Chapter Text
Remedy was irritated. He had been ever since he met that prideful, arrogant scholar all those weeks ago. It was pissing him off. Ever since he first laid eyes on Anaxa, it was like he couldn't get him out of his mind. All he could think about was Anaxa. His appearance, his voice, his personality, his interests, his everything. It was starting to drive Remedy crazy.
When Anaxa offered to help him learn about some of the animals of Amphoreus, Remedy was surprised that he picked up on his offer. He hated leaving the room provided to the astral express crew members, he hated talking to people, he hated hearing people talk.
So why did he want to keep listening to Anaxa talk? Why did he travel miles to the Grove just so he could see him? He hated how it made him felt. All these feelings made Remedy want to throw up.
He remembered telling Stelle and Dan Heng about how he thought he was getting sick, that maybe he was dehydrated or needed more salt in his diet. Stelle consequently laughed until it looked like she was about to throw up. Dan Heng gave him a "are you seriously that oblivious to your own emotional state" type of look.
It was a crush. His stupid, dumb ass had developed a crush on Anaxa. This was his first time ever having a crush, but he heard that love was supposed to feel good, this felt awful. "Is that why people say they're lovesick, because love literally makes them feel sick?" He wondered.
He was so frustrated, but he couldn't figure out why. Why was this so called crush stressing him out so much? Was this why he wanted to basically drown in Anaxa's presence?
Whenever his heart rate sped up around Anaxa, he couldn't help but be annoyed by him.
"This is all his fault for being so stupidly... So obnoxiously... what's a good insult for this?" Remedy thought as Anaxa explained the dietary needs and restrictions of a dromas. He couldn't even pay attention to what he was talking about, all he could think about was how pretty his hair was. Anaxa kept his minty green hair in a ponytail over his left shoulder. How soft was it? How does he take care of his hair? What does it smell like?
"Please pay attention when I am speaking to you, it's basic manners to respect someone when they are speaking. I don't want to have to tell you for the third time." Anaxa said, noticing how Remedy was actively zoning out yet again.
"Jeez dude, Im sorry," Remedy said defensively.
His voice, god his voice. Remedy could listen to him talk all goddamn day. Hearing Anaxa address him directly like that was like music to his ears.
"You truly do have no shame at all, don't you? Staring at someone without even trying to hide it. You're supposed to be listening right now, not analyzing everything I do."
Remedy shrugged and turned his head away. "Well I was paying attention technically, I was just paying attention to you, to only you," He said. "And besides, you stared at me so much when we first met I kinda thought you were tryna turn me into stone! So you're allowed to stare at me but I can't stare at you? How is that fair?" Remedy asked.
Anaxa was only partially able to maintain his composure from being called out. It was true that he stared at Remedy a lot when they first met, but it was only because he was interesting. It's not every day you see someone dressed like a nurse with killing intent, especially if the nurse with killing intent is wearing all pink.
"That was different. I was simply gathering visual data on an anomaly which presented itself," Anaxa said in his defense.
"But... that's not the entire truth! You did much more than just — ahem, 'gathering visual data on an anomaly'. I remember all those questions you asked me, how you examined me, all those notes you took..." Remedy explained, turning back to face Anaxa, who felt flustered for being called out.
"You even commented on the way I smelled, Anaxagoras. I saw you writing it down in your notes. 'A sweet, cherry like scent with hints of dirt and blood.'" Remedy quoted.
"You are being absurd. That was simple documentation. Given the circumstances—"
"—Yeah I know, the fact that i'm what you consider an anomaly," Remedy said, cutting Anaxa off. "But did you know that I consider you an anomaly too?"
"I beg your pardon?" Anaxa asked, slightly bewildered by Remedy's confession.
Remedy laughed awkwardly.
"It's true you know... I've never met someone like you. Someone who annoys me with how much I think about them," he explained.
"And you thought about me a lot too, you once said it yourself... So is it so bad that all I want to think about is you, too?" Remedy asked, his question heavy as it lingered in the atmosphere.
Anaxa wore a flustered expression, still processing Remedy's words.
"You- You truly are very bold... I can say that it's a relief to see someone who's daring enough to say something as utterly audacious as that," He said.
Remedy shyed away. "I'm gonna be honest, it was more like word vomit rather than pure audacity..." He admitted. Playing with one of the pieces of hair which framed his face. "But... I wasn't lying..."
Remedy lifted his hands off his lap and hesitated for a moment before grabbing Anaxa's. He gently held them and leaned in closer.
"The fact that I don't know everything about you annoys me. You're so interesting that I wanna know all of you, and I'll let you know all of me in return. I want you to know all of me. I want you to know that..." Remedy hesitated, but then tightened his grip on Anaxa's hands.
"I really like you, I like you a lot!"
"What—?! You can't just— You can't just say something so forward like that without—" He was clearly caught off guard and rightfully so.
"Please, I know it's kinda— scratch that, really crazy to hear, but it's true. That's why you're such an anomaly for me as well, you're the first person in the universe I've felt romantic attraction to. I know that you don't have the feelings I have for you... and you don't have to, but please — let me feel this, please let me go through the motions of my own experiences with this."
Anaxa looked at him in complete shock. At first he didn't know how to respond to the shocking confession. This boy was strange on an insane scale. After a brief period of silence, he began to laugh once more, but softer this time.
"Doctor, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that you genuinely are one of the most unreserved, completely illogical people I have ever met."
Remedy sighed as he let go of Anaxa's hands. "I'm sorry, I'm still not used to how a society based off of emotion works yet. I was born in a test tube and raised in a hospital after all," he said bashfully.
"I never said that I believed it was a bad thing," Anaxa replied.
"You... Don't think so?" Remedy asked as he tilted his head.
"Absolutely not, in fact it just makes you more interesting than you already are," Anaxa said. "I could say that it makes me want to know all of you even more."