#kanadianwithashippingproblem

YOU SURE CAN! This is my first time writing just mullette (I’ve done some lafburrcules) but the ship feels chill and flows kind of naturally to me. 

Also, to everyone: prompts are closed as of now! I’ve gotten 7 all total, which is great! But I want to go back to my own works while also not leaving anyone hanging. See y’all next prompt post. 

9. Not knowing how to sew but trying to fix a torn shirt because it’s their s.o.’s favorite

Lafayetteloved wearing his boyfriend's clothes. Hercules being just a bitshorter and a little more than a bit wider made his hoodies and teesand pyjama pants only a size too wide.

“Justdon't rip them up,” Hercules joked, taking the habit in goodstride. “Some of that's home-made.”

Lafayettetook his oath seriously, even if it did make Hercules snort andgiggle adorably when he knelt and solemnly swore with one hand to hisheart. Which was why his current predicament was so worrying.

Hegave the stray cat a rueful look. “This is your fault,” He said,to the animal that didn't understand language and couldn't possiblybe blamed for the tatters it made of his shirt, not when Lafayettewas the one who scooped it up suddenly for a hug. The cat flicked anear, not impressed in the slightest. With a twitch of the tail, itturned and fled down the street.

Lafayettefrowned. It was okay, he could fix this. He just had to get home, getthe shirt off, get the blood off the shirt... everything would befine! The damage wasn't that bad, just two parallel tears from wherethe claws had hooked through cloth and into chest. It couldn't bethat hard to sew two ripped edges together!

Peoplekept shooting Lafayette strange looks as he rushed home. Bloodoccasionally dripped off on the sidewalk. Lafayette held the shirtout, trying not to smear more blood into it. It was all a bitdramatic- Lafayette could barely even feel a sting.

Hegot home, and thankfully Hercules was not yet visiting- though he wasdue in an hour, so Lafayette had no time to waste. “One step at atime,” Lafayette muttered to himself, slipping his shoes off anddarting for the laundry sink. With a quick motion, the shirt was off.He turned the tap on with one hand and reached for laundry soap withthe other.

Washingthe blood off was easy, Lafayette knew how to do that. It was almostfamiliar, even, with how often they all got into scuffles. Under thesoap and bath of hot water, blood lifted from the cloth, fading topink in the water. Lafayette drained the sink.

Nowfor the hard part. Lafayette had no idea how to sew. It couldn't beall that difficult. His dear Hercules fixed Lafayette's clothes allthe time- and he would never claim his Hercules' work as anything buttalented genius, but the repairs always looked simple.

First,a needle. Or maybe not. Didn't Hercules use the sewing machine forsuch jobs? Lafayette knew he had one in the house, from when he'dbriefly considered taking up sewing to try and impress Hercules. Inthe end, Hercules had asked him out before the machine was evendelivered, and the rest was history.

Lafayettenever claimed to be a smart spender, he just had the money to affordit.

Thesewing machine was covered in dust. Lafayette carefully brushed itclean, and pulled out the cords- including a foot pedal, curiously.Lafayette loved staring at his Hercules while he worked, but he'dnever paid attention to how the machine operated, too busy staring athis boyfriend's lovely focused face, or the way he stuck his tongueout just so at a particularly tricky part. 

Lafayette sighed.He was getting off topic. He readied the shirt, plugged in the cords,and lightly tapped the pedal- the needle went down and up, but didnothing else. He pushed it harder- still nothing. Was it broken?Lafayette inspected more closely.

Right,there was no thread. That was a thing. Lafayette laughed at himself,keeping the mood light instead of contemplating the suddenhopelessness of how little he knew. Lafayette knew he had bought someof that too. He reached into the storage box. There were about adozen spools, more or less, in a variety of colours. Lafayette chosethe one that matched the shirt, as close as possible.

“Now,to thread it.” Lafayette hummed, and stared at the machine. If hismemory served, the spool went up stop, but how did it thread?Lafayette studied the machine, looking for some kind of sign.

Lafayettebegan to wonder if he was a bit out of his league. He reached intothe box for the instruction manual, and got to work.

--

Herculesknocked on the door, but walked in when there was no answer. Itwouldn't be the first time he was too busy to get the door, and plusHercules knew he was expected. “Laf? Honey?” He called, but therewas no answer. Hercules took his shoes off and padded further intothe house.

Atthe second call, there was nothing. On the third call, a muffledthump and an extra muffled curse. “Laf?” Hercules felt a hint ofconcern work its way into his head. “You okay?”

“I'mfine!” Lafayette poked his head out from his bedroom. His voice wasshrill and loud and the very definition of 'not fine'. Herculesapproached slowly, hoping it was a simple matter of a spill or messof some sort. Lafayette was a bit touchy about his house'spresentation, even when, or perhaps especially when, it was justHercules. “Seriously! Don't come in!” Lafayette's voice hitchedand wavered, ever so slightly.

Hercules'heart picked up. Something was definitely wrong. “Hun, please letme see? What's wrong, you sound upset.” He reached the door, butLafayette was holding it half closed, with a wild, panicked look onhis face. “Whatever it is, I can help! It's okay!”

Lafayettewavered a moment, trapped between an assurance and breaking down. Thebreak down won out, and he threw the door open. “Oh my god, Herc,I'm so sorry I didn't mean to do it, I swear!” He was heaving, nearhysterics. And there was dried blood all over his naked chest.

“Ohmy god, you're bleeding!” Hercules lifted his hands uncertainly,mind racing. “What happened? Did you get into a fight alone? Laf,are you okay? DO you need the hospital? Or, you can't go to ahospital? God, what happened, what-”

Hewas cut off by a wet snort. Lafayette giggled and teared up at thesame time. “I forgot about that entirely! Nothing of that sort iswrong, Hercules, please calm down. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to panicyou.”

Thoughconfusing, the words were a comfort. Hercules forced his breathing toeven out. “You sure you're okay?” At Lafayette's nod, Herculessighed in pure relief. “Alright then. What's the actual problem,then?” Because there was clearly someting.

Lafayettetipped his head guiltily. “I promised not to tear your shirt, butthere was this cat... I know it's your favourite shirt, I tried tofix it. I'm so sorry.” And with that, he stepped away. Herculespeered over his shoulder.

Therewas a sewing machine, one Hercules didn't even know Lafayette had.The sewing machine was a tangled mess, the sewing thread set up allwrong. Beside it sat a shirt Hercules recognized. Hercules steppedinto the room. He did not recognize the messy clumps of thread, anapparent attempt to secure two tears, but really only a success atattacking the front of the shirt to the back.

“Thatis a mess.” Hercules commented, a little impressed despite himself.At Lafayette's sniffle however, he quickly amended it. “Honey, youtried your best. I'm not upset, honest.”

“ButI ruined your shirt, and then ruined it more trying to fix it?”Lafayette wiped quickly at his eyes.

“It'sjust a shirt,” Hercules comforted. “And besides, I can still fixit. You haven't done any permanent damage, and even if you did, Istill like you better than any shirt of mine.”

Lafayettesmiled, tiny and shy. “Even your favourite?”

Herculeschuckled. “Laf, you're my favourite. Now let's fix you up, and youcan tell me the whole story.”