Chapter Text
It was lovely meeting up. It's so nice to have a familiar face in a new city.
Of course! I'm so glad we got to reconnect.
I hope you end up liking it here in Pebble City 😊
Clayman paused, eyeing his texts, fingers poised to type. He didn't particularly care much for Pebble City...yet. Truth be told, the fact that Wendy was here was reason enough for him to want to move mountains to stay. Not that he should exactly admit that...
Should he fib a little and say that he already liked it here? Reassure them he had no intent to leave? No, perhaps that was a bit too much...should he try to arrange their next outing? Or was that also too aggressive, too soon, too much-
His phone dinged and a new messaged appeared before his eyes.
I'd love to get together again soon, if you like.
I mean, if you aren't busy.
You can let me know when you're free!
He couldn't help but giggle, kicking his feet a bit from where he was lying on his stomach on top of his bed. Clearly he didn't need to worry so much. They had been such good friends in the past, and this conversation made him feel like nothing had changed, despite the long gap in their communications. Years. Not quite a decade, but getting there. He wished idly that they had spoken sooner, but the thought of reaching out cold turkey made butterflies flutter in his stomach even now.
I would like that very much.
Regrettably, I'll have to get back to you as to the when,
but I promise I am very much interested.
Ugh, was that too formal? Was it too forward? Why was this so hard??? He was the VP of Jhistav Logistics, a global megacorporation, and the face of the company to boot! Working his charisma was second nature to him, and yet-!
When it came to Wendy, he couldn't seem to calm down.
Well, of course, there were reasons for that...but it was embarrassing that after so long, his feelings hadn't changed at all. They were the one who had gotten away, leaving a hole of longing and regret in his chest for several years after.
He set his phone down, sighing as he pressed his face into the pillow, letting his mind wander into his memories. Precious, precious memories...
His laptop making noise startled him out of his thoughts, and he lifted his head, reaching to his desk and grabbing his laptop without fanfare. It was time to talk to Laplace, after all. He had an excellent relationship with all of his siblings, but he was closest to his older brother Laplace. Laplace was also a key person when it came to Jhistav Logistics, but his work was...less savory, and certainly not in the public eye.
"Hi, Laplace," Clayman said, chin still resting on his pillow glumly.
"Someone's in a bad mood," Laplace remarked, sounding amused. "Tell yer bro what's going on."
"Oh, it's nothing serious. I mean..." he averted his gaze from Laplace's on the screen, "perhaps more melancholy than anything else."
"And why's that?"
"Erm, well..."
At that moment Clayman's phone dinged, and without thinking about the consequences he immediately reached for it.
Of course! I'm so glad. I'm really happy to see you again.
Maybe next time we can get a meal together.
I'd love to show you my favorite restaurants, after all!
But take your time, of course, I'll be here.
His heart melted, and it must have shown on his face because Laplace was quick to interrupt his swooning.
"Who's that from?" He asked, and Clayman felt cold as he saw the glimmer in his brother's eyes, and heard the teasing tone.
"Um, well..." he cleared his throat quietly. "Do you recall my friend Wendy? From my study abroad in Budapest..."
"Do I recall ? Clayman, do you have any idea how many stories ya made me sit through about the two of you?! Of course I remember her!" He snickered. "I remember about how you fell head over heels for her, and how you were too scared ta confess even though it was super obvious she liked you back-"
"We- we can't know that for sure!" Clayman interjected, feeling his face beginning to burn. "And- and Laplace, it's them now, not she."
"Oh, yeah? That's good isn't it? Now you know fer sure they're queer too."
"Laplace!"
"What?"
"Quit teasing me ," Clayman hissed, glaring at Laplace. Laplace seemed unphased.
"But it's so much fun," Laplace replied with a giggle. "Look how red you are-"
" Laplace ."
"Fine, fine, but on one condition."
This sort of thing was never good, but Clayman sighed and said, "what is it?"
"Tell me everything ."
Clayman nearly choked on his spit in surprise.
"W-well, there isn't that much to tell..."
"I highly doubt that but go on."
"Well, it turns out Wendy lives here, in Pebble City..." Clayman pouted a bit, taking note of the way Laplace was already beginning to smirk.
"S'that so? That's mighty convenient for you," Laplace remarked, raising his brows. "Is that why you-"
"I didn't know until I'd already moved here!" Clayman snapped. "I would never use our business so selfishly. This is the clear choice for the next large office because, as I stated-"
"I'm teasing," Laplace interrupted.
Clayman groaned, glaring at him. "In any case, I just...I was looking for potential hires on SkilledIn and their profile popped up due to the proximity and our connection...and, um, then I got lucky and ran into them."
"You stalked their social media and figured out where they were likely to be, didn't you?" Laplace said without fanfare.
Clayman groaned again, pressing his face into the pillow. Laplace saw through him so easily, it was pathetic.
"Perhaps...but that's not important. They were ecstatic , Laplace!" Clayman could recall the moment clearly. He'd casually let them catch him looking at them with furrowed brow. They'd stared back for a moment, before recognition flashed across their face, and they'd run over to say hi. He was delighted , perfectly playing up that he had just not been certain enough to say hello. "Their hair is purple now, too, and they've got this delightful partial buzzcut that they've dyed wine red...the look suits them quite well."
"Yeah?"
Clayman was almost suspicious of Laplace's simple response, but he was too distracted by his own warm fuzzy feelings to pay it much attention.
"Yes. And then we chatted. For quite some time. It was- I missed them quite a bit, as it turns out. I really enjoyed talking to them..." Warmth radiated throughout his body at the memory.
"So," Laplace had a hand on his chin, "when're you gonna ask 'em out, then?"
"LAPLACE!" Clayman bristled, face on fire. "I'm n- we only just met again! I can't just- you- don't be unreasonable!"
"So I see that nothing has changed," Laplace mused, snickering.
"Sh-shut up!" Clayman kicked his feet onto the bed hard, flailing a bit as he shouted at his brother. "We're just- we're friends, reconnecting! That's- that's all it is-"
"And what better time to ask 'em out then now! Take the momentum-"
"Can you leave off it?!" Clayman pushed his chest up off the bed, snarling a bit.
Laplace stared at him, and he stared back.
"Fine," Laplace shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. "But my advice is pretty good, seein' as I actually have a romantic partner, ya know?"
"I- I know, but that's not the issue." Clayman lowered himself back to the bed, putting a hand on his forehead. "I just...need time to sort out my own feelings."
"Sure."
He was grateful Laplace hadn't gone for the low hanging fruit. Isn't that what you said way back then, too ? And back then Clayman had absolutely known his own feelings. He had wanted to be close to them. He had been so close to making that dream a reality - but he just couldn't manage it. There had been so little time left before everyone returned back to their homes, back to their own worlds that didn't involve each other. He had thought it was kinder not to foist this on them, to suggest a long distance relationship with no clear end in sight...but then again, he had known even without Laplace saying it that that had only been an excuse.
And Laplace made it sound so easy ...just ask them out now. But so much time had passed - what was true then was not necessarily true now, almost a decade later. He couldn't just barge back into their life and demand their attention.
"Thank you, Laplace."
"What, for bullying you? No problem." He snickered. "It will happen again. Anyway, how are you liking Pebble City?"
Clayman sighed, smiling. "Well, it's no Amrita, that's for sure."
Even as they moved on to other topics, in the back of his mind, Clayman was mulling over what he wanted, and what to do about it.