Chapter Nine: Planning and Building.
Sollux was the first awake in the small cabin home. Considering the fact that he didn’t actually go to bed. He sat watching the stars dance, and the sun rise. His neck hurt and his back ached. It had been a terrible night. Similar to those back when he lived with David, but without all the bruises. Carefully slipping down the stairs to make himself a cup of coffee (Or five) Sollux crept, Willing the thought of sleep out of his mind and rubbing his eyes as if it would magically make the bloodshot-ness go away.
Sipping gently at the warm comforting cup of joe, he felt as if he may fall asleep standing up. As lovely as that would be, it was unrealistic, and that statement only grew truer when he could hear clumsy quick steps down the stairs. Low and behold, about a minute later Mituna emerged from the hallway rubbing sleep out of his own eyes, wearing nothing but a pair of bumble bee boxers. If it was any other time, Sollux might have blushed, or maybe made some remark on how he was too old for bumblebees (Even if he personally thought bees were badass) No, Sollux just cast him a glance and nodded at him before going back to focusing on the warmth the mug in his hands spread throughout his fingertips. Mituna grinned going up to the smaller and giving him a hug.
“Good morning Thollux!”
“MMmmm good morning.” Sollux replied lazily. He really didn’t want to deal with his stupid jealousy problems right now, and was just all around to lazy to act upon not being anything but remotely concerned that the cup in his hands may spill.
“Ith thomething wrong?”
Sollux shrugged
“No, just tired.”
“Why? You look like shit.”
Sollux snorted, rolling his eyes.
“Aren’t you a charmer. I didn’t sleep.”
“Why?”
“Couldn’t.”
“Oh.” Mituna frowned bringing Sollux into a slightly tighter hug than before, slightly annoyed with the cup in his younger brother’s hands keeping him from giving the smaller a proper hug. He lifted it carefully from Sollux’s hands and set it on the counter behind him. Mituna carefully pecked Sollux’s forehead.
“Yethterday wath tho buthy, thorry I didn’t get to talk to you.”
“It’s cool you were chillin with Latula, I was chillin with kk.”
Mituna nodded taking note of seeing Sollux more. He wondered why he didn’t get any sleep last night. He remembers Simon speaking of Sollux having some issues falling asleep, but he seemed to sleep just fine at home. Maybe it was the change in scenery? He really couldn’t place any other major difference. He just hoped in the future he could help, or just that Sollux got some proper sleep. Having so much coffee is not good for you. At least, Mituna doesn’t think it is.
“Hey Thollux?”
“Hm?”
“I love you.” It was the first time the words had been exchanged between the two. Mituna meant them honestly. Sollux blushed locking eyes with the older of the two and nodded. He didn’t want to risk it being family wise. He wanted it to be more. Throughout the days it wasn’t just a little crush anymore. He wanted Mituna all to himself. He wanted to be the one he confided in. Though, he did love him as family as well. Because a lover, is family in the end.
“Yeah, I love you too, Tuna.”
Mituna closed the space between them giving him a gentle kiss, lips slowly melting against each other. It was blissful, calm, honest, and innocent. Every doubt, and every worry melted away with that one kiss. Sollux was the first to break away, giving the older a soft smile. They each looked into each other’s mismatched eyes, only moving away from each other when they hear rustling upstairs from waking children. Unbeknownst of Simon smiling at them from the back porch, having been downstairs first, and Meulin squealing in the other room.
The brothers cast little looks at each other, that nobody really understood but them. And the more they did it, the more people noticed. And the weirder they got. Sollux would wiggle his eyebrows, Mituna would twitch his nose. Sollux would lisp a sentence on purpose, and Mituna would say something about computers. Mituna would derp it, and Sollux would copy. Eventually it got to the point where everyone stopped eating in the middle of breakfast and just watched the two go at it. This resulted in some seriously awkward chuckles from the two and then everyone bursting out in gales of joyful laughter.
Yeah, The Captor’s could really get used to this.
After breakfast, everyone split up and went their own ways. Karkat went over to the Ampora household, using the excuse that he had to return Eridan’s scarf. Simon went to go tan out on the dock, Sollux decided that getting a sunburn was a terrible idea, and stayed inside to work some coding computer stuff which I will probably never understand, and desperately wish I could.
Latula and Mituna, who are now the focus of this chapter, were deep in the woods by a big thick tree, with branches that reached far above where anyone could wish to reach, piercing the sky like the dreams of small children, and their ambition to follow them. Wood lay scattered around the tree, some planks leaning against it’s large trunk. The treehouse they were working on was coming along nicely. The floor plan had been worked out, it wove around the middle of the tree and up, making it have two floors. Half the first floor walls were up. They were no experts though, and often had Simon come back with them to help. They wanted the tree house to be up by the time the fireworks festival swung around in the upcoming week. It seemed almost an impossible feat, but they certainly had the determination to do it.
Setting to work immediately, Latula cut the boards, while Mituna placed them and nailed them. They talked about wall plans, what should go into the treehouse, and cracked plenty of jokes while at it.
“Do you think we should separate some of the areas for rooms?”
“Why do we need roomth?”
“Why not? We could put a freaking bedroom and a movie room, hell maybe even a kitchen! Make it like a real house!”
“I don’t think we can do that before the fethtival!”
“Sure we can! We will just have to get some extra help...”
The two discussed who they should let in on this so they wouldn’t give away the surprise for everyone. They quietly agreed on one last little surprise and got to work.
The day went on quickly for the pair of friends. They forgot to go in for lunch, which ticked Eridan and Karkat off because they fried up some fish for everyone, and only came back when Simon went out to get them for dinner.
They were covered in twigs and branches head to toe, Sollux rolled his eyes at the sight, Meulin scolded them for not keeping out of the dirt, Karkat laughed his ass off, and Eridan who seemed to be joining them for dinner a lot more now, just gave an amused smile. Simon sent them both to take showers.
The night progressed slowly, everyone relaxing to a movie Meulin picked out. Karkat stayed at Eridan’s that night, and Latula had gone to bed early. Mituna found he could stay up no longer near the end of the movie. He wished everyone sweet dreams, gave Sollux a little smile, and left to his own room. Mituna lay looking out the window and up at the stars, counting each little dancing one. He heard everyone go off to their rooms soon after. He hoped Sollux had a goodnight’s sleep.
The next morning, Mituna arose with a strange excitement. He stumbled down the stairs per usual finding Simon and Sollux having a silent conversation. Mituna ran over embracing Sollux in a big hug giving him a goofy grin.
“What are you guyth talking about?”
Sollux took a sip of his coffee and gave a tiny yawn before answering.
“The fireworks festival.”
“It’s coming up quite fast yes? I think it’s next Wednesday.”
“Yep! Try not to make any planth, me and ‘Tula have a thurprithe for everybody.”
“A surprise?” spoke sollux sleepily, “What kind?”
“A good one!”
“Gee that’s really specific. Thanks Tuna.”
“Welcome!”
Simon smiled at the two shaking his head softly, waving a small goodmorning at Meulin who came from her bedroom a little behind them.
“Good morning, Simon, Sollux, Mituna.”
“Mornin.” Mituna and Sollux chorused. Mituna smiled and unwrapped himself from his younger brother and pulled Meulin aside.
“I need your and Thimon’th help with thomething. I altho really would appreciate if you got Damien to help uth too.”
“Sure kitten! What do you have going on?”
