Work Text:
It was a nice day on Sixth Street. Billy was hanging out with the proxies at Godfinger playing snake duel.
“I won't lose again manager!”
Billy exclaimed.
“If you lose you owe us ice cream!”
The three of them continued to play for a bit before a few steps could be heard from behind them.
“Ah, if it isn't the Manager and Billy. Nice to see you here.”
They all looked back from the screen and there was Banyue.
“Oh, hey Banyue Shifu! Wise and I were playing with Billy. What are you doing here?”
“Well, I've heard about this arcade from the youngsters. I asked them what an arcade was and they said it's play were people play games to have fun.”
They all stood there in silence before realizing something.
“You… Didn't know what an arcade was?”
“No…?”
They all laughed for a bit as Wise and Belle went to explain the rules of different games. Billy was a little curious to see what Banyue could do so he said this.
“Hey, Banyue Shifu was it? Do you maybe wanna play a few team games with me?”
Banyue was slightly surprised about it but he nodded.
“I’d be delighted.”
The two played a few rounds of Snake Duel and a few other games while Wise and Belle were busy playing other games. Billy spoke up while the two were heavily invested in a round.
“For someone who didn't know what an arcade was until recently, you're pretty good at this.”
“Thanks for the praise… I’m just doing what my juniors told me.”
“So… Do you like doing anything?”
Banyue stared at Billy as he spoke.
“Well, I am the master of a dojo. I like training my students and spinning my orbs around in my hand brings me peace. What about you?”
Billy’s face immediately lit up.
“Well… Have you heard of Starlight Knight? And or THE Monika?”
Banyue shook his head.
“I don't believe so… Maybe I'll check them out one day. They sound intriguing.”
After the round of Snake Duel was finished Bikky was the victor.
“So… You wanna be friends?
“Already thought we were.”
——————————————————————
A few months after their first meetup, the two had become close, and on that day. Things were looking a bit brighter.
——————————————————————
It was a hot summer day as Belle was taking a walk with Banyue and Billu who were already hanging out together.
“Oh yeah, Billy.”
Billy turned his head to face Belle.
“What’s up, manager?”
“The sky. Anyways me and Wise put a few filters on your new upgrades. It's just stickers but I think this is how you see yourself and how I see you.”
Belle took out her phone and showed Bikly and Banyue the photos. One had Billy with shades on covering his eyes. That one clearly being the one that he sees himself in, and another one with cute eyes and a bandage on his horn.
Banyue chuckled a bit.
“Ha, I’d say that our shared friend could be both don't you agree?”
“Oh, for sure he is!”
“It's just that, knowing him, sometimes it's hard to see him as anything other than a silly, cute Starlight Knight nerd, if you get what I mean?”
Banyue added on.
“Yes, I completely understand what you mean. His devotion to the Starlight Knights knows no bounds, and that's... quite adorable, if I may say so.”
“...Adorable?”
“Oh, Billy! W-well.. Yes. I'm not going to take back what I said. Sometimes you're actually quite adorable, in my opinion.”
Billy’s fans started spinning faster as his face glowed red.
“Bro...what are we?”
Billy spoke. Banyue was taken aback a bit but spoke up.
“...You're my friend. A good, wonderful friend who always makes me feel so.. happy. Is something... wrong? Did I say something I shouldn't have?”
“A friend... Yeah, a friend! I'm cool with that! And you didn't say anything bad... I was just wondering!”
Banyue could sense that something was wrong with his friend.
“Uh, sorry, but... You seem a bit disappointed.”
Billy quickly got back to normal and spoke.
“I have no right to be. The Starlight Knights are nothing if not always tolerant! We're friends... You've made that clear enough. It's my fault really for expecting a different answer...”
“ You were expecting... Billy... Please forgive me, I think I've just done something unacceptable and terribly wrong. I haven't been entirely honest with you.”
Billy’s eyes snapped back up.
“…Huh..?”
“...I'm so sorry. I just felt really uneasy about admitting it... In public like that but seeing that there's not a lot of people around... To be honest, I was concerned that it would make you feel uncomfortable. But the truth is... I do have a certain... a-affection for you, Billy.”
Billy felt like something pierced through his core.
“A-w-what huh!”
Banyue looked worried.
“Ah! A-are you alright?”
“I…Need a minute to process that…”
“Alright! Take as much time as you need!”
Billy had quickly run away back to the hideout of the cunning hares with Banyue and Belle standing there.
It was quiet until Belle broke the silence.
“So…Do you like Billy?”
“Of course I do. He's one of my closest friends!”
Belle smirked.
“I mean do you like, LIKE Billy?”
Banyue froze.
“…I think I might...”
Meanwhile, while he was running the only thing on his mind was what Banyue meant by “affection.”After he made it to the hideout he kicked the door down.
“EMERGENCY CUNNING HARES MEETING! NICOLE? AMILLION? …ANBY?“
“Ehn-neh, ehn-nu nah?!!”(Emergency?!! What emergency?? Amillion!!
was charging!!)
“HOW ARE YOU THE ONLY ONE HERE?? Uh... I'm too desperate to keep waiting so AMILLION I NEED YOU TO ACT AS MY THERAPIST”
“Ehn-neehhh!” (Well, well- Anby! Went out! Nicole. business! Neko..)
(Amillion dunno!!! but not point!!!)
(Therapist..?????)
“Hurry meet up in my room!! Make it quick!!”
(Amillion waddles into his room quickly, hopping up to shut the door.)
“Ehn-nehhh??..”(Amillion rubs it's eye and blinks at him.)
(Billy?.. What happen?.. what wrong?..)
Billy Sniffles.
A close friend of mine... confessed... He likes me...
Ehn-neh?...(Likes you?)
(Amillion tilts its head towards him.)
(Wha? Friend? Billy like friend back?)
“Nehn-neh, wata ehn-noh..” (Well, D-Don't cry! Amillion cry too! So Billy! Stay strong!! Talk to a friend...! Amillion waves it's arms as it frantically tries to get a point across with its limited language module.)
“IMIGHTLIKEHIMBACKBUTWHATWOULDTHISMEANFORUSISHEREALL
YSERIOUSDOESHEREALLYMEANIT?”
(Amillion lightly slaps him. This doesn't do any damage, except it's
Amillion's way of telling him to get it together!!)
Ehn-neehhhhh....(Bangboo equivalent of a groan..)
(Billy!!!! Cmon!! Inhale! Calm! Exhale! Relax!) (Then..talk!)
Billy sniffles some more.
“I don't know what to do... I've never had anyone like me that way before...”
Wada, ehn-nunah! (Billy! Shining shining!)
(Amillion lets out a little huff.)
(Practice, like how you practice Starlight Knights 100's of times!!
Then,tell friend! From your heart!!!)
(It keeps flailing while trying to hype him up.)
(Billy! Can do it!)
“...Things are a lot more complicated than you think, lil bro. But what if... What if that's been my problem this whole time? Making it more complicated than it should be? Back then, my first instinct was to run... That's not what being a Starlight Knight is about...”
“Clearing things up... That's the most important part we both need to address first. What happens later... I'll leave the ending up to fate...but for now, I need to gather the courage to tell him what I feel! Whether he rejects me or not, I WILL HEAR HIS FINAL ANSWER FOR MYSELF!”
Ehn-nah!!! (That's the spirit~~)
Just then Nicole walked into the room.
“I got here as fast as I could after I got your message, Billy! What's happening!”
Billy looked over with Amillion.
“Well. I needed relationship advice…”
Nicole looked over at Billy.
“…So that's what you… You know what, never mind who is the lucky person?”
“…You remember the guy I invited to watch Starlight Knight with?”
Nicole took a second to remember and nodded.
“Of course I do! The guy could barely fit through the door!”
——————————————————————————
Banyue was at Port Elpis. He always goes there to look at the sea to calm himself down. That was just when Billy sent him a message.
“I'm so freaking scared...@banyue12345 uh... Can we talk? We can meet up anywhere you want... I just want to see you.”
“Billy! Um... I'm in Port Elpis right now. If it's convenient for you... I'll wait for you here.”
“I'll be there quickly with my bike! Wait for me!”
Banyue put his phone in his jacket pocket and looked out to the sea.
Just then, the sound of a loud motorcycle cut through the silence. Then the screeching of tires stopping and Billy stood next to Banyue looking at the sea right next to him.
“You have arrived very quickly indeed...So... What do you want to talk to me about, Billy?”
Billy prepared himself before he spoke.
“... Nearly broke the speed limit to get here! But uh... Before I say anything else, I just want to ask what you meant by that one reply...That comment about having 'affection' for me?”
Banyue’s mind was thinking of things to say but, he decided to stay true to himself and speak what was on his mind.
“ ...l guess I was a bit vague, huh? Sorry, I should have been clearer. What I meant was that I have really tender feelings for you, Billy. Feelings I don't have for anyone else. I like when you're around, when you talk to me about... everything. I.. I like you.”
Billy looked over to Banyue in shock. He was completely stunned and slient.
“Ah…are you okay… you seem quite shocked. I knew it was too good to be true…”
Billy grab Banyue’s arm.
“…That's because I am! You're telling me that the coolest guy around LIKES me that way?? I'd be kicking my feet in joy and burst into song but... Why would you choose to like me?.”
“Huh? What do you mean? You're making it sound like I have no reason to like you! I like you... because I like you! You're the only one who makes even my heaviest thoughts feel... not so heavy.”
Banyue turned towards Billy.
“...And you think I'm the coolest guy around?”
“Stopstopsstop talking like that!! And of course I do! You're someone l've come to admire a lot recently... You're gentle while knowing you're strong, you choose to be kind when you could be feared instead...”
Banyue’s fans started spinning fast.
“ Billy... Oh, your words make me feel like my systems are about to short-circuit. B-but in a good way! Strange, isn't it? But that's just what you do to me. And I wonder... Do I affect you the same way?”
They both started at each other. The two intelligent constructs heating up every second.
“ Do you… Uh do you wanna uh wanna binge watch Starlight Knight wirhhe me... Uh... Just the two of us...?”
Banyue grabbed Billy’s hand.
“Y-yes, I'd love to! It'd be a real pleasure...”
“Coolcoolcool…”
“Cool indeed…”
Banyue opened both his arms wide and hugged Billy. The heat made their fans work overtime.
“Billy… I love you.”
“…I love you too, Banyue.”
They couldn’t really kiss because they didn’t have lips but, they pressed their faces against each other like they did. The clank of mental touching together was enough for them.
The two let go and went back to the Cunning Hares hideout and the watched Starlight Knight until they both went to sleep. Billy sleeping on top of Banyue with Banyue’s arms wrapped around him as they slept.