Sunny and Basil looked outside to see a dirty, old looking carriage. It had dull brass pipes on the side, like an organ. It was being pulled by Kel and Vance, with Aubrey and Kim piloting them.
Aubrey whipped Vance's back with a shoelace. "Faster, yah!"
"Ow, jeez." Vance rubbed his back as he continued to pull the carriage.
"Don't hit Vance too hard. He bruises easily." Kim warned.
"Oh, okay, sorry, Vance." Aubrey apologized before whipping Kel.
"That doesn't mean whip me harder, you asshole!" Kel turned his head to yell. Aubrey silently whipped him again, making him yelp.
"Uh, what's going on, guys..?" Sunny asked awkwardly, a bit put off by the unusual situation before him.
"Oh, hi, Sunny!" Aubrey waved excitedly, "Look guys, it's the calliope I told you about!"
Sunny inspected the calliope. "Looks different than I expected."
The pipes looked in to be in not-very-good condition on closer inspection. Dents and bumps marked the outside. A cobweb or two were stuck to the pipes and sides of the carriage it was in. The steam engine that was underneath was audibly sputtering as he got closer.
"It's cool, right?" A small pop came from beneath the carriage, and the carriage lurched forward, making Kel fall over. "Whoops, sorry!"
"Cool... is a word..." Sunny stifled a laugh. The music playing made sure it was inaudible.
"I think it's cool! Is there something wrong with the music player, though?" Basil asked in a concerned voice.
Kim made a face. "I made this song, actually, Basil." Aubrey furrowed her brow.
"Oo- Oh." Basil made an awkward face. Sunny giggled at the display.
"Fine, if you don't like it, I'll turn it off!" Aubrey said with a huff and pulled a small lever, reaching over Kim to pull it.
The discordant cacophony ended, along with the sounds of the engine.
"Onwards, steeds! We must go somewhere our talents will be appreciated!"
The pair of "steeds" groaned as they struggled to move the carriage. Evidently, the engine was making their job far easier before.
"Sorry!" Basil called after them.
On the topic of calling, Sunny remembered a variety of things, one of which being a call.
"Hey, Basil, by the way, do you mind if I sleep over?" Sunny asked, praying to anybody listening that Basil would say yes.
"Yeah, I think so! Um... why do you ask?" Basil was blushing more and more deeply as he spoke.
Sunny didn't seem to notice, "Alright, let me tell Mari." He turned on his phone, and called Mari.
"Hello, Sunny! How's my baby bro?" Mari cheerfully answered.
"Uh... hey, I'm gonna be staying at Basil's for the night." Sunny said awkwardly. Being called "baby bro" was weird.
"Oh. I see." Mari sounded disappointed, but then changed her tune, "Maybe you can ask if I can come over too!" Sunny grimaced.
"O-Okay. Hey, Polly, can Mari stay over too?!" Sunny called out to nobody in particular.
"Polly's ins-" Sunny cut Basil off.
"Oh, looks like a no, sorry, Mari. Bye." Sunny rushed out his words and hung up.
"Um... what's up with that?" Basil asked with some concern.
"I've just been. Having some weird suspicions... I think... it's complicated." Sunny stuttered, not really knowing how to phrase what he means.
"It's okay, Sunny. I'm here for you." Basil smiled patiently at him, his blush still hadn't fully faded from his cute face.
Sunny felt himself blushing instead. Odd, since he was totally straight, after all.
"Alright, c'mon, let's see where Aubrey's taking the calliope!" Basil grabbed Sunny's hand and began to walk, Sunny jerking forward and running up to catch up with Basil's pace.
His blushing deepened, and his heartbeat quickened. Once again, odd considering his straightness.
It was probably just from running... for a few seconds... yeah. Sunny somehow believed in the excuse he gave himself and proceeded to walk hand in hand with Basil absentmindedly.
"So, um... did you want to talk about why you didn't want to see your sister?" Basil asked, evidently curious about what brought the earlier display on.
"I- maybe later..." Sunny felt far more paranoid outside than he let on. He partially regrets following Aubrey's cart. Then again, maybe it would be best to do so, in case she ended up overworking Kel. Then again, there were three pairs of feet visible behind the lichen and cobweb covered underside of the cart. Either Aubrey decided to become a workhorse, or she made Kim become another.
Sunny slowed down his pace and then stopped. "Basil, can we go back to your house..?" He felt a pinprick of fear as he added, "Please?"
Basil's face showed shock and concern as he turned to Sunny, "Um... sure... are you okay, Sunny? You look... really scared..." Basil seemed to be trying to speak delicately, somehow moreso than his usual delicate speech.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Can we... can we go?" Sunny pleaded, to which Basil nodded. Sunny sighed with relief and returned his hand to lock with Basil's
He felt his cheeks blush, returning colour to his previously pale with fear face. He liked Basil.
As a friend, though, after all, he was straight. It's not gay to like your friends. And hold hands with them. And... Sunny shook his head. He needed to pay attention or...
Mari was at the front door of Basil's house, talking to Polly.
Sunny ducked behind the nearby fence, taking Basil with him, less smoothly.
"Ow, Sunny, what's wrong..?" Basil's pain quickly changed to concern when he saw Sunny making a face of fear.
"It- It's-" Sunny paused. Why was he hiding from Mari? It was his sister. The one who saved his life before. Those fears he had were ridiculous and unfounded. He sighed and stood up.
"Sorry, I was just panicking over nothing. Let's go in." Sunny stood up and offered Basil help up, who appeared rather confused by that ordeal.
Sunny approached the door, and felt his heartbeat racing again. This time, more of one that he could feel in his throat, and pounding in his head. A lot less whimsical than earlier.
"It's just Mari. I'm fine." Sunny affirmed to himself quietly before he continued with Basil, accidentally tightening his grip on poor Basil's hand.
YOU ARE READING
A Cage with No Key
Fanfiction- AU - Sunny has been making his way through school as Mari has started her success as a pianist, playing for national events and concerts. throughout it all, she hasn't moved out, though. She says it's for Sunny, but it couldn't be for him alone, o...
