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The identical twins watch as their friend struts around the lounge, seemingly stressed and flustered. He quickly goes around, talking charismatically to customers and checking the overall condition of the lounge.
The twins are used to seeing Azul like this, though it has been a long time. Azul always used to let his feelings get the best of him when the three were younger, but he’s gotten much better at regulating his emotions and holding them back in front of others. His stressed state probably wouldn’t even be apparent to anyone else, but the twins know him like the back of their hands.
Jade and Floyd exchange a look. What could’ve happened to make Azul like this? They assume it’s probably simply from his heavy workload and lack of sleep as of late.
“Jade! Floyd!” They quickly look over as Azul’s voice snaps them out of their seemingly telepathic communication. They see their white haired, bespectacled friend standing in front of them, hands on his hips and his expression twisted into a look of anger.
“What are you two doing just standing around? I could use some help attending to everyone, you know!” Azul exclaims.
“My apologies, Azul. I must admit, we were distracted.” Jade places his hand on his chest and bows elegantly, a polite smile on his menacing face.
“Sorry, Azul~ we’ll get back to work!” Floyd says in his spacey and yet frightening voice.
Azul just scoffs and struts back into the kitchen hurriedly. The twins follow suit after sharing one last look.
***
Later that night, they finally close the Mostro Lounge. Floyd is finishing cleaning up the tables and floors, and Jade is cleaning in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Azul is in his office, sorting through papers of some sort.
“Done cleaning up!” Floyd bounces into the kitchen to unite with his twin.
“I’m almost finished. Just got to finish wiping down this counter.” Jade says.
After they both finish cleaning, they stroll into Azul’s office, where their friend is still sitting, his forehead resting in his hand, as he continues sifting through papers after papers. His glasses are slipping down his nose and his hat has been long abandoned on the desk next to him.
“Whatcha lookin at, Azul?” Floyd asks, slinking up behind Azul to peer over his shoulder at the papers.
“Just reports on the revenue made this month.” Azul sighs.
“Is everything in order?” Jade asks, walking up to stand beside Floyd in two long strides.
“Basically.” Azul sighs again. His answers are unusually short.
“Azul, you seem stressed out~ why don’t you stop looking at those papers for tonight and turn in? Leave it for tomorrow?” Floyd suggests.
“Yes, come wash up and go to sleep, hm? You need rest, Azul.” Jade agrees.
“I can’t. Best to look through them all tonight while my mind is still sharp.” Azul responds, not looking at them.
The twins glance at each other, clearly both thinking ‘his mind’s tired, not sharp!’
“Come rest now, Azul. This can wait for tomorrow.” Jade says.
“Seriously. You’re the smartest guy I know, you can do this at any time tomorrow.” Floyd says, grabbing Azul’s arm.
“Floyd, stop grabbing me!” Azul says. “I promise you, I can finish this tonight. You two turn in. I’ll be back in a while.”
“I’m sorry, that won’t do, Azul.” Jade says.
“Jade—”
Before Azul can finish, the twins have exchanged a look and Floyd has scooped Azul up into his arms, he and Jade striding back to their rooms.
“Floyd!! Unhand me this instant!” Azul says, his face turning red from anger.
“Haha, the way you’re talking reminds me of little Goldfishie right now~” Floyd laughs, referring to the little Housewarden of Heartslabyul.
“Floyd! Jade! Seriously, I don’t need to go to bed yet, I haven’t finished what I was doing!” Azul is thrashing around in Floyd’s arms, but the taller male doesn’t lose his grip at all. Finally, they make it to Azul’s room, and Floyd places him pointedly back down on his feet. Jade closes the door behind them.
“Guys! What is the meaning of this?! I told you, I—”
Floyd places a finger on Azul’s lips to shut him up. Azul fumes.
“Azul, we can tell you’re tired and stressed, even if you don’t want to admit it. It’s best for you to turn in for the night. Let us help you relax!” Jade says, taking Azul’s hands in his own and leading him to the bathroom.
“Jade, really, I don’t…” Azul continues to try to protest, but finds himself giving up. It is true that he is tired…
“Floyd, if you will.” He nods towards the bath.
“On it.” Floyd draws the bath and even puts various good-smelling soaps in it.
“Alright, now get in while it’s still warm. I’m going to go and grab your change of clothes, and I’ll wash your hair when I get back.” Jade smiles at him as he and Floyd exit the bathroom.
Azul scoffs as he looks at the bath. He stands cross armed for a moment, contemplating his options, before inevitably giving in. He undresses and slips into the warm bath, visibly relaxing at the feeling.
“I’m back, Azul.” Jade knocks twice on the bathroom door before opening it. He slips back in.
Jade places a stool next to the bathtub and sits on it.
“Alright, come lean against the bathtub so I can wash your hair.” Jade says.
Azul glares slightly at Jade’s smiling face, before giving in. He slinks over and leans his back on the bathtub, leaning his head back slightly.
Jade pours warm water over his head, before massaging the soap into his hair. This seems to help relax Azul, as he closes his eyes partway through after a while of trying to act like he wasn’t enjoying it.
After rinsing the soap out and toweling off his head, Jade pets his hair softly to indicate that he’d finished.
“Alright, your hair’s all washed. Now, finish washing up, get toweled off and changed. Floyd’s prepared your bed in your room. I’ll prepare you some tea. Meet us out there, hm?” Jade says, standing up and picking up his stool.
“Alright.” Azul mumbles. Jade exits the bathroom.
After about 10 more minutes, Azul comes out of the bathroom, his glasses foggy, his body covered in a silky dark purple pajama set.
“C’mere, Azul~” Floyd says, holding his arms outwards. Azul steps closer and “reluctantly” lets Floyd hug him close.
“Your tea’s right here if you want it, Azul.” Jade says, gesturing to the side table.
“C’mon, Jade!” Floyd says, gesturing for Jade to join them.
With that, the twins envelope Azul in hugs, sandwiching him in between them as they flop down onto the bed.
“I don’t need you guys to baby me, you know…” Azul mumbles. Even as he says this, he rests his cheek against Floyd’s chest and lets his hand fall loosely onto Jade’s. Floyd hugs him tight and nuzzles his cheek against Azul’s freshly washed hair, and Jade holds Azul’s hand and pats his head softly.
“We know!” Floyd says, laughing, as they continue to cuddle their little ring leader.
“Care to tell us what’s bothering you, Azul?” Jade asks gently.
“I-It’s nothing specific… I guess I’m just tired. I haven’t gotten to rest properly in about a week.” Azul mumbles, squeezing Jades hand.
“Mm.” Jade says in understanding. “That makes sense. We understand, Azul.”
“But, I can’t be letting you two treat me like this… this is unbefitting of a Housewarden— Gah!” Azul begins to sit up, but Floyd pulls him right back, continuing to hold him.
“Get back here! Who says it’s ‘unbefitting?’ You enjoy cuddling us, don’t you~?” Floyd giggles.
“I-I mean—”
“Floyd’s point is, you can let us coddle you sometimes, Azul. It’s just us here. You can let us see your emotions, it’s just us!” Jade says.
Azul looks up at him with glassy eyes and a frustrated expression.
“You can cry, we’ll be here for you.” Jade says reassuringly.
With those words, Azul removes his glasses and hides his face in Floyd’s chest. His shoulders shake ever so slightly. They know he’s crying, but he doesn’t let a sound out.
“Aww, Azul~” Floyd nuzzles his face onto his hair.
A few moments of silence pass like this, until Floyd breaks it.
“Y’know guys, we haven’t cuddled like this since we were kiddos.” He laughs.
“You are quite right, Floyd.” Jade smiles. “Feels nice, doesn’t it?”
Azul doesn’t respond to this, but keeps leaning into the twin’s embraces.
“Sometimes it feels like we have a baby brother named Azul~” Floyd says with a laugh.
“Ugh, I don’t act like a baby brother!” Azul protests, looking up at Floyd with a discontent expression.
“It’s not meant in a bad way, Azul.” Jade says, caressing his best friend’s white hair.
“Yeah, we love you, Azul~” Floyd says happily, squeezing both Azul and Jade into a bone crushing hug. Not anything that the two aren’t used to.
“We love you, Azul~” Jade repeats after his twin.
Azul become flustered at their comments, and he tries to hide his blushing face behind Jade’s arm.
“Yeah, Yeah…” Azul says. He doesn’t say the words in return, but the twins have no doubt that Azul shares the sentiment.
And, just like that, the Tweels were able to cheer their best friend up. The three know that they care about each other more than they’d care to admit, and Azul knows that he’ll never object to their pampering and cuddling behind closed doors. The three fall asleep like that, cuddled together, neither Jade nor Floyd going back to their respective rooms that night.
And, Azul was back to his normal, unstressed self the next day.