Work Text:
Azul, despite being Saturday, was busy with paperwork and weekly summaries, with Jade helping him as always. But the more collected eel brother sighed for the fortieth time in the two hours that Azul had been working. Azul finally had enough after the fiftieth sigh.
“
Okay Jade, I've had enough now. Tell me what happened?”
“Nothing happened that I should bother Azul with. Please, return to working.“ Jade flashed a fake smile at his friend and returned to organizing the documents.
“I hate it when you act like this. Come on, spit it out! I can't concentrate because of your sighing.” Azul slammed the stapler down on the table.
“It's really nothing, don't worry about it Azul.” Jade's voice was even stiffer than usual. He didn't take his eyes off the pile of papers in front of him.
“You came back from Heartslabyul earlier than usual this morning. Did something happen between you two?”
Jade flinched as Azul got to the point. The housewarden of Octavinelle noticed the twitch.
“Don't tell me! Did you guys have a fight?” Jade's face twisted into a frown and his shoulders drew higher. Azul hit the nail on the head.
“That's unusual for you. I've never seen the chivalrous Trey Clover fight with anyone, let alone with you. You're the clingiest couple in the world. What did you fight about?”
“It's...nothing Azul. Leave it alone…” Jade whispered, toying with the edge of a piece of paper. His throat tightened at the memory of that morning's events.
“But it seems to really bother you. And your troubled state of mind is affecting your work. I won't let a worthless fight between you and your boyfriend affect my reputation. So, come on, spit it out! I don’t have all day for this.”
“Azul…”
Azul blushed at Jade's piercing gaze. They both knew that Azul wasn't just worried about his reputation, but about Jade as well. The eel was touched that his friend cared so much about him.
“I honestly don't even remember what started the fight in the first place. We were getting ready for breakfast and I supposedly broke some rule of the Queen about putting the cereal in the bowl first and then pouring the milk, - I did the opposite. Trey always wants to follow the rules when we're within the walls of Heartslabyul, so that's why he called me out on it. And he might have been a little put off by the fact that I sneaked mushrooms into both of our bowls. I thought it's a really good idea. The aroma of mushrooms goes really well with the sweetness of the cereal. Plus, they're full of nutrients that are necessary to start a great morning.
“I can't believe you, Jade... You seriously put mushrooms in Trey's breakfast? I'm not surprised he was freaked out.” Azul dropped his head in resignation into his palm.
“But, as I said, eating this type of mushroom would be essential for a balanced diet.”
“Oh, holy Sevens...And then?”
“Well...Oh, Azul, I said such bad things to him!“ Jade hid his face between his hands and sighed heavily again.
“I don't even remember exactly what I said, but even in my anger I shouldn't have said those things to him...I threw all sorts of things in his face that I didn't even mean.” Jade swallowed hard as the image of Trey's hurt, broken face crept into his mind. His heart sank as he remembered what words had left his mouth.
“In the end, we were so loud that Riddle-san had to intervene...I got confused and in my remaining anger I said something I shouldn't have and stormed off.”
Azul pursed his lips. “Even Riddle? It's a wonder he didn't put a collar on you”
“Azul...What should I do now? I regret everything so much. I don't want to stay angry with Trey. He's so important to me...I don't want to lose him…”
Azul had never seen the eel break down like this. Jade looked so vulnerable at that moment as he wrapped his arms around himself and lowered his head. The black lock of hair fell into his face, but Azul just caught the moment when a single tear rolled down the eel's cheek. Azul let out a sigh of indulgence and stepped closer to his friend.
“If it hurts you so bad, go and apologize quickly. I'm sure Trey will understand. And how deeply you two are in love, it won't be a problem.” Azul put his hand on Jade's shoulder reassuringly.
“But Azul, I said such bad things to him...I don't know if he'll be able to forgive me…”
“Hey, are we talking about the same generous and kind Trey? Who went mushroom picking with you when you just mentioned that no one wanted to go with you? And he even baked cookies out of them? Trey loves you just the way you are, Jade. A little fight won't change that.”
“You think so?” Jade looked up at Azul, broken.
“I know for sure.”
Jade, walking towards Heartslabyul, a bottle of dried violets in his hand, rehearsed to himself what he would say to his lover when he arrived. His heart sank at the thought of how much he had hurt the person he loved most in the whole world. Jade could only hope that Trey wasn't crying over it and would forgive him.
Jade ran into Cater in the hallway.
“Oh, Jade-kun!”
“Have a nice day Cater-san. Sorry for the disturbance...
“You're looking for Trey, right? He's in the kitchen.”
“I see...Thank you... Um-” Jade stopped Cater before the guy could walk out the door.
“How is he? I mean Trey.”
“Well, honestly, he was pretty sad after the breakfast fiasco. He didn't really talk to anyone today. Even Riddle could barely get a few words out of him.”
Jade's heart was broken. Did he hurt his love that much?! He had to act immediately! Without even saying goodbye to Cater, he stormed off towards the kitchen.
Trey was actually standing at the counter, working on something. His back was to the door, so he couldn't have noticed Jade's arrival. Jade's breath caught in shock. Trey's sniffles filled the kitchen. He raised his hand occasionally to wipe his eyes. Oh, Great Sevens!! Trey was crying!!
Jade shot out like a bullet, in an instant he was behind Trey and hugged him tightly. “My dear, my love, I'm so, so sorry! I shouldn't have said such ugly things to you! I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry. Please can you forgive me?” Jade pleaded, hugging Trey tightly.
“Jade-”
“No, don't say anything yet! I'm so sorry! Trey, I love you more than anything! Nothing I said was true! I don't even remember what I said, but believe me please, I didn't mean anything!”
“Jade-” Trey tried to get out of Jade's tight embrace and say something, but the eel wouldn't let him. He turned Trey in his embrace and rested his head under his chin.
“Trey, my most wonderful angel. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have lost my head like that. Please believe me, I regret everything and I will never, ever raise my voice at you again and say such ugly things. I am a real monster for making the most precious person to me cry. Please Trey, don't cry!” Jade hugged his boyfriend tighter when he felt Trey's shoulders start to shake again. Tears welled up in Jade's eyes at the thought of hurting his lover so much.
“Oh, Trey, my dear, please don't cry! I'm so sorry for everything!”
Trey finally managed to free himself from the eel's grip.
“Jade!”
He looked up into the other's eyes and smiled. Jade was surprised to see that Trey's shoulders were shaking not because he was crying, but because he was trying to hold back his laughter.
“Jade, my dear, I forgive you. I already forgave you when the door slammed behind you this morning. And I'm terribly sorry too. I shouldn't have said such things either.” Trey's smile was the usual one. So bright that it almost blinded Jade. The sun could have envied this brilliance.
“But-but earlier...earlier you were crying…”
Trey laughed. ”Oh dear Sevens! No, I wasn't crying! I was just slicing onions and accidentally wiped it into my eyes.”
Trey reached for his eyes again to wipe away the teardrops caused by laughter.
“Hey, wait! This will only make it worse.” Jade stopped Trey's hands before the green-haired could touch his eyes again.
“Come here.” Jade pulled his love towards him gently after wetting the edge of his handkerchief. He carefully wiped the corners of Trey's eyes with it. “Now wash your hands so it doesn't happen again.”
“Thank you, dear. “ Trey hugged Jade's waist.
“Thank you for forgiving me…” Jade buried his face in the green locks.
“There was nothing to forgive you Jade, I was never mad at you. I love you.”
“I love you too, Trey. Please, promise we’ll never fight again.”
“Haha, I promise!”
“What's the onion for anyway?” Jade asked, leaning over Trey's shoulder as the Heartslabyul’s vice-housewarden returned to his work.
“Oh, it's just…” A faint blush crept onto Trey's face. “I wanted to make you a mushroom meat pie as a gift.”
Jade's gaze softened. “Trey... Then let me help you!” Jade started to roll up his shirt sleeves.
“No, no, this is my apology gift to you. Now please sit back and enjoy the view.” Trey grinned and playfully nudged Jade with his hips.
“Oya? I'm sure I will enjoy this view.” A similar grin appeared on Jade's face.
The kiss that followed that moment was perfect, as if it were their first.