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Unlikely friendships are some of the best parts of the internet. Those cute little videos with a parrot and a dog becoming best friends, you know the ones.
That's what Hummer believed anyway.
It's insane to think about sometimes. Your future best friend could be across the world. They could be right next door. You could be using their old laptop. You could be an ocean away. You could be- okay you get the point.
One thing Hummer didn't expect though, was to be on a ship with the Wifies. Okay yes, he did kind of lure him in with a fake screenshot and a wild claim… but look what it got him! He actually had someone take interest in what he was trying to accomplish- what he was trying to prove.
Even if at times the other man could be a bit of a…
Hummer read the paragraph of the book in his hand for the fifth time, his fingers gripping the book as his thoughts drifted to the same thing again and again.
He glanced up at the topic of conversation and tilted his head. Wifies was leaning against the wooden railing of the ship, just watching the ocean in that annoying nonchalant way he does everything.
He looked deep in thought, the excess fabric of his bandana flowing through the wind.
Wifies was an interesting man. It felt like he carried secrets to the world that nobody else knew. He always had a look in his eye that hinted at something underneath that monotone voice and massive ego.
Deciding not to be a creep and just stare, Hummer grabbed the edge of the bookshelf, using the leverage to stand up and make his way over to Wifies. He stood next to him, looking around the ocean for something mildly interesting so he looked just as thoughtful as the man next to him.
…
Okay maybe this wasn't the best idea. Who goes up to someone just to stand with them? That has to be weird. Oh my God Wifies must think he's weird. This is totally awkward right? Maybe he should just go sit back down and wither away. How do you talk to people??
“Are you…okay?” Wifies glanced at Hummer, his eyebrow raised. The sudden question caught the taller man off guard, causing a nonsensical mess to leave his mouth before he got any proper words in.
“Huh wha? Haha why wouldn't I be? Just dandy actually!” Hummer swung his bent arm across his chest, the awkwardness so evident it felt like the fish started swimming away just so they couldn't bear witness to the pathetic sight.
Wifies huffed a laugh, a smile tugging at his lips. He turned around to instead lean his back against the railing, glancing up at the darkening sky.
“I don't know. Just felt appropriate to ask… to fill the space y'know?” Wifies shrugged, his eyes dragging back to Hummer. “What were you reading?”
Reading? Oh-
“Oh it's ‘The Sorrows of Young Werther’. It's old and if I'm being honest I wasn't really processing any of it.” Hummer laughed awkwardly, rubbing his upper arm.
Wifies nodded and they both just sat there wordlessly.
The deep blue stared at Hummer like a judgemental best friend. Honestly, he would do the same thing if he was the water.
Okay, crash two waves if you think I should jump off this ship, crash three waves if you think this isn't hopeless.
“Lotta blue.” Wifies mumbled, tapping his fingers against the wood.
“Yep.”
“It's getting dark.”
“Yep.”
This is seriously the saddest conversation Hummer has ever had.
“We should probably go to bed.”
“Ye-”
“Do not.”
Hummer accepted defeat and he made the short walk to the bed. Sitting down on the edge of the mattress felt like giving up on making a friend.
It was stupid really. Wifies was just here to prove himself right. There is no such thing as the Leviathan. That's what he'll believe until the sun sets in the East.
Hummer just wants Wifies to believe right? There's no need for him to be friends. So why in the world is he so desperate for a connection with the man across from him?
The waves crashed thrice against the hull of the ship, but was lost to the sound of Hummer's own thoughts.
Hummer tilted his head up as he noticed Wifies approaching.
“You look distressed… I think.” Wifies sat down next to Hummer, much to the latter's surprise.
It felt like the taller man was being scrutinized with the look in the other's eyes. Hummer was definitely not a book but Wifies was trying so hard to read him like one.
With no response from Hummer, Wifies nudged him with his shoulder.
“Don't let Levi see you down, he might not want to come out.”
Hummer couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. It wasn't even that funny, but combined with the stupid comment and that awkward teasing grin on the other's face, it was inevitable that something would slip out.
“That is- oh my word…” He laughed again, and this time Wifies joined him, turning his head away sheepishly.
Hummer hunched forward slightly, still giggling with the other man as he looked his way.
Wifies’ laugh wasn't awkward this time or just there to fill the space. It was genuine, and something about that made Hummer's heart skip a beat.
“Good to know I'm still funny.” Wifies said with a grin, a look of corny smugness written all over his face.
Hummer probably should've taken the opportunity to deflate the other man's ego but he liked the way Wifies was looking at him. Not as a crazy theorist but actually as someone worth listening to. It was a foreign feeling to Hummer.
“Yeah…”
“Yeah…?”
The two weren't great at conversations, but could you blame them? Neither of them were thinking how to continue the conversation. The first and only thing that crossed their minds at the same time was,
How do I kiss this guy?
And by some providential gift they both had the courage and bravery to just go for it.
Wifies hands came up to gently cradle the bottom of Hummer's frame, the plastic was cool to the touch, an effect from the night air surrounding them.
But oh did it feel so warm when Wifies pressed his lips to the glass. It was awkward and experimental but Hummer's body was already heating up at an alarming rate.
Before Wifies could pull back, Hummer grabbed his wrists gently and held him against his screen, letting the shorter man feel the warmth he evoked as their foreheads touched.
“Hummer? I think you're smoking.”
“Oh- you think? I… wow… really? Nobody's ever-”
“No you're literally smoking.”
Hummer yelped and started flapping his hands to cool down his head.
“Ohmigodohmigodohmigod-”
The embarrassment of the situation proved to not at all help with the heating problem, and it definitely did not help how Wifies started laughing.
“I didn't know that could even happen… are you okay?” Wifies moved his hands back to their placement on Hummer's frame, an annoyingly smug smile on his face.
Hummer took a deep breath and nodded. He hesitated for a minute before leaning in and pressing his screen against Wifies temple. A mock kiss.
Now, Hummer and Wifies were overheating, but neither were interested in moving away.
“Would you kiss me again if I was a fish?”
“You ruined it, Hummer. You ruined it.”
Hummer never thought this would be the outcome of that first email, the first conversation.
But that's the beauty of unlikely friendships… could he even call it a friendship now?