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March rocked on her heels, biting her lip almost anxiously as she watched Caelus and Rappa sing. A crowd had formed of course, surrounding the area besides the tv where the karaoke was set up.
Not that either needed the tv playing the lyrics- they were their own of course. Nor did they really even need the audio set up. They were used to singing to large crowds. Even over the rest of the party they could be easily heard, as if they were live music in a loud bar.
March took a sip of her drink, gaze catching on Sunday and Robin not that far from the karaoke machine, clearly debating what song to have Caelus sing next.
March could understand Robin’s fixation on Caelus’ voice- he was an unreasonably good singer. She’d known that for years. And it was a shame Caelus decided to quit the band.
Though she was a little sad it wasn't a factoid left for her and Dan Heng and all the other Okhema kids.. not that it had been for over a decade.
March felt like just another face in the crowd as the Dazzlings song finished, and Robin took Rappa’s place and started yet another song despite Caelus’ clear exasperation.
A love song, of course. Robin just grinned at Caelus as he began to sing.
Caelus simply rolled his eyes and went along with it, smiling brightly at Sunday as he did- causing a rather cute blush to spread on his face.
March tore her eyes away from Sunday, looking back to Caelus.
She felt like just another face in the crowd honestly- she was, technically. She hadn't spoken to Caelus all night- not since leaving his house after getting him to dress in the same torn jeans and mesh shirt he had for the last Dazzlings concert.
She wasn't too sure why that seemed to bother her. She wasn't just some stranger. She was his best friend! Almost nobody knew Caelus better than her!
Dan Heng did, but that was because his memory wasn't fragmented like hers. March knew basically everything about him. She knew about his family, running away, Clara, his struggles in high school. His bout of cancer as a kid and the lasting health issues he’s had since.
So why did she feel like she was so distant from him? Why did it bother her so much? They weren't distant, they spoke constantly and hung out all the time!
March chewed on her lip a little more, frowning faintly.
And then Caelus’ gaze fell on her and he smiled at her, causing her to reflexively smile back immediately. His gaze lingered on her for another few moments before the song pulled it back away, and his smile dropped back to the same faintly grinning expression it held when not looking at March or one of his partners.
March’s own, slightly strained smile froze at that thought.
She knew each of his smiles. She knew the smile he had when he was smiling at a friend, the smile he had for Clara and other kids. She knew the difference between the smile he gave Stelle (even still) and Robin, Rappa- the people he considered family, and the smile he gave his partners.
Why had she never once noticed till now that the smile he gave her was the same he gave his partners? She saw it so often. The only difference between the two (not that the smile was identical between everyone of his partners) was that the smile she got was slightly strained.
March exhaled slightly. She wasnt clueless.. or.. not as clueless as others. Certainly not as clueless as people assumed her to be.
Did Caelus love her too? Well no, thats stupid. March knew he loved her. That wasnt a question. No. Did he love her the same way as his partners?
March inhaled sharply, suddenly needing fresh air and finding her way outside.
Caelus absolutely was in love with her- so much was so obvious now in that context.
The realization was.. it made her chest tighten. And not.. really in a bad way. Aeons- did she love him too? Was that why denying she was with him left such a sour taste on her tongue? Was that why she couldn't tear her eyes away when Caelus was doting on one of his partners?
Aeons, she did love him, didn't she? Things were clicking into place, and aeons she did, she loved him so much.
But then-
The things clicking into place stretched back years.
Fucking hell, it went back before she ever met Stelle.
Was that stupid joke Pela made, ages ago, right? Had her years-long crush on Stelle just been her.. lying to herself?
The thought was nauseating.
…
Oh. And Caelus knew it, didn't he? Caelus knew March almost better than she knew herself- he was one of the sole people that knew (or cared for) Evernight.
Caelus knew March loved him, even when she didn't. And he loved her too- but that big, stupid, idiot just.. went along with March’s ‘crush’ on Stelle. He tried his best to get them together for fucks sake! Why would he do that when he loved her too?
March knew that was stupid. She knew why he did that.
Because it was what March had said she wanted, and he always deemed the wants of his loved ones far above his own.
March’s grip on her drink loosened a little as she felt her eyes water. Aeons, she’d be hurting both of them for so long, hadn't she? No wonder she had next to no memories from when Evernight fronted- though she knew Caelus wouldn't ever date Evernight without March’s go ahead. It explained Evernight's obsession, too, if March loved him.
March could almost, probably did, hear Evernight scoffing within her mind, ‘About time you put it together’ echoing in her thoughts.
March tried blinking the tears from her eyes, throat tight. She- she needed to go find Caelus.
She took a step forward and her foot caught on something- a root, a rock or brick she didn't know or care, all she knew was that she stumbled forward, drink just about flying from her hands as she went downwards.
A hand larger than hers caught her by the arm, and her drink, pulling her back to her feet.
She looked up, half hoping it was Caelus.
It wasn't.
“Woah there, are you okay?” The man said, with a half concerned grin. March nodded, throat still too tight to speak.
The guy let her go, but still kept a tight hold on her drink.
“Dont want a pretty girl like you taking a bad fall, right? Don't worry, you didn't spill much.”
He seemed nice.
March didn't believe it. He reminded her of one of Caelus’ exes, who were nice till you got to private when they were anything but.
“Right,” March managed to speak, suddenly not wanting it back.
She was cornered, or felt it at least, glancing around for someone she knew (For Caelus.) but unfortunately not finding anyone- or anyone who seemed to notice her predicament.
“Here you go,” March didn't want to take the drink back- not after her gaze had left it, but she saw no other option as to do so.
“So.. you here alone?” The guy asked, a far too easy smile that caused her to want to run.
“No,” She replied immediately.
March knew she wasn't entirely sober at the moment, but she could still tell he was dangerous.
“Oh? Here with some girlfriends?”
That, that, he was probing for info.
“No.”
His expression tightened, and March’s muscles tensed.
“March!” Caelus. “There you are!”
Safe.
Caelus slotted himself almost in front of March, completely ignoring the guy.
“I’ve been looking for you, you just disappeared. Are you okay?”
I am now, she thought but didn't say, only nodding.
“She almost tripped, but I caught her, and her drink. No refills needed.”
Caelus’ eyes fell to her drink, narrowing his eyes at it. “Your drinks a different color,” he muttered, turning his head with a harsh glare to the stranger.
“Fuck you tryna do?” He snapped out, moving March firmly behind him.
The guy laughed awkwardly, taking a step back. “I don't know what you’re talking about man..”
Caelus didn't buy it. “Fuck no. Get the hell out of here. Giovanni doesn't deal with roofies and shit.”
Irritation sparked in the guy's eyes, his uneasy smile fading.
“I didnt fucking try anything. Its not my fucking fault she’s clueless-“
Caelus fist made contact with his face.
Uh oh, March thought. That wasn't good.
She didn't say anything- he was still fine. He wasn't-
The guy swung back, and March could see the shift in Caelus.
She stood there, like so many times before when they were younger, watching as Caelus got in a fight. Her vision seemed to wane, as he fought the offender, brain seemingly trying to blur it out. She hated watching him fight.
It was clear that the other man had no actual experience in a fight, and Caelus had far too much.
“Fu-fuck! I give! Come on man!”
“Give fucking what? Why the fuck would I give a single fuck that you want me to stop? Would you stop if March or any other girl asked?”
It was less like a fight and more like Caelus was just beating him, honestly.
“Because I sure dont fucking think so!”
“F-fuck! Its her own fucking fault for being so fucking careless!”
If there was ever a way to ensure your own death, that was absolutely it.
There was an almost sickening crunch as Caelus borderline caved the guy's nose in on his face, eyes burning bright with disgust.
“Woah!” A hand not March’s grabbed Caelus’ arm, pulling him off the guy.
“What the hell is going on?!” Gepard exclaimed, as Sampo grabbed hold of the honestly barely conscious guy with blood streaming down his shirt.
“He’s fucking crazy!” Clearly, he didn't know who Caelus was, or how many friends he had. “He just fucking started trying to kill me!”
“I just fucking might,” Caelus growled, muscles still tense, and Gepards grip on him tight. “He tried to fucking roofie March.”
Gepard and Sampo’s expressions grew ice cold.
“I’ll kick him out,” Sampo assured. “No need to catch a charge, buddy.”
Caelus made a faint noise of disagreement, but as Gepard hesitantly released Caelus while Sampo started to drag the man off, Caelus straightened, rubbing his face.
“I’ll toss that for you March,” Gepard said softly, taking March’s drink from him. “And i’ll find.. whose you guys DD tonight?”
“Kafka,” March replied quietly. “Firefly ‘n Wolf came with us too.””
“Mhm. I'll go find them, tell them you two oughta go home. You okay?”
March did note that Gepard had a face of resignation at the latter two’s names, which was fair considering they were probably in a bedroom somewhere at the moment. (What the hell did Silver Wolf drink to get THAT much confidence??)
March nodded, glancing towards where Caelus was still sending a death glare towards the man Sampo was dragging off.
Gepard sighed slightly, squeezing her shoulder slightly before leaving to find Kafka and the other two.
It was quiet, despite the party being anything but. March was sure plenty of people had noticed, including friends, but fights were of little concern at a party- especially when it’d been broken up. March was sure there'd be questions later but..
“… Cae?”
Caelus’ shoulders bled out their tension as he let his fists drop, turning back to face March.
“Sorry. Sorry.. i know.. you don't like seeing me get in fights. Are- are you okay?”
March exhaled a little shakily, wrapping her arms around him in a hug, entangling her fingers in the mesh shirt he wore.
“I'm fine. I'm fine- are you hurt?”
Caelus huffed almost offended, hugging her back tightly. “Me? Nah. I think I've gotten more hurt from one of the kittens trying to bite me.”
March laughed slightly. “You.. didnt have-“
“Fuck no. Absolutely I did. Bastard deserved it, for trying to roofie someone.. especially you. I wont let anyone fuck with my girls if I get a say.”
March squeezed her eyes shut, pressing her forehead against his chest. ‘His girls’. He didn't mean it like he did when he spoke about Firefly or Himeko. He didn't mean it like that.
Aeons, she wished he did right now.
“I love you Caelus,” March muttered.
Caelus ran a hand through her hair, laughing slightly. “I love you too March,” He replied, with a lightness that was oh so clearly different from the way she was saying it.
March just hugged him tighter.