#rono

...

1.

Noise still doesn’t know quite how to feel about Roman.  It’s not that he hates him or anything.  Roman hasn’t done anything to him, that wouldn’t be fair.

Or, he hasn’t done anything to him since nearly killing him with a sword when they met, but Noise feels it’s safe to say they’ve all moved past that by now.

That does not, however, under any circumstances, mean they are prepared for Roman to carry them around.

“Noise, you’ve gotta ride piggyback on one of us so that we don’t get confused about specific watery footprints,” Roman said.

What?

Their disbelief must show on their face, because Roman shrugs.  “Or you could take off the boots.”

“I’m not taking off these boots,” Noise snaps.  He is not going to walk barefoot around a city, there’s any number of things he could step on.

“Alright, come here then,” Roman says, and before Noise can protest, Roman scoops them up and maneuvers them onto his back.

Noise blinks, surprised at the skill.  “You’re… strong.”

“Well yeah, I’ve worked on a farm all my life,” Roman says with a grin up at him.

“A farmboy?” Noise asks, starting to smile a little despite himself.  Now that they’re really considering Roman, those arms are definitely not displeasing to look at.

“Uh, farm-man.”

“Mm-hmm,” Noise said, leaning a little closer towards Roman.  Maybe he won’t mind this so much after all.

 2.

“Noise, no questions asked here I go!”

Noise yelps as Roman hoists them up towards the deposit box, but Roman quickly catches their feet and settles them on his shoulders, and despite themself, Noise isn’t really all that worried that Roman is going to drop them.  His arms are steady, he’s standing steadily, and he got Noise up here with ease.

Noise feels his cheeks warming, and he quickly starts looking into the deposit box so he can hide his face from Roman.  He manages to turn his mind back to the mission now that he’s not directly thinking about how he’s doing this, and after a second he pulls out some blue and red flower petals.

“Alright, bring me down,” they call to Roman, which Roman seems to do with even more ease than before, and Noise is then set on the ground.  Which is definitely a relief.  He was absolutely getting really tired of riding— traveling on Roman’s back.

They hand the flower petals to Roman, who seems to recognize them.

“We saw these when we first came into the city,” he says, glancing at Youngblood, who nods in agreement.

Noise sighs in frustration and rubs the bridge of their nose.  “We find the trail, we lose the culprit.  We find another trail, and this pranking thief slinks away again.  Now the trail’s cold.”  They sigh again.  “We need to report back to Flow and have the band fan out for any sign of this culprit.”

He walks out of the vault, trying not to stomp to reveal how frustrated he really is.  Roman and Youngblood thankfully follow him, and Noise starts them back towards the castle.  Hopefully they can make some kind of progress once they get there, though the idea of admitting to Flow they need help leaves a rotten taste in his mouth.

Oh, well.  It’s not like things can get any worse.

 3.

Dancing with Roman is surprisingly easy, especially for someone who admits to not knowing what he’s doing and seems to scramble when first pulled into things.  Noise does tease Youngblood, and they absolutely want to do just that, but admittedly they also badly want to see what Roman can actually do.

However, that doesn’t mean they’re not going to lead.

Roman follows their movements with surprising grace, and Noise can’t help but smirk at him slightly.

“Try not to step on my shoes,” he purrs.

“I would not want to step on the shoes, I know you’re particular about them,” Roman agrees.

Despite themself, Noise laughs.  Thankfully, Roman doesn’t actually step on their shoes, and after a second he seems to get the hang of things, and the two of them begin to glide gracefully around the room.

“You’re doing great!” Youngblood calls from the sidelines.

“Thank you, Youngblood!” Roman calls back happily.  “You guys are like, really good teachers!”

Noise feels his cheeks start to warm slightly, both from the compliment (he… doesn’t get a lot of those) and from how genuinely happy Roman seems.  His eyes are bright, and his smile is wide, and Noise finds himself starting to smile just as widely.

An idea strikes Noise, and he starts to spin into a dip, but before he can actually do so, to his amazement, Roman leans forward instead, and Noise finds himself supported once again by Roman’s arms.

Noise is definitely in danger of saying something about the stupid amount they are falling for Roman’s… arms, if they actually open their mouth, so instead they raise their baton above their head and fire an array of stars into the air.

He is also definitely staring into Roman’s eyes way too much though, so he’s almost relieved when Roman asks, “Did that look cool?”

Noise laughs a little in amazement.  “I… I think we might survive this,” is the only thing that manages to come to their mind as something to say.  Somehow, it just makes Roman grin stupidly big again.

Oh, Noise is so absolutely fucked.

 4.

Noise has never wanted to curse his stupid tiny legs more than he does right now.

“Come on, Noise!” Roman calls.

“I’m running as fast as I can!” Noise yells back.

“Yeah, you better be!  I will pick you up again!”

They all run for Fantabulous Neon as fast as they can, but the plants are still rushing up behind them, and Noise hasn’t exactly been on the run for the past year like Youngblood or worked manual labor all his life like Roman.

They nearly trip once, twice, three times, and apparently that last time is enough for Roman, because he turns around and scoops Noise up, and starts running them all through the city.  Noise wraps their arms around Roman’s neck so they don’t fall and turn to look behind them as the plants are starting to overtake the city.

Roman and Youngblood are yelling at people to run as they pass them, but Noise can’t gather enough air to scream, even though he isn’t running.  He’s too focused on the plants gaining on all of them and what’s going to happen if they catch up.

Finally however, Noise turns their head and recognizes the signs of the approaching gates.  Roman sets Noise down just on the other side of them, panting along with Youngblood.

Noise, now as the only one of them who can still breathe, reaches out and grabs Roman and Youngblood’s hands and pulls them down the steps.

The city is still falling to ruin behind them, but they all can take a minute to catch their breath before they have to keep running.

Or… Roman and Youngblood can.

Fuck.

Noise stops at the base of the stairs and lets go of Roman and Youngblood’s hands, then turns back around to look at the crumbling city.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Youngblood asks them.  Noise knows him well enough to know that he’s not angry, just desperate and scared.

“Yeah, Noise, come on!  We gotta go, bud,” Roman says, also sounding worried, which is ridiculous considering he just met Noise yesterday.  There is no end to the farmboy’s sweetness, is there?

Noise turns to face them, setting his face in determination.  “You two need to get out of here,” he says.  “I’m still under orders.  But you have to get far away from the city, and far away from the Bard King’s sight.”

“Noise, no no no,” Roman says.  He steps towards Noise.  “You don’t have to— you don’t owe them anything,” he says, and wouldn’t it be nice if it worked that way.

Youngblood protests too, as if his situation isn’t radically different from Noise’s.  As if Noise can abandon his post with just as much ease.  As if they won’t know exactly where to look for him.  As if that won’t put Youngblood and Roman in danger too.

A cab approaches from the night, and by the time Youngblood and Roman are finished securing a ride, Noise is deep in thought.  They look at the car, turn and look back at the city gate, and then look warily at the Bard College.  They sigh.

They will not put Youngblood and Roman in danger.

He turns and lays a hand on Youngblood and Roman’s shoulders, directing them towards the cab.  “These gentlemen could use a lift,” he says.

“Oh, I know just the place,” the driver says.

A giant redwood mushroom suddenly crushes the city walls behind them.  Thankfully, Roman and Youngblood start towards the backseat, but not before Youngblood turns around one last time.

“Come on Noise,” he says, gesturing for Noise to follow.

Noise narrows their eyes.  “You should know better than anyone Youngblood, that’s not possible for me.”

He takes a breath, and thankfully manages to hide its shake.  “Youngblood, Roman,” he says.  “The next time we meet, I may not be able to let you walk free.  Just know, the choice I make right now is my own.”

Immediate protests are clear on both of their faces, and Noise is a little surprised at the way it makes their chest warm.  Maybe… maybe it really is possible for people to still care about them.

But finally, Youngblood, still looking torn, says “Thanks, Noise.”  And he shuts the cab door.

Roman leans out the window one last time before they pull away.  “Be safe, okay buddy?” he says, still sounding deeply concerned.

Noise’s eye wells up, which he decidedly ignores.  “Take care of Youngblood,” he says, feeling for the first time that maybe he can trust Roman with that.

“I will,” Roman says, which is actually reassuring.

Noise steps back and slaps the trunk of the car before things can get any harder, and stands and watches for one more second as the cab rolls into the night.

 5.

It’s been far too long the next time Noise finds Roman and Youngblood.  Thankfully it’s been long enough that his wounds have healed.  They don’t want to make Youngblood and Roman worry about them.  It’s nothing they hadn’t expected, after all, after having failed a mission so completely.  And they’re fine now, so there wouldn’t be anything to worry about anyway.

That doesn’t, however, stop the slight spark of panic Noise feels when they spot Roman across the road.  They immediately look desperately around, trying to see if there’s anything that will give them away, but… there’s nothing and no one.  In the way that matters, they’re alone, for now at least.  Which means the choice is theirs once again.

For now, at least.

Noise takes a shaky breath.  Roman has his back to him.  He could probably duck away and disappear before Roman knows he’s here at all.

Noise winces.  He can’t make anyone else feel the way Youngblood made him feel.  And more than that, a large part of them just really wants to see Roman and Youngblood again.

So Noise takes another deep breath, walks across the street, and taps Roman on the shoulder.  “Hey, farmboy.”

“Uh, farm ma— Noise!”

Roman’s gaze lights up the second he sees them, and before Noise can say anything else, he’s picking them up and spinning them around.  Noise laughs, because what else did he expect, but there’s grief in the laugh too, despite how little he wants it to be there.

He should not have missed Roman this much.

“Oh it’s so good to see you!” Roman says, grinning up at them as he stops spinning them in a circle.

“It’s good to see you too, Roman,” Noise says, smiling despite themself.  “How have you been?  How… how's Youngblood?”

“We’re good,” Roman says, and some of the sadness slips into his eyes too, which amazingly makes Noise feel a little better.  It feels nice knowing he was missed.  It shouldn’t, but it does.  “Youngblood is getting us a table at a restaurant for dinner, and I’m looking for a place for us to stay tonight.”

“Oh,” Noise says, immediately shooting down the ludicrous voice in their head that whispers, Give them a place to stay.  He can’t.  They wouldn’t be safe.

Noise needs some kind of way to change the subject before he asks anyway.  So he clears his throat awkwardly and says, “Um, Roman, you can put me down now.”

Roman seems to jolt into the realization that he’s still holding Noise above his head.

“Oh, sorry!” he calls, setting them down instantly.  Noise smiles a little at the pink on his cheeks.

And, because they’re never going to see Roman again after today and it isn’t going to to matter, Noise leans in and kisses him on the cheek.

“That’s okay,” he says, leaning back with a genuine smile on his face.  “You’re cute.”

Roman turns brighter red and stutters, and Noise laughs again, pretty sure this is the most they’ve smiled in months, and isn’t that realization bittersweet.

Unfortunately, it can’t last.  Noise is well aware that he’s already pushing things, and he needs to leave before anyone sees him with Roman.

“I, um,” they say, smile fading.  “I have to go, Roman.”

“What?” Roman asks, and he stops smiling too and stops blushing, which is almost worse.  “But you just—”

“I know, but I— it’s not safe for you if you’re seen with me.  They still want to catch up to you.  I— I’m sorry.”

Roman sighs, but seems to understand.  Noise speaks up again before he can say anything anyway.

“Tell Youngblood I said hi?  And that I’m glad you’re both doing well?  And— and that I’m sorry?”

Roman looks up at Noise again, and nods.  Then he leans in and kisses Noise on the cheek, and it’s Noise’s turn to start blushing.

“I will,” Roman says.  “Take care, Noise.”

Noise smiles one last time at him.  “Take care, farmboy.”

“Farm-man—” Roman starts, but Noise is already leaving.

 +1

Noise isn’t sure what to do.  He wasn’t supposed to see Roman ever again, much less find him wounded and unconscious laying in the middle of the forest.  Where’s Youngblood?  What happened?  Is Roman okay?

They rush forward and start looking them over.  Thank heavens, he’s breathing, and Noise doesn’t see any life-threatening injuries, but Roman looks banged up, and there’s a nasty bump on his head that has to be the reason for the unconsciousness.

There’s a small town nearby that will probably be able to help.  Maybe he can find Youngblood there.  Either way, he can probably get Roman some help.

Noise bites their lip, looking down at Roman.  Roman is far bigger than they are, but Noise can’t think of another way to do this.

So he musters up his will, accepts that he’s going to be fucking sore tomorrow, and bends down and hoists Roman’s arm over his shoulder.  He definitely can’t actually carry Roman, so this will have to do.

They don’t know quite how to get back to the town from this specific spot, so they’re going to have to go slightly further to double back to the route they know, which also is not going to help with how much their back is going to ache tomorrow.  Fuck, Roman is heavy.  And Noise is pretty sure most of it is muscles, which is just completely unfair, because they should not be this focused on how attractive Roman is while they’re trying to carry him towards medical attention.

Finally, they make it back to the town, and the universe apparently decides to take some level of pity on Noise, because as soon as he starts walking down the main street someone nearby gasps and rushes out towards him.

“Oh, goodness, is that Roman?”

Noise turns to see a plump man in an apron moving towards them, drying his hands on the apron.  Noise tries to get ready to set Roman down and defend him if they have to, but thankfully as the man approaches he starts explaining.

“Roman and his friend Youngblood have a room at my inn.  Do you want me to show you to it, and then you can wait with him while I get a doctor?”

Noise is briefly torn between the two feelings of ‘shouldn’t stay for long’ and ‘no way in hell am I leaving him until he’s with someone I can trust.’

The second feeling wins out, and he nods at the man without speaking, then follows him towards an inn on the side of the road.  The man starts down a hallway, meaning Noise does not have to climb any stairs, which is fortunate because he’s pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to drag-carry Roman if he had to do that.

They end up following the man to a small room with two beds, and they lay Roman down on the bed by the window as the man says something about going to get a doctor and starts for the door again.

“What’s your name?” he asks as he’s about to leave.

Noise clears his throat and uses as deep a voice as he can manage when he responds.  “Flow.  That’s definitely the name you should tell everyone if they ask you who was here.”

The man nods and heads out, and Noise breathes a sigh of relief before sinking down on the windowsill next to the bed.

They look back at Roman now that they have a minute to breathe, and start checking over the wounds more thoroughly.  Roman has a cut near the bump on his head, which can’t be good.  It also isn’t exactly a reassuring sign that he didn’t wake up as Noise dragged him through the woods and into the town.

He moves closer and checks Roman’s breathing again, which is steady, and so is his pulse, not that Noise knows too much about medicine.  But the breathing isn’t shaky and the pulse isn’t faint, which is… good, right?

They lean very close to Roman’s ear, and push a little magic into their voice as they whisper.  “Roman?  Roman, please wake up.”

Roman shifts and groans, and Noise leans back in relief.  Roman blinks his eyes open, though he doesn’t seem to know where he is, and when he looks over at Noise there’s no recognition.

“Aunt Patty?” he asks, his words slurring together.

“Fuck, I hope not,” Noise mutters to himself.  “That would make my consistent attraction to you a bit of a problem.”  He laughs a little to himself.  “Not that it’s not still a problem for a different reason.”

Before Roman can say something else that probably won’t make any sense, the door on the other side of the room slams open, and Youngblood rushes in.

He startles when he sees Noise, but before he can say anything Roman turns and sees him coming in, and his face lights up.

“Youngblood!” he calls, reaching out towards him and making grabby hands.

“Roman,” Youngblood says, worry bleeding back into his voice as he rushes forward and starts looking over him.

After a second, he looks up towards Noise, who’s already moving towards the window.  “What happened?”

Noise shakes their head.  “I don’t know.  The innkeeper went to get a doctor.”

“Yeah, I ran into him, he told me.  What— where did you find Roman?”

“Out in the woods,” Noise says, turning to pry open the window frame.  “He was unconscious on the ground.  I didn’t know where you were, so I dragged him back here.”

“You— wait a second.  What are you doing?”

“I think he’ll be okay,” Noise says, getting one leg out the window.  “He’s awake and talking, if a little delirious.  The doctor will know better than me.”

“Noise,” Youngblood snaps.

Noise turns around and looks at him.  Youngblood looks angry, but Noise can still see the worry that’s more prominent underneath it.  They glance down at Roman, who’s looking at them again, slightly more recognition in his gaze.

“Don’t go,” Roman says, reaching out towards him.