Games

“Saying twenty thousand light years is a bit better than trying to figure out how many trillions of miles it actually is,” Margot explained with a nod. “Okay…I guess it looks like a butt, but it’s more like the opposite of one. It sucks stuff in, not–” Realizing how her words could be interpreted, Margot pursed her lips. “Well. Just forget I said that. My point is, though, that, even if they look like a butt, black holes are the opposite of one.”

“Okay, I guess that makes sense.” Mickie nodded. Before he even realized it he was blushing thanks to her words, face heating up as he realized where she was going with it. “Noted. Don’t really know much about space, I’m kind of learning as I go along, but yes okay so black holes suck in stuff  like light.”

Hoseok: maybe that's because closed minded people have made you feel stupid

Hoseok: intelligence is subjective

Hoseok: ƪ(`▿▿´ƪ) do I dazzle you?

Hoseok: sorry. book quote. bit of an inside joke. ignore that.

Hoseok: well I have three mothers so I'm willing to share if you ever want to like

Hoseok: experience that

Hoseok: being happy is good, though. don't let people take that away from you.

Hoseok: sounds great, it's my friend's favorite disney movie so I've been meaning to rewatch it.

Hoseok: will you let me show you some other disney movies too?

Hoseok: I'm sure there's lots you haven't seen

Hoseok: really? your best friend must be Korean?

Mickie: um, i guess you're right. there might be hints of truth to it.

Mickie: and that is?

Mickie: frequently.

Mickie: no it's okay, don't worry about it.

Mickie: idk if that's something you can share, but i'm okay you don't have to.

Mickie: okay

Mickie: sure, i'll let you show me more disney movies, because i really love singing along to them

Perched atop an old battery factory in the outskirts of Crystalline City, Adam’s phone was tucked into the sleeve of his suit quietly buzzing with his playlist as he waited for someone, anyone, to cause some trouble. It’d been quiet in this part of town lately. Everyone had been focused on the doves but crime never stopped- it just knew how to utilize distractions.

Releasing the vision of a hawk he’d been using, Adam picked up moth’s hearing ability & picked up on some near silent movements coming from behind him. “Hey now,” He called out, remaining in his spot.

“Sneaking up isn’t fair. If we’re gonna fight, give me a heads up.” He teased, moving his phone into his hand. “If we’re gonna go find someone else to fight- let’s let the song finish.”

“Why would I want to fight?” the male questioned as he furrowed his brows in response. This was the second time someone thought they’d be fighting because he was simply walking around. “Why are men so keen on fighting?” the very thought perplexed him.

“No, I’m lost, but you can go on your way. I’ll just try to find my way home, actually.”

“I guess so? I’ve been trying to read the articles on it, so I haven’t paid that much attention to that side of the internet,” She admitted. “It’s popular because it’s such a major feat of science! So many people coming and working together, years spent developing technology and the slow process of forming all images together to create just this one image of something that’s more than twenty thousand light years away. It’s a lot cooler than just a butthole.”

“Light years? Okay that all sounds very impressive but also very in tune with Star wards and Buzz-light year. The whole coming together thing sounds nice, because it does seem like a lot of hard work and great accomplishment to see the results. I mean it might be cooler, but it does look like a butthole. A space butthole.”

Eun-Jae could feel his throat closing up a little, though a smile kept pulling at his lips. “You really love me?” He asked, voice sounding slightly strained. It was going to take a while for him to get used to hearing that – he couldn’t remember the last time his parents had told him they were proud of him or loved him. Especially now that he’d moved out, he really only saw glimpses of them at fancy events he got invited to to play the part of the perfect son, despite knowing that plenty of the guests talked about him behind his back.

His cheeks flushed when Mickie kissed his cheek and he was torn between squirming away and reveling in the affection. “It’s– It’s okay, I can teach you things, even though I’m stupid and don’t know a lot of things…” He muttered, hiding his face in his friend’s shoulder. “I will make you dinner and stuff soon, I promise. I just wanna stay like this for a bit, okay?”

“You’re the person I love the most in the entire world Eun-Jae, and you’re all I have, and all I need.” Mickie mumbled, as he snuggled up to his friend. He truly did love Eun-Jae for a variety of reasons, but mostly because he was truly a sweet and kind person and he could see himself fall in love with someone like that, maybe not Eun-Jae but someone like him, since his best friend could never see him like that.

“You’re not stupid at all, you take care of me and that takes a special kind of smarts. You’re warm and kind, and that’s not something someone who’s truly stupid could ever be. It’s brave to be sweet and kind, it’s entirely a stroke of genius the way you make sure I’m taken care of. You are utterly amazing.”

“–Oh jeez, I’m really sorry, I didn’t see you there,” Margot hurridly said. She’d accidentally just bumped into a person, having not paid any attention because her eyes were currently glued to her phone. “I’m just so obsessed with pictures of this new black hole. I think I’ve read almost every article on it twice. Have you seen the picture of it yet?”

“Is that the one people have been meme-ing all over the place? I didn’t know it was so popular, but blackholes look like buttholes.”

Yoosung wasn’t sure what to make of the stranger’s behavior – their odd way of talking and carefree attitude had the blond confused and a little uneasy. “They do indeed.” He replied with a purse of his lips, not sure if he should be thanking the other for the compliment and ultimately deciding he wasn’t obligated to do so. “Train? Listen kid, fuck whatever your parents said you could or couldn’t do, you’re an adult now, so act like one.”

“yes train, I was raised in a facility meant to turn mutants into living weapons. All I did everyday was train, I don’t know how to act like an adult, everything’s pretty new to me. Even having conversations with different people is new to me. My parents sold me to this facility.” he shrugged. “So all that you’re telling me is new information.”

she stole a quick glance around the train, taking note of the many passengers, and she nodded to this. though, she hadn’t really ever noticed the people– what the appropriate amount was for a single train ride, but it did seem rather lucky for them to have snagged a seat next to each other. she gave him a grin, “I suppose it is pretty crowded today. Must be the time of day. I admit I don’t typically take the train around this time. But it’s lucky I found you here! Now we can go to the library together.”

she swayed in her seat as the train continued on its tracks. “Oh, reading lessons. That’s nice!” though she wasn’t aware of any such program– it wasn’t really relevant. but putting two and two together rather quickly she exclaimed in a vibrant melody of a giggle. “Oh, that’s right!” she squinted her eyes at him in curiosity. “How often do you two have lessons?”

“It is,” the boy nodded as he looked around still feeling nervous about going back to Hoseok. he didn’t know why he wanted to go just that he knew he needed to see the boy. Either way it might as well be for naught since he doesn’t know how to act around the other, he’s always double thinking every little thing he does, and he might freak him out again. “I guess, I don’t know if I’ll be able to enter though.”

“I’ve only had the one and it didn’t really go so well, so I think I’m just going to have to find someone else to teach me how to read.” he mumbled.

Hoseok: i have no sense of direction, does that make me stupid? i can read and i still get lost.

Hoseok: i'm sorry. but you're out now and you can help people. i'm sure you can.

Hoseok: ah, that's nice of them. do they make pizza too?

Hoseok: why did you say mom?

Hoseok: i don't think being excited is bad. i wish i had more energy to be excited about things

Hoseok: is it? we can watch it

Hoseok: you know ramyeon?

Mickie: No, but I guess I'm just used to calling myself stupid

Mickie: thank you, you're really sweet, dazzling.

Mickie: I think so.

Mickie: because Idk how a mom is.

Mickie: It's okay, I am just too energetic, and maybe way too happy about things

Mickie: yes we can

Hoseok’s eyes widened slightly at the response and he had half the heart to just let it all happen. Perhaps it was better if he stayed out of Mickie’s life, because it seemed pretty intense and the brunet had enough going on. But he couldn’t fight the guilt that made his stomach ache, his hands balling into fists. “W-Wait,” His voice was too quiet, so he forced himself to get up, his heart racing in his chest. “Please, I–” He tried to raise his voice a little, for as much as he dared to; not because they were in a library, but because he really just hated feeling like he was screaming. “I’m sorry.” He hesitantly reached out to lay his hand on Mickie’s shoulder, hoping it would stop him from leaving. “It’s just– It’s a lot, I’m sorry.”

“Hoseok,”  Mickie mumbled, afraid to look back at the boy as his cheeks burned, he wished he wasn’t so dumb and stupid but he felt as afraid as the other boy. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for.” he said. “I’m a lot, Hoseok. I freaked you out and I’m really sorry about that, and you don’t have to continue our lessons, I’ll find someone else or something it’s fine.” He didn’t move, he didn’t know what else to do or say at the moment as the other seemed truly sorry for reacting the way he did.

Yoosung wasn’t sure what to make of the stranger’s behavior – their odd way of talking and carefree attitude had the blond confused and a little uneasy. “They do indeed.” He replied with a purse of his lips, not sure if he should be thanking the other for the compliment and ultimately deciding he wasn’t obligated to do so. “Train? Listen kid, fuck whatever your parents said you could or couldn’t do, you’re an adult now, so act like one.”

“Well my parents sold me off to people who trained me to kill and tortured me so I would just do whatever they said.” Mickie shrugged. “I might be an adult, but there’s very few things that I know how to do, can’t even read or cook. I’m trying to learn day by day, but everything’s a struggle.”

any gay best friend of another gay best friend shOULd have been aware of this ordeal–he was lost. the defeated look on his face should have served as a context clue of an indication for her to realize that there was something up. especially knowing that it was a rare occurrence to catch Mickie on the train. because, yes it was the first time the situation presented itself. her eyebrows knit in a furrow as he spoke about his misfortunes, she rested her chin against the seat cushion as she stared back at him. she tossed her head to the side her face laying flat, and a sigh from her lips, an annoyance of her lack of attention to the matter.

“How do you like it so far?” –the subway ride experience, though regretfully she might have opened up a new conversation for which he’d explain how frightful being lost felt. she could, entirely relate. 

trying to keep the pout to herself, she sat up, her fingers tapping against the sides of her temples– and excited tick forming as she was becoming more and more excited to share the afternoon with her friend. yes, she’d hijack him. 

“Lucky for you, I’m here now, friend.” she took a nod, which caused her to bounce a little too excitedly in her seat. “Oh! You’re not lost at all!! I’m just on my way to the library too!! Are you returning your books? Or getting new ones??”

Mickie felt helpless and entirely stupid but he was aware of his mistakes and was trying hard to correct them, to learn and improve become better, someone people could actually rely on instead of him always being dependent on them. he watched her look at him, and frowned unsure of what to say about something like this as the train went on in the tracks, the sound of it echoing around them as they sped through the tunnels.

“It’s fine, not bad but it’s very crowded,” he pointed out to the various spaces where people could barely move an inch.

“W-What?” he blinked in confusion before smiling. “No, I’m not returning books, I’m there to ask someone if he could renew my reading lessons. I like him, and I want him to teach me, he’s nice.” he smiled. “But I’d love to spend some time with you,.”

“Soul bro.” Eun-Jae echoed almost breathlessly, a vague smile pulling at his lips. His heart felt so full with all the praise and validation, he was sure he could die happy. “Sshh, you are very much amazing. You’re my bestest friend, so you have to be amazing!” The boy paused, his expression falling. “I mean. You don’t have to be. I’m sorry. I didn’t– I didn’t mean it like that. Like you have to do something…” He trailed off, his inner frustration growing. How was he supposed to live the rest of his life like this? Always having to overthink everything he said? Doubting how much was real and how much he’d enforced?

He felt his cheeks heating up again and nervously shifted on his spot a little. “No one wants to do that, Mickie.” He muttered. “That’s weird.” Not that he hadn’t maybe-sometimes-just-a-little-bit fantasized about that. “You don’t have to read anything, just look at the cute animals. But if you wanna know anything I can see if it says somewhere on the information board things.” He closed his eyes, burrowing closer. “Maybe the word egg is on there too, though just knowing one word doesn’t really help.”

“Soul bro.” Mickie giggled, smiling at the other boy. It really warmed his heart to be so close to someone who was so kind and generous. “Okay, I accept it I’m amazing, but I’m more amazing when I’m around you. You’re my bestest friend, and I love you Jae. I love you infinity times infinity and I can’t do math, but I saw it in a commercial.” he smiled. “Hey, it’s fine, you’re great Jae, don’t worry about it. I’m more than happy with my life, you’re in it so everything’s truly perfect.” he grinned. 

“What’s weird?” he giggled, before coming over to peck the boy’s cheek. “Wait, do friends kiss each other’s cheeks, I just saw that on a show and well, I tried it out. Man being out in the world is hard when you’re like me,” he laughed. “Hwan won’t like me seeing other animals like that, he wants to be the one and only. I’ll be on the lookout for egg, you betcha.”

Hoseok: stop

Hoseok: you're not stupid

Hoseok: it's not your fault they never allowed you to learn to read

Hoseok: which is pretty abusive tbh

Hoseok: that means to be honest, sorry

Hoseok: we should play video games some time, i'd like that a lot

Hoseok: i can't cook either so we can just eat pizza

Hoseok: though i don't doubt my mom will feed us

Hoseok: are you honey lemon?

Hoseok: maybe we can watch it some time if i can find it online

Hoseok: hahaha

Hoseok: soup

Hoseok: super soup sounds awesome

Mickie: it's okay to say that i am, i'm 23 and can't read

Mickie: people make fun of me for it, and i get lost easily too

Mickie: m'okay with it, doesn't bother me

Mickie: okay thank you, my phone trying to spell that out sounded like it was coughing

Mickie: they were abusive, but they hurt my friend more than me, i wish i could help people

Mickie: of course, that would be super nice, just let me know when

Mickie: pizza is delicious, and my best friend is the one who cooks for me

Mickie: mom

Mickie: i am honey lemon, too excited about everything

Mickie: okay i think it's on netflix actually

Mickie:let's go get some super soup then

Apart from a barely perceptible furrow of his brow, Maxxie’s face remained impassive. A voice within seemed to bite out, Did I ask, but the bow of his mouth remained still, too. He was good at this, listening. Even when he didn’t particularly care to. What he didn’t understand was this boy and the pace at which he was divulging decidedly private information. That, if nothing else, was stupid. What if he had been an anti-mutant? A member of the symposium-or-whatever of villains? 

Then they would fight, Maxxie mused, a small whirring noise only he could hear indicating his other self had stirred at the thought. Other mutants must enjoy that sort of thing, making spectacles of themselves.

Not Maxxie. Maxxie used every ounce of his fleeting humanity to hide the very part of him the boy spoke so openly about. “I never called you stupid,” He pointed out. “Nor did I ask for your back story, but I must’ve given you the impression I did, so that’s on me. While we’re sharing backstories, you wanna hear mine?” There was something dark about the way he smiled next, something bitter.

Mickie couldn’t understand social queues or the stigmas behind oversharing, his own filterless mouth having landed in him troubled waters before. The only he had going for him was the ability to defend himself well, being trained as a killer he knew how to handle most threats, and it was sad for him, knowing this was the only place he truly thrived. If he had been taken by the villains he’d be a valuable asset, but with the heroes he was barely any help, too dumb and childish to comprehend the severity of many situations.

“I’m sorry, I apologize then, all of this new interaction apart from the very few close people in my life is rather new to me. I-I’m kind of lost most of the time.” he shrugged. “Sure, I would’t mind hearing your story, I like stories. It’s like reading right?”

Eun-Jae’s smile was positively beaming, his cheeks flushing pink. “Yeah?” Nothing made him happier than feeling valid and wanted and Mickie was really feeding those needs right now. “You are amazing.” He countered as he shifted closer and rested his head on his friend’s shoulder, his knees pulled up to his chest. “My ass is fat, that’s why.” He half joked with a soft chuckle. “But thank you.”

The boy briefly closed his eyes, fighting a wave of dizziness that washed over him. “Ah, that’s good, I think. That you can joke about it. If it helps, I mean. I still wanna hurt them for being mean to you, though.” Perhaps the idea of Jae fighting anyone was laughable, but he meant it. “Hwan could bite their ankles.” He added, determined. “Do you wanna go to the zoo this weekend? I have to study, but I wanna see the dolphins.”

“Yes totally, you’re my best friend, my soul bro.” Mickie’s eyes darkened at his words, not feeling one bit amazing. He wasn’t he was just a boy who wasn’t so lucky early in life, nothing that could be described as amazing. “No, I’m not but you truly are amazing.” he said raising a brow. “I mean maybe that’s why so many people wanna stick their face in those buns? Cause it’s so juicy, bo bussy.”

“Don’t worry, I’m tough nothing can hurt me,” Mickie smiled, lying through his teeth as he leaned on the other, as he nuzzled against Jae. Giggling, he laughed at the idea of Hwan biting their ankles. “Hwan will always protect the both of us, truly. Sure, I’ll go to the zoo with you Jae, but um quick question, where is this zoo? Do I have to read anything? I only know one word, egg.”