Chapter Text
As far as Morgan was concerned, today was supposed to be a normal day. Hawk was at school, Alex was at the university for the new semester, and Morgan had the whole apartment to themselves to plan their latest scheme. The tables and kitchen sides were covered in blueprints and papers with scraps of plans, security details, and gizmos Morgan had been designing. All normal things. Even when Barnaby and Ohio showed up, and Morgan made a show of hiding all their nefarious plans before allowing them into the apartment, it was all in the realms of normal. They didn’t notice Barnaby’s nervousness, or Ohio’s seriousness. Not until Ohio spoke.
‘Morgan, we need to talk. About you and Alex.’
Morgan had never felt their blood freeze in fear so quickly, even as they laughed and shot Ohio an incredulous expression. ‘What about us?’
‘Mostly? About this stupid jealousy dance you two keep doing.’
Morgan’s smile dimmed. ‘What did Alex tell you?’
‘That they’re in love with you,’ Ohio said, ‘and they know that you love them.’
Morgan didn’t hear the rest of what Ohio said. Static ran through their ears, panic making the world blur around them, even when the ghostly weight of Kotetsu leaned against them to try and ground them. Suddenly they were sitting, trying desperately to remember how to breathe while Barnaby moved to sit next to them. Their thoughts were too fast for them to keep up. Alex knew. How long had Alex known? Why hadn’t Alex said anything? Or done anything? How long had Alex known? What were they planning?
‘M-Morgan? Br-breathe.’
Morgan took another shaky breath, leaning into Barnaby as he rubbed Morgan’s back. ‘I don’t understand,’ Morgan whispered.
Ohio sighed, ‘Yeah, this is why I told Alex to say something.’
‘You did? Why? What did they say?’
‘Because this dance you’re both doing is getting ridiculous,’ Ohio said. ‘And Alex said they wanted you to say something first this time.’
‘This time?’ Morgan squeaked. ‘Wait…Alex…what?!’
‘Morgan? Listen to me,’ Ohio said. ‘I know what’s going on, okay. Both of you have decided that you need to hear the other person confess. Neither of you wants to be the first person to say it, Alex because they’ve already tried, and you because…’ Ohio trailed off, before gesturing at Morgan, ‘...because it’s you. But one of you needs to make that move. One of you needs to decide to stop being stubborn.’
Morgan sucked in a deep breath, trying desperately to calm themselves enough to speak. ‘Then Alex should-’
‘Alex won’t,’ Ohio said.
Barnaby put his hand on Morgan’s shoulder, ‘M-Morgan? Y-y-you know how I f-feel about you and A-Alex. But n-now? You w-will both be happier i-i-if you take th-this step.’
‘This…you want me to confess?’ Morgan laughed again, but there was no humour in it. They tried to make it sound sarcastic, but it was more hysterical than anything. ‘No. No way. I can’t.’
‘S-Sure you can,’ Barnaby said. Morgan shook their head, but Barnaby only squeezed their shoulder tighter. ‘I kn-know it’s s-s-s…terrifying, but y-you know h-how it’s going t-t-to end. Y-you know Alex l-l-loves you.’
Morgan shook their head, ‘I can’t. I don’t know how.’
Ohio spoke up again, ‘You really do. Come on, if I know what Alex wants in a romance then there’s no way you don’t.’
Morgan swallowed, ‘Romance? Like…like a date? Like….presents and flowers and trying to woo them? I don’t do that. I never do that. I don’t get it, and it feels weird and makes me freak out and then I get it wrong and…and then I’ll put my foot in my mouth and….’
‘And Alex knows that,’ Ohio said. ‘They won’t expect it to be perfect. But the effort alone will carry you a long way.’
Morgan looked at Ohio, looking more unsure than Ohio had ever seen them. ‘Really? Are you sure?’
‘Morgan,’ Ohio said. ‘Alex wants you to woo them. So woo them. I promise, they will crumple like a stack of cards the second you do. Like, you might actually make them faint in the street. Although, if that does happen please take a picture for me.’
Morgan managed a weak chuckle at that. Barnaby pulled Morgan into a hug, coaxing Kotetsu closer to rest his head in Morgan’s lap. ‘I wouldn’t know where to begin.’
‘H-how about a film?’ Barnaby said.
Morgan shook their head. ‘No, we go to the movies all the time. It needs to be bigger, right? But…how big? And what do I do about Hawk?’
‘Don’t worry about that,’ Ohio said. ‘We can look after it.’
‘Really?’
‘I am its Godfather Morgan. Let me look after Hawk, and you send me pictures of Alex’s reaction to being successfully wooed. Deal?’