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It was 2 in the afternoon in a crowded place with people in cosplays. Stalls were everywhere, selling their merchandise - posters, anime figures, and Wemmbu swore he saw some D&D dice somewhere. He remembers Zam telling him how she misses playing D&D with her friends and that one bit they did with their podcast a few episodes back.
A single tap on his shoulder made him look from behind, and there he was. His fellow protagonist from that scripted SMP Spoke had the idea of creating.
Parrot smiled at him, holding up the hand he touched Wemmbu with. "What's up, Wemmbu?" He greeted. "Didn't think you would be the kind of person to go to these conventions."
Wemmbu snorted. "I didn't think you'd be here, dawg." He walked, knowing Parrot would take it as a gesture to join him in roaming around the place. "Thought you were too busy to even hang out with us."
Parrot's shoulders slumped as he sighed. "Believe me bro, this is the only day I'm free right now." He ran his hand through his hair, almost bumping into a person in the cramped space of an art convention. "Our school has a booth here. They're promoting our art program, though I doubt people would come considering..."
"Right..." Wemmbu nodded.
Sometimes, Wemmbu forgets Parrot is still continuing his studies while making Minecraft content at the same time. Doesn't make you wonder why he and Wifies became close friends.
"Wanna just... stick together?" Parrot asked, his voice almost inaudible. "I mean, it's way better than just being by yourself."
They continued on exploring the place, spotting some cosplays of their own Minecraft skins with their most famous duos. There were other cosplays of their friends there too. There was a Yungy cosplayer walking around with a Nobara cosplayer, people taking a photo of everything they see as if it was their first time there, and the announcer, who was the host for the event, which most people pay no mind to.
Wemmbu flinched forward when a random person bumped into him unapologetically. Obviously he got annoyed. Stupid people with no sense of morality, even he apologizes to people. He was grumbling, fixing his shirt when he noticed Parrot wasn't by his side anymore. He was met with a sea of people with vibrant colored wigs mixed with natural hair.
Shit, he couldn't even scream his name. If he does, Parrot would get swarmed by those parasocial fans constantly lingering in the comment section of their videos. Wemmbu knows Parrot's fans are just as bad as his, and thank the gods people haven't recognized them yet.
Scanning though the crowd was a total nightmare, considering Parrot just blends in like he was just some dude looking for merch from his favorite fandom. Nevertheless, he fought through the crowd, enduring every bumps until he saw the familiar black tee that screamed lifesteal.
Parrot was also looking for him, he was already holding a Wemmbu plushie that he was sure was discontinued before it was made into production. He was scanning the crowd, as if Wemmbu was that hard to spot, until their eyes met. And Parrot took that chance to run towards him, stopping right in front of Wemmbu, who was just looking at Parrot with a dumbfounded expression.
"There you are." Parrot let out a relieved sigh. "I thought you ditched me or something, bro." He laughed. That usual quiet giggle you hear in every single one of his videos dating back to his School SMP ones.
Wemmbu took offense to this (not really). "I was trying to find you." He defended himself. "I'm used to seeing you in game, not irl, dawg."
His eyes landed on the plushie snuggled up in Parrot's arms, then at the man himself - who had this ridiculous post-giggle expression on his face, his gaze at Wemmbu kind and gentle, unlike when they record their videos and that they're enemies on the eyes of other people.
Parrot looked through Wemmbu. Something behind him intrigued this bird so much that his eyes immediately lit up upon spotting it. He didn't even give Wemmbu a chance to ask about it before his hand was grabbed and was dragged towards the booth, which was thankfully, just three steps away from them.
Thankfully the cosplayer in the way was kind enough to move When Parrot turned around.
The booth was just between a booth selling anime merch and an actual cosplayer's booth. Like the two booths, this one was also really crowded.
Merch. There were merch of them with their Minecraft skins stylized as people would make them in fanarts. There were also merch of their actual skins too, their player heads, a sword, a fish bucket, a mace, and a spyglass.
Parrot pointed at those keychains specifically. Just their iconic items. Then he looked at Wemmbu with a cheeky grin. "Those who know, know." He said, pointing out their subtlety.
Wemmbu could feel his cheeks flush. At this point, he's trying to suppress his feelings like his own character does. Except in real life, Wemmbu can't just hide it by muting himself in game and just let others assume. This time, people can see his face.
The artist behind the table was already catering to Parrot, glancing over at Wemmbu from time to time. Probably noticed their linked hands.
It's not like it meant anything, Parrot probably only did because they got separated. Besides, it's normal between friends to just hold hands, and not... intertwine... their hands together...
...
Wemmbu felt every space between his fingers filled with Parrot's own, squeezing his hands with enough force to not let Wemmbu get yanked off from him easily.
Parrot was already discussing prices to the artist, picking up their items without a care in the world. But it's fine. It's one of the rarer free times Parrot has, let him have his fun. It's not like he calls Derapchu instead of just Wemmbu for the majority of Parrot's after school activi-
"Here."
Parrot's voice pulled Wemmbu away from his chain of thoughts, untangling their hands together only for him to hold the back of Wemmbu's hand to drop the pixelated mace on it.
"I thought I'd give you this."
Wemmbu could only stare down at the acrylic keychain on his palm before looking up to see Parrot already putting his spyglass keychain on his bag for display.
Okay, does Wemmbu put it on display too? They don't hang out often as much as Parrot and Wifies does every end of the month. He only stared at it before putting it in the pockets of his denim before he could admire Parrot's face.
All that mattered to Wemmbu right now, is that they have matching keychains. Sure, it was just their own in game items, but Parrot gave it to him nonetheless. And Parrot also bought the spyglass keychain, so they match.
Justice duo.
Oh what a lovely name.
Then Parrot pulled out the netherite sword and the fish bucket keychains, only meant for their fellow protagonists.
Of course it's going to be a UU Quartet thing rather than a Justice duo thing.
"I'll give this to Spoke when I get home." He heard Parrot mutter.
...
...
It's unfair really. Totally quite unfair that Parrot and Spoke have been neighbors for months now, that their moms get along really well like they've known each other for years.
"I'll mail this to Flame." Parrot then, put the sword keychain inside the smallest paper bag Wemmbu had ever seen and just shoves it inside his bag.
"Whatever you say, bro."
The ever so oblivious Former King of the Unstable SMP took Wemmbu's hand again, and Wemmbu hated how it immediately made him feel a little less bitter. Ever so casually, Wemmbu put their fingertips together instead, slowly sliding in between fingers as they intertwine.
-------
It was a long day, with Wemmbu and Parrot going from booth to booth and somehow ended up watching a live panel in the middle of it with artists from Wemmbu's favorite manga. Wemmbu only ended up buying three things for himself, and Parrot somehow managed to get a Light Yagami and Ryuk shirt (His obsession with Death Note lives after two whole years).
It was already 5pm, and they both decided to grab something to pass their hunger. For such a huge crowd, Wemmbu could count themselves lucky to even have found a table near a stall selling potato twisters.
And for some reason, they started playing Electric Love on the speakers.
Wemmbu and Parrot were sitting just next to each other, sharing Wemmbu's screen watching Tiktoks while they ate. For no reason at all, Wemmbu refused to let go of Parrot's hand, and Parrot thankfully, thankfully complied and just went along with Wemmbu's demands.
"You know what this reminds me of, Wemmbu?" Parrot's voice was almost inaudible, blending in with the noise from the passing crowd and the music playing on the speakers.
Wemmbu leaned in. Another gesture for Parrot to continue.
"It reminds me of that trend where you kiss your best friend to this song on camera."
Wemmbu almost squished Parrot's hand if not for his self control. He looked at Parrot with a neutral expression on his face. Heck, he's only convincing himself that he has a neutral expression on his face.
"I think I remember that." Wemmbu immediately said.
"baby you're like lightning in a bottle-"
"Right? I remember my for you page was full of them." Parrot complained.
"You make your own algorithm bro, that's on you."
"Bro-"
"Parrot do you consider me your best friend?" Wemmbu immediately cut him off with that question.
"I can't let you go now that I got it-"
"What? I mean, we've known each other for years." Parrot mused, shrugging his shoulders in the process. "I mean, I do consider us as close friends. We do scripted content together bro." He chuckled.
"And all I need is to be struck-"
Wemmbu stared at Parrot, putting his phone down on the table and made Parrot face him entirely. He looks at Parrot's lips, a little red from the cold drink he just sipped.
"By-"
He doesn't want the camera. What would the people say when they see two guys kissing in public through a cheesy ass song that was made years ago?
Nothing. This was a Fan Convention. Everyone is woke here.
"Your electric-"
Wemmbu didn't say another word to Parrot. He just leaned in, a little too slowly with Parrot's stupid face still not getting it.
"Wemm-"
"Love!"
Wemmbu grabbed him by his nape and pressed his lips against Parrot before he could even say his name. Screw what everyone thinks, he's just participating in a trend! Besides, it's not like Parrot didn't melt into the kiss a few seconds later.
'Holy shit, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god-'
Parrot's lips were still a little cold. His lips were a little wet from the drink, yet he could still feel how chapped Parrot's lips are despite it.
The noisy crowd almost drowned out the song. Wemmbu pulled back seconds later, their faces still close together with his hand still settled on the back of Parrot's nape. Their hands still intertwined together, but now, it was Parrot who was holding on a little too tight.
Wemmbu's heart was hammering against his chest, his face a little flushed, a little embarrassed, and a little satisfied with the outcome. He got to see Parrot's flushed face, much more flushed than his own cheeks.
"Bro..." Parrot's voice almost cracked as he looked away from Wemmbu, turning his cheek at him. "I didn't-."
"You didn't what, Parrot?"
"I didn't expect you'd do that in public. Oh my god, Wemmbu..." Parrot covered his face with his free hand and leaned forward on Wemmbu's shoulder.
He could see Parrot's flushed nape - something Wemmbu found really cute. His own heart was pounding, still is, and he is very scared and anxious that Parrot would somehow hear or feel it on his jugular.
"So unbelievable." Parrot muttered, his hand still clenching on Wemmbu's. "Completely out of no where, dude- you could've warned me!"