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"Come on, DJ!! There are plenty of people out there that would date you."
Once again, the topic of DJ's less than stellar love life is brought up during a meeting meant to be focused on the occult.
"I could say the same thing about you, Eugene. How about grow some balls and confess to Mandy already?"
And, once again, the topic is immediately dropped once the conversation is turned around on Eugene. At least, that's what he thought.
"What's your type, anyways?" Eugene asks after at least a minute straight of sputtering. Now it's DJ's time to get flustered.
"I dunno." He shrugs his shoulders, trying to look put together.
Today in particular, the only people at the club meeting were him, Eugene, Georgie, and Daisuke - the original 4. Georgie was taking a nap next to Daisuke, who was half-listening to the pointless conversation and half-reading a book.
Superfish had been out today, said he just 'didn't feel like coming.' For a man so focused on keeping the core within DJ safe, he sure did skip a lot of school days. The school which, mind you, he only joined to keep DJ monitored.
Mandy, on the other hand, was actually sick. Eugene had almost canceled the meeting to check up on her, but decided against it once he realized the past two had been postponed for different reasons.
It was almost sickeningly sweet all the lovey dovey shit was. He was incredibly happy for his friends, of course, but he couldn't help the spike of confused jealously that ran through him when he thought about things like this. It's not like DJ was particularly worried about finding love or someone to settle with, in fact it very rarely crosses his mind. But when it does, it's weird how often the topic of Superfish is brought up in his thoughts.
Getting married to someone. . . Living with someone. . . Loving someone. . . It all feels so forced. Like it would be so much work for little reward, unless it's someone DJ was already friends with. Someone who he already has a close relationship with.
But all of his friends are off the table. It's not just that they're in a relationship or crushing on someone already, but DJ just can't imagine himself with any of them.
Besides Superfish.
He sighs and shakes that thought out of his mind as he pulls out his phone, hovering over said witch's contact photo.
hey. wanna come over td? i get home in 40 min
He types out the message absentmindedly, pressing send without even really thinking about it.
But it's confusing, all of DJ's feelings about the guy. It's almsot weird how much of his day is thinking about Superfish, specifically mulling over his conflicting opinions about him.
DJ had never given romance a second thought right up until the day they met. It sounds corny, but it's true.
Love at first magical fight, I guess.
His thoughts still.
Love?
Phones long discarded, Superfish and DJ sit on his balcony after midnight.
It's really, really fucking nice to talk to someone like this. About anything and everything, under the stars, without a care in the world.
"Eugene keeps bothering me about finding a guy to date." The words spill out of his mouth, annoyance seeping into his tone. Superfish huffs a laugh.
"He does to me, too." They stay silent for a moment, before Superfish continues.
"I hate all the attention I get. All these school girls fawning over me, hell a freshman gave me a love letter the other day. Gross."
DJ giggles. "I thought you loved the attention."
". . . Only from certain people." He mumbles, looking away.
Under the moonlight, DJ swears he can see pink dusting over the witch's face. He takes a moment to look at him. Really look at him.
Superfish's hair is let down and messy, having play fought with DJ earlier and overall having easily tangled hair. He was in casual clothes, one of the few times he dropped the uniform or suit was when he was sleeping over at DJ's house - though it was always stolen from his closet. The frame of his forearms could be made out in the dark, same as the shape of his shoulders. DJ lets his eyes drift dow--
Yeah, actually, let's move on to a different topic.
"What if we just pretended to date?" Superfish says, causing DJ to choke. "Like-- it'd get Eugene off our back and let me finally live in peace. Those girls aren't too fond of you, maybe they'll finally leave me alone."
"Pretend. To. . . Date?"
"Yeah. Like just tell people we're dating. No follow up questions-- I don't feel like answering follow up questions."
DJ laughs, a sound sweet and gentle to Superfish's ears.
"Sure. Let's fake date."
Superfish turns to him and smiles. It's genuine, unlike the cocky grin usually plastered on his face. DJ mirrors him, feeling his ears heat up slightly.
I'm absolutely screwed.
"WHAT?!"
Superfish and DJ's hands are interlinked in a way that feel natural, though it holds tension. He clears his throat.
"Y--Yeah. We've been dating for a bit, so. . . we're, uhm, telling you. Yeah." DJ wants to throw himself out of the fucking window. What was that.
"You. And. Sebastian?! Like the guy fighting off practically every girl ever?!"
"Yes." Superfish says, smirking slightly.
Eugene blinks. Daisuke shrugs. "Congratulations, thank you for telling us." He says in a quiet voice.
"Yeah, totally! I'm happy for you guys." Georgie pipes in, standing slightly behind Daisuke.
"Now Eugene is the only one who needs to suck it up and ask Mandy out." DJ shoves Eugene playfully, whose face is bright red.
"Okay, okay. . . let's go back to talking about the club. . ." the blonde mutters, taking a seat.
"See? No follow up questions. Told you they'd buy it." DJ mumbles in Superfish's ears, who grins and shrugs. "Guess we're convincing." He mutters back, bumping shoulders with the other.
DJ giggles quietly, barely listening to whatever bantering argument Eugene immediately gets in with Mandy the second she walks in the door. He rolls his eyes.
Once the meeting is over, Superfish is approached by a junior girl neither of them have ever seen.
"Ah-- sorry. I'm taken." He quickly interlaces his fingers with DJ's, smiling bashfully. The girl nods.
"I understand, thank you for your time." She says before walking off.
"Formal much. . .?"
"Girls are weird."
Neither of them mention the fact that Superfish doesn't pull away when she's long gone, and they stay with their hands together until they reach the witch's vespa.
"Hey, Superfish?" Superfish hums. "Have you ever thought about love? I guess it'd be different for witches, but. . . Y'know. I'm just curious. You don't have to answer."
Superfish takes a moment to think.
"I guess I haven't. Witches don't really center themselves around romantic connection, but I suppose it'd be. . ." He takes a second to think of his next word. "Nice."
DJ nods next to him as he climbs onto the backseat. "I just can't imagine myself with anybody new. Thinking about building up a whole relationship feels tiring, in a way. I think it'd also be nice, though. Being in love."
Neither of them speak for the rest of the way to DJ's house.
"Do you want to stay over again? Arun doesn't care, you practically live here now."
"Sure. Not like I'm keeping anyone waiting."
DJ nods before pushing open the door.
"Have you ever kissed anyone before?"
Superfish grins. "You're full of questions today."
DJ shrugs. "A lot on my mind recently. So, have you?"
"No, never."
"I don't know if it's the same for you guys, but for humans it's like. . . a huge part of romance. Kind of weird if you zoom out, we show love by shoving our faces together and swapping spit."
"Gross. The lot of you."
DJ laughs and shoves Superfish playfully. "C'mon. I can show you, if you want." The words spill out of DJ's mouth before he even realizes what he's insinuating. His stomach drops to his ass immediately.
"Show me? What, are you gonna tutor me on romance?"
"You might need it, fish boy."
"Likewise, human."
"Come here then."
Superfish blinks twice before realizing DJ's being serious, then shifts over closer to the brunette before they're face to face.
"You have really pretty hair, y'know."
"What is this, foreplay?"
DJ giggles. "Freak." He gently grasps Superfish's hands. "Uhm-- like this." DJ moves his hands up until he's cupping the witch's face.
"You're sure this is okay?" Superfish nods.
He leans in, head only slightly tilted. Superfish meets him halfway, gently pressing their lips together. It's not quick, but doesn't last as long as either of them want it to.
DJ never thought kissing was his thing, the one time he tried it with a girl in middle school it sucked horribly. Then said girl turned out to be gay, so who knows. But he never expected it to feel like. . . This.
Kissing Superfish felt unnaturally good, as if a blanket of contentment had been draped over him. The warmness of the teal haired boy's face felt so normal beneath his fingertips, and the way that Superfish had melted into DJ felt him feel way too many feelings that he does not feel like unpacking.
They, unfortunately, pull away after a few seconds.
Superfish looks away, clearly flustered.
Cute. Shit-- no. No this is not happening. He did not just kiss Superfish and like it. This is all a dream and--
"That's it?"
DJ blinks. "Well-- there's like-- making out and shit but that's a bit more. . . Heated."
"Heated?"
He shrugs. "Probably wouldn't feel great for you unless you were actually in love with me."
"Huh. You humans are weird." Superfish lets himself fall back on the bed, sprawling out over the sheets.
"Really?" DJ laughs. "You're gonna take up all in space in my bed?"
"You know you like it."
DJ blushes a bit too much at the comment. He sighs. "Maybe I do."
"I don't want you to leave when you get the core out."
A quiet night where neither of them can sleep befalls the two boys in DJ's bed.
Earlier that day, DJ had just nearly escaped death while attempting to get one of the ingredients. His lack of trembling and sobbing and throwing up implies he's still in shock. Or maybe he never valued his life that much anyways.
"What would I do instead?"
"Stay." The reply comes immediately. "Stay with me. Stay with the club. Stay with our friends."
A beat of silence.
"I don't belong here, DJ. I don't belong in your world."
"Then why does it feel so natural to have you with me?" DJ whispers, tears burning his eyes and blurring the edge of his vision.
Superfish sits up in the bed, DJ follows. Neither of them move for at least a minute, holding themselves up as the A/C churns out white noise in the background.
Neither of them move. Until Superfish does.
He lurches forward, grabbing DJ's hands as he desperately presses their lips together.
DJ tenses for just a moment before relaxing completely, Letting himself feel so much that he's deprived himself of feeling for months now.
It feels like everything has been moving so fast and so slow, like time had warped and bended to twist his mind specifically.
Everything feels incredibly real as Superfish's hands are on DJ's face and DJ's hands are in Superfish's hair. It's sweet and needy, as if the air they share is the only thing keeping them alive.
They eventually pull away for good and crumple into each other.
"Hey, Superfish?" DJ mumbles.
"Hm?"
"I love you. There. Now you can't leave me."
Superfish's hand squeezes his.
"I love you too."