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He Wants Me (To Be Loved)

Summary:

After becoming the Parkour God, Evbo was able to do the impossible and bring back Seawatt. Where does this leave EMF, his most pious follower, his first friend? EMF is absolutely devoted to Evbo in every sense of the word, while Evbo sees him as a friend and only loves Seawatt, but despite that, EMF can't bring himself to leave Evbo's side. Even if he can't be with him, his presence alone is enough. To bask in the light of his god is worth the heartache.

Notes:

I listened to the song "She Wants Me (To Be Loved)" and thought, Yup, thats so Evbo & EMF.

Work Text:

The first time EMF saw Evbo, he thought he was like all the rest. He was just another pro with too much ego who couldn’t even be bothered to do his daily tasks. That’s why he challenged him to a parkour battle to put him in his place.

Those feelings of belittlement were soon replaced by something much more sinister, infatuation. When their battle started, it was nothing special. While EMF was a rather mediocre master, he should have been able to wipe the floor with any pro. But when he first missed a jump and gave Evbo the chance to counter, he was astonished. He’d never seen someone jump like Evbo; it was beautiful, and he, by extension, was beautiful. It was like staring at the sun as it arced across the sky.

The image of Evbo doing a backward 1-block-360 jump hasn’t left his mind since the first time he saw it. At that moment, he knew both that he didn’t hold a candle to this person and that even if he did, he couldn’t bring himself to beat him.

As a master from before the new champion took over, he knew that it was impossible for a person to rank up without some help. EMF couldn’t let this person fail like all the rest. In order to see this angelic parkour again, he placed a hefty bet, giving over one of his totems, one of his only lifelines. 

He couldn’t stay on the pro level, especially after giving out an illegal item. He could only hope that it would be enough for the stranger with golden hair to advance to the next level.

A few days passed, and Evbo showed no signs of having advanced to being a parkour master. Until eventually, EMF saw Evbo on the master level looking at the parkour temple. He couldn’t believe that Evbo had actually succeeded. Instantly wanting to go talk to him, needing an excuse, he told him about the facility on the edge of parkour civilization. 

He didn’t know it at the time, but he was sending him into the clutches of the person who would eventually steal his beloved's heart.

A few hours passed, and EMF heard nothing from Evbo; even his house was completely empty late into the night. While he knew that he had given him a rather dangerous task, he hadn’t believed that anyone would be able to actually beat the 360 master.

That night was the first time in recent memory that EMF had cried. He shed tears for what was and what could have been. The future they might have had together. However, his heart wasn’t left broken for long as Evbo reappeared with a plan to save everyone, and despite what reason would say, he agreed. How could he have said no when Evbo looked so determined?

He desperately wanted to go with him, but Evbo refused. To be fair, he would have only gotten in the way; EMF just couldn’t compare to Evbo when it came to parkour; he was in a league of his own.

Despite all logic, Evbo actually managed to do it; he beat the parkour champion and saved Parkour Civilization. The best part of it all was that now EMF got to stand by Evbo’s side with no obstacles. After “saving” the world together, Evbo called EMF his friend; in his eyes, EMF was the one who made it possible for him to have even reached the rank of master.

EMF wanted to be more but he restrained himself. He knew his friend was stressed after having to take on the mantle of champion. Also, the fate of the old champions helper, Seawatt, still weighted heavily on Evbo’s mind. He wanted to make life easier for Evbo; adding his feelings to the matter would only complicate things for his champion; it would give him another thing to worry about.

When they found the mysterious bridge that led to rift on the edge of civilization, he knew he couldn’t let Evbo go alone; he had already made that mistake once and wasn’t keen on repeating it. However, despite all his training to try and catch up to his champion, he was instantly captured by Seawatt.

Life for the next few weeks was worse than being sent to Parkour prison. Being chained wasn’t the worst part; what really hurt him was hearing just above him as Seawatt and Evbo grew closer. It started as just a partnership of mutual benefit, but as time progressed and Evbo got more of the dics, his tone softened and their conversion expanded beyond just what was required.

EMF wanted to scream, to yell, that Seawatt was just using him, that he was wasting his kindness on someone who didn’t deserve it but he couldn’t. Also in those moments when Evbo was away and Seawatt ventured down into where he held EMF captive, he could see that while Seawatt’s plans hadn’t changed, his sincerity was genuine, which made it even worse. 

When Seawatt was killed by the Parkour Villian, he shouldn’t have been so happy, but he couldn’t help himself. 

EMF was so happy when Evbo actually came back and saved him from his prison above the pit. He knew Evbo was kind, almost to the point where it was detrimental, but he had more important matters to handle; it meant so much to him that Evbo would actually take the time to save the person he just saw as a friend. 

It nearly killed him when he learned that he couldn’t escape the chainboot level with Evbo; once again, this was only a battle that he could handle, no one else. EMF didn’t doubt it for a second that Evbo would win; it just wouldn’t fit him to ever truly fail. Every time Evbo fell, he rose back up even higher than before. Despite believing this, it didn’t mean that EMF expected for Evbo to return to save him as a god instead of the champion. 

At first, when Evbo revealed that he had become the parkour god, EMF was worried for the person his heart belonged to. He worried that the stress of both godhood and having to run Parkour Civilization would be too much for his friend, who deserved a peaceful life full of love. Which is why he was so excited when Evbo told him he wanted to make him the champion. This was finally his chance to help his friend, his love; even if he wasn’t ready for it, he’d do anything for Evbo.

At first things were good; Evbo peridoticall stopped by to check to see how EMF was handling his responsibility as champion and to just chat about life. It wasn’t everything he wanted, but for now he was content just being Evbo’s only confidant. However, things weren’t all perfect. Every once and awhile, when Evbo didn’t think EMF was looking, he’d see his friend with a sad, complex look on his face.

Evbo missed Seawatt. Despite his betrayals and hurting his only friend, he couldn’t help feeling bad for the man. While his actions weren’t excusable, he could understand why he had done what he did.

One day out of the blue, Evbo appeared before his only friend with excitement emanating off of him. It was the first time in forever since he had seen Evbo so happy; it filled him with complicated feelings. He was sad that he couldn’t bring such joy to his friend, but he did truly love to see his god so happy. Evbo told him he found a way to bring back all those that had been killed by the Parkour Villian, including Seawatt.

Despite EMF’s own feelings on the matter, he supported his friend anyway; it wasn’t his place to argue with his god, his only love.

After the people who were lost to the Parkour Villian’s assault on their civilization, things slowly changed for EMF. It was gradual at first if it was anyone else they might not have noticed, but EMF did. Day by day, Evbo spent less and less time with him. EMF didn’t want to accept it, but he knew where his god was spending most of his time, with the man that had chained him for days.

Whatever made Evbo happy, that's all that mattered to EMF. Evbo was his friend, his first love, his liberator, and his object of worship. How could he stray from what Evbo wanted?

It was one of the days that Evbo joined him above the final parkour temple, overlooking all of the civilization they saved together. Evbo was telling him about all that Seawatt and him had gotten up to that week and some plans they had in the future. Suddenly he stopped and spoke. “You know I was wondering, when are you going to find someone? I’m sure you have people lining up out the door now that you are champion,” he said with a sly grin. 

What could he say to that when the only person for him was already taken by someone else? He laughed dryly for a second before replying, “You know, maybe I’m just not the loving type. No one seems to match what I want.”

It only took a moment for Evbo to say back, "Hey, don’t sound so down! Even if you never date anyone, you’ll always have me, right? Godhood has its perks. You know I’m not exactly going anywhere.” Little did he know how right he was.

"Yeah, you’re right. Why would I need anyone else when I have a friend like you? Having God as a best friend does set a high bar.”

Sometimes EMF would cry. He would cry for what was and what never would be. But as long as his god continued to grace him with his existence, it would be enough. After all, what other option did he have? He wouldn’t abandon Evbo; that would be a betrayal to both himself and his only friend.