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Chase strolled calmly along the edge of the grassy cliff, enjoying the view of the sun setting in the horizon and the glistening ocean down below. His hair flowed gently in the wind, drying off the water that Dorkin's rude little seahorse companion spit at him earlier.
His uhh... 15th? wedding was finally over- But it hadn't gone the way that it should since he obviously refused to kiss the prince, which meant that the story was yet to be complete and that Chase would still be mute to any character in the book-blah-blah-blah. Not that it mattered in the slightest since he had no reason to talk to any of them, he just needed to use his key to return home which both Deacon and Wave had done a few minutes prior. But Chase decided to stay for a little while longer because he had a plan in mind, or rather, a theory he wanted to test... He just needed to find his test subject first.
He continued his search while looking down at the shore, just a few moments later he spotted a set of piercing pale blue eyes staring back at him. Chase stopped dead in his tracks and felt a wide smile forming on his face, he beamed and waved excitedly at the oh so handsome sea witch who was casually leaning on a boulder by the coastline. Buddy returned a loving smile but didn't wave back, both of his hands were preoccupied opening the bar of chocolate that the blonde had gifted him earlier.
Chase carefully slid down the cliff and walked into the water that was luckily just knee-deep, he didn't feel like swimming in the beautiful outfit that Silver had surely put a lot of effort into crafting. He found a shorter rock right by the one Buddy was lounging on and pushed himself up on it. Once he was comfortably seated he looked back at the other boy and caught himself laughing lightly at the sight.
"Enjoying that Bud?" Chase asked between giggles while Buddy simply hummed "mhm" in agreement, his eyes were closed and his taste buds were in heaven all thanks to the chocolate.
"Here gimme, I also want a bite" Chase reached his hand out towards the bar and Buddy helped by moving it closer to him. He would normally protest about sharing the heavenly treat but he knew Chase would bring him more in future books, besides, he still had a few more bars back in the real world... Since his smaller size made them last longer... It was one of the very few positives in this whole nightmare of a situation he was trapped in.
He bit back a frown and stared bittersweetly at Chase, who now too had his eyes closed and was humming a sweet melody in content. He seemed to be enjoying the chocolate just as much as he had.
Buddy let out an amused breath of air through his nose and smiled sadly. He wondered if Chase would ever know just how much his presence alone meant to him.
"...So how was the wedding?" Buddy asked in an attempt to distract himself from all of his bitter thoughts. He was grateful that Chase had even decided to come over to see him before leaving the book, he didn't want to taint this moment with his problems... Being trapped in the body of a key that wasn't even meant to be him... Having been nothing but a street rat- a thief- prior to it. And currently being forced to lie and hide the truth to the kindest, most sweetest ray of sunshin-
"Eh ihwhas fhine, I shtill dihdnt geht *gulp* the gift i've been wanting. Ugh like seriously- these people don't know what a fair and lovely maiden like myself wants!" Chase complained while chewing the chocolate with the etiquette of a toddler.
....And suddenly all of the negative thoughts that plagued Buddy's mind were forgotten.
"Wow such refined manners you have, you truly are a princess" Buddy scoffed, wrinkling his nose judgmentally.
"Hey! Ariel isn't some pish posh fancy schmancy princess- I mean she famously uses a fork to comb her hair for crying out loud!"
Buddy scrunched his eyebrows in confusion, Chase's character was in fact not named 'Arial' or whatever the blonde moron just said, and he definitely didn't see anywhere in the script that she uses a fork like that. He guessed that Chase must be referring to another iteration of this story- well whatever, he was given an excellent opportunity to further mess with his favorite little idiot.
"Ohh so what you're saying is that her role is peeeerfect for you?" Buddy said teasingly as a shit-eating grin formed on his face. He then snatched back the chocolate bar to take another bite before Chase had the time to react.
Chase gasped dramatically "Hey! How DARE you! You're the one with no manners you big jerk!" He yelled and crossed his arms while shooting his bully an overly exaggerated glare "Oh please, i'm the one with no manners?" Buddy began in his familiar snarky tone "Have you ever wondered what you look like to others whenever you find a table full of desserts?" Chase's squinted eyes slowly moved away from Buddie's smug ones in embarrassment. "I personally don't think they see you as a 'fair and lovely maiden with prefected table manners', even if the book is trying desperately to make it appear so" Chase let out an annoyed puff of air and he was about to protest when Buddy added "Hmm... wonder if there's a book where the heroine is a hamster, now that would be a more fitting role for you"
"OMG DUDE YOU'RE SO DEAD" Chase squawked and reached his hand into the water, aiming to splash it up on the other. Buddy quickly shielded his face and what was left of the chocolate bar, but tragically (for Chase) only a small amount of water landed on his fin.
Buddy unshielded himself slowly and looked back over to Chase who was giving him a threateningly blank stare.
"Don't. You. Dare. Say. A. Single. Thing"
...
And Buddy's shit-eating grin returned.
"Oh no! The water!! How did you know that i- a being that lives in the sea- is deathly allergic to water!?" Buddy cried out and threw his left arm over his head to pose dramatically while clutching the bar of chocolate close to his chest.
"I actually hate you" Chase groaned with a deadpanned expression as Buddy was covering his mouth trying to dampen the sound of his stupidly adorable laugh.
"Hmph! Well I guess I'll just leave since you're being nothing but a complete jackass!" Chase proclaimed loudly and took out Silver from his shirt while glaring daggers at the black haired jerk. He knew it was a petty move but he couldn't come up with a good comeback to save him this time.
"*Snort* Haha- wait no wait wait wait i'm sorry! Don't leave yet!" Buddy blurted out as his laughter died down. A hint of genuine panic was present in his plea that he hoped went unnoticed by the other. He leaned closer to Chase and put his hand on top of the one Chase held Silver in. "Please?" He begged quietly.
Chase looked back at him with a sided pout and curious eyes, then smirked a bit. "I donnoooo man, why should I stay here? Can't really think of any good reasons to" He said teasingly while placing his other hand over Buddy's.
Buddy let out a heavy breath through his nose that he'd unknowingly held in. His nerves softened lightly as he started into Chase's warm brown eyes, he smiled hesitantly and leaned in closer to the blonde. "Really? Not a single reason?"
Chase smiled warmly back, feeling his heart flutter from the closeness "Hmm... Nope! I have everything I could ever need back home" He took his hand off from Buddy's to physically count his reasons. "I've got my cozy bed, my phone, laptop and guitar, delicious foo- well no I guess the food is better in books since I don't have to worry about my stupid celiac so scratch that- Uh... Friends and family..." Chase's focus drifted off from the mention of his family, but it returned when he heard Buddy sighing dramatically.
"I see... So your boyfriend isn't a part of your needs, thanks a lot for that I guess" Buddy pouted childishly and glared off into the distance, pretending to be hurt.
Chase froze and felt a rush of heat course through his entire body, he feared he may have looked like a gaping tomato at that moment.
The dragged out silence made Buddy glance back at Chase, confused as to why the conversation had stopped so abruptly. When he saw the shocked expression on the blonde his eyes widened in realization, he began blushing even more than Chase somehow. "UHM! I-I MEan- W-we are uh... um I guess I haven't aske- or uhm-we uh haven't.. talked about that yet, are you uh-?"
Chase burst out laughing, successfully putting a stop to Buddy's embarrassed ramblings. "HaHah Yes! Yes I would love to be your boyfriend!" Chase continued to laugh while bringing their intertwined hands up to his cheek. "I've actually been meaning to ask you but I just never found the right time to do so I guess" His eyes squeezed close as he rubbed his cheek against Buddy's hand lovingly.
And well Buddy- he was pretty sure he was experiencing what it was like to have a heart attack. He could hear loud thumping in his ears and his skin felt like it was melting off his bones. If he was in his key form he's pretty sure he would have actually melted.
"O-oH- *ahEm* Oh yeah um that's- that works for me too I guess, yeah yeah sure boyfriends... boyfriends that's cool..." Buddy tried and failed extravagantly at sounding nonchalant. He knew this and yet his embarrassment was well worth the adorably sweet giggles it gained from Chase.
Chase lightly opened his eyes and brought the back of Buddy's hand to his mouth, kissing it while also reveling in the way it made Buddy lose all of his previously attempted composure. But Buddy knew he couldn't lose this battle without a fight- so he too brought their linked hands over to him and kissed the back of Chase's own hand, making said boy's eyes twinkle like a starry night's sky.
And those eyes had Buddy completely hypnotized, the two started leaning in closer to each other without breaking eye contact. But before their lips could touch Chase held his free hand up to Buddy's cheek to stop his movement.
Buddy let out a light questioning hum and leaned into the touch. Chase had to really fight the urge to not completely pass out right then and there over how at adorable he was.
"Hehe uh sorry Bud, this um- I actually, this is something wanted to talk to you about" He explained while gently stroking his thumb on the other's cheek. "I thought that since the uh- well the book isn't completed yet because i didn't do the whole kiss thing with mr princey, and um... Ok this is way harder and way more embarrassing to explain than i thought" Chase exclaimed nervously while quickly looking away from Buddy.
Buddy chuckled "No please go on, i'll try to not laugh if that's something you're worried about"
"Ugh ok no- just shush your mouth right now" Chase groaned and rolled his eyes. He returned his focus to the big jerk who had his heart completely stolen.
"Alright so i was thinking before about that last Cinderella book that um, kinda turned into a disaster-" He began again and Buddy's expression morphed into slight worry at the mention of the rather traumatizing experience they went through. "But y'know how we got out b-because of that whole true love's kiss thing and i uhm... I sorta checked the end of this book before going into it- and it uh also, it also ends with a true love's kiss..." Chase admitted sheepishly as his head sank into his shoulders.
Buddy stared at Chase with eyes as wide as an owl's. "A-are you suggesting...?" He sputtered out but couldn't quite finish his sentence.
Chase gulped, he looked down at their still intertwined hands that held onto Silver. He moved them so that they were pressed against his rapidly beating chest in an attempt to soothe his nerves. "I guess I am... If- if it's alright with you of course, uhm it might also not work but I just..." He looked back into those icy blue eyes that somehow warmed him more than any fireplace ever could. "...I don't doubt how I feel is all" He smiled gently and Buddy almost looked like he was about to tear up. "And i-it would be very cool if it does work! Like y'know- a different way to end all of these kinda stories" Chase added with nervous laughter to lighten the intense mood.
"I-I don't doubt how I feel either..." Buddy began and Chase's face lit up in a way that could easily rival the sun. But dark clouds had yet again swarmed inside Buddy's mind. He didn't deserve all of this, this was all too much, too good, Chase was too good for him.
"But I think you should reconsider... how you feel...about me" And the way Chase's face fell made him want to take it back immediately, to shove away all of his doubts and stay in an ignorant bliss with the boy he loved so deeply. But that too would end up hurting his starlight sooner or later. Time was ticking and Buddy couldn't picture a happy ending to his own story, he had a wish to make and it would ultimately separate the two.
What a fool he was for ever hoping he could find another way out.
How cruel he was for ever letting Chase get close to him.
What an idiot he was for ever thinking he deserved to be close to a star that shone so brightly.
"I-I just- I think you're being a little too naive here-" Buddy continued slightly panicked and Chase tilted his head down so his expression was hidden from the other, he was still holding one hand to Buddy's cheek but his thumb had stopped it's comforting back and forth movement "-You know you... you barely even know anything about me..." Buddy said quietly while giving Chase's other hand a light squeeze. He gulped, dreading whatever response he'd receive.
...
Chase hadn't so much as uttered a sound for a few seconds and it was driving Buddy mad, he slowly moved their intertwined hands to his own chest, just like Chase had done before. His heart was beating just as heavily as it felt, and he wished that each beat the blonde felt could somehow make him understand that he didn't wish for his words to be harmful.
Suddenly Chase snatched away his hand that Buddy held onto, and Silver was removed from their grasps as well, her key self dangled down to the blonde's chest with an audible cling. Chase looked back up at Buddy with a fiery glare that was filled with determination, catching him off guard. Chase then quickly moved his now free hand to cup Buddy's other cheek tightly.
"I DON'T CARE!" He yelled loudly making Buddy completely freeze into place.
"I already know that there's so much we can't tell each other yet, and I honestly don't care because I know it won't be like that forever!" Chase said with desperation etched into his face.
"...We'll figure it out... And I don't need to know more about you than I already do to... To know that I care about you a whole lot"
Buddy looked like he had been punched in the gut at his hopeful words. "B-but why... I don't understand how you could so easily..." He uttered out meekly, moving his hands up to place over Chase's. "Y-you shouldn't... Waste your care on someone like me, y-you don't even kno-" But Chase wasn't about to let him finish that sentence because he definitely didn't like the way Buddy was talking about himself right now.
"Oh no don't you dare give me all that 'someone like me' crap" Chase protested while squeezing Buddy's cheeks so that he resembled a goofy looking fish. "Again I know enough, you deserve good because you are good!" He then stopped squeezing his cheeks but kept them in place, giving Buddy a chance to speak again.
"Chase I- You don't- ugh" Buddy tried to speak but his mind was in too much conflict. How could Chase believe that he was good, how could he himself even believe he was?
Sensing his inner struggle Chase moved his face closer so that their noses touched lightly. "I don't what? Because I know you're not about to say that I don't know that you're good, because I do know that you moron" He said with a strained smile.
Buddy looked back in defeat. "But... What if i end up hurting you"
Chase moved his head back slightly to get a better view of the other's face. "Do you want to?"
"No of course not" Buddy said quickly and firmly, looking almost offended at the idea.
"Great! Then you're not a bad person"
"...It's not that simple Chase" He muttered and glanced down to the side.
Chase huffed and pouted playfully at Buddy. "Sure it is! To be a 'bad person' you'd have to actively be like... Well not be like- how you're being?... You get what i mean! You're being a good person! And unless you're somehow pretending when it comes to- all of this, then there's really no reason to doubt that" He gently guided Buddy's face up to meet his again. Buddy's eyes were glossy, tears were threatening to form and Chase wished he could prevent them, but how could he?
"...I- I really wish I could tell you, tell you everything but I just-" Buddy let out a pained sob and he could no longer muster the strength to keep his tears from falling. Chase felt his heart break into a million pieces at the sight, he slowly began rubbing his thumbs under Buddy's eyes to wipe away his tears. "I know Buddy... It's alright"
"...I'm *hick* i'm so sorry, i'm so so-"
"Sh sh no hey- hey it's alright, seriously... I get it- You... you didn't choose this... did you?" Chase asked quietly in a soothing manner.
Buddy lightly shook his head, his eyes were burning and he hated how difficult it was to see Chase. He hated feeling so weak and vulnerable in front of him. He hated how he couldn't just have led a different, normal life, where he could be together with his starlight without any fear, any risks.
Chase slowly leaned in closer to kiss Buddy gently on his forehead, then he shifted his body so that he could hug the other. Buddy instinctively moved one hand so it could lightly hold onto his golden locks and his other to hold around Chase's waist, he then buried his face into the crook of Chase's neck.
Chase glaced bittersweetly at the damp and messy black hair next to him, he brought a hand up to gently comb through it. They stayed in the comforting embrace til' Buddy's quiet sobs turned into strained breaths.
"... I really don't have a single doubt in my mind when it comes to you Bud... Even if our situation is tricky, to say the least- ...I trust that we'll manage... And I trust you, I trust us"
Buddy grumbled tiredly "...That doesn't even make sense"
Chase scoffed affectionately and gave a playful pat on the other's head
"Yes it does stop being a hater"
Buddy huffed out an amused breath of air that tickled Chase's neck. "Fine, fine... I'd like to trust us too"
"You can, I get that it might not seem possible from your perspective?... But I gotta tell ya- this whole thing with living keys, going into books, gathering some strange magic goop that can let you make wishes- doesn't sound very possible either, but it is somehow"
Buddy let out a strained snort, he moved his head up so that he could once again stare into those warm and comforting eyes. Chase smiled sweetly and wiped off Buddy's now dried up tears that had turned into streaks of tiny salt crystals.
"I know it's possible for us to make it through all of this- and whatever it is that you can't tell me yet" Chase leaned in again to kiss Buddy's cheek, finally bringing a small smile out of him.
"... Maybe you're right... I um, I actually shouldn't even have been able to meet you at all" Buddy admitted, allowing himself to give Chase a tiny crumble of information.
Chase's eyes glimmered with hope. "Really?... Well i'm glad we did" He said affectionately, sparing the boy any follow-up questions. This was more than enough for now.
Buddy felt goosebumps form on his arms, he brought the hand he held in the blonde's hair down to caress his cheek lovingly, Chase happily leaned into the touch and closed his eyes. Buddy then leaned in to kiss his other cheek, bringing a soft hum out of the other. Maybe it's okay to have a little hope, it's true that... most of this, shouldn't even be possible. Meeting Chase already seemed too good to be true. He feared that positivity, because it could be stripped away from him at any given moment, but maybe the universe would finally allow him to be happy... maybe. It was hard to hope.
Buddy leaned back and took a slightly shaky breath in, and breathed out to steady himself. "Yeah, me too..." He still felt a part of him needing to argue further, to convince both Chase and himself that this just wouldn't do. But he tried to keep that part of him locked away in chains for now. Even if there was a possibility that this would all lead to further devastation, it could wait. He just wanted to be happy at this moment.
"Um so, back to that theory of yours" Buddy hinted at, smiling fondly. Chase's eyes flew open and he looked like he'd just sucked on a lemon. "Oh yeah- haha whoops uh forgot- forgot about, that... " He felt heat return to his face and he saw that Buddy also looked slightly bashful. "You sure you're ok leaving now?... We can stay and talk more if you want- but only if you want of course!" Chase exclaimed hurriedly.
"Yeah i'm sure, and i'm actually really curious if it'll actually work... It technically shouldn't because of the roles we're playing, but the book is left without an ending- so maybe it'll be similar to the um... last Cinderella one" Buddy gulped and looked off to the side. "And it definitely would be nice to um... K-kiss without being in a life threatening situation- if um you're also okay with it"
Chase cackled sweetly. "Of course i'm okay with it, obviously i'd want to kiss my boyfriend"
And then it was Buddy's turn to look like he'd sucked on a lemon. A heavy blush spread across his face. "R-right we, are that-" He sputtered out embarrassedly. Returning his eyes to gleeful brown ones.
"Hehe yep and you're stuck with me now Bud, whether you like it or not" Chase teased with a toothy grin. "And if the kiss thing doesn't work- then i'll get to stay here and kiss my boyfriend some more" He sang, loudly emphasizing the word.
He then burst out laughing at the defeated look Buddy gave him.
"You're seriously the worst" Buddy grumbled, putting the palm of his hand over his face in hopes of covering his blush. (it didn't)
"Hahaha I know you love it" Chase managed through his laughter.
Buddy huffed and lightly flicked his little idiot's forehead. "Yeah yeah whatever" he muttered, rolling his eyes. "Now will my 'boyfriend' please stop laughing so we can get this over with"
"Pffft alright alright c'mere my impatient boyfriend" Chase snickered, not fully done with the teasing session. He once again took hold of Buddy cheeks, smiling at Buddy's annoyed pout that he clearly faked. "I am not impatient, you're just irritating"
Chase grinned and leaned in so their noses touched. "But you lovee it~" He said melodically. "You're lucky I do idiot" Buddy added with a fond sigh and moved his face to the side so that their lips could meet. They both closed their eyes and melted into each other.
Just a second later Chase could faintly see a bright light through his eyelids, and the next thing he knew he was sitting in the tower over his room.
A very confused upper half of Deacon was staring at him from the ladder. "...What? You're just now back from the book? I went away for like half an hour- the hell were you doing in there that was so important anyway?" He questioned his cousin.
Chase looked away gleefully. "Oh y'know, just testing out a theory"
...
"No I don't know?? What are you- ugh nevermind mind"