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The darkness of the corridors made the artificial light coming from one of the sightly open bathroom doors stood out strongly.
Angelo decided to take a nighttime walk, nightmares keeping him awake once again. This led him to realize that he wasn't the only one who hadn't slept, because when he peeked through the half-open door he found Rodrick there... whose hair was a mess. Judging by the scissors he was holding, Angelo could tell the culprit of that disaster.
”Are you cutting your hair?” He asked almost in a whisper, trying not to sound mocking, only to fail miserably.
Rodrick jumped due to the unexpected words, moving his gaze from the mirror to the door; his shoulders remained just as tense when his eyes meet him, his frustrated face changing to a frown of annoyance.
”Leave.”
Angelo expected no less; he was never particularly kind to the other, constantly making cruel comments about his appearance and calling him names for no reason. However, lately he's been trying to be... less hostile, and this is—maybe—a good start.
”You are doing everything wrong.” He pointed out, ”What are ya even trying to do? You're going to fill the whole bathroom with your hair, dude.”
Rodrick groaned loudly, dropping the scissors into the sink and straightened up from his hunchback position. ”What do you want?”
”I could help you, if you want.” Said more calmly, leaning against the door frame.
”Why?”
Angelo shrugged. ”Why not?”
There was a moment of silence, Rodrick looking at him up and down with suspicion. ”I-I may not know what are you looking for but I'm not stupid.”
He sighed. ”Geez, calm down a little, will ya? I'm just being nice. No need to stare at me like I killed your whole ass family.”
”Well—I'm sorry for being suspicious of the guy who had call me every insult in the book.”
”Oh, c'mon, how old are we? Twelve?” Angelo let out a laugh, but quickly turned his focus back to the conversation with a tired expression. ”Whatever. I did meant it when I say I could help ya, I got nothing better to do anyways.”
Rodrick didn't seem to trust not little bit and was starting to get annoying, but sadly it was understandable. ”Probably you just want to ruin my hair or something..”
”Dude. Your hair has been through hell itself already, just wanted to give a lil'hand.” Not to be offensive but Rodrick hair truly was a mess everyday, if that shit could speak there won't be nice things to hear.
The taller scratched his arm awkwardly. ”Umh.. H-How I know you don't want to play a shitty prank to fuck up my appearance?”
”You don't know.” He stated, because it was the truth. ”It's on you to choose to believe me, not like I can force you or anything.”
Like he said before, he was just being nice. But if Rodrick really wanted for him to go away, then not much he can do about it.
But for the first time since he entered this room, Rodrick seemed more willingly to accept his help.
”..I'm not looking for anything wild, just wanted to cut it a little. Was getting long.”
Angelo shrugged once again. ”I can do that.”
The taller didn't made any eye contact, moving like he was uncomfortable for being alive, but that's just classic normal Rodrick. ”If you try anything weird I'll hit your face, I'm not kidding.”
”Sure.” He chuckled. It's not like he doubt it; if the idiot is capable of hitting Maverick, then doing the same to him isn't such a crazy idea.
Rodrick nodded, and awkwardly finally gave him some space, allowing the other to approach. ”S-Should I sit or..?”
Angelo got close to pick up the scissors from the sink. ”Yeah, just sit on the toilet seat.”
Did as he said and sat down on the lid. His hand over his lap and trying to keep a straight posture.
”I gotta say, ya'll probably will get a lot of hair in your clothes. So you should shower afterwards.” He warned, putting himself at Rodrick's side.
”Okay.. I will..”
”So,” With the scissor in his hand, he asked. ”How short are we talking about? Just your usual hair or wanting to go back to the almost-bald life?”
The other sighed. ”Not that short. Sightly above my shoulders it's fine.”
”Oky-doky.” Let's get to work, then.
In the bathroom, the only sound was the snip of scissors cutting through hair. Rodrick seemed restless, but he was just moving his leg up and down so as not to interrupt his work.
Eventually, the older one broke the silence. ”Uhm.. it looks like you know what are you doing.”
”I do.” Said proudly, ”I'm the one who takes care of my beauty, you know?”
Rodrick huffed. ”I don't how you manage. I hate long hair. Too messy, too complicated.”
”Your hair is kinda long, tho.” He pointed out. ”Why don't ya just cut it if it's annoying to take care of?”
He didn't respond instantly, his leg's movement stopping for a moment before returning with less energy. ”I..I don't know, I just don't want to.”
Angelo made a sound of recognition. Weird. But well, not like Rodrick was famous for his normal behaviors.
”I liked long hair a lot back in high school. Now.. I keep it like this out of habit, I think. So I understand.”
There was more to it than just what he said, but Rodrick didn't need to know all that.
”In high school?”
”Yep, I wanted to cut it after giving a try but.. I had a classmate who preferred it long, so..”
”Oh.” Rodrick processed the information, ”For a classmate? I thought it was an Italian thing.”
Holy fuck, this guy.
Angelo stopped working for a moment, ”How many times I need to tell you I'm not Italian? fucking dickhead. I don't even know where Italy is on the map!”
This whole 'be nice' crap it's gonna be hard if Rodrick insist of saying this type of shit.
”...It borders with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Located in Europe.” The other responded, discouraged by the insult.
He huffed, getting back at cutting hair before he used the scissor for another thing.
Rodrick continued speaking. ”I didn't mean to be rude, I just forgot.” Angelo rolled his eyes at that lie. ”..So, basically you have this hairstyle because other people like it?” He said, gesturing to Angelo's long hair, tied in a small ponytail that didn't quite gather it all.
”Basically, yes.”
”..Even when you prefer other style?”
”Yeah.” Angelo in other occasion may have added 'if I follow my instinct I'll ended up looking like you' but not now.. smooth, boy, smooth.
”Uh.” Rodrick didn't question his reasons much but was curious about for who Angelo acted this way besides his said classmate; so he made a guess. ”Maverick thinks you look good?”
Angelo froze for a second at the mention of the blond guy; he liked to think he knew how to hide his... 'admiration' for the other man well, but if even Rodrick suspects something, then he's doing a shitty job.
”I don't do it for Maverick, but because I don't know what style he prefers more.” He answer honestly. ”I never saw him compliment someone else's appearance, so I can't tell.”
”Oh, I understand.” Rodrick was lost in his mind for a moment, ”He doesn't have a girlfriend, right? It's strange when he's such a handsome guy, you will think he'd have a lot of love interest.”
Angelo stopped. ”...Did you just call Maverick handsome?”
”What?” The taller seemed confused, not thinking about his word until now; his expression changed to one of embarrassment. ”Don't be weird! I'm just stating a fact. Everyone is obsessed with him! It's tiring.”
Angelo couldn't help but laugh. ”Yes—yes, I know. It's just that I didn't expect you to say anything nice about him, knowing how much you hate him.”
Rodrick groaned. ”I am not someone who makes up lies to insult someone I don't like. I'm not that hateful.”
Well, guess that's something that separates them. But Angelo get it; no one could call Maverick 'ugly' no matter how much they hated him.
..Also, Rodrick wasn't a guy who had a right to insult other people's looks.
”Whatever, nerd.” He said playfully changing the subject of conversation, not really trying to be mean. ”Whatcha think?”
Rodrick looked up from the floor to the bathroom mirror once Angelo gave him space so he could appreciate his hair. After a few minutes in the silence of the night, he replied.
”..It's good. Less messy than when I do it..” Yeah, Angelo was sure of that. ”..Thank you.”
To be honest, he wasn't expecting any kind of thanks; he was used to doing things for people without saying anything or expecting something from the other, like a servant, so those words took him by surprise.
But tried to make his surprise not so obvious—that's embarrassing as fuck—, luckily Rodrick wasn't looking at him. ”It's not a big deal.”
Rodrick hum, ”I may go back to you if I need another haircut.”
Angelo chuckled, his shoulders moving with his laughter. ”Then I'm going to start charging you.”
Weirdly enough, Rodrick chuckled with him too. ”I can't blame you for that.”
Uh, these kinds of interactions were strange for Angelo. He wasn't uncomfortable, just.. not sure how to continue.
So he took the best decision, not continue. ”Eh, well, I need my beauty dream. Clean the floor and take a shower. Ya smell.”
”Hey!—”
”Bye bye, hope your hair isn't a bird's nest by tomorrow.”
With that, be dropped the scissors in the sink and left the bathroom, turning his back.
Honestly, he probably wouldn't sleep a shit, and with Rodrick horrifying eyes bags he doubts that the other one even sleeps.
But Angelo didn't feel like talking anymore; perhaps he could continue drawing in his diary. A draw of Maverick, yeah, that's a good idea.
Most likely, Rodrick's hair will be a disaster again soon. Because even if Angelo makes a miracle, that doesn't mean the taller one knows how to style his hair.
But well, he did everything he could. He's so kind, mind ya.