Rifts

Part 27~The Photo

Marco screamed as he held out his arms against the booth walls. "We gotta get out of here!" Marco looked around for any way out, lifting up the seat of the booth. He screamed as he saw the horrifying monster.

Marco slammed the seat down, taking a tentative seat atop it.

"Marco, breathe. It's okay." Solar took Marco's hands, helping him as the booth landed. Marco panted, leaning against Solar with a groan.

"This is not what I needed today."

"I know. We'll get out." Solar rubbed Marco's back as he gripped Solar's jacket.

"Hey... Hey, Ben? Could you get us out of here, please?!"

Ben walked away, picking a drink from the side. "Gotta get my mind juices warmed up." Ben gulped the drink down before approaching the booth, pulling out the pictures. Ben hummed, looking over the pictures. "Well, I think I found your problem. Now, this here photo booth ain't just any photo booth."

Solar frowned, hesitating. "Is it magic?"

"It's magic."

Marco groaned, hitting his head against Solar's shoulder.

"This booth can look deep into your soul, seeing all truths that lie beneath them pictures."

Marco rubbed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Well, what does it want from us?2

"Heck, if I know. I ain't no magic photo booth."

Solar sighed, hitting his head back. "I guess Star was right. She knew something was wrong, and the booth knew it too."

"I don't get it; what is wrong with the photos?" Marco took a deep breath. "I just want to go home."

"Then let's give the photo booth what it wants." Solar stole a bill, sliding it in. Solar grinned, his form changing, the fur growing in his arms, and his tail sliding out. Marco paused before he laughed, his form changing as the fire encased his ears, making them pointy. "I always forget that's something you do."

Marco laughed, leaning into Solar's frame.

Ben walked closer, frowning as he rubbed his chin. "Well, this is gonna take a while. Good luck getting out of that trap." Ben jumped onto his chair, ass Marco screamed.

"That wasn't what it wanted!" Marco hit his head back, the flames extinguishing.

Solar sighed, placing a hand on Tom's arm. "There has to be a way out."

Marco let out a deep breath. "I wonder what's wrong with the photos."

"I don't know, but we'll make our way out. We always do."

"One day."

"What?"

"One day! I just wanted one day without magic adventures where I could dress up and hang out with you guys. I just wanted to chase my stupid serotonin and not have to talk about my past or my feelings or whatever is going on at the castle!"

"Marco, are you okay? Did something happen with your parents?"

"No. They were super supportive. A bit shocked but supportive." Marco crossed his arms as he sighed. "It's just. I've had to tell people about it so much recently, and everything going on with Star and Hekapoo and Eclipsa and-" Marco paused, playing with his hair. "I just didn't want to have to do anything today. I... I can't." Water gathered in the corner of Marco's eyes as Solar pulled him into a hug.

"Hey, it's okay, Marco. Everything's changing; I get that you don't want to do anything."

Marco buried himself in Solar's arms.

"You're not avoiding anything important, are you?"

Marco groaned, waving his hand dismissively. "I guess."

"Want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Then I think we're going to die here." Solar chuckled, leaning back as Marco sighed.

"I think I know what the photobooth wants."

"You do?!" Solar shot up, his eyes beaming.

"Yeah, I think I know what photo is wants to see." Marco took Solar's hand as Solar smiled.

"You sure? This is our last photo."

Marco paused, nodding. "Yeah. I know what it wants." Marco let out a long sigh before he pushed the bill into the photo booth.

The camera flashed as Marco turned to Solar, lifting his hand up and cupping Solar's cheek. Solar blushed as he looked into Marco's eyes. Marco leaned in closer, tilting his head as he gave Solar a kiss.

Marco blushed, about to pull away, when Solar grabbed him, pulling him back. Marco blushed as he finally pulled apart, leaning his forehead against Solar's. "Solar?"

Solar hummed, opening his eyes as Marco smiled.

"I really like you. I think I might love you, and I think that's what the photo booth wanted me to say."

Solar blushed, lowering his head as he hid. "I-I... I love you too."

Marco blinked. "You do?! Seriously?!"

Solar chuckled, wrapping his arms around Marco. "Of course I do. You're so cool and cute and look so pretty right now."

Marco blushed, pulling at his hair. "You think?"

"Yeah. You're so pretty."

Marco blushed as Solar grinned, holding Marco's hand.

The door blocking their exit pulled up as Ben grinned, opening his arms. "Congratulations! Three cheers for the happy new couple!" Ben cheered as the boys blushed.

Marco took a breath, sighing as he leaned into Solar's side. "Can we go home now?"

~~~

Star gasped as the photo booth landed. Instantly, Tom pinned Ben to the booth. "Release them, or I'll destroy you!"

"Tom, Tom, we're okay." Solar laughed as he pulled Tom away from Ben.

Tom grinned, tackling Marco and Solar into a hug. "Oh, I was so worried about you!" As Tom pulled apart, he froze, looking at Marco and Solar's linked hands. "Wha-what happened?"

Marco blushed, scratching the back of his neck. "It... It's a long story, but that guy kidnapped us, and if I wasn't so tired, I would personally ensure his destruction." Marco glared at Ben, who laughed and stepped back.

Star gasped, looking between Marco and Solar's hands and Tom. "Are... Are you guys a thing now?!"

Marco blinked, looking at Solar. "I don't know... Are we?"

Solar blushed, gripping Marco's hand tighter. "I would like to be."

"Then I guess we are." Marco sighed. "I think I'm going home. It's been a long day." Marco smiled as Solar followed behind him.

"I think home sounds great."

Marco put his fingers to his lips, whistling loudly as Nachos flew in. Marco climbed on, offering out a hand to Solar, who blushed, grinning as he took his chance to wrap his arms around Marco.

Star hesitated before she sat next to Tom, who had slid to the floor. "Tom... I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine, Star. I'm fine. I'm fine."

"Tom, you're crying."

Tom whimpered, covering his face with his hand as his eyeliner began to stream. "N-No, it's fine. I knew things would turn out like this. I mean... It was so obvious."

"Tom," Star sighed, placing a hand on Tom's shoulder, "that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt."

Tom blinked as he crumbled, crying into Star's shoulder. Moc paused, looking at Tom. "Hey, want pie?"

Tom sniffled, looking up at them. "Yes!"

Moc sat down, giving Tom a slice as they sat, giving him silent comfort.