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Chapter Text

Two weeks passed, and Robbie's family finally let up and allowed him to hang out with Spike outside of the house. Hanging out with him at home was easy enough, as his family was always poking their head around the corner and checking on them to make sure they hadn't snuck out anywhere, but it wasn't as fun as finding chaos to entertain themselves out in the world. His head was still buzzing anytime he thought about the concert, and although the music was amazing, he found it wasn't from that.

It was all because of Spike. His chest swelled like a balloon ready to pop when Spike laughed, and his legs threatened to stop standing when Spike wrapped an arm around him. It was all Spike's fault that Robbie's stomach flopped around like a fish in the belly of a beast.

So far, he had been able to hammer his feelings down enough to focus on the upcoming prom by asking out Wendy, the daughter of B. P. Richfield. While his feelings for her had faded from a hot pink to a pale peach, he still found her attractive and fun to talk to. With a few hundred bucks in his pocket, he went with Wendy to the mall to try and find outfits for the dance approaching.

As soon as Robbie mentioned his plans to his best friend, he invited himself and his own date, Hollie.

Hollie was a gorgeous Silvisaurus with deep maroon scales, gaudy earrings, and a snout carved as softly as a scoop of ice cream. And for whatever reason, the sound of her giggle as she stood next to Spike made Robbie's stomach churn like butter.

"Wendy, right? Let's go and look at the dresses. Leave the boys for a while." Hollie suggested, looping her arm with Wendy and leading her to a dress boutique. Right away, Robbie let out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding, and Spike tossed a comfortable arm around his shoulders.

"What's up with you, Scooter?" He murmured, guiding him to a nearby men's boutique. "You've been quiet since we got here. Somethin' on your mind?"

Shrugging, Robbie stared down at his sneakers, scuffing them on the clay floor of the store. "I dunno. Just... not really lookin' forward to prom."

Humming, Spike tightened his grip on Robbie's shoulders before letting go entirely. "Is this about that soulmate crap again?"

Rolling his eyes, Robbie stopped in front of a dark blue suit and ran his hands over it thoughtfully. "Yeah. It's just... prom is supposed to be this amazing time, but I just know it won't feel like it if I'm not with the 'one', yanno?"

Snorting, Spike turned and faced Robbie fully. "You worry too much, Scooter. Prom ain't about makin' some amazing memory, it's about makin' out with a girl, and ya gotcha one."

"Not sure if I want to, though." Robbie muttered under his breath, shuffling through a few different suits before grabbing a maroon suit, slipping the jacket of it on and admiring himself as he spotted Spike behind him in the mirror, glaring as he tried to tie a tie.

Chuckling, Robbie turned on his heel and approached Spike, stopping right in front of him. Reaching up, he fumbled with the tie for a moment before successfully knotting it together. His face inches from Robbie's, Spike pressed their snouts together teasingly. "Maroon suits ya, Scooter."

Swallowing hard, Robbie pulled away as he heard footsteps approaching. "There you two are! Have you found any suits yet?" Hollie questioned, eyeing Spike up and slipping closer to him. She smiled and ran her ribbed hands over his purple suit. "Cuuuute! Did Robbie help you pick this out?"

In contrast, Wendy scrunched her snout up at the sight of Robbie's maroon and pink-accented suit. "That's an interesting choice, Robbie. How about you just go with a basic black one instead?"

Glancing down at himself self-consciously, Robbie shrugged the suit jacket off and grabbed at the first black suit he saw in his size. He noticed Spike scowling in response but did his best to ignore it. "Your dress looks great, Wendy."

She gave a curtsy, smirking as the dark blue sequins reflected off the nearby mirror. "Thank you, Robbie."

A snarl on his face, Spike pushed forward and looped an arm around Robbie's shoulders, dragging him to the register, causing the girls to trail behind them. "How about we go grab some grub after this?" He suggested, his frown melting away into a smirk.

"I am getting hungry. Some nachos sound amazing right now." Hollie commented.

"Oooh, what if we split a pizza instead?" Wendy suggested, and as the girls dissolved into a discussion over dinner, Spike's cold eyes glued to Robbie.

"Maroon looks better on ya than black." He uttered, squeezing Robbie's shoulder as they bought their suits. "Now, whaddya feel chowin' down on?"

Feeling a sigh escape his chest, Robbie felt tempted to lean his head on Spike's shoulders, but stopped himself. "Maybe some sliders?"

"Veggie sliders, I assume?" He teased Robbie, poking a finger at Robbie's stomach.

The quartet made their way to the food court, slumping down into a booth. For most of dinner, the girls chattered away with each other about what they wanted their corsages to look like, while Robbie savored the intense symposium led regarding a video game he was considering buying, chiming in occasionally.

Suddenly, Robbie's relief was robbed as Wendy spoke up again. "Helloooo, earth to Robbie!" She impatiently reached across the table and tapped on his hand. "I asked you a question."

Thinning his lips, Robbie darted his eyes around the others at the table. "Sorry, Wendy. Can ya repeat it?"

Grimacing, she reluctantly responded. "I asked you if you wanna hang out after we're done shopping today. Like, alone?"

"Oh, uh... I don't know. I think I'm on babysitting duty tonight." He awkwardly lied, and when Wendy seemed intent on doubling down and trying to find a work-around, Spike loudly slurped down the rest of his cup of soda, slamming the paper cup down on the table and crushing it with his hand. Hollie burst into laughter, and Robbie felt thankful for the distraction.

"I'm stuffed. Wanna hit the arcade?" Before anyone could agree or disagree to the invitation, Spike stood up and dragged Robbie to his feet. He led the group once again with a confident stride, heading straight to the arcade.

Robbie and Spike swiftly became intrigued by a two-player beat-em-up game, lightly elbowing each other to try and knock the other off track and laughing, and after a round a glance behind them told them that the girls again had wandered off. Spike tossed a comfortable arm over Robbie's shoulder yet again, leading him to a dark corner of the arcade.

"Yanno, I was thinkin'. How about we go to an after-party on prom night? Sound like a plan?" Spike probed, and Robbie felt some of his nerves melt off his shoulders like fondue.

"Yeah? Sounds like a lot of fun. Not sure I'll have a good time at prom with Wendy anyways, so an after-party gives me something to look forward to." He playfully rubbed his hand over Spike's arm, tensing up when he felt a pair of eyes watching him.

Turning, he felt his heart drop into his belly at the sight of Wendy staring at the two of them, a persistent pout present on her face. "If you didn't wanna go with me, you could've just said no, Sinclair." She huffed, stomping away.

"Wait, Wendy!" He called out after her, but stopped himself from following after her. His shoulder slumped forward and he glanced over at his best friend, who gave him a shrug.

"We better get ourselves outta here, then. You should go ahead and call her once you're home. I'm gonna go find Hollie." He suggested, clapping a comforting hand on Robbie's shoulder before sauntering out of the arcade and leaving Robbie feeling stranded and guilty.

Never had he meant to hurt Wendy. It was true his feelings were changing, but that wasn't her fault. His head spinning, Robbie decided to follow Spike's suggestion and started his venture back to the Sinclair household, intent on calling her as soon as he arrived.

Chapter Text

Sighing deeply, Robbie sat on his bed once he was home and dialed up the familiar number of his on-and-off girlfriend Wendy, his heart heavy as he tried to piece together his apology in his mind.

The dial-tone played for a long minute before Wendy answered with a grumble. "What do you want, Sinclair?"

"I just wanted to say sorry. I didn't mean what I said." He spat out swiftly, even though he knew it was a lie.

"Why did you say it, then?" She retorted instantly, and he was at a loss for words. The truth was he did mean it and that's why he said it, but admitting that did not feel like an option.

"I dunno. I just worded what I was sayin' wrong. I thought an after party sounded like more fun than the actual prom, that's all."

The opposing line went silent for a moment before Wendy sighed. "Alright, that's fair. I guess I forgive you."

Letting out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, Robbie found his relief short-lived as she spoke up again.

"Why don't you come over? My dad isn't home tonight." She suggested, her tone flirty and low in a way that would make most of his classmates jealous, but it just made him feel queasy. "Come on, Sinclair. I know you want to."

"Sorry, I'm uh... on babysittin' duty tonight."

"Alright, fine. What about tomorrow night?"

He felt like he was being interrogated like a criminal. "I don't know." He muttered, and practically could hear her eyes rolling.

"What's with you? You always have some sorta excuse to not hang out with me one-on-one. Is there some rumor about me at school again?"

"No, it's not that. I just... haven't felt like kissin' and junk lately. Sorry."

Wendy went quiet again before giving a soft sigh. "Will you even wanna kiss me on prom night?"

Staring at the ceiling, Robbie considered her offer carefully before closing his eyes and answering. "...night, Wendy. I'll talk to ya later." He heard her scoff at him but hung up the call anyways, flopping down on his bed.

Before he could contemplate his feelings any deeper, his phone rang loudly again and he let out a groan as he sat up and answered it, not bothering to glance at the screen as he did.

"I told ya Wendy, we can talk about this later!" His voice came out in a pleading tone, but instead of his on-and-off girlfriend replying, he heard a deep voice chuckle.

"Guessin' your little talk with the lady didn't go as planned, eh Scooter?" Spike answered, and Robbie sat up fully on his bed, swallowing hard.

"Nope. She was askin' me to come over tonight and everything."

Snorting, Spike gave a quick reply. "And that's a bad thing?"

"Yes! I just... I don't know, I don't wanna kiss her or anythin' anymore." He admitted weakly, slumping back down onto his bed, covering his eyes with one arm in shame, even though he knew no one was looking at him. "I know it's weird, but I just don't!" Silence fell over the line for a moment and Robbie felt a bundle of anxiety forming in his belly. "Do ya know what I mean?"

"Can't say I do, but uh... is it because of the soulmate junk you whined about before?" Spike's voice came out in a carefully-crafted way that was unlike his usual tone. It made a shiver run down Robbie's spine.

"Yeah." He squeaked out, and Spike hummed in response. "I know it sounds cheesy but I wanna find my soulmate. I don't like being shackled to some ... some girl who feels like a stranger."

Spike snorted again. Robbie frowned and piped up. "What is it?"

"Well, I was just gonna say you're right about one thing. That sounds very, very cheesy, Rob. You could write those corny late-night romcoms or somethin'."

Unable to help himself, Robbie gave a laugh right back. "Yeah, yeah, I hear ya."

"But really, I still don't get your deal with all this soulmate crap. Ya got a hot girl goin' to prom with ya, what more could ya want?" Spike questioned, his voice gentle again like it was earlier.

Swallowing hard, Robbie took a moment to carefully craft his comeback. "I dunno. I just feel like I'm wastin' my time if she's not the one."

"Yeah, but you're wastin' her time too, yanno. So why not enjoy it a little?" He suggested, and Robbie felt a smile crawl onto his face.

"You're right, you're right, I should enjoy it. But I just don't, I guess. My cheesy soulmate feelings get in the way." He could almost hear Spike roll his eyes, but found the mental image endearing.

"Whaddya think your soulmate is like, anyways? Since you yap about it all the time, I assume you got an idea." He let out a sharp laugh. "Bet you imagine a babe of a dino, right?"

Sitting up, Robbie stared down at his hands as he contemplated Spike's words. "I don't think I'll really care 'bout what my soulmate looks like, honestly. I mean, it would be great if they're attractive, but... I care more about their personality, yanno?"

"Yanno, I think I was right on the money about you bein' the president of the cheesy club." He teased, and Robbie smiled widely. "But really, whaddya think your soulmate is like, then?"

"Well," Robbie began slowly, his grin fading and becoming more serious. "I just want my soulmate to be someone I can really trust, someone who can make me laugh, and will laugh at my dumb jokes...." He let out a wistful sigh and heard Spike snort wholeheartedly, but couldn't find it in himself to be annoyed.

"Scooter, it sounds like you're describin' a best friend, not a soulmate."

Robbie felt his face heat up at the comment, and was thankful that they were on the phone, knowing that Spike would tease him if he saw the way he was blushing. "I... I guess I am, huh?" His voice cracked as he tried to redirect the conversation. "So uh, anyways, enough about my soulmate junk... I need to head to bed. G'night, Spike."

Robbie listened closely as Spike hummed a chuckle under his breath. "Yeah, alright. Night, Scooter."

And with that, the other line disconnected and Robbie swallowed audibly. He flopped back down onto his bed, thinking back over their conversation.

His soulmate being his best friend made sense. Of course his soulmate should be someone he felt more than just attraction and romantic love for, but having Spike point out that he had been describing a best friend made his stomach flip. Spike was his best friend, after all.

With a deep sigh, Robbie stood up one last time for the night and turned the light in his room off, though it would be another hour before he finally was able to fall asleep, his mind swirling and spinning around like a tornado.

Chapter Text

He's spinning and twirling in a whirlwind of maroon fabric, his feet having never felt lighter. He closed his eyes as he spun, letting himself get lost in the moment. When he opened them, Wendy reached forward and grabbed his hand.

Softly, he smiled at her and they started to dance together, her sequined dress sparkling under the neon lights of the gymnasium.

Cloudy fog floated around them in bright pinks, blues, and purples, and even though he kept his eyes to himself, he didn't feel drained and weighed down by the expectations of finding his soulmate he had for himself like he usually did.

Suddenly, Wendy pulled him close and he felt the clouds around them grow grey, and the smile on her face felt uncanny to look at. She closed her eyes, puckered her lips and leaned forward, so he reluctantly did the same.

However, an inkling of doubt entered his gut and he opened his eyes before contact was made, and the beautiful face of Wendy Richfield was now melting and rotting in front of his very eyes.

Black ooze poured from holes where here blue eyes had been mere moments before, and her bottom jaw was hanging off her head by a thin artery.

Screaming, he closed his eyes yet again and pushed away from her, only to feel two warm hands catch him and stop him from falling. He was spun around and opened his frightened eyes to see Spike, wearing a deep purple suit and a smile that melted away the image of Wendy's melting face he had seen moments before.

"I gotcha, Scooter. Ya don't need her, anyways. Ya got me, remember? Your best friend." He whispered, and his hot breath caused Robbie's scales on his face to produce goosebumps. He swallowed hard but smiled, comforted by Spike's presence.

Clouds around them that had been dull grey again bloomed into gorgeous shades of pink, blue, and purple, and he felt one of Spike's hands touch his waist while the other took his hand. He led Robbie in a slow dance, and the shorter dinosaur felt his heart floating in his chest.

The image of Wendy's rotting face became nothing more than a distant memory, and his attention focused entirely on Spike's hands and smell and the natural heat radiating from him that Robbie didn't realize he had been craving.

Spike stopped their dance, caressing Robbie's cheek with a confident hand. "Remember the night I drove ya home from that concert? You wanted to kiss me when we were sayin' our good nights and goodbyes, didn't ya, Scooter?" His voice was husky but gentle, and Robbie was mesmerized by it.

When Robbie didn't say anything, too busy feeling stunned, Spike barked that familiar laugh that made Robbie's heart swell like an overblown balloon and spoke again. "Ya got the hots for me, doncha Rob?" He whispered, before leaning forward and closing his eyes, similar to how Wendy had done earlier.

This time though, Robbie felt no reluctance or dread holding him back.

He leaned forward with his eyes fluttered shut, and just before they made contact, his alarm went off.

Sitting up in his bed, Robbie stared down at his phone as it beeped, alerting him that it was time to get ready for school. However, as he dragged himself out of bed and began to start his day, he felt himself floating in a haze, still shell-shocked by his dream.

Pushing the thoughts down, he started out the door and towards the path he walked to school everyday, tuning out whatever Charlene was rambling about that morning and attempting to flush his thoughts out.

To him, it didn't matter how he felt, anyways. His soulmate was supposed to be the only one for him, and Spike couldn't possibly be his soulmate...right?

Chapter Text

Tonight was supposed to be amazing, but thoughts of Spike still forced their way into the front of Robbie's mind, and he found it difficult to focus. Wendy's hands on his shoulders felt like water-balloons, weighing him down and making his feet heavy, and despite his attempts to enjoy her body-heat against his, he kept remembering the way her face melted in his dream.

And he kept remembering the other part of his dream, as well. He gazed past Wendy's face and over to where Spike was also dancing with his date, and Robbie felt his stomach flipping around like Titanopterans on a summer night.

He hated this. He hated feeling so dizzy over his best friend. He still wasn't sure what to think about his own feelings, but they confused him deeply. Spike was supposed to only be his best friend -- never more than that. And yet, he found his heart aching as he wished he was dancing with Spike, instead.

"What's with you?" Wendy whisper-shouted at him, and he felt his world stop spinning for a short minute. "You've barely looked at me all night, and you haven't complimented me at all, or..." she followed his lovesick gaze and scrunched her own face up.

"Look, I'm sorry. I'm just... not feelin' well." He lied through his teeth, hoping she wouldn't notice, but she of course did.

"You like Hollie, don't you?" She accused, her voice thick and venomous. "You keep staring at her!"

"I'm not staring at her!" He retorted, realizing he had raised his voice a bit too loud when he took notice of the curious faces of the other teenagers studying them. He felt his face burning and backed away from her, his head spinning. "I... need some fresh air." He mumbled, pushing past her and rushing to the doors of the gymnasium, making his way outside.

Once he was alone, he collapsed to his knees and sat down, trying to steady his breathing. He had been caught staring, and while it was at the wrong person, he was still caught. He pulled his knees to his chest and buried his face against them, only sitting up slightly more when he heard the doors behind him open.

"I'm fine, Wendy!" He nearly shouted the words now, his face softening upon seeing his best friend instead of his date standing in the doorway, an intrigued expression on his face. "I... ugh. Sorry." He grunted and turned away, unsure if he wanted Spike around right now.

Half of him wanted nothing more than to hide in his best friend's arms and wait for the world to melt away, but the other half of him was incredibly embarrassed and frustrated by his feelings, and he didn't want Spike to figure them out.

"Chill out, Sparky, it's just me," he joked as he sat down next to Robbie, clearly uninterested in taking 'no' for an answer even if Robbie did want left alone. "What's eatin' ya?" He questioned, mimicking Robbie's sitting position, noticing the pout on his face and smirking. "And don't ya dare try and say 'oh nothin' is botherin' me, I just feel sick' shit on me."

Sighing, Robbie turned his head and frowned deeply at his best friend before he felt a cheesy smile crawling onto his face, unable to hide the way Spike made his bad mood melt away. "I can't hide anything from you, can I?"

"No way. You try and I'll find it out somehow anyways." He teased, lightly bumping his shoulder against Robbie's before wrapping an arm around Robbie instead, his grip tight and firm yet comforting. "Now, Scooter. What is bothering you? I mean, you just rushed out kinda quick, Wendy is in there cussin' up a storm, claimin' you were staring at my date or something?"

Robbie let out aa shaky laugh and leaned against Spike's shoulder very slightly, not quite resting his head on his best friend's shoulder but only being one lean away from it. "I wasn't, I promise you that."

"Hm. You were starin' at me then, yeah?"

Robbie felt his body tense up and he swallowed loudly, glaring silently down at his hands. When he didn't answer, Spike snorted.

"Alright, alright, ya don't have to say it. But I know the truth. You were starin' at me, probably thinkin' too much again... 'bout that soulmate shit, I'm guessing."

Flashing a weak smile, Robbie leaned slightly further against Spike's shoulder, his heart thudding wildly in his chest. "Yeah, well... I can't help it. I keep thinkin' about how Wendy isn't my soulmate, how I'm not sure if I'll ever meet my soulmate..."

Snorting, Spike squeezed Robbie's shoulder and reached with his other hand, caressing Robbie's chin and causing him to look directly at Spike. "You think too much, pretty boy. Yanno that?"

Robbie felt his heart stop for a moment as he gazed into Spike's golden eyes, his breath hitching in his throat as he realized Spike was leaning forward, slowly closing his eyes. Even though he felt as if his nerves were electrocuting him, Robbie found himself leaning forward as well, until the sound of the doors opening behind them caused him to jerk his head back, his eyes narrowed at the girl standing in the doorway.

Wendy's eyes became saucers in their sockets as she studied the sight of Robbie being held tenderly by his best friend, the fact that they were about to kiss being extremely clear to her. "I knew something was up with you. You're a total weirdo!" She squeaked, backing up before scoffing. "God, I'm gonna tell everyone about how -- how weird you are!" She announced, rushing back inside.

Robbie tensed up and his eyes flickered anxiously between Spike and the doorway as he listened to the commotion happening inside. Before he could think of anything to say to Spike, Spike spoke up first.

"I was ready to ditch this dumb dance anyways. Come on, I got somethin' cool to show ya." He gruffly said, standing up and helping Robbie to his feet. He led Robbie over to his motorcycle and climbed onto it, motioning with his head for Robbie to join him, which he happily did. After a few moments of driving into the woods, Spike skidded to a stop and clambered off.

He fidgeted with the CD player on his motorcycle until a familiar band started to stream from it. Robbie felt his eyes light up upon hearing the Spinosaurus Girls latest hit. It was just another cheesy pop song, but Robbie couldn't help the wide smile spreading onto his face like butter. He watched as Spike turned around, extending a hand to him. "Come here, Scooter. I know how important this goofy dance is to ya, so... let's dance."

Robbie snickered and grabbed Spike's hand, gasping lightly as Spike pulled him close until their bodies were flush against each other. Spike nuzzled his snout against the side of Spike's forehead, guiding him into a tender swaying motion.

Spike slid his hand down the square of Robbie's back until it rested on his waist, his other hand still holding onto Robbie's own hand as he dipped him down. He breathed out through his nose onto Robbie's face, his eyes darting don to Robbie's mouth, and again Robbie felt himself leaning in.

And again, the moment was interrupted, and Robbie let out a soft groan of annoyance as a bright light was pointed at the two of them. He felt Spike's hands tighten protectively against him and couldn't help but shiver at that as he glared daggers at the guy who had interrupted them.

He rested his hands gently against Spike's chest as he was lifted back so he was balanced on his own feet. "Oh, uh... hey Dave." He said to his friend, who had a smug expression on his face.

"Sorry for interrupting you two. Was asking if ya wanted to come to the after party at my house." He murmured, glancing at the way Spike still had his hands on Robbie's waist.

Robbie glimpsed over at Spike eagerly, excited at the suggested idea. "Yeah, sure. We'll be there, won't we, Spike?"

Snorting, Spike squeezed at Robbie's waist and shrugged. "Sure. We'll be there."

Robbie felt his heart thumping like the foot of a Nuralagus rex as he watched Dave start to walk away as he and Spike clambered back onto Spike's motorcycle.

Chapter Text

Spike and Robbie sat on Dave's couch, shoulder to shoulder as they gazed around the room. There were a few teenage boys from their school and a few they didn't recognize, but not a single girl was in the room.

Despite the lack of girls, the room smelled like intense hormones and there were several circles of teenagers playing spin the bottle and a few guys kissing against the wall or other pieces of furniture, and Robbie found himself pouting at Dave, pleading to be saved from the awkward tension between him and his best friend that now lingered between them.

Spike still had his arm looped around Robbie's waist protectively when Dave appeared in front of them again. "Hey, aren't you two gonna play any games?"

"Nope," Spike grunted out, a cold expression on his face, "might get another drink for me and Scooter but uh.. I don't think these are the kinda games either of us want to be playin'." He tightened his grip on Robbie's side and Robbie let out a soft squeak, nodding in agreement.

"You guys could totally join in playing seven minutes in heaven." Dave suggested, smirking slightly in amusement as he watched Robbie's face heat up.

"No thanks," Robbie muttered, his entire face burning at the thought. "Like Spike said, I think we're gonna just get another drink. We're not interested in any of the ... games."

Dave rolled his eyes and shrugged. "Alright, alright, got it. Well, I'll fetch you two some more punch."

Robbie reluctantly sipped at his drink while Spike eagerly drank it down, clearly thankful for the distraction as an unfamiliar face appeared in front of them.

"Hey, big guy. Can ya come and get the vacuum out of the closet? None of us can reach it and someone tipped over one of Davey's plants." He asked, and right away Robbie had a bad feeling.

He reluctantly followed after Spike however, standing with his arms crossed as Spike stepped into the closet and reached for the equipment. Before he could pull it down, Robbie felt two hands push him forward and the closet door shut and locked, with only Spike and Robbie pressed together in the darkness.

"We'll let you out in seven minutes!" A voice hollered from the other side of the door, and Robbie let out a soft whine.

"Damn it. Sorry, Spike. I shouldn't have dragged you out to this silly party. I didn't know it would be like... this." He made a motion with his hands, even though Spike couldn't see it through the darkness. A small sliver of light from a crack in the door illuminated them and Robbie found his breath stuck in his throat again as Spike stepped forward, caressing his face.

"It's fine, Scooter. Now, hold still." He whispered, his breath hot against Robbie's face. Robbie closed his eyes and waited, only feeling a small kiss against his cheek. He felt his heart beat rapidly and rested his hands against Spike's chest. "Now, when they ask, we don't have to say nothin' happened. I kissed ya." He ran his hand down Robbie's cheek and down his arm, resting it on his waist again.

"Spike, I..." Robbie squeaked out, considering confessing his feelings right then and there, though he didn't fully understand them yet. As if reading his mind, Spike interrupted him with a soft grunt.

"Don't go sayin' anything you aren't ready to say, Scooter. I get it." He muttered, squeezing softly at Robbie's waist and listening to the soft squeak in surprise, a smug smile on his face. "Now... let's just go ahead and enjoy the rest of the party. The punch is actually pretty good."

Robbie smiled weakly as the door opened, the light flashing in his eyes. He glared instinctively at Dave, who seemed just as shocked as he did that they were the two coming out of the closet. Doing his best to ignore the hoots and hollers, Robbie dragged Spike back to the couch and shoved another cup of punch into his hands, blushing at the way several of the boys seemed to be staring at them now.

"Sorry about that," Dave uttered, approaching the two with another cup of punch in both hands. He handed one to Spike, and was ready to hand another to Robbie, but Spike took that one, as well. "I didn't know that he was gonna do that. I really did need the vacuum. We cool?"

Robbie gave a short nod and leaned back against the couch, watching as Spike downed both cups of punch in seconds. A few moments later, Robbie felt Spike lean against him, a dazed expression on his face. He let out a soft grumble and wrapped his arms around Robbie for support. "I feel.. dizzy," Spike whispered, and Robbie immediately had an idea of what the issue was.

"Dave," Robbie called out, watching as his friend hurried over, smiling. "Dave, is the punch spiked?"

Dave's eyes widened and he glanced down at Spike, his lips thinning. "I didn't spike it, but uh... I wouldn't be surprised if somebody did. Maybe you should get the big guy home."

"Gee, thanks for the advice." Robbie replied sarcastically, sighing as he stood up, helping his best friend to his feet. Spike stumbled slightly but overall was able to stand up without issue, his eyes widening and relaxing as he stared around the room. "Come on, you better come home with me tonight. Don't need you dealing with a hangover on your own tomorrow."

Robbie rolled his eyes as he heard a few of the party-goers hoot again at the comment. As they headed outside, Robbie helped Spike onto his motorcycle and hummed in thought. "Guess you shouldn't be driving right now, huh? I haven't driven a motorcycle before, but... can't be that hard."

He climbed onto the motorcycle and motioned for Spike to sit behind him. Spike did as instructed, resting his chin on Robbie's shoulder, leaning into his touch. Swallowing hard, Robbie started up the vehicle and very slowly made his way down the street and towards the Sinclair residence.

As soon as he parked the bike, Robbie frowned, watching his mother scurry outside, his father waddling not far behind her. "What are you doing driving his death trap, Robbie?" His mother scolded instantly, glaring at Spike before her eyes widened slightly. "Did you bring him home drunk?"

"It's not his fault," Robbie muttered, sighing and helping Spike inside, leaning him against the counter. He brushed his hand over Spike's forehead, trying to drown out his mother's complaints. "Someone at the party spiked the punch."

"At the party?" His father piped in, and his mother scoffed.

"We told you no after parties! You're still in trouble for sneaking out to see that concert!" Fran lectured, making her way around the counter so she could properly glare at her son and his tipsy best friend.

"Mm, my babygirl saved me," Spike grumbled out, his eyes closed as he leaned his head against Robbie's shoulder.

Shrugging, Robbie gave his mother a sheepish smile. "he probably thinks I'm someone else," he muttered.

"I told you he would end up at an after party. Didn't expect to see Spike coming home with him tonight, though," Charlene added as she made her way into the room, laughing at the sight of her brother's best friend fully leaning on her brother. "Gee, he really got hammered didn't he?"

Spike opened his eyes groggily and nodded towards Charlene, a sleepy smile on his face. "My wifey Robbie saved me."

His face burning, Robbie glared daggers at his inebriated best friend. "Spike, shut up," he grumbled, and Charlene only giggled at the scene and made her way to the couch.

Fran sighed and shook her head. "Take him upstairs, let him sleep it off. But he leaves first thing tomorrow, understand?"

Nodding appreciatively, Robbie nudged Spike and encouraged him to walk towards the stairs. When he finally got Spike up to his room, he helped his best friend lay down on his bed, still glaring at him.

"You really should've been more careful." He grumbled to Spike, who let out a loud yawn and stretched out on Robbie's mattress. "You're used to crazy parties."

With a tired smile, Spike only reached his arms out for Robbie, letting them drop with a frown when Robbie only stared at him. "Sorry, Robbie. Don't be mad at me."

Sighing, Robbie sat down beside Spike and ran his hands over his best friend's forehead. "I'm not mad. Just... worried. And my parents are mad, so..." He trailed off, unsure of what else to say.

"The cutest dino in the world is worried 'bout me?" Spike whispered out in a sing-song voice, a hazy expression on his features.

His face burning, Robbie slowly laid down next to Spike and curled in on himself, pouting. "Shut up, Spike... you done being mushy?"

Silence fell between them for a moment and Robbie sighed inwardly in relief, ready to rest after his eventful day, but Spike let out a small grumble before interrupting his thoughts yet again.

"I love you, Scooter," he whispered out in a husky voice, and Robbie sat up quickly, his heart pounding.

"Come on, no you don't. You probably think I'm Hollie, or -- or some chick from school. Just... get some rest."

"I'm not confused," Spike slurred and sat up as well, his eyes focusing in on Robbie, his hand reaching out and grabbing at Robbie's forearms. "I'm not... look I'm not... I'm not gay. Or maybe I am gay, I dunno. I just know I like you, Scooter. I love you, I mean. A lot." He let his grip on Robbie's arms fall and frowned inwardly. "I dunno. Maybe I did drink too much."

"Yeah. You did." Spike sat matter-of-factly, guiding Spike to lay back down. "Look, if you... really do feel like that about me, you'll tell me when you're not drunk. Yeah?"

"I wanna kiss you, Scooter," Spike whispered out, his voice strained, "I wanna kiss you, and I have since we met. It freaks me out so bad."

"Just -- just go to sleep, Spike," Robbie insisted, his voice cracking due to his nerves. "I don;t think you know what you're saying."

Groaning, Spike reached out and grabbed at Robbie's hand, holding it for a minute before letting go of it. "Good night, Robbie."

Smiling sheepishly, Robbie laid down again as well and curled in on himself. "Good night, Spike."

For what felt like hours, Robbie watched as Spike drifted off to a strained sleep, his face scrunching up in concentration as his dreams took over.

All Robbie could think about was Spike's confession -- had he really wanted to kiss him? Earlier, he felt as if they might have kissed, but he was convinced it was wishful thinking. Now, he wasn't so sure. Spike attracted girls like flies, but maybe he secretly wanted to swat them away. Maybe Robbie had a chance? A slim one, but a chance nonetheless.

But then again, he could smell the sweet rum scent that Spike was exhaling, and he remembered how until recently, Spike didn't even let him touch his jacket or call him his best friend in public. He had an image to maintain, and there wasn't room for Robbie in it.

With a tired frown, Robbie closed his eyes and tried to ignore the weight of Spike's arm as it draped carefully around his side, pulling him ever-so-slightly closer, the feeling leaving a burning sensation in his chest.

Chapter Text

Robbie woke up to the sound of Spike complaining loudly about his stomach. A glance to the clock told Robbie that they had slept until 2 pm and he let out a groan of his own, rubbing at his eyes.

Despite hiding his face behind his hands, he could feel Spike's eyes studying him. He dragged his hands down to his cheeks and stared at his best friend. Right away, Spike rushed forward and grabbed at Robbie's shoulders, forcing him to look up.

"Hey -- hey Sparky, I uh... if I said anything dumb last night..." he trailed off, scrunching his snout inwards as he considered his next words.

"It's not a big deal, Spike. You were drunk." Robbie murmured, and Spike grunted in appreciation.

"Good, good. Thought I could count on you. Just ... don't go sharin' anything I blabbed about, yeah?"

Feeling his thudding heart slip down into his belly, Robbie knew that he was in too deep; that no matter how much he wanted to deny it, he was let down by the nonchalance Spike was showing after his confession the night before.

Still, before the after party, he remembered them dancing in the woods and how Spike had dipped him down and stared at him with lovesick eyes, and he couldn't help but have a small ounce of hope.

"Wasn't planning on it." He replied simply, and he watched Spike's eyes twinkle in appreciation before he let go of Robbie and winced, holding his stomach again.

"I dunno what I drank last night, but it ain't agreein' with me." He grumbled, and Robbie sprang to his feet, grabbing gently at Spike's arm and leading him towards the stairs.

"We've got some nausea medicine downstairs," he explained, glaring preemptively at Charlene, who sat at the kitchen island, watching them with an amused expression. She let out a short laugh and Robbie tightened his grip on Spike's arm.

"What's so funny, Charlene?" He retorted, and his sister laughed again.

"Oh, I was just thinking about how upset I was. I mean, I didn't get to be the maid of honor at your apparent wedding to Spike!"

His face burning, Robbie wished he could evaporate as he felt Spike's eyes curiously turn to him. He bashfully grumbled and dragged Spike further into the kitchen as he opened a cupboard and retrieved a bottle of pills. "You might've ... called me your wife last night while you were drunk. In front of Charlene and my parents."

Letting out a snort, Spike graciously took the offered nausea pills and swallowed them quickly. "Well, I'm sorry to hear I embarrassed ya, wifey."

Rolling his eyes, Robbie couldn't help but grin in amusement, despite the prying eyes of his mother and sister on the back of his head. "Oh shut up," he playfully replied, shoving Spike lightly in the arm before grabbing at it again and leading him outside.

He watched for a moment as Spike rumbled down the road on his motorcycle, unable to shake the feeling of his mother staring at him. With a groan, he turned around and returned her annoyed expression.

"What? Are you gonna tease me about the marriage comment, too?"

"No. I did want to ask you something about last night, though." She narrowed her eyes at her son. "Why does Spike call you baby girl?"