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The roaring rush of the waterfall sounded in the background, the sky dark and the air cool as the show grounds sat afar, silent in the night.
Quiet footsteps approached behind Mr. Hand, back settled against the stone of the outer cave and a cigar in hand as he stared off. Platinum took a seat to his left, unkept grass pressed flat under him.
Mr. Hand raised the cigar to his mouth, smoke fading into the air while Platinum shifted next to him, eyes glancing over at the bureaucrat before he averted his eyes to the dark blue above them, stars glimmering between the few clouds that lingered.
“… Can’t believe it’s fall already.” Platinum mumbled, making a weak attempt at small talk as the other one peered over at him. A faint smile crossed Mr. Hand’s face while Platinum admired the sky.
“Mm, really? I’ve been waiting to feel the breeze of this dimension again.” Platinum scoffed at that, feeling his body relax as he looked back over at Mr. Hand’s, returning the small smile.
“You weren’t gone for that long, it could’ve easily been worse than a couple of years.” He teased.
“Oh, really? Like you could’ve even handled a couple of months, you can hardly stand getting your hands dirty.”
“Ugh... don’t start.” He muttered, rolling his eyes and leaning back against the stone next to him with a smile.
Mr. Hand reached his hand out towards Platinum, offering the cigar before he was met with Platinum shaking his head. He shrugged and brought his hand back to his mouth, both of them falling into silence again.
Platinum peeked past the bushes and trees and gazed across the show grounds, feeling his stomach twist at the sight of it. They didn’t deserve him, especially his cousins. He’d get that stupid folder back soon, and he’d toss the three to the side like they did with him.
… But what did he want to do after that?
It was a stupid question. He’d been set on the same goal since the show first started. Everything would be his, he wouldn’t have to worry about being overshadowed again, but ever since Mr. Hand entered the picture... He didn’t know how he’d just go back to normal after all of this, that scientist was all he had. Could he really handle being on his own?
“… What’re we gonna do after… all of this?” Platinum asked hesitantly, gesturing to the surrounding property. Mr. Hand raised an eyebrow at the question, but he didn’t push any further.
“Well… I’m taking the lab back and fixing it up. I think it can still be put to good use. We’d figure it out.”
A short pause. “… We?”
“Mhm, you’d work by my side, wouldn’t you?” He looked over at Platinum, a smile on his face as he watched the taller one give him a flushed glance.
“I… I would, I just didn’t… Um, know if you’d really need me.” He murmured. It felt embarrassing to say, of course he’d stay by his side. Why would he doubt that? But the idea still made his chest ache. Maybe it was guilt.
“Who else would I bring with me? You’re a lot smarter than you act, I know that, but you make it hard to believe.”
“I was just making sure!” Platinum insisted, his face scrunching up slightly in frustration before he heard laughter beside him, grumbling and giving Mr. Hand an insincere shove to the shoulder. He felt like an idiot. Where else would he go anyway?
“You’re stuck with me, Plat, don’t overthink it. You’re starting to sound like someone else.”
Platinum tightened his hands in the grass, ripping out a few blades in his grasp. He didn’t want to think about Gold Ingot, or any of them, for that matter. “Don’t compare me to him.” He replied with an almost exhausted tone.
“Just saying.” Mr. Hand shrugged. “Would hate to see you turn out like him. I’d hope you don’t.”
“… I wouldn’t, but you still always seem to bring it up.”
The harsh tone made Mr. Hand tense slightly, eyebrows furrowing faintly before he replied.
“You’ve proved to be better than him, Platinum, what’s the issue?”
“My issue is that even when he’s not around, he’s all anyone talks about! Why do I still have to compete with him when he isn’t trying?!” Platinum sat up straight, his hands dug into the ground as he snapped.
“Maybe if he’s so worth keeping around, you can go and ask him to do what I can’t, since I apparently can’t fill that gap for you!” He felt childish for getting this upset over Gold Ingot, but he was all he ever heard about. Why didn’t anybody talk about him like that?
“I’m not replacing you, you know that.”
“Do I?”
“You should know it more than anyone else, sweetheart.”
Platinum froze and choked out an angry sob, curling his knees up to his chest and pressing his palms into his eyes.
“I hate you, you a-always do this! You try to make me feel stupid! I’m not, I know I’m not!” He pulled his palms away from his eyes, smeared black with mascara, to scowl at Mr. Hand, but he was met with a calm stare back. He hated that the most, freaking out over something and watching Mr. Hand keep his composure like Platinum was just a child throwing a fit. What would make him react? What would make him snap back at Platinum and tell him he was overreacting, make him stop?
“I’m not trying to make you feel stupid.” He replied easily, reaching over to wipe his eyes. Perfect makeup dripped down his face with his tears, looking angry and miserable under the moonlight. Platinum hiccuped quietly and closed his eyes as they were wiped dry, shakily scooting closer to Mr. Hand and opening his eyes once the rough hand left his eyes.
“You a-are…” He complained weakly, letting Mr. Hand lean into his shoulder as he cupped his chin with his right hand, a cigar held against his lips as he took a trembling breath. A kiss was pressed onto his cheek while he exhaled the smoke, sniffling and relaxing against Mr. Hand with a small cough.
“‘M sorry.” He mumbled as another kiss was planted on his jaw, eyes half-lidded with tiredness.
“Nothing to be sorry for.” He stubbed out the cigar on the stone and tossed it aside, using the hand to wrap around Platinum’s side and move the other one to cradle his face towards him. “I won’t mention him anymore.”
“Mm.” Platinum nodded and stared at him for a few seconds before curling up to his side, his legs draped sideways across Mr. Hand’s lap as he settled his cheek on his shoulder, his black blazer tainted with the smell of smoke and cologne.
They were gonna be stuck like this forever.