Chapter Text
A fierce wind whipped through the tiny patch of high grass as a little boy stomped through, swinging his sword left and right. Not sharp enough to cut, the sword simply knocked the grass aside, giving him enough room to guide his friend. “This way is safe, my prince,” the boy announced, his voice stern yet loud enough to scare away a small rabbit seeking shelter in the grass. The child thrust his sword forward and looked back, extending a welcoming hand to his fellow traveler.
Behind him, another boy, just a tad taller than the first, laughed as he caught his breath, reaching out to take his hand. He squeezed his tiny fingers around him, his other hand adjusting the craftily made cardboard crown atop his head. He hunched forward a bit, taking big breaths to counter the sharp uphill climb. “This mountain is steep, be careful on the way down,” the boy in blue then exclaimed, pointing his sword towards the base of the hill.
The two began their slow descent until gravity got the best of them, forcing the boys to pick up speed. The slope became too much for their little feet, and the knight stumbled over, taking his prince with him. They rolled down in a fit of fierce giggles, coming to an abrupt stop at the base of the hill. The price rolled onto his back, facing the grey sky with his arms and legs splayed out in the grass. The knight, on the other hand, immediately sprang to his feet, wincing at the grass stains smeared on the elbows of his white button-up. He dusted off his shorts and pointed his sword forward, about to trail off when a hand grabbed his shirt sleeve.
“Don’t leave, my knight,” the prince whimpered, and his valiant knight flopped back down into the grass.
The two quietly stared at the sky, moody clouds grumbling into view. Birds scattered by, dipping low to disappear into nearby trees. And although the wind picked up and the tall grass swayed around them, things were calm. The knight felt his prince take his hand. The two lay in a long moment of blissful silence. No cars and class bells, no yelling and doors slamming. Just a dreary, although peaceful, afternoon.
Small raindrops speckled the knight’s cheeks and he sat up, attempting to pull his companion with him. “My prince, I think it may rain,” he stated, his sword pointed to the sky. “We should return to the castle!”
The other boy frowned, his bright eyes closing in defeat before he forced himself off the ground. He brushed off his clothes, taking extra care in wiping the dirt from his knees, while watching his knight take off at full speed in the distance.
Slashing through the grass, the knight scared away any bugs and little birds that dared stand in their way. He stared up at the sky as a large cloud rumbled through, casting a deep shadow over their path. A crack of lightning followed by a loud boom ruptured the sky. The knight threw his hands over his ears, ducking into the grass. Rain started to pour as he stood, whipping around to reach for his prince’s hand.
But the other boy was nowhere to be seen.
“My prince?” he questioned, a slight tremble in his otherwise composed voice. Rain pattered against his cheeks and he hastily wiped it from his eyes. The knight stomped back through the grass, noticing some commotion up ahead. As he was about to swing his sword, he saw his companion lying against the ground, shaking uncontrollably. With a gasp, he dropped his sword and sank to his knees, panic erupting through his tiny body. “What happened?” he cried, his voice cracking as he hovered his hands over his friend. He wanted to touch him, to hold his face, but was afraid he might make it worse. “Did something bite you? What happened?!”
Tears streamed down his reddened face while his friend tremored violently in the dirt, the boy’s hands stiff at his side and eyes wide open. The knight scooted closer, attempting to rest his friend’s head against his knees, squishing his palms against his cheeks. “What’s wrong?” he continued to cry, his voice no louder than a squeak amidst the pouring rain. When it became evident that he couldn’t help, the knight carefully rested the prince’s head against the ground, jolting to his feet and sprinting towards the neighborhood on the other side of the tall grass.
The boy screamed, running as fast as his little feet could take him. “Mom!” he yelped, although his house was still many blocks away. Once he hit the pavement, his feet got the best of him and he toppled to the ground. His face hit the street, his palms scraping against the asphalt, but he sprang back to his feet, scrambling home. “Mom! Dad!” he continued to holler, shutting his eyes and running for his dear friend’s life.
A scream erupted from the grass behind him. He stopped, whipping around through the fierce rain. He stood silently, staring into the distance, reaching up a shaking hand to wipe away the blood on his face where he had hit the ground. “Edmond?!” sobbed the child in the grass. The knight stared down at his bleeding palm. “Edmond!”
“Edmond?” a calmer voice broke through the rain. Edmond inhaled sharply, finding himself sitting at the desk in his bedroom, staring blankly at the open book before him. “Hey, can I come in?” his roommate questioned as he stood in the partially open door. Eiden smiled, his eyebrows furrowed in sympathy as he leaned his head against the doorframe.
Edmond looked towards the door in a daze, suddenly aware of how hot it was. Even with fall right around the corner, it had been a painfully sunny day. He was still decked head to toe in a nice suit from earlier that morning. “That is fine,” he muttered, hastily wiping at the trail of dried tears against his cheeks. Since he got home, time escaped him. Edmond was unsure of how long he had been parked at his desk. He rested his hands in his lap, bunching his trousers between his fists.
“How are you doing?” Eiden questioned, coming up behind him and patting his shoulder. Edmond continued to stare at the almost empty desk, his eyes glazing over the open book, unable to even force a smile. “I know it’s been a really hard day, you know we’re all here for you when you need it.”
Feeling the pressure of his friend’s palm against his shoulder finally cracked an inkling of a smile against his lips. He glanced at Eiden with an understanding nod. “Do you need anything? A hug, maybe?”
“No, thank you,” Edmond replied. He released his pants and flattened them against his skin.
“Okay,” Eiden smiled back, giving him another gentle pat on the shoulder. “We were talking about tonight… Quincy is okay if you want to cancel the party. He never really cares about celebrating his birthday anyway.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Edmond nodded to himself, taking in a long, slow breath. “Please do not cancel on my behalf.” He tried to keep steady, but his shoulders trembled as he exhaled.
“Don’t feel obligated,” Eiden started, his hand gently rubbing his friend’s back. While the gesture was sweet, Edmond’s skin crawled, his patience running thin. He needed to be alone just a bit longer. “We would love for you to join us… but if you’re not up to it, that’s okay, too.”
Without looking up, Edmond nodded, giving another brief, “Thank you.”
After a long pause of silence, Eiden returned that short answer with a nod. “Let us know if you need anything.”
As the man turned to walk away, Edmond muttered, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize,” Eiden threw in while lingering in the doorway. He pressed on a heartbroken smile. “We get it.” The two exchanged another glance before Eiden took his leave, gently closing the door behind him.
Edmond remained in his empty room, a parade of voices sounding outside the door.
“Darling, is Little Ed okay?”
“Does Mr. Edmond need anything? I just finished making lunch…”
One after the other, each attempting to whisper, but their concerned voices were clear as day now that he sat alone at his desk. Locked away from all the friends who wanted to offer their help. He would be fine. He just needed some time to himself. He heard Eiden usher them away until Edmond was left in the distilled silence of his bedroom.
The sun poured in through the open curtains. Edmond stared at the dust floating through the intense beam of light against his desk. It had been an unusually cheery day outside. Early morning brought the beginnings of a crisp autumn with a calm breeze and gentle sun. It made standing at his friend’s funeral even more unbearable. Too beautiful a day for such things. He sighed deeply, shutting his eyes when the sun became too much.
Lucien’s death had been sudden, an accident that took his life almost instantly. The two met during college, hitting it off immediately and becoming close friends in that small time together. While Edmond tried to be cordial to everyone, many found his personality to be abrasive at times. So it was comforting to find someone he could truly call a friend as he began exploring his adult life. But while they had been close throughout college, their busy lives caused them to drift apart. Going against his father’s wishes to join the military, Edmond instead focused on a more personally meaningful career, but he often drowned himself in his work. And Lucien had found himself a beautiful fiancée. The two were set to be married towards the end of the year. But despite the bit of recent distance between them, Edmond was more than happy to take up his role as groomsman when the time came.
So the news of Lucien’s untimely death was devastating to say the least. While he was never close with his fiancée, only seeing her in passing at events, he mourned deeply for her loss. He was happy to at least find she had such a beautiful supporting family at the funeral. And of course, he mourned the loss of his best friend as well as the ever-growing space between them. He should have reached out sooner, the two only able to spare a phone call here or there over the past few months. But now he wouldn’t be able to speak with him again. Edmond swallowed, his throat as dry as his tired eyes. After an entire day of crying, he couldn’t anymore.
Later that night, Edmond finally cleaned himself up a bit, changing into a comfier outfit to join the others downstairs. For as long as he could stand, at least. He spent the entire morning around a gathering of strangers, people who knew his friend dearly, but very little of Edmond himself. While he stood there listening to everyone’s heartfelt stories of his departed friend, Edmond felt detached. Almost guilty that he was just as upset as the family and friends gathered at the funeral when he had unintentionally distanced himself. He knew Lucien, but not as well as those gathered to mourn his passing. He gave his condolences to the family and fiancée while trying to keep himself under control. Luckily, he had been an expert at concealing his feelings since childhood. It was only when he was alone in the comfort of his bedroom that he could fall apart. Perhaps a little socialization would take his mind off things.
Edmond poured himself a glass of water and joined the others in the large living room, quietly blending in while everyone chattered loudly. The birthday boy had already checked out of the party, fast asleep in a semi-deflated bean bag chair in the corner of the room. Unbeknownst to his lumbering companion, Topper zipped through the room, stealing drinks out of beer bottle caps and unattended plastic cups. He twirled around Edmond’s feet as the man tried to make his way to the couch against the far wall.
“Little Ed!” Blade chirped from his cross-legged seat on the floor, throwing his hands over his head in excitement. He flung stray cards into the air, letting them flutter around like confetti.
“Pay attention,” Dante grunted, firmly tapping a stack of playing cards haphazardly thrown in the center of the table. A fiery shade of red adorned his cheeks, empty beer bottles lined up on the floor beside him. His long hair hung from a messy ponytail, sweat gathering at the back of his neck from alcohol. Whatever drinking game they were playing, he was losing.
Olivine looked up from his spot at the table opposite Blade, a set of cards carefully concealed against his chest. He looked towards Emond with a rosy-cheeked smile. “Good evening,” he murmured, his voice soft throughout the booming energy of their hangout. Between the television, the loud music, and the one-sided argument breaking out between Aster and Morvay in the adjoining room, his delicate voice could barely be heard. “I’m glad you could join us.”
Edmond nodded as he finally took a seat against the couch beside Eiden, sinking back into its sad cushions and bringing his cup to his lips. Truth be told, even if he felt fine, parties like this never suited his fancy. He would indulge in some wine and the pleasant company of his roommates, but there was never a moment that went by that wasn’t fueled by pure chaos. Even breakfast was thrilling if they all had the moment to enjoy it together.
Yakumo scurried around the room with a trash bag, picking up stray bottles and abandoned cups. “There’s a plate with dinner wrapped up for you in the fridge, Mr. Edmond, if you decide you’re hungry,” he mumbled kindly, having to lean over to be heard. Edmond pressed on a smile and nodded in return, trying his best to be social. But standing amongst strangers in the bright early morning daylight had already killed his social battery. Maybe he should have stayed in his room.
Once Yakumo wandered away, nearly stumbling over a stray pair of boots, Edmond stared down into his cup of water. Eiden leaned over, bumping shoulders with him. “Thanks for hanging out,” he smiled. Edmond forced a smile in return before gazing around the room. He almost apologized for his silence, but knew that Eiden was understanding enough to expect the quiet at the moment.
Over the past few years, after graduating from college, Edmond moved into this large house with a few others he met during school. While it only started with a small handful of them, it quickly grew into a whole clan, about eight of them living under one roof with another three or so visiting enough that they should pay rent. Having so many bodies under one roof made rent cheap, but it also meant times of peace were far and few between. Many in the surrounding area assumed they were some frat house, but honestly, they were a group of friends who were happier together than living alone. While Edmond grew up in wealth and could easily afford to live on his own, there was something comforting about having a full home to come to, even if he wasn’t incredibly close to any of them. They were all friends sharing an unusual bond, but allowing anyone to get much closer than that sounded like a nightmare. Especially with a history of losing friends in painfully permanent ways.
Edmond watched the card game happening before him, not understanding the rules from a distance. But it was obvious that Dante was losing terribly, finishing off another drink before handing the empty bottle to Yakumo as he scurried past with his trash bag. “Lord jackass, I think you should call it quits!” Blade teased him, reaching out to pinch his burning cheek. Dante swatted at his hand, rolling his eyes as Olivine giggled quietly to himself behind the glass of wine. “I have you beat~!”
“Of course you would win a game where you are making up the rules,” Dante huffed, hastily swiping all the cards off the table and into Blade’s lap.
“Father, help me!” Morvay screeched as he scurried into the main room, taking a nose dive straight into Olivine’s chest. He wrapped his arms around his slender waist, burying his face between his pecs as Aster stormed in after him.
“Don’t you protect him!” Aster pointed a stern finger in Olivine’s direction, the priest only chuckling in return as he ran his fingers through Morvay’s messy hair.
As he admired the strange little group of friends, Edmond was startled when Topper pounced into his lap. The little guy peered over the edge of his cup, looking up at him with giant beady eyes when he realized it was only water. “Haven’t you had enough?” Edmond grunted, giving the stoat a two-fingered head scratch. Topper scaled his arm and slithered around his shoulder, giving him a little lick on the cheek before darting away in search of another drink to steal.
This house was filled with such unique and strange people, an array of dynamics between them. People tucked away in different parts of the house, enjoying one another’s company, or in some cases, getting on each other’s nerves. But at least it felt like a home.
Edmond stared down at his drink. He missed Lucien.
A body plopped down beside him on the couch, Garu’s entire body wiggling with puppy-like energy. “Edmond!” he grinned, wrapping his arms around his solemn companion. Edmond couldn’t help but sneak an arm around the small one’s shoulder, giving him a weak embrace in return. “How are you doing? Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine,” Edmond lied for his sake, although he knew he didn’t have to. No one expected him to be alright for a while.
“I’m happy you’re hanging out with us! You get to meet my friend,” Garu beamed, still aggressively rubbing his face against Edmond’s chest while tucked away in the crook of his arm. After a long while of affectionate snuggles, he finally let go, his entire body still vibrating in his spot.
“Your friend?” Edmond nervously looked around the room. Wonderful, more strangers to be cordial with.
“The one who knows Quincy and Kuya?” Eiden then chimed in as he took a swig of his beer.
Even better. Anyone who associated exclusively with those two had to be an absolute ray of sunshine. While everyone generally got along, there were a few who did nothing but pick at one another. It was often said that Quincy and Kuya were much like a divorced couple with a complicated history that no one ever talked about. So, certainly anyone who had a history with both of them together was difficult.
“Where is Kuya anyway?” Eiden threw in, looking around the room for their elusive companion. Kuya, along with Dante and Quincy, didn’t live in the house. But he had a knack for showing up when least expected, and in most cases, least wanted. Of course he wouldn’t be there when actually invited.
“He should be on the way with my friend… he got into town this morning by train,” Garu rambled. Edmond sank back into the couch, allowing the two to converse over him while he started to space out. He had only been in the living room for a few moments, but things were already overwhelming. No one would blame him if he went back to his room. He could try again tomorrow.
Closing his eyes, he pressed his thumb into his temple, a headache coming on. Eiden and Garu continued to chat over him, mentioning the empty room in the house. Something about paying Aster rent, Garu’s birthday plans in a month or so, and the holidays coming up. The topics flashed by, Aster was still yelling at Morvay. The television was too loud, the two were sitting too close. The front door opened, but with his eyes closed, Edmond didn’t see who came or went. Blade cheered, as he did when anyone entered a room, and Garu pounced up from the couch. One thing after another, each little action pounding further into his brain and scratching at his skin like fire. He needed to get out of here. He wanted to go to bed.
“You okay?” Eiden questioned, and Edmond opened his eyes, staring into the packed living room.
“I’m fine,” Edmond lied for about the seventh time tonight. He wasn’t fine. He wouldn’t be fine for a while. Normally, in the face of stress, he was much more composed, able to handle things with a level head. But after losing such a dear friend for the second time in his life, he wasn’t able to contain the agony building in his body. He needed to be alone. He absently handed his glass to Eiden and forced himself off the couch, beelining towards the stairwell to his room. At this point, however, Olivine and Morvay were sitting on the stairs talking amongst themselves, being more touchy than usual with so much alcohol in their system. Why was everyone in this house so painfully affectionate?
With a grunt, Edmond instead whipped around towards the kitchen where a sliding glass door to the backyard awaited him. His chest tightened and he pressed a hand against the hallway wall to steady himself, but of course, Kuya had made his entrance at the most inopportune moment. At the end of the hallway leading to the kitchen, Kuya lingered in the way as he chatted up Yakumo as the man busily cleaned the kitchen. Feeling like he may scream if he didn’t have a second to himself, Edmond fled the other way and rushed out the front door instead, slamming it behind him.
He took in a deep breath of still air, his back pressed into the front door as he closed his eyes. The temperature had dropped once the sun went down. The crisp, cold air was refreshing on his flushed cheeks. He exhaled, about to take a seat on the front steps when he noticed someone lingering on the far end of the walkway.
The silhouetted man turned his head, flicking his cigarette ash towards the ground. Edmond reached behind his back, his hand placed firmly on the door handle until he realized that the face staring back at him looked familiar. Painfully familiar. It had been years, but even through the dark evening and faded street lamp, he would recognize those bright eyes and little mole anywhere.
“Edmond?” the man muttered, letting his cigarette fall to the ground, stamping it out with the heel of his boot.
Edmond reached out, anxiously wringing his fingers around the ponytail dangling over his shoulder. Suddenly he was sixteen again, sitting in his bedroom as his friend climbed through the window. His prince crawled onto the bed, a bloodied nose and busted lip tarnishing his beautiful face. They had to leave, they had to run. They weren’t safe here. But Edmond couldn’t. He couldn’t leave home like that. The boy kissed him, tasting of iron and tears, leaving back out the window without his knight.
That was the last time he saw his prince.
And now, on the day he buried an important piece of himself, he finally found the best friend he thought he lost long ago.