Work Text:
Far into the night a certain bubblegum genie stirred atop his bedroom rafter. Prying his eyes open to a shadow covered room and an irritatingly familiar poster smirking down at him. A muffled thud followed as Rooster sat up. kicking off a blanket he didn't remember having.
Amelia and Kore must have taken him to his room after he passed out into the sand. That was right after Marco...had…
Heat rushed quickly up onto Roosters face as the memories returned to him. Marco had been shoved into his arms smelling of light booze and bad choices. Giggling into his ear at the smallest things, poking him, being over all very stupid and sexy silly for no reason.
He couldn't recall the exact timeline of actions that led to it. Rooster had blinked when Marco suddenly adorned a vibrant color to his lips. Inched close enough for his face to dip out of Rooster peripheral vision, then-
He raised a hand to his cheek as if to recall the feeling of the warmth that was pressed there before. However rather than the smoothness of his own skin the spot had a matte texture
“Eh?-”
Pulling his fingers away Rooster couldn't tell if there was any difference in this dim lighting.
He hopped off the metal raft and creeped out of his room into the hallway of the tent. The sound of soft demonic snores came only a few doors down.
There was never a need for a bathroom here before, but almost as if the hallway read his mind, a new door suddenly had materialized a few steps down from Rooster room.
Not the type to question these things, Rooster stepped inside and quietly closed the door. The lights flicked on automatically following the click of the lock. When he turned to look at his face in the mirror it took all his willpower not to jump out of his own skin.
Right there, stark on his cheek, was a violet imprinted pair of lips. Pressed on like a brand.
“NO-oh no, no, no, nope, nope," he reached over and twisted on the sink. Cupping his hands under the facet to splash his face.
One splash, check the mirror. Still there
A second one. More messy. “Still?!?”
This time he scrubbed the side of his face with all his might. Muttering what might have been a prayer under different circumstances.
Nothing.
As obvious as the terror on his face. The lipstick hadn't so much as smudge despite his efforts. All he had managed to do was drench himself with water.
Rooster grumbled silently. His frustration echoed back at him by the porcelain walls.
He was interrupted by the sound of scrapping against the door. Whole body tensing as tight as a taught string at the thought of whoever might be needing the new bathroom.
Fumbling for something to cover his face. Rooster remembered his slightly (extremely) drenched scarf. Pulling it up over his face and hastily wrapping it over one side.
Yanking the door open, hardly prepared with an excuse, he thankfully wasn't met by anyone who would question his new fashion choices. Instead two calm meows drew his gaze down to familiar twin pink flames atop the matching heads of nerbles and berbles.
Rooster sighed with relief. Sinking down into a crouch to meet nerble berbles who gratefully accepts his outstretched hand. Altho confused by his silly appearance.
“Hey buddie… you got any idea how to remove lipstick?”. Berbles chirped in response, nerbles doing the same as if to confirm. He wasn't quite sure if that was a yes or a no until the cats shared legs started to tread down the hall. Inviting him to follow.
Rooster obliged and walked a few steps behind them. Past Nelthor's room, a handful of rooms that he had yet to explore. “Are we going to the kitchen? Oh, maybe getting a rag would help scrub it out better!” Rooster whispered curiously. nerble berbles didnt acknowledge his question, just kept walking until they reached where the living area connected to the kitchen.
But the little ex-kimoma beast didn't turn in the direction Rooster expected. Instead they went right for the couch where his eyes met with a shadowy lump resting on the cushions. Nerble Berbles jumped up onto the arm rest where the figure's head seemed to be and meowed to him. Even more confused he stepped closer. Squinting in the dark to make out who nerble berbles had led him too.
Three steps was all it took for Rooster to freeze with realization. He’d recognize that long bleach white hair anywhere. Even if it was a bit messier than normal.
“MARCO?!-” he silently yelled. Slapping a hand over his mouth to silence the echo and to keep from disturbing the whole tent.
‘What is Marco doing in the tent?? He has a perfectly good bed of his own in Holga!’
Rooster stumbled backwards, scuttling back into his room at top speed. Shutting the door behind him and climbing back onto his rafter. “It's fine! I'll just get rid of it tomorrow. Go back to sleep and act like none of this happened. Nothing happened? Psssh- what am I even talking about??”
Smashing his face into the pillow and pulling the blanket back up to cover his head, Rooster didn't move for a long time.
When this narrator says a long time, they mean around 5 minutes. Which is still a pretty good record for him.
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Back with nerble berbles, sitting patiently on the head of the couch with a resting marco. It didn't take long for the twin cats to notice Rooster shuffling back into the room with an expression that said he lost some kind of mental battle. Twisting the end of his scarf between his hands.
Nerbles lifted their heads with a soft “Mmmrrp?” as Rooster stood at edge of the couch. Watching Marcos slow breathing with a neutral expression.
He’d seen Marco sleep before. Usually passed out in his work shop, slumped over on a desk.
Why did this feel different?
Rooster jerked slightly out of his thoughts when Marco shifted. Rolling over until his face was somewhat visible under his loose hair. He still had a bit of lipstick on. Rooster noticed as he stared down at him.
He also looked…disturbed in a way.
Marco's brows were pinched like he was uncomfortable. Rooster could guess why. Altho he'd had yet to experience it himself, usually when people were as drunk as Marco was, they don't feel very good afterwards.
He tried to think about how Amelia usually treats people like that. Her voice built up in his head from a memory of taking care of her father after a long night of celebrating.
‘Dad usually just needs some good rest and a lot of water. Whenever he sleeps it off he always curls on himself like a little bug, I give him blankets to make sure he doesn't get too cold either.’
“Blankets…” Rooster mumbled to himself. Seeing how Marco had tugged his normally rolled sleeves down over his arms in his rest.
He stood and stepped away once again. Returning from a second suddenly materialized room with a large blanket that looked better fit for two people, and an extra pillow.
When he reached the couch he pushed the pillow behind Marcos head carefully. Nerble Berble made sure it was probably placed with a few extra pats. Then draped the blankets as far as it would go to cover Marcos sleeping form. The drow boy quickly melted into the comfort after a few moments.
Rooster lingered for a few minutes longer. Checking over his work. Partly to admire what little details of Marco he could see in the dark.
Satisfied, and finally starting to feel the drag of sleep coming back, Rooster turned to leave.
…
At least he would have if he didn't feel someone grab his coat mid turn.
He slowly looked down and followed the source of what was currently keeping him hostage. A fluttery feeling that Rooster could only describe as dread filled his gut.
Because of course. Marco had woken up just enough to grab him as he was about to leave.
Rooster rubbed a hand down his face, “Uugggghh maarcooooo….”
“rr..rooossteerrrrrr…?” Marco mimicked, his voice rough with sleep in a way that made Rooster flinch
He thought about staying silent. Maybe if he pretended he wasn't really here, he'd go back to sleep thinking this was a dream.
“...M’head hurts…”
The plan was immediately abandoned.
He exhaled and crouched in front of Marco. Whose eyes weren't open until he felt Rooster breath on his face. “We don't have any medicine in the tent, and I'm pretty sure it's to late for Amelia to be awake…so…uh-”
Rooster made the mistake of looking back at Marco. Sleepy wine red eyes staring at him like he was the only person in the room. Which he was, minus nerbles. But it wasn't a look Rooster was used to getting.
“S-stop staring at me like that and go back to sleep! Okay? Please?”. Marco didn't respond immediately. Just stared.
And stared.
Until Rooster couldn't hold eye contact anymore and turned away with a huff. Marco could catch the faint color of violet on the side of Rooster face. That earned a drowsy smile from him.
“It looks gd’on u…” he muttered. A chuckle bubbling out of him at Rooster flustered ness.
“Huh? what does?”
He shifted his arms under the blanket and reached out towards Rooster face in a weak poke.
“That, the lipstick,” he smiled genuinely, "It's pretty.”
An expression rooster filed away as stupid, like everything Marco does. Especially drunk Marco apparently.
“Oh- uh- i-...ugh, go to sleep stupid- Marco-!” he swatted furiously at the hand. Marco could clearly imagine what expression Rooster had right now and giggled.
“Okay, okay, I will…but only if you stay.”
The simple request made Rooster freeze up completely.
“What?”
This time Marco reached blindly towards him. Searched with his hands until he found Roosters own and grasped it tightly. “Stay. I don't wanna be alone right now…”
Rooster gapped. Glancing to nerble Berbles for help. Of course their feline indifference was no assistance to him.
“Ah-...i-...”
Something in Marcos' expression changed. Noticing Rooster hesitation and realizing he might have misjudged the situation. He smiled again but this time it didn't reach his eyes.
“Hey, it's okay, I'm just joking. I'll be fine. You should get back to your-”
“No! I can stay.”
Both Rooster and Marcos' eyes widened. Neither of them could believe the words out of Rooster 's mouth.
He settled back down into the cushions. “Really? You don't have to if it makes you uncomfortable.”
Rooster hands found his scarf again. Worrying the fabric between his fist until it winkled. “I- I don't mind, I just- don’t know where I would fit?”
“You can just climb in with me.” Marco opened up the blanket to reveal a surprising amount of space left. Perfectly rooster sized.
A mouth full of embarrassing sounds filled the empty space between the two. Fed up themes, nerble Berbles leaped down from their perch atop the head rest into the spot Marco had opened. Snatching Rooster by his scarf to drag him onto the couch.
“AGHK- nerbles!?”
Both cat heads combined were surprisingly strong. Able to get Rooster —somewhat awkwardly— positioned with Marco under the covers. Who happily closed the blanket around them both and settled just slightly closer. Face resting around Roosters shoulder. nerble Berbles, seeming to have fulfilled their mission, trotted away into the dark. Leaving Rooster and Marco completely alone in the silence with only their own breath as background noise.
“...you know, you're really stiff…” Marco commented softly. Feeling Rooster shift and shuffle beside him. trying not to be too noticeable. “I am not,” Rooster sniped back. He wasn't a common side sleeper, so this position was a new one for him. He didn't want to crowd Marco.
Perhaps still a little drunk, or just sleepy and fed up. Marco took the initiative to close the space between them. Snaking his arms around Roosters torso and burying his face into the crook of his neck. The sudden contact did nothing to aid the board like stillness from Rooster, but at least they were in a slightly better sleeping position.
From this angle Marco could almost perfectly make out the flutter of Roosters heart beat. A tiny little drum “Relax, we're just sleeping…”
Rooster made a strangled noise that sounded quite similar to his namesake. Arms outstretched, and hesitant to fold around the body so close to his chest.
He stayed like that until his biceps burned. Long after Marco had gently fallen back into sleep. It was only when he was sure the drow boy was fully in rest did he allow his arms to loosely warp around Marcos' back.
“This is fine.” he squeaked into Marco's hair.
Time went by. Minutes, maybe hours. Rooster was never good with time. He noticed that Marco twitched often in his sleep. His hold around Roosters back occasionally tightening and releasing. His ears flicked very slightly. He’d mumble nonsense so close to Rooster's throat he could feel the sound reverberate in his chest.
“Perfectly fine…”
More minutes passed.
And probably more.
Until every little action blurred together.
Rooster never exactly fell asleep the way Marco was. Just unfocused enough not to implode from sitting still for so long with the most insufferable guy in the desert pressing his face against his neck.
At some point, lost in a dream, Marco muttered something along the lines of ‘wanting to see more purple on Rooster's face’.
…
That probably had nothing to do with matte texture spreading down his neck.
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{FIN :DD}