Chapter Text
If you were to ask around Anakt Garden the names of the boy with the bowl cut and the other with a bob, most wouldn’t be able to answer.
It wasn’t that they were unliked. There was nothing particularly wrong with the pair, they just weren’t exceptional like some of the others.
Names like Ivan, the boy with the dazzling snaggle-toothed smile, or Mizi who would light up any room she walked into. Sua, the quiet yet incredibly talented vocalist, and Till, the rebellious child with killer lyrics.
No, they were nothing of that sort, they were simply Acorn and Marty.
Marty was the loud one of the two. He was brash, blunt, and somewhat rude.
Acorn was the quiet one. He was shy, insecure, and had a hard time making friends.
When the two first interacted, they didn’t exactly like one another. Acorn was far too reserved for Marty's taste and Marty was far too bossy for Acorns, yet with time the two formed an unlikely bond.
It was a gradual progression. It started with a few snide comments from Marty.
“They think they’re better than us.”
“What?” Acorn responded, eyebrows furrowed with confusion. He wasn’t exactly used to someone speaking to him. Let alone someone like Marty who seemed annoyed at him simply standing near him in the lunch lines.
“Mizi, Sua, Till and Ivan. All the others,” he sighed in frustration as he took a seat next to the other boy.
Acorn chose to stay silent, unsure if what to say. He twiddled with his fingers, staring at them with an intensity that let Marty know he wasn’t very good with others.
“You gonna say anything? Or are you just gonna stare at your hands like they’re the most interesting thing you’ve ever seen?” He teased, nudging the other playfully with his shoulder.
“I’m not really sure what you want me to say,” he squeaked out.
“I dunno, anything? I mean, something’s better than nothing, right?”
“I don’t think they think they’re better than us,” he whispered. “Huh? Speak louder, man. I can barely hear you.”
“I said-“ he spoke louder, “I don’t think they think they’re better than us,” newfound confidence spilling.
“‘Course you’d think that. C’mon, you have to agree that at least Ivan thinks he’s all that,” at the mention of Ivan, Acorn snapped his head angrily towards Marty.
“That’s not true! He’s just confident! There’s nothing wrong with that!” Marty’s eyes widened at the outburst. When Acorn realized he’d yelled he settled back down, apologizing quietly to the other.
“So you can speak louder than a whisper,” Marty snickered. He stood up and dusted himself off. Before he left he gave Acorn one last look, “See ya around.”
The second time Marty spoke to him, they were waiting in the lunch line. The two boys were spooked when Till landed a punch against Ivan’s cheek. Ivan punched back in defense and the two fell, continuing to fight on the floor.
“What a bunch of weirdos,” Marty voiced, Acorn, turning back to see him from his place in front of him in the line. “Till started it! Ivan is just defending himself…” his words grew quieter as he realized his volume.
“What’s it with you and Ivan? The only time you talk above a whisper is when someone mentions him,” Marty’s voice had been full of curiosity, and Acorn couldn’t figure out why he cared so much.
“I don’t, what’s up with you and Ivan? I’ve seen you around, you know. You make faces at everyone, me included but you seem to really hate Ivan,” Acorn mumbled.
Marty laughed manically, holding Acorn’s shoulder for support as he curled into himself. “Looks like we’re both a little obsessed with him.”
“I am not obsessed with him!” Marty snorts, “Okay, Peanut. It’s your turn,” he beckoned Acorn to move forward in the line.
“It’s Acorn…”
“Uhuh.”
After that, Acorn couldn’t seem to get rid of the guy. He’d tease him at every chance he got and when he wasn’t teasing him, he was shit-talking the big four.
At first, he despised his attention but as the years passed he grew accustomed to him. He’d realized that it was the most he’d ever talked to anyone in his life and that he finally had someone to call friend. Or friend adjacent. He wasn’t sure the feeling was reciprocated.
All he knew was that Marty was important to him and it felt good to have him around. He made Acorn feel confident- seen. He supposed that’s all that really mattered.
“Hello? Anyone there?” Marty waves his hands.
“Hm? What’d you say?” Snapping out of his thoughts he gave Marty his full attention. Acorn was in his dorm on the bed with Marty, he reminded himself.
“I was saying how we’re, you know, the extras,” Acorn's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“Extras? What does that mean?”
“Some character from this old T.V. Show said it. Sounded cool when he said it. I think it means that we aren’t, the main people. We don’t stand out. We’re just here to fill up space,” Acorn chewed the inside of his mouth as he contemplated it.
“I don’t like that,” He whispered.
“Don’t have to like it for it to be true. I mean, look at us. They probably think we’re pretty plain-looking and lacking in talent compared to the rest of the guys here,” He sighed, looking gloomy in comparison to his usual self.
“Is that why you hate them so much?”
“Ha,” Marty places his hands on his head, arms resting on his thighs, “Amongst other things.”
“Like?” Acorn tilted his head curiously, trying to get a good look at his face.
“Don’t wanna say it,” Marty said, shifting, lifting his knees for support so he could cradle his head.
“C’mon! All you do is talk. Tell me. What’s up?” Acorn leaned his head in his shoulder knowing that whenever he showed Marty any sort of affection he’d do anything he asked.
“Ugh, fine. I just- I don’t like that they take up your attention,” Acorn sat up and gave him a confused glare.
“Attention, what are you talking about?” He asked with sincerity.
“Everyone else already looks at them like they’re something special. I guess I just wished you looked at me like that too,” he confessed. Marty squeezed his eyes shut, feeling overwhelmingly embarrassed.
Acorn’s heart clenched seeing him look so down. “I didn’t know you felt that way,” he placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“‘Course you didn’t. I didn’t want you to. It’s embarrassing,” Acorn smiled as he saw the other boy’s ears turn red at the tips.
“I wish you had told me,” he sighed dramatically, trying to get the other to look at him. Marty didn’t stir, so Acorn took it as a sign to continue.
“If you had, I would’ve told you that I do.”
“That you do what?” He asked, finally turning his attention with just his eyes, peaking out from where his arm was.
“That I think you’re special,” Marty huffed, laughing humorlessly. “Don’t bullshit me, Peanut. You look at them like they’re the stars, especially Ivan.”
Acorn took offense to his words. Had he admired the other’s l? Yes. He wouldn’t deny it but any feelings he may have harbored for them weren’t romantic. It might have been for Ivan for some point in time but he hadn’t thought of him that way in years.
Is this really what Marty thought?
“I’m not bullshitting you and honestly I’m a little offended. Do you see me talking to anyone else here,” his words came out frustrated and Marty fully lifted his head in surprise at his tone. He’d only ever gotten defensive over Ivan before. He didn’t know what to think.
“C’mon, Peanut, we both know no one talks to either of us unless if it’s from class or some other shit. You got stuck with me,” he retorted.
“You’re starting to piss me off! First, you come in here and say we’re extras, that we don’t matter and then you tell me you think
I don’t see you? Care for you?
Anakt help me. Even if we didn’t matter to anyone else, even if I was plain and untalented, I never thought you’d see me that way.
I don’t even know if you consider me a friend but I thought you were different together. You don’t feel that? You don’t feel how special you are to me?” Tears spilled from his eyes and Marty had no idea what to do.
He’s never seen him like this- seen him cry, seen him speak so many words. It hurt him knowing he caused it but he wasn’t fully sure how to feel nor how to respond.
“That’s the most I’ve ever heard you say,” is what came out. Acorn looked at him as if he had just punched him in the face before getting up, bed creaking with the loss of weight, and readied himself to walk away.
“Fuck you, Marty!” Before he moved, Marty caught his wrist.
“That’s not what I meant! Wait- just- just let me find the words,” Acorn looked at him, studying his features, looking for something in his eyes before he sighed and sat back down beside him.
“Quickly. I’m still pissed at you.”
“I just don’t know how to feel? I don’t really know how to say this,” Marty’s frustration took a hold of him as he angrily ran his hands through his hair.
“I know I act confident and shit but I’m scared. I’m scared of getting left behind and not being seen.
I try so hard- I study well. I practice my singing every day. I write songs… but no matter what I do, I never look or sound the way they do.
I know it’s just singing. I know it isn’t a big deal but I wanna give this thing my all. I want to do better. I want to be remembered and I want to be special, especially to you. And fuck, I want that for you too. I want you by my side while we show up all of these people but we’re behind, Peanut.
They don’t even see us a competition. You don’t even see me as competition. How am I supposed to compete with all of them to get you to see me if I’m not good enough?” Acorn looked at him empathetically before bringing him into a tight hug.
“You’re good enough already. Screw the competition, screw the expectations, all of it. Even if we’re never like them we don’t have to be.
You don’t have to compete with anyone for me to think you’re special. It’s very clear that you haven’t noticed that I rarely even talk about them anymore. You’re the one that keeps bringing them up. That has always brought them up.
But me? It’s always just been you. Even when you were annoying me. I can look up to them but you’re the one that’s right here. That’s always right here.
You wanna beat these guys? Well, do your best but don’t do it because of me.
The only thing that’s been holding me back from being closer to you is you. You’ve never once told me how you felt and I can’t read your mind,” he nuzzles deeper into the embrace, noticing the other boys sniffling.
“So what I’m hearing is you don’t like Ivan,” Marty joked trying to ease the tension.
“You asshole,” Acorn broke the embrace and playfully slapped the other boy in the chest. They both laughed, tears and snot still in their faces.
“You look like a wreck,” Marty said, using his hand to wipe Acorn’s tears away. He found the tissues he had on his nightstand and used them to clean himself up before offering them to Marty who did the same.
“Listen… now that we’re being all deep and stuff, can I ask you something?” Acorn spoke shyly.
“Why not? I mean, I’ve already embarrassed myself.”
“Why did you approach me that day? You always looked like you hated me. Why did you call me Peanut? Why did you think I didn’t like you? Why did you never tell-“
“Slow down, Peanut. I’ll answer everything,” the other’s rambling quieted and he sat patiently, waiting for Marty to begin answering.
“I hated everyone. I think it was pretty obvious, especially back then. They all seemed so… much better than me. I guess that grew into resentment. Don’t get me wrong I still hate them but I know where that comes from. At least I think I do? I don’t even know, feelings are so complicated.
Anyways, one day I was looking at you. You were all by yourself and you looked lonely. It just hit me that we were the same in that way. Made me go from being annoyed by you to thinking you could maybe understand me,” Acorn hummed, understanding where the conversation was going.
“So I went up to talk to you and man, it was so hard to get anything out of you. That was until I talked about Ivan. I found it interesting that you liked any of them, let alone Ivan considering none of them even looked your way. I honestly thought it was stupid.”
“Gee, thanks-“ Marty interrupted.
“I’m not finished. I thought it was stupid but also… endearing. I feel like I lost the part of me that still looked to the future with positivity from a young age but the way you were passionate- I don’t know, it gave me some of that hope back.
And I like I said. I thought I couldn’t live up to Ivan’s image. It’s why I never called you a friend. I was afraid it wasn’t mutual. That’s why I worked so hard. I wanted to be worthy of your company,” Acorn snorted and Marty looked at him confused. He was pouring his heart out and this guy was laughing?
“First I’m an extra and now you wanna be worthy of me. Which is it then,” Acorn quirked his eyebrow up, waiting for an answer.
“It’s both of them. We are extras, Peanut. The whole world probably sees us that way but I’m not the whole world. We are extras to everyone else but to me, you shine more brightly than any of those fancy guys,” Acorn’s eyes sparkled at his words and Marty was convinced it was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.
“You’re not an extra to me either. I don’t care what anyone else says. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. All I care about is what you think,” Marty found himself bringing the other boy back into a hug.
They stayed that way for a while before Acorn finally whispered, “You never answered. Why do you call me Peanut?”
“Ah, well I just thought it would be funny, you know? Since acorns and peanuts are both nuts. I also didn’t want to make it seem like I knew your name. I was trying to be nonchalant,” he laughed at the memory until he felt Acorn's hands find his shoulders and push him off, hands still holding on. His glare was serious and it scared Marty.
“I’m sorry- did I say something wrong-“ He started.
“Did you just say acorns and peanuts are both nuts?!?” Marty nodded, eyebrows furrowed, unsure where he was going with it.
“You dumbass. You used a nickname for years solely over the fact that there other was also a nut when peanuts are actually, in fact, not nuts!” Andddd…. Marty was lost again.
“What do you mean?? It literally had ‘nut’ in the word. PeaNUT!” He said defensively.
“I thought you said you studied hard, apparently you didn’t study hard enough because they aren’t nuts,” Marty gapped at him, jaw-dropping with the news.
“They’re not nuts.”
“Yup.”
“And I called you Peanut.”
“Uhuh.”
“Because I thought they were also nuts.”
“Keep going, you’re almost there.”
“Am I dumbass?!?” He asked seriously.
“Yes. Yes, you are.”