Chapter Text
Wifies and Derapchu go to the exact same high school. They go at the exact same time, they have almost the exact same classes, they have some mutual friends, and they are friends. They met through Parrot, who practically pushed them together during one lunch at school because he had been friends with both for far too long.
That was the first time Derapchu remembers meeting Wifies, and WIfies knows that. He knows it for a fact because that’s what Derapchu brings up when asked how they met. He knows Derapchu is wrong about it, but he doesn't correct him. He doesn't correct him because he has—what he would like to classify as otherwise but really can’t—a crush on him.
Wifies, at a young age before he even knew the word, assumed himself to be pansexual. He just thought he'd fall in love with someone at some point, it was just a matter of who and when. Although, he hadn't really had many crushes over the years.
The first time Wifies remembers meeting Derapchu was years before. Before Wifies knew Derapchu as anything other than a classmate, before Derapchu even acknowledged that Wifies existed. They met two years before they were properly introduced.
Wifies still remembers seeing Derapchu for the first time. Wifies watched Derapchu drop his books in the hallway and he helped him pick them up for him. Derapchu muttered a few thankful words of gratitude and made his way to class. After that interaction, Wifies was almost intrigued, curious. For a while, he just observed him. He wanted to figure Derapchu out. Before they really met, Wifies thought Derapchu was weird. He was too clumsy, he was too loud. But above all of that, he was so much more. Wifies decided to watch him more closely, learn about him. What is it that makes Derapchu special? Because oh, is he special.
He watched for two years. Two full years and unconsciously collected every piece of information that he could about him. First it was his eye colors, which Wifies noticed immediately. One was blue and the other brown. They were the most beautiful shades—Like the most exquisite diamond and dark weathered copper.
Then he observed his mannerisms. The way he moved his hands so excitedly when he talked, how he walked with confidence but not too much, how often he said “um” or “uh” when he needed to stall because he didn’t know what he was going to say next, how when he was really focused he bounced his leg, stopped for a few seconds, and started again. Wifies noticed all of it extremely quickly, but that alone wasn’t the problem.
The problem started near the end of year two when he started purposefully pursuing information. Wifies no longer just watched and stored away habits or quirks he found interesting, he looked for things to remember. He actively searched for information to keep hidden away in the deepest crevices of his mind to make sure he remembered everything he could about Derapchu. Because he wanted to know everything.
Wifies was never a big fan of using too much social media until he realized it could help him get information on Derapchu. He then made accounts on multiple different apps just to be more up to date on his life. He found out a lot that way. This included Derapchu’s favorite cafe, which he became a regular at just to see him there. Wifies found out even more about Derapchu just from being at that Cafe with him. Things that dive deeper into his personal life, things that he wouldn’t post online. Even if he wasn’t exactly talking to him.
He knew that one day he’d be able to talk to Derapchu, no matter how long it takes. He knew that one day, he’d have a chance to learn even more about him. He’d be able to get into his mind and know exactly what he loves, what he hates, what he does every second of the day. He’d know his favorite place to be, his sleep schedule, his favorite games, what he eats, what he drinks, how he feels about the world. Wifies would know everything.
Wifies knows this behavior, he knows it’s a little bit obsessive. Well, it’s really obsessive. He’s known for a while. But when he actually thinks about it for more than a second, he doesn’t care. It’s not like Derapchu would ever find out about this, because WIfies wouldn’t allow it. He’d be discreet about everything, he’d grow closer to him without letting him find out. He’s not too stupid to figure it out on his own, Wifies is just too smart to let him.
He hopes he’s smart enough to not let him.
But, all that's pushed to the side for now, because Wifies and Derapchu are friends, and they’re both sitting at lunch together having a rather delightful conversation. The whole table seems happy and the cafeteria air is strangely freeing.
“So like, you’re pretty smart and Parrot’s pretty smart. If you guys were to team up and murder someone, do you think you’d get away with it?” Derapchu always had interesting hypotheticals. The table always enjoyed hearing them, too. Especially since they added humor to each day that felt just as boring as the last. School wasn’t the same without someone like Derapchu to make it more interesting. That’s part of the reason why Wifies loved him so much.
“What kind of question is that?” Wifies asked, feigning innocence. His head laid gently on his hand, elbow sturdy on the table.
“Bro, what?” Parrot added, snickering. “In what situation would me and Wifies need to murder anyone?" It was a valid question. Wifies and Parrot didn’t exactly have many enemies. Well, at least not any that they’d go so far as to kill them.
“Ehh, just answer,” Derapchu insisted. His hands were pressed together dramatically, like he was plotting against his enemy and this was his way of gathering useful intel.
Wifies rolled his eyes, sitting up straighter and crossing his arms, “Well, I suppose if we were to commit a murder, It’d be well thought out. Depending on who it is, we could definitely grab some information.”
“Uh huh...”
“And me and Parrot could surely come up with some sort of plan to pull off the murder without getting caught. I’d say we could even frame someone,” Wifies replied. His eyes drifted to Parrot, who had food stuffed into his mouth, but nodded his head in agreement at the hypothetical.
“Would you kill for me?” Derapchu questioned sarcastically. Clearly it wasn’t meant to be serious, just a funny little joke to crack at the former statement. It was his weird way of fake flirting, which they did often. Wifies knew this, but his throat still tightened and the steadiness of his breathing still turned just slightly stuttered and he wanted to answer truthfully and thoughtfully and not as a joke. But he couldn't let Derapchu down just because his thoughts pushed a little too deep.
Wifies immediately fixed this mishap and chuckled. “I’d kill for you,” he answered nonchalantly. “Don't know about Parrot, though.” Wifies said it like a joke, like he didn't actually mean it, because that's what you do when you're put in a situation like this. You laugh through it. Because when your best friend tries to do a bit with you, you finish it. Because it's not normal to feel like this about one of your friends. Because it's Derapchu, and Wifies doesn't want to mess this up.
The table giggled, but Wifies was not laughing inside, because what he said was the truth despite the sarcastic undertone. But Derapchu's grin grew wider and that was really all that mattered to Wifies. That Derapchu found it funny.
Parrot looked closely at Wifies before seemingly brushing whatever thoughts he had away and adding to the conversation. “Hey, if there was a good reason I'd kill for you too,” he chimed in. “And I'd cover it up so well.”
The table laughed at the defensive ring in Parrot's voice. It was an interesting conversation, to say the least. But all the laughing didn't silence the thinking in Wifies’ head. Parrot had definitely noticed something, which wasn't strange at all. He notices things. But more than that, he wondered if deep down Derapchu actually wanted the answer to that question. If he did, Wifies should have noticed, but he was too distracted by Parrot’s contribution to notice it in his voice and too surprised by the question to see it in his face. So, he pondered. He thought of all the reasons Derapchu would just be joking. He found a lot more than why he wouldn't be.
The rest of lunch was a blur to Wifies. It’s not that he was purposefully ignoring the table, he was just zoning out. Sometimes a boy just needs time to think.
As the day went on, Wifies noticed Parrot continuously looking at him. Parrot was watching him for the rest of lunch, he was watching him for the next class he had with Wifies, and he was watching him in the one after that. Every single time he catches Parrot looking at him, the boy smoothly covers it up with a wave and a small smile. He knows Parrot is thinking about something regarding him, and Wifies really doesn’t want to accept what it may be. But he does have an idea…
After school, Parrot, Wifies, and Derapchu were all walking home together. It was a routine that happened daily. Parrot and Wifies lived on the same street, while Derapchu lived just a bit further from the school.
“Shoot, looks like our turn is coming up,” Parrot announced as they indeed got closer to where him and Wifies needed to part ways with Derapchu.
“Awh man, you’re right,” Derapchu said, realizing he’d be left to walk home alone yet again. Nothing out of the ordinary, though. “Suppose I’ll see you guys tomorrow then, yeah?”
Parrot hummed in agreement, “Later, Derap!”
“See ya’,” Wifies said.
The first thing Parrot mentioned once Derapchu was out of hearing distance was the joke mentioned earlier that day during lunch.
“I can’t believe Derapchu asked if we’d kill for him earlier. What an unusual thing to say, right?”
Wifies chuckled at that. Admittedly, it was out of nervousness from the topic. He hoped Parrot didn’t notice. “Yeah, pretty strange. But that’s Derapchu for you.” Parrot watched Wifies’ face closely when he responded, and Wifies knew that Parrot understood exactly what was going on. Which was really unfortunate.
“Yup. I mean, pretty deep topic. I would kill for a lot of my friends though, I’d just need some convincing and a really good reason.” Parrot added.
“Yeah.”
Thankfully, he changed the topic after that, though Wifies knew he probably had all the information he wanted in the first place. Unfortunate.
Wifies got home and immediately went upstairs. Surely something like schoolwork will distract the boy. It's more important anyway, he can't have all of his thoughts taken up by some guy.
…
Okay, not just some guy but whatever. That's not the point.
Studying works for a while. Then he runs out of material to study and does homework. Then he realizes he won't have anything to do in class if he continues, so he goes to Youtube. You'd expect a teenage boy to have more interesting topics on his feed, but most of it is escape room puzzles or documentaries. YouTube works until bed time.
Later that night, while laying in bed, Wifies mentally recapped the day’s events. He thought about Derapchu and his question, Parrot and his clear skepticism, and the realization that maybe he was not subtle at all. Then again, Parrot is just observant, he figures things out. Surely it was a one time mistake, something that won't happen again.
Yeah, definitely.
…
Wifies pushes his face deep into his pillow that night.
And as much as he tries to convince himself he wasn't, he was kicking his feet just a little.