Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Scott threw back a handful of dust at the driver and slammed the door, speed-walking into his building before it settled and he wasn't seen again. It was probably a waste of memory powder, but he could not care less at the moment. He gave a half-wave to the person at the front desk as he headed straight for the elevators. He usually tried to make small talk, but a shower sounded so nice right now...or a nap.

He leaned against a corner of the elevator, watching as the numbers went up. 1...2...3...4..5..6. He groaned as the elevator lurched to a stop and stepped out, not waiting for the doors to fully open. He counted the doors to his apartment with heavy steps while struggling for his keys. He opened the door with a quiet cheer and immediately slammed it upon getting it.

Without properly going around the couch and instead over the armrest, he fell on his stomach into it, letting out a sob at the feel of the broken springs. He had to buy a new one this weekend.

He stuffed his face into one of the throw pillows and screamed into it. Footsteps scrambled from deep in the apartment and out to the living room. "..iren scream, siren scream, siren screa- hi!"

Scott glared up at Lauren, dropped his face back onto the pillow, and screamed again. She placed a hand on his head, "Was the concert that bad?"

"It went great." He grumbled, kicking off his shoes, "But you'll never guess who showed up!"

There was no response but a quiet, knowing gasp, and he continued his rant, sitting up now with the pillow against his stomach, "But I guess it's not entirely his fault, Tango dragged him over there without even telling him we were playing! Cause he knows I'm in 'Gem and the Scotts', but Tango just said it was 'a friends' concert.' A friends' concert!! Not 'my boyfriends' or anything! Like.. gods, Tango is lucky xes so pretty because just- ugh!! Then obviously he recognized me, and it didn't help I'm always first on stage! And the set we had already planned out had songs I wrote vaguely about our situation, and then my dumbass thought it'd be hilarious to change our set and play that one stupid song I wrote during and after our relationship and had VOWED to only play during practice and solo performances but no!!

"And of course, that upsets him!! And it should!! Like. He should feel guilt over the cheating right?? But me doing that?! PUBLICLY!?! Gods, what was I thinking?!! I feel awful, why did I do that! I told myself I'd never be that petty ex but- okay, wait, no, I have been that petty ex before, and it's hilarious, but I promised myself to not be that way with him because yeah, him cheating 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 and 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 but it was my own fault, I wasn't being a proper boyfriend! I was-"

"Scott." Lauren put her hands on his shoulder. "You seriously can't still be blaming yourself for being getting 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 on."

Scott pushed away her hands, "I wasn't being a good boyfriend."

"No, you weren't. But neither was he. There was zero communication! He didn't tell you he felt neglected, which he was, and you didn't tell him about your depression. You were both a problem, but he shouldn't have cheated. What he should've done was break up with you. Or you with him."

"I still loved him..," Scott mumbled, crossing his arms.

Lauren sighed, "Yes, you did, but you weren't well. Maybe you could have worked out something for the future, the three of you, but you've bo- 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 moved on."

Scott stared at the couch and hugged the throw pillow tighter before he stood up and slammed it into the couch, "I'm taking a shower."

"Don't use all the hot water, Xor is coming home soon." Scott nodded and brushed his tail across one of Lauren's legs. She may have been a little blunt, but he appreciated it. Appreciated her. He should make her another gift soon.

He sighed as he closed the bathroom door, resting his head against it with closed eyes. When he finally opened them, the mirror stared at him. His makeup was smudged, and tears were bubbling in his eyes.

"You look gross..," He grumbled to himself, wiping away the tears, uncaring about his gloves. They could be washed. Gods, he needs an easier setup. An accessory pile built up as he worked his way through untangling pearl strands.

Before the thought of less pearls could even finish forming, that nagging part of his brain was protesting. The pearls were 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 and 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘧𝘶𝘭 and yeah, okay, he's gonna keep the same amount of pearls. He absent-mindedly undressed, thinking about the gifts he crushed. Man, he should've saved those glasses, he doesn't have another pair. Though Xornoth has an extra pair of his, one specifically for him as a just in case.

He blinked at himself in the mirror. What should have been himself, at least. He hated the dark hair. Scott grabbed a few strands of hair and let them fall back down. He could just use a glamor spell or something till he fades out or he can cut it out. He brushed a hand over the side of his leg, feeling over old bumps.

Scott quickly grabbed his boxer and jeans and put them back on. Maybe a shower wasn't necessary today, he could just wash his hair. He opened the bathroom door and called out, "Lauren?"

"Towel?" She called back.

"No, can you help me wash my hair though?"

"Oh! Yeah, let me finish putting dishes away super quick."

Scott rocked on his feet while he waited, sliding his tail across the floor, and eventually decided to sit in the tub. He could hear the clicking of dishes and occasionally curses as they moved when Lauren didn't want. All the drawers closed with a loud slam, and soon Lauren pushed into the room.

"Helloo," Lauren said, grabbing the shower head.

"Hi." Scott flinched at the cold water hit his leg. It began to warm up after a second as Lauren adjusted it.

"Good?" Scott held his hand in the water and nodded. He tilted his head down and closed his eyes as she started to wash his hair. Panic flashed through him as the water ran down his face, but after a few quick breaths, he started to calm down and reminded himself about his gills. Worry came from his sister as she asked, "When was the last time you spent any time in the water?"

"Uhmmm.. last month?" A hand smacked the back of his head, and her worry spiked with brief anger. "I got busy with the band!"

"You know what doing that does."

"I'm trying!" He snapped. Lauren continued rubbing in shampoo, not saying anything, but he could feel her hurt. "I'm sorry."

Lauren sighed, "I know. You're always forgiven. Spend at least tonight under water, alright?"

He hesitated before mumbling, "They'll show up."

"Barely. And it's just discoloration. Scott, your body needs it, come on. The axolotls miss you, too, yknow?" Lauren gently pushed, knowing Scott would be more likely for the axolotls

"I haven't seen them in a while.."

"So apologize by spending the night with them!"

Scott thought about it and nodded. Lauren's worry was almost fully taken over by joy at his agreement, and a small smile made its way onto Scotts' face. Anything to keep her happy. It'll be nice to see the axolotls too. He just wouldn't look at his tail.
–———

Tango opened the front door with a tired sigh. It was quiet and reminded xem that Skizz and Zedaph weren't home yet. Neither was Impulse.

Tango paced around the empty house. Gods, xe fucked up. Jimmy was pissed and argued with Scott, who was also pissed, Impulse was annoyed, Gem was.. she was hard to read actually, xe didn't know how she felt. But if Scott and Impulse was upset, it was likely she was too. And an upset Gem was 𝘯𝘰𝘵 something xe wanted to deal with.

Void, why'd xe have to invite Jimmy? 𝘞𝘩𝘺 in the Eternals name did xe think nothing would happen? Scott used to literally brag about being petty! And about his recognition skills, how he could easily point out someone he knew in a crowd.

"Oh my GODS, Tango, you won't believe who got lost in the store yesterday!" Scott snickered, taking quick sips from the can in his hand. He still had his faerie act up, glittering white wings, covered in poppies. Jimmy shoved his then boyfriend, "Don't you dare, Scott."

"No, no, do dare, Scott. Who got lost, hm?" Tango asked, giving Jimmy a teasing glare. Xe had feelings for him then, but promised to never act on them cause Scott and Jimmy were happy. At least seemed to be. Xe can't help but wonder when their problems started. What really caused them, because Jimmy didn't seem to know either.

"So we're at the store, getting nail polish for me and wing stuff for Jimmy. He decides to get it himself cause it's just a few aisles over. I get too invested trying to find a color match for this nail polish, and after thirty-ish minutes, I realize he's not back. Mind you, it's Friday, roughly 4 pm, everyone is getting off work, school, etcetera, right? So, super crowded. I get out into the main aisle and tell me 𝘸𝘩𝘺 in Aeor's name this man is six aisles down, looking so lost? I had to yell for his attention and got like. Twenty weird stares from that alone!!"

Tango has laughed then. Maybe xe still did now, but that memory just reminded xem of xes choice and lack of thinking. Of course Scott could recognize him in even a larger crowd on a stage.

Xe sighed loudly, pausing xes pacing to just stand still for a minute. But the sound of a car door slamming made xem move, and soon keys rattled the door open to an angry Impulse.

"..h- heyyy!"

Impulse didn't say anything and just slammed the door shut, tossing his keys into the small tray they had. Tango tried to follow him closely, "Do you want to-"

"I can't believe you didn't tell him!" Impulse groaned suddenly, beginning to pace around their living room like Tango had. "And that you brought him!"

"I hate going to concerts alone! And Skizz and Zed were busy!" Tango defended, giving up on following him and sitting on the couch. That wasn't really why xe brought him but. Maybe xe was hopeful that Jimmy and Scott wouldn't fight and maybe even be friends again.

"So invite someone else!! Grian enjoys concerts, or even Bdubs! My 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳 would have been so much better than my bandmates EX!"

"I'm sorry! How many times do I say it??"

Impulse stopped his pacing at stood in front of xem, "That's the thing though! You're apologizing to the wrong people, Tangs! Apologize to Jimmy for keeping information! To Scott for bringing Jimmy, of all people! To both of them for causing stress!"

"Jimmy, I can do, but Scott has me block on literally everything. Even Spotify!"

"So go to his apartment! Send a letter! You have other ways, Tangs!"

"I wasn't thinking, okay?! I get that, I know I fucked up, but I was too caught up in the excitement to realize and maybe I hoped just a little they would make up and be at least friendly with each other so that we could all hang out again like we used to, but I know know I should've thought more and I'm sorry!" Tango huddled xemself together on the couch, wrapping xes tail around himself and covering xes face. Xe heard Impulse sigh. The couch dipped and arms wrapped around xem.

"I love you," Tango nodded. Impulse pressed a kiss into xes head, continuing, "Even all your stupid decisions- which is most- but, Tangs, I don't know if you'll guys ever, especially now, go back to being friends."

"Ouch," Tango chuckled, lifting up xes head and looking at Impulse. Impulse lovingly looked at xem, running a hand through xes hair. Tango rested xes head against Impulse, "I know that now. I just miss them, 𝘩𝘪𝘮, so much. I miss doing way too late calls and gossiping hangouts."

"I bet you do, it's been a while. But you let the desire for those memories back cloud your judgment. You have to let go eventually."

"Yeah.. I love you?"

"I'm glad you do. Hey?" Impulse pushed Tango back some, enough to look in xes eyes, "You have to promise not to do something like that again."

Something in the way it was asked made Tango know it was about more than just bringing Jimmy to a concert, and it made xem hesitant to answer. Could xe really promise something like that? Wait, no, what was xe thinking?? Xe was with Jimmy, xe wasn't going to cheat on him ever.

X̶e̶ ̶i̶g̶n̶o̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶a̶c̶h̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶x̶e̶s̶ ̶h̶e̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶x̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶c̶y̶a̶n̶ ̶h̶a̶i̶r̶.̶

"Promise."

Impulse pressed their foreheads together, "Good."

They sat in silence for a while, enjoying the silence and company before Tango yawned, "Nap time."

"Seriously? Dude, it's like six pm," Impulse laughed. Tango purred into his chest.

"And? Nap. Until Skizz and Zed are home at least."

"Yeah, alright."
————

"Dude, what's got you all angry feathered?"

"Oh, you are 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺, do you sme- well, see that?"

"Definitelyy. Wait, is he ignoring us? Are you ignoring us?!"

"Hey!! Jimmy, come on! Talk with us, man!"

"He's ignoring us!! Hey, get back here!!"

"Fuck no!!" Jimmy slammed his door. Why were those two even home, Martyn said he had a date planned out for the whole day. It was barely six, and he and Ren were just lounging around.

They were the last people he wanted to talk to. Ren could literally smell emotions and almost always knew when someone was lying due to it, and Martyn, while being mostly blind during the day due to being a phantom, could 𝘴𝘦𝘦 emotions through colorshifts in someone's heartbeat. It was the most annoying thing ever, having a roommate(basically two though, Ren almost never leaves) that can call you out easily. At least with Martyn, he had to have you in his line of sight to be truly accurate. You could be in a locked room, and Ren could still tell.

He riffled through his nest in the corner. He quickly found a light jean jacket, with messily cut-out wing slits. It was something he had gotten from Scott a few years ago as a birthday gift. It had come with a perfume he used a lot at the time with a little note; "You're clingy ♡" He sprayed it onto the jacket and put it on, curling into the nest and hugging himself tightly.

He missed Scott. He used to try and deny it after they broke up (technically, Scott ghosted him) cause he had Tango, so he shouldn't miss him. But he stopped denying it after a couple months and another quiet morning. Scott used to wake up earlier and chill in the living room while humming. Everything he did, he was humming the same tune, and Jimmy never got tired of it. He made a deal with Martyn after a talk to let him play soft piano music throughout the day. It wasn't Scott's humming, but it wasn't quiet anymore.

"It's just a bunch of sadness," the muffled voice of Ren said.

"Are you using Ren to spy on me!?" Jimmy yelled.

"Yeah, cause you're being all moody!" Martyn shouted back. The door opened and Jimmy cursed himself for not locking it.

"Come on, man. Talk with us," Ren asked, sitting on the edge of the nest. Martyn sat on the floor next to him.

"Go away."

"Say the word and we will. Until you do though, no." He looked over to them both, then hid his face back in his pillow. Stupid safeword.

They made it ages ago when they were teens after Martyn took a joke too far and Jimmy didn't say anything that until a week later. They used it for everything. Jokes, fights, uncomfortable topics, if they want to leave somewhere, or want someone to leave or be left alone. Jimmy didn't really want to be alone, but he also didn't want to talk.

"Alright, so what about talking?"

"This is stupid," He grumbled. After a couple silent seconds, he sighed, "Zap."

Martyn nodded, and Ren shuffled more into the nest, slowly so Jimmy could kick him out. But Ren's hugs made things better. He sat up and let Ren tightly hug him close but kept himself close together. Soon, Martyn joined them on the nest, sitting on the other side of Jimmy.

The cuddle piles were nice. They didn't do them much anymore just because of schedules, but when they did, after long and stressful weeks, it was the best. They were usually silent, to let each other sort through emotions alone or just zone out, but they tried to do talking ones every once and while.

"I'm stupid," He eventually said.

"I mean, yeah, we knew this but- ow!" Ren used his hold on Jimmy to shove Martyn off and into the nest. "Hey!"

"Not the time for jokes, dude," Ren told him. Martyn sat up and, this time, laid across the two of them. "My bad."

"It's whatever," Jimmy said. "I forgot how insanely protective Scott was over gifts and made comments over an old gift I gave him. I shouldn't have said anything, considering I still had a necklace from him and then still have this jacket and a handful of other gifts in this nest. He noticed the necklace and snapped at me, then kicked me out."

"Tim, seriously??" Martyn groaned and covered his face.

"I know! I wasn't- I don't know why I thought to mention that! It was going well, I feel like!"

"And you fucked it up."

Jimmy nodded, closing his eyes against Ren. "I don't think I'll ever talk even see Scott again."

"I wish I could help but-"

"Martyn, don't you dare risk your relationship with Scott just to try and talk about me to him. You did it once and almost lost him yourself." Martyn looked like he was gonna try and argue some but kept his month shut.

"I wish I could go back. That I talked to Scott. He was 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 struggling then, I was so oblivious to it."

"You were. I hate to kick you when you're down-" "I don't, you were being a bitch then." "-but you were so.. uncaring then. I know you didn't intend too, but..."

"It came off that way, I know," Jimmy finished Ren's sentence. He thought about his next question a little more; "Do you think there's a sliver of chance I can even befriend Scott again?"

"Not with Tango." Martyn said bluntly and he looked up to see Ren nod.

Jimmy sighed, "Zap."

"Full silence?"

"Please."

Chapter Text

Scott snarled at his phone through the shower curtain as he heard it go off. He had just gotten in the shower, and it was 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 to be a him day, not a "everyone text him" day.

It had been four months since the concert. Four months since Scott reblocked Tango and Jimmy on his socials, Impulse and Skizz as well. (He didn't have much of a problem with Zedaph and trusted him not to show Tango his posts.) His hair was starting to get to a length he liked having his natural color at and he planned to cut it soon. It'd be short for a while, but his hair grew fast thankfully.

Scott hadn't attended any practices this month. They alternated who held practices every month, the first month after a show being a rest month, but this month was Impulse's turn, and he refused to go. It was the second Saturday of the month, and Impulse did date nights every other even Saturday, which meant an increased chance of seeing Tango. He really didn't want to see anyone right now, but he didn't want to see Tango, much less even hear xes name.

He got out of the shower and dried off his hands immediately, checking the texts on his phone while he got dressed.

Gem and her Scotts♡
——————————————————————————————
☆~Gemmi~☆: Scottttt
☆~Gemmi~☆: where are u???
☆~Drummer boy~☆: Scott??? You alive dude??
☆~Gemmi~☆: no way he's asleep rn, right?
Scott: Damn you two, have patience!
☆~Gemmi~☆: He lives!!!
☆~Drummer boy~☆: I was so close to calling Lauren
Scott: I literally just got out of the shower. Might budget soon.
Scott: What's up?
☆~Drummer boy~☆: dude. Practice!
Scott: Ohh.
Scott: Yeahhh, I'm not goinggggg. <3
☆~Gemmi~☆: !???!
☆~Gemmi~☆: why not???
Scott: Impulse has a date night which means his partners will be over
Scott: Including, GASP! Tango! So.
Scott: Nuh uh, not going!
☆~Drummer boy~☆: We can reschedule our date
Scott: Nah, you know that'd take forever. Sides, Lauren has work. Sooooo
☆~Gemmi~☆: we can pick you up
Scott: Nope.
Scott: Gotta budget, love you guys! <3
——————————————————————————————

Scott turned off his screen and placed it down on the sink counter. He wasn't gonna budget, he just did that this morning with Lauren. He just wanted to be left alone to swim in the pool.

Having a starborne as a sister was helpful. While their apartment was originally one bed and bath just for Lauren, she expanded it later to fit the twins easily, even adding a large, almost lake-like pool off to the side. It was plenty of room for both Xornoth and Scott to swim around in and to even have wildlife in it. His favorite were the axolotls that hung around the cave he claimed.

Okay, maybe it was just a straight-up lake she manifested. But they talked with the owner first, and he was more than okay with it! As long it didn't somehow rip a hole in time, he said they could do whatever magic-wise. So, Lauren expanded and added the lake. It had glass all around it like a greenhouse and was floating through space, and it was 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭. Scott had never truly appreciated it before the concert.

He walked into the area with the lake. It was cool, just as it always was. For him, at least. Lauren said it was like an afternoon after rain, and Xornoth said it felt hot like summer. Scott walked to the makeshift dock and stood at the edge, mentally preparing himself before he walked off the edge, straight into freezing water.

The shock of the water made him freeze up, which, combined with the feel of skin merging together and scales spreading, made him feel lightheaded. His breathing quickened from panic, and he had forgotten had to breathe properly for a minute. Breathe through his mouth, right. He took in deep breaths, sighing in relief once he body calmed. He was a little upset with himself for still panicking over water, but he also accepted it.

He did a few test spins in the water before darting around. He would never not miss the speed he had in the water. The way he could easily stop and turn, how he didn't have to worry about an extra limb cause it was all together. He did one more quick spin before diving deeper down. Down where the light was weaker and where he could really get away from anyone.

A swarm of rainbow suddenly crowded around him he reached the bottom and he laughed gleefully as Scott tried to pet each axolotl, "Hi babiess!!"

Scott laughed harder as they nuzzled against his sides, frills tickling him. "Okay, okay! I get it, I missed you too!"

The axolotls began to separate from him, allowing him to actually move around. Some played with each other, a few others went back to sleeping, and the rest sat near him as he dug around in the sand. A jeweled box quickly showed itself, and he flipped open the lock, revealing multiple strands of pearls. He laid out each strand and began arranging them on himself.

Maybe they took a while to put on, and maybe he would just take them back off in a few hours, but so what? They scratched that merling part of his brain that wearing them in his usual form didn't do and, in general, were pretty.

There were still some strands leftover in the box by the time he reburied it, most being potential gifts, a few being ones he didn't want to see. Old gifts, for people who no longer deserved them. But far too much time had been put into them to throw out and selling them felt wrong. So, he kept them out of sight, and just maybe hoped he could one day give them to the right people.

Scott laid down over the sand to stare up at the distorted sky. He couldn't actually see it at all, being far too down to, but he knew what it looked like and kept the image in his mind. He closed his eyes.

It was nice at the bottom of the water. Scott was in his own world where no one else existed, just him and axolotls. No bandmates, no exes, no backstabbers, no one. It was quiet and peaceful, and time seemed frozen. He half debated never leaving the water multiple times. He could pop up for food on occasion and then go back to just ignoring the world and the people in it, happy as a-

𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧.

Scott opened his eyes and glared towards the surface. Something had sent ripples through the water, and he could barely see the outline of it, slowly falling down. He changed his positioning to be on his stomach, curved enough to look comfortably at the object. He dug his nails in the sand and stayed still for a few seconds as the item floated down closer.

What a great way to reestablish hunting techniques.

Using his hands, Scott darted upwards, startling the axolotls below him. He'd apologize later. He snapped his mouth over the object, only to blink in surprise at the taste. It was cod. Cooked cod but- cod. He looked back up at the surface and frowned at the vague humaniod shapes that looked down at him. Of course they'd try and get him.

Scott swam the rest of the way up, slowly increasing his speed to launch out of the water, laughing internally at the startled yelp he got from Impulse. Gem seemed unimpressed, though, as she tossed the rest of the cod for him to catch before he landed back in the water. He resurfaced with it in his mouth as he teared off a piece and grumbled, "Would've been better raw."

Gem sat on the dock, soaking her hooves in the water. "Yeah, well, you know how Marjorie is about handing out raw dishes."

"How's the budgeting going?" Impulse asked sarcastically. Scott opened his mouth to breathe in the taste of annoyance to try and add something to the cod. He swears, if he didn't know Marjorie ran a bar, he would've judged her cooking.

"Oh, fantastic," Scott responded with a grin. "Can't you tell?"

Gem said something else, but he wasn't paying attention. His eyes were searching for something on both of his bandmates, feeling relieved at the sight of the pearls on them. Gem had hers wrapped around an antler while Impulse wore his as a dual-bracelet. Water splashed over his face.

"Did you hear anything?" Gem asked, giggling.

"Sorry, I didn't immediately see my gifts on either of you and panicked," Scott admitted, crossing his arms on the dock and resting his head, the unfinished cod above his head.

"Impulse almost forgot his, I had to push him back inside to get him to wear it."

"Hey! I forget how you are about them, alright?" Gem rolled her eyes, and Scott chuckled.

"Thank you for wearing them, both of you. So, assuming this is about practice?" Scott asked.

Gem and Impulse looked at each other, Impulse speaking, "Something like that."

Worry came from both of them in strong waves. "Scott, you've been way more distant lately. Like... way more. You were late to most of last months' practices at your own house!"

"I- okay, that has no excuse," Scott was really hoping she'd bring up the being late to her months practices cause he could blame that on traffic at least.

"Yeah, we know. So, we both talked," Scott's face twisted as the bland thickness of worry shifted to the saltiness of sadness. "We're worried for you. You got worse after our last concert. So, we want to give you a proper break -"

"But we don't think you can do that properly in the band," Impulse finished. "With the practices, pop-ups, we don't think it's possible for you."

Scott sat up, "Are- are you kicking me out?!"

"No!! No, Scott, we'd never!" Gem placed her hands over his. Impulse sat down in front of him, kicking the cod further up the dock, and added his own hands to the pile.

"We're just.. temporarily disbanding it, in a way."

"What?! Come on, I can- I can show up to more practices, I swear! And what about what we had scheduled with Marjorie on Saturday??"

"But you need to work on yourself. Not us, not the band, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 " Impulse nodded.

"And we'll still do that small show! But after that, we're taking a break. If you want to do a practice or two during that, great!! However, since we don't have our next big show scheduled yet, we can take a break like this. We'll just post on our socials about it and say not to expect another concert for- what, a year, maybe?"

Gem nodded, and Scott looked between them, debating whether or not to cry and if he did, over what. The fact they both noticed something had been wrong or that they put the band on hold. He did like going to the practices, really. It got him out and around people, but that was also the problem.

"I'm sorry," He said softly. "I was really trying to go."

"We know. But you should've been trying to tell us something was wrong," Impulse told him. Scott nodded.

"Can we still do a practice today? Just not at your place?"

"Yeah, we can do that. We can go get our stuff, and you can get ready." Scott nodded again.

"Give us an hour!" Gem said, quickly hugging Scott and running into the main apartment. Impulse crouched back down to pressed their foreheads together, then stood back up.

"You good in your own till then?"

"I have been so. Yeah, I'll be alright. Gem may try and highjack your carr." Scott flicked water at Impulses legs.

"Wouldn't be the first time," Impulse laughed and Scott laughed a little with him before he noticed how far away his cod was.

"Wait!" Impulse looked at him. Scott scraped at the wood boards, reaching for the cod uselessly. "Help."

Impulse nodded, took a few steps to it and tossed it over to Scott. He lunged up enough to grab it with his mouth and crashed back into the water, briefly hearing another laugh from Impulse. He peeked over the water and watched his bandmate leave with a grin.

Somehow Functional
——————————————————————————————
Scott: Hey, just to pre-warn you guys, doing band practice at the apartment
◇~The Demon~♡: Not coming home tonight but thanks for the warning
☆~The Star~♡: Wait what?? Why??
◇~The Demon~♡: I'm.. with Joey..? It's our date week..?
☆~The Star~♡: Oh I forgot about that
Scott: You staying anywhere Lauren?
☆~The Star~♡: Nope, just shopping!! Should be home in 3 hours
Scott: Sweet, that's plenty of time for us
Scott: Thank youuu<3
◇~The Demon~♡: <3
☆~The Star~♡: <3!!!
——————————————————————————————

"All good?" Impulse asked him as Scott placed his phone down.

"Yep! Xornoth isn't coming home and Lauren is shopping for about three hours," Scott said. He looked up at Gem and grinned. "Ready?"

"Hell yeah!!" Gem pumped her fists and walked to their setup but Impulse stayed staring at him, focused.

"While I love the attention, Impy, we have practicee~" Scott teased, but the look Impulse was giving him didn't change.

"Where did that jacket come from, Scott?"

His whole body tensed into defensive. Shoulders raised, tail still, ears pressed back. He stared at Impulse, unblinking, as he quietly said, "My closest.."

He really hoped they wouldn't noptice this wasn't the typical jacket he wore. He 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥 they would ignore it if they did. But Impulse, ever the observer, had to notice something was still off. Scott distantly remembered something about Impulse feeding on negative emotions like himself.

"I've been through there hundreds of times and have never seen that," Scott let out a low growl at Gem calling him out.

"It's a new jacket, so what?" He wanted to change topics.

"It's definitely not! Scott, I know what worn down leather looks like, I live with Tango for gods' sake!" Scott snarled at the name and Impulse rolled his eyes, "Cool, sweet, yeah, fuel that anger to me, I haven't fed in a while, thanks."

"Okay, maybe it isn't new, so what?"

Impulses' gaze changed from angery to worrying and gods was Scott tired of that emotion from his bandmates. "Scott, I just asked. I was curious because it looks like.. I remember a certain winged ex of yours wearing that," the worry changed to sadness and his eyes had a kind, sickening understanding in them. "And that defensiveness you immediately got when I asked? Told me 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 I need to know."

Gem gasped as the situation caught up with her and that itself made Scott tear up as his bandmates pieced together why he had the jacket.

While mer traditions were vastly different among variations, one shared tradition was the same among them all; the sacredness of coats and jackets. It was a tradition shared between mers and selkies, long ago. When both species seemed to begin die out from hunting, selkies encouraged mers to keep coats sacred and the mers encouraged them to start using family jewelry. When laws were passed to stop mer and selkies hunting, they both kept up the burrowed traditions.

While mers didn't need their coats to swim, it was still important to them. It became a symbol of trust for those who had them. If a mer left a jacket around you, they thought you were trustworthy.

They chose their coats early on. As they grew, the coats were enchanted to grow with them. And eventually, most mers had a goal to trade coats with a life-partner.

Scott had made the mistake of thinking he had found his.

Most mers waited til during their marriage ceremonies to exchange their coats and Scott was told that so many times before he did. But he had trusted Jimmy. And maybe it could've worked with that version of him. But Joel and Grian dragged Jimmy into their bad habits and ruined the sweet version of Jimmy Scott had.

Jimmy still had Scotts' jacket. Scott still had his. And he would never, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 give it back. Maybe it was wrong to cling to the small silver of love for Jimmy he had, but he stopped caring long ago.

Two pairs of tight arms brought him back down. He sobbed under their hugs, overwhelmed by their care and his own emotions.

"I- 𝘩𝘪𝘤 I thought we would- we would last! That I had- 𝘩𝘪𝘤 made the right choice! And he just- threw it out!" He sobbed into Gems' shoulder. "I keep- 𝘩𝘪𝘤 hoping he'll come back or- or that I wake- 𝘩𝘪𝘤 up from some cruel dream!"

"You can't 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 want him back, can you Scott?" Gem asked quietly, barely a whisper over his sobs.

"I don't want- 𝘩𝘪𝘤 I don't want him, I want 𝘩𝘪𝘮. The Jimmy I thought I knew, the one- 𝘩𝘪𝘤 I loved. Why can't he come back??"

"Scott..," he looked up at Impulse, who tried to give a small smile to him. Scott opened his mouth enough to breathe in the taste of sweet shortcake. One of Scott's favorite thing about his ability was that he could taste what love felt like. And while most emotions tasted the same from different people, love itself was always different. It was complex, and for some, it was heavy like honey and maple, but others were light like some kind of cream.

Impulses' love was plain shortcake, but he loved it all the same. It occasionally reminded him of a very distant ex with a similar taste, but they had had blueberry mixed in as well. Scott hated blueberries. Gems' was apples and cinnamon.

Scott reburied his head in Gems shoulder, whimpering, “I’m sorry.”

“Noo, no, don’t be,” Impulse soothed and Scott felt something wrap around him, partially leathery and scaly. Scott sometimes forgot Impulse had wings. They were large and warm, maybe a little rough, but Scott liked to compare them to a weight blanket. Impulse often hid them, but upon Scotts and Gems request, he had them out a little more around them. Impulse's next words were cautious, “Yknow, there’s someone I think who could maybe help you out with all of this..”

Scott looked up at him again and noticed the way Gem shook and her head stayed on his shoulder. He held up her face and felt a piece of his heart break. She sniffed as he wiped at the tears working down her face, placing kisses on her forehead. Gem placed her hand over his and started to giggle at the kisses.

Impulse smiled down at them and with a curious glance from Scott, he continued, “Skizz is great to talk to about feelings, since he has that one ability. He can help process emotions you don’t even know you have.”

He gave Impulse a short glare, “You mean your blabbermouth boyfriend?”

“He’s worked on that,” Impulse sighed. “I’m serious, Scott. Skizz can help you a lot with everything.”

“Yeah, and can tell my feelings to Tango.”

“I can put him under a deal, hold him accountable. You yourself can put him under one!”

“But they don’t keep him from talking.” Scott growled.

“They can, you know this.” He did know this. But it felt wrong.

“There’s no trust in that.”

“No, there isn’t. But you can work your way to trust with Skizz this way?”

Scott thought about it some. Skizz was good with keeping promises.. He had only broken one of Scotts, but that was long ago. Scott reached for his phone under his leg and opened old messages with Skizz. He had missed talking with the angel.

"Alright. I’ll talk with him.”

Impulse beamed at Scott and he felt his chest warm some at that. He’d do anything to keep his bandmates happy.

“Still up to practice or do you want to wait some?” Scott looked down at Gem, head limp in his hands and eyes closed.

“Better wait for Gem to wake up,” He whispered, adjusting Gem to lay back against his shoulder.

“She’s been a lot more tired, huh?”

Scott sighed, “Yeah… we can talk to her later if it seems to continue.”

Impulse nodded.

◇~Angel~◇
——————————————————————————————
◇~Angel~◇: IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IMS ORRY IM SORRY
Scott: ...
Scott: Damn.
◇~Angel~◇: Need a few more???
Scott: I'd love some actually!
◇~Angel~◇: IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY IM SORRY
◇~Angel~◇: Good?
Scott: Wonderful, thank you, Skizz.
Scott: Though I don't know what you're apologizing for.
◇~Angel~◇: Anything and everything I have ever done and will do ever
Scott: Oh. Thank you?
◇~Angel~◇: Of course! I care about you, Scottie, and I'm sorry for any stress I've ever given you
Scott: I appreciate that.
Scott: This is too confusing though so I'm gonna take a nap.
Scott: Talk with you later, Skizz.♡
◇~Angel~◇: Sleep well
——————————————————————————————

Chapter Text

Z.I.T.S ♡♡♡
—————————————————————————
Dippledop: Does anyone know where my drum set is?
Skizzle: Still in the living room, it hasn't been put back together since your last practice
Skizzle: You want it put together?
Dippledop: No, keep it apart. We're moving the practice to Scott's for today so I'll be late to date night, sorry guys
Zed: That's fine!
Tango: Is everything alright?
Skizzle: Yeah, did the talk go well?
Dippledop: Eh. A little rough, we gave him a spook
Dippledop: It's better for him to be in his own space rn
Skizzle: Send him love from us!!!!
Zed: ^^^^
Tango: ^^^
Dippledop: Will do. I'll pop by real soon with Gem to get it in the truck then head back out
—————————————————————————

Tango sat xes phone on the table next to xem. Xe hadn't left bed yet. Not because of anything, really. It was one of those days where the sun stayed behind the clouds that never seemed to end. It made xem freeze, so Tango stayed under the blankets.

"Still hiding?" The end of the bed dipped, and Tango looked over the blankets at Skizz.

"Still cold." Xe threw the blankets over xes head.

"It would probably help if you had some actual clothes on instead of just boxers."

"That requires getting out of blanket heaven, absolutely not."

"I'll let you huddle in my wings as you get dressed?" Xe sat up immediately, and Skizz burst into a fit of laughter. "THAT'S what gets you!? Seriously??"

"Wings. Warmth." Tango crawled across the bed to Skizz's side and squeezed into his wings without waiting for him to properly open them.

Skizz adjusted his wing to be more comfortable and held Tango close as they both stood up. "You literally are made up of fire, dude, come on!"

"Yeah, but it doesn't affectificate me!" Tango grabbed two shirts and a pair of jeans and leggings from xes drawer in their dresser.

"Two layers is still crazy," Skizz told xem. Tango elbowed his side as they sat back down for xem to get xes pants on. "You have a necklace for this stuff!"

"Of course it is to you, Mr. "I can't feel temperatures,"" Tango snarked, "and the necklace broke..."

"You broke it?! How!? Also, I can to feel temperatures, just.. not on your level."

"I may or may not have ran it over," Tango mumbled sheepishly.

"You WHAT!? This is why we don't let you drive, oh Aether."

"Listen, I don't need this from someone who'll complain the sun too cold while being in it!!"

"WHAT!? The attitude!" Skizz gasped. "Keep it up, and you're getting wing privileges revoked."

Tango ignored him to stand up and get on xes shirts. Skizz kept one wing wrapped around his legs and the other close to his back. He stared at Tango as xe finished getting dressed, gaze full of adoration. When he was done, Skizz used his wings to pull xem back over to him and onto his lap.

"Need something?" Tango asked quietly, pressing their foreheads together.

"Not currently. This is more than enough."

Tango gave a small smile and closed xes eyes. Xe enjoyed these close moments. Everything seemed to slow down, and all problems were farther away.

"You've been dimmer." Dimmer? Xes flames have been fine, what is he- oh, right. Weird angel powers meant he could see Tango's actual soul, and it told him how xe felt with colors and glows.

"Just some guilt that doesn't want to go away. It got brought up when Impulse mentioned moving his practice."

"Oh, it's that again. There's been a lot of that, huh?"

"I guess. I mean, it happens every few months then goes after a week for so," Tango shrugged, sliding down to rest xes head on Skizz's chest.

"Expect it's been continuous. For 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳 months."

"That's.. good, though. Right? I mean, I helped a cheater, I 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 feel guilt for that."

"Well- gods, this is a difficult conversation. Yes, you should have, but Scott forgave you. He said you were a better boyfriend, that Jimmy deserved you over him. Sure, guilt was good in the beginning cause then it meant you knew what you did was wrong, but now it may be.. counterproductive? Maybe?"

"So what, just because Scott forgave me means I shouldn't feel guilty anymore?"

"I don't know, Top. This feels like a Jim conversation. Because if it's been continuous for so long now, there may be something else under the surface you need to talk with 𝘩𝘪𝘮 about."

"Maybe."

"Dude, there's no maybe to this! To- to feelings talks!"

Tango groaned loudly, deciding xe was done with this conversation and that it got too confusing, "I will! Just not today! Today is- is a stay at home day, with no too serious talks and movie marathons! I'm still wanting to finish our Marvel marathon."

"We didn't finish that??"

Tango got up from Skizz's lap. "No! We stopped at Iron Man 3!"

"Oh, Aether, that's not even halfway through the timeline." Skizz laughed, and Tango shook xes head. He grabbed Tango's hand and let xem pull him downstairs. "You don't wanna wait for Impy?"

"Skizz. We've done this like, four times already, he won't be upset. ZEDDD!!! YOU WANNA CONTINUE OUR MARVEL MARATHON?!?!"

"YEAH, I CAN MAKE SNACKS!!!"

"HELL YEAH!!! YOU'RE THE BEST, LOVE YOU DUDE!!!"

"STILL LOSES ALL MEANING WHEN YOU SAY DUDE AFTER!!!"

Both Tango and Skizz cackled as they continued downstairs, eventually hearing Zed join in as well.

"Rocket is still my favorite."

"Of course he is, you lab rat," Tango flicked Zedaph's forehead. Zed swatted at xes hand.

"Don't start hitting each other on me, or you're getting kicked off the recliner!" Skizz hit at both of them to try and stop them, only to be hit back.

All three had managed to fit on Impulse's recliner, Tango curled Skizz's side while Zedaph laid across them both with his head on Tango's stomach. While it was not the most comfortable, Zedaphs' horns especially, it kept them close. Tango could match xes breath with theirs and could practically hear their heartbeats sounding xem. That's xe loved about stronger hearing. Xe could only hear it if someone was super close to xem, and that gave it more meaning to Tango.

They were about halfway through the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, and Impulse still hadn't returned home. Sure, practices can go on for a while, but never this long. And if they did, he'd send a text about it. But when xe checked xes phone again, no messages were sent. None from Impulse or from Jimmy.

Jimjam💛
—————————————————————————
Tango: Are you busy tomorrow??
Tango: We haven't had a date in a while and I was gonna go on a walk tomorrow
Tango: I know it's not the best date idea but it gets us out and about together!
Tango: And you can bring Revie!
(Read)
—————————————————————————

It's not like xe expected a response immediately, Jimmy usually took a while to respond, but something about it now just made xem feel a bit sick. It shouldn’t. Tango trusted Jimmy.

W̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶s̶t̶o̶p̶p̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶d̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶S̶c̶o̶t̶t̶?̶

The front door swung open, and Tango snapped xes attention to it immediately, and Skizz paused the movie to Zedaphs' dismay. There were some sounds of struggle as Impulse took off his shoes and hung up the keys before he walked into the living room and to the kitchen.

"Everything okay?" Skizz called.

"Just tired," Impulse called back, soon coming back into the living room with a cup of coffee. "Scott had a short cry sesh, and that led to Gem crying a little, and I am.. tired."

"Oh, shit? You need to talk about that or- well, 𝘤𝘢𝘯 you?" Zed asked, sitting up a little.

"Better not to, don't want to air out Scott's issues. Gem was more so crying cause Scott was. I think Scott'd appreciate it, though, if you checked in, Zed."

"Yeah, probably. I'll try and call him for a bit. Don't continue the movie with me!" Zedaph slid off the recliner and turned around to give Skizz and Tango quick kisses, doing the same with Impulse before trotting up the stairs.

"Still a little surprised he remained unblocked," Skizz commented, shutting off the TV for now.

"Sirens hold bonds pretty closely. Sure, they don't talk as often anymore, but Scott trusts Zed a lot. By the way, Skizz, put in a good word for you, so you should be unblocked."

"Woah, seriously??" Skizz got his phone out of his pocket, and after a few taps, Tango felt his wings fluff up in surprise as he looked at Impulse. "How'd you do that?"

Impulse shrugged, "Took a bit of convincing, I'm surprised it even worked. You just can't show Tango any messages, and you need to make a promise to Scott to not blab."

"I promise this to Scott Reed I will not blab about our messages to Tango and will keep them under close watch," Skizz recited, his eyes glowly brightly for a quick second as a blue ribbon tied itself around his wrist.

"I'm sure you can do that easily. What's your first message gonna be, some kind of gif?" Tango teased as Skizz typed out a message.

"I am sending... so many apologies," Skizz said, about to show Tango the message, but xe quickly looked away with closed eyes. "Oh, dang it!! Okay, I need to work on that."

"Definitely," Impulse chuckled. He leaned over the recliner to look over Skizz's phone. "Damn, you weren't kidding."

"I don't kid about apologies!!"

"How long do you think Zed will take with his call?" Tango asked. Both xem and Skizz got up from the recliner and moved to the couch for Impulse to sit down.

"Not very long, he hates calls," Skizz said.

"IMPULSEEE!!! DO WE HAVE PLANS TOMORROW?!" Zedaph yelled from upstairs.

"NO, WEDNESDAY ARE FREE DAYS," Impulse yelled back. "Speak about him, and he will respond."

Skizz and Tango snickered as they adjusted themselves on the couch. Soon enough, Zed came back down the stairs, grinning widely as he sat in the recliner with Impulse.

Impulse wrapped his arms around Zed and rested his chin on the others head while he turned the TV back on. "How'd the conversation go?"

"It was short but good!! We're meeting up tomorrow to walk and talk. Would've been a longer call, but he said he wanted to sleep the rest of the day off."

"That's fair, it was a rough one for him. So, what're we watching?"

"Guardians of the Galaxy 3!! Wanna restart it?"

"Sure, go ahead."

Zedaph whispered an excited, "yes!!" as he rewinded the movie. Tango yawned as xe leaned more into Skizz, growing tired from the soft blanket of wings as Skizz and Impulse chatted.

"How'd the practice go otherwise?" Skizz asked.

"Honestly? We barely practice. There was the talk with Scott, a nap, a mini talk with Gem about a potential bigger talk and then practice that was less of practice and more of goofing around," Impulse replied with a small chuckle at the end.

"What's up with Gemmie?"

"She's been tired a lot more, and Scott and I are just a tad worried. We just told her that and that if it gets any worse, we want answers, and she agreed, saying she's trying to get it under control."

"Aww. Do you think it could do with winter coming up or? It's happened before."

"No, cause that was more.. natural. Like, she eased into that. This is straight-up fatigue."

"I'll make sure to check in with her as well."

"Thanks, Skizz."

"Yeah, no problem!"

Tango yawned again and let xes eyes close.
~~~~

Xe didn't know why xe still did this. Scott stopped showing up to their weekly meetings last month. No text (xes didn't even give through anymore), no note on their table. But each week, Saturday evening, Tango would go back to the restaurant. Same table, outside in a corner, away from everyone. Xe stopped ordering by now, and the workers would give xem pitying looks as they checked on xem.

As xe approached the restaurant, though, it felt more.. alive. The workers were whispering to each other as they passed one another, and they all gave xem shocked looks. Xe started giving some back as xe walked to the back dining area and to th̶e̶i̶r̶ xes table.

There was no "their" anymore. Not after what xe did.

Xe pushed the door open and froze. There, at their table, was Scott, looking around with wide and sad... yellow.. eyes? Weren't they blue?

The Scott at the table wasn't the Scott Tango knew.

The Scott Tango knew was confident and put-together, with pre-planned outfits and elaborate makeup. The Scott Tango knew was covered in beautiful gold jewelry and kept his hair in a tight braid. The Scott Tango knew had blue eyes.

The Scott at the table was skittish and uncoordinated, jumping at any noise and knocking over silverware. His outfit looked too big to be his own clothes, and he wore no makeup. The Scott at the table had his hands covered in bandaids rather than rings, and his hair, while still braided, was a tangled mess. The Scott at the table had yellow eyes.

Tango took a step forward, and Scott's attention flashed to xem immediately. And gods, were his eyes more gorgeous.. They were brighter than Impulse's and kept xem frozen in place. When he saw Tango, his eyes softened, then broke within seconds.

"Scott!?" Tango darted to the table. Xe had never been more grateful that xe rented this area off every Saturday. Xe'd feel even more bad if xes friend began crying around people.

Scott sobbed harder when Tango wrapped xes arms around him but moved towards xem nonetheless. He was shaking and whispering incoherently as Tango did xes best to comfort him. Xe didn't say anything (what could xe say when xes friend was sobbing this bad?) and just held Scott close until he pulled away from Tango. And when he looked up at xem, with a sad yet knowing look, Tango felt xes heart shattered.

He knew.

"I'm sorry." Xe wasn't, deep down, but it was all xe could say.

Scott shook his head and whispered, "You're not."

"I'm so sorry..." This time xe was. Scott just covered his face again and began to sob again, shaking. Tango could only stare at him in panic and shock. Xe had expected yelling by now..

But instead, xe watched as Scott cried about how 𝘩𝘦 was the problem.

“I wasn’t being a good boyfriend, I wasn’t- 𝘩𝘪𝘤 I started ignoring him, I was never home!! He tried to talk with me so many times, and I just brushed him off!! “Oh, sorry, can’t talk, late for band!” “I really need to get to the store, can this wait?” So, 𝘴𝘰 many stupid excuses. But he came back every night so I thought- 𝘩𝘪𝘤 I thought we were fine!! He never tried to bring it back up the same day, and just.. Cuddled me, as if 𝘐 would leave 𝘩𝘪𝘮! But he should’ve been the one leaving!”

“Scott, what’re- he cheated on you! 𝘐 helped! Shouldn’t you be- why aren’t you mad at me?! Or him!?”

Scott looked up from his hands, and Tango would never forget the look on his face. “I am, Tango! I hate him for not forcing me to listen! I’m mad at you for not doing the same! I hate him for cheating! I’m mad at you for helping! I hate myself for not listening to him! I hate that I didn’t think anything was up sooner! I hate how our relationship turned out! 𝘎𝘰𝘥𝘴, I hate that he didn’t make me listen!

“But it was with 𝘺𝘰𝘶! Not some random on the street! I know you, I trusted you! I knew that if he did something and you knew, you’d eventually crack and tell me! And you made him happy,” Tango stared, almost horrified, as Scott continued to excuse Jimmy’s cheating, “His mood was dropping the more I ignored him, I could taste it every day.”

Something about the way he said that made Tango pull away from Scott some. “But then! He started getting happier! He wasn’t moving around like a corpse because he had something to look forward to in the day- 𝘺𝘰𝘶! And it revived our own relationship for a while! Sure, it was all guilt, and I could taste it, but it kept me fed, and I felt 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥. It wasn’t the good kind of love anymore, but it was 𝘩𝘪𝘴 love, and that’s all that mattered to me.”

“What- what are you even saying anymore?”

“I’m thanking you, Tango,” Scott said, suddenly and oddly calm. “You not only made Jim happy, you helped me realize my neglect. To Jimmy, to myself. Even to you a little. When was the last time I reached out first? Three months ago? I wasn’t putting effort into anything.”

“I… I’m sorry,” Tango whispered.

Scott looked at him softly, 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺. Xe didn’t deserve any, yet Scott was giving him some. It felt almost patronizing. “You don’t need to be, sparks. You did me a favor, really. And while we both wish it wasn’t like- this, I appreciate it.”

"𝘞𝘩𝘺, Scott?! Why aren’t you yelling at me, why aren’t you more upset?!” Tango asked, begging now for Scott to not just- 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 this. Why wasn’t he yelling xes ears off?? Why, for gods sake, was he so 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮?!

“Why do you want me to be?” Scott reached to place a hand of xes cheek, but Tango smacked it away. Scott didn't react, though, and kept the same pitying look that was beginning to piss off Tango.

"Because I- I did something terrible! I broke your trust, slept with your boyfriend- and you just 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 me?!"

"I don't. But I can accept what you did and move on," Scott stated and stood up. Tango grabbed his hand.

"You're just- what, giving up?!" Xe didn't know why xe couldn't let this go.

"Yeah," Scott smiled sadly. "No point in trying to fight for someone who is clearly happier with someone else. Thank you again, Tango. Treat him better for me and 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 let him go."

Scott shook off Tango's hand and walked out of the restaurant, leaving Tango to stare in shock.

The scenario xe imagined in xes head when xe first saw Scott didn't play out. Instead, the opposite did.

And xe didn't know how to process that.

Xe sat there for hours until the restaurant closed, replaying everything that happened, going through Scott's words. Xe tried to look for a secret meaning in his words, something that hid a deeper layer of anger. But there was nothing but the calm acceptance he showed xem, and that felt worse.

Chapter Text

"You gonna mope all day?" Martyn asked him as he set a cup of tea next to the nest. Jimmy looked up from his preening with a puzzled look.

"Who said I'm moping??" He asked, going back to picking out dirt from an obnoxious place between his feathers.

Ren looked up from his place behind Jimmy, having been working on the back of his other wing to get it done quicker. He tilted his head at Martyn. "I can't smell anything that'd say he's moping?"

"Dude, your heartbeat is all miscoloured. Like, it's got quite a bit of red and purple instead of all yellow. Are you just- not aware of your own emotions right now??"

Jimmy shrugged, "Not really. Instincts go first, and they say wing cleaning."

"Yeah, I thought we knew this by now, baby."

Martyn threw up his hands, "Clearly not! Whatever. You still plan to visit Gri with me or?"

"Uhhhhh.. maybe. When do you leave?"

"In about in hour."

"I'm about done with this wing!" Ren said, and Jimmy could hear his tail hitting the nest. Of course, he wanted to get out of the house.

"Yeah, I just need to spray this wing after pulling out some broken feathers then I'll be good to go," Jimmy told him as he dusted off his hands over the trash can next to him.

"Sweet! I'll wait downstairs for you both. Revenge is already outside, Jim!"

"Thank you! I thought you didn't like going to Martyn's practices?" Jimmy asked once Martyn left his room. He remembered countless of times he had to go and pick him up because he got overwhelmed from the sounds.

"Yeah, but Joel is bringing Lizzie, and Grian is letting us practice upstairs while you guys practice in the basement," Ren said, standing up and out of the nest. "Cleo and B are coming too, so it's gonna be a full practice!"

"Oh, neat. Might stop by up there for a while. Can you hand that water bottle?" Ren nodded and tossed it over to Jimmy.

"Please do! We love having you watch. Plus, it can help get us in the show headspace for Saturday."

"You're playing too? Same place as us?" Ren nodded. Grian and his band were also playing that day at a bar by the ocean, it's why they held this practice. Jimmy, while no longer actually being in the band, still attended practices and shows to be an emergency backup and to refresh his own memory of their songs.

"Yep! It's a huge thing, so Marjorie got us, you guys, Gem and her boys. A few other people will play individually, too."

Jimmy felt sick in his stomach. No way they're playing at the same place. Maybe he could think of some kind of excuse to tell Grian he wasn't going... No way he was gonna have Scott see him. Did that place of separate get ready rooms? Maybe he could hide there the whole time. He might get chewed out at the end of the show, but it'd be worth it.

"That's.. great, yeah, alright. Busy night ahead, huh?" Jimmy laughed awkwardly, failing to hide his nervousness.

Ren frowned and took in a breath. Damn it, why did he always forget he could do that? "Why are you ups- oh. Well, I'm sure Grian will let you stay here or- or in the van, if you asked?" He could tell just through Ren's tone that he didn't believe that would happen either.

"Maybe- I don't know, man, maybe it'll be good to see him?"

"Are you kidding?? He'd kill me on sight!" Ren's ears flattened at his raised tone. "What could 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 be a good outcome from that?!"

"You guys talk! Maybe begin to heal from everything?? I don't know!"

"As if. He holds grudges forever, no way just 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 will get him to forgive me."

"Well- yeah, forgiveness takes me then just talking! And you don't know if you try!" Ren tried to reason, but Jimmy shook his head. A low growl came from Ren out of frustration, and he turned around to leave the room. "Whatever, dude, just finish getting ready."

Jimmy sighed and got out of his nest. It was more complicated than what Ren thought. While he wished to whatever gods were above him that it could work out that way, just talking out feelings wouldn't fix the problem. Scott was wired to remember things. "Forget and forgive" was 𝘯𝘰𝘵 in his vocabulary.

He got his jacket off the chair for his desk and pressed his face into it. The perfume has almost fully disappeared now, so he laid it over his nest to give it a spray. He knew he lost progress in moving on by getting reattached to the jacket, but he liked the comfort and reminder of happier nights it gave him.

So what if he could no longer sleep without it?

"JIMMY, I WILL LEAVE WITHOUT YOUR ASS."

"COMING DOWN!"

The car ride was mostly quiet. Ren stared out the window while Martyn drived and Jimmy looked down at his phone. Tango had sent him a text asking about going on a mini date, and as he was typing up a response, the car slowed to a stop. He looked up from his phone and at Grians' house, surprised they had arrived so quick. Stuffing hus phone in his pocket, he got out of the car, grabbing his guitar on the way.

"Ready for the worst three hours of your life?" Martyn joked, his own guitar thrown over his shoulder.

"Practices are 𝘯𝘰𝘵 that bad," Jimmy laughed.

"They are in a basement..," Martyn shuddered. "All that echoing and the coldness of it... eugh."

"Are you guys stayin' out there forever!?" Jimmy looked over to house to Joels' head poking out of the front door.

"We may now!" Martyn shouted back.

"GET IN HERE!!" Grian yelled from inside, making Joel jump and cover his ears.

He turned around to face back inside, shouting still, "DON'T YELL BEHIND ME??!"

Jimmy rolled his eyes at Martyn as they began to walk to the house, and Martyn snickered, using his hand to mock the two. When the three of them got inside, Joel was chasing Grian around, with Lizzie laughing off to the side and Cleo watching them disapprovingly. She looked up at them walking in and smiled at Martyn. Martyn set down his guitar, out the way of Joel and Grian, and sped-walked over to her, chatting immediately.

Ren nudged Jimmy's arm, whisper mocking Martyn, ""Oh, Cleo and I are just friendss." Yeah, right, look at him!"

"Right! And look at their snakes, they hate everyone but are trying to all get his attention," Jimmy laughed, watching Cleo have to swipe away snakes from blocking her vision as they tried to get to Martyn. To their disappointment, Martyn barely paid attention to them, continuing to gaze and talk at Cleo. "What all are you getting from them?"

"So. Much. Adoration. Like- like, worshipping adoration."

That wasn't surprising. From what he remembered Scott telling him(which was everything), Martyn was that exact same way with him when they were "closer." (They were definitely together for at least a few months, but neither will admit it.) Martyn would hang off of and worshipping his every word and action, barely disagreeing with him and clinging to his side. He did the same with Ren when they began dating until Ren told him to chill out a little.

"Okay, Joel and Grian, quit fightin! And Martyn, quit flirting with Cleo!" Jimmy shouted, flapping his wings harshly to make a noise.

"I am not flirting with Cleo!??" Martyn turned around to face Jimmy, wings tight to his back in embarrassment. "And I have a boyfriend literally right next to you?!"

"You can still flirt with Cleo-!"

"-Which you totally are doing-!" Ren finished.

"-And Jimmy did that with Tango, so!" A new voice called.

"Screw you Scar!?" Jimmy looked to the man in confused anger, and the other grinned, waving his fingers. Grian cackled and leaped over to his partner, whispering something and giving him a kiss before they both headed to the basement. Jimmy rolled his eyes and started in that direction.

"Ren!!"

"Big B!!" Jimmy looked behind him to see the mimic and werewolf rushing at each other, the latter picking up the former into a tight hug and spinning him around.

"Aren't they something?" Martyn whispered, nudging Jimmy to get him to start walking again. (When did he stop?)

"How do you.. deal, with Ren having another partner?" Jimmy asked slowly.

"How do I... I mean, we talked a lot about it before dating really. Werewolves form a lot of tight bonds with others, wolf instincts and all, but it's not uncommon for those to turn romantic. The lines between pack and lover can sometimes blur and they did with Ren a lot. He was open about being interested in B from the start and I was supportive! I mean, hell, I got- whatever with Cleo, I couldn't exactly say anything!

"Again, lot of talking, lot of sharing schedules to plan out dates, lot of openness about... activities. Took some time to get used to once they started to date cause Ren wanted to spend a LOT of time with B but we worked around that. Struggles with Tango and his group?"

"Tango is asking to have a date tomorrow and I realized how little we've actually been on dates in.... a long while. With our practices, xes own dates, it's hard to not have conflicting schedules," Jimmy sighed.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out. Talk with xem tomorrow and-"

"Quit talkin' and start playin'!" Joel interrupted, banging loudly on his crash cymbal. Martyn gave Jimmy an exasperated look before walking over to his spot.

Jimmy sat in a chair in the corner, watching the group play and go through songs. He hadn't been paying full attention though, letting his mind wander around since he couldn't be on his phone.

How was he supposed to even begin to talk to Tango about how he felt?? Tango was with xes group long before Jimmy showed up and he felt wrong for even trying to say he wanted more time with Tango. He missed not having a partner with multiple ot- stopping that thought there. He couldn't miss anything from his last relationship when he was the one to wreck it. He just. Had to work around it.

Jimmy yelped as a drumstick smacked against the side of his head. He looked up and around before his eyes landed on a snickering Joel and an annoyed Grian. Martyn walked up to him and smacked his shoulder, "Your turn, Timmy!!"

Jimmy rubbed his shoulder, glaring at Martyn as they switched places.

"Jimmy, I swear by the Watchers, if you come in late 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, I will have them curse you to the sun and BACK!!" Grian snapped, flaring out his wings in frustration.

Jimmy's wings tightened and puffed as he sputtered, "It was like- a millisecond!!"

"Yeah, and it's noticeable!!"

Jimmy went to go defend himself, to say it wasn't, but Martyn intervened, "Oh, definitely! I have recordings! Usually it's one-two, three-four, five-six, seven-eight. What 𝘺𝘰𝘶 keep doing, Timmy, is seven-eightnine."

Jimmy cringed at the audio. While it was a subtle difference, it was clear. "Alright, I'll watch that more."

"Finally..," Grian grumbled, "Okay, attempt seven. Jimmy, you fuck this up again and I will scream."

"Mhm."

"I quit, I'm done!" Joel threw his drumsticks onto the floor, "My hands hurt, my head hurts, I haven't ate in seven hours, I quit!"

"WE HAVE ANOTHER SONG TO DO??"

"NO. NOT ANYMORE, GRIAN."

"'m fine with that," Jimmy said, already zipping up his case. He looked over to Martyn. "Wanna see if Lizzie and them are still going?"

"Oo, yeah. Probably are, since 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 know how to take breaks," Martyn jabbed, giving Grian a dirty look. Grian ignored him though to whisper with Scar.

"Of course Martyn wants to go up there, he gets to see his boy and girlfriend," Joel commented, shaking out his wings.

"Oh what, do you not wanna see your fiance?" Jimmy snorted at the red tint on Joels face as he walked over to them. Martyn laughed. "You still get red over that??"

"It's still a new term..," Joel grumbled, shoving past them to start up the stairs.

"Yeah, of four months."

Joel stopped in front of the door to look at the two. He pointed a drumstick at Martyn, "Listen, I don't want to hear it from a guy for has been flirting with the same person for what, two years now? And despite having CONFIRMED REQUITED FEELINGS. 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 say you aren't together!!"

"It's more fun that way!!"

"Holy shit, he's just insane." He turned around and opened the door just enough to let him through, and Martyn rushed to stop it from closing.

He caught the door and waited a few seconds for Jimmy to catch up before he stepped out of the basement, yelling, "Says the one we have to hide lighters from!"

A drumstick flew past Martyn's head and Jimmy leaned back to grab it, panicking immediately when he began to fall down the stairs but Martyn grabbed his other arms and pulled him up.

"My life just flashed before my eyes...," Jimmy whispered.

"Good job, Timmy." Martyn patted his shoulder.

They got into the living room and Jimmy stopped for a second to breathe. He could hear laughing from upstairs and looked up to see Joel waiting at the edge of the stairs with buzzing wings. Martyn rolled his eyes to Jimmy and walked over to Joel, pushing past him and snapping him from whatever daze he was in.

Joel quickly followed and so did Jimmy, cursing at moving so soon. By the time Jimmy got up there, they were already split into groups, talking. Martyn, Cleo, Ren and B, then Lizzie, Joel, and Oli. Before he could make a move to either group (he would've chosen the second immediately because the first seemed to be throwing around flirts), Oli noticed him and teleported over to him. "Jimmy!"

"Hey Oli!" A wing wrapped around him and led him to the second group.

"How are you and that firehead doin', dude?"

"Alright, we're gonna go on a date tom- shoot, I forgot to respond to xes text!" Jimmy patted his pockets for his phone only for Oli to hand it to him with a grin. Jimmy snatched it away and glared at him. "Quit stealing my stuff..."

Dandelion🧡
—————————————————————————
Jimmy: I didn't have time to respond earlier, I'm sorry
Jimmy: Sounds like a lovely idea, flower 💕
—————————————————————————

"Wanna listen to our last song? We trying it one more time for Saturday!" Jimmy looked up and nodded to Lizzie's delight as she squealed and got into her spot. Her bandmates did the same, and his came over to a wall with him.

"♪And who
said it was cool
to be asking me these questions..?♪"
"♪Your "Who,
what, and when,
where and why,"
are making my head
spin~♩"
"♪And whe-" "BWUAM!!"

The whole room jumped at the sudden mash of notes. B was staring at his hand, fully splayed out across keys. He blinked a few times before realizing what happened. "Dang it!" B dropped his head in the piano keys. "My fingers slipped!"

"No, it's okay! We're close to finishing that up anyways, your slip-up just means it's time to pack up!" Lizzie assured him, collapsing her mic stand.

"And you did great, as usual!" Ren praised, Cleo and Oli nodding.

Jimmy had to admit, he was jealous of their band dynamic. It was filled with praise and gentle criticism. His band was the opposite. While it most comments were jokes, there were only insults, and if you tried to critique someone, you'd have to duck away from a drumstick or pick. Any mistakes made were met with reassurance and patience instead of irration.

There was deep-rooted trust between the five that his group didn't have, even with Oli being newer. He joined after Lizzie suggested he joined to fill in for instruments and special effects. There was a trial show, at a small place they hadn't played at before, and they found Oli was a perfect match not only for their band, but for their pack as well. Ren accepted him in quickly, and he wore the bands' branding proudly; a silver dogtag necklace, engraved with the bands' name on the front and his name and role on the back.

He looked at his own bands branding; a leather bracelet they all made together towards the beginning of their band. His had little metals studs and his initial on the underside. He was supposed to have two bracelets, but the other was lost a long while ago. He had a black leather jacket too but traded that with Scott. And like him with Scotts' jacket, Scott never returned Jimmys'. He won't lie though, he was glad that jacket was gone. Even the bracelet now gave him bad memories of late nights and too many hangovers.

Oh, that's.. probably where problems started. He had spent way too many nights with his friends bar-hopping and only spent time with Scott to sleep off and recover from hangovers. He remembered the handful of times Scott had to pick him up from bars and drove him home. At first, he lectured Jimmy and he remembered bits and pieces of those times but then Scott just.. gave up. Their drives became silent and Scott would either sit in bed, away from Jimmy or wander off.

He remembered once waking up to a spinning room and a sobbing Scott. He tried to reach out to him, to comfort him, Scott began to cry more when his hand reached his thigh. So instead, he hugged his waist (awkwardly, but he tried) and rubbed against his side, kissing the bit of Scott's waist that was exposed. But that still wasn't right, and somehow Scott cried more, eventually gagging. Jimmy had to sit up and guide Scott through the house to get to their bathroom. He spent an hour just over the toilet with Jimmy rubbing his back and then two more curled up on Jimmy's lap.

He gagged at the memory.

Something snapped above his head, almost frantically, and he looked up to see a very worried Ren and Martyn. He looked over and noticed the rest had paused their packing to stare at him, concerned as well. He pressed his hand into his chest, his heartbeat shaking his whole body as he took in painful and quick breaths.

He had worked himself into a panic attack in front of seven other people.. embarrassing.

"We should go, huh?" Ren said, a bit of laughter in his voice, trying to somehow lighten the mood. Jimmy nodded and pushed himself up to shaky legs. He instinctively leaned to Martyn, who thankfully caught and stabilized him.

"Yeah, definitely time to head home. See yall."

The others said goodbye in hushed voices, and Jimmy could feel their eyes on him as he was led downstairs. He could hear his roommates talking to him but could only truly hear the one thought that ran around in his head;

Oh gods, was he a shit boyfriend.

Chapter Text

Jimmy stared down the hound across from him. It stared back, expectantly, as it shook with anticipation. It followed the pad layed over his arm as he checked its focus. He stopped with his arm bent next to his side and dug his heels into the ground.

"GET HIM!!" Ren yelled from the back porch, and the hound responded immediately, bursting into flames as it snarled and barked, lunging at Jimmy's arm and trying to pull him to the ground. It pulled and pulled, but Jimmy kept his footing and even threw in some (harmless) kicks and swats. But the hounds jumped away each time and only tugged harder at his arm.

A whistle echoed through the backyard, and the hound immediately dropped his arms, behavior changed instantly. Its flames died down to harmless glowing, and its tail wagged in excitement as it danced around Jimmy while he dug into the treat pouch.

"Sit, Rev!" Revenge sat immediately, whining and licking its chops, staring at the treat bone in his hand. He placed the treat on its nose slowly, "Hold ittttttt... go ahead!"

Revenge flicked up its snout to catch the treat. Jimmy got onto his knees and held Revenge's face, and squished it around. "Good boyyy!! Good boyy!!"

Jimmy continued to baby-talk the hound as Ren walked over to him, "I will never get over you baby talking a literal hellhound."

"Ohhh, but it'd never hurt us! Would you, Revie? No, those days are over, and now you get to be pampered and loved!"

Revenge has originally been a police dog for about seven years of its life. It was one of the best dogs in the force for a good while and became well-known around their city. But there was an "accident" involving water during a protest, and Revenge retired early.

While hellhounds were almost unharmable, being made up of rock and fire, they still had few weakness. One being a type of holy water. While normal water never truly hurt hellhounds, only extinguishing a fire that could easily be relit, some idiots figured out a type of holy water that could erase magic properties with some things; one of those being hellhounds.

The water had been thrown at Revenge's left front leg and immediately made it crumble to the ground. Revenge crumbled with it out of shock and had to be quick taken away. They tried to keep it in the troop, Revenge began showing signs of increased anxiety around crowds and even the other dogs that worked with it.

Jimmy had been volunteering at the time at one of the bigger vet offices, the one that had tried to treat Revenge, and he had seen it frequently. The officer Revenge had been assigned to tried to take it home, but quickly had to board it in the vet after it caused a fight with the other dogs he owned. He asked Jimmy if he was able to take it, saying that he didn't want it to go to complete strangers, and Jimmy agreed.

They kept up with training more for fun now, Martyn saying it'd nice to have a dog trained in defense in case something happened and Ren agreed, offering to help Jimmy the most with it.

"You want to go see one of your favorite people?" Revenge dropped to the ground and barked, tail wagging. Ren handed over its leash and muzzle, and Revenge sat when it saw them.

"Good boy," Ren patted the top of Revenge's head as Jimmy put on the muzzle. He stuck a treat through the muzzle and hooked the leash around its collar. Revenge could still be reactive around crowds or other dogs, so Jimmy kept it on for safety.

"Ready?" Revenge ruffed and shook excitedly.

That excitement didn't last as the car rode went on. As more street signs passed, Revenge's tail slowed till eventually, it let out a long sigh and curled up in the passenger seat.

"Revie?" Jimmy patted Revenge's side. Revenge looked at him, and smoke came out of its nostrils as it huffed. "Aren't you excited for the park?"

Revenge let out a quiet whine and looked back at the window. Jimmy frowned. This wasn't the first time Revenge got in these moods. Suddenly dim, quietly whining. Part of him suspected when that started because that and another event lined up almost perfectly.

Another result of his fuckup.

"Hi, Revieee!!!!" Tango cooed as xe opened the passenger door. Revenge sat up a little with slow tail wags, but not the same mood it was in at the beginning of the ride. Tango noticed the low mood as xe petted over cool stones. Xe looked at Jimmy, asking, "Again?"

"Yeah, while in the car ride. I wish-," He swallowed. "I wish I knew what was up with it."

Tango nodded, squishing Revenge's face. Lying made him feel sick. He knew the reason, at least suspected it, but.. it'd break Tango's heart if he told xem. Tango adored Revenge, Jimmy can't imagine how heartbroken xe'd be if xe learned xe may be part of the reason Revenge was sad.

"So, any reason for this little walk?" Jimmy asked, slightly teasing. Tango wrapped the leash loose around xes hand and grabbed Jimmy's as they started walking, Revenge between the two.

Tango rolled xes eyes, "What, I can't want to spend time with my boyfriend?"

"I think the real reason was to spend time with Revie," Jimmy said.

Tango scoffed, "Oh, yes, you caught me, Jim. This was all a trick, and I planned to skadoodle with our dog."

Jimmy snorted at xes tone, and Tango grinned. "No, but seriously, thank you, flower. We needed this."

"Definitely. When even was our last date?"

"Gods, like.. six months ago, I think? Way too long ago."

Tango nodded and thought more before asking, "What'd we even do?"

"I didn't know this'd be a memory test, geez," Jimmy glared at his boyfriend before answering, "I think we just walked around a mall and got shakes."

"Oh, so it wasn't even a real date, great!" Tango threw up xes free hand.

"It was too!"

"For high schoolers! Songbird, we are *thirty!* Who does mall dates at thirty!?"

"Plenty of people! I- I think, at least."

"I do not want to be with those people that do."

Jimmy sighed affectionately, "What *would* be a real date for you then?"

"Trying to plan something?" Tango looked at him suspiciously, and Jimmy just shrugged, smiling. "I don't know. Something more intimate. Ohoh! Like something like the show Impulse is doing Saturday! But not that actual show cause Scott would kill us, I think."

"Yeah, I think Scott's already gonna kill me, I'd rather him not you too," Jimmy said, unthinking.

Tango stopped xes steps and looked at Jimmy, "You're going to the Saturday thing??"

"Yeah, the... the boys play, I'm coming as a just in case."
———

Tango stared at Jimmy in disbelief. No way they were both going. No, they 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵 both going.

"I'll just ask Impy to record what he does," Tango said, starting the walk again.

"Wait, what?!"

"Impulse had talked a bit with Scott about letting me go to their Saturday show, but if you're going to be there, I'd rather not risk it."

“Oh.”

There was silence for a few minutes as they continued walking. It made Tango uneasy, and xe could have used that silence to try and bring up how xe had been feeling, but the couple times xe tried, the words got caught in xes throat.

It shouldn’t have been so hard. Just tell Jimmy about xes raising depression and confusing feelings. But instead, after a third time, when Jimmy noticed xes quickly opened and closed mouth, xe asked, “Where’d that jacket come from, by the way? I’ve seen a few pictures you’ve posted with it now.”

Xe couldn’t do it. This was supposed to be a nice date for them, to catch up and hang out, because they hadn’t in a long time and Tango missed it. Talking about xes feelings was more of a sit-down-at-home-and-talk type of conversation. No, for now, Tango would enjoy the presence of xes boyfriend and their dog and listen to Jimmy eventually ramble on about something since their last date.

“This? It’s from.. my closet?” Tango hummed in interest, a little surprised at an actual answer. Xe had fully expected an “I don’t know” since Jimmy didn’t always have the best memory. “It was buried a bit in the back, and with it getting cooler, I thought why not.”

“It’s cute! The denim suits you, I don’t know why Grian insists you wear leather. It’s hot, on occasion, but it doesn’t go with your vibe!”

Tango smiled as Jimmy nodded and covered the lower half of his face with the wings on his head, amused by that act. Xe could still see the slight reddish hue just above the feathers, though, and could see the way Jimmy’s wings fluffed with the compliment. He alway tried to act like they didn’t affect him, but every time, his wings gave him away.

“It’s just.. so I match with the others.” Jimmy mumbled.

“Who cares! Listen, everyone in that band is good-looking in some way, but you guys need sweeter eye candy.”

“Tango!” Xe laughed at Jimmy’s bright red face and pressed back, but still fluffed, wings. “You- you can’t say that!”

“But I just did! And I stand by my point. You should let me talk with Grian.”

Jimmy smoothed out his wings with a shake. “Absolutely not.”

“Come on, songbird! Your tickets would sell out like that!” Tango snapped his fingers.

“Our concert tickets will not suddenly sell out over a jacket," Jimmy shoved Tango's arm, rolling his eyes. Tango just smiled as Jimmy continued, “Sides, our whole thing is supposed to match almost completely, I think Gri would kick me out if I wore this to an actual show.”

“Do you still even have your actual band jacket? I don’t even remember the last time I’ve seen it.”

Jimmy looked over to xem, wide-eyed. His wings flicked nervously, and Tango felt xes heart drop a little. "Was it that one jacket I burnt??"

"No, no! That was just a cheap jacket for that occasion, that one just.. disappeared from my closet one day," Jimmy told xem, using his fingers to make a walking gesture.

"What, you had a clothes thief?" Tango snickered.

"Honestly, I thought you had taken it, so I never mentioned it." Something in his tone made Tango question what Jimmy was saying, if xe actually believed what he said.

"No, cause the last time I saw it, you were with Scott still. You sure he didn't snag it?" Tango asked.

Jimmy tensed again, seeming a little more agitated as he answered, "I don't know, maybe? To be fair, I.. stole, a lot of his own clothes."

"You don't have to be so cagey about Scott, y'know."

Jimmy froze and looked at Tango, as xe just said something so much worse, "Huh?"

"Whenever you bring up Scott, you get all.. weird about him. You don't have to."

"I'm.. not "cagey" about Scott," Jimmy mumbled.

"Your wings tense up, and you avoid looking at me, and when you do. That's not cagey?"

"I..," Jimmy stared at Tango, the same look of horror and despair and.... longing, that he got whenever Scott was brought up.

"Is there something you aren't telling me?"

"What!?" Tango didn't say anything else and watched as Jimmy panicked. He took a step back with angled-up and back wings. If Tango looked close enough, xe's sure xe could see a flicker or two. "What does that even mean?"

"Is there something about Scott you aren't telling me?" Tango asked again, a little more seriously now.

"No! Tango, Embers, no!" Jimmy quickly stepped closer to Tango, grabbing xes hands.

"Why does it feel like it then?"

"I- I don't know, and I'm sorry! I promise you though, I'm not keeping anything from you!"

Tango looked at Jimmy, at the gleam of fear that still lingered there. "I don't-" Something flashed blue in xes peripheral. Xe glanced over at it once, but fully looked again when xe noticed nothing blue, but instead, Zedaph standing in the middle of the sidewalk awkwardly.

"Hey- guys??"
————

Nowaynowaynowaynoway, no. WAY!!! Scott screamed into the water around him. Who did he piss off to have this type of luck?? How did a peaceful walk in the park, catching up with a friend, turn into 𝘛𝘏𝘐𝘚??

He peeked out of the water and to the small group. Gods, he was glad this park was around a lake, but he really did not prepare to jump in water like this. He 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 got this jeans too!

Tango, Jimmy, and Zedaph were all talking to each other, each one radiating with some negative emotion. Zedaph was overwhelmed with worry as he talked to his boyfriend. Both of the other two were sad, and guilt bled through the salty taste, oddly sweet and distantly sour.

Jimmy's wings were close to his back, and Scott could see a faint glowing among his feathers. He shuffled on his feet and looked as if he wanted to run. Some, distant, part of him wanted to pull himself from the muddy water and comforted his ex. But the majority of himself wanted to laugh at his face.

When Scott looked at Tango, xe just looked.. disappointed. It kinda looked like someone dumped water over xem. Xes tail dragged along the ground, and xe even looked dimmer.

Scott's vision was suddenly blocked by something.. grey and smokey..? He gasped quietly, "Revie!!"

The hellhound shook excitedly, know acknowledged, and rubbed against and licked Scott's face. He tried to keep his chuckled quiet as he gave it attention, being mindful of the water. "Oh, I know, baby!! It's been so long, oh you poor thing! I missed you too, so much, sweet thing."

Revenge whined and nudged harder against his face. Scott cooed, "I know, I know. You need to be a good boy though now and go back to Jim for me, okay? I'll figure something out, I promise."

For a minute, Scott thought he'd be spotted as Revenge looked at him with sad puppy eyes before it gave one last lick to his face and sadly trotted back to Jimmy, who was starting to turn to him, shit!

He dived back into the water quickly, praying to anyone that he wasn't spotted. After a few more minutes of hiding, a rock was tossed into the water, and when he didn't emerge, two more were thrown, one landing on his head.

"Ow??" Scott groaned as he poked back out of the water. Zedaphs stood at the edge of the water, amused

"Hey!" He held out a hand to Scott.

Scott rolled his eyes as he took the hand, letting Zed pull him up. He scoffed, "Hi. Avoid the head next time?"

"Oh, gods, don't try and make this frequent," Zedaph shuddered, stepping away from Scott to let him pull himself out more.

"Gotta see Revie somehow," Scott mumbled, rubbing at his neck and gill scars. "Gods, that was a bad idea. Stupid fresh water."

"How many mers do you think we upset?"

"With a "saltie" in their water?? All of em," Scott glanced over to the water, to a pair of yellow eyes glaring at him. He flapped the fins in his head, "Sorry. Hiding."

"Why?"

"Ex."

The other mer rolled their eyes, fins flapping, "dumbass," before they went back underwater.

"They called me a dumbass." Scott stared in the direction of the mer with a shocked look. Zedaph cackled beside him. Scott ignored him and snapped his fingers, new pair of jeans and boxers appearing next to him, a bubble forming around the pair a second later, blocking out the park around them. Scott wiped off remaining water on his tail with his hand. "Just got those jeans too."

"I feel like I hear that story once a month," Zedaph teased and Scott rolled his eyes.

"Knowing my luck? Probably," he grumbled as he struggled getting his new pants on while still on the ground. "I don't know who said Aeor was lucky, he's very much not."

"No way you can say that!" Zed gasped.

"Oh what will he do, kill me? Again? No way, Exor is too attached to Xor and he's too attached to me. Also, help me up, I can't button the back on the floor."

Scott looked behind him and reached out weakly. Zed grabbed his arm tightly and pulled him up. Scott stumbled for a second, forgetting how strong the sheep was, and rubbed where Zed grabbed. "Ouch."

"Sorry! You typically do the third latch, right?" Scott nodded and turned around. It always felt weird when someone else did the back latch, but he had known Zedaphs forever now and no longer minded as much. He heard and felt the latches click and swung his tail a few times. "Watch it!"

Scott put up his hands. "Sorry! Gotta test it!"

"Wait for me to 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 at least!" Zedaph swatted at him and Scott snapped at his hand with a rumble. But Zed had known his tactics now and let out a low bleat and a huff.

Scott collapsed down the bubble and didn't wait for Zedaph to continue their walk, chuckling at panicked the 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘱-𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘱 of Zed walking.

"That was fabulous luck," Scott snarled. Zed nodded, sensing a rant and not wanting to interrupt him. "Here I am, 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 to work through my feelings and start working on 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 and he just- he shows up!! Aeor, my guide, what did I do to deserve that?"

"Maybe he wanted to help you?"

"I do not want it that way." Scott said flatly. "I don't want 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 like that again. I want it to be on 𝘮𝘺 time, with 𝘮𝘺 will, no other or otherworldly influences. I am sick, 𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘬!! Of having others try and push me to do things!! I love that Gem and Impulse care for me, but did they have to just- make up their minds so quickly?? Without me involved even though it was fucking about me?!"

"They knew you would've said no."

"Of course I would!! That was stupid! And I hate they did it, that 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 was the better option to them!! It.. it hurts that they made such a huge decision without me, because what else do they plan on doing without me??"

"Scott.. I'm sure it was a one-time thing, okay? Because you were stressed beyond just "needing time.""

"I wasn't- I wasn't that stressed!! I just needed more of it!"

"And risk more damage? To yourself and the band?" Zedaphs tone was harsh, and Scott flinched back from it.

"No, but-."

"That's what would've happened if it continued, Scott!" Zed interrupted.

"I just.. I don't know, I wish they could've had a bit more faith in me to take care of myself," Scott sighed.

"But you weren't, that's the problem. You say you were, but I saw what was happening."

Scott wrapped his arms around himself tightly. Zed was right, ultimately. He barely even did the minimum for a long while, and Zedaph checked in with him a lot during that time to help.

"Can we move on from this? Two days in a row with this type of conversation is draining," He asked.

Zedaph nodded. "What do you wanna talk about now?"

"I don't know. Oh! I want to do another rebrand, you could help me with that!"

"Yes!! Always, I enjoyed doing it last time."
————

"Did you... see, anything, or... any𝘰𝘯𝘦 blue?"

"I saw him in the water. He was playing with Revenge."

"I wonder what him and Zed were on about."

"With how Zedaphs looked when he saw us?? Definitely us."

"Mhm..."

Chapter Text

Tango dropped xes head onto the steeling wheel and sighed. That was not how the day was supposed to go..

After the run-in with Zed and Scott, they hadn’t even tried to restart the previous conversation! After they left, it was quiet until Jimmy started to ramble about a red-wing blackbird he saw. And it was obvious they both wanted to start it back up, considering that both of them were flickering and obviously at least a little upset, but were also too nervous to. So it went untouched.

This was ridiculous, really, and xe just wanted it over with already. Instead, they were just gonna dance around the topic for another handful of months. Xe sighed again, exhaling for longer now.

Something in the air shifted, and Tango looked up. A part of the air above him blurred, and xe put xes head back down. "Hi, Skizz."

There was no reason, there never would he, but soon xes phone goes

[Skizzle: HOW?!]

"The air gets colder and a bit blurry," Tango said, starting up the car. Xe had been sitting for too long now.

[Skizzle: Awh, damn.]

"Just use your voice please, I don't care if it's loud, I need to drive." Xe didn’t bother to look at the responses that came through, instantly just staring to pull out of the park.

"First you don't want me too, now you do, make a choice!" Skizz joked, voice echoing throughout xes car.

"I'm not texting and driving for you, Skizz! Murder, maybe."

"Oh, how dare you only break certain laws for me."

"I know, that alone should be a crime," Tango rolled xes eyes at a loud chuckle that shook the car.

"So, how was the date?" The questions itself was tense, as if Skizz already knew.

"Were you there?"

"No, I was with Zedaph for a second though, when you guys bumped into each other."

Tango took in a shaky breath. "I feel bad, Skizz. We didn’t even continue the conversation!!"

"What 𝘸𝘢𝘴 the convo?"

"I had asked him about Scott, cause it's seems like every time he gets brought up, Jimmy gets cagey and skittish, like he wants to run from the conversation. He said he wasn't hiding anything but I just... I don’t believe him, Skizz.

"And I'm so scared to even talk about how I've been feeling but now that I've started noticing 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵? It makes me even more nervous."

"Ohh, yikes.."

"And I found out his band plays Saturday, so guess who's staying home now?"

"I thought you wanted to watch Impulse?"

Tango sighed, "I do! But, with Jimmy there? And me? I don’t think it'll work well."

"Listen, Tangs, if Scott has any kind of problem with you both being there, he can just deal. That's- mean, I'll admit, but you guys cannot avoid each other forever, not with such overlapping friend groups." Skizz said and Tango was upset he was right.

Not only where now three of his partners still in contact with Scott, Jimmy lived with Martyn, who xe knew was close with Scott since they were kids. And xe was still on good terms with Etho, who was with Cleo, who was also close to Scott since they were small..

"When did this get complicated!" Tango groaned.

"When you got with a cheater." Skizz said bluntly. He quickly apologized, though Tango shook it off.

"No, you're right. Gods, I wish time travel wasn't banned, I'd so change what I did.."

"You can only fix it now." Tango nodded. "Impulse just pulled in, love you, Top."

"Love you too." The air went back to normal, and Tango immediately missed Skizz's presence. Xe hated driving alone.

When Tango got home, xe could immediately feel that something was wrong. The air as xe approached the house felt wrong and the closer xe got, xe could hear voices get louder and louder.

"Not again," Xe grumbled as xe unlocked the door and the voice went to full volume. As xe thought, it was Skizz and Impulse. And as xe thought, it was about the same topic as their fits usually were.

Skizz's spying.

"YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT!!"

"IT WAS JUST FOR A FEW SECONDS, I JUST GOT THIS- THIS FEELING!! I COULDN'T IGNORE THAT!!"

Tango ignored them and headed to the living room after closing the door. Like always, Zedaph sat on the couch, texting someone. Xe sat down next to him and leaned into his side, avoiding his phone. "How long?"

"Not very. Twenty-ish minutes? Maybe?" Zed answered, not looking up to him.

"Fun.. who are you texting?" The question felt invasive, but xe needed to talk about *something* and not just listen to yelling.

"I HAVE TOLD YOU TIME AND TIME AGAIN, DO. NOT. USE YOUR STUPID POWERS TO SPY ON US!"

"I HAVEN'T DONE IT IN MONTHS, AND IT WAS BARELY FOR A MINUTE!? THE ONLY ONE WHO I STAYED LONGER FOR WAS TANGS, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE XE WANTED TO TALK!"

"Scott. Helping him figure out ways to talk to Impulse and Gem."

"Oh. Sorry about running into yall by the way," Tango closed xes eyes and leaned into Zedaph's shoulder.

"It's okay! You didn't know we'd be there, unless you were spying," Tango chuckled at the teasing tone. He rubbed his head against Tango's, rumbling at the warmth it gave off.

"IT'S THE SAME EXCUSE EACH TIME "I HAD THIS FEELING." JUST. TEXT US, ME AT LEAST! YOU KNEW I WAS WITH BDUBS, YOU KNOW HOW UNCOMFORTABLE IT MAKES HIM!"

"OH, YOU KNOW DAMN WHILE YOU DON'T ANSWER YOUR FUCKING PHONE WHEN WITH HIM!!"

"It doesn't hurt?" Tango asked.

"No, it doesn't, light. You know I can't feel much anyways," Zed assured, rubbing more into xes hair to prove it more.

"I just like to double-check."

"Thank you."

"SO WHAT, DO YOU SUDDENLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BDUBS?!"

"NO, MY PROBLEM IS THAT YOU IGNORE US WHEN YOU'RE WITH HIM! I COULD GET IT IF YOU IGNORED HIM TOO WHEN YOU'RE WITH US, BUT YOU DON'T!!"

"I DON'T MEAN TO?!"

"IT SURE FUCKING FEELS LIKE IT!"

Tango opened xes eyes to watch as Zedaph started to play games on his phone. "Are you going to watch Scott and Impulse Saturday?"

"Oh, probably! It's a collection night, I adore watching them."

"Collection night?"

"Have you never seen one of them? You know how Scott uses different voices to sing?" Tango nodded. "The bar he works at has collection night for sirens. Basically, they gather a bunch of around town, and the ones that are like.. assholes get their voice taken during a duet Xornoth and Scott do."

"Woah, that's.. kinda scary sounding, honestly," Tango chuckled.

"It is, but it's also so cool to watch. Important and Scott made a compromise for you to come, right?"

"Oh, uhm.. not anymore, I don't think."

"Whatt! Whyy?" Zedaph put his phone down to pout at Tango.

"Jimmy and his band are playing too. I feel like.. both of us there? Would cause another situation like the concert a while back ago."

"Well, Scott very likely knew Jimmy was gonna show up, because that whole group there has to have meetings about who plays there, and still said you could come."

"Maybe.."

"Pleaseeee still come, I don't wanna deal with that aloneeeeee," Zedaph begged, leaning heavily onto xes arm.

Tango looked back to Impulse and Skizz, both still yelling just as loudly, but in separate languages. Tango wondered if they even still understand each other or if they're just venting at the other. Xe looked back at Zedaph. "Skizz definitely isn't coming Saturday, huh?"

"Likely not. Please, my light," Zedaph asked again, leaning closer to Tango's face.

Tango felt xes face heat up and shoved away Zedaphs' face, grumbling, "𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 is cheating, Mr. Zedle-bop."

Zedaph ignored what Tango said and leaned to xes face again, not stopping this time until he was pressing a kiss onto xes lips. Tango accepted it gratefully, blocking out the yelling in the back for a few seconds before xe pushed Zedaph away.

Xe rolled xes eyes at the look Zedaph gave xem. "Alright, I'll go."

"WOO!" Zedaph wrapped his arms tight around Tango, knocking xem down into the couch. "You're the BEST!!!"

"YOU'RE SQUISHING ME!!!" Tango laughed, pushing against Zedaph jokingly. They both continued to roughhouse on the couch, ignoring the other two. A door slam made them both stop and look up. Skizz was gone and Impulse sat in the kitchen, mumbling angry to himself.

"Should we have taken that more seriously?" Tango whispered.

"You know it wouldn't have helped any if we did," Zedaph whispered back. Tango nodded and got off the couch completely, cautiously stepping to the dining area.

"Did Skizz go to his apartment?" Xe asked.

"Probably, I don't.. I don’t know," Impulse sighed, staring at his phone. His screen showed the messages he had with Skizz opened, with a pre-typed message already there.

"I'm sorry"

"I think that's the fastest you've apologized yet. He just left!" Zed tried to joke, leaning over Impulse's shoulder.

"I felt awful during that whole thing, but he just kept going, and going, and 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 and I couldn't.. stop myself either," Impulse said, shutting off his phone. "But I know it's better this way and that I need to let him cool down too. I hope this just doesn't make him unattend Saturday.."

"I think he might, honestly. You know how avoidiant he gets after fights," Zedaph said.

Impulse groaned, "Fuckkkkkk. I'll try to make a sorry basket later. It's just.. he 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 how both Bdubs and I feel about that, I don't understand why texting is never enough for him."

"He made a good point though. You don't look at your phone when with Bdubs. It gets annoying, and Skizz's paranoia can become a lot really quickly," Tango said. "He can't always ignore it."

"Gods, that was just an ass thing for me to say.. yeah, definitely an apology basket."

Both Tango and Zedaph nodded and Impulse went back to staring at his phone. After a few minutes of silence and of Tango and Zed staring at each other, Impulse spoke again, "I'll work on the Bdubs thing, by the way."

Zedaph looked between Tango and Impulse. Tango spoke, "You don't.. have to. I mean, it's annoying, but it's whatever."

"It's not- whatever, Tango. I'm actively being a hypocrite and I'm sorry about that," Impulse turned to face the two. Tango mumbled an apology, seeing how what xe said annoyed Impulse. He sighed, "It's alright, Tangs."

"We could try and work something out with Bdubs? Like, limit contact with other partners to calls at the end of the day if with a different partner? Unless emergencies, obviously," Zedaph suggested.

“Yeah, that could help. I’ll talk to Bdubs about it later.” Zedaph grinned, tail wagging as he leaned in to kiss Impulse. Tango watched the two for a minute before xe felt xes phone go off.

“Assuming that will apply to Jimmy?” Xe asked.

Zedaph pulled away from Impulse and thought for a moment. Yeah, probably. You want to call him about that real quick to explain?”

“Uhm.. later, I want Impulse and Bdubs to figure it out first and then I can work out something with Jimmy.”

“Alright!” Zedaph said, quickly kissing Tango’s cheek. He looked between Tango and Impulse. “Sooo.., now what?”

“I’d like to nap,” Impulse sighed, standing up. He gave both of them quick kisses before heading upstairs. “Have fun with whatever, you two.”

They watched him go upstairs before Tango looked at Zedaph, “Minecraft? We didn’t really have plans for today.”

“HELL YEAH!”

“WOO!!”

Chapter Text

Scott stared at himself in the mirror. For no sleep, he looked alright. He pulled at his eyes, double checking there was nothing extra, but all that was there were his typical eyebags that he had to cover. No darkening, no puffiness, surprisingly, no redness. Just his normal tiredness.

He hated Saturday shows. They supplied him with voices, sure, and he was running low lately, but the early mornings, the increased disrespect from people who had never come before start, the longer work days, godssss, the people.. It was just barely worth it.

“Did you not sleep again?”

“Cleo. It is… 𝘧𝘢𝘳 too early for this..,” Scott yawned, digging through his makeup bag. He was too tired for his usual full face, but at least he could do some concealer and eye makeup.

“What kept you up?” They asked.

Scott dug through his bag more in silence for a few seconds. “Did Gem talk with you about the band?”

“..No?”

“Of course not,” Scott scoffed. He dotted concealer under his eyes and blended it out. “Gem and Impulse have made an "executive" decision.. to kick me off the band.”

“WHAT??”

“𝘛𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺,” He added. Cleo sighed in relief but did give him a short glare. “They put the band on a break. Without telling me!”

“Okay, but… they had to have had a reason, right?” Cleo asked, moving up behind Scott to pull hair out of his face.

He rolled his eyes. “A stupid one.”

“And that is..?”

He swallowed. He really ran out of anger for them and now just felt.. Disappointed at himself. “It wasn’t actually stupid. I wasn’t taking care of myself properly and kept putting the band above myself. Practices and shows were getting in the way of me getting better. They.. didn’t think I would listen, which I guess was right, I’m stubborn when it comes to that stuff, so they decided to put the band on break themselves. I know I would have fought against it, I tried some when they told me, but I really wish they tried before deciding, you know?”

“Yeah, definitely, but like you said, you wouldn’t have listened,” Cleo said, now braiding his hair. “You rarely accept help. We have help in sneaky ways because of that. It 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴, and we feel 𝘢𝘸𝘧𝘶𝘭, and I can understand it upsets you, but you 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 to understand why we do it.”

“I do. I’m trying to work on it,” Scott looked at Cleo through the mirror. She met his eyes and gave him a gentle smile.

“I know,” Cleo leaned down and kissed the top of Scott’s head. “And I’m proud of you for that! But it’ll take some time, and until then, there will be times we have to be sneaky.”

Scott gave a small chuckle, "Unfortunately.

Cleo rolled their eyes playful as they tied together his braid. They reached around him to open a drawer and pull out a small bag of mixed hair pins. As they arranged pearls and stars in his hair, they asked, "Soo.. you seen the schedule for today?"

Scott groaned, "I wish I didn't! Marjorie 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 about the stuff with Jimmy, and she still invited his band to play!? I was already pushing it with letting Tango watch, but- JIMMY!? What if I just walked out?"

"Marjorie would kick your ass if you did," Cleo said. She wasn't wrong either, Marjorie would not accept him walking out over a guy. He didn't sing till the final anyways.. it would be fine. He would simply practice his tricks until he played and avoid looking too hard at the crowd.

"I'm just glad he isn't right before me. I would 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 just cry right there.."

"Yeah. And he likely won't stay either since no one in his band needs voices," Cleo pointed out. Scott gave a short nod, too focused on eyeliner to answer properly. Thankfully, Cleo noticed what he was doing and let go of his hair.

"Impulse does want me to at least 𝘵𝘳𝘺 and be friendly with Tango though so that practices at his place aren't awkward when we continue those. So guess who I'm gonna try and talk to..." Scott snarled a little at the idea of having to talk with Tango. But it was that or no band.. and he adored it too much to lose.

"Oh! Good luck with thatt.."

"Thanks, I'll. Definitely need it if I don't wanna lose my mind," Scott sighed, hanging his head a little.

"Guess who already stole a voiceee~!" Scott glared over to the door half-heartedly as Xornoth strutted in, holding out a bottle proudly. The red whisp inside smoked fiercely as it banged against the glass. "Some asshole by the front door was harassing Michael with some homophobic bullshit sooo!! First voice of the night!"

"Congratsss!" Cleo said, quickly giving Xornoth a high-five. When Scott said nothing, she looked down at him then back to Cleo.

"What's got him all mopey?" He asked them, prodding his arm.

"Band Boys." Cleo said simply, returning to decorate Scott's hair.

"Oh shit, they do play tonight.. yikes!!"

"Thank the gods it's before us. Just hoping they leave early..," Scott mumbled.

"I refuse to watch you mope over fucking Jimmy, come on now," Xornoth leaned against the vanity with crossed arms.

"It's not 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 about Jimmy, Xor. I'm- I'm tired, is all. I'm gonna ask one of the bakers for something to wake me up then I'll be good to go, okay?"

Xornoth frowned. "Scott, I can go solo if needed? You know Marjorie doesn’t care, as long as one of us is up there. If you still aren't in the right mood, you aren't in the right mood."

"No, I want to do this!! I missed the last one, I have to make up for that. This is my last thing before my break, I don't want to give up over stupid feelings."

Xornoth and Cleo exchanged concerned looks. Cleo spoke up, "This is why we're sneaky. But if you say so, Scott."

Xornoth stood next to Scott and looked at themselves in the mirror. They grabbed their hair into a ponytail and then dropped it, repeating that with a more and more concentrated look. They sighed after dropping their hair again. "Up or down? Down makes me more feminine which means at least a few more douchebags, but.. do I want to deal with that?"

"Comfort over profit, put it up. Sides, I'm doing a braid so it can be somewhat matching." Cleo nodded with Scott's answer. Xornoth mumbled a thanks, putting xeir hair back into a ponytail.

"How low are you on voices?" Xornoth asked.

"Doesn't matter."

"You sure? I can set some aside," Xornoth pressed.

"Xor. I'll be fine and if I run out, I'll hunt alone," Scott said, dismissing her concern. Xornoth squinted at him through the mirror.

"Last time you did that, it didn't-"

"Xornoth." Scott interrupted, looking at his twin directly. "I'll be 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦. Last time was.. just a mistake on my end, I knew that area was sketchy. I pushed my luck."

Xornoth opened xier mouth to protest more, hut a look from Cleo shut xem up. Scott rolled his eyes. He appreciated his sisters concern, but sometimes he missed when she was mean.
————

Jimmy fidgeted with his guitar strings in the back of their van, tightening and loosening the strings.
This should 𝘯𝘰𝘵 be as stressful as it is. It was only a show to help Marjorie’s siren employees to get voices. It would be quick and easy and he wouldn’t have to stay for long. He wouldn’t talk with a specific siren, he wouldn’t even 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 about His name! He wouldn’t look at Him, no matter how much it hurt not to, no matter how beautiful He sounded, no matter how much others talked about Him. It would be in-and-out, no stalling or getting distracted.

“You’re gonna damage them,” Martyn scolded lightly and pulled Jimmy from his thoughts. He took Jimmy’s guitar from him to re-tune it. He set the guitar down across Jimmy’s lap when he was finished and watched him closely as the canary as he picked at his lip now. “You’re quiet.”

“I always am,” he responded automatically.

“Not always, and not this quiet. This isn’t gonna kill you, calm down.”

Jimmy glared at him, wings slowly rising. “You do not get to tell me to 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯.”

“Do not fight in the van, for fucks sake!” Grian called from the front, sitting in the passenger seat next to Mumbo.

“Yeah, thank you!” Mumbo said.

“Tell Martyn to not be an ass then!” Jimmy snapped.

“I’m not being an ass! I’m 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 to be a good friend and 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 you you don’t have to go all danger mode!"

“Our band is playing at the same place my EX IS. I think I have a right to go into danger mode!? Especially when He can 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘱 𝘮𝘺 𝘕𝘌𝘊𝘒!!”

“Please, the most he’ll do is break your arm!” Martyn sneered. “You’re not even playing, why the hell are you so crabby!?”

“THAT’S NOT BETTER!”

“YOU TWO! I SWEAR TO THE WATCHERS, I WILL MAKE YOUR ASSES 𝘞𝘈𝘓𝘒!!” Grian snapped, fully turning to face the back of the van angrily. Both Jimmy and Martyn shut up, nodding their heads and giving the other short glares. Grian sighed, “The plan is for this to be a four hour show. We play around hour three for roughly thirty minutes so that the sirens can set up all that is necessary. Me, Martyn, Joel, and Scar plan to guard the stage till then. It’d be 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦, if you could help but that isn’t needed. You can hide upstairs in the employee balcony to hide out and avoid the magic since the backstage isn’t immune.

“You will likely pass Scott since he uses upstairs to practice his acts. However! If you don’t talk to him, it is unlikely he’ll talk with you. So just keep to yourself. I know we’ll need you for one song, but after that, you go back to being a 𝘤𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 upstairs. Got it?”

Jimmy nodded reluctantly. While the plan could’ve been made without name calling, it was an alright one. Martyn rolled his eyes and went over to where Scar slept, though he was now wide awake from the yelling.

Jimmy stared out the van's window, watching as trees and other cars passed. They were a decent way away from the main city. The bar was more secluded by one the largest lake in Empiral Heights. While it was never given an official name, something about wanting the people to name it, many called it The Sirens’ Harbour. The name alone should’ve made him question what 𝘏𝘦 was.

For years, He claimed to be a starborne and only that. Jimmy never had a reason to question, so he didn’t. Though, the more Jimmy looked back, the more obvious the signs were.

For years, they spent His birthday at an aquarium. The same one, the same time. He spent the longest around the sharks, and each time would talk Jimmy’s ears off. Some of the staff knew Him so well they started giving Him gifts and even special tours. But, it never stuck out to Jimmy. He had a routine He liked, why 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 he question it?

His knowledge in general about underwater species of all kinds was impressive. It was over fish, sharks, corals, merlings and their subspecies. He knew stuff about many semi-aquatics as well. Anything that related to the water, He knew about. It was fascinating to Jimmy and while 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 was something he questioned, it was out of genuine curiosity and not suspicion. He even kept a fish tank around. Jimmy still had one of them.

He would spend hours in the rain and storms. No matter how bad or how cold or the time, He would always run into the rain. He usually dragged Jimmy with Him and he would always go back inside before Him or watch from the porch as He stood and spun in the rain. Unlike Jimmy, He never got sick from this and always teased Jimmy when he got sick. He claimed it was because starbornes had higher immunity, so, again, Jimmy never questioned Him.

Jimmy never saw Him swim. At least, not actually. He always hung around water- every house He’s lived at, every venue, bar and cafe He’s played at, it was near water- and Jimmy has many memories of admiring Him as He sat by the water with His feet in, but He’d never get in. And despite never seeing him swim, he always smelled like it. For months, Jimmy’s house smelled of sea salt. He excused it to be because of whatever perfume or soap He was using, and Jimmy believed Him. People admire the sea all the time and never swim. He was just like that.

His small habits were really obvious to Jimmy now too. His jewelry preference, always liking stars, but having an obvious preference for pearls and silver. He kept them lying around and always made sure Jimmy had at least two pearl strands somewhere on him. He had a habit of humming, no matter what he was doing. Around the house, in between conversations, cleaning, cooking, other… instances. Jimmy got so used to it, he couldn't function well around the house anymore without something not playing softly in the background.

He definitely always questioned His eating habits. Jimmy only saw Him eat forms of meat, chicken and fish especially. He always stumbled and stuttered when asked about it, but eventually came up with the excuse of starbornes needing mostly carnivorous diets and Jimmy accepted it with some skepticism. That was the only time he questioned His behaviors though.

They were all small things, yes, and many people probably wouldn’t question anything, but when it was all together, it made Jimmy feel disappointment in himself. For someone he used to claim he loved so much, he never somehow connected the dots.

“Alright, we good to go?” Jimmy jumped and looked away from the window to see Grian standing at the front of the van. Martyn was helping Scar get ready to exit the van and Mumbo was grabbing equipment. Jimmy decided to help Mumbo and nodded as he grabbed parts to Joel’s drumset and his guitar.

Four hours. That’s all he had to go through.
————

"Are you sure this isn't going to be an issue?" Tango asked cautiously as xe got into the passenger seat of Impulse's car. Gem sat in the backseat, texting someone and humming. Zedaph, currently out of sight, sat in the row behind her, wanting to use the extra room to stretch his legs out.

Both Tango and Zedaph had woken up later than intended, so Impulse had already gone to pick up Gem. Now, xe just needed to figure the next move and whether or not xe'll need to bail.

"No? Why would it?" Impulse said, glancing at Tango as he started the car again.

"Like.. uhm. Are you picking Scott up or..?"

"Oh! No, don't worry about that. Knowing him, he's at The Harbour already."

Tango sighed in relief. Gem piped in from the back, "Yeah, he prefers to drive with his siblings most the time. Helps him get focused better. Which is fair, cause I prefer to hum over our songs and I can get that's annoying."

Tango hummed in agreement as xe looked out the car window. The trees sped past, and Gem and Zedaphs voices soon blurred together.

Part of xem still really wondered if this was a good idea. Sure, Scott said it was fine himself, but.. that was before they knew Jimmy was coming too. Xe doesn’t know how he'll react now. Or even how 𝘹𝘦'𝘭𝘭 react.

Every time xe even thought about Scott, xes heart twisted and ached. Every time, Tango 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 xe could go back in time to stop xemself from sleeping with Jimmy. From tearing apart xes best friends relationship and xes own with Scott. Or that the circumstances were different, and xe didn't look at Jimmy and be overwhelmed with guilt.

Because Jimmy deserved more than to be considered a mistake.

"Tangs?" Tango blinked, immediately noticing how still everything was. Xe looked over to Impulse. He smiled. "There xe is. You okay?"

"Just nervous-excited," Tango shrugged. It was half a truth.

"I get it. Go in with Zed since Gem and I have to go through a different entrance. Read the sign, tell Marjorie you're with us if she asks and she'll let you upstairs."

Tango nodded and let Zedaph grab xes hand and pull xem to the building. Neither one of them stopped to read the sign though. They had all been there hundreds of times before and Impulse went over the same spiel each time that they memorized it.

The Sirens' Harbour is fae territory. It's widely known knowledge, but some are.. ignorant. They had a sign outside the front door, explaining everything. That people were on fae territory, that entering meant they gave up the rights to sue for lost items, that they acknowledged this and the many other rules.

That they automatically agreed to go under a truth spell upon entering if it is deemed necessary.

"It's been so long since we've come here," Zedaph sighed happily as they went upstairs. "I missed this place."

"Same..," Tango said, staring at Zedaph. He always seemed to glow when they went to the Harbour.

They got upstairs without an issue from Marjorie and quickly settled into a spot against the railing, watching the chaos as everyone came in and sat down.

When they sat down, Tango immediately noticed a pair of bright wings at the bottom of the stage, talking with one of the workers. "Oh, I expected Jimmy to be hiding by now."

"I think it's probably a request from Gri that he isn't," Zedaph guessed, leaning against Tango's shoulder.

"Yeah. Hope he comes up here though, I'd love to say hi to him."

"Knowing his tendencies to hide? He likely will." Tango could hear the disdain in his voice as he talked about Jimmy. For now, xe'd ignore it.

They both watched in silence as the bar got fuller and fuller. Anytime they thought the bar reached max capacity, more people came in. Zedaph whistled, "They usually max out the cap by now, how much magic is being used right now?"

"A lot. We want to stock up some more since winter is getting closer."

Tango held back a scream as xe turned around, met by a sharp grin and flittering white wings. "LIZZIE!"

Lizzie giggled, wings flittering more from her excitement. "Hiii! Saw you both sorta spaced out thought I'd come over!! So glad you both came!"

"And what a way too..," Tango sighed, putting one some dramatics that made Lizzie smile and giggle more.

"Of course we would! Wouldn’t wanna miss it," Zedaph said.

"Especially you, Tango. I know Jimmy was anxious you weren't going to," Lizzie told xem. Her smile shifted to something more sad that made Tango uneasy. Like, there was someone more, somewhere in that message.

"Yeah, of course. Like Zed said, I wouldn't want to miss it."

Lizzie nodded, then turned her attention to downstairs. "Jimmy’s coming up!!"

Tango and Zedaph watched as she rushed downstairs to her brothers, not waiting for him to even register her before dragging him up the stairs and over to them.

"Slow down!!!" Jimmy protested, flapping out his wings to try and slow Lizzie. But his efforts were useless has she dragged him across the floor.

"And here I thought you'd want to see your boyfriend!" Lizzie scoffed playfully, letting go of Jimmy.

Jimmy stared at Tango for a second before smiling at xem. "Hey flower."

"Hey handsome!" Tango said. Xe didn’t brother sitting up though.

"Hey, how long till everything starts?" Zedaph asked Lizzie, fully ignoring that Jimmy was even upstairs.

"Probably another hour. I was gonna chill in the practice room with some of the others? Yall can come with!" Lizzie said, already taking steps to one of the hallways.

Zedaph got up as soon as Lizzie offered, and Tango was quick to follow them with Jimmy’s help. They walked down to a pair of double doors, where Tango could already hear the chatter from inside.

When they opened the doors, Tango paused. The room was not only huge, but.. packed. Xe already noticed the Band Boys, though how they got up here so fast puzzled xem, and xe could recognize the Faeries, Cleo even brought Etho and Bdubs up, and Pearl was up there and.. Impulse and his band.

"Lizzie!" Xe snarled immediately, looking at the canary. She held up her hands and walked back, calling over her shoulder, "Hey guys!! Rounded up a few more!!"

The group looked over and waved to them, Impulse lighting up upon seeing Tango and Zed.

That. Rat! She tricked them!

Tango turned on xes heels to leave, not wanting to even try and deal with this, but Jimmy stopped xem. "H-hey, what's up? Come on."

"No! Lizzie did this on 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦, it was a trap!" Xe hissed, shoving off Jimmy’s hand.

"She just- she has good intentions, I'm sure!" Jimmy said. His eyes kept darting across the room and it pissed of Tango.

"What are you sta- oh."

In the middle of the room, at least twenty feet off the ground, was Scott, dangling from what looked like a thick piece of ribbon. His eyes were closed as he very slowly spun in the air.

Tango looks back to Jimmy and wishes xe didn't. His wings were puffed out in that way he did when he would try and impress Tango, and he tilted his head as he blatantly and intently stared at Scott. His pupils were wide, adoration swimming in them, along with something.. deeper. Something too strong for love, but too weak for lust.

I̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶a̶m̶e̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶x̶e̶m̶. That didn't matter anymore.

At least.., not before. Maybe in this moment, it did. The way Jimmy looked at Scott was so.. painfully similar to how Jimmy looked at Tango before everything started. Full of love, longing, and adoration.

...It was too similar. It reminded xem harshly and hurtfully of how they got together. Of how if Jimmy truly wanted to, he could do it all over again..

"Scott!! Come on, talk with us!!" Lizzie yelled, glancing at Tango and Jimmy.

"SEE!?" Tango whisper-yelled. "SHE'S DOING THIS PURPOSELY!"

Jimmy didn't respond and only looked briefly at Tango, then back to Scott. Tango rolled xes eyes, but looked too. Xe was curious how Scott would even get down.

Scott opened his eyes and smiled at his skimmed over the crowd of his friends. It didn't last long though, dropping into a face of horror and shock upon meeting eyes with Tango, then Jimmy. Then, to rage, as he let go of the ribbon.

Chapter Text

She 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵!

Scott stared down in shock at what was below him. Jimmy, staring up at him, looking like a lost baby bird, and Tango, looked just as confused and angry as Scott. A growl rose in his throat. Lizzie seriously brought them!

Scott let go of the piece of silk that held him up, barely getting himself to brace for the drop. He wasn’t supposed to, he was 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 to do them slowly, as to not give himself whiplash, but that didn’t matter at the moment. There were a few screams, a few “OH MY GOD” and shouts of his name. Scott tensed up more as he felt less and less silk wrapped around him, waiting for the pain that would send through his leg. Instead of that though, he landed against something surprisingly soft and immediately got overwhelmed by a wave of fear and relief.

Scott opened his eyes and left out his own sigh in relief at seeing that Skizz had caught him. He didn’t even know he was in the room!

Scott wrapped his arms around Skizz’s neck, clinging to the angel. His heart pounded in his ears as he mumbled, “Oh, my savior.. Thank you.”

“You knew that was gonna hurt you! You know not to do drops like that with silk 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 wrapped around your leg!” Skizz scolded, using a magic hand unwrap the remaining silk from Scott’s thigh.

He gave a shaky laugh, “It was supposed to be more elegant than that..”

Skizz sighed. The extra hand soothed over where the silk was and he felt a cool form of magic spread over it. “Thank you,” he whispered again.

“Hey,” Scott's face was tilted away from Skizz’s shoulder so they could look at each other. “You good?”

“I’m pissed.” Scott snarled. He glared over to Lizzie and then to Tango and Jimmy. They both stared at each and Scott felt something pull at his heart the longer he stared at those golden feathers. He squished that feeling back into its corner and looked back at Skizz. “I’m gonna kill someone."

Skizz laughed and pressed a kiss into Scott’s forehead. “Alright, snowflake, I’ll let you do that.”
Scott smiled as Skizz lowered them both and quickly kissed Skizz’s cheek before stepping down and turning all his attention to Lizzie.

“I thought you knew not to pull that shit!” Cleo yelled when he got close to the group. Scott shoved past her, intent on Lizzie.

“And 𝘐 thought she knew not to bring over my fucking EX!” Scott growled, shoving Lizzie’s shoulders. She gave no reaction, no raised wings, no taste of anger from her or even a hint of it in her eyes. No emotion at all, just blank, unblinking, uncanny eyes. It pissed him off more.

“Woah, hey!!” A few of their friends gasped. Joel stepped beside his wife, holding a hand in front of her. “Dude!”

“What were you 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨!?”

“I was 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 my best friend would at least 𝘵𝘳𝘺 and be civil with my brother for me.” Lizzie said through gritted teeth.

Scott laughed at her, "𝘊𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭!? With 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮?!" He pointed over to Tango and Jimmy. "Lizzie, have you lost your mind!?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, and anger and sadness bubbled over the wall she had put up. "I didn't know fake getting along was such a foreign concept to you." Lizzie spat.

"I can fake get along with Tango just fine, because I 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 to but did you have to bring Jimmy along?"

"I brought him along because this is the 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 my band was approved to play! It was already hard enough to talk to him when he played here, I won't be able to at all today except for the time before everything! There won't be time after all the songs and cleanup!"

"And he still has friends in this group," Joel sneered.

Scott looked around at the group, most avoiding his eyes. Another growl built up. "Right, sorry, I forgot some of my friends chose the side of a cheater."

"Woah, hey, no??! No one fucking– chose sides, dude, come on now."

"Really?? No one is choosing sides? Let's look around. You did, and 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 so, so did Grian, but of course a cheater sides with another one. Martyn told me he wasn't choosing sides, but he lives with Jimmy so I highly doubt that. And obviously Ren followed cause he can't think for himself apparently. People 𝘥𝘪𝘥 chose sides, Joel."

"Okay, the direct attacks were not necessary, man," Martyn said, irrated.

"They kinda were..," Ren mumbled. Scott felt a bit of pride at the flood of guilt that came from him.

"What!? Dude, he said you couldn't 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧!"

"I– I just followed what you did though, I didn't–," Ren backed away from Martyn and into Cleo. They held him immediately, saying something to him in a low voice that made Ren nod. Martyn sputtered and looked between the two in confusion.

Scott looked back at Lizzie, cursing himself a little at the overwhelming sense of sorrow from her as Joel tried to comfort her with short kisses to her face. Joel glared back at him, but Lizzie looked at him tearfully.

"Please don't make me choose..," she whispered.

"I won't, cause I wouldn't want to choose between you and Xornoth. But you have to understand why I can't do.. 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴," Scott motioned between himself, Tango, and Jimmy.

"I'm sorry."

"I know. You had.. some good intentions, I think, but..," Scott looked back to Tango and Jimmy. Jimmy was definitely fighting some kind of urge to comfort him– 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵– and Tango looked stuck, like xe was struggling to choose between two things. "But I'm not ready. And I doubt I ever will be."

Scott headed straight for the doors. This was becoming far too much

"Pe– Scott–"

"Shut it, cheat." He didn't even look over to the canary, instead staring straight at the ground as he passed the two. There was definitely a flare of anger from Tango, but it quickly died down to 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘺, of all things. He didn't need that, not from xem.

He exited the room and quickly hid the room across from it, collapsing against the wall with his knees to his chest and his head buried in them. 𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘶𝘱.. he dreaded in his head as he felt tears well up.

Barely even a minute passed before the door was opened again.

“Go away,” Scott sniffed, looking up enough to fan his eyes.

“You know I won’t.” Skizz’s voice responded. Scott looked up as Skizz sat down next to him. Skizz gave a small and kind smile. Scott fell into the angel, back to sobbing as wings wrapped around him.

"I hate him."

"Mhm?"

"I hate him I hate him I hate him–" Scott lost how many times he repeated that, but he said it enough times run out of breathe. When he did, Skizz didn't say anything, only ran a hand through his hair.

"You know you don't."

"Why 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 I!?" Scott pushed away from Skizz to look at him. Despite being a solid color, they looked sympathetic.

"Cause of the little blossom that still remains rightttt," Skizz poked above Scott's heart, "there. You can't just squish it out, Scott, not will those deep of roots."

Scott could tell Skizz was following something along his chest that only the angel could see. Scott stared down at his chest. "Will it ever fade out?"

"It'll shrink, for sure, but.. it's gonna scar your soul longgg before it fades," Skizz said. "Jimmy did a number on you, it's not gonna be easy getting rid of him fully like you want, even 𝘪𝘧 I help."

"Great."

Scott buried his head back into Skizz’s chest, sighing. Skizz hummed softly, wrapping his wings tighter around Scott, trapping him in a soft, white bubble. He closed his eyes, listening to the humming and Skizz’s heartbeat, unaware of the room doors opening until Skizz said something.

"Tango–"

"I need to talk with Scott," Scott looked up at the blazeborne, not even trying to hide his annoyance. "𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦."

Scott let out a long sigh as he got up. "Do you mind leaving, Skizz?"

Skizz looked between them. "..you sure?" Scott nodded and with that, Skizz got off the floor, glancing at the two one last time before leaving.

"What do you want?"
————

"Just to talk, mostly?" Tango really didn't put most thought into why xe came over honesty. Xe panicked mostly. Impulse gave xem a look once as soon as Scott left and when xe didn't go after Scott, he just straight up told xem to.

"𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘺?"

"𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵! 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦- 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥 "𝘐'𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶" 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥."

"𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘥𝘶𝘥𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵!?"

"𝘎𝘖𝘖𝘋. 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘰, 𝘰𝘳 𝘐 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘴-"

"𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺, 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺!"

"I was more so told to..," Tango shuffled xes feet. Xe was never that good at talking about things, but it was worse with the way Scott looked at him. Despite the smudged makeup, his eyes made it feel like he could see through to Tango's very soul. It made xem feel trapped almost.

"Of course you were," Scott scoffed, pulling out a small compact mirror from his pocket to look at his face. His face contorted slowly the longer Scott looked at himself and Tango for a second thought he'd cry again. But he just slammed the compact shut and let out a shaky breath.

Tango rocked on xes heels as Scott cleaned makeup from his face and as the silence grew more uncomfortable. Xe opened xes mouth slowly, going to say "I'm sorry," but Scott interrupted him.

"Do not. Say it." Scott slammed the makeup wipe in his hand on the ground.

"...what."

"You 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 what, Tango!"

"Okay, fine then 𝘸𝘩𝘺? Why can't I apologize?"

"Cause just– no!"

"But–"

"I don't care, Tango!" Scott shot up from the ground, wirling to face Tango, makeup half removed. "I don't care, I don't care, I do not CARE."

Tango stared at him as he continued. "I don't care how you feel anymore! Cause you didn't care about MINE, so why! In any of the gods names should I care about yours now? You're sorry? GOOD. FINALLY. Because you 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 be! You destroyed my trust, my relationship– not 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 with Jimmy, by the way, but everyone in our group!– you 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 me! Be sorry. Cause there is a low, and I mean, LOW. Chance of me EVER forgiving you!"

"Can't we still– 𝘵𝘳𝘺 and talk?! Let me try to apologize?!" Tango begged.

"NO!!"

"Why!?"

"I just– I don't know!" Scott dropped his face into his hands and Tango felt something it xem boil. "You don't 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸!?"

Scott shook his head and sobbed, "It's not that easy.. he doesn't deserve that.."

"Who doesn't?"

"You know who! You've made him 𝘴𝘰 happy, if you.. if you apologize then you're apologizing for making him happy and I can't–"

Tango didn't know what xe was looking at. Scott had went from a sobbing mess to rage and back to sobbing. Over a man he claims to not care about.

Scott shook where he stood and rubbed his face, "I have to redo all of thiss.."

"Are you really.. ready to risk your band over this? We need to come up with– with 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨!" Tango knew how much the band meant to their members. And Scott refusing to even try and talk worried xem a little.

"Just.. not today, okay?" Scott whispered, shaking his head. "I can't handle this."

"When?"

Scott turned to Tango with one hand still on his face. "Just.. text me, okay? I need to not think for a bit."

"Alright, yeah, I can.. I can do that."

Scott nodded and walked to over to Tango. Xe expected a shove or a hit, not– Scott pulling xes face to the side and kissing xes cheek. Scott didn't even seem to register it, eyes half-closed as he walked to the door. "Scott–"

Scott looked back and tilted his head. "Th– thank you. For at least trying to talk it out."

The other smiled and nodded. He looked almost.. deflated. It was a very different image than the angry, bright shark xe saw earlier.

Tango pressed xes hand against the spot Scott kissed. "And uhm–"

Xe held out one of xes hands, reaching for a handshake or something that wasn't just awkwardly standing. "Good luck on your show."

"Thanks," Scott smiled and grabbed both of Tango's hands, squeezing and pulling xem into a hug, mumbling, "I missed you so much..."

Tango slowly returned the hug, breath catching in xes throat, "Me too."

When Scott pulled back, he looked at Tango with– this gleam in his eye and a smile. Before Tango could even ask if something was wrong, Scott had his hands on xes face and 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘹𝘦𝘮.

For a second, Tango froze. The man just yelling at xem, barely five minutes ago, was 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘹𝘦𝘮. Xe should've pushed Scott way, to yell at him xemself about he was making xem do what Jimmy, that– something in xes brain whispered;

"It's just karma."

..maybe it was just karma. Not like anything would come out of this.. So, Tango kissed Scott back. His lips were almost tacky with what small amount of lip gloss was still on, and xe could feel cracks in Scott's lips, but it was.. nice. The taste of salt and distant blackberry flooded xes brain of nights were Jimmy had just been wirh Scott, salt and blackberry still on his lips, but Tango quickly pushed those away.

When Scott pulled away, he grinned, full sharpy teeth, and Tango shivered. Xe knew with that grin and the gleam still in Scott's eyes that his actions were malicious, yet xe still couldn't care. It was just karma.

Scott didn't give time for Tango to say anything, quickly walking out the room, almost singing;

"Call mee!!"
––––

Jimmy watched the mer leave, barely resisting the urge to try and go after Him, and once the door closed, he turned to his sister. "Lizzie, I love you, but 𝘸𝘩𝘺?"

"Cause I miss our friends! I miss hanging out as a 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 group, our late game nights, the small takeovers we did when we were out to eat, the surprise sleepovers when we all knew none of us had houses big enough to fit everyone comfortably, but now everyone's split off into small groups! Cause of YOU!" Lizzie snapped, slapping Jimmy across face. Unlike the others who reacted with gasps, some whispers, and a cheer from Joel, Jimmy didn’t react. He hung his head, letting Lizzie yell at him. Gods knew he wouldn't fight her, and so did she.

"What were 𝘺𝘰𝘶 thinking?! That night it apparently got so bad that you went to another man's bed instead of talking to your boyfriend!?" Jimmy didn't answer. He didn't even think he was thinking that night. "Jimmy Fletcher!!"

"I don't know!" He admitted. A sickening feeling rose in his throat as he continued, "Xe... was good company."

"Good 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺!?!"

Jimmy nodded. "It was supposed to be a one-time thing. But it happened again.. and a few more times.. and I realized I really liked Tango. But, I still loved Sc– 𝘏𝘪𝘮 so I just–"

"‐wasn't going to tell him." Lizzie finished flatly.

He shook his head. "I wasn't, no."

"You," Lizzie snarled, stepping forward with a clawed finger pointed at him, "are a 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤 excuse of– Hi Skizz!"

Someone pulled Jimmy back away from Lizzie by his shoulders. She was smiling, but the look in her eyes and rumble in the throat showed her growing anger. Skizz loosely hung a wing around Jimmy, "Mind if I steal Jingles for a bit?"

"Of course!" Lizzie cheered. Then she looked at Jimmy, and the look was clear; "This isn't over." He nodded.

Skizz took Jimmy away from the group as they went back to their previous chatter, some new conversation starters mixed in now. "You gonna talk with us all?" Jimmy joked.

"I am, actually." Skizz turned Jimmy around to face him, hands still on his shoulders. "Jimmy, you know I love you three a lot. Especially Tango, but especially right now, –––––."

Jimmy nodded. Tango mentioned to him that Skizz was beginning to hang out with Him and how a lot of Skizz's time now was with Him. "Tango told me about you two recently."

Skizz smiled, and his halo pulsed a bright yellow. "Yeah! I missed hanging out with him a lot, I'm.. 𝘴𝘰 happy he let me back in."

Jimmy watched Skizz’s halo swirl with pastels as he smiled before they shifted to blues, and his smile dropped. The halo seemed to drip with light, fading before it hit anything. "That's why I want to help you three. I can't keep watching you three spiral down this stupid rabbit hole. I can't keep seeing how you all react and not do anything to help."

"He reacts with nothing but hostility," Jimmy muttered, looking at the floor.

"That's what 𝘺𝘰𝘶 see. Outwardly, yes, he's angry, and he has 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 right to be when you haven't tried to apologize. But, it's just a shell." Skizz put his hands together and held out a small silhouette. Jimmy knew the silhouette automatically. It was outlined with a dark and swirling red that sparked and made Jimmy a little nervous to touch it.

"You all see this. Sharp aggression and anger, probably some resentment, maybe small peaks of fear. What I see.. is 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴." The silhouette's colours changed immediately, becoming a swirling storm.

"It shouldn't look like that, should it?" Jimmy asked.

Skizz shook his head. "No. Not as intensely at this. It should be more defined, not.. muddy."

"Do you know why it's like that? Besides the– the obvious."

"Denial is funny thing, Jim. If ––––– refuses to properly acknowledge how he's been feeling, about you, about Tango, about everything, it'll become like this. It'll bury the only constant."

Before Jimmy could ask what that meant, the storm cleared from the silhouette. A smaller one sat over where His heart would be, mostly dark red, with some strands and purple and very distant and small peaks of pink. Unlike the big one, it had roots that spread through the silhouette. If Jimmy looked close enough, he could see a smaller, but newer pair. "𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 is why I'm helping. Because I think, if you try enough, all of you, all three of you will heal, whether that means friendship again or just closure, I don't know.

"So I'm asking, begging you, Jimmy. Will you accept my help?"

Jimmy stared at the silhouette. At the roots that were almost all over the silhouette. He knew– 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥– what they meant. "Yeah.. of course."

Chapter Text

The tension in the group eventually seemed to die down, though Jimmy didn't not notice the increased looks shot his way. He chose to ignore them, though. Not like they weren't deserved. Instead, he focused on his roommates. Each where on the opposite sides of the group with their own bands, occasionally giving the other a look, but never actually meeting each others eyes.

Martyn kept his arms crossed, talking in short sentences and refusing to look at anything but the floor if he wasn't trying to get Ren's attention. Ren stuck to Cleo, behind her with his arms around her and head on hers. He didn't talk much other, watching the group with a close eye.

He walked to Ren slowly, hyperaware of some of Cleos' snakes watching him closely. Lizzie rolled her eyes when she noticed him, but Ren seemed to get a little happier, smiling at Jimmy instantly. "Hey!"

"Hey! I'm.. sorry, by the way," Jimmy said, shifting nervously.

Ren tilted his head. "For... wha— OH! No, dude, you're fine. It's my own fault, really. Scott was right, I subconsciously chose a side. But I'm gonna fix that, for a bit, at least."

"Are you moving out?" Jimmy wasn't surprised, but it still kinda hurt.

"Not permanently, but for a while, yea. Cleo is letting me move in with her, Etho, and Bdubs for a while."

"The boys already said okay," Cleo added.

"That's great! Do what you need, I'll help pack your stuff once we get home."

"Thank you, man," Ren grinned, and Jimmy nodded, smiling with him.

Jimmy had planned to check in with Martyn as well, apologize, just see how he was after everything, but he got caught up in conversations quickly. He hadn't meant to, but it was easy with that group. He didn't feel like he had to watch his back, there weren't any backhanded jokes, he could just— 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵. There were still some glares from Lizzie, but he knew she wouldn't try to call him out in front of everyone again.

"Hate to cut this short, but I believe it's our turn to play," B said, looking at his phone and squeezing Ren's hand. Ren's ears perked up as the him and the rest of the group realized the same.

"It is!" Ren cheered. He quickly hugged Jimmy with a wagging tail. "Wish us luck!"

"Of course!! I'll watch from up here!" Jimmy smiled. Lizzie gave one more look as her group left, and Jimmy nodded. "Good luck, sis."

"Thanks."

Jimmy looked back to Tango. The blaze had stuck close to Impulse the second xe got back from talking with Scott, looking more spaced out than before. He was a little upset xe didn't talk with him after, but at the same time, Jimmy understood. Everyone seemed angry at him, and he didn't blame anyone.

Jimmy walked out of the room and to the ledge that overlooked the main area, sitting down with his feet over the edge. Lizzie was talking excitedly with a handful of her coworkers while the rest set up the stage. Cleo alerted Lizzie once everything was set, and she gave her coworkers hugs before climbing up with Cleo's help.

"We are happy to welcome a new band with a familiar face to the stage!!" Marjorie called over a mic from the sidelines. "Please raise a glass to our favorite server and leader of the Fairy Pack, Lizzie Fletcherr!!"

Jimmy whistled over the cheers of the crowd. His sister 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 under the cheers, smiling widely at the crowd. They silenced as B played the first note, and Jimmy recognized it immediately as the last song they played last practice.

"♪Wait a minute, I don't want you to know..
It's the only way that I might grow~♪
A secret's safe behind
a pretty smile~
And it's mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine♪"

"Hey, Jim!"

Jimmy looks up and smiles, "Tangs! Thought you'd stick with the rest."

Tamgo shook xes head. "Everyone is starting to split off to groups, so thought I'd come out here."

Jimmy nodded and loosely layed a wing over Tango's shoulders.

"♪I don't think your lover likes me at all~
A secret's safe behind
a pretty smile~
But it's mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine♪"

"How was your talk with— yknow?" Jimmy asked half-mindedly. Tango noticeably tensed at the question, raising a hand to xes lips to pick at them. Was Jimmy imagining the blush that seemed to spread across xes face?

"It was— it was good. Yeah. He unblocked me actually, so we could set up an actual time to try and... talk..."

"That's great!! I'm happy for you, Tangs," Jimmy pulled Tango into a hug and kissed xem, pulling away with a familiar taste of salt. Weird.

"♪I
cant
love
you~♪"

"Hey, Jimmy..?" Tango slowly asked after a few quiet seconds. Jimmy tilted his head and turned his body more to face xem. "If I said I was sorry to —————.. would that— would I be—..."

Tango stared at the ground and thought for a minute. "Do you have.. regrets? About... 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?"

Tango gestured between the two of them, and Jimmy felt his heart twist. He stared at xem with wide eyes that avoided his. Jimmy pulled his wing away from Tango and used the wings in his head to cover his face. What he said next was quiet, a whisper;

"...some."

"What!?" Tango pulled away from Jimmy as he shot xem. And in a way, he likely did, just not physically.

"I have some regrets. I wish I knew what was happening then, I wish I didn't go to you, I 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺... that I just talked with Scott then, that I didn't leave him," Jimmy covered his face with his hands. "I love you, Tango. So, so, 𝘴𝘰 much. But why couldn't you have turned me away that day..? Why did you bring me inside at all?"

They sat in tense silence when Jimmy finished, Tango staring is.. disgust? Hurt? Both?? Jimmy couldn't tell anymore, but either was understandable.

"♪And when
was it an option~
to put your lips
upon my lips?
And how did this happen?
And why are you laughing?
And howw~
do I get back together~
againn~?♪"

"I don't know anymore..." Tango whispered, almost as quiet as Jimmy did , as xe moved away from Jimmy further. Jimmy wrapped his wings tight around himself and stared at the stage, only looking up at a set of steps approaching.

"Hey, Pearl," Jimmy tried to force a smile as he spoke. Pearl gave a soft, pitying one back, her ears pinned as she noticed the tension between the two.

"Hey! Grian wants you standing by the stage as extra help. Some attendees are getting too close to the stage around Scar cause of his wheelchair."

"Alrighty." Jimmy pushed himself up, shaking out his wings. He mumbled as he passed Tango, "Love you, embers."

Tango didn't acknowledge him. Nor did he expect xem to.

When Jimmy got to the front of the stage, he zoned out, barely keeping his wings up as a barrier and glancing at anyone who tried to approach. He barely registered as songs played off one by one, each melody blurring together to a jumble of words and notes.

Gods, did he regret blurting his feelings out like that to Tango. Yeah, it was true, but it could've been said in a better situation and gentler... But Tango asked, and Jimmy felt that words he meant to say when in the park bubble back up and into his throat.

Maybe this was how it should be. He didn't deserve Tango or Scott. Maybe this was the gods way of saying he shouldn't be in-

"JIMMY!" A hand shoved his shoulder and he jumped, looking up. Grian was on the stage, crouched down to glare at him. "Come on, I want you for this."

Jimmy didn't say anything and pulled himself onto the stage. He went to stand in his spot with his guitar, but when he approached, Martyn didn't move. Jimmy looked at him, confused, then at Grian. "Are we doing a song with me and Martyn playing?"

"No, actually," Grian gave Jimmy a smile that made his stomach turn. "You're singing this!"

"...me? I don't— I don't have any of our songs where I'm the main singer, backup maybe, but—" It hit Jimmy like a truck when he heard the song track play. "𝘕𝘰."

Grian's smile widened. "𝘠𝘦𝘴."

"Grian, I 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 you I don't sing this unless at small pop-ups or 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮-𝘶𝘱𝘴. Otherwise, we rewrote it as— as something Joel did!!"

"And it's a warm-up! First song we're playing!" Grian held the mic stand out

"Absolutely not!!" Jimmy smacked it away from himself. Grian's smile dropped and his eyes darkened.

"Jimmy. If I say you sing, you 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨." His smile popped back up, and Jimmy felt even more unease as he cheery tone came back. "Sides! Not like anyone will know what inspired this song anyway."

Jimmy stared at Grian in anger before he snatched the mic. "Fine."

He stepped into his spot and looked at Grian, waiting for him to go into his spot. Instead, Grian stepped to the side of the stage behind the curtains. He mouthed one word; "𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨."

Jimmy took in a deep breath, mentally preparing himself. He looked up at the overview. A lot more of the group stood there, watching. Tango buried xemself in Skizz’s wings when their eyes met. Jimmy sighed and looked at the floor in front of him.

"♪You had a dream,
you wanted better.
You were sick of all the holes in your sweater.
You looked to me,
and wondered whether,
I was the lamppost to which you were tethered.
I'm lookin' at you,
and you're lookin' at me,
but the glimmer in your eyes is sayin' you wanna leave.♪"

Jimmy tried to keep his eyes away from the overview, but every few words, his eyes were dragged back. Tango looked down at him with an unreadable expression. It was a kind of deep hurt that broke Jimmy’s heart knowing 𝘩𝘦 had been the cause of it.

W̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶T̶a̶n̶g̶o̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶h̶a̶p̶p̶i̶e̶r̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶l̶e̶f̶t̶?̶

"♪I don't wanna get undressed
for a new person all over again.
I don't wanna kiss someone else's neck
and have to pretend it's yours instead."

Jimmy took more deep breaths at the small break, wiping his eyes quickly. When words started back up, he forced his eyes away from Tango, instead to the side of the bar, at the stairs leading upstairs where Scott stood, leaning on the railing and staring curiously at Jimmy. His mouth was slightly opened as He breathed in. He smiled when He noticed Jimmy looking. Jimmy returned a glare instead and forced his eyes to back to the floor.

"♪I took the train
to see my mother.
I look across the track to see you with another.
There's nothin' worse
than seein' your lover
movin' on, while you still suffer.♪"

Jimmy could now 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 the way Tango and Scott looked at him, the way Scott's eyes burned into him, the way Tango's was cold and calculated. Xe was looking for cracks in Jimmy’s composure, ones that xe could pry into.

Luckily for xem, he was covered in them.

This song was never supposed to be heard by either of them, let alone even 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥. He had started writing a few random lines when everything started going awry with Scott. Then, a few after it ended and during his relationship with Tango. It was supposed to be unfinished forever and buried in his closet for good.

But Grian found it— and read it— and decided it'd be a 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 practice song if Jimmy finished it. Jimmy tried to stop that immediately and refused. Joel decided to take it and finish it as his own, without Jimmy’s knowledge til they played it during a practice. Jimmy was livid, but Joel and Grian saw it as a joke, so eventually, he came up with the agreement they had in place; They would play it as a warmup or in small pop-ups where Joel would say he made it.

Grian knew what he was doing, going against the agreement set in place, making Jimmy play in front of his ex and boyfriend. It made Jimmy's blood boil, yet he could only stand there and suffer in his compliance.

"♪I won't forget~♪"

Jimmy made the mistake again of looking at Tango. Xe looked down at Jimmy with wide, hurt eyes. Jimmy couldn't do anything, but mouth a small, "I'm sorry, my soul." Tango looked away immediately and buried xes head into Skizz's wings.

Scott wasn't smiling when Jimmy looked at Him. He looked lost in thought, a confused look stuck on his face. When He noticed Jimmy looking, his expression shifted through a handful of emotions before landing back on confusion. Like with Tango, Jimmy mouthed, "I'm sorry, poppy."

Anger flashed across Scott's face as it scrunched up. He stormed off the steps and outside, slamming the door, and the music ended. Jimmy hung his head and wings. He just wanted to go home.

The bar patrons didn't care or notice anything happening, they simply cheered and applauded as he turned to get off stage. Grian was walking to him from backstage with a mischievous gleam in his eye as he reached a hand out to Jimmy. Jimmy shoved the microphone into Grians chest and shoved past him.

Lizzie was waiting for him backstage when he looked up, her arms crossed. Jimmy simply nodded and followed her to her dressing room to talk.