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When Fluixon mined with Saparata, it was peaceful. They were getting deeper into the mines, light gradually decreasing but the repeated motion of using his pickaxe, gathering ores, and Saps’ commentary helped distract him. Fluixon was still mad about what happened earlier at the meeting. Nobody agreed with him that the other island was a threat. It was obvious! It's like every leader was useless or just naive, did nobody see the clear message in the other island’s posters?
Thinking about it made Fluixon's blood boil so he quickly turned away to look at what Saps was doing.
Saparata looked up from a furnace, feeling a gaze digging through his neck. Saparata tilted his head at Fluixon. “Is there something wrong?”
”..Nothing.” Fluixon reminded himself he was still next to his friend. While Saparata and him were close, Saps was also unfortunately optimistic about the bridge and island. Fluixon could tell he truly cared about everyone, which also included Flux. Compared to everyone else’s stares at Fluixon after that disastrous meeting, Saps’ was the only one who didn't gaze at him incredulously.
’.. He’s too kind for his own good.’
Fluixon sighed, swapping his pickaxe to his other hand to stretch his fingers out. How long have they been in here for? It's definitely already night by now, they should head back.
“We should leave,” Fluixon said, reorganizing some of the stuff he’s gathered in his inventory. “It’s getting late and it might be dangerous at night. Your home isn't even finished.”
To emphasize his point, Fluixon even flicks Saparata on the head as the other was still focused on mining.
As if just remembering, Saparata finally perked up at the flick and rubbed the irritated area. “Flux, you did not need to do that.”
“As if you'd actually be able to hear me,” Fluixon shot back.
Saparata had a tendency to forget about rest sometimes and Fluixon had to remind him on several occasions. Fluixon contemplated, ‘That unhealthy habit probably developed because of his unnatural determination to finish his vacation home.’
He couldn't understand why it was so important to Saparata’s dream of not getting involved into politics. He was literally going to mediate for another leaders meeting soon.
Saparata coughed a quick “whatever” before he switched to an empty hand to help clean up the area. Fluixon felt a surge of satisfaction at Saps’ dejected sighs.
“There's many diamonds here but.. with how many we have right now, we should've left long ago." Saparata dejectedly said, checking inventory. He confirmed whatever he had before turning to nod at Fluixon. “We should go. This area is decently lit up so I must've lost track of the time.”
Saparata and Fluixon swiftly evened out some materials so it would be less strenuous on themselves when going back. By the time the two actually reached the entrance, the moon was already up. Fluixon could hear the crickets and something else from the distance.
Fluixon cautiously peered around the area. It was definitely dark but he could still see the pathway back.
“Let’s go,” Fluixon said, slightly dragging Saparata forward. They both went off into the distance and couldn't afford to stand around. They had quite the amount of land to cover before the night became real trouble.
Fluixon sighed. Of course the journey back would be absolute pain.
Some idiot decided it would be funny to remove all the light sources— lanterns, torches, lights— from their used pathway. The ground was barely illuminated by the moon and Fluixon could barely see a thing around him. Was it always this dark out or was the light pollution this bad? He couldn't even tell where the nearest town was, or recognize any trees and places he knew would be located at a specific location. His torch could only help them for so long before it also died along, leaving them both in darkness.
Fluixon could feel Saparata’s presence but could barely even see the other’s face. Fluixon blindly reached for the other.
“Let's grab onto eachother so we don't get separated-” Fluixon was interrupted as he suddenly got blinded by a random light. He instinctively tightened his hold as his eyes squinted from the abrupt increase in brightness.
Fluixon’s eyes widened as they landed on the other person.
‘.Why is Saparata glowing.’
“Do you really have to grip my wrist so tightly?” Saparata complained as Fluixon stood tensely. Hearing this, Fluixon lessened his hold ever so slightly, still on-guard. The glow dimmed a bit and Fluixon paused.
Fluixon squeezed the other’s wrist again. The brighter glow from earlier came back.
Fluixon completely let go of Saparata’s wrist and the light wholly vanished, leaving the two in complete darkness. Saparata didn’t seem to notice anything weird as he tilted his head in confusion.
This time Fluixon clutched onto Saps’ arm with both of his hands instead of one to cover more surface area on the person's skin. The glow returned even brighter than ever. Was the glow controlled on how much skin contact and how tight he held onto Saparata?
Saparata was puzzled on what Fluixon was doing. Was Flux actually afraid of the dark? Or was it the other way around? Did Flux think he was too scared of the dark and went to go comfort him awkwardly?
Actually, that was pretty kind of him.
“You don't have to protect me, Flux.” Saparata chuckled and Fluixon regarded him with a raised eyebrow. Saparata took this as a sign to continue because when has he ever made nice life decisions?
“I’m not scared of the dark too. You don't have to be so anxious,” Saparata lightheartedly commented. The iron grip on his arm finally released, allowing his limb to have fresh air as Flux seemed to struggle to say something. It seemed Flux really was worried that he was afraid?
“I’m not..” Fluixon trailed off.
Saparata waited for the other to finish.
Fluixon's hand clasped onto Saps’ again. Saparata blinked.
“Yes?”
Fluixon looked like he couldn't believe his eyes. What was going on with him? Saparata didn't know.
“Saps,” Fluixon replied, voice a little more lower than usual. Was Fluixon okay?
Saparata glanced at the terrain behind Flux and then back to the other’s stern face. Saparata tried moving his confined hand to comfort the other before Fluixon squeezed his wrist tighter.
“Hey, it’s okay to be afraid—” Saparata attempted to comfort before Fluixon suddenly erupted into full-blown laughter, making Saps back away.
“Are you aware you can glow, Saps?”
Saparata paused. “Huh?”
“You’re literally glowing,” Fluixon stated. “It’s so bright, it's lighting up the area. I don't know why I didn't notice before but you’re a literal torch— even brighter than a torch, maybe a whole beacon.”
“I’m like a torch..? What are you saying?”
Saparata stayed planted to the spot before slowly straying his eyes to his own body, scrutinizing the area of his skin where Fluixon’s hand connected with his skin.
It looked normal to him. Maybe there was a faint shimmer but that was obviously because he was pale and the moon was up. Probably. Saparata ignored that the moon was covered up by the thick leaves from trees.
Saparata laughed, “Well, I think the sleep is getting to you, Flux. We should get going so you can clock out and get your rest then. You do have your vice president duties.”
Saparata attempted to pat Fluixon’s back with his other free hand before it also got caught.
“No.”
Saparata froze.
“It’s- it’s nothing,” Fluixon said, head down. “You were right. The sleep is just getting to me."
Oh, Saparata was getting concerned for nothing. He sighed in relief.
Saparata should've known not to celebrate too early because whenever Fluixon said ‘nothing was wrong’, obviously something was wrong.
Without any warning, Fluixon yanked him flush against his own body, hugging him tightly. The vicinity seemed to brighten, unknowing to Saps.
“Wuh-” Saparata dumbly said, voice muffled slightly by the shoulder shoved in his face. “T..Thank you for the hug?” Saparata couldn’t process anything further before the same arms sneaked and swooped under his knees and torso, sweeping him off the ground into a princess carry.
“What are you doing?!” Saparata practically shouted. “I thought you said nothing was wrong?!”
“Yeah, nothing is wrong,” Fluixon gaslit, allowing himself to dip Saps’ upper body towards the floor while still holding the lower body high. Fluixon took joy in Saps’ fear as the other shrieked, voice cracking along with various curses following in quick succession.
“I just felt the need to carry you like any other nice friend would.” Fluixon smiled, extremely smart and wise.
“I don't think friends do this!?” Saparata’s voice was more snappy and higher-pitched this usual. It was hilarious.
Fluixon swore he also saw the terrain brighten even more as Saparata’s body was squished against his. Even as he held him in close for a bridal carry, Saparata glowed like a maximum power flashlight. Was Saparata secretly a lightbulb? Was he powered by a light switch? How come the other glowed depending on touch?
“Do you seriously not see anything differently?” Fluixon honestly asked.
Saparata gradually stopped his panicking to look. He glanced around at their surroundings before his eyes went back to Flux’s.
“Huh. Is it just me or is everything a little brighter?”
“I think you’re imagining it,” Fluixon said, smirk razor sharp. He needed to bank off of Saparata now that he confirmed it.
Fluixon could capitalize on Saparata’s glowing properties. When Saps wasn't actively getting held onto, you could barely see the radiant outline around him. When someone was touching Saps, the brightness would increase tenfold.
‘No wonder why Saps seems clueless on this.’ Fluixon considered Saparata must've been either unaware— or just used to odd lighting to the point he doesn't see anything different. When Flux carried him close to a safe embrace, it’s like a lever was pulled for max power. The darkness was a lot easier to handle and the sounds— or hallucinations of mobs around them seemed to go away. The world become less eye-straining when holding onto Saps.
It’s too bad Saps will be mediating at the leaders next meeting.
“Wait, were you actually scared of the dark then?” Saparata deduced as Fluixon was snatched out of his thoughts. “It’s okay-”
"Shh," Flux hushed, pulling Saps up again like he was a weight people used in gyms. “I’m focused on getting us back to our original path. And I wasn't scared of the dark, I was obviously making sure you were still with me and not lost, wandering somewhere else.”
“Whatever you say.”
Flux could see Saps’ teasing expression so he let him drop once again, causing the other to yelp and instinctively scramble back onto Flux’s neck for stability. Fluixon grinned.
The pathway back was much faster and easier now. Somewhere in the distance, a camera click could be heard.
Fluixon thought it was odd how people were acting today. It wasn't like post-meeting where people either avoided his gaze or regarded him with a bit of disdain but people looked at him with a hint of pride and happiness. Was there something going on today that he somehow missed?
As Flux reflected back on his schedule to remember something, 3Below came up and patted his shoulder encouragingly. Fluixon snapped his head towards the other. His president had one of the brightest and stupidest grins Fluixon had ever seen.
“Don't worry, Fluixon,” 3Below said, wiping a tear from his eye. “I fully support your relationship. You can have a day off.”
‘Huh?’
Fluixon's brain was still trying to catch up as the other Luminara members— when did they come over?—cheered at the sight of their leader giving Flux a pep talk.
3Below mustve misunderstood his confusion because their eyes softened. “Really, don’t worry about it. Go take him out.”
“What?” Fluixon dumbly asked, face scrunching up. The cheers of Luminara around them gradually grew louder and louder. He could even spot Thomas clapping?? Snowbird was here too? Actually, why was almost everyone in the Conspiracy here? Didn't Fluixon inform them of his next action in the plan?
‘Wait-’ Fluixon paused, ‘Take him out?’ Did 3Below figure out? What? How? Who leaked—
Before his thoughts could spiral even further, a familiar figure entered his line of sight.
“Saps?” Fluixon subconsciously called out and everyone became quieter. 3Below backed away, giving a knowing look that made Flux want to strangle him for answers.
“Flux?”
The people began to shout again and the cheers came back in full-force. Fluixon refrained the urge to show his displeasure. What was wrong with everyone today?
Saparata whispered, “Do you know what's happening? Why are people acting so strange today whenever they spot me?” Saparata's eyes trailed to the audience that was gathered. “It seems you're also struggling with this though, based on my observations.”
“I don't know what happened either,” Fluixon groaned, irritated. He grabbed onto Saps’ arm and he swore he heard multiple gasps. “We should probably go find a different place right now since we don't have privacy here.”
The people seemed to thrive even harder at his last sentence and Saparata looked absolutely horrified. Fluixon would've cackled if he also wasn't a victim.
‘Really, what is up with everyone?’ Fluixon thought about his life choices that led up to this point. He thought everyone had a somewhat negative opinion of him ever since that disaster of a meeting he attended back then. He didn’t do anything recently to increase reputation either.
Saparata slowly nodded at his words but before the two could walk away, a stray paper floated its way in front of them. The crowd was so frenzied, it seemed some items slipped.
Saparata picked the paper up and his face burned up into a light shade of red as soon as he processed whatever was on the paper.
“…”
Saparata silently folded the paper and tried brushing whatever he saw off nonchalantly before swiftly whipping his focus in the crowd to search for the culprit of whoever dropped it.
Now, this was getting Fluixon’s curiosity too. He leaned closer and the shouts increased in volume. Flux could make out a few people yelling to not look at it— as well as 3Below's attempts at calming everyone down. This only fueled Flux’s wonder as he promptly snatched the paper from Saps, unfolding it to see what the heat was all about.
Saps’ body seemed to lock up as few members of Luminara even held their breath. Some got even louder at what he was doing.
Fluixon narrowed his eyes.
‘Fluxarata Yaoi..?’
Fluixon’s eyes drifted lower. The bottom half of the paper had an image.
A colored image of him carrying Saps. Oh, and Fluixon could see his own tiny smile at Saparata's panic. Fluixon’s eyes went up to the Saps infront of him. Saparata was gazing off into the distance as if his life was over at the prospect of the photograph. As if he was scared of staring at the scene any longer.
Wait, if Saps was scared..
“Whose paper is this and who took the photo?” Fluixon called out to the masses. Everyone clamped up but Fluixon could still single out some people. There was still the question on why the Conspiracy members were spurred on to be here too so Flux focused on their reactions.
Thomas evaded his eyes, NK was smiling, and Snowbird was giving him a thumbs-up. Fluixon had a lead on who the culprit was. Saparata was definitely staring at him weirdly but Fluixon didn't care. Besides, why couldn’t he have a little fun before Saps mediated at the leaders next meeting?
People around subconsciously held their breaths as they saw Fluixon deeply inhale and exhale. Gazing at them all, Fluixon charismatically smiled and went to ask the million-dollar question everyone was waiting for.
“Can I have a copy of the photograph too?”
There was a brief silence as Saparata’s expression slowly morphed into one of pure horror. The people froze, previously dim faces beginning to light up in joy before everyone began to shove and trample over eachother to hand him their photos.
Saparata rapidly snapped out of it, shaking his head in protest before attempting to push everyone away from Fluixon for the sake of his dignity. Luminara vigorously hyped eachother up as Fluixon smirked at the sight.
Oh, he would definitely miss this.
“Whatever you guys do, do not give them to him!” Saparata cried out in terror.
“Everyone, give them to me! Now!” Fluixon passionately declared.