Chapter Text
‘’You sure you’re ready for this…?’’ Quirrel asked anxiously, slowly helping Tiso stand up from his seat. The cricket leaned against him for support, letting out a soft grunt as he stood up on shaky legs.
The two of them had gone back to the pleasure house after the events of the colosseum. It would normally cost quite a bit of geo to stay there for the month and a half that they did, but it wasn’t as if there was anyone left to run the place. There was no need to pay.
Tiso had been recovering well from his injuries. Quirrel had been right in his assumption that no vital organs had been punctured, but it was still a deep stab wound. The weapons of the fools were certainly no joke.
Quirrel had been thinking about weapons lately… He still had that same nail that he’d gotten in Dirtmouth, and it served him well due to his expertise with a blade, but it still wasn’t nearly the same as the one that he’d left behind at the blue lake.
‘’I’m perfectly fine’’ Tiso scoffed, unwrapping the sheets from around himself and tossing them onto the bed behind him. He’d remained without a hood since everything with the colosseum, when his old one had been destroyed.
Quirrel liked seeing his face.
‘’Don’t act like you didn’t just get stabbed less than two months ago. It’s a long walk to the blue lake, even with the stagways’’ Quirrel said, shaking his head. ‘’I don’t want you hurting yourself even worse and resetting your recovery.’’
‘’Yeah yeah, Mr. handsome doctor…’’ Tiso said with a huff, crossing his arms and grabbing his shield off the wall, tying it to his wrist and examining it. ‘’This didn’t get dusty…? I haven’t been using it, it’s just been sitting there-’’
‘’I cleaned it a few days ago while you were resting. Don’t worry, I didn’t use it or anything’’ Quirrel explained with a shrug, unlatching his nail from its binding on the wall.
Tiso let out an amused snort, rolling his eyes and walking over to Quirrel, patting him on the back. Quirrel’s antennae twitched slightly at the sudden touch. Tiso was always so touchy-feely, it was so weird that he was also such a fierce warrior.
Then again, even the most hardened souls needed affection every now and then. Quirrel was a bit more open about it than Tiso. Perhaps it was because he remembered so little of his journey before returning to Hallownest.
‘’C’mon, Quirrel! You’re allowed to use my shield. As long as you don’t break it, that is…’’ Tiso said with a laugh. ‘’Now, let’s get that stupid pointy stick of yours so you can show me how you kill things-’’
‘’I try not to kill things. You know this.’’
‘’Awh, come on!! For someone who tries not to kill things, you sure are good at it!’’
‘’That’s because I’m trained. And also because I need to protect you.’’
Quirrel sighed, shaking his head. He still remembered clearly how he’d stabbed his nail through that heavy fool’s neck, back in the colosseum when he’d saved Tiso. It had been necessary, but something that he never hoped to do.
‘’Awww, you still don’t like fighting? Even after the colosseum and that badass crashout?’’ Tiso purred teasingly, resting one of his hands on his hip. ‘’Being all nice and stuff, no bug left behind... What a good boy~’’
Quirrel stiffened slightly, turning slightly red at that. Why was Tiso like this, damn it?! Just because they were boyfriends, Tiso didn’t get a pass for trying to seduce him like this. Stupid cocky cricket…
‘’I’d prefer morally correct boy’’ Quirrel scoffed lightheartedly, shaking his head vigorously again to clear the red flusteredness from it. Oh, Tiso… ‘’As in, someone who with reasonable morals and a lack of violent bloodlust.’’
Tiso let out a dramatically offended noise, rearing back slightly with his hand on his chest. ‘’Unreasonable morals? Violent bloodlust?! You must not know me at all! The great and cunning Tiso the warrior has perfectly just morals!’’
Quirrel laughed at his boyfriend’s dramatics, thoroughly amused by them. He’d grown to like the strange dynamic between them. Even more than he had before, that is. Tiso was just such a fascinating bug.
‘’We’re working on it. Maybe you’ll get there soon’’ He said with exaggerated wistfulness, patting Tiso on the shoulder before walking over to the door and grabbing the cold metallic handle. ‘’You coming?’’
Tiso smirked, and Quirrel slouched over in exasperated annoyance. Curse him for making it official. It gave Tiso too many jokes. Not that he didn’t find it funny and adore the other bug, though…
‘’Am I what?’’ Tiso asked, crossing his arms and swaying back and forth, his smirk widening. He was very clearly baiting. Quirrel didn’t give him the satisfaction.
‘’Are you gonna follow me or not?’’
‘’Fine, fine… Be boring like that, you old man-’’ Tiso said with a scoff, uncrossing his arms and bounding over to Quirrel, following him out of the purple-lit room with his shield still strapped to his wrist.
Tiso had been acting much more boldly in that sense lately. Particularly ever since they’d actually made it official. Quirrel thought that perhaps he was a bit new to this… He’d always been a brave bug, but he was definitely acting much more open about some things.
Quirrel wasn’t sure that he actually minded. It was nice to see Tiso open up and make lighthearted jokes, especially if he hadn’t had anyone to target them at before in his life. Quirrel didn’t know much about his past.
‘’I’m not technically old, by the way’’ Quirrel said with narrowed eyes with mock-offense, walking beside Tiso onto the elevator and setting it to go down. ‘’I didn’t physically age in that time, and it isn’t as if I remember any of my wise wisdom from outside of Hallownest.’’
Tiso started at Quirrel like he’d sprouted an extra pair of eyes on top of his head. Quirrel was confused for a second before realizing that he’d… never really explained much about his past to Tiso. No wonder he looked so confused.
‘’Oh, uh… Yeah, I went outside of Hallownest for a little…’’ He explained, looking around nervously. It was quite a long story… ‘’But I found my way back, clearly!’’ He quickly added, looking back at Tiso.
The cricket raised one of his eyebrows, looking like he definitely knew there was more to that story. ‘’Why did you leave Hallownest, though? You said you lost your memories, obviously because you left and that’s what happens when you leave, but… like…Why?’’
‘’Well, that’s a long story…’’ Quirrel muttered, thinking of if there was any way to shorten it down and finding none. ‘’I can tell you next time we stop somewhere to rest. If you’re still interested, that is.’’
‘’Babe, just you saying that is going to make it my life’s personal mission to remember to ask you to tell me’’ Tiso remarked confidently, leaning against the crystalline elevator wall after it came to a stop.
‘’Well, that’s good, then. I want to tell you. Next time we ride the stagway and get a chance to sit down’’ Quirrel said, crossing his arms. ‘’I’m not gatekeeping my past. I think it’s important for you to know about me.’’
‘’Well, then…’’
Tiso paused dramatically, then sighed in defeat, hanging his head down. His long black antennae drooped to the sides of his head, and Quirrel raised an eyebrow.
‘’...How am I supposed annoy you and complain?’’ Tiso finally asked, looking back up at Quirrel with a mock-bewildered expression.
Quirrel sighed, shaking his head fondly.