Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Fantasio wasn’t stupid, far from it, but if pretending to be unaware of who the new superhero in Brussels was could lift a weight off his best-friend’s shoulders, he could act gullible. He could make sure the medicine cabinet never ran out of anything, and that there was always something to eat on the go at their house. The blonde felt like he was behaving like a worried housewife, but well, better than to find Spirou half dead at the door or trying to cook when exhausted or injured. As a journalist though, Fantasio couldn’t just pretend to be uninterested. First, because no one would believe him, and they would be right, second, because it was the hot topic for weeks, with always new exciting stories happening, Spirou’s Journal couldn’t be the only newspaper without an article about the hero’s latest whereabouts. Especially with him being clothed like a groom, and calling himself “Supergroom”. Really the hero could almost be their mascot. (What has Spirou been thinking ? And how has no one realised his identity yet ?) 

And lastly, Fantasio enjoyed quite a lot running after the hero. He had the Fantacoptère to keep up, but was always careful not to get caught in crossfire, or if he did, to get out of it by himself. He didn’t want to become a dead weight for his friend either. More like a secret sidekick with a getaway vehicle who could testify for him and sometimes give a few punches if needed. One that ‘Supergroom’ wasn’t fully aware about. Or well, not aware of his full intentions for sure. The hero had looked more than once his way, and frowned when he saw Fantasio being a little too close to the trouble, but never really talked to him, and Spirou never mentioned anything about it over dinner, so the blond supposed there weren't any issues. 

Fantasio was finishing to write his article about the events of the afternoon before, when he heard the door open, and slam, making him jump and almost choke on his pipe. 

- “Spirou we talked about this ! The door didn’t do anything !” Fantasio called out, coughing before focusing back on his typewriter. The ginger didn’t respond, just mumbling before locking himself in the bathroom. The journalist sighted, guessing the state the ginger came back in. He finished typing  his sentence before going to the kitchen, heating up the meal he prepared earlier in the microwave, not wanting to bother with the oven. They had troubles with it making the electricity cut in their house a couple of times, so they used it only when it was the only thing running. 

Fantasio prepared everything, putting two plates on the small tables in front of the TV, having a feeling that his best friend would like to have something to distract from all he had to deal with today. But time passed by, and the plates were almost getting cold again, Fantasio starting to grow worried. What if Spirou needed help patching himself up ? The blonde sighted, remembering the numerous times the two of them had to rely on the other to tend their wounds, a little disappointed that his friend keeping his hero life a ‘secret’ meant Spirou didn’t think it would be safe to ask him for help about it. Starting to grow a little impatient, Fantasio went to knock on the bathroom door, three firm knocks that would let his friend understand he meant business.

- “Spirou, did you faint in there ? Dinner’s growing cold.” He said, hearing the ginger yelp, seemingly bang himself on something, letting out a flow of swears, before silence settled again.

- “You can start eating without me, I’ll be there in a few minutes, Spip is just being difficult about his bath…” The muffled voice of Spirou responded, making the other roll his eyes, Fantasio hesitating before ultimately deciding not to argue back. Spirou probably didn’t need to be called out on the fact it’s been years since Spip threw a fit about his bimonthly bath, and that said bath was two weeks ago. 

No, Fantasio just went back to the living room, sighting and deciding to sit down on the couch as he waited, lighting his pipe again, the Marsupilami jumping on the sofa next to him, and resting its fluffy head on the blonde's lap, who started to idly pet it, scratching behind its ears and making the black spotted animal purr softly. After all these years, Fantasio was still in awe of the animal’s capacities. He’s been working on a book for a while now, but writing articles and running after Supergroom took a lot of his time so his idea has been stalling, as his desire to show to the world how amazing this species is. There was so much to say about their behavior, body and even small things like the way the marsupilami would always make sure the doors were closed at night and sleep with Fantasio because Spip slept with Spirou, unless they were all in the same room, then it would cuddle with the squirrel on the ginger’s bed. 

Said ginger finally came into the living room, head low and wearing suspiciously long sleeves for such a hot night. But Fantasio didn’t question him, grabbing the remote and starting to zap through the channels, glancing at his best friend and stopping when the ginger wasn’t frowning at what the channel was displaying. A cartoon… Ho well. They could be interesting, it just wasn’t the blonde’s favourite thing, he enjoyed paper comics more. Each taking their now cold plates, neither complained and simply started eating, Fantasio patting idly the Marsupilami’s head from time to time, the only noise in the room being the TV, before Spirou finally said something. 

- “Sorry for earlier… I am just very stressed lately, with this whole ordeal and… Well I know it’s probably unfair of me to say that since you’ve been running after this “Supergroom” guy for your articles… I just can’t stay stuck at home…” Spirou was hesitant, pushing around the food on his plate and searching for his words, trying to make his lie believable without dismissing Fantasio’s work. The blonde huffed, rolling his eyes since he saw right through the other. He knew Spirou was just desperately trying to make excuses, but he couldn’t just let him go without at least pretending to put up a fight. If he didn’t know about the ginger’s secret that’s probably how he’d act. 

- “I know it’s unnerving for you to stay in one place, after all it’s the longest we’ve stayed in Brussels for years… But you have to understand that it’s also a good thing. We’ve been able to focus on our health in a lot of ways, and you’ve even started seeing a therapist… You need to take a break from all our adventures, and now is the perfect moment. When the whole thing with Supergroom and the super villains will be part of the routine, I’ll give my articles to a new journalist, and we’ll go back to find more exciting things, since people will be more bored about these, they’ll be way less trendy than now.” The blond took a drag of his pipe, and sighted, seeing the guilty look on the other’s face, who stuffed himself with his food, and Fantasio frowned, sensing there was something more to just being a secret superhero to his best-friend’s guilt. 

-”... Spirou you are seeing your therapist right ?” He asked with some edge to his voice, his fork in the air as he looked at the other with an inquisitive stare. Spirou looked away, and Fantasio threw his hands in the air. He could forgive being evasive with everything that came with being Supergroom or whatever, but neglecting his mental health couldn’t have a good excuse. “Spirou ! You can’t miss these ! We both know you need someone to talk to ! I mean, I’ve tried being there, but you won’t tell me about the Valley of the Exiles, and fine, whatever, but what you experienced clearly traumatised you, and you need someone to help you through it !” 

Spirou stayed silent, which was weird, since he was one to always argue back, and not just accept getting yelled at, even if Fantasio wasn’t quite yelling (yet). 

-”So what’s your excuse ?” Fantasio asked with an even tone. “None will be acceptable except for not getting along with your therapist. But you could have told me, and we’d have searched for a new one.” 

-“He doesn’t understand, and he’s been giving stupid advice, so I just don’t want to talk to him anymore. And he’s been saying that any therapist would say the same, so I don’t see the point in changing.” Spirou’s tone had grown colder, and almost had something sinister to it, making Fantasio’s frown deepen, the blond discarding his plate on the small table, not wanting to risk knocking out the cold plate and make a mess. He couldn’t remember a time he saw his best friend wear this expression except when a member of their little makeshift family was threatened, and he highly doubted the therapist was trying to kill anyone.

-”He isn’t paid to say things to please you, Spirou, he’s giving advice that you should follow for your own mental health. Advice that you should probably follow !” 

-”He’s telling me to move out. To take some time away from you. Here. Happy ? Still think I should listen to him ?” Spirou stood up suddenly, and left the room without adding anything, leaving a dumbfounded blonde behind him, who just looked at the door in utter confusion.

Chapter Text

It has been two days since they had that conversation, and Fantasio still didn’t know what to think of it. He knew there was no way he’d let Spirou move out, especially with that idiot running around fighting people and getting hurt almost every day. And well, how could they possibly live apart ? They’ve been cohabitating for so long, Fantasio was pretty sure the first home he actually brought had been with the ginger. Knowing that a doctor wanted it all to stop, worried him. What has he done ? Was it his behavior ? Or something he said or did ? Whatever it was that happened in the Valley of the Exiles ? Fantasio was going crazy trying to think of what made the therapist arrive to such a conclusion, getting a little late on his articles, zoning out, unfocused as he faced his typewriter. Spirou getting home even later and making a point to give him the cold shoulder made it so much worse.

If he couldn’t find answers from the only one who could give them nicely, he’d just find a way to brute force them out, and finally understand what happened. He’s heard more than once about amnesia recovery techniques, and well, always had dismissed them, because he didn’t like the idea of anyone touching something as vulnerable as his memories, but he’ll look into it. Maybe ask Pacôme if he knows someone, a neuro-scientist or something like that… But in the meantime he should focus back on his article.

It took some time, but soon, he was back at Dupuis to get his article approved. Spirou had left to Champignac earlier that day, leaving Fantasio to take their bicycle. It wasn’t a problem per se, just that the blonde was worried Gaston would find “good” ideas to be “helpful” and “improve” said bike with one of his inventions. And as nice as walking could be, he didn’t want to be walking around all day because it was a complete fiasco. The publishing house was still as lively as ever, people walking or running around the narrow corridors like busy bees. Maybe less clumsy than bees though.

Sometimes Fantasio missed it. The routine, the certainty of it all. The fact that he knew what to do, how to do it, and was always trying his best to be the most efficient, even if Gaston’s mistakes had the talent to make him lose his temper. It had been a nice daily challenge to get everything right despite not knowing what Gaston would create that day. A softer day-to-day worry compared to the usual “ho damn we may end up dead here” adventures he had with Spirou. Now he didn’t get either of those. Just his home and running after Supergroom. Risking himself without helping much at all. He was getting tired of it with their situation at home worsening as well. He had to get used to it before he could find a solution. What to say, and what to do so he wouldn’t lose his other half.

- “... -ey… Hey..! Earth to Fantasio ! You good man ? Been spacing out in front of Mr Dupuis’s door, you trying to open it with your mind or something ?” Fantasio raised his head, finally noticing Prunelle standing next to him, the older man using a teasing tone despite the slight worry in his eyes. Fantasio had heard about the man who took after him, and had seen him in different parties they did, but didn’t have many conversations with him. However Gaston always ended up talking about the brunette when they texted, and he seemed like a kind man, maybe a bit more patient than him about Gaston’s shenanigans.

- “No, sorry I was spacing out. I’m okay, it’s been a while since I’ve been here. It feels like an eternity since I was sitting in front of a desk signing papers for hours. I was just a bit nostalgic I suppose.” Prunelle gave him a compassionate smile, before shaking his head. Maybe because they both knew that despite the nostalgia, Fantasio wouldn’t last long stuck behind a desk again.

-”If you feel like you're missing the office, I can tell you about Gaston's latest idea, maybe it would help you feel better about being in the field. But only after I talked with Mister Dupuis, so maybe you should actually knock and not just stare at the door.”

Fantasio finally went in, and immediately noticed the state of the room. It wasn’t particularly messy per se, not more than usual, but there was a LOT going on almost everywhere. Bits and blueprints of merch and drawings, and so many texts and a quite big whiteboard with scribbles on them. The man was pacing around in his office, scratching his beard and muttering. Fantasio has always been amazed at how classy and dignified Depuis has always looked despite his age, and quite jealous there wasn’t any growing bald spot on his head. The blond had learnt to accept his more than receding hairline, but still Dupuis’s long locks of silver hair kept making him quite envious.

- “Fantasio, Prunelle finally ! You’re the two I wanted to talk with ! Despite them being amazing, we need something more to add to our articles about Supergroom. Don’t take it wrongly Fantasio, but I think we should try to get something… More. Maybe we could try to ask to make him our official mascot, or have an actual interview where he doesn’t run off in the middle of it for whatever reason… I’m counting on you for that second part, Fantasio. I’m sure he noticed you following him and maybe even has read your articles, with a little luck he will be more open to conversation with you. While you start looking into making him our mascot Prunelle, I’m certain he and Spirou would get along and share our cover.”

Fantasio’s nodding stopped immediately when the realization hit him. The two gingers being the same person, Supergroom becoming their mascot would be a huge problem. There would be events where the two of them would be required to meet, and people would start having suspicions after one too many times of one of them saying they couldn’t be there. Fantasio had to take action, maybe make the interview go wrong after getting some nice information so the hero would have an excuse to refuse signing there, and even if it would be blamed on the blonde, he’d probably survive it. Wouldn’t get fired over it, maybe yelled at, but not fired. He’d have to find questions that would annoy the other. Make him want to leave and not associate with them.

Hopefully it wouldn’t make the ginger more pissed at him outside of the mask as well…

Chapter Text

Running around, fighting, stopping bad guys again and again… This was like his old adventures with Fantasio, except he stayed in the same city, and there wasn’t anything overall more interesting happening. No scoops, no mysteries or dictators to topple, just armed robberies, assaults, nothing that made him truly come home with nothing else but bruises and a deep feeling of exhaustion. On second thoughts it was nothing like his old adventures with Fantasio. He didn’t even get to talk about his version of what went on to the blonde, or the man would be put in danger, or well put himself in more danger he already was in. The blonde was already doing too much running after him for his articles. Spirou didn’t need more on his mind. Everyday he felt like he was getting closer to ask his friend to give up the articles about his superhero counterpart so they could go anywhere else in the world again. He never thought he’d feel sick about being home, but there he was, itching to be anywhere but Brussels for at least two centuries. Maybe go back to Polombia, showing the Marsu his birth place again, or Bretzelburg to see the king again or literally anywhere in the world, no matter if they’ve already been there or not. Just the four of them, no matter if they risked their lives or not. It hurt to realise how that silly saying about realising what you’ve lost when you don’t have it no more was right.

Another reason he wouldn’t see that imbecile of a psychologist anymore. Really, the man was lucky Spirou had promised to try, because otherwise he probably just would have gone out of the door halfway through their second session. Sure, he had anger issues, he had been trying to work on them for some time now and could honestly say he was progressing, and yeah maybe Fantasio wasn’t a saint either, but they made it work. They balanced each other out and knew when the other needed space, and even if they did fight from time to time, it has been working for years, they were better at keeping each other alive than saving themselves. Spirou was almost certain he didn’t live on his own for more than 4 years after leaving the Moustique Hotel. “Codependency” was just a fancy word for trust.

Coming back home was a blessing. There was a reason he didn’t stay outside too late. Fantasio and his delightful meals were waiting for him. There was nothing more amazing than getting home and having nothing else to do than rest and load and unload the dishwasher. He couldn't leave Fantasio to worry without news or let their dinner grow cold. Also, if he arrived all the time in the middle of the night the blonde would without a doubt grow suspicious, and even if Spirou’s capacity to make up lies on the spot had been tested a lot for the past months, he didn’t feel like his lies were getting better. The best thing he had in mind was having a girlfriend or something like that, but the blond out of all people would immediately see right through him.

He opened their garage door and took care of changing back to his regular clothes and helping Spip out of his own little costume, making sure not to damage their suits or any of the gadgets, gritting his teeth as his muscles screamed in agony, careful none of his bandages undid themselves. Hiding it all in the old box of things of theirs that neither of them ever used, some mementos, others just bits and pieces of things Fantasio kept “just in case” for when he was tinkering. All of it forgotten, so much that Spirou tripped on it when searching for a hiding place, and decided it was probably the best place for his little secret. That said a lot to how much they needed to clean up their garage and their attic.

Getting back in from the front door, he was hit with overwhelming silence, not a single noise of the typewriter, no lights on. Fantasio must have been out, which was surprising but not a bad thing. He could patch himself up without any risk of the blonde seeing him and maybe for once in a long time make dinner for the other, like he used to when his best friend was working from 8 to 9 at Dupuis, overwhelmed with paperwork, getting contracts signed and bearing with Gaston’s… Experiments. Sometimes Spirou saw the state Fantasio came back home, and felt grateful to never actually have to deal with the actual making of the newspaper as much. He ran around and helped as much as he could, for sure, but in the end he was still just the face of the company. The only thing he actually did was do some research, and go with Fantasio when either of them had a lead for a possible scoop.

He didn’t feel particularly useless, not most of the time at least, but maybe a tad bit undeserving of all the praise he got from his fans and even his colleagues. He was thankful, and it always felt nice to be told what he did was good, but he didn’t feel like he was actually doing much when he wasn’t actually out for articles. Now that he had the superhero gig on the side instead of staying at home all day, he felt better about it all. Even if that wasn’t the reason people complimented and encouraged him.

Pushing his thoughts aside, he went to their bathroom, carefully taking off the bandage around his shoulder, checking that the puncture wounds of the silly crab themed villain he had to fight a few days ago had properly closed. Hopefully they wouldn’t scar, he already had a handful of those, and didn’t really need more, or he’d soon look like Swiss cheese. Disinfectant, antibiotic ointment… Then wrapping it back. Now, making dinner, not heating up something the blonde made, unless there wasn’t anything else, which wasn’t so unlikely, and- phone ringing ?

Spirou frowned, and put his discarded shirt back on, and watched their landline ring. It was either another annoying scam call, that he usually handled by giving the phone to the marsu, counting how long it took for the scammer to realise the animal was saying random words back, and hang up. Most of them could last around 10 minutes before cursing and hanging up, which made the animal have a good laugh each time. Or it was Pacôme, maybe he was having trouble teaching Marsupilami that Zorglub wasn’t as much of a threat anymore, not that Spirou didn’t warn him.

- “Hello, Spirou here, how can I help you ?” He said as he picked up. He let out a soft sigh as the voice of the Count, even if slightly panicked, talked back.

- “Spirou ! That’s nice you’re the one who responded. Tell me, are you available ? I’d need the help of Supergroom immediately, or well, Superglue needs it. She said there was something going on and she might need backup. I can send you her localisation and you can-.” But Spirou gently stopped him, before sighting again. This whole situation was going to give him a headache.

- “Listen, I-... I mean I don’t like having to turn down this offer, but I’ve just got home, Fantasio will probably arrive any minute now… Don’t you have that other hero you can call ?.. What was his name again..? Fantastik wasn’t it ? Can’t you call for him..? And even if it’s not the best, she can probably call the police as well if it’s just for backup…” The ginger tried hard to excuse himself, but guilt was slowly settling. If he didn’t have news in the next two hours he’ll go. That’s what he told himself and the Count, that made a vague noise of agreement before starting to mumble.

- “Yes I suppose I could call him… But he doesn’t have as much experience as you… He’ll probably figure it out on the way… Hoping him and Superglue get along… She asked for you, but I suppose she would do with anyone I have available…” He kept talking, Spirou starting to wonder if the scientist realised the phone was still on.

- “Well… Goodnight sir, pat the marsu on the head for me.” He said before putting the landline back on it’s base, and getting back to the kitchen. Now it was truly just him and his dinner plans.

Hopefully Fantasio wouldn’t come back too late…