Chapter Text
— “see you soon babes xoxo”
Flux had always kept his phone on either silent or vibration at most. There was just no reason to keep his phone with sound on lest he wanted to constantly get pinged on useless notifications to the point where he couldn't differentiate what was important emails or texts to rather pointless weather updates. (Of course not all of them were pointless, news on whether there was going to be an incoming thunder or snow storm is quite beneficial to Flux if it leads to him missing his lectures for the day or even week). And so, he always kept them off, save for his emergency contacts like his parents — like they'd ever call so frequently — or his siblings. Or someone like…
A melodic like noise pings from Fluixon's phone and he quickly reaches into his pocket to take it out , a small smile crossing his face when he sees who the notification is from.
Saps.
God where does he even begin? His heart thrums as the smile smile transforms into a splitting grin when he unlocks his phone. He must look like a madman smiling like this in the middle of campus traffic, but he just can’t help it! It’s Saps for goodness sake, his friend, his roommate, and his stupid stupid absolutely annoying lovable crush the size of the galaxy and beyond. Of course he’s gonna be happy! Who wouldn’t be? Flux opens his imessage, taking his time to read Saps’ message in careful detail.
Saps
Fluxxxxx
Fluxfluxfluxflux
?
Yeah?
Hi C:
Flux has half the mind to bark out a laugh in annoyance but one glance to his surroundings makes him incline not too lest he wants to end up on Sidefall News and be displayed as his college’s local insane student. Still, he can’t help but let out a small irritated yet amused chuckle.
Omfg.
Hi
What do you want Saps?
oh nothing
ok well thats jst a lie LOL
jst wanted to see if u could maybeee swing by sidefalls prty this afternoon?
Sidefall's party huh… If this was any other day Flux would had to decline, not wanting to deal with the headache of waking up the next dry, irritated and hung over and still needing to go to his morning classes. ‘That’s like asking for your day to be hell.’ But by some miracle, his professor had cancelled his class a day in advance so his schedule for tomorrow — well at least for the morning — was relatively clear. Free for him to work up on any work in advance of his classes.
Orrrr it could also be used as a way to sleep in to combat the lingering effects of a hangover. A technique that Flux will gladly take advantage of if it means having a few hours to fuck around and forget about foreboding projects and tests. He shoots Saps a quick text saying he’ll be there and is pleased to see his reaction.
GREATTT
Cya there Flux :DD
Cya Saps
Just as he’s about to close his phone for the time being he notices Saps’ messenger bubble pop up back again, a series of frantic texts coming in like waves:
IWATUWATIWAIT
DO OYU THINK U COULD ALSO STOP BY THE DOLLARSTORE
WE NEED NAPKINS
PLS
?????
Yes???
Wtf did you do Saps??
i may have fought in the kitchen
Saps
i threatened to bake again
Saps.
i may have lost the baking battle
SAPS.
WTF.
YOU FUCKING CHUD 😭😭😭😭
GENERATIONAL BRICK FFS
CHILL CHILL CHILL
PLS FLUX
THERES SHIT AND ICING ALL OVER THE COUNTER AND FLOOR
😭
Oml
Fine.
You owe me now btw
omg my hero
literally what will i do without you
my knight <33
Flux’s chest tightens and unravels all at the same time when he sees those hearts. It might not mean much to anyone, hell it might not even mean anything at all, but Flux is the kind of person to overthink everything. Especially when it came to things revolving just him and Saps. Every close interaction resulting in them leaning into each other’s touch, every shoulder nudge, every high five, every warm or sly smile that Saps had beamed Flux’s way, hell even the briefest touch of their hands together causes him to spiral.
All of it.
He can’t help but overthink it, he can’t help but to imagine a time where he and Saps are really dating, where everything wasn’t a guessing game of “Is this casual? Is this ok? Do friends really do this? Am I reading too into the lines here? Is there anything at all? Anything to nurture? To blossom?” Because God if he on the one off chance takes the gamble, decides that maybe he does have a chance with Saps and throws his shot, he’s afraid he’ll be wrong and that Saps really does see him nothing more than a close friend who he sometimes flirts with like it’s as easy as breathing, as easy as the sun rising and the moon setting.
He’s afraid of it all.
Lmao probably die idfk
LOLL u wish
you’d miss me too much wouldnt u
Flux swallows thickly like he took a bitter pill and downed it with black coffee.
Nope.
wtvr you say Flux
Lol
He shuts his phone off and proceeds on with his day, mentally preparing for the day.
Hours pass by like quicksand to Flux and before he knew it, Sidefall’s party started in roughly one hour and he was just getting ready. Curse his last afternoon class for going on so late into the evening, shitty campus wifi blocking everyone from accessing the canvas, he sourly thinks. He currently resides in his shared apartment, steam rolling out of his bathroom with his roommate no where in sight of the entire apartment. He looked for his phone since he heard it ring as he was in the shower, that familiar dopey feeling over washing him whenever he sees a notification or call from Saps. He unlocks his phone to see his unread messages from the man. Apparently he was doing some sort of pregame in Micro’s apartment and he had invited Flux to come with him until he realized he was either driving home or was in the shower. He sends Saps saying he’s Getting ready now and only needed a few minuets then he’ll head out.
It seemed like Saps had his hands glued to his phone because he messages Flux before the ravenette could even set his phone down on his bed.
Saps
ohokkok tgats perftect
lmk when ur abt to leaee me qnd thomas will pick u up
he said hes gnna be our DD so its fine
Oh alr
yes bro
There’s no way your alr drunk
lmaooo no u know me i dont get blsted that easily
tho im prolly rlly fuckimg buzzed rn tho lol
Of course you are💔
I’ll call you when I’m done
sweet
see you soon babes xoxo
Flux doesn’t have time to reply to the message, to brew over his feelings on it or even give a simple reaction reply to it before Saps immediately backtracks, texts messy and full of grammatically errors like he made the biggest mistake of his life.
wait fukfuckfuckfuk mb
proably shoudny call u that sry srry
unles uru fine with it but. i still wannan maek s ure yk?
sry can ou tell mi lkie
tweeaking out rn lol
😭
Flux has to swallow hard lest he wants to choke on his own saliva and die from hacking his own lungs out of his throat, but hes beginning to see the appeal to it when continues his definitely buzzed spiel of apologizes. He doesn’t care to properly read them and only sends a quick Nah it’s fine idm Saps before he throws his phone on his bed and gets dressed faster than ever. He only sees the reply a few moments later when he's putting his shoes on, his anxiety finally lowering down enough for him to face the inevitably reply.
oh kk
jst wnated to make sure cause
yeah
yk? wouldn’t want to maek u uncomftortable or anything
Nah I understand dw
Seriously idm Saps
You can call me any name you want and I’ll still answer you like the princely knight you think I am lolol
He doesn’t send the last one, too coward to do it and far too cringe for anyone other than him to see. He takes a deep breathe of air, finishes wrapping his shoe and tells Saps he and Thomas can pick him up now.
alralr
were coming
He quietly thinks that he needs to get drunk tonight if it means he’ll temporarily forget this entire conversation ever happened.
Even if it’s for a brief moment.
— will you remember this at all?
Saps lounges lazily on his bed, scrolling mindlessly deep into the night, only taking a few moments to really listen outside his room in case he heard the front door open, or his roommate just magically appearing out of thin air. He’s…worried. Flux has been gone for several hours now and it was getting late, like late late. And it’s not like– Ok. It’s not like Saps is excessively worried or– or thinks that Flux can’t handle himself this deep into the night. He knows he’s probably out with the Conspiracy, probably doing something stupid and somewhat reckless or just partying and having fun. Flux had invited him earlier in the day but Saps had to decline — ‘This essay won’t write itself Flux!’ — which caused Flux to roll his eyes in that infuriating way, a way that makes Saps heart pitter patter and his stomach to fly. God what will he do when they graduate? He banishes that thought immediately and takes a side look at Flux’s digital clock, purple LED lighting illuminating the tiny clock.
He twists his mouth.
2:17AM and Flux is still not back.
He has half the mind to call the guy, hell even Thomas or Snowbird to ask if he — and by proxy the others — if everything was alright. Fortunately he never has to make that call as he hears the sound of their front doorknob rattling, a muffled voice coming through the door and getting particularly louder as his roommate finally figured out which way doorknobs turn.
“Saps? I’m home.”
He has never felt such relief before in his life.
“Yo!” Saps calls out from the bedroom, getting up and smoothening his clothes — what for? It’s the middle of the night for christ sake! — as he makes his way outside. Once he leaves his room however he’s at a lost of words from the view that befalls onto him.
Flux. Leaning against the front door. Face flushed a rosy pink as he keeps his hands inside his hoodie pocket, a sleepy smile spread across his face — he looked like a tired cat in a weird yet unmistakable way — as he lolled his head from side to side slowly. A small smile that quickly switched to a bigger one once Flux heard Saps room door open, the figure coming into full view.
“Saps!” Flux beamed uncharacteristically, quickly jolting away from the door and making his way to him. There was a lot of things that could’ve happened once Flux reached Saps. He could’ve walked past him while talking, he could’ve stopped in front of him and crossed his arms or placed a hand on his hip, he could’ve even playfully punched him! But never, not once in Saps’ life would he ever expect Flux to hug him straight up. To engulf him in a tight bear hug despite being a few inches shorter than him. — He mentally notes that Flux was currently standing on his tippy toes to roughly be the same height as Saps — His cold nose hit Saps’ throat as his arms looped around his neck resulting in Saps freezing in place.
“Hey Saps. Sorry for being back so late, got caught up in all the drinking..” Flux murmured, burrowing his face deeper into Saps’ neck as his stance wobbled, clear evidence of him currently being out of his mind. Saps could do nothing but swallow painfully, his hands being left useless up in the air. While physical touch between the two wasn't uncommon, especially in the privacy of their own apartment, it was usually something more…. platonic looking and Saps would almost always be the first one to initiate the touch as well. But this? Flux’s lips pressing deep into Saps’ skin as he basically cuddles him standing upright? This is anything but platonic.
It felt like a wife embracing her husband as he returns from war kind of feeling.
Saps doesn’t know what to say nor does he know what to do. Should he laugh? Scream? Jump around giggly? Stand motionless until he eventually reduces to a puddle of liquid on the floor? Should he hug Flux back? Just as strongly? — Glancing down Saps could see the hem of Flux’s shirt had risen up quite a bit, revealing unblemished skin where his hands would usually go if he was holding his waist — He promptly throws away the thought to the nearest mind dumpster, never to be seen again. Saps clears and licks his dry lips, putting a layer of normalcy so he doesn’t combust into a million flames.
“Nah it’s– it’s fine. How– How was the party?” He croaks out, looking up at the ceiling and praying to any God or Deity as if they will come down and personally save him before he evaporates into pure oxygen.
Apparently the Gods listed this night to be “How many tries will it take before Saparata finds the nearest roof and jumps off it?” game because Flux finds the bright idea of jumping up onto Saps, scewing their balance as all of Flux's weight is now dependent on Saps himself, his grip on the Saps' shirt tightening as he haphazardly wraps his legs around his torso, similar to how a baby koala or a sloth wrapped itself on a tree.
Somehow, by the grace of the Gods, it is only by pure skill and reaction time — not instinct. Dear God not instinct, because they never do this!! They have never been so close to one another that Saps can feel Flux’s breath in his ear before!! But he would be damned if he said he doesn’t want this to happen, if anything he wished they hugged more, lingered more — that Saps catches Flux before he falls onto the ground like legos. His hands tightly wrapping around his thighs even as the threat of them falling onto the ground hard is a possibility. Saps squeezes his eyes shut as he regains their balance, all while Flux giggles and snorts like the little fucking asshole he is.
SweetmotherofpearlcanZeushimselfstrikemedownbeforeIendupkillingmyselfinfrontofthismanrightnowpleaseandthankyou.
Once Flux finds a appropriate time to stop laughing — whether it be at his roommates quiet malfunction or because he simply felt giggly — he steps down from Saps’ arms, a warm and pleased expression written on his face like Saps was his poet, artist, and muse all at the same time.
Saps wants to faint.
Flux chuckles one more time, dusting off imaginary particles off of his arms and shirt collar. “Sorry sorry, I’ll stop the horseplay for now.”
Horse play???
“You’re probably tired from staying up all night waiting for me huh.” He continues.
I’ll stay up for a thousand full moons just for you but you wouldn’t know that.
“I’ll—” A yawn cuts him off, eyebrows knitting together as tiny tears form on his tear ducts, “I’ll see you in the morning yeah? Night Saps.” He says, giving Saps’ arm a squeeze like it was natural or like he always wanted to try before retreating to their shared room, leaving Saps confused, starstruck, wanting, searching, needing. Needing answers, needing something, anything to ease the feeling in his stomach, heart, and mind. There’s two questions that linger in his brain, even as he gets ready for bed finally, and when sleep doesn’t come to him to the point he looks up at the popcorn ceiling.
Just what was that?
He turns his head to the side, admiring Flux’s rising and falling state as he snores softly, no doubt about to suffer from a hangover like no other when he awakes soon.
And what are they?