PEACH PIT

「 ☆ 」 Kanade, perceptive as she may be— capable of picking apart most people at a glance: to build or break as she sees fit —doesn’t catch the veiled meaning in Braidyn’s words. Doesn’t so much as blink as he tries to fix an assumed mistake. Instead, blinded by her certainty that she knows her friend— how could she not? they became a pair when they were SIX —she takes what he says at face value. Thinking Braidyn incapable of keeping secrets. At least, when it comes to her… He does hate to be alone and she had the good fortune of happening to be the only other kid there when he was.

It had been a shock, to say the least. When Braidyn first came over. All oversized clothes and oversized curls and an oversized charisma that immediately put Kanade on edge. Certain this boy was trying to steal her sister. Ready to do whatever was needed to keep that from happening. Luckily for both of them, Braidyn wasn’t disappointed to hear that Hibiki wasn’t home ( the older twin spending the night at a friend’s house, where the ❛ no boys allowed ❜ policy confidently kept Kanade at bay ) . If anything, he seemed excited about it. Maybe because it meant they were both left on their own. Maybe because… it meant they could both choose not to be.

Regardless of the reason, whenever he came over after that day— he sought out her. Even when she changed over time, no longer feeling the need to hide behind false modesty or a demure demeanor… Growing more confident, wariness giving way to warmth and a genuine care. Braidyn didn’t mind the changes. Embraced and encouraged them all. Even when it meant Kanade didn’t act as ❛ nice ❜ as she used to. Letting some of the uglier parts of her show, yet never aimed toward Braidyn. She doesn’t know who she’d be without him. She doesn’t want to know.

At least even if he decides to cast her aside… he’s changed her enough to where she never WILL know.

“You’re fine, Knockout. Don’t worry about it. You can always just use my stuff.”

The offer is thoughtless, obvious. Of course Braidyn will share with Kanade. Why wouldn’t he? If it ends up meaning that later his stomach knots at the sight of Kanade in his pajamas, he’ll live. He doesn’t even think of that for now. Just like he doesn’t think of how the nickname, which comes from Kanade’s initials, K.O., might sound flirtatious to outsiders. He has a nickname for everyone. Even if Kanade is just Kanade in his head, it would feel way too intimate to use his first name out loud all the time.

He dribbles the ball idly, comfortably, less as a game and more as something to do with his hands. Kanade could probably steal it back. Braidyn doesn’t think he will. 

It occurs to Braidyn that the days are only going to get shorter from here, and the two of them should probably do something with their daylight. Especially since the TV has been picker lately about what it means to hit it “just right” and make it work, and the gas stations are stricter about their loitering policies once school is in session. Not that Braidyn is gonna invite Kanade to the gas station, even if it is a kinda nice bike ride and you can get sodas for less than a dollar. No, it’s not impressive enough.

He likes impressing Kanade a lot. Makes him feel all proud in his chest, like he did something right for once, like he won. Plus something else, something he hasn’t placed yet. 

「 ☆ 」 Kanade is never late... Not when Braidyn is involved, anyway. There are few people in the world who are worthy of the relentless way she cares for them. Which means there are only TWO and truthfully, Kanade would be lying if she said Hibiki was ❛ worthy ❜ of it. More-so, Hibiki happened to be the only viable option. The only connection Kanade wanted. Felt she needed... Until her twin wasn't.

Braidyn Shapiro is worth every effort and MORE.

Unfortunately, there is an issue with Braidyn... He doesn't know she's a girl. It's not his fault. No one else does either. Kanade hadn't even known before the aid of years of confusion and self-reflection. Nowadays, it's not a new revelation. It's one she's been sitting on for... a while. Only recently, there's been a rising urge to confide that aspect about herself to her best friend. A temptation she's been battling for weeks; the most ferocious altercation between her heart and common sense taking place that very morning. Kanade internally debating for HOURS on if she should even meet up with Braidyn for their scheduled hang-out session

Eventually, she decided to go... If things go poorly— provided she retains the courage to tell him —she can't afford to miss any chance to be around him. Hence Kanade jogging up to her friend with a wave of her arm and an unassuming smile upon her face. Just a ❛ boy ❜ on her way to hang out with the most important person in the world... Trying to seem as though she's not memorizing every aspect of him. From the way he smiles to the specific shade of his jersey.

❝ Sorry... Had to help Hibiki with something. ❞ Lie flows effortlessly— as they always do —through light panting and an apologetic but not guilty smile. Rolling her eyes, she adds with an amused chuckle, ❝ You know how helpless she can be. ❞ That's another good thing about having a best friend; she can talk about her sister without the need for a veil of false reverence. Braidyn would never tell anyone.

He's tried to just not think about it, or to rationalize it enough that it doesn't bother him, but it never works. After all, Braidyn has other friends who are good looking. Abraham is sorta pretty for a boy, even though Braidyn would never say it for fear of making him... what's the phrase again? Dis-something. The one where he feels bad about being trans and starts wearing more hoodies for a few weeks. Limp Dick is kinda cute, too, just not so cute that Braidyn ever really thinks about it.

But Kanade? Kanade is pretty in the way the love interest in a movie is pretty. Soft lighting, slow motion, only-other-person-there-even-in-a-crowded-room pretty.

He's also Braidyn's best friend. And a guy. And Braidyn Shapiro doesn't like guys. He spends way too much time in locker rooms feeling nothing about his teammates' bodies to like guys.

So when Kanade manages to steal the ball despite being way shorter than Braidyn, there's no time to waste staring at the way his bangs fall across his face or to bask in his smile. No. Braidyn has to stay in the moment, which means letting the moments pass far too quickly.

"Of course I missed you too much."

Stop. Rewind. Those aren't the kinds of things he can be saying.

"I mean, come on. If I missed you at all it would be too much. You know how much I hate being alone."

That much is true. It's one of the unfortunate side effects of having had Kale as a built in companion for most of his life. Braidyn hates being alone. It's a small part of the reason he and Kanade got so close back in first grade- the torture of just sitting alone with nothing to do would always motivate Braidyn to ask the kid down the street to hang out. And since Kale left for college, Kanade has been doing overtime to fill the void. Thank G-d for that.

He lunges for the ball and misses. That wouldn't normally happen. It's because it's Kanade. Braidyn always seems to get clumsier around him. He lunges again, and this time he gets the ball.

It’s good music, he’s right, but Yuu is getting a little bit frustrated. Still, he listens in, focusing on the music. And then they’re starting again. A little annoying, but the song being repeated hasn’t lost it’s charm at all. “Mm, I can hear the strings now.” Barely above a whisper, so the song isn’t too interrupted again.

"I love music so much. I mean, who doesn't? But I'm just so excited that I've found something that has me inspired again!"

He beams at Yuu, glad he decided to trust him with opinions that would be embarrassingly passionate had they disagreed.

“Woah.”

Braidyn looks at her, head cocked like a puppy, heart racing. He’d prepared himself to help her through something, or to listen and not talk too much, or to celebrate with her. But he wasn’t ready for her to just go off on how much she likes him. Girls don’t do that. People don’t do that. Or, they do, but about Braidyn the carefully curated pretty boy who’s just barely suggestive enough in his jokes to get teenage hearts racing from afar. Not about… Braidyn Shapiro. Braidyn Shapiro is just some guy, made of jokes that fall flat and too much love and fists through drywall and all the least glamorous parts of fame.

But Kanade likes that. She likes Braidyn Shapiro, who’s her boyfriend even when he’s not airbrushed.

Insane.

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「 ☆ 」   Braidyn Shapiro is, by far, the most adorable person in the world.

Kanade will gladly argue that point with anyone, even her past self who had been CERTAIN people like him couldn’t exist. Those who are considerate and caring and charismatic... and not driven toward her sister or simply away from her, whether Hibiki is even part of the equation. For as long as Kanade can remember, she’s known that she was destined to be hated. If it wasn’t her own sister tearing her down, it was the people around them. Or worse, praise and adoration thrust upon her so long as she acted a certain way. Went against the very core of her being, beaten down into the subservient doll that was apparently worthy of love.

No one could ever love her for who she really is... No one but Braidyn, anyway. Although Kanade knows even that isn’t entirely true. Despite her claim to trust him, there are secrets she STILL keeps close to her chest. Admissions that could make him look at her as a monster instead of the ‘ kind and gentle ’ girlfriend he’s built her up as in his mind. Not that he’s wrong. She is kind and she is gentle, and she is every bit of the loving person he’s witnessed. But people DO contain multitudes... and some of her ‘ parts ’ may not be as easily accepted as her prettier aspects. Not that Kanade is ashamed of these blemishes. Far from it. 

But HER feelings on the matter aren’t what could ruin the best thing she’s ever had.

Braidyn is about to offer to tell Kanade everything there is about sports, but she keeps talking. He doesn't mind. He likes her voice and the words she says to him.

And then she's saying words to him that he likes more than anything she's ever said before. Touchdown.

Of course he kisses her back. Kissing Kanade is probably one of the most awesome things Braidyn can think of, up there with winning the superbowl and going platinum and beating Kale at literally anything. Kissing Kanade is like... what's the phrase? Supernova neon sublimity? Some mashup of words that he saw Bam Bam scribble on a napkin when he was trying to write a love song and that kinda stuck in his head. Not well enough, obviously. But kinda.

Unfortunately, like all good things, kissing Kanade has to end. When it does, Braidyn gives her one more quick brush of their lips and then bursts into the biggest grin, so wide and hard (haha, wide and hard) that it hurts his face. They love each other. It's not really surprising, but it's beyond incredible to have said it out loud.

"I love you, baby."

“Okay, FIRST of all, I was really good, Future Shapiro. And you appointed me cause I stop at nothing, I actually care about the damn game, and you want me so bad you can hardly look at me.” He’s so smooth. Hell yeah.

"Hey, at least I have an excuse to be tired. You try living with the Flynn-Fletchers and tell me that you don't get worn out by those lovable idiots." Beck smiles, before hopping straight up onto his desk, crossing her legs, and making sure that she takes up his entire field of view.

Shit. She is kinda right. He would like to see her with her hair down. Honestly, he’s enjoying the sight of her with her hair up enough as it is. What can he say? He likes girls who can kick his ass.

“Isabella? Really? No offense, Beckham—” (and yes he did come up with that nickname right now. Pretty good, huh?) “—but her eyes are never leaving Phineas. You could show up in a sexy outfit with roses and she’d just regift them to him. But me? You’re right. I’m crazy for you even just letting your hair down. Seems like an obvious choice to me.”