that's our job, but we're not mean.

Normally, Thirteen prided himself on maintaining the same level of trust with VKs as he did with fellow AKs. On the other hand, everything about this situation just screamed he’d made the wrong decision. While his mind seemed to continue calculating all the risks that would come with standing his ground, his heart had already made the final decision. A steely sort of determination entered his green eyes as he responded, “I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about.”

A smile graced his features as Thirteen sat up on the blanket, gathering up the sketchbooks in order to place them in his backpack. After all, in his opinion, there was no better cure for artist’s block than spending time with loved ones. Plus, it generally felt like a lifetime had passed since he’d seen any member of the Skellington family. “Thank you very much. You’re a true hero,” Thirteen responded, tone bright. 

Thirteen normally didn’t lay on a picnic blanket under a tree with multiple sketchbooks laying in front of him, but apparently the Pumpkin Prince had felt like shaking up his daily routine. However, the only idea that was coming to mind was to draw a comic about how odd adult life could be. The 19 year old sighed as he instead directed his attention to watching the passersby when someone entered his line of vision. Someone he felt like he hadn’t seen in forever. “Seven! C’mere and please save me from boredom,” Thirteen called out in lieu of a greeting.

Thirteen gave a small smile of his own along with a nod. After all, Travis was one of the best friends he’d ever had. How in the whole wide world could he not want to continue the friendship? Even though he often times worried about what people had to say, it was more out of concern that the naysayers would manage to drive Travis away some day in the distant future. “Anytime. After all, you and me against the world, am I right?” he inquired with a raised eyebrow, tone lighthearted with just a hint of a deeper meaning, the closest he’d ever get to being vulnerable with a loved one.

A million different ideas as to what to say ran through Thirteen’s mind, ranging from sappy to a chuckle of ‘Obviously.’ However, neither of those were perfect enough, especially when it came to Travis. There was no doubt people were surprised the Pumpkin Prince was so openly proud of having a VK as his best friend, but that label never mattered much to him. Travis kept him grounded, put a smile on his face even when it seemed impossible to do so. Then, Thirteen realized he’d left the question unanswered, so he answered with a soft smile, “If it’s alright with you, I definitely still want to be friends. Because honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without you by my side.”

The familiar nickname caught his attention and Thirteen smiled softly as he turned then spotted Travis. Of all the friends he’d had over the years, the Tremaine male held the spot of partner in crime. To put it quite simply, the Pumpkin Prince wouldn’t have it any other way, because there was something about the elementary joys of having a best friend that just immediately put a smile on his face. “Hey, Travis and sure, take a seat,” he responded while his sketchbook was quickly closed.

Thirteen admittedly, was quite nervous himself. Yes, he’d had a few relationships in the past, but they’d been fleeting and just between friends testing that potential middle ground. With Travis though, he wanted things to be different, better. With so many thoughts bouncing around in his mind, it was only a matter of time before the Pumpkin Prince busted out his headphones and turned up the tunes then got started on some new art project. Thankfully, the music was low enough that he heard the door open then close followed by Travis’ voice, which immediately put a smile on his face, as it always did. “Hey, just sketching...some random ideas, I don’t even know what they are anymore,” he greeted.

Thirteen gave the smallest of shrugs as he laughed, indicating he could be one if the situation called for it or if that’s where his mood was leaning. Giving a soft smile, he took a few moments to sort through the thoughts currently rushing through his mind. Green eyes sparking with hope, whatever courage was left surged into the Pumpkin Prince’s heart. “So, what would you say if I asked about the possibility of us becoming boyfriends?” he inquired.

The words hit his ears and Thirteen instead gave a bow, chuckling lightly at his own antics. Shrugging it off, he thought about admitting something which would hopefully lighten the mood. Clearing his throat just a hint to make sure his voice wouldn’t waver, green eyes locked back on Travis as he straightened up. “Eh, I was debating on being one right back,” the Pumpkin Prince laughed. Glancing around, he held a hand out while adding, “So, how about you let me make good on my promise and we get started on something fantastic?”

Blinking back tears, green eyes rose up from where they’d been cast on the floor following his speech. Wiping away what remained, the Pumpkin Prince nodded as just a small part of his answer. Aiming to wrap the other male in a hug, Thirteen closed his eyes for a moment as he thanked whichever higher power was listening at the current moment, “Yes, I promise with every ounce of my being and all of the love in the world as proof. You and me, together and taking the world by storm,” he answered quietly.

It makes Thirteen’s heart ache to hear everything Travis is saying when he just wants so badly for the other male to believe him. He fights against rolling his eyes, saying anything stupid, or worst of all, making the choice himself. With a wave of his own free hand, the shadows are gone and scampering off, having served their purpose. Making sure they were returning to their previous corners, all attention is back on Travis. “Maybe we’re both heading for eventual disaster, but if we stick together, it won’t happen or at least we’ll have each other. If anyone is being held back here, it’s you. I’m a knucklehead with his head stuck in a storm cloud of worries half, if not most of the time. Then this stupid shadow manipulation makes the cloud even thicker, but with awesome people like you, my family, and other friends then the outlook doesn’t seem so terrible. All in all, I’d rather walk through hell with you rather than without. Besides, who other than my family is going to want me at those royal functions anyway when the scoop on shadows hits the stands? AK, VK, those labels don’t matter much because I just see the most amazing best friend I’ve ever had and the guy I’ve fallen in love with. There’s nobody else I’d dream of rewriting the history books with or just spend a simple, but great lazy day inside with. I’ll ask one more time, please stay by my side and I promise we’ll find a way to solve all of the issues that come up together rather than apart? When have I ever broken a promise that I’ve made to you?”

Steely determination took over now, yet that didn’t keep a few tears from falling as he listened. Thirteen made the shadows reform, remaining a dark blob just for now. Then, taking one more leap of faith, the hopefully perfect words readied themselves. “What if I’ve fallen in love with you too? And don’t tell me I made a mistake because this is the one time I know I haven’t. You’re not a failure and will never be one in my eyes, I’ll have your back every step of the way as long as you’ve still got mine.” Then, lifting the shadows back to reveal a miniature outline of Travis and himself standing side by side, he added, “I mean I’d give it all up if I couldn’t share it with you someday. I have faith in HalloweenTown to trust my decision, the rest of Auradon will have to learn that too if they’re still working on acceptance by that point in time. If I take the crown, let them laugh, it doesn’t matter to me as long as I’ve got you with me. So, what do you say? Rewrite the rules with me or walk away, leaving us both in the beginning stages of a downward spiral?” Waving a hand, the shadow versions of themselves walked away just a few short steps before another small group of darkness covered them up. “Because if you take the second option, that will happen. We’ll search and search before we eventually settle or just give up completely while knowing full and well that if we’d just stuck together, things would work out in someway or we’d make them work.”