guarded by ghouls [g.b.c.]

sixteen.

"we need to get dew.. i can't tell you this without his permission.." mountain mumbled.

i looked back in front of me, my hands falling into my lap. i paused for a moment, taking a breather.

"okay.." i sighed, standing up and beginning the walk to the common room where dew was sleeping on the couch.

i wasn't sure if mountain was following me, but this would be a small test to see if he really did want to tell me whatever he was thinking.

after a few moments, i felt the end of a tail wrap around my wrist, the spade resting in my hand.

i glanced over to my left, seeing mountain walking beside me, the flower crown i made him resting on his helmet around his horns.

a burst of happiness exploded in my heart as i looked forward, a small smile on my face as i gently squeezed the base of mountain's tail in my palm.

mountain and i walked into the common room, none of the other ghouls except dew being inside.

i slowly walked over to dew, sitting down on the floor in front of the couch and bringing my free hand up to the nape of dew's neck.

"dew.." i whispered softly as i gently ran my hand through the hair that was pointing out from under his helmet. dew grumbled slightly, adjusting how he was laying as he leaned into my hand.

"dew, you need to wake up.." i continued, still whispering. "no.." dew growled. "yes, you do.." i smiled. dew seemed to register that i was talking and looked up.

his red eyes stared into mine, his pupil dilating.

"mountain says he needs your permission for something.." i whispered, tilting my head so our eye contact was less lopsided.

dew looked over, staring back at the earth ghoul who had been dead silent the whole time.

"what is it?" dew mumbled, sitting up and reaching under his mask to rub his eye. "we need to tell her." mountain stated, his voice slightly raspy as his eyes watered.

dew froze.

"what? no, we can't. we shouldn't." dew shook his head, quickly becoming more alert. "dew, it's better if we do.." mountain mumbled. "what about rain..?" dew's voice cracked. "if he gets to tell her so do we." mountain stated firmly.

i sat quiet, not wanting to disrupt something that was obviously already unstable.

dew paused, staring back at mountain, the earth ghoul swallowing his nerves.

after a moment, dew sighed, letting his head drop as he nodded.

"okay.." dew whispered.

mountain looked over at me, removing his tail from around my wrist and taking the same hand in his.

dew moved down to the ground, grabbing my other hand and ghosting his thumb over my knuckles.

"what's wrong?" i asked, anxiety coursing through me. mountain took a breath, reaching over and grabbing dew's hand.

dew looked over, obviously a bit surprised by the action but squeezed mountain's hand in reassurance.

"what did rain tell you after you two.. y'know.." mountain asked, trying to gloss over the fact that rain and i kissed.

"he said that he's liked me for a long time and wanted to wait for a special moment to tell me." i answered. dew's jaw clenched, though a hand squeeze from mountain silently told him to calm down.

mountain took another breath, taking a moment to calm himself before continuing.

"we wanted to wait for a special moment too, but obviously that can't happen without fixing this situation.." mountain started, looking up at me from the floor. he seemed confident for a moment before letting his posture drop as he let go of my hand, bringing it to his forehead.