Fallout and Future

Chapter 15: Fanning the Smoke

A/N: i return also thanks for 50 votes, content warnings @ bottom. Beta read by UdonPuddle.

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Sunny twiddled his thumbs, looking at Basil nervously. They sat next to each other on the sofa, having pulled apart a few minutes prior. The silence that filled the room was taut—a fraying rope about to snap. Quiet had been so easy, so much more comfortable four years ago.

Basil looked up at him, having noticed the unconscious communication. His eyelids drooped and he looked paler than he had earlier today, even with the afternoon sun beginning to peek through the clouds and flowing over his skin.

"...I need somewhere to stay," Sunny said quickly, looking away as soon as he finished.

"Hero and Kel could take you," Basil responded, equally quickly. Sunny felt his heart leap into his throat and mind begin to race with explanations for why- "I-I mean... if you don't want to stay with me."

"I was going to ask that." Sunny let out a small sigh of relief, glancing up again at Basil's face: also wide-eyed, also looking away, down at shaky clasped hands.

"You really...?" Basil only looked at Sunny again after a moment, as though he'd had to process what he just heard.

"Yes."

"O-of course!" Basil smiled gently and hugged his arms around himself. It was nice to see his eyes crinkle again, even if it was just a tiny bit. Sunny noticed him tapping a foot against the floor quietly—still anxious, unsurprisingly.

Hmm... 'everything is going to be okay' wouldn't cut it, especially when Sunny himself couldn't say he quite believed it. "You won't ruin anything, Basil. I won't leave again." Sunny tilted his head at his once-best friend. It was a little cruel, but he was honestly shocked Basil had made it this far without suffering a panic attack.

"I..." Basil glanced away, eyebrows raised. He clearly hadn't expected to be read that easily. "...Thank you."

Basil stood up, giving Sunny another small smile. "I'll start preparing something for dinner, then."

"You... learned how to cook?" Sunny raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Yeah." Basil caught himself before he said, 'it's been a while, after all.' "I... uh... just felt like picking it up. It's fun—you should try it some time!"

"...Alright. But only if it's with you," Sunny added. Basil spun on his heel and speed-walked to the kitchen to hide the warmth growing in his cheeks.

As Basil began to pull out pots and pans, filling the kitchen with metallic clanging with Sunny's eyes on his back all the while, he felt the swirling mess that was supposed to be his head begin to orient itself.

Sunny. Sunny was back , back, and they had just spent—what, half an hour?—talking to each other, in which he had promised that he didn't hate Basil.

Sunny wouldn't lie. He wouldn't, right? Not again, not even if it was to someone like himself.

But God, Basil had just started to move on from Sunny when he showed up again, asking to be friends again. Best friends. He started heating the stove and began filling a pot with water—what if he and Sunny really did grow close again? Friends, best friends... something more?

Basil turned off the water right before it overflowed, catching himself just in time.

If he has feelings for me-

No, he stopped himself. I shouldn't be thinking of things like that. Don't be too negative, but also don't be optimistic. Especially not in a situation like this.