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It had been roughly five years since the near end of the world.
Since two villains in a hazed cry for control and attention nearly legitimately shattered the sky. Since the Rift of the Gods grew to sizes never seen before.
Since a baton of power was passed for a brighter, healthier day.
One day, that healthy day would come as the calendar starts to fray away.
When you take things day by day, eventually it starts to blur and fade together, time speeding by.
That was life for those two villains. As so they called themselves on that shaky Spire while the bugs in the wind told them it was time to go.
It was a matter of opinion in old newspapers now.
Like the ones Capochin rested his garden tools on.
A large mound of dirt smacking over the headline, “World Threatening Duo or Misunderstood Pair? Former God spotted with Cohort.” with a terrible photo of them rushing into a grocery store.
It was being used to protect his trowel from the elements, and to keep him from losing them. He knew he shouldn’t’ve bought the green handled ones, but eh, live and learn.
He sat firm in the grass, bent over a large bushel of blooming asters. Their radiant purple hue made him smile as he pushed and prodded them. Fluffing them and making sure they were the healthiest flowers they could be.
He was reaching around, yanking weeds and checking for pests. He had already dealt with too many bugs and even a few pesky rabbits this year.
He grabbed his garden shears and snipped off a few bulbs that had simply stubbornly refused to bloom, thinking they were dead, and tossed them further into the garden bed.
They smacked against their tomato plant that lived in a raised bed by themselves. A few red ones were peeking out, ready for plucking whenever Capochin finally felt like it.
With a steady hand, he poked through the dirt and hummed. He yanked off one of his gloves, and tapped the dirt with his bare finger. “Yeah, I thought so…”
He grabbed his half-full watering can and gingerly watered around the gorgeous flowers, a nice sheen covering them to protect them from the beaming sun.
It was a warm summer day in this little slice of the Cove, but it was perfect for Capochin’s garden so he had no complaints. Except for the sweat, he didn’t like smelling like a biohazard after his yardwork.
So instead of trying to smell himself, he smelled the Asters instead.
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. He made these, with his own hands and a bit of trust in the earth. It felt…good.
It felt right.
It felt like he was doing something worthwhile.
He wiped his brow, and admired it all like it was a sea of sweets. He sighed, trying to think if the flowers needed any more attention.
As he thought, he didn’t even hear the clicks of another presence in his backyard.
Multiple opening and closing of doors that would make him bark about the price of air conditioning if he processed it.
Before he could even ponder for too long about the state of his flowers, he felt something smack his back.
He turned his head, and saw Hector whapping him on the back gently with his cane. He was perfectly blocking the sun with his body, letting him comfortably look at his dear face.
He was giving Capochin a look of joyful anticipation. A look that said something but Capochin couldn’t quite decipher it.
“What?” He simply asked, putting his hands in his lap. Hector gave him a little smile, “You’ve been toiling out here for like…two whole hours, Cappy.”
Capochin startled, not even thinking about time or the summer sun baking his skin beneath his thin layer of fur.
He looked at a watch on his wrist that didn’t exist, and then the sky, “Oh man, I didn’t even notice-”
That made Hector simply chuckle at him, and nod his head backwards. “Come take a sit in the shade, I made us some iced tea.”
Capochin gave him a soft smile, removing his other glove that protected his wedding ring. “That does sound pretty good.”
He tossed both gloves down, fully covering the newspaper's headline as Hector offered him a hand. He gratefully took it, and let Hector pull him to his feet with the help of his cane.
Capochin’s knees crackled, making him groan a bit. “Shoot-” He breathed, as he fully got up and stretched to aid his aching joints.
Hector didn’t even comment on it, as he still had a hold of his hand. He happily pulled it closer and pressed a firm kiss onto his ring. Lip meeting its gold band and ruby gem.
Capochin laughed a bit, “Okay, Romeo-” he tried to joke, but that just put a sly glimmer into Hector’s eye.
He slipped his cane onto his wrist via its strap and he muttered, “I can show ya Romeo-” as he grabbed onto his beloved's arm with both hands.
Hector then proceeded to start peppering kisses from his hand to his wrist working his way up his entire arm.
Kissing each little faded scar that circled up and around towards the start of his short-sleeve.
Capochin snorted, as he tried to pull away. “Heckity!! Heckity that tickles!!!”
Hector merely held him tight, taking one step forward each step Capochin took back. He kept making exaggerated “MWAH!” sounds with each firm kiss as he kept going up and down.
It made Capochin laugh harder. “You’re gonna throw out your back leaning down for dis!! I want my tea!! Cherie!!” Capochin scream-laughed as Hector kept making kissy noises, holding his hand tight and ending the kiss attack by placing one more big fat one atop his ring again.
Only then did he let him go, with a big ole grin on his face.
Capochin covered his eyes once he got his hand free, and wiped a few tears from his laughter.
He pointed at Hector, and took a step closer while waggling a finger at him. “Okay okay, now I get one. Just one-”
He stepped forward, and placed a gentle kiss onto Hector’s lips. It was a lovely little smooch that Capochin immediately regretted as Hector’s smile widened.
It gave him room to grab Capochin’s head and start peppering more large kisses onto his cheek and chin.
“Mwahahmwahmwhamwah!!!” Hector babbled, laughing in between breaths. Capochin squealed a squeal so pitched for his gravelly voice it made him insanely glad they really didn't have any neighbors in their solitary home on a hill.
Especially when Hector tried to lower the kisses to a weak spot, his poor ole neck.
He shoved Hector off of him and shouted with the laughs still in his voice “WHERE’S THE TEA-” He started walking away, as Hector breathed hard in his own laughter.
“CAUSE YOU NEED SOME- CAUSE YOU’RE THIRSTY!!” Capochin teased, and Hector merely followed him, snorting and coughing on his chuckles.
“Well hey, Capo-chinos aren’t very hydrating! That's why I need da whole thing! Heck, I may need five!” Hector followed, walking in rhythm with his cane as he made grabby hands to Capochin.
Capochin shook his head, making his way to their patio and turning to look at Hector. He wanted to make sure he was getting around alright.
Also to jab at him, "You don't need all dat caffiene."
Then he noticed something before he could even continue to retort about the kissies “-and why ain’tcha wearing shoes?”
Hector looked down at his compression socks, and wiggled his toes in the grass. “Who has time to go all the way to the bedroom to get shoes?”
That was his mere reply as Capochin rolled his eyes, and made his way to their patio swing that was situated perfectly in a shady spot.
There was a tray table in front of it. Two big glasses of sweet tea and a little bowl of those cheeses with the wax seal were lovingly arranged on it. The tea had ice floating idly inside, a straw already placed in.
There was even lemon, a wedge cut on the rim of the glass with some circle slices tossed right in. Just the way he liked it.
“Well look at you!!” Capochin praised, in awe at the little display Hector created. “This is so cute, Hector!” Capochin smiled at him, and saw he was walking on the side of his feet as he rushed to sit down.
Capochin crossed his arms, “And that's why we put on shoes-” He spoke in tandem, as Hector immediately pulled his leg up to pick the stickers out of his socks. “Hush- Ow- Ow ow-!”
Hector huffed a deep breath, hissing as he couldn't have his leg pulled up like that. Pain spiked around his hip.
“C’mon, old man, just take off the sock-” Capochin said, making Hector roll his eyes because Capochin knew even putting on his socks was a chore some days.
He knew that Capochin knew, because Capochin was always willing to help him tie his sneakers.
Hector lowered his foot without getting them all out, opting to try bending forward instead. That also proved difficult, as he tried to tug the sock off himself.
Hector was twisting himself into a pretzel but kept pausing whenever a pulse of pain waved by. He struggled to even use his other foot to tug the sock down-
At a point, Capochin just walked over and knelt in front of him. He helped pick out each sticker one by one, so not a single thing would harm his dear’s leg.
Plucking each sharp weed out and caringly adjusting the sock so his compression wasn't messed up. Tugging it up and around until it was smooth once more.
Hector smiled when the last one was out, and Capochin held it up with a smug look like “There ya go-”
Hector put a hand to his heart, “You’re over here callin’ me Romeo while treating me like Cinderella. What kinda love triangle is this, huh shoe?”
Capochin stood from his kneel, his own joints cracking again as he flopped on the patio chair, “The kind that says if you say something stupid I can keep this to throw at you-” He twiddled the last sticker between his fingers.
“Blease don’t, I’ll have to take all the lil' waxy cheeses back-” Hector gestured to the snack he lovingly prepared for them.
“...Cherie, you drive a hard bargain.” Capochin said, a small laugh in the back of his throat as he tossed the sticker behind him to tink onto the patio’s rocks.
“This is incredibly cute-” Capochin smiled to himself as he picked up one of the little cheeses. “You even got the lemons-” He pointed at the tea, before going to open the cheese.
“I will let you know, Cappy, that we are now out of lemons.” Hector admitted, as he grabbed his tea and mixed it with his straw. He took a sip as Capochin gave him a bit of a look as he bit into his cheese.
“I just bought…a whole bag of lemons-” He was certain of it. An entire bag.
Hector kept sipping, only coming up to say, “I wanted to make dis look pretty and it took a lot a’ trial and error- Aaaa…lot of lemons, too.”
Hector didn't want Capochin to look at the mess in the kitchen, of a lot of squished lemons. Many corpses of wasted lemons sliced to bits too, trying to get the perfect wedge and cutting them wrong.
Capochin shook his head, and finished his small cheese, tossing the wax rind back into the bowl.
He spoke while chewing, “This tea better be the best tea ever then-” He picked it up with a little chuckle, making sure to mix it around to see the lemon slice swirl.
Capochin took a sip and had to do a bit of a double take. Even with the saltiness of the cheese still in his mouth, this tea was the sweetest tea in the universe.
Almost way too sweet.
“Heckity, did ya go and dump the whole bag of sugar in here??” Capochin asked with an amused smile, and Hector merely chuckled in response.
“I made a gallon! And I like it sweet so I tossed in like…” Hector thought, twirling his straw around.
Capochin tried to finish his sentence, “A million cups?”
Hector reached over and flicked his forehead, mock offended. “NO- Like! Four and a half! At least! I think it's perfect.” Hector took another sip, turning his head in defiance to Capochin’s teasing.
Capochin shook his head, and grabbed the lemon wedge to squeeze the whole thing into his tea.
He got in as much juice as he could before tossing the peel in and mixing it. “If perfect is cavity inducing, then honey you’re in for a dentist visit.”
Hector pretended to not hear him, tail raised and coiled into a heart regardless. Capochin smirked, and took another sip. Still far too sweet.
He scooted next to Hector. “Plus, I think it needs-” He mumbled under his breath, saying nothing but nonsense.
It didn’t work in getting him to turn around.
Hector shook his head, taking a sip of his tea and letting out an exaggerated refreshed sigh like it was the best tea he’s ever drank.
Capochin changed tactics, and scooted closer. He threaded Hector’s tail around his fingers and pulled it down, not even looking at him. It sent chills down Hector’s spine with the gentle pull he gave it as he smoothed the fur on it down.
Hector took his tail back, turning back to him to laugh. Maybe even share a kiss.
Before Hector could even think of it, his tea moved closer to Capochin. Exactly what he wanted to happen.
Instead of a loving kiss, Capochin unveiled his trickery by reaching forward and nab Hector’s lemon wedge right off the rim of his glass!
“NYOINK!” Capochin vocalized, taking it and immediately squeezing it into his drink with a defiant mischievous cackle.
“HEY-” Hector gasped in utter betrayal at the mode his dear had activated. Being cute just to STEAL from him?!
“How very dare you!” He pointed at him as Capochin got as much lemon juice out of the wedge as he could, plopping the peel in his drink and mashing it down with his straw.
He mixed it around and said very frankly, “Hector, you never use your lemon wedge, what are you giving me them eyes for? The point of the lemon wedge is to cut the sweetness-”
Capochin took a sip and it tasted much better. It would do well in refreshing him.
Hector merely pouted, and gestured animatedly at his drink. “You went and made my drink less pretty though! That's the point of MY wedge!!”
Capochin rolled his eyes as Hector glared at him. He picked up a piece of cheese, and handed it to Hector. “Well it’s a good thing that drink has a pretty person sippin’ on it, then we’d both be screwed.”
Hector blinked, not expecting that. “...Well awh, well shucks-” he blushed, turning the waxy cheese around in his hand.
Hector still gave him a face, and said, “Well, I guess I can let it slide this time.” He used his teeth to open the cheese, eating it with glee once the wax was out of the way.
“Dork.” Capochin could only shake his head as Hector squished the wax to eat the whole cheese wheel in two bites.
“Thief.” Hector retorted, flicking the wax onto his forehead.
Capochin merely picked it off and tossed it into the bowl, barely missing it and settling grossly onto the tray table.
He scooted closer to Hector and the two of them wrapped their arms around each other, continuing to enjoy their over-sugary concoction in the joy of wonderful weather.
The two of them snuggled like that for several minutes, pausing to sip their drinks and eat more little cheese wheels.
Gently sighing in relaxation as they gazed at the beautiful garden.
It was absolutely gorgeous, growing ever brighter each day. The tulips were as sunshiney as ever, yellow hue swaying in the breeze. The forget-me-nots were almost out of bloom, but a few gorgeous blossoms hung on.
Mallows perfect and pink...Hyacinths pushing through in the heat, showing off their own purple arrangements.
Even Orchids and bushels of Lavender hung on through anything the weather and season could throw at them. They even had rose bundles snaking to the side of the yard!
Bundles of red, yellow and orange all astounding to see to fruition.
It was all spectacular...each and every flower they grew together.
Showing how much they've grown together, accented by the way they remained in each other's arms. Sharing tender touches and little smooches as they rested.
Hector would plant a kiss on Capochin’s head. Capochin would get him right on the cheek in reply.
Sitting in total comfort in the warmth of the absolutely gorgeous day.
Until the sky started to look just a bit darker, and their cups became nothing but ice and lemon peel.
Capochin grimaced a bit at the sky, as clouds started to roll in. “Awh cob-dammit. It betta not rain when I just watered.”
Hector nudged him a bit with his elbow, knowing full well that they have a system coming. “Eh, it'll save ya some work tomorrow! We can get some insidey stuff done.” He gave him a cheesy raised-eyebrow look.
Capochin smirked back, smacking his cup down on the tray table and getting closer to him. “Ouh? Like what?”
Hector wrapped his arms around his side, resting his head on his, and merely prattled, “Well we could finally clean the bathtub: it needs that hair remover stuff I got BAD- " he kicked his feet a bit, lost in verbal thought,
"-or we could do a jigsaw puzzle, that one you bought from that one shop that you said you’d do but never have? That’d be fun. I could organize my desk- or if the rain ain’t bad we could go thrift shopping again-”
Capochin’s sly smirk fell into a comfortable smile as Hector went on and on, the spark not zapping but glowing around them both anyways.
This was married life, huh? This was the life he sought after for forty years?
…It was worth it.
He let Hector sway him to and fro, as he asked lightly, “Well all that sounds good and all, but what should we do now?”
And as if on cue, Hector’s stomach let out a growl, despite their light snacking. He made a pouty face, and hummed, “Could think about dinner. What’s on the agenda today? I’m up for anything.”
Capochin chuckled, as Hector’s stomach kept telling on him that little low-fat wheels of cheese were not enough to fill his big toe.
“Well, we got chicken thawed in the fridge. Ooo, I’ll whip us up some chicken parm, that sounds fantastic, don’t it?” Capochin grinned, excited at that idea.
A nice warm cheesy chicken breast over some pasta sauce, he thinks he has everything for it.
Hector tapped his chin, and went with a joking tone, “Mmmm…dunno about that…maybe something else-”
Capochin, seeing through the joke, immediately fought against it. He wasn't about to go into a comical back and forth about what to make for dinner just to end up with "actually you can just pick, I'm not picky!" despite them both having their picky moments.
“Nope! Choice is made. I am making Chicken Parm-ee-see-an and you’re gonna like it!!” He joked back, hopping up and moving backwards into the grass.
“With roasted cherry tomatoes, penne pasta and SPINACH!” He tried to joke back, trying to rile Hector.
However Hector’s tastebuds had gone through one more change, so he easily smacked his feet down and gave Capochin a bewildered look.
With a large smile, Hector said something that Capochin should’ve expected: “PEE-KNEE PASTA?? Capochin?? Capochin, what kind of pasta?? What are you gonna do to that pasta?!”
Capochin’s eyebrows instantly rose in alarm, and then furrowed in anger at Hector’s mischievous grin.
“NOPE-!!” He paced through the grass, making his way to his tools as Hector stood and kept shouting at him.
He didn't follow, not wanting more stickers in his socks. “Gonna pee on our pasta’s knees? Capo, that’s so crass!! It’ll throw off the flavor!”
Capochin merely angrily grabbed the tools in a hurry. He left the newspaper in his rush, voice taut with annoyance. “I’M LEAVING- DIVORCE NOW-”
Hector knew at any other point in his life that would scare him but he merely beamed and laughed as Capochin stormed back to him, tossing the tools in his outdoor bin for it.
“Aw c’mon Cappy! I’m not the one who’s being gross with the noodles.” Hector snorted, standing with his cane to gather their dishes, stacking the glasses and leaning them in the small cheese bowl.
“I don’t even want to know whatcha gonna do to the Garlic Bread-”
Capochin pointed a harsh finger at him, glaring at him with a very deep blush, “I AIN’T MAKIN' YA ASS GARLIC BREAD-” He threw his hand up, and paced around in a little circle.
“I gots half a mind to go pray to Mitternacht and see if I can return her son without a receipt!! I want my fucking money back!!”
Hector merely approached him through small giggles, cane keeping him steady in one hand, the other holding the dishes.
He wiggled his hips teasingly a bit, with such a shit-eating grin, “Jokes on yew, cute lil' birdie, not only am I stunningly priceless but by puttin’ dis gorgeous ring on my gorgeous finger you told my Mama no tradsies backsies.” He held up his cane, so Capochin could see his beautiful sapphire ring finger a little better.
Instead of agreement, Capochin merely pushed him away, turned around and put his palms together. He simply took a long, slow deep breath.
Hector watched him simply breathe in and out, almost dramatically. He kept smiling at him, getting closer. “What?? C’mon Cappy, it’s a joke- Pee knee pasta- HA-” Hector laughed at himself, snorting a bit.
Capochin had his eyes closed, as he grasped his hands together tighter as he started a very long inhale.
“It’s a good one Capo, what is this?” Hector’s smile didn’t falter as he gestured to him, trying to continue to get reactions out of him.
“Just thinkin’ if your bullshit is gonna make me go break my smoke streak.” Capochin spoke breathily, letting out the exhale with gusto.
The second that sentence left his mouth, Hector gasped. He rushed to Capochin’s side, making him open his eyes in surprise as Hector put his cane on his wrist to smack him on the arm with the back of his hand.
Capochin startled so hard from the contact he took the dishes from Hector so he wouldn’t drop them!
“CAPOCHIN EVELYN SIMEON YEW PUT DAT BACK IN YA MOUTH DIS INSTANT-” Hector scolded him immediately, and kept lightly (but effectively) whapping Capochin’s upper arm.
Capochin curled up, yelping. “It’s a joke, it's a joke Cherie, I swear, I promise-” He backpedaled so fast, not expecting this reaction. In retrospect, he probably should have.
Hector grabbed his shoulder and pulled him into a half of an embrace. “It betta be!!” He ruffled Capochin’s hair and rattled him to and fro as he used him as support rather than his cane.
“If a pee joke makes you fall off the wagon ya been on fer a month then I’m calling Vibi on your ass!!”
Capochin gave him a pleading look, holding the dishes to his chest, “Heckity, Cherie, Sweetie, Honey, Darling, My Love, please don’t- I ain’t lookin’ to get exploded- He’d kill me in one hit-”
That was only a half of a joke, Capochin remembered the squeal of pride and delight he got when he and Hector called Vibiano on a video chat to show him Capochin’s progress. Not a single smoke in thirty days!
Capochin didn’t expect him to kiss the camera! He knew Vibiano would be on him in seconds for that.
Hector squeezed him, and then let him go to grab his cane and point it at him like he was fixing to whap him with it as well.
If Capochin didn’t know better he’d joke that it makes him look like a genuine old-ass-man. “And I’d revive ya and explode ya again! Turn you into mustard and explode you all over the garden!”
“NOT ON DA ASTERS-”
“YES DA ASTERS!! IT'LL YA BE ON YEWR ASS-TERS!!” Hector shook the cane, using it to smack Capochin on the rear.
The two of them looked into each other's eyes, playful anger meeting amused guilt.
Hector’s stomach growled again, interrupting everything.
A beat of silence waved over the two, until it all crashed over them-
They both nearly doubled over, mutually falling into a mess of laughter, hardly able to breathe through the tears they brought.
“I'M MUSTARD NOW?” Capochin wheezed, snorting and trying to wipe his eyes but more tears kept coming.
“YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN MUSTARD- AAAHAHAH!!” Hector’s chest heaved as he tried to gulp a deep breath into more laughs.
Capochin could drink that laugh; it was so thick and musical to his ears. Each snort was a squeeze of honey into the tea.
He didn’t even know his laugh was the same to Hector. A dessert he’d savor for a million years if he could. Each hitch of his breath a drizzle of chocolate syrup on a sundae.
It meant the world to them.
Capochin huffed a deep breath, putting his hand on the small of Hector’s back. “Ohkay Ohkay, I’ll stop making jokes like that if you quit saying I'm gonna pee in the pasta- then I’ll go start dinner-”
Hector finally achieved his deep breath, and shook his head, “Okay- Okay, Only if- only if you make cheesy garlic bread. And I’ll get da dishloader-” Hector blinked in surprise at the misspeak, fumbling his words.
Capochin snorted at him, as the two of them started walking inside, tails entwining together. Hector shook his head, trying to string the sentence better, “I’ll unload the dishwasher- if you- aaahahahah! ”
“Sure, sure, dishloader. I’ll make cheesy garlic bread!”
The asters swayed in the wind as they went off to finish their day. Laughter ever still nipping at their trail.
---
It was the little moments that always made life shine, like flowers in the garden beds or the weeds that clung to tiny dandelions that hung around the driveway’s cracks.
Always happiest when doing things together.
Chuckles that sounded out while Capochin breaded chicken, mostly because Hector dropped a cup and it gave him room to tap his rear with his foot as revenge.
It almost made Hector fall, and they happily flipped eachother the bird in response.
Little kissies spared to the top of Capochin’s head while Hector passed by with plates to set the table, the rest being shoved haphazardly into cabinets. Capochin leaned back from his pan to make another kissy face, earning himself another smooch.
The smell of absolutely divine cooking slowly but surely filled their dinky little home.
Chicken breast topped with parmesan cheese and homemade marinara sauce.
Sliced roasted cherry tomatoes…asparagus that cooked at its side instead of spinach because the spinach had turned…and a whole box of Penne Pasta because Capochin didn't feel like measuring it and he’d eat leftovers.
All put on a single plate as Hector reloaded the dishwasher, smacking it shut to start later.
“I love having a dishwasher.” Hector clapped his hands as he took his specific seat at their kitchen table. He grabbed their salt grinder to salt up his vegetables.
“I'm glad, pie. Makes it nice and easy on you.” Capochin kissed his cheek, sliding the plate in front of him. It was rare that Capochin made Hector make his own plate. It was such a force of habit.
Hector blushed and held his cheek, cupping right where the smooched warmed him. “Awe my Cappy, how sweet!”
Hector giggled, cracking the pink salt over his greens to make them bearable to his palate. He also happily grabbed a piece of cheese covered garlic bread, putting it on the side of his plate.
“Speaking of sweet…” Capochin said as he settled his plate by him, scooting his chair to sit next to him when he was ready. “You still have your glass of the month. I have the white wine out, it's the one ya like. Want a glass with dinner?”
Hector picked up a sprig of asparagus with his fork, dipping it all into the sauce before taking a bite.
“Nah, hun. Let's just do soda. I got a plan for my glass later, actually.”
Capochin nodded in understanding, grabbing two normal cups. “Hey. Put it in wine glasses anyways. We can pretend we're fancy.” Hector suggested, making Capochin smile in absolute delight.
He grabbed the glasses, filling both with bubbly diet cherry cola. Hector still preferred "real sugar" soda but Capochin couldn't drink that.
So he made the choice to make it easier on their grocery bill and join him in it. At least for the week.
Capochin sat next to him, placing it on the right side of his plate. They both swirled the soda around like they were wine snobs, snorting at eachother.
They sipped on them with glee as they sat close and tucked into their food.
The meal was delicious. Hector made sure to give Capochin praise for how well he could cook chicken. It was never dry when made by him.
Capochin happily babbled about the clear superiority of his homemade sauce versus Squaremart's brand name Bee-Ess.
Hector nodded along, already excited for this small plan of his. Once plates were cleaned, once the kitchen was tidied, once they were ready.
It was only a matter of time.
As the clouds flowed over their little fixer-upper home. They encased the early-night moon, hiding it in the pillars of night and cumulonimbus.
Rain began to beat down on their patchy roof. Their rusty old gutters clicked and clattered as it flowed about.
Lightning tore the sky open. Flashes of a past memory dancing around the sky. Of those many years ago.
Telling tales in the eldest god's tears. Of the time they poured for the villains that tried to end the world over bouts of petty jealousy and power hungry grapples for love.
It fell swiftly for the villains, tapping on their windows like they'd shatter if in another life.
The weather was nothing but a reminder of the things that broke them. A reminder of their past and their massive list of failures.
It was there for them. It was there to bring them right back to the times where it was all nothing but shattered.
Thankfully, only if they chose to acknowledge it.
Hector lit a couple berry scented candles. He slid on a pair of vinyl gloves.
Capochin opened up a bottle of ice cold champagne and poured it into two tall glasses. He placed them on the rim of the bathtub before he grabbed the drain-snake.
The two of them had just enough energy left for a small amount of chores. Just for a bit.
“Okay…play…Wii Mus-” Hector tried to jokingly say to his phone, resting on the top of the toilet tank. Capochin cut him off, “Play the latest Jazz hit!”
Hector’s phone took his voice as priority and a soft jazz tune started playing.
Hector chuckled, grabbing a brush and their non-bleach foamy tub cleaner.
The sounds of horns mixed with the rolling thunder. The joy of drums mixed with Capochin playing along with the end of the drain snake.
Hector shook his head with a smile, stepping into the tub. He moved his shower chair out and began spritzing the wall, scrubbing away at the dirt and grime.
Capochin got on his knees, turned on the faucet and let a little bit of water drip in.
Just enough so it wouldn't reach Hector but would wet their bathtub’s drain. He wanted to try this before tossing in any chemicals. He stuck it in the drain and started twisting it around.
After a minute of twisting, he slowly pulled it up, bringing out a giant glob of hair. Capochin shook his head at it, noting the color of it.
There was some hair that was green-ish cyan, big chunks of grey, but there was mostly that rich dark blue. He snickered, and held it up to the culprit.
“Hecta, check this out-” He compared it to his hair, but his teasing tone paused as he observed Hector.
He was shimmying to the music as he scrubbed, looking absolutely adorable and content.
Nodding his head to the drumbeat, making those gorgeous curls bounce around as he rocked his hips just a little.
Capochin’s eyes softened, he absolutely loved him so much. That feeling of warmth in his chest seeing him just idle so happily made it all so worth it to him.
It’s not been an easy time getting them both to this point of their lives.
They survived, and that's all Capochin could ask for. He was lucky to be filled with so much love and be able to express it. He felt so very honored to have witnessed such a beautiful man work and exist for so many years.
Hector finally looked over to the massive hair-clump and let out a massive “HA!” as he lowered his brush.
He put the bottle and brush on the tub floor, leaning down the best he could to look at it better, comically adjusting his glasses by the legs with his gloves on. Which with his back’s ability wasn't very far.
“Yep, that's me. Told ya it needed it! That’s gonna be the most common sight of the summer! No wait, you know-”
Hector shook his head, and grabbed his glass of champagne. “Cheers! Here’s to the rest of our lives!” He held it out to him, as if asking for a toast.
Capochin’s eyes lit up at that, and he grinned that toothy grin as his tail wagged.
Hector could’ve melted right then and there at it. How he loved that smile, missing teeth and all when he didn't feel like putting in his retainer that sported his false teeth.
Hector wanted to protect it, and see it in action for as long as he could. He couldn’t believe such a beautiful man stayed with him for so many years.
That anybody so bright and gorgeous would stay so patient with him through each woe and hardship he posed.
This was married life. This was worth it.
They both felt so lucky. Lucky to be saved by each other.
Lucky…and thankful.
They laughed in unison, and clinked their glasses together to take a big sip. “Mmm, oh that's a good one, Cappy!”
Capochin chuckled, putting his drink down to clean out the hair off the snake. He opted to take both drinks and put them on the seat of Hector's shower chair so they wouldn't spill or get cleaner in them.
“It’s that green apple one you like so much. I figured you’d like the treat.” Capochin smiled, letting Hector take one more little sip before scooting them over.
“I love the treats! You know when we’re done with this we oughta grab a snack cake and scoot off to bed-!”
Capochin nodded, happily agreeing with that statement. Leave it to Hector to want a treat after a treat! “Well, let’s get it done then!”
The thunder rolled again, and Hector leaned down to grab the cleaner once more to continue his scrubbing.
He saw a small dark clump hiding behind his coconut oil shampoo.
“Ah. Missed some hair-” Hector told Capochin, as he grabbed the bottle.
What Hector didn’t expect was the hair to immediately move. Quickly forward towards him on eight legs.
Hector’s eyes immediately dilated as he dropped everything he was holding with a clatter.
“OH SPIDER- SPIDER-” He gasped, stepping backwards as he tried to exit the tub in a scared hurry. He stuck his arms out for balance, almost falling out of the tub as he rapidly rotated his arms.
Capochin gasped and rushed off his knees, despite the crackling almost being as loud as Hector’s scream of surprise.
He helped Hector out of the tub before he could fall and break something, letting him cling onto him. The spider was taut with instinct, slowly moving each limb.
“It’s a wolf spider- Cobdamn summertime-” Capochin watched it crawl its way up the shower wall, right past where Hector had just cleaned. It looked agitated at the presence of the chemicals.
“I’ll get my shoe-” Capochin said, but Hector held him tighter and shook his head despite looking terrified of the thing up and jumping at him.
“No no, don’t kill it- catch it!!”
Capochin shook his head in disbelief, but was keen to agree with him. It did likely follow them in from the garden.
The two of them observed the spider, backing away slowly before it could get mad and potentially bite.
The both of them yelped as it quickly skittered towards the ceiling, wanting to catch it before they were no longer able to reach it.
They both rushed to leave the bathroom, running to grab a cup and piece of paper. Capochin looked back to check on his dear when he noted their speed and saw Hector unsteadily limping along with something in his hands.
He had snatched but one thing in their rush.
“You grabbed the champagne?!”
He looked at his husband, entirely amused at the image of him with a distressed look in his eyes holding both servings of champagne.
Hector took a sip of one of the glasses, not even knowing if it was his own glass or not.
“WELL IT’S NOT FOR THE SPIDER-” was his retort when he finished.
That made laughter tear through the household once more, as they dealt with the small intruder.
As the rain continued to pour. As the sky continued to crackle. As the water flowed in a steady managed state.
The spider was placed in the backyard, and found shelter in the grass, making its way to the garden.
Hiding beneath the asters to stay dry, to bare the flood that would call it to climb the expanse between the drain and the water spout.
The bright purple flower was weighed down a bit by the storm, but would survive through it.
It would grow brighter and ever more beautiful through each trial that tried to tear it from its roots. With good drainage and attention from hands that love it.
The villains…on the newspaper that sogged and frayed apart through the pouring storm-
Five years ago…
“WHAT’S THE POINT OF ANY OF YEW?!”
“INSPEKTA ONLY CARES FOR ME! ME! ME!!”
Thirty years ago…
“You’ll do a great job leading them in my place…I know you will…we’ll work it out, okay?”
“I can do this. I can do this, if I have you by my side. If I have you…if I have you cross my heart…”
Fifty years ago…
“I’ll be good!! Momma I promise I’ll be good and I’ll study and I’ll do it all and be so good so nobody is ever sad and the gods are never sad either-!!”
"Nobody can tell me what to do! I do what I wanna do forever and if you try and stop me Nonna says to beat you up if you touch me first!!”
Any amount of years ago…the villains, as they were in those old opinions, knew hardship, knew rain, knew fear, and by all means they knew death.
Loss, terror, connections and rebirths, like a seed getting grabbed by the winds of the tornado and still growing into lovely flowers in the garden bed.
Like tomatoes getting plucked off the vine a little too soon but still getting sliced up into a lovely salad after a bit of patience.
Like two specks in the grand scheme of the universe forever wanting to mean something to the world. Hands in agony from how hard they clung to each other while the world whirl-pooled them around.
They stuck together, every time they feared losing each other they held harder.
They meant a lot to each other…
The flower perked up as the storm carried on, the rain lessening but the thunder still roaring.
They were each other’s worlds…
The flower swayed lightly in the breeze, beauty ever present in the starry eyes of the gods.
They supposed that was enough. To be known, to be loved by the world.
It was all they could ask for, after everything.
The chance to grow, the chance to be safe, the chance to have joy in their day by day and never have to be an island.
The rest of their lives like that…they knew.
It would be the best rest of their lives they could hope to imagine.