Work Text:
♫ Is there anybody out there? - Lord Huron
♫ Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood
(I know it's a cliché but it LITERALLY is this fic).
Zedaph
Christmas was always an- odd time of year.
For many, it meant nothing at all, with only approximately a third of the population choosing to celebrate. For those in charge of the trading hub, it bought a brilliant opportunity to profit from the selling of cheap decorations and crappy, sparkling lights.
For the hermits, however, it meant a hell of a lot.
To them, the ever-busy, bustling residents of the server, the holiday was a chance to come together; to- pause their constant building and inventing and to just exist in the comfort of each other’s company for a couple of hours. It was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, one Zedaph always welcomed.
The sheep hybrid would always look back fondly upon the warm, festive memories of his childhood at this time of year, could hardly pick up a clipboard or research paper without thinking back to the battered, dog-eared adventure books he’d clung to as a child, the stories he’d read and re-read a million times, tucked away from the world under mountains of soft blankets. He would always stay up extra late on Christmas Eve, reminding himself of plots he knew every point of, thumbing the pages until his hands hurt and his eyelids drooped.
Zedaph had grown up surrounded by love and warmth; the only one of Team ‘ZITS’ to have done so. He and Gem had wanted for little growing up, their childhood was filled with sunlight and love, always having a hot meal and comfy bed waiting for them after school. Something that only reinforced the man’s desire to make the season he loved as magical for his friends as it had been for he and his sister growing up.
Which is why he was standing here, hands shoved deep within the pockets of his trousers, playing with a lose thread in the stitching, trailing after the one person missing from their annual Christmas party. Zedaph’s eyes lingered on the figure sitting on the edge of the cliff before him, watching tentatively from afar as he gnawed his lip in uncertainty.
The sitting man looked- pensive. It was- well, it was hard to tell from this angle, but he appeared to be gazing into the sky, head tilted slightly backwards, observing the silver stars hanging there.
Seemingly unaware he was being watched, Tango pulled his arms tight around himself, folding up into a tiny Tango-sized ball as he tugged on the sleeves of his Victorian dress shirt. It probably wasn’t the most comfortable outfit for a brisk winter night, but if his friend wanted to method act, Zedaph wasn’t about to ruin his fun by suggesting he do so in season-appropriate clothing.
Although it would do wonders for his mental wellbeing if Tango just put a fucking coat on.
He couldn’t help the soft smile that tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched, couldn’t help his feet as they began to move of their own accord, taking him closer towards the cliff’s overhang, apparently fed up with watching from a distance. The closer he got, the hotter he felt his cheeks burn, he was- usually more composed than this but quite a lot of festive sherry had been consumed. They’d, (for reasons unknown to him), trusted Doc to make the Christmas pudding, which, whilst tasty, had been incredibly boozy. Like knock-your-socks-off boozy. Usually, Zedaph wouldn’t complain, but, in recent years at least, he'd always made an effort to be astute and sober around Tango. The last time that had happened there'd been a lot of furious blushing involved.
Well, at least it was dark.
Usually, if there was one thing Zedaph was good at, it was keeping his composure. In Season Eight in particular, he'd spent a lot of time presenting various scientific findings to fellow hermits, and, occasionally the Science Guild in the Capital Server. It had been terrifying of course, but, after a while, everything else became less scary in comparison. Public speaking, debate, tryingnottoletyourgorgeousbestfriendknowyou'reinlovewithhim, all those common activities. But goodness, tonight it was easier said than done. Tango was- bathed in moonlight, the pale white of his hair causing him to- practically glow in the evening darkness. He looked like a marble statue with his pale skin and hair, his roman nose and glittering ruby eyes. He was beautiful, and Zedaph was the happiest he’d been for a long while, it was a recipe for disaster, really.
He couldn’t see Tango’s eyes from his position, the man having yet to notice him, but Zedaph knew that once he could it would be an effort to look away. Back when they'd first met, Tango had always hid his eyes away, afraid their redness made him look overly-intimidating to the other hermits. But, eventually, after a bit of persuading, he'd gradually grown more comfortable with his eyes being visible, which the sheep hybrid loved more than anything. Their red wasn't monstruous, didn't remind him of blood or death or suffering. No, they were warm and soft, like a red wine or crackling fireplace, and anyone who thought otherwise as an idiot. He'd told Tango that once, well, some of it anyway, and he hoped the man would always remember it for what it was: the truth.
“Hey, you.”
The words were little more than a whisper, for they didn’t need to be any louder. The rolling hills were silent and empty at this time, with all the hermits gathered inside Mumbo’s base for the party. The only sound Zedaph could hear was the slow whirring of the inventor’s fans and the slight pounding of his heart in his ears.
“Zed!” The vampire jumped halfway out of his skin as the blonde plonked himself ungraciously down on the grass next to him.
“I- uh, I thought you were inside.”
The scientist gave him a wonky smile.
“I was inside, then I noticed my favourite pensioner was no where to be seen! You can’t honestly expect me to survive a huge, loud Christmas party without you!”
Tango turned to face him, a heavy, dramatic scowl weighing upon his brow.
“Where are Impy and Skizz?”
Zed shrugged. “Making out in a stairwell somewhere?”
Tango snorted. “I think we’re a bit old for that, don’t you?”
The blonde wiggled his eyebrows stupidly. “Maybe you are, I’m a regular heartbreaker, me.”
“Oh, I’m sure.”
There was a laugh and then a pause.
“Wait, hold up- pensioner?” Tango recalled Zed’s earlier words.
“-You cannot think so lowly of me! I am not even greying! ‘S just a side effect of the- vampireification!”
Zed giggled at this, swinging his legs where they hung off the overhang, observing the contrast between his pink converse and the vast darkness of the drop below them.
“I know, I know, I’m sorry!” The sheep hybrid defended himself. “-You know I like the new look really.”
Tango’s eyes lit up ever so slightly. “You do?”
Zed chuckled. “Course I do! It’s…”
There was a pause.
“-It- You- I mean-" He cleared his throat. "-It suits you.”
Smooth, real smooth.
The robotic way in which he delivered the line seemed lost on Tango who nudged him with his shoulder in response, forcing a laugh out of the younger man.
“…I’ll let you off because of that compliment, but don’t expect to get away with that again, mister! The other two are already calling me ‘Gramps,’ I can’t deal with it from you too.”
Their knees bumped as Zed threw his hands up in a mock surrender, smiling as he stared up into Tango’s eyes.
“You won’t hear another word about it, sir.”
Tango
“Sir?” He raised an eyebrow teasingly, unable to help the smile that made it’s way into his voice.
Zedaph met his gaze steadily, placing his left hand down on the small piece of grass between them, as he leant in a tiny bit closer, lowering his voice slightly.
“Oh, I’m ever so sorry, you’ll have to forgive me, I’m unfamiliar with vampire customs, is that the wrong form of address?”
Tango swallowed loudly, trying to keep his breathing stable as he met the blonde’s piercing gaze. He felt as if Zed could see straight through his front, dark lilac eyes staring straight through clothes and skin. Tango felt, in that moment as if the man could see right into his soul, could see ever emotion, every feeling, every complicated- messy thing he wanted, had wanted for years by this point.
“-What would you prefer, oh almighty one?” His friend continued, grinning wickedly.
“-Milord? Your Majesty? Count Tangula?”
He laughed in response, trying his best to brush away the swooping feeling in his gut.
“How about- just Tango?”
Zed shrugged but didn't retreat from his close position. Either he didn’t realise how close the two of them were or he just- didn’t care.
Probably because he's not freaking out over a bit of close proximity.
“Whatever you’d like, Just Tango.”
The snort that left him took the man by surprise. It was such a stupid joke- but it was so painfully Zedaph that it caused Tango to snicker uncontrollably for a moment.
“Jerk-” The vampire shoved the scientist in the side, trying to ignore how warm the contact between the two of them was, how soft the wool of his jumper felt against his frozen fingers, how much he wanted to press his palm to the skin underneath, just to warm up a bit.
Not- that he was cold or anything. Nope. Not Tango!
The blonde giggled sweetly, and Tango thought perhaps it was the loveliest noise he’d ever heard. A thought that was thankfully interrupted by Zed’s attempt at payback. Tango flinched instinctively as the other man raised a hand, dashing forward unnaturally fast to catch Zedaph by the wrist before his skin could come into contact with Tango's.
Now stock-still with one arm vertical in his friend's grip, the scientist stared, mouth slightly open and brow furrowed as he looked to Tango in confusion.
“You alright, man?” He asked, concern seeping into his voice just slightly.
When Tango didn’t answer- couldn’t answer, Zedaph kept talking, nervous and rambling.
“I’m- Goodness, I’d never hurt you, Tango. You- you know that.”
“I know!” He squeaked defensively. “-Shit, I’m sorry, Zed it’s not that it’s just-”
Sighing, he let go of Zed’s arm, allowing his friend to lower it gently to his side.
“I didn't want you to- I'm-"
Tango gave up on words, and instead offered the sheep hybrid a hand, palm up in an attempt to explain.
Zedaph took it without hesitation, it wasn’t a new action to them, after all. Tango had lost count of the amount of times Zed had taken him by the hand to drag him over to some new invention. But this time was different because the blonde hadn’t touched Tango since his transformation, not skin to skin anyway.
Tango had gone to great length to cover himself up as much as humanly possible in the days following his vampireification. The change had gone- smoothly for the most part, the only problem being the conflicting changes to his Blazeborne code. Blazes were hot, white, burning hot. And vampires weren’t. They were cold blooded, practically dead beings. This combination had, for reasons unbeknownst to him, resulted in him being fucking freezing at all times.
It- wasn’t ideal, and Tango couldn't help being a little salty about it. They couldn't have found a healthy medium? He'd rather be hot than this!
But it was fine. He dealt, he adapted, growing up as he did, it was something he’d had to become very good at. But, all the same, the man (perhaps foolishly) had been hoping to keep it a secret from the rest of ZITS for a while longer. They- fussed.
As their fingers intertwined, Zedaph gasped like a man plunged head-first into a lake of arctic water.
“You’re so cold.” He whispered, horrified.
Tango shrugged. “It’s nothing, ‘m fine. It’s not as bad as it feels.”
Zedaph leaned to his left, looking angry for the first time this evening.
“I have a degree in chemistry.” He snapped. “-Do not try and tell me that this is a normal temperature for a human to operate at.”
Excruciatingly aware of Zed’s hot breath on his face, Tango attempted to form words.
“I’m- not a human.”
“Fine.” Zed conceded. “-But this also isn’t an okay temperature for a Blazeborne-turned-vampire to operate at either!”
He tried to look away but the blonde wasted no time in slotting a hand underneath his chin, forcing the vampire back round to look at him. The pad of Zedaph’s thumb brushed softly against Tango's lips and he couldn’t help the sharp intake of breath he sucked in at the brief, tingling feeling there.
“Hey-” The scientist whispered, staring into Tango’s own, wide eyes. “-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to shout. But- fuck, Tango you can’t be coping like this.”
“I’m okay, really.” The vampire said earnestly, trying his hardest to focus.
“Right… right.” Zedaph said, unconvinced.
“-Then why are you shivering?”
Tango looked down at himself, at flimsy, vintage clothing and distinct lack of any warm item of clothing.
“I’m not-”
But before he could say another word, Zed was pulling his jacket from his shoulders, holding it out to Tango as an offering.
The man laughed loudly and swatted it away, brushing his friend off.
“Vampires don’t get cold!”
The blonde reached up and seized the arm Tango had caught him with earlier, trailing his gentle touch up from Tango’s wrist and onto his palm. Slotting their fingers together once more, Zedaph smiled softly.
“Maybe they do on Christmas.” He said simply, as if it were a tried and tested argument.
Tango, terribly distracted by the soft thumb-pad stroking the back of his hand, quickly admitted defeat and shrugged on Zedaph’s jacket without any further argument. It was fluffy and warm inside, with pockets lines with corduroy and fleece. It was so quintessentially Zedaph that Tango wanted to cry.
“I’ll brew something to keep you warm.” The blonde vowed sincerely as he continued to trace the lines of Tango’s hand; thumb hovering over the scar by his pinky, as if unsure he was allowed to touch the pale memory there.
Trying hard to ignore this, Tango replied with as much composure as he had left.
“You- don’t have to do that.”
“Don’t be silly.” Zed’s eyes seemed to light up in the darkness, like two amethyst clusters in a dimly illuminated cave.
“-Of course I do.”
-
They stayed like that, hands entwined with matching smiles, for a long time. Gradually, as the night progressed and the intensity of music blasting from Mumbo’s base decreased, the two found themselves drawing closer together. Neither man questioned it when Zed lay his head on Tango’s shoulder, nor when Tango wrapped an arm around Zed’s waist in return. They slotted together perfectly.
Again, nothing new.
Not for them, anyway.
Eventually, the question came.
The one Tango had been dreading.
“Tango…” The scientist said his name carefully, as if afraid he’d run away at the mention of it.
“-Why’re we out here?”
Zed’s accented voice, usually crisp and slightly posh came out muffled from where he was leant against Tango’s shoulder. He could feel the man’s breath through the flimsy material of his shirt, could hear the thrum of blood in his veins.
“Well-” He said with the cadence of an elementary school teacher explaining to a class why the sky is blue.
“You followed me out here and sat down next to me, y’see-”
“That’s-” Zed moved away from Tango in order to poke the man between the eyes.
“-That’s not what I was asking, and you know it!”
For a minute, he allowed himself to laugh freely, hoping that he could convince Zed to forget about his earlier question. But he could feel purple eyes boring into him, a silent plea for knowledge, Zed was asking Tango to trust him with the truth and- he did! Of course he did! He just… didn’t want to talk about it.
The vampire looked to the ground, ashamed, burying his blackened hands into the ground and picking at the yellowing grass there.
“It doesn’t matter.” He mumbled, avoiding eye contact as he tugged Zed’s jacket closer around his shoulders.
“-It’s stupid, really.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.” Zed said kindly, making Tango smile. He’d always loved the man’s way of speaking, the way he (every so often) sounded like some incredibly posh, 19th century aristocrat. Seriously, who said ‘goodness gracious’ anymore?
It was annoyingly endearing.
“-But if you don’t want to tell me, that’s-”
“I was watching the stars.” Tango blurted out, feeling heat rise up the back of his neck as he spoke.
“I just-” He began to pick at his claws.
“-We sent you to space last week for your Zedvancement and it just- um, reminded me, I guess.”
Zed tilted his head in confusion, and Tango watched fondly as the pink curls at the front of his head flopped with the movement.
“Reminded you… of the stars?”
Tango frowned as he fiddled with the rings on his hands. “No, I mean- I mean when I-”
“Oh.”
“-Oh, shit, Tango. I’m sorry, I didn’t think-”
“‘S not your fault.” The words were barely louder than a hiss. “-I just- watch the stars sometimes, as a reminder y'know. Of what’s up there, I guess. I mean- Holsten was annoying but he meant well, deep deep down. And my horse was pretty cool.” He laughed wetly.
There was silence for a minute and then Zed took Tango’s hand, causing the man to inhale sharply through his nose as it was removed from it’s casual position around Zed’s waist, allowing the sheep to guide him, bringing his hand into the blonde’s lap.
“Do you want to… tell me about it?” The scientist asked carefully, resuming the circles he’d been tracing earlier.
Tango huffed a laugh. “You already know!”
Golden eyebrows scrunched. “No… I don’t.”
The vampire pulled away at this, putting some distance between the two of them, slightly hurt.
“Don’t be cruel, Zed.”
His friend gave a disbelieving laugh, although there was no humour behind it.
“Tango,” he said the name as if it weighed him down.
“-I’m not. You- you never told me what happened up there.”
“No! I-”
Pressure, cold and crushing compressed every inch of his being, his suit useless to protect him. Floating, freezing despite the explosion that had just occurred, untethered, alone, everything was dark, dark darkdarkdarkdark-
Lightly touching his arm, Zedaph bought Tango back round, snapping him out of his memories.
“It’s okay.” he said simply. “-It’s alright, Tango.”
“I told you.” The older man insisted. “-At the start of season nine, when we all respawned, I told you.”
“You didn't, love.”
Love.
That was nice.
Wait.
Huh?
Tango looked up at Zedaph beseechingly, eyes searching his freckled face for any sign of- intention. Of acknowledgement.
But none came, the moment had come and gone in a flash.
“Well-” he shrugged, determined to move the conversation away from 'embarrassing Tango territory’
“-It uh, well, it wasn’t exactly a happy-fun time. Let’s just say that, shall we?”
“I’m sorry.” Zedaph whispered.
“-It-” He paused in his response, as if searching for the correct words. “-Y’know, not that it compares at all but- we had a pretty rubbish time down here on the ground too.”
Tango blinked.
He’d never considered-
Well, maybe now he was the one being cruel.
“I- didn't think…” He said slowly.
“Why would you?” Zedaph replied simply.
“-You went to space, Tangs! You put yourself through hell to try and save us all, what we went through was nothing compared to you.”
Tango felt heat rise in his cheeks at this but attempted to brush this off, not wanting to think about his unsuccessful moon landing any longer.
“On the ground…” He prompted, trying to distract himself from the memories pressing into the corners of his vision.
“What- what happened?”
Zed sighed quietly.
“Nobody took it well. Obviously. But- Impulse and I probably took it the worse.”
Now that surprised him.
“Seriously?”
Zedaph squinted at him like he couldn’t tell if the man was joking.
“Tango. You went to space.” He said as if it was the obvious thing in the world.
"I.. know." He squinted in confusion at this.
“You left, alone, in a rocket! You didn’t tell either of us you were going!”
"Yeah, but-"
“Do you know the first thing I did when I found out the moon was going to hit us? When I found out there was nothing we could do to save the server?” Zedaph’s voice was fragile and shaky as he cut Tango off.
“What do you-”
“I went to find you.” The man choked.
“I went over to your cave, to Fifi, and I called for you. I called and I called and I-”
“-And eventually I gave up.”
Tango felt it then, the warmth that had been foresaken to him ever since his transformation.
“I- was so foccused on getting up there- on… getting to space that I- guess I didn’t stop to think what I was leaving behind. 'M sorry.” He mumbled the apology last, fidgeting awkwardly.
The blonde sniffed, but smiled at him.
“Don’t be sorry! I know how excited you get about your projects, and you knew we’d see each other again. Just- please don’t act all surprised when I say that we missed you. Because we did, yeah?”
Tango leant forward, smiling. “Yeah... Yeah alright.”
“And-” Zedaph continued. “Maybe let us know the next time You’re planning any extremely dangerous extra-terrestrial activities?”
“Why?” The vampire asked slyly.
“-So you can stop me?”
Zedaph chuckled at this. “Oh please, I couldn’t stop you if I tried.”
“-I would come with you, though.”
Tango rolled his eyes disbelievingly.
"Sure. You’d accompany me into certain death. I think you’re taking this whole season of ‘giving thanks’ a little too far, buddy.”
“Tango.” Zed said, suddenly serious as he tugged on their joint hands to pull the man closer.
“-I’d literally follow you anywhere.”
And-
Oh.
They were so close that Tango could smell the sherry on Zed’s breath from Xisuma’s toast, none of them had had much to drink, just enough to loosen up, but-
Well, right now he felt drunk.
Because what did someone even say to that?
Thanks?
Appreciate it, dude?
Tango reached out shakily towards Zedaph, a motion he’d done many times before in jest. But somehow felt- different this time. This time it was purposeful. Tango wrapped his right hand around Zed’s neck, watching fondly as the sheep’s fluffy ear twitched at the contact. The vampire struggled to speak as he toyed gently with the tiny curls at the back of the man’s head. They were so soft, and Zed was so warm and his eyes were so bright-
“I’d follow you anywhere too.” He said whispered the confession like a secret, as if the stars were listening to him.
It wasn’t quite ‘I love you’ but damnit, it wasn’t far off. And to Tango, the two things meant the same regardless.
Zedaph face crinkled with laughter, showing his age for a moment.
“Careful Tango,” the man warned playfully.“-That’s terribly cheesy. Soon you’ll be writing poetry and performing composed sonnets.”
Tango scoffed, rolling his eyes at the blatant hypocrisy.
“You-”
“Oi!” The shout came from a few feet away.
Tango pulled away from Zedaph hastily as he turned around to face Skizz, standing, hands on hips like a proud dad.
Tango could see his glee in the glimmer in his eyes, the faint uptick of his mouth.
"What?!" He shouted back, grinning.
Skizz rolled his eyes at the attitude.
“-Just sayin' that we’re playing twister upstairs if you two lovebirds wanna join!”
Before him, Zedaph scoffed, now slightly red in the face.
“I’m terrible at twister!”
“Yeah, me too-” Tango moved back to face Skizz.
“-And- so are you! We’re all too old for twister, you know that!”
“Nothing wrong with a little strengthening exercise! Death creeps in through the joints, Top!”
“Cheery.” Zed tutted as he moved to stand.
“C’mon,” The blonde said gently.
“-He’s not going to let us off anytime soon. We can continue this later.”
Tango took the hand offered him and trailed after the excitable angel with Zed close by his side.
Neither of them asked what Zed had meant by 'this,' for both men knew already.
It wasn't new for them, after all.
-
"Tango... Why you wearing Zed’s jacket?” Gem’s voice was sly and accusatory.
The vampire flushed, whipping his head around so fast that his own ponytail hit him in the face.
“Wha- No- Who- Jacket? What's a jacket? I’m not wearing a jacket!”
“You categorically are.”
“I-”
“He’s a vampire now.” Zedaph said casually from where he was sat at Gem’s feet, talking loudly over the screeches currently being let off by Mumbo, Pearl and Grian as they all attempted to balance on various single limbs.
“-They need extra layers or they’ll… evaporate or something.”
“Sure.” Gem said suspiciously, allowing silence to fall between the spectators.
“So… does that mean you guys finally kissed or-”
"Gem!"
"Oh, thank God." The woman sighed, taking Tango's indignant squawk as a 'yes.'
"-Now that is a Christmas miracle."
"We didn't-"
"Don't care." The redhead said, closing her eyes like a yoga instructor who'd finally found inner-peace.
"-I'm free."
Tango turned to Zed for what felt like the a-billionth time this evening.
'What?' He mouthed silently.
The sheep hybrid didn't meet his eyes as he spoke. "I- may have been tormenting Gem with- feelings for a while."
"Years."
Zed's sister interrupted, turning over where she was now half-lying on the sofa to face Tango.
"It's been years." She said, eyes haunted like a soldier remembering a past battle.
Tango snorted at this, pressing an arm to his mouth in an attempt to quell the laughing.
"No!" Zed cried desperately, hitting Tango's knee from his position on the floor.
"-No! It's not funny! What- stop laughing!"
"I'm-" Tango said between giggles. "I'm sorry, Zee. I don't mean it- It's just, I've been doing the same thing to Skizz, he's so sick of me."
Gem laughed loudly at this before gasping as if she'd had a million dollar realisation. "Maybe we can start a support group!" She suggested excitedly. "-We can print T-shirts that say 'I survived Zed and Tango's intense eye contact 2015-2025' on them and- and- hand them out to fellow veterans."
"Veterans?" Zed scoffed, amused. "-That's slightly dramatic, don't you think?"
Gem ignored her brother, instead standing up and skipping over to where Skizz was sitting, presumably in an attempt to pitch her new business idea.
Watching her go, Tango made a face at Zedaph.
"We weren't that bad were we?"
"Quite frankly, Tango-" The blonde answered.
"...I'm beginning to think we were."