it,” Veneer mumbles. “I know you want to.”

“I’m not gonna hurt you,” she replies, refusing to tell him how correct he was.

He clings onto her, and in seconds, he was lost in sobs once again. “I just wanna make you happy! I don’t know what I’m gonna do without you!”

She embraces him with one arm, while the other reaches out to a nearby pile of clothes. She picks out a maroon piece of scrap fabric—one that he used to cover her scar with.

Carefully, Velvet takes Veneer’s broken hand, and wraps the fabric around it to set the injury. She ties it off, then kisses his hand, with the childish hope that kissing it would make it feel better.

“I’m sorry,” she apologizes, quietly. “We should get back to bed. Ritz is probably worried about us.”

“You’re gonna leave me!” he accuses, paying no mind to the pain in his hand.

“I’m gonna love you until then,” she promises. “C’mon. We need to get up. Then you can hold me, okay?”

The reminder of cuddles seemed to entice Veneer enough to make him get up, though he still leaned on her all the way to the main room. He lays on his back—she had suggested he try that tonight—and she curls into her normal place in his embrace.

“Are you guys okay?” Ritz whispers.

“Yeah, I got her,” Veneer assures. “She’s okay. She was just looking at Orchid’s pictures.”

More than Orchid’s pictures followed her out of that room. The ringing in Velvet’s ears was as common as Orchid’s voice in her head, demanding she infect the remaining people she loved.

Ritz reaches over to touch Veneer’s hand, but he feels the fabric wrapped around it. Veneer flinches, then takes a deep breath to ease the pain.

“Is your hand okay?” Ritz asks.

Veneer pauses for a moment—Velvet could tell he was thinking of a lie.

“Yeah,” he answers. “I, uh, hit it on the dresser. Don’t worry about it.”

“Mmkay,” Ritz mumbles, then snuggles in closer. He lays his arm over the twins, and his hand lands on Velvet’s shoulder.

If it was any lighter, Velvet could have seen his face, and she realized she had never been so close to him at night. She found herself wanting more—she wanted to hold them both, to feel their love for her, to know they felt her presence.

She climbs over Veneer, and positions herself in between them, until they were both snuggled in either of her arms. For once, she didn’t hear the voices telling her to infect them. It wouldn’t last.

For now, she was safe, in the arms of the people who loved her. She wanted more love, more adoration, so she holds them both closer.

Her picture of Orchid was still in her hand, next to her brother. Her other hand, adorned with Orchid’s ring, rested on to Ritz.

She could see her in both of them—maybe that’s why she needed their embraces. Orchid was there in the way they held her; the real Orchid, the one who worshipped her more than anything.

Unlike Orchid, they weren’t going to leave her, especially not her brother. She squeezes him just a little tighter.

Besides the ringing, it was quiet.

.

Chapter Text

Velvet
Status: INFECTED: STAGE II
Health: 41%
Stress: 90%

Veneer
Status: Negative.
Health: 59%
Stress: 93%

Ritz
Status: Negative.
Health: 70%
Stress: 68%

Orchid
Status:
Health:
Stress:

//

“THIS IS YOUR FAULT! YOU KILLED HER! YOU KILLED HER!”

Velvet’s star pulses behind her as she screams at her brother. He was used to it by now—no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t deny the infection was taking hold. Besides, he deserved it, just like he deserved the pain in his broken hand.

It had only been a few hours after the initial break when Velvet had woken up, and demanded to see Orchid. In an attempt to not wake Ritz, Veneer had led her outside, to the closest place they could get to her.

Rage sparkled in Velvet’s remaining eye, while her scar peeked through her matted hair. Veneer hoped that when she was done, she’d let him brush it.

“I’m sorry, Vels,” he apologizes. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s YOUR fault! You ruin EVERYTHING!!!”

She grabs him by the shoulders, and slams him against the wall of the house. She had let her nails grow out, and now they dug into his arms.

“I know,” he sighs. “I ruin everything.”

“I hate you!”

That one stung. Besides her infection episodes, the last time she had said that was the early days of prison. He knew this wasn’t her, that it would pass soon, but her words hurt worse than the claws in his shoulders.

“Me too,” he agrees. “I hate me too. You’re right, it’s all my fault.”

He missed just minutes ago, when Velvet had cuddled him and Ritz so close. She still had a little more than two weeks left—he had to make the most of it. Against his better judgement, he reaches his left hand out to her.

Her gaze darts to his hand, and she smiles a smile that Veneer hadn’t seen since her famous days. He realized he had made a mistake all too late, when she snatches his hand, and crushes it in her own.

Despite him being deserving of the pain, he couldn’t hold in a scream. He screams louder when she presses harder, and he eventually loses his balance from the agony. He sinks to his knees, his swollen hand still trembling in hers.

“I’m okay,” he tells her, and himself. He wished this would finally be it, and she would finally succumb to the urge to infect him. Or, even better, maybe she’d kill him, and spare him the pain of seeing her die.

He looks up at her, holding back tears, and he hoped she knew she was the most radiant being in the entire universe.

“Please just do it. I love you-“ he begs, only to be interrupted by the door slamming open.

The twins’ heads turn in unison to see Ritz, who stares in horror at the scene before him.

Shit! He can’t know she’s infected, Veneer tries to keep his panic in check, and yanks his hand away from his sister. Velvet, you can’t let him see, just please calm down, Velvet, please-

“Are you guys okay?” Ritz asks. “I heard screams.”

“Yeah, I’m fine, she’s okay, we’re all okay,” Veneer rambles, looking up at Velvet for approval.

“Uhm, I…” Velvet starts, seeming to regain her senses. “Yeah, I’m, uh, I’m fine. I was just, uh… I miss Orchid. I really miss her,” she excuses.

“Oh, good,” Ritz sighs. “I mean, not good, but, yeah. I just thought someone got hurt. I’m glad you’re safe.”

He gives them both a warm smile, then wraps his arms around either of their shoulders. Ritz kisses Velvet’s cheek first, then Veneer’s. The peck hit Veneer with a pang of guilt—he didn’t deserve that kind of affection from his lover. Not anymore.

But, Ritz needed him, and Veneer knew that need outweighed any anger he had towards him. As long as Ritz kept needing him, he could keep up the lies for as long as he had to.

//

Whether she liked it or not, check-ups with her brother had become part of Velvet’s routine. They kept the door nearly shut to avoid suspicion, and today, Veneer made sure the washcloth was extra cool.

“How are you feeling?” Veneer asks.

The ringing in her ears, the aches in her side, the dread of impending death—Velvet was feeling just fantastic.

“Bad,” she answers flatly. To make herself feel slightly better, she had stolen her brother’s gray sweatpants, and his flannel to put over her black tank top.

“Same,” he sighs in response. “Can I see it?”

Velvet nods, and unbuttons her flannel. She rolls up her top just enough to expose the bite, which had only gotten more inflamed as time passed.

Veneer brushes the washcloth against the wound, and it stung for a moment, but quickly faded into relief. She takes a deep breath, and since his hand was still immobile, he uses his forearm to rub her back.

They sit in silence for a while. Once Veneer was satisfied with cleaning the wound, he lets her lay her head on his chest. Even if they were too skinny, his arms felt like home wrapped around her.

This is what she would miss the most. At this point, she just wanted to curl up in his embrace, and listen to his heartbeat until the infection took her. Right now, all she could do was cuddle him softly—she didn’t want to think about how she’d hurt him next.

She holds him tighter, and runs her fingers over the chain of his necklace. After everything with Ritz, she was glad he was still wearing it. The love between them was beautiful. Though Velvet had teased them over the past two months, she loved seeing them be close. Her brother had never had a love like Ritz’s before, and she prayed it would still be there once she was gone.

After a while, he starts to rock her side to side, soothing her with slow sways. He always knew exactly what she needed—he always had.

She’d miss his hand through her hair. She’d miss the kisses to her forehead. She’d miss being held like the most important person in the world. Right now, all she wanted was to be held.

“Psst, Vels,” he breaks the silence with a whisper.

“Hm?”

“Whatcha thinking about?”

The answer was death. No matter how much she tried to drown it out, how much she tried to be present in her last moments, it still loomed over her, as daunting as the dead star in the daytime sky.

“When I die…” she starts, “can you hold me?”

“I won’t let you die.”

She ignores his promise. They both knew it was hopeless.

“Just for a little bit,” she continues. “Just… hold me ‘til I find Orchid. She’ll be there. You’ll probably feel it when I find her, I… I don’t wanna be alone.”

Orchid had to be there, in whatever afterlife there was. There had to be one, right? It couldn’t be just nothing, right?

Velvet would find her. She had to. She just wanted her brother on the way there.

After a long silence, Veneer responds, pain bleeding through his voice. “I’ll hold you. I promise. If that happens, I’ll… I’ll make sure you get there safe.”

Even once she was dead, she hoped she could still feel him as she crossed over. He could never truly leave her—she’d always be with him, somehow, no matter what.

Another question crosses her mind. She sits up and takes Veneer’s good hand, and watches her fingers thread perfectly through his.

“You know how we’re all made out of stars?” she asks. “Like, our atoms and stuff?”

“Uhh, that sounds right,” he answers.

“Do you think we’re made out of the same star?”

“…Yeah. Yeah, I think so,” he affirms with a soft smile.

“Then we’ve never been apart,” she realizes. “We’ve always been together. In the star, and we’ve always been roommates, and cellmates!”

“Don’t forget wombmates!” Veneer adds.

Velvet lets out a snort laugh, which her brother echoes. He smiles at her, and she smiles back. A smile leads to a giggle, and soon enough, they were both cracking up.

Velvet didn’t know what was so funny, but once she started laughing, she couldn’t stop. It felt so fucking good to laugh, and smile, and watch her brother laugh and smile right beside her.

Finally, Velvet felt free. Their happiness outshined anything wrong in the world, and nothing mattered except the laughter filling the room.

It felt like warmth, like light, like Orchid. Laughing with her brother meant everything was perfect, if only for a moment. For now, she was here, with him, watching his beaming face make everything okay.

Eventually, the laughter was so loud it overpowered the ringing in her ears. It was so loud, it was all Velvet could think about, and she never wanted to think about anything else.

It was so loud, that she didn’t hear Ritz open the door.

//

Ritz was starved for any source of joy in the ruins of his life. Something must have been good enough for the twins to be laughing that hard, and he wanted to partake. Veneer might yell at him, but at least he could try-

When he opens the door, a horrified gasp shakes through him.

For a moment, he thought his eyes might be playing tricks on him. Maybe it was the concussion, still messing with his head.

No—the twins’ reactions revealed he had seen the truth. The truth they had kept from him.

Velvet frantically rolls down her shirt, but it was too late. Ritz had seen what he needed to.

“YOU’RE INFECTED!!!!”

That tight feeling in his chest was starting to creep in, but he shoves it down. He couldn’t panic right now. There was something more important he needed to do.

Veneer stands up, intentionally standing in front of his sister. Of course he’d try to defend her. “Ritz, she’s,” Veneer starts, “I can explain-“

“You KNEW!” Ritz interrupts. “You knew she was infected, and you LIED to me! Let me guess, you’re infected too?!?!”

“No, I’m not-“

“I don’t believe you! I never should’ve believed you! You’re just a LIAR!!!”

No more lies, no more secrets. I guess that doesn’t apply when his sister is infected.

Ritz didn’t know what to believe anymore. Was Veneer infected? Did Orchid infect them both? All those times Veneer told him he loved him, were those lies, too?

They must have been. If Veneer really loved him, he would have told him everything immediately. But no, Velvet always came first. Ritz should’ve known that by now.

He had been wrong since the beginning. Veneer never really changed. Well, he did change—he became a better liar.

He never should have trusted him. He never should have trusted either of them. They were the same liars that had fooled him once, and like the idiot he was, he had fallen for it again.

“He’s not,” Velvet defends, standing up beside her brother. “Yeah, he asked me to infect him. I wouldn’t do it. He’s not infected.”

As much as he hated himself for it, he believed her.

“YOU!” Ritz turns his attention to Velvet. “You’re even worse than your psycho brother! You saw what happened when Orchid lied, and you do the EXACT SAME THING?! What’s WRONG with you?!”

“You weren’t supposed to find out,” Velvet responds, her voice shaking. “Neither of you were supposed to find out. I just… I just wanted to be with you guys-“

“Shut up,” Ritz cuts her off. “I don’t care. You put us all in danger.”

Before either twin could respond, he turns out of the room, and runs to their shared bed. Velvet’s gun was on a side table.

Ritz had killed infected before. This was no different. With the gun in hand, he makes his way back to Orchid’s room.

“Don’t move.” He points the gun at Velvet, right at her heart. It briefly crosses his mind that this is exactly where Veneer was, right before he killed Orchid.

Velvet freezes, with her arms up. The only part of her that moved was her chest, heaving with panicked breaths. Then, she does the last thing he expected her to do.

“Please,” she begs. “Please, PLEASE don’t, I’m not, I’m not ready to die, please don’t kill me, Ritz, I love you and I’m so, so scared, please-“

Ritz never thought he’d ever hear Velvet admit she was scared. He never thought he’d hear her beg for anything, least of all her life.

“You’re infected,” he snaps. “You’re gonna infect us all if I don’t kill you.”

In all the twins’ lies, that was the only thing Ritz knew to be true. He had to kill Velvet, or him and Veneer would suffer the end of their lives in an infected hell, and only if Velvet didn’t just kill them instead.

“GET AWAY FROM HER!” Veneer screams, and lunges towards Ritz. He was going for the gun, but Ritz just narrowly avoids him.

He turns the gun on Veneer, and points it right in between his eyes.

Veneer takes a step back, fear present in his dull face. From his eyes, Ritz could tell Veneer knew he was serious about pulling the trigger.

He didn’t feel bad. Deep in his heart, Ritz knew that if Veneer had gotten the gun, he would have killed him in an instant.

“Hey,” Veneer says, his voice reduced to a shaky gasp. “Hey, come on, just put the gun down. We can talk about it.”

“There’s nothing to talk about!” Ritz yells.

Veneer takes another step back, away from Velvet. Ritz knew what he was doing, but follows him anyway. Veneer was still shaking in fear, but with a slight jerk of his arm, Ritz could tell he was going for the gun again.

This time, though, Ritz was in control. It was a morbid thought, but right now, Ritz felt the safest he ever had since Orchid died. There was no way Veneer could hurt him, as long as he wanted to live.

In response, Ritz pushes the gun directly onto his forehead. He presses harder, until Veneer was backed against the photo wall, his finger never leaving the trigger.

Veneer was crying under the gun’s pressure, but Ritz didn’t care. Where was he when he was crying in that shed?

Just then, Ritz feels a hand snatch the back of his shirt. Before it could pull him back, he snaps around, and points the gun at Velvet once again. He was in control, and he wasn’t going to let either twin leave his sight.

Velvet stumbles backwards, and holds up her hands. “Ritz, please, please just put the gun down! Let’s just talk!”

“I’m not talking with you! You’re just gonna lie again! You’re INFECTED, just like Orchid!”

“PLEASE!” she sobs.

“This is for your own GOOD!” he screams, at Velvet, at Veneer, at himself.

He pulls the trigger.

In the split second before the bullet pierces her heart, she looks at her brother. Then and there, she decides on her last words.

“Veneer, I love you!”

//

They say that when you die, you have seven minutes of brain activity before you’re truly gone.

Velvet wondered what would be in her seven minutes. More importantly, she wondered who would be in her seven minutes.

Veneer would be the majority, of course. He was the first person she ever met, and the first person she ever loved. Every memory with him, from their childhood, to fame, to prison, and to the end of the world, meant everything to her.

Seven minutes wasn’t enough. A lifetime wasn’t enough to spend with her brother—she wanted to stay with him until all the stars had burnt out of the night sky.

She wanted to hug him one last time. She could only hope he would run to her once the bullet struck, and hold her in her final moments. There was nothing more she would ever want from him. Only to hold her, just as she had held Orchid.

Velvet hoped Orchid would be in her seven minutes, too. Orchid was only a month of her life, but it was the happiest month of her life. The same feeling of fame, but with no harm, no deceit. Just love.

In those seven minutes, Velvet hoped to relive their thrilling first kiss, their night in the lake under the stars, their engagement on Orchid’s last day. If Velvet could feel her worshipping hands over her scar one more time, it was almost worth it to die. Just to touch her one more time. Please, just one more time.

Of course, Ritz would make his way into her seven minutes. Those interviews, when he looked at her brother like he was the light of his life. The way he loved Veneer—Velvet had wanted him to have that kind of love all his life. Velvet loved him too, and she hoped he’d remember her love over her lies. Every time she held him couldn’t go to waste.

All she wanted was for there to be something, something after. A place where she could see Orchid again. A place where she could watch over her brother.

The bullet must have hit her by now. She must have died instantly, since she hadn’t felt a puncture.

Instead of the bullet, she feels something all too familiar: arms around her.

Immediately, she assumes them to be Orchid’s. Of course Orchid would find her in death, and be there to help her cross over. Velvet wouldn’t expect anything else. Speechless, she reciprocates the hug, and slowly opens her eye, anticipating what she would see next, if anything.

But when she looks down, they weren’t Orchid’s arms at all.

They were her brother’s.

Holding her. Protecting her.

She was still in the room, still alive, still infected. Ritz’s hands were shaking around a nonexistent gun—the real one had been dropped to the ground. All she could hear was the ringing in her ears, and Veneer’s shaking gasps against her.

She only registered what was happening when he looks up at her. Fear in his icy eyes, the corners of his lips turn slightly upward, into an awful beautiful smile.

His grip around her loosens, any strength he had dwindling by the second. Unable to hold on anymore, he collapses onto the floor, in the same spot Orchid had collapsed just after he shot her.

He had fallen onto his side, blood pooling around him, seeping into the floor. He was too weak to fight it, too weak to even writhe in pain.

“VENEER!”

Velvet screams his name, rushing to his side. She didn’t have time to think about how he saved her, or how Ritz knew her secret. She turns him onto his back, and lifts up his shirt. Right now, all she had to do was stop the bleeding.

The bullet meant for Velvet had been blocked by Veneer’s left side—it had hit in the middle of his ribs. Ritz had missed any vital organs, but that didn’t change Veneer’s blood spilling out at an alarming rate. Velvet presses down on the wound in an attempt to stop the gushing, but it was hopeless—her hands were instantly coated in red.

Ritz did this to him. He was lucky Velvet didn’t have a free hand to reach for the gun. She could be furious with him once this was over. Right now, her only focus was on keeping Veneer alive.

Veneer groans when she presses down harder, unable to say anything through his hyperventilating breaths. The pressure of her hands wasn’t enough, so Velvet positions herself so that her knee dug into the wound. She cups his face in her hands, but instantly regrets it as his blood smears across his face from her caress.

“You’re gonna be okay,” she promises. “I’m right here. Look at me. Don’t look down, look at me.”

He follows her instruction, and gazes into her eye. All she could see was the face of her baby brother, the most precious face in the world.

Even with her full body weight pressing into his ribs, the bleeding refused to cease. Come on, Velvet, think! How do I stop it?!

“Stay with me now,” Velvet pleads. “You’re gonna be just fine.”

She had barely noticed Ritz kneeling beside them. His entire body was frozen with fear, but that was about to change. Velvet finally had an idea.

She had seen it in a TV show—a character got shot, then burned the wound closed so they could keep going. Her parents had a similar procedure; whenever a patient was bleeding heavily, they’d use heat to stop it.

“Ritz!” she snaps. “Get me a lighter! And something metal!”

Ritz nods, and sprints to the main room to get them. No questions, no arguments, just pure panic.

“Veneer, I’m right here,” she assures. His hands reach out for her, and she takes them. “I love you. I’m gonna make it all better.”

“Here.” In a second, Ritz had already returned with what she asked for. He kneels down to the twins, and holds out a knife and a lighter.

Velvet lets go of Veneer to take them. In her hands laid Ritz’s lighter, and Orchid’s knife. She didn’t have time to think about the symbolism of it. She slides her knee off his ribs and sets the blade against the wound, earning a sigh from him, and a gasp from Ritz.

Ritz, don’t say anything! You’re gonna scare him! “Ven, it’s gonna be all okay,” she assures, but Ritz interjects.

“Oh my god, you’re gonna cauterize him!? That’s gonna hurt him!! What if it makes it worse?!”

“I HAVE to! He’s losing too much blood! He’s gonna bleed out if I don’t do SOMETHING!” she shouts back.

Now that Veneer knew what she was going to do, Velvet had no idea how to calm him down. Ritz was right—it was going to hurt him. Velvet was about to put her brother through the worst pain he would ever go through.

“Vels…” Veneer manages to gasp out, “V…”

“I know, I know it’s gonna hurt,” she tells him. “But then you’ll be all better. I know you can do this. Remember when I pierced your ear? It’s gonna be just like that, okay? Just a little worse. You got this, okay?”

It was only then Veneer realized what was about to happen to him. His eyes widen, and he frantically shakes his head. He shivers and squirms as much as he could, to which Velvet drops the knife and lighter, and repositions her knee on him to keep him still.

“N… no…” he begs, his tears blending into the bloody handprints smeared across his cheeks. “Vels, no… please…”

“Veneer, I gotta stop the bleeding. I know you can do it. Me and Ritz are gonna be right here the whole time. I gotcha.” She takes a deep breath.

“Ritz, hold him down.”

Immediately, Ritz grabs Veneer’s wrists, and pins them above his head. They lock eyes for a second, as Veneer gives him a pleading gaze.

“Ritz, I swear to god, do NOT let go,” she threatens.

Veneer tries to break free, but he didn’t have enough force to make Ritz lose his grip. He uses what little strength he had to muster a scream-sob. “NO! NO! NO!”

Velvet could barely hold in her own sobs at Veneer’s protests. But he had lost too much blood already—she wasn’t going to let him lose any more.

“I know, I know,” she comforts. “I love you so, so much. It’ll be all over in a second. But I need you to be brave. You’re so strong. You’re the strongest person I know. And I know you’re so brave. Can you be brave for me?”

All of it was true. He had always been the strongest person she knew. If he had the strength to stand up to her back then, he had the strength to make it through this now.

He seemed to believe her, as he nods his head, bracing himself for the burn.

“That’s good,” she promises. “You’re so brave. You’re gonna be just fine. And then we can do whatever you want. We can sing and dance like we used to, and I’ll hold you, and you’ll be all better. Just be brave. We love you.”

She leans down to his face, and presses a kiss to his forehead. As if that would make up for what she was about to do.

Velvet slides her shin down to his legs to keep them still, leaving the bullet wound exposed. She presses the knife flat against the wound, and holds the lighter up to it.

“I love you,” she whispers.

She switches the lighter on.

It flickers. Once, twice. Then, it ignites.

This might have been the one time Velvet was grateful for the ringing in her ears. Her brother’s screams fill the room, each shriek more piercing than the last.

The flame dances across the wound, burning his pale skin red. Its sparks fizzle around him, while Velvet struggled to watch her brother in agony at her hands.

Her eye darts to Ritz—he was fighting hard against Veneer’s thrashing hands. He keeps him down, though, despite his winces at his lover’s wails.

Velvet wanted to tell him how amazing he was, how brave, but there was no way either of them would be able to hear her. She only hoped her presence gave him an ounce of comfort, even if she was the one causing his sobs.

He had saved her again, only this time, it resulted in his tortured shrieks, and a bullet through his skin. It was her turn to save him—there was no way she’d let her brother leave her. She always knew she’d keep him safe by any means necessary, and now was the time to prove it.

In seconds, it was over. The wound was closed, and the bleeding had stopped. She switches the lighter off, and tosses it to the side with the knife. His previously smooth skin would never be smooth again; the burn had scorched his side.

Veneer’s screams quiet into whimpers, as his body quivers from shock. His head lolls to the side, staring at the wall with teary eyes.

Velvet looks down at her hands, and instantly regrets it. They were soaked in red, her brother’s blood running down her forearms. Blood stained her vision everywhere she looked—it was on her palms, on the floor, on her clothes, on his face in the shape of her hands.

Her mind drawing a blank, she leans over him, and presses a kiss to his ribs. It was childish to think a kiss would make it better, but Velvet was willing to do anything to make up for what she had just put him through. His skin was much too hot to touch, but that didn’t stop Velvet from giving him the affection he needed, even if she got burned.

The blood on his side transferred to her face, staining her lips red. When she catches Ritz’s gaze, she recognizes it immediately. It was the same fear he had shown when Orchid was infected. She didn’t blame him—now that she had had a taste of it, even indirectly, it took all her strength not to infect both of them then and there.

Luckily, there was one thing more important to keep her distracted.

“There! All done,” she tells her brother, comforting him with a gentle smile. “You did it! You did so good! Breathe. Just breathe. It’s over.”

She cups his face, and tilts his head so that he was looking at her. His eyes light up at her smile, and Velvet only wanted to make sure he knew how much she loved him. She didn’t have the energy to pretend he wasn’t her favorite person, her everything.

“You were so brave,” she adores, “And now it’s all better! I’m so proud of you! You’re gonna be okay! I’m gonna kiss your face now.”

Velvet knew she wasn’t acting like herself, but she didn’t feel like herself after that—all she knew was that she had never been more proud of her brother, and she needed to hold him as close as she could.

The last time she had shown so much affection was probably as a little girl, when the first thing she knew was that she loved her little brother more than anything. Before she had let fame and others’ perception into her head. If she was soft now, so be it.

She plants kisses on his cheeks, his forehead, anywhere she could reach. If Veneer had had the strength, he probably would’ve headbutted her, but now he accepts it with a faint smile.

“I’m so proud of you,” she repeats. “I love you so much.”

She sits up to give him some space, but he didn’t seem to want it. Ritz had let go of him by now, so he uses his freedom to reach his arms towards her.

“You wanna hug? C’mere,” she accepts, and envelops him in her arms; one hand wrapped around his shoulders, the other supporting his head. She laid next to him as to not crush his injury, only laying her weight on his chest and shoulders. “Veneer. I think I’m gonna faint.”

He reciprocates the hug as best he could, his arms slumped around her. She could still hear a faint whimper of pain, but she was overwhelmed with relief that he could make any sound at all.

This was the happiest moment of her life—her everything was safe.

//

Veneer couldn’t reciprocate his sister’s affection, but he tries as best he could with what little strength he had. He lays his arms around her, and from her sobs of relief, Veneer could tell that was all she needed.

His ears were still ringing from his screams, but he could make out what she was saying: she was proud of him.

It was all worth it.

He saved her, he didn’t let Ritz hurt her. He had fulfilled his job as a brother, until the next time Velvet needed him to protect her. He had kept true to his promise, that he’d always be there for her. If someone had to get hurt, this was exactly how Veneer wanted it to happen. As long as Velvet was safe.

All that mattered was that she was safe.

“I think I’m gonna faint…” Velvet gasps out beside him.

Her head landed beside his, tucked into the curve of his shoulder. He tilts his head to look at her precious face, and sure enough, she was unconscious.

Thank you, he wanted to say to her, but he could only think it. I love you. He lets his lips graze the tip of her nose, pretending it was a real kiss. His vision was starting to blur, and he figured he would copy Velvet and pass out in the next minute.

“Veneer, I…” a shaky voice sobs from above him.

This was his fault. Ritz was the one who tried to kill Velvet. For his safety, it was a good thing Veneer was incapable of getting up.

Ritz’s eyes were horrified, partially from what he just did, and partially from what he just witnessed. His grip around Veneer’s wrists had been so unbearably tight—it had to be to hold him down—that it would leave a bruise.

When Ritz reaches out for him, he musters up the strength to pull Velvet in closer. He shields her sleeping body with his arms the best he could, with a glare at Ritz.

He had enough in him for one sentence.

“Don’t you dare hurt her.”

With that threat, Veneer’s window of consciousness was up. His blurred vision finally turns black, and his hands fall limp…

//

“Hey, it finally happened! I had a feeling he’d sacrifice himself for you.”

That voice.

The voice that had been stolen from Orchid.

Velvet looks around herself; the only thing that illuminated the dream was starlight. The cool water of the lake caresses her with gentle waves, as Orchid lays her head on her shoulder.

“Before you freak out, I gave us both nightgowns. Not like last time,” Orchid mentions. “Those screams, huh? Pretty upsetting.”

Upsetting didn’t begin to describe it. Velvet might never forgive herself for what she had just put him through. The memory of his screams rang nearly as loud as the infectious ringing in her ears. It clouded her thoughts, to the point where she couldn’t think of how to escape the dream. All she could do was wait.

“Do you think he’s gonna die?” Orchid asks, manipulating the water with sways of her hand.

“He can’t die,” Velvet decides. “I saved him. He’s all better now.”

“Yeah, he sounded all better,” Orchid replies sarcastically. “Something about his skin being scorched and him not being able to move really says ‘all better’.”

“Stop it. He’s gonna be fine. I saved him.”

“If you say so.” Orchid snuggles into Velvet’s shoulder, her soulless gaze pointed towards the brightest dead star reflected in the lake. “The water’s nice.”

The water’s nice.

The water’s nice…

//

The water was nice enough to wake Velvet, as a cool washcloth brushes against her cheek. Her eye flutters open to see Ritz, kneeling above her as he cleans the blood off her face.

She hadn’t moved an inch—she was still in the spot Orchid died, entangled with Veneer as to keep him safe. Once she regains her senses, she pulls him tight into her arms, and glares at Ritz.

“Don’t touch him!” she snaps, and grabs the knife beside her. With a weak grip, she points it at him. “He’ll kill you if you hurt me!”

“I know. Relax. I’m not gonna hurt you,” Ritz sighs. “He needs to get better, and he won’t do that if you’re not here. I think you should’ve made us kill you when you got infected, but… here we are.”

Ritz must have had a lot of time to think while Velvet was passed out. He was right—part of healing was physical, but part of it was optimism. Willpower, that Veneer wouldn’t have if Velvet was dead. He needed her now, if he was ever going to survive once she was gone.

“I have two, two weeks,” Velvet offers. “Maybe a little more.”

“Okay. I’ll put you down once you get like Orchid, but for now, we- he needs you.”

“I know.”

Ritz was oddly calm, but Velvet figured he had to be. If he showed any hurt, any feeling at all, he might break, and no one could handle that right now.

Velvet turns her attention to Veneer. Ritz had already cleaned the blood off his face. She taps him, and he doesn’t respond.

He doesn’t respond!

“VENEER! Veneer, wake up, hey! Hey-“

“Shhh! It’s okay,” Ritz interrupts. “He passed out right after you. He’s just asleep.”

“Oh. Let’s get him on the bed.”

Velvet’s panic subsides as she stands up, taking the unconscious Veneer with her in a princess carry. She sets him on the bed, while Ritz arranges the blankets around him. Velvet double checks his pulse, and kisses over his heart when she confirms it’s still beating.

Before long, she was cuddled up to his side, just as she always did when she needed him at night. Now, she needed him more than ever. He couldn’t quite hug her back, but the feeling of his heartbeat was enough for her.

She tucks his hair behind his ear, and whispers his favorite words, “I love you.”

“Is he gonna be okay?” Ritz asks, checking on his lover’s bruised wrists.

“You tell me,” Velvet says flatly. “You’re the one that shot him.”

“I didn’t mean-“

“But you did. Go get him some water for when he wakes up.”

His eyes water at her statement, and he covers his mouth as he leaves the room.

Good. She wanted him to break. She wanted him to feel as horrible inside as Veneer did on the outside. The bullet was meant for her, sure, but he should’ve known Veneer would protect her at all costs.

“Yeah, you’re gonna be okay,” she promises her sleeping brother. “I’m gonna take care of you. I love you.”

//

Okay. Velvet’s definitely going to die. We have a shot at keeping Veneer alive, and that’s what Velvet wants. Once she’s gone, I’ll be the only person to take care of him. So she can’t kill me.

Ritz hadn’t even gotten to the kitchen sink when he collapses onto the floor of the main room. The tears had finally started, and he wasn’t sure if they’d ever stop.

He couldn’t shake the image from his head—Veneer had looked dead after the burn. His hands limp, his eyes glazed over, staring at nothing…

But he was alive, and if he was alive, then Ritz knew Velvet wouldn’t seek revenge. She was right, Veneer needed her, and Ritz hated to admit it, but he needed her, too.

Right now, Ritz didn’t care about his lies, his outbursts, or all the times he had hurt him. He loved him. And he had just put a bullet in his ribs.

They lied! AGAIN! Oh my god, what did I do?! I shot him! And now he’s unconscious, and Velvet’s infected, and Orchid’s still dead, and oh my god, what if we all die?!

“Hey! What’s taking so long?!”

Ritz looks up and wipes off his tears, to see a furious Velvet standing above him. Her eye twitches.

“I’m sorry-“ he apologizes, but she cuts him off.

“YOU’RE crying?! After you just shot my brother?! YOUR boyfriend?! What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

Ritz had grown used to this from Veneer, but Velvet had always been someone he could trust. Or so he thought. But no, she was the same old liar from her famous days.

She was just like her brother in the way she degraded him. But she was right, he shouldn’t be the one crying. He was the one that shot him. He didn’t deserve to cry.

“I’M SORRY!” Ritz repeats through sobs that refused to cease, no matter how much he tried to hold them in. “It was supposed to be you!”

“I don’t care! It’s always about communication with you, until when we actually need to talk! Then you bring a gun out?! Are you a fucking idiot?! He ALWAYS protects me, whether we like it or not!”

Veneer’s version of protecting Velvet seemed to always result in someone getting hurt. But this time, and maybe all the other times, it was Ritz’s fault.

The look in Velvet’s icy eye sent shivers down his spine. He was scared to even think about what might be going on in her head. He didn’t know it at the time, but he had watched Orchid lose her mind; now, Velvet was about to lose hers.

“GET UP!” she shouts. Ritz flinches, expecting her to pull him to standing.

He hadn’t realized he had closed his eyes. When he opens them, Velvet’s hand was outstretched, waiting for him to take it. She didn’t seem to want to cause any more pain—the two of them had caused enough already.

Her expression turns soft when he takes her hand, and she helps him get up. She then drops his hand, and crosses her arms.

“I need you alive, and I’m just glad he’s safe,” she states. “But I will never forgive you for this.”

.

Chapter Text

Velvet
Status: INFECTED: STAGE II
Health: 40%
Stress: 95%

Veneer
Status: Negative.
Health: 23%
Stress: 10%

Ritz
Status: Negative.
Health: 68%
Stress: 93%

Orchid
Status:
Health:
Stress:

//

“I will never forgive you for this.”

Velvet uncrosses her arms. Ritz turns his head away from her in shame, and selfishly, she wanted him to feel ashamed. But that wouldn’t help anything, so she cups his face, and turns it toward her.

The next words from her mouth didn’t sound like her. She wasn’t sure where it came from, but she thought she sounded like some kind of kids’ movie protagonist.

“But you’re my family,” she assures him. “And we’re gonna get through this. While I’m still here, I want us to work together. All three of us. Orchid would want us to help each other, and that’s what I want, too.”

“Family shouldn’t lie to each other,” Ritz mutters, quiet yet sharp.

Velvet would never forgive Ritz for shooting her brother, even if it was an accident. Likewise, Ritz would never forgive Velvet for lying, even if she was trying to spare them all more pain.

“I thought it would be better if I just dealt with it myself. We were already grieving Orchid, and I didn’t want…” She trails off, already knowing she was failing at her excuses. At least now, she was telling the truth, and she hoped that would be enough for him to make this work.

“I don’t care if you were sad about Orchid, or trying to save us, or yourself, or whatever. You. Lied. Then I guess Veneer found out somehow, and he lied, too, after he promised me he wouldn’t.”

“You’re right,” Velvet sighs. At least Ritz was calm this time.

“After Orchid lied, I thought… I thought that was it for the lies. But you’re just as bad as her,” he accuses. “Her lies got you infected. Why would you do the same thing?”

His voice cracks, and his eyes water—Velvet could tell it broke his heart to talk about his best friend like that. But he was telling the truth.

“If Orchid was infected, and you knew, and you also knew me or Veneer would kill her if we found out, would you lie to keep her safe? Just to have a little more time with her?” Velvet asks, wondering if a hypothetical would make him understand.

She must have gotten to him, because he didn’t seem to have an answer. He contemplates, staring at the floor.

“If you got infected,” she imagines, “I know Orchid would lie to keep you safe. She loved you.”

//

Why does loving someone mean you have to lie for them?

If Ritz knew Orchid was infected… no. He didn’t know she was infected, and that’s how it was, and how it would always be. He didn’t want to think about a pretend scenario. All he cared about was the truth of right now.

“If I got infected, I’d tell you all, then say goodbye, then kill myself,” he responds. “I wouldn’t make Orchid, or anyone, lie for me. I love you all too much to be that kind of risk.”

He didn’t understand why any of them lied, and he had to live with the fact that he never would. Despite the lies, though, he couldn’t deny he still loved them.

Especially Orchid. There was nothing she could do that would ever make him stop loving her, even if all of this happened because of her. Her selfishness, her obsession, her lies.

He could forgive her, but he couldn’t forgive the twins. But even so, he was willing to try to make it work. Losing them would hurt more than any betrayal.

He just hoped they wouldn’t lie again. Ritz needed a promise of no more broken promises.

“I guess that’s what I should’ve done,” Velvet admits.

Ritz agreed, but he was taken aback at her statement. Velvet admitting she was wrong about something was as surprising to him as her being infected.

“Yeah, you should’ve.”

Now, Velvet was the one looking down in shame. Ritz was still furious at her, and part of him never wanted to see her again. But the rest of him loved her, he loved her so much that it outweighed the anger.

As much as he wanted to scream at her for lying, for putting her brother and himself in danger, that was in the past. Ritz knew the truth now, and most importantly, they needed to take care of Veneer.

He takes Velvet’s hand, and interlocks their pinkies together. “Velvet. While you’re still you, I promise I won’t try to hurt you.”

With a kiss to their pinkies, Ritz seals his vow. In his opinion, Velvet should have been dead days ago, but now that Veneer was hurt, he couldn’t save him without her.

Ritz planned on promising Veneer the same thing—that he wouldn’t hurt Velvet. Promises didn’t seem to mean much to him, but maybe it would be different if Veneer was on the receiving end. Maybe his promise would make Veneer love him again.

“Thank you,” Velvet responds. “I’m gonna go check on him. I think it’s best if I go in first, then I’ll call you in.”

“Yeah, go ahead.” Ritz agreed—Velvet should talk to her brother first, without him there. Hopefully she could make him calm down before he had to see his sister’s attempted murderer.

//

“Oh my god, this is the best night of my life,” Veneer breathes out, his chest rising and falling against his robe.

The stars had only gotten brighter as he and Ritz stayed up further into the night. It was still pretty early—Veneer couldn’t wait to see his lover under the stars during their prime radiance.

The stars weren’t glowing nearly as much as Ritz, though. His face was as flushed as it was when they started, and Veneer figured Ritz’s skin was still tingling as much as his.

“Agreed,” Ritz giggles, taking a cigarette from his bag. He unzips a window of the tent. “Want one?”

Veneer nods eagerly, to which Ritz sets the cigarette in between his lips. He then lights it for him, as the flame illuminates Veneer’s lipstick-stained face.

“Can we just stay here forever?” Veneer asks after a drag. He was seriously considering living in this tent if it meant more nights like this.

“You liked it that much?”

“Duh! We should’ve done this earlier!” he answers, and passes the cigarette to Ritz. “I mean, if you wanted to. Did you, uhm, did you like it as much as I did?”

Veneer felt himself blush, this time from nervousness. Tonight was, and was about to be, the most vulnerable he had been with his lover. With anyone, honestly. The intimacy both scared and excited him—they were only each other’s for the night. He liked the vulnerability, though; he could be himself with Ritz, and tonight was only about love.

With his free hand, Ritz tugs on Veneer’s robe, pulling him into a passionate kiss. Veneer lets himself sink into the kiss, as he traces along the bare shoulders of his lover.

“Does that answer your question?” Ritz hums, his lips barely leaving Veneer’s.

“Yeah,” Veneer grins, then presses a kiss to the crook of his neck. “You’re really soft.”

“I borrowed some of Orchid’s lotion for this,” he admits.

“Oh! That reminds me,” Veneer remembers, “I brought pretzels!”

He digs through a bag, though it was hard to focus with Ritz tracing his fingertips along his back. Eventually, he finds the bag of pretzels, and presents it.

“Those are Orchid’s!” Ritz exclaims. “Ooh, she’s gonna be pissed.”

“I’m not scared of her! I did time!” Veneer brags.

“Oh yeah, that’s right!” Ritz realizes, then smirks. “Oh no, I can’t have the press find out I’m sleeping with a criminal,” he adds in a playful tone, then passes the cigarette to Veneer after a drag.

“Don’t worry, no one’s gonna hear you out here,” he reminds him, playing along. “It’s just us.”

“I like when it’s just us,” Ritz confesses. “I like having you all to myself.” His eyes soften, as he lays his hand over Veneer’s chest. He toys with the edges of the robe, his face turning rosy. “Your heart’s still beating fast.”

After being so close with his lover, Veneer wasn’t surprised that his heart was still fluttering. He does the same to Ritz, and caresses over his heart. Veneer could have sworn their pulses were synchronized.

“So is yours!” Veneer points out. “I’m just excited! ‘Cause I love you!”

At his words, Ritz breaks into a smile, and wraps his arms around his waist. He holds him tight, and gently runs his fingers through his long hair.

“I love you, too,” Ritz echoes, with a kiss behind his ear. “You’re so pretty.”

“You’re so handsome,” Veneer returns the compliment, kissing along his silver necklace chain. “I love you,” he repeats.

The two were soon entangled in each other’s arms, lost in kisses and ‘I love you’s. Though they had done more than kiss, each brush of Ritz’s lips to his still made his heart feel like fireworks.

Veneer had never expected to be loved like this. He had essentially given up after prison—he was content with the family he already had. Once the outbreak hit, he was sure any sliver of chance he’d find someone was gone. But he was right here, in the tent with the love of his life, discovering what it felt like to be loved by someone as special as Ritz.

“Are you still nervous?” Ritz whispers.

“A little,” Veneer admits. “I just wanna make you feel good.”

“I promise, you’re already doing that,” he assures, with a kiss to his cheek. “You don’t have to be nervous. We’ll find out what we like together.”

“I like you,” Veneer responds with a giggle, laying his lover down against the pillows.

“You’re cute.”

The two couldn’t stop smiling, as Ritz interlaces his fingers with Veneer’s. He puts out his cigarette, then takes his free hand to Ritz’s shoulder, and straddles his hips. He had liked looking up at him their first time, but now that they were switched, he could see the awe in Ritz’s gaze, watching his lover bathed in starlight.

Staring into his stunning, starry eyes, there was so much Veneer wanted to tell him. Hell, he wanted to thank him. For taking him out here, for being the best boyfriend he ever could have asked for, for showing him what love could feel like.

Losing him was something Veneer couldn’t bear to think about. But he didn’t have to worry about that—they were safe, and Veneer would keep him safe, no matter what.

Being loved like this, after being so alone for so long, made him believe heaven existed on earth. He had never imagined something so beautiful could exist for him.

Now that he had it, he wanted it to last forever.

//

Velvet could barely keep her tears at bay, sitting next to her unconscious brother in Orchid’s bed. She was holding his hand, partly to check his pulse, but mostly just to feel his hand in hers.

He must have been dreaming. It was a happy dream, and Velvet hoped it was relieving him of his pain. His sleepy face was grinning, and a rosy blush had come across his cheeks.

Even though he couldn’t see it, she smiles back at him. She couldn’t be mad at that face, but she was anyways. Velvet didn’t care how injured he was—he was in for a serious scolding when he woke up.

Something must have happened in his dream, because he wraps his arms around her as best he could. He snuggles his head into the crook of her neck, then squeezes her tight.

“Aww,” she hums, grinning at the fact that he still wanted to cuddle, even while he was asleep.

She simultaneously regrets her assumption and figures out what his dream was when he kisses her jawline, then tries to move down to her neck. Quickly, she shakes his arm, and wakes him up.

“Woah, woah, woah! Hey! It’s not Ritz! It’s Velvet!” she urges.

Veneer’s eyes slowly open, and he assesses his surroundings.

“Huh… Oh my god! Ew! Bleh!” His face scrunches up in disgust, and he pushes her away.

“Nice dream?” she asks, and wiggles her eyebrow.

“Very nice,” he responds after regaining his composure.

Once he had worked through his embarrassment, Veneer holds her hand again. He still looked exhausted, but he looked a thousand times better than he had looked under her hands, shrieking in agony.

If he hadn’t jumped in front of her, she never would have had to do that to him.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” she scolds, taking a serious tone. “I’m gonna die anyways. We could have just gotten it over with, but now you’re hurt.”

“I’ll always keep you safe,” Veneer asserts. “I don’t care that I got hurt. As long as you’re okay.”

“I’m NOT okay! I’m infected!” she snaps. “I’m gonna be dead soon, and I wanted to spend my last days with you. But now you’re hurt! And I’m gonna die with you like THIS!”

Tears were streaming down both of their faces, and Velvet couldn’t believe that Veneer was crying, because it was his fault. He chose to save her, at the cost of his already deteriorating health.

“I just wanted more time with you,” Veneer confesses. “I’m not ready to lose you, Vels, I’m not ready.”

“What if I had lost you? What if that bullet had killed you?”

“Then at least I wouldn’t have to watch my sister die!”

Veneer’s sobs were obviously causing him pain, as he clutches at his ribs. Velvet loved him, but hated everything about this. She pulls him into a hug, savoring every second of holding him.

“Shh, stop crying, it’s hurting you,” she whispers, petting his hair.

“I can’t, I can’t stop,” he stutters through tears, then winces.

“Think about something else. Think about something happy. I got it, um, tell me about your dream.”

Veneer looks up at her, and lets her brush off his tears. He sniffles, then takes a few deep breaths.

“It was about Ritz,” he starts.

“I would hope so,” she responds, earning a weak laugh from him.

“It was more like a memory, from when we went camping,” he continues, his face turning from teary eyed to blushing. “We stayed up all night, and I don’t think there’s an inch of him I didn’t kiss… Sorry, is this TMI?”

“Hey, at this point, I’m kinda over TMI,” she shrugs. “Just, uh, spare me the specifics.”

“Okay, well, uh, he was just so sweet, and patient, and he’s,” he interrupts himself with a beaming giggle, “he’s a really good kisser.”

“I know,” Velvet responds without missing a beat.

Veneer gives her a look that suggested he would attack her if he had the strength. Instead, he snort laughs, and lays his head on her shoulder.

“He’s good at other stuff, too,” Veneer shoots back with a wink. “If you found out what he did to me in that tent-“

“Shut up!” Velvet cringes, but stifles a laugh. The awkwardness was a breath of fresh air compared to what they normally talked about alone.

“Yeah, I’ve embarrassed you enough. Do you wanna talk about Orchid so we’re both uncomfortable?” he offers, and nudges her arm.

“There’s not much to talk about,” she shrugs. “These walls are thin. I’m sure you heard her.”

Veneer nods, scrunching up his face. “Some nights, I was actually worried you were torturing her.”

“Oh please, my torturing days are over,” Velvet scoffs. “…Unless she asked for something.”

“What the hell did she ask for-“ he starts, but cuts himself off. “Never mind, I don’t wanna know. I’m, uh, I’m just glad you had her. I liked seeing how happy she made you.”

Nights were when Velvet missed Orchid the most. She missed the way Orchid made her feel beautiful, as if she was a goddess. The softness of her fingertips across her scar, through her hair, over her lips… Velvet could hardly bear to live without it.

Soon, she’d get to hold her again. She’d get to feel her arms around her waist, to hear those excited squeals every time Velvet pulled her closer. Orchid could tell her she loved her again. Again, and again, and again.

“She liked to look at me,” Velvet tells him. “And she liked to kiss me, especially my scar.” She brings her hand over to his ribs, above where the burn was. “You’re gonna have a scar there.”

Velvet expected him to be disappointed. Her brother was the most vain person she knew besides herself—he was bound to be upset that the skin he put so much effort into keeping smooth was now permanently disfigured.

He didn’t seem distressed at all, though, rather the opposite. He breaks into a smile, and pushes Velvet’s hair back to look at her scar.

“I’ll be like you and Ritz, then!” he exclaims. “Both your scars are so pretty, so mine should be pretty, too,” he reasons.

Velvet pauses at his statement. He had called her beautiful plenty of times, but never specifically her scar. She lifts up his shirt to expose the wound, in order to check if it looked any better.

“Hey, Vels,” he says. “I wanted to tell you something. When you kissed me on the burn, it actually felt really nice. I know you were trying to kiss it to make it better like when we were little, but… since you’re so cold, it worked.”

Through all the stress of saving her brother, Velvet had nearly forgotten she was infected. Of course, the symptoms were still there, but her mind was so occupied with Veneer that it refused to acknowledge the infection. All she cared about now was making him better.

“Oh,” she responds, and places her hand on the burn. “Does that help at all?”

He sighs in relief, and lays his hand over hers. “Yeah, definitely.”

“Good.”

They stay there for a while, and Velvet hoped her cold hands could help heal what she had put him through. Something was on her mind, though—her friend outside the door. Veneer had seemed happy about his dream, but that trip he reminisced about was before anything bad happened between them.

Velvet was angry at Ritz, of course, but she had to admit it wasn’t entirely his fault. She understood why he did it, and even agreed with him—she had put everyone in danger, just like Orchid. She should have made him kill her as soon as she was infected.

However, she wouldn’t be surprised if Veneer hated him now, not for shooting him, but for trying to kill his sister.

“I’m happy you got to have your firsts with Ritz,” Velvet starts. “I know how much you wanted to love him.”

“Yeah,” Veneer sighs.

“Do you still love him?”

His eyes darken and meet hers, as he caresses her face, just under her scar.

“He tried to kill you,” he answers, anger hidden in his hoarse voice.

“It’s okay if you still love him, I won’t be mad,” Velvet assures. “Actually, I hope you do. I want you guys to love each other when I’m gone. You know he only did that ‘cause he wanted to protect you, right?”

Even after trying to kill her, Velvet loved Ritz, and wanted her brother to feel the same. He only did what he thought would keep them all safe.

And no matter her feelings towards him, she had no choice but to trust him. He was the only person who could take care of her brother once she was gone. And she knew he would—that’s why her love never wavered.

Veneer’s feelings come to light, when he collapses onto her chest. He bursts into sobs, while she tries to keep her hand on the burn, praying it would make his shivers hurt less.

“I love him!” he finally exclaims. “I wish I never hurt him! He’s always been so good to me, and all I do is mess it up!”

“You can make it better again,” Velvet assures with a kiss to his forehead.

“No, I, I can’t! You saw him put that gun on my head. I lied to him. He probably hates me now,” he spirals through tears.

“You’re wrong,” she denies. “You can fix it, and he does love you. He hasn’t stopped loving you since Mount Rageous.”

“I just want him to hold me,” he fantasizes. “We used to cuddle, and, and I would play with his hair, and we’d just talk…”

“You can do that again,” she promises. “Want me to get him?”

With what little strength he had, Veneer squeezes her in the hug. He nods.

“Okay. I’ll send him in.”

//

After a minute of solitude, Veneer hears a knock on the doorframe. In it stood his boyfriend, his first love, his true love. And the person who tried to kill his sister. He was carrying two water bottles, and a bag of pretzels.

“Hey, Veneer,” Ritz says, his voice soft. “How are you feeling?”

“C’mere,” he replies, patting a spot next to him on the bed. “Can you, uh, would you mind…”

Ritz makes his way to the bed, and sits beside him. Neither acknowledged the bullet wound, or the events of the morning.

“What is it?” Ritz interjects as Veneer stutters. “I wanna do anything I can for you.”

“Will you hold me?”

“Yeah.”

Ritz sets down the snacks, then wraps his arms around him. He cradles Veneer’s head to his shoulder, then brushes the back of his hand across his cheek.

“Can we talk about it tomorrow?” Ritz asks, to Veneer’s surprise—he figured he would want to talk about it immediately. “I just wanna be here with you for right now.”

“Okay, yeah, tomorrow,” Veneer agrees.

He lets himself relax into Ritz’s embrace, his eyes wandering to the arms he had only dreamed of being held in for so long. His lover was a living work of art, not only by his tattoos, but down to his heart.

Veneer struggled now more than ever to feel deserving of this, of being held so intimately. In terms of romance, he had everything he ever wanted, and nothing he deserved.

“I was dreaming about you,” Veneer confesses, tracing along Ritz’s silver necklace.

“Oh,” he breathes, surprised yet flattered. “What was I doing?”

“Me,” he answers with a mischievous giggle.

Ritz’s eyes widen, and Veneer catches a glimpse of his face turning red. He wanted to forget all the trauma between them and kiss his lips, but he assumed Ritz wasn’t ready for him to be so forward. Veneer was blushing, too, though—his heart was fluttering, in a good way this time.

“I was dreaming about camping,” Veneer adds. “After our first time, when you told me I was pretty.”

“I told you you were pretty that whole night,” Ritz reminisces, hugging him tighter. “‘Cause you are.”

Veneer lays his arms around Ritz’s shoulders, wondering if he was still pretty now. He must be, considering Ritz was holding him as if he never wanted to let go.

He could tell Ritz missed holding him. These days, Veneer’s full attention was on his infected sister, so he couldn’t cuddle Ritz as much. Hell, after everything that happened, he wasn’t sure if Ritz still wanted to hold him.

But he did, and he was, now that it was just the two of them. As much as he was worried about Velvet, he had to admit, he missed these kinds of soft moments with his lover.

“I like falling in love with you,” Veneer tells him. “I want to fall in love with you again.”

“Me too,” Ritz confesses. “Can we fall in love again?”

His voice held the slightest bit of doubt, but mostly curiosity. Veneer’s heart started to speed up, just like when Ritz was only a crush—Ritz wouldn’t have asked him that if he didn’t want to love him.

“It’s already happening,” Veneer answers. The longer Ritz held him, the harder he fell. Despite everything, he still wanted this.

“If I’m honest, I never stopped loving you since I knew you,” he admits. “Even if I tried, I don’t think I could stop. No matter what, Veneer, I’m always gonna love you.”

After what he had put Ritz through, after all the lies, Veneer didn’t deserve his love. But he had it anyways, and he was never going to take it for granted again.

His voice choking up, Veneer echoes Ritz’s confession. “I love you, too. You make me so happy.”

Veneer was disgusted with himself for the way he had treated the boy he was supposed to take care of. That was in the past now, and he knew the others just wanted him to get better, but all Veneer could do was try to make up for it.

It was a good thing for both of them that Veneer got shot, instead of Velvet. Otherwise… No. It happened the way it did, and nothing would change that, so all Veneer wanted to do was relearn to love the boy he’d be spending the rest of his life with.

“Can I do anything for you?” Ritz asks quietly, twirling a finger through his overgrown bangs.

“Kiss me.”

Ritz freezes for a second, processing what they were about to do. It felt like forever since they last kissed, a real kiss, simply out of love and nothing less.

Keeping his hands on his waist, Ritz breaks himself from their prolonged hug. Veneer thought his eyes looked like if the night sky loved him back.

Slowly, Ritz lessens the distance between them, until their faces were inches away from each other. He cups Veneer’s rosy cheeks, like he knew he liked, and leans in.

At the last second, he pulls away. He takes his arms from his lover, and wraps them around himself as he curls up, hiding his face.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Veneer checks in. “It’s okay if you don’t wanna kiss.”

“No, I…” Ritz trails off, as tears start to fall down his face. “I can’t kiss you.”

“Why not?”

With a sniffle, Ritz places his hand over Veneer’s ribs, being careful to avoid the bullet wound.

“I can’t kiss you,” he repeats, tears filling his deep purple eyes. “I did this to you.”

//

Ritz couldn’t kiss him. He shot him. He didn’t deserve his kiss, his embrace, his love. He didn’t deserve him.

He was so tired of crying in front of him. Now that he was responsible for his injuries, it made it even worse that Ritz was the one crying. He didn’t deserve to cry, either.

But he couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down his face, when he feels a loving hand brush them off his cheek.

“But do you want to?” Veneer asks.

“I, I do,” he stutters, “but I just, I hurt you. I don’t, I don’t deserve to love you.”

“If you thought you deserved it, would you kiss me?”

“Yes, but-“

Ritz was cut off as Veneer grabs the front of his shirt, and pulls him into a kiss. It felt so heavenly that Ritz no longer cared about his tears, or anything else. Just like the very first time, Ritz’s hands naturally find their place in his hair and around his waist.

Veneer hugs him tight when their lips meet, and after all they had been through, Ritz never would have expected Veneer to be so happy about kissing him. But he seemed to be, as he smiles in the kiss, letting Ritz know how much he truly loved him.

As they stayed enveloped in each other’s arms, Ritz hoped his kiss conveyed everything he didn’t know how to put into words. This was exactly the kiss he needed.

“Ritz,” Veneer whispers his name into the kiss. “I love you so much.”

Slowly, Veneer pulls away from the kiss, leaving one last peck on Ritz’s bottom lip. Ritz’s tears hadn’t stopped them from their moment, but now, Veneer takes a second to brush them off.

“You deserve to feel anything you want,” Veneer assures. “You can be mad at me, you can love me, whatever you feel, just don’t feel like you can’t feel it. …Did that make sense?”

Ritz knew Veneer sometimes struggled with bottling up emotions, until they all came out at once, usually at the worst time. He figured Veneer didn’t want him to feel the way he felt with his sister when they were famous.

“Yeah, thanks,” Ritz sighs. “I don’t… I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this much at once before.”

“I don’t like seeing you cry,” Veneer says. “I won’t make you cry again.”

Ritz didn’t see a point in asking for a promise, though it reminded him of one he still had to make.

“Okay,” he sniffles, wishing that could be the case. “Veneer, I want to promise you something.”

He takes Veneer’s hand, and interlocks their pinkies. He kisses their linked fingers, then meets his blue glaze.

“I promise you that I won’t try to hurt Velvet. When she gets like Orchid, I promised her I’d put her down, but until then, she’s safe. I’m not gonna try anything. I swear.”

Veneer’s face lights up at his vow, and he throws his arms around his shoulders. He kisses his cheek, then squeezes him with all the strength he had.

“Thank you, oh my god, thank you,” Veneer breathes out in relief. “I need all the time with her that we have left. She’s everything to me.”

“She called me her family,” Ritz tells him.

“You are our family,” he agrees with his sister. “So is Orchid. You’re part of us. Vels and I love you so much.”

Through their time together, Ritz had never thought about being their family. The closeness between them all was there, but the twins had something special. To be welcomed into that bond was something he hadn’t even dreamed about. But now that he was, he hugs Veneer closer, hoping it would last forever.

“She’s been touchy lately,” Ritz points out.

“Yeah, she gets like that,” Veneer explains. “She’s always been really cuddly, ever since we were babies. She hid it once she got older, but she really likes to touch the people she loves. You should’ve seen her after she lost her eye,” he snickers, “I couldn’t go anywhere without her clinging onto me.”

“I think it’s cute,” Ritz responds. “I can tell how much she loves you. And I like it when she holds me… it feels nice.”

“She likes to hold you,” Veneer confirms, then smirks. “I told her you were a good kisser, and she agreed.”

Ritz perks up, and shoves him on the arm. “I knew she liked it!”

“I meant what I said,” Veneer continues. “If you want both of us, I wouldn’t mind. As long as you don’t want both of us at the same time. Then I’m out.”

Veneer shudders at the latter thought, while Ritz bursts out laughing. As much as he did enjoy the kiss between him and Velvet, he was sure she wouldn’t want another one. The more he thought about it, though, the more Veneer’s open-mindedness made sense—he was used to sharing.

“Nah, I’ll stick with you,” Ritz shrugs.

At his laughter, Veneer starts to laugh as well. It was lovely to hear, until it started to hurt him, and he clutches at his wound. He didn’t seem to want to stop laughing, though—Ritz wasn’t sure whether to be happy he was laughing, or worried about his injuries.

Veneer’s shirt was still stained with blood—he hadn’t been able to change since it happened. The dark circles under his eyes had only gotten more prominent, and after all his thrashing, his hair was tangled in knots.

“Hey, do you wanna get changed?” Ritz asks. “I’ll get you something soft. It’ll make you feel better.”

“Actually, I feel really gross,” Veneer cringes. “I really want a shower, but, uhh, I don’t know if I can stand up.”

“Did you want to try to stand?”

“Sure. Can you help me up?”

Ritz nods as he stands up, then makes his way to Veneer’s side of the bed. He holds out his hands for Veneer to take, then moves them to his sides as Veneer struggles. Practically hugging him, Ritz guides him onto his feet.

Veneer was upright, but Ritz was still supporting most of his weight. Like when they danced, Ritz stabilizes him by holding his waist, while Veneer holds onto his shoulders with his good hand.

Just as they had reached a stable position, Ritz had to adjust his stance. He slides his foot in slightly, but Veneer hadn’t been anticipating a movement—he yelps, and loses his balance.

He collapses onto Ritz’s chest, trusting him to break his fall. In the shift of weight, Ritz couldn’t remain standing, but he makes sure to hold Veneer close as they sink to the floor.

Ritz ends up on his knees, his lover cradled in his arms. His gaze shifts to the carpet beside him, and a chill runs down his spine—it was still splattered with Veneer’s blood. He shuts his eyes, and kisses the top of Veneer’s head, but he could still hear his screams in the back of his mind.

“Easy, I gotcha,” Ritz assures. “You okay?”

“Mm, yeah…”

Just as Veneer answers, the two hear a knock on the doorframe. Velvet must have heard her brother, as she was halfway through the door, a concerned look in her eye.

“Hey! Everything good in here?” She sees them on the floor and gasps, then rushes to them. “Oh my god, Ven! What happened?! What did you do to him?! I swear, Ritz, if you hurt him again-“

She reaches out her hand, presumably to grab his shoulder. Before she could reach him, Veneer snatches her wrist.

“I’m okay, please,” Veneer tells her, his voice hoarse. “I tried to stand up, and… yeah.”

Ritz lets out a sigh of relief at his explanation. He and Velvet were okay, for Veneer’s sake, but it was obvious Velvet was still furious with him.

He should have been furious with the twins, and he was to an extent, but all he cared about right now was taking care of the boy in his arms. Veneer’s breaths were still shaky, and now that they were so intertwined, Ritz was starting to notice how truly malnourished his lover had become.

“Why were you standing? You should be resting,” Velvet scolds.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Veneer scoffs, that sibling snark coming back in his voice. “I wanted to get in the shower, ‘cause I feel, like, disgusting.”

“Okay, yeah, that makes sense,” Velvet calms down. “Yeah, you are pretty gross right now.”

“Hey!” Veneer bickers.

“You said it first!” Velvet shoots back.

Ritz couldn’t help but laugh at their antics. He missed this, he missed their little banters. Even as he was being held, healing a serious wound, Veneer still managed to bring the sass. Ritz had missed that, too.

“Fine, but seriously,” Veneer says, “I really need to not feel like this. I can kind of stand up holding onto something, so… I dunno.”

“I’ll shower with you,” Ritz blurts out. He hadn’t realized the implications of his suggestion, but his face turns warm as he figures it out. “I mean, if you’d be okay with that! I can, uh, help you stand and stuff.”

“I’d like that,” Veneer accepts, a faint mischievous tone in his voice.

Velvet had taken on an uncomfortable expression, which always made Ritz want to disturb her even more. He restrains himself, though, and gives her a nod.

“I got him,” Ritz affirms. “Are you gonna be okay while we’re in there?” He still hadn’t decided if he cared about her wellbeing after what she did. Part of him didn’t, but part of him still wanted to take care of her. Orchid would want him to.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” Velvet returns the nod. “Just, um, yell if you need anything.”

//

The morning seemed like ages ago, and Veneer felt like an entirely different person. Somehow, him getting shot had managed to bandage his and Ritz’s relationship. They would talk about everything later, sure, but the next two weeks were about all of them caring for each other.

Ritz had brought in a chair to the bathroom, and Veneer rests on it while Ritz turns on the shower. Once the water was running, he stands across from him.

“This thing takes forever to heat up,” Ritz sighs. “Are you okay to get undressed?”

“I think I need some help,” Veneer answers slyly, but it was completely true. There was no way he could get ready without Ritz undressing him, which he had absolutely no complaints about.

“Right. Can I take this off?” Ritz asks, holding the bottom hem of his shirt.

Veneer nods, the familiar feeling of a lovestruck grin creeping into his face. Even when the answer was obviously yes, Ritz always made sure to check in when they were vulnerable with each other. Veneer hoped he was good at doing the same.

He lifts up his arms, letting Ritz slide his shirt off over his head. Ritz winces when he sees the burn, and places a soft hand next to the reddened skin.

Veneer hoped Ritz wouldn’t start apologizing. He didn’t want to see him upset during their moment of intimacy. Luckily, Ritz had a different plan, as he hovers his fingers over the wound.

Ritz then kneels next to the chair, and looks at the burn, then up at him. “Can I kiss it?”

The roles were reversed—Veneer always wanted to kiss his scars, but now he had a forming scar for Ritz to kiss. The last time he had kissed his scars was in the shed, which tore his heart apart to even think about how he left him there.

Veneer hoped he could make it up to him and kiss him once they were both undressed, with the love he should have been showing him all this time. He loved those scars so much, and loved the rest of him, too—he should have never taken this gorgeous boy for granted.

“Yes!” Veneer replies with enthusiasm. “Kisses feel really good on it, actually.”

Ritz takes his consent, and presses a kiss to the wound. His lips weren’t cold, but they were so soft that they still eased the pain in his side. Carefully, Ritz leaves kisses over the whole burn, then tugs on the waistband of his pants.

“Can I get these off for you?” Ritz checks in again.

The water was probably warm by now, but Veneer didn’t mind a little water wasted if it meant he could have kisses like that. He grabs onto Ritz’s shoulders and uses him to stand up, giving him easy access.

“Yeah, go ahead,” Veneer accepts. “Can I help you at all?”

The last time he had undressed his lover was in the shed, too. Veneer wanted to fix his mistake, to show Ritz how beautiful all of him was, and how he deserved all the love Veneer could give him.

Though they had seen each other many times since that night at the lake, Veneer never felt any less excited to be vulnerable with him. Of course, they were only undressing to get clean, but the intimacy that came with showering together meant just as much to him as any affection.

“Yeah, just don’t fall,” Ritz answers, guiding Veneer’s right hand to the drawstrings of his pajama shorts. “Here.”

Veneer couldn’t stop smiling, taking this as his chance to make something right between them. Carefully, he helps him undress the best he could in his injured state. Soon enough, their bloodstained clothes were gathered in a pile, and they stood before the shower.

Ritz steps in first, then guides Veneer in with him. After he undressed him, he forced Veneer into a pair of flip flops to keep him from falling, which he was quite unhappy about. Those were probably the least attractive things he could wear during a moment like this, but Ritz had insisted, and he was probably right with his concern.

The warm water slices across the two of them as they don’t take their eyes off each other, trying to find the best way to stand. Ritz stabilizes him with hands on his waist, having him lean on him for as much support as he could give.

“Temperature okay?” Ritz asks. Veneer couldn’t feel any extreme temperature besides that in his face, so he gives him a thumbs up.

The past few weeks, Ritz had neglected to cut his hair. The blue edges were a bit past his shoulders now, and they clung to his skin as the water rained down on him. Veneer’s eyes dart all around him, taking in his exposed tattoos, until they land on his scars.

Veneer starts, “Can I-“

“Yes,” Ritz consents with an eager grin.

Leaving one arm on his shoulder, Veneer takes his free hand, and runs his fingertips along his lover’s scars. They really were beautiful, and so was he—no matter how many times Veneer got to see him, he was always the most handsome person he had ever met.

“Do you like them?” Veneer asks.

Ritz hadn’t processed his question, and he changes the subject. “Do you want the lavender or coconut shampoo- huh?”

“Your scars,” he clarifies, taking his hand from his scars to his heart. “Do you like them?”

Ritz pauses, taken aback at the question.

“And coconut,” Veneer adds.

“How come?”

“I like coconut better,” Veneer answers. After a second, he realizes Ritz was probably asking about his other question. “I mean, uhm, I was just wondering. ‘Cause I’m gonna have a scar, and you seem really comfortable with yours, and, like, your body in general.”

“Honestly? You like them more than I do,” Ritz answers, then motions for Veneer to hold onto a bar on the wall of the shower. He squeezes a dollop of shampoo onto his hand. “I mean, they’re cool and all, and really affirming. But when you kiss me there, it’s like… gender euphoria and regular euphoria at the same time. And you being gay is, like, max affirmation for me.”

As he talks, Ritz kneads the shampoo into Veneer’s hair. It was the best possible version of a massage that could exist.

They hadn’t talked about Ritz’s identity much, but Veneer always tried to make sure he felt comfortable and validated. Gender euphoria sounded awesome, and he wanted to be a source of that for him. Ritz seemed secure with himself, but still, Veneer wanted to know and love even his hidden insecurities.

“You’re so beautiful,” Veneer fawns. “I love the way you look. Everything. Like, I wouldn’t want you to not be trans.”

He was perfect, exactly as he was. Veneer was so lucky to have someone so beautiful, inside and out.

“You like that I’m trans?” Ritz asks for assurance, not taking his focus from his boyfriend’s hair.

“I love that you’re trans,” he confirms. “It’s one of my favorite things about you. You light up and get excited about things I wouldn’t even think about.”

“Like what?”

“Like, we were talking about colognes the other day, and you were just glowing. It was adorable.” He smiles, and leans his head back into Ritz’s hands. “And I just think it’s so cool. Even your own body never stopped you being who you are—you just took it and made it what you wanted. You’re always you, no matter what, and I love that about you.”

Veneer admired how Ritz was always honest, both to himself and those around him. He never lied, never tried to change himself or his wants just to please someone else.

After living in the suburbs, meeting Ritz had been a breath of fresh air for Veneer. He hadn’t known his specific identity yet, but seeing someone so openly queer and colorful in the spotlight showed Veneer that there was so much more out there. Ritz was energetic and chill and vibrant and cool all at the same time, and Veneer had never seen anyone like him. To be his lover now was more than he could have dreamed of.

Ritz’s hands stop in his hair, and their eyes meet. Veneer couldn’t tell if his watery eyes were from the shower or tears, but it was probably both. Finally, Ritz breaks the silence, and kisses him on the cheek.

“This is what I missed,” he says. “You’re back.”

He was right. In a way, the water had cleansed them of everything—despite his injuries, Veneer felt the most like himself he had in a long time, right here with Ritz.

Still, everything he had done wouldn’t go away that easily.

“What can I do to make us better?” Veneer asks him.

“You can say more things like what you just told me,” Ritz answers, then wraps his arms around him. He starts to work the conditioner into Veneer’s hair, letting him lean against him. “That was really nice to hear.”

“It’s the truth,” Veneer responds. No more lies.

“And you can let me take care of you, and not push me away,” Ritz continues. “And you can take care of me and Velvet, but you need to take better care of yourself, first. You’re not eating, and it’s really scaring me.”

Veneer could tell Ritz had been wanting to get that off his chest for a while. He had been waiting for the right time to tell him, and this was it. Once he was done washing his hair, he keeps his arms around Veneer’s waist.

“I’ll start eating better,” Veneer promises. “And I won’t push you away anymore.”

He didn’t want to push him away. He wanted to pull him closer.

“Good,” Ritz says. “Do you wanna use Orchid’s moisturizer? It’ll make you super soft. Well, she was naturally soft, but it’s still nice.”

“Yeah!” Veneer nods, then grabs onto the bar.

As he feels Ritz massage the lotion into his skin, he felt compelled to look up. If he squinted, he could pretend the shower head was part of the sky.

Ritz must have been thinking the same thing. He holds a hand under the water. “It’s like the rain.”

“Do you still like the rain?”

“I do,” Ritz answers, then places his hands back on his waist. “I wanna kiss you in the rain again.”

“We can do that right now,” Veneer decides.

Ritz takes his invitation, and closes the distance between them. The water was now the rain, and for a moment, they could pretend like nothing was wrong. It was just them in the storm.

Veneer tries to keep his balance as he feels Ritz kiss along his neck, then down to his shoulder. He knew that if he fell, he’d never hear the end of it. And he never wanted this to end.

“Is it bad that I think you look so good right now?” Ritz whispers into his ear.

He liked to think that even if he was unhealthy, his beauty hadn’t vanished. Ritz had just confirmed his hope, so he answers his question with a kiss.

Soon enough, their arms were wrapped around each other. Veneer finds himself pressed against the wall, and he knew it was to give him extra support, but it only added to his excitement.

“All that matters is that you think I’m pretty,” Veneer whispers back.

“You’re so pretty,” Ritz adores. “Are you still okay?”

The water definitely helped—the pain in Veneer’s side had quieted to a dull pang, for now. Not to mention, the distraction of being kissed by his lover made the pain nearly insignificant. As long as Ritz kept him against the wall, he wasn’t going anywhere, and he wanted to keep it that way.

“Never been better,” Veneer answers, then lets out an exhilarated gasp when Ritz surprises him with another kiss.

If he closed his eyes, the sound of the shower water was indistinguishable from the sound of rain. As it gently struck their skin, Veneer was reminded of their first night in the rain, when he could hear nothing but the storm and Ritz’s breaths against him.

“I missed this,” Ritz admits in between kisses. “We should’ve showered together way sooner.”

“Mhm,” Veneer agrees, starting to get dizzy from all the affection. He keeps his focus on his tattoos, watching him move as he presses kisses where the lotion seeped in.

As much as he was enjoying this, part of Veneer wished he was back in their bed, being laid down against the pillows. That way, he could fully relax into the embrace of his lover, and think about nothing besides Ritz’s warm body intertwined with his own.

But to do that would mean leaving the shower, which Veneer would never wish for.

“When we’re done in here, you’re going right back to bed and resting up,” Ritz tells him.

“Aww, I don’t want to be done,” Veneer whines.

“Neither do I.” Ritz had made his way to Veneer’s ribs, and he presses a gentle kiss to his wound. “But I gotta make sure you get some rest. Then, when you’re all better, we can do this again,” he promises, “and we’ll do more than kiss.”

Veneer’s face turns even hotter than it already was. He wanted to get better. Not only so Ritz would make good on his promise, but so that his loved ones would see him healthy again.

He lets his worries disappear as Ritz kisses his lips again, running his hands along Veneer’s soft skin. They hadn’t been this close in so long, and it was wonderful—nothing separating them, just the love between them in full bloom. Even if he was unhealthy and scarred, Veneer was overjoyed to let Ritz see him like this, and love him anyways.

“Hold my hand,” Veneer whispers during a breath. “Don’t stop. I love you.”

Ritz does as he says and takes his right hand, then presses it onto the tile wall next to his head. He doesn’t stop kissing him, and lets Veneer pull him even closer.

“I love you too. You’re beautiful.”

Veneer was so happy that his gasps were out of excitement and not pain; the buckling of his knees was caused not by despair, but by the sensation of his lover’s skin against his.

He wanted this over and over again, and if he got better, he just might get it.

//

Once they were done in the shower, the two help each other into matching bathrobes. On the way to the bed, Veneer limps as he holds on tight to Ritz.

He sits down on the bed, then lets Ritz guide his legs under the covers. He looks into his violet eyes as Ritz cradles his head, laying him down where Orchid used to sleep.

“Snuggle me?” Veneer mumbles, pulling the covers up to his chin. The shower, despite how wonderful it was, had left him exhausted.

“Of course.”

Ritz joins him in bed, then brings him into his arms. Veneer buries his face in the crook of his neck, then lets out a deep exhale.

It had been so long since they held each other like this. Veneer refused to think about anything else—they had already promised to talk about everything tomorrow. Right now, he was safe in Ritz’s arms, and he wanted nothing more.

A knock sounds at the door.

Velvet’s voice comes through, “Are you two dressed? Can I come in?”

“If you count boxers and a robe as dressed, then yes,” Ritz answers.

Velvet opens the door, and when she sees the two of them cuddled up together, she breaks into a smile. She must have been too tired to hide her adoration for their relationship.

“Aww,” Velvet says. “You guys are so cute.”

“C’mere,” Veneer beckons her over.

She joins them on the bed, and lays a hand on Veneer’s back. He feels her rub circles around his back, being extra careful on his wounded side.

Here, with his head on Ritz’s shoulder, his sister right beside him, Veneer felt a warmth that had been missing since they all lost Orchid. He kisses Ritz’s shoulder, then turns to look at Velvet.

But when he catches her eye, he regrets that he ever wanted to keep living.

There was no life worth living that didn’t have Velvet in it. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, just a fact of life. Ritz could try anything and everything, and Veneer loved him for that, but nothing he could do would ease the pain of losing her.

He had promised honesty, but how could he tell either of them that?

“Are you feeling any better?” Velvet asks.

Her voice snaps him back to the present moment. And in the present moment, everything was okay.

“I’m feeling great,” Veneer replies, then bats his eyelashes at Ritz.

Velvet rolls her eye, then shoots an unserious glare at Ritz. “As long as you were gentle with him,” she huffs.

“Trust me, I was very gentle with him,” Ritz snickers. Veneer returns his giggles, then pecks him on the lips. “And he promised me he’d start taking care of himself, right?”

“Yeah, I will,” Veneer confirms, for Ritz’s sake.

“Good.” Velvet then lays her head on Veneer’s back, and hugs him tight. “I’ll make you something to eat, okay?”

This may have been the first time Velvet offered to make him food without him having to beg her. Damn, if she’s cooking for me out of her own will, I must be in rough shape.

“Mm, nap first,” Veneer says, melting further into Ritz’s embrace.

“Okay,” she accepts, and kisses his back, right over where his heart was. “I’m still mad at you.”

“How can I make you not mad?” he asks, his voice still hoarse.

“Rest up,” she decides. “Get better.”

I can’t do that. Not if you won’t get better, too.

“I’ll try,” he responds. “For you three. I love you.”

He was starting to drift off, so comfortable with Ritz as his pillow. Surrounded by the living people he loved, he couldn’t wish for a better family.

But Veneer had a choice to make. He could hold on, he could get better. He could spend the rest of his life with Ritz, and let him try to make him happy. He could have a love he had only dreamed of for so long, but he would lose his sister in the process.

Or he could give up. With no doctors, no hospitals, it was possible the wound could become infected. Maybe it already had. They didn’t have the right medicine to treat him, and his health was already poor. It would be painful, but not nearly as painful as watching Velvet turn from his beautiful sister into an infected monster.

Only time would tell, but he had a feeling fate had already decided.

//

Late in the night, Velvet couldn’t sleep. As relieved as she was that Veneer had finally eaten a full dinner, everything else was keeping her awake.

She had been watching Ritz and Veneer. After what felt like so long, they were finally cuddling in their sleep again. Velvet had snuggled beside them for awhile, but it was hopeless. If it was going to be a sleepless night, she wanted to watch her brother in a rare state of serenity.

Veneer was laying on Ritz, wrapped in his arms. They had stayed in their plush robes, and looked like they were sheltered in clouds underneath the fluffy comforter. Veneer’s head moved up and down with the rise and fall of Ritz’s chest, and his hands rested on either side of Ritz’s head.

The main feeling in Velvet’s heart was jealousy. She used to hold Orchid like that. She used to lay on Orchid’s chest, and let Orchid lay on hers.

But unlike her brother, she didn’t have a lover anymore. The girl she was meant to marry was in the ground, her soft skin decomposing. Eventually, all that was left of her would be Velvet’s nightgown, Velvet’s ring, and all her favorite photos.

Before Velvet could process, she was up out of the bed, and walking towards the front door. She opens it, and is greeted by the stars.

Her last photo of Orchid in her hands, she sits beside her grave.

“Orchid, I can’t sleep.”

No response.

“Ritz found out you bit me, and tried to kill me,” she recounts to her lover. “But Ven jumped in front of me, and he got shot instead. I had to burn him to stop the bleeding.”

Again, no response.

“I can’t sleep,” Velvet repeats. “I need you to hold me.”

Admitting she needed comfort has always been a hard feat for her, but with Orchid, it felt as natural as holding her hand. Orchid never thought she was weak, never looked at her with anything but awe, even if she was crying in her arms.

She needed Orchid’s warmth, but it no longer existed. What had become of her body was cold, unable to see the light of day ever again.

If there was an afterlife, would holding her feel the same? It would be Orchid, but it wouldn’t be the exact same hands, or lips, or heart. Would Velvet ever hear her heartbeat again? Would her professions of love be the same, even without her vocal cords? Would her soft hands be the same, even if all the cells that made them up were dead?

“I need you to hold me,” Velvet whispers again, this time through sobs. She then sheds her quiet voice, and screams up at the stars. “I NEED YOU!”

“Please, Orchid, just tell me what to do, Veneer’s hurt, and I’m, I’m gonna die before he gets better.”

As she pleads, Velvet repositions herself into her knees, and bows down before the grave. Unable to hold herself up, she touches her forehead to the ground, letting her tears rain onto her lover’s resting place.

She continues to beg.

“I don’t know what to do without you. I just want you back. You’re the most beautiful, most precious, most amazing girl I’ve ever known. Please, just come back to me. Just come back and hold me. I need you.”

Her sobs shake her body, and no one was there to hold her through them. Part of her even hoped she would start hallucinating, for even some sliver of interaction with the girl she loved.

But whatever was pretending to be Orchid didn’t even appear. Velvet was completely alone.

“I love you, Orchid. I love you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you so much.”

She sinks further onto the ground, repeating those three little words. The best thing had given Velvet the worst thing: her death sentence. But Velvet couldn’t blame her right now. She just wanted Orchid to hold her.

“I love you.”

She had never imagined love could ever hurt this much.

.