Chapter Text
After that, Heath just went home. He needed some time to process. He had a lot of questions; who was she, how long had this been going on, and most importantly, did she know? He couldn't get the answers right now and thinking about them would just get him spiralling. He got back to his house and just tried to fall asleep. It didn't work. By 2am he just gave up on trying. He'd stopped himself from spiralling. Now the main thought in his mind was: ‘I could really use someone to talk to.’ He thought about who he could call. Sterling would happily talk to him about it, but Heath didn't really want to talk to him. He knew it wasn't fair and that there was probably a good reason, but how could Sterling have waited that long to tell him? That seemed like something that you'd tell your friend right away. He got waiting till he was back from the mission, but why had Stirling seemed so hesitant?! If he'd learned that Kate was dating someone else he would've told Sterling immediately with no hesitation! Needless to say, Heath was a little ticked. He needed to call someone else, he'd snap at Sterling if he called him and it wouldn't be fair. Luckily, there was someone who Heath could call anytime and she'd help. He picked up his phone from his home world, and called his buddy Nia.
“Hey, what's up Heath?” She yawned after picking up.
“Hey Nia,” Heath replied, suddenly on the brink of tears.
“What's wrong?” Nia asked, seeming to immediately wake up. Heath pursed his lips, trying to keep himself together,
“Can I come over?”
“Of course Heath,” Nia reassured, her voice much softer than usual.
“Thanks,” Heath sniffled. He was very grateful for his MJWWT at that moment as driving or running in his state would be a very bad idea. He teleported to her place, where Nia was waiting at the door. She gestured him inside, and he gratefully went. As soon as Nia closed the door, Heath wrapped her in a hug and buried his face in her neck.
“Heath, what happened?” Nia asked, as she somehow hugged him tighter than he was hugging her. Heath pulled away just enough that she could understand what he was saying,
“Last night I went on my date with Mara, and some weird stuff happened when we got back, and then today Astra was avoiding me, so I tried to find out why, and it turns out Mara's already dating someone, and she didn't tell me, and now I don't know what to do!” By the time he was done, tears were running down his face. Heath felt Nia’s fists clench,
“She didn't tell you!? That's a first date conversation!!” Nia shouted. Heath shook his head miserably.
“Sorry Heath, I just can't believe you had to hear it from someone else… Who told you?” she gently probed.
“Sterling. He asked Astra about it. She told him and he told me.” Heath explained, dejected.
“Oh. I'm sorry you had to hear it from him and not from Mara. No wonder Astra was avoiding you…” Nia muttered the last part, but Heath still heard it. He tilted his head up to look at her,
“You're not mad that she didn't tell me. I mean she's always been closer to Mara than she's been to me, and she doesn't like getting people mad at her unintentionally, so I'm not mad, but this seems like the kind of thing you'd be mad about.” Nia sighed,
“Normally I would be, but in her specific circumstance, I get it.”
“What's her circumstance?” Heath asked, thinking if she had a specific place in all of this. Nia tilted her head back at him,
“Heath, you don't know who Mara's dating, do you?”
“No, I know she's a girl, but that's all I know.” Heath mumbled back. He dropped his forehead to Nia's shoulder. Then a thought struck him.
“Wait,... Is Mara dating Astra?” Nia nodded,
“Yeah,” she affirmed. Heath sighed with relief,
“Oh thank goodness.”
“That, was not the answer I was expecting,” Nia admitted.
“I was really worried she didn't know.” Heath explained. Nia smirked affectionately, that was just like Heath, worrying about someone else while his world was turned upside down.
“You don't have to worry about that. Astra definitely knows.”
“Yeah,” Heath nodded,
“That also explains why she was avoiding me.” Heath pulled himself off of Nia and wiped his eyes.
“Um, can I…?” he gestured towards her couch.
“Yeah, of course! Sit down,” Nia offered, shooing him towards it. Heath settled himself on her couch, sighing as he leaned back into it.
“Can I stay here tonight?” Heath asked. He wasn't quite ready to be left alone.
“Of course Heath. You can stay on the couch, or you know where the guest room is.” Nia smiled.
“Thanks Nia, I really appreciate it.” Heath smiled back gratefully. Nia rolled her eyes,
“C'mon Heath, you should know by now that you're welcome anytime.”