Tell me you love me, but you treat me like I'm never there

[awreck]

Who: Nice & Wreck
What: Dealing with the aftermath of who they were in the Story
When: The day after the return to the Library
Where: Lego Club!
Content warnings: It's TBHX and mentions of suicide are likely, so pre-emptively warning for it here.

Wreck hates and loves the Library all at once. It's because of this place that Nice is even alive and himself to begin with, and so Wreck is immensely grateful for this opportunity. However, when the Library keeps dragging the Editors into Stories to play their parts to properly end the story, it's difficult to appreciate the second chance they've both been given.

Once they returned from the Story and ceased to be Láng Yìchén and Jiāng Wěi, there was no need for Nice to say anything. Wreck immediately knew that Nice would want to avoid him, and so he gave him his space, resisted seeking him out, kept his mouth shut.

It doesn't last long, though. How could it, when he had promised himself he would be more attentive and not allow Nice to carry his burdens on his own? So, the most he manages to give that space for roughly 24 hours before he actively seeks Nice out. He checks all of Nice's usual spots first, and eventually he comes upon the Children's Area where the Lego Club is held.

Comments

[awreck]

[ . . . ]

Hmm.... I'm not exactly as hairy or physically strong as Láng Yìchén. I wonder if that'd be okay?

[dovedive]

[Nice turns his head to look at Wreck with a mixture of annoyance and some other complicated feelings. ]

I don't want you to be a hairy dog who sheds everywhere.

[awreck]

That's because you're a cat person.

[ Wreck laughs, leaning in to rest his chin on Nice's shoulder. ]

...You know? I didn't hate it either. I was actually a little sad when we came back, even though I'm glad to be me again.

[dovedive]

Then isn't there something you should ask?

[ Is nice implying he's not going to be the one to ask Wreck? yes he is. ]

[awreck]

The... question I've been sitting on for over six years?

[dovedive]

[ He gives wreck a worried little look. ]

yeah?

[ Wait, did he say six years? ]

[awreck]

Mm.

[ That's a big ask. If it was easy, he would have asked right away, as far back as when they were idols. There was always something in the way, though. Their reputation as idols, Nice's reputation as a hero, work in general... ]

You... really want me to ask you? Because that's... really banking on me knowing you well enough to ask the right question.

[dovedive]

I'm not going to ask you so you have to ask me.

[ Wow, Nice. Wow. ]

[awreck]

[ He keeps his chin on Nice's shoulder, but casts his gaze aside. Nice doesn't want to ask him, huh...? Well, he figured as much. It's not like he has anything to bring to the table for Nice in the first place. ]

Um...

[ Nice didn't seem opposed to the idea, but... even so, it feels like he's being set up for a firm rejection. ]

Okay. Do you...

[ It's hard to get the words out, despite them festering inside him for years. ]

...wanna... give us a try...?

[dovedive]

[ Nice shifts closer to Wreck somehow, holding his hand out to the side. ]

I do... if you think I'm not too broken to try.

[awreck]

[ Wreck raises his eyebrows, staring at Nice's hand in disbelief. He sits up a bit straighter, lifting his head from Nice's shoulder and slipping his hand into his. ]

I've never thought that. I'm your biggest fan, remember...? But... is it okay if we take it slow?

[dovedive]

I'm okay with that...I don't think I'm ready to go running off to elope in some other town just yet...

[ he glances over at Wreck with a shy little smile. ]

[awreck]

[ He laughs as he gives Nice's hand a gentle squeeze. ]

Láng Yìchén and Jiāng Wěi were smart and got out while they could, but they didn't have nearly as many obstacles as us.

[ . . . ]

You... really mean it? I mean, you... want to?

[dovedive]

[ Nice nods his head with a shy little look, turning to look at his lap instead. ]

I still don't have my thoughts together.... I feel like being thrown around all these personas.... and coming back is really... messing with my emotions... but.

[ Nice's cheeks were starting to heat up. ]

the thought has been on my mind... since that one day in the garden area and you said the thing about the moon... I'm sure my feelings were there before then too, but I never got a chance to really think about anything until we came here.

[awreck]

I mean... it's fine, you know. I...

[ Never expected for his feelings to be returned in the first place. He was happy just being friends and being near Nice in general. ]

...I understand a little bit about what you were going through. I know there was a lot you couldn't tell me--

[ --or didn't want to tell him-- ]

--but I get it. Shang De and Miss J were always telling you what to do, how your face should be, what you should think, how you should dress... To be honest, this is probably the first time in a decade that you've had the autonomy that you deserve. And that's probably overwhelming.

[dovedive]

It's absolutely terrifying...

[ He gives Wreck's hand a tiny little squeeze as he glances off to the side. ]

But...

[ He frowns thoughtfully, trying to figure out how to word his thoughts. ]

I want my... first decision to be this.

[awreck]

I don't really have the words to explain how big of an honor that is.

[ He lets out a little hum. ]

Guess things won't really change between us too much.

[ He hangs on Nice all the time already, for starters. ]

[dovedive]

I guess that's true.

[ For the first time since their conversation started, Nice started to seem more relaxed. His expression even softened a bit. ]

You've always hung off me all the time.

[awreck]

You always let me. What was I supposed to do~?

[dovedive]

You've always been the one person who could break through my walls, frustratingly so.

[awreck]

[ He suspects that's because out of all the people Nice was surrounded with, he was the only one who treated Nice like a person. ]

Yeah...? Guess this might piss you off, but you're usually pretty easy to read.

[dovedive]

Am I? Aren't you the same person that said you weren't psychic earlier?

[ he gives him the smallest teasing smile. ]

[awreck]

Tch, yeah, but that's not the same and you know it.

[dovedive]

I don't know I think it's a little similar.

[awreck]

So what you're basically saying is that you're in a pretty good mood now, huh?