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Keralis was two steps out of the Nether portal when he got the on-rush of air that meant he had about three seconds to brace himself. Two and a half seconds later, Skizz barreled into him with a leaping hug that sends them both end-over-end in the grass, Keralis’ vacation straw hat flung somewhere far away. They ended up in a tangled pile of limbs embracing, Keralis mostly resting on Skizz’s chest and wrapped in his arms as Skizz crowed with victory.
“WOO-HOO! HE’S BACK!”
Somewhere behind them, Tango snickered. “Careful, Skizz, we just got Keralis back and you’re gonna crush him to death!”
“He’s been insufferable ever since you left, Keralis,” Gem added. “Fine one minute, all mopey the next whenever he saw anything that reminded him of you. Which was everything.”
“TOP! GEM! DON’T EMBARRASS ME!”
“Awww, Skizzlebits? You got the mopeys over me?” Amidst the laughter, Keralis fluttered his eyelashes at Skizz, who turned several different shades of red and made several noises of equal embarrassment. Tango laughed so hard he started wheezing.
Finally, Skizz let go enough to pull back and lay a big kiss on Keralis, beaming. “Aw, fine, I admit it! I missed you, Big Papa! Good to have you back!”
“Oh, my Skizzly-Wizzly! I missed your face so much!” Keralis kissed him again, arms finally free enough to rest his hands on Skizz’s cheeks. “All the beautiful sights out there, and yet not the most beautiful one of all beside me.”
Skizz preened. Gem rolled her eyes. “Dear lord. You’ve not been back for five minutes. Have you even checked on your base yet, Keralis?”
Keralis groaned, flopping onto Skizz’s chest. “Ough! Don’t remind me, I already know how behind I am. It is the hardest thing with traveling. You know that the moment you get home, you will be faced with all the things that you have to do and didn’t get done before leaving, on TOP of having to unpack, and so then you just say, what if I stay a little longer, and then there is still all of the same things waiting for you, and it just makes it worse! Happens every time.”
“Oh, well, if you don’t wanna go home just yet…you could come over to my place?” Skizz grinned, even wider when Keralis placed a hand on his own chest like a scandalized maiden in an old movie. “Come on! I can take you back on No-Name! Show you my new place, let you take your boots off, make some fists with your toes.”
(“What?” Gem squinted, turning to Tango. “Is that an innuendo–”
Tango shook his head, sighing. “No, it’s a movie reference. Other type of Skizzism.”)
Keralis ignored them, rolling off of Skizz and onto the grass with a grunt. “That sounds–nngh!-lovely, Skizzly. Just give me a minute to catch my breath after your oh-so–lovely greeting.”
Skizz swung his legs up, jumping to his feet with a soft hup!, and offered a hand to help Keralis stand up before scampering off towards the horse tie-up. Keralis brushed some of the grass off himself, chuckling.
“I am sorry for not greeting you properly,” he said to Tango and Gem, turning back to grab his discarded hat, “but I was a bit, eh, pre-occupied. How are you?”
“Oh, don’t worry, Keralis, we can catch up later.” Tango grinned, waggling his eyebrows. “I know you and Skizz are gonna want some time a-lone.”
He was cut off by the thump of Gem smacking him in the chest. “Tango! You’re being worse than Skizz!”
“Unlikely,” Skizz chimed in, returning atop his gold-covered horse. He pulled No-Name to a stop right next to Keralis, leaning back and patting the saddle in front of him. “No one’s worse than me, mmkay? And even if he is, he’s right. Now get up here, K-man. Got a long ride back for you to tell me all about the trip and then some.”
Keralis clambered up and settled onto the saddle, tilting his head back to look straight up at Skizz. “I am telling you, an Eefo-Donkey will change your life, Skizzy. So speedy, so jumpy. It’s a ride like nothing else!”
“Nope! I’m not giving up on No-Name, not even for a donk like yours!”
“Ah, so you are not an ass man?”
Skizz chuckled and waggled his eyebrows. “Well, now, you know the real answer to that, Big Papa!”
“Oh my god.” Gem buried her face in her hands.
No-Name whinnied as a fed-up Tango swatted the horse’s rear. “Oh, get outta here, you lovebirds, before Gem’s head explodes!”
Cackling, Skizz took the reins and nudged No-Name into proper motion down the length of Gem’s bridge, towards Shadow Mountain. Keralis sighed happily, settling back against him and closing his eyes. Basking in the warmth, and the steady rocking, and the soft humming under both their breaths.
It was good to be home.