You're In Awfully Early (Septiplier)

Just Too Different

(A/N written by @CaddyCorner )    

"Oh come on!" Mark shrieks, eyes insanely focused on the tv screen. Toy sized cars zip across the screen, all aiming for the soccer ball. Mark is incredibly talented at dodging the ball, whether he wants to or not.

"You make this too easy," Ken laughs, scoring another goal as the shorter gets himself reorientated.

"I'm still warming up!"

"We've been playing for almost two hours!"

"And you're sure going to be sorry when we hit that three hour mark. That's when I'll be ready for prime time."

"Didn't you say that about the two hour mark?"

Ken laughs deeply, chest shaking, as Mark pouts. He only quiets down when his phone buzzes against his leg. He drops his controller onto his lap, shifting on the couch to fish his phone from his pocket.

"I gotta take this," Ken mentions, Mary's name flashing on his phone screen.

Mark nods, pausing the game. "Take all the time you need. I'll save what we have to my computer while you're talking."

Ken dunks into the kitchen as Mark fiddles with the video camera. He accepts the call, pressing it to his ear with a cheery hello. A small, excited voice replies back, and the raven's face breaks into a wide smile.

"Hi, Daddy!" Layla nearly screams.

"Hi, Lee Lou," Ken greets happily, wishing he could hold his daughter in his arms like he usually does when he picks her up from school. "How are you doing, sweetie?"

"Not so good, Daddy," she sighs. He can hear a bit of ruffling as she crawls onto the couch, getting more comfortable as if trying to relieve the weight of the world.

"Oh, what happened?" Ken asks, leaning against the counter.

"Mommy forgot to pack fruit snacks in my lunch today."

"She did?" The raven replies, forging surprise.

"Yes!" Layla calls dramatically. "She packed a banana instead, and I don't even like bananas!"

"I know, sweetie, I know," he chuckles. "Did you tell Mommy?"

"I tried to call at lunch, but Miss Harriet said no, Daddy!"

Ken just shakes his head, imaging the little girl's free hand flying wildly as the other clutches the phone to her ear. He wishes he could see her soft face, watch her chubby cheeks pull into a hard frown.

"Just be nice to Mommy, okay?" Ken offers gently. "She's learning. Packing lunches is under my job description."

"I guess," she sighs dramatically. "I just need you to come back, Daddy. Breakfast is better when you make it."

"I'll be home before you know it, okay?" he assures, heart aching for his daughter.

"Will you still read to me tonight?"

"Of course, sweetie."

Ken hears Mary's soft voice in the background, and Layla grumbles incoherently. The blonde says something again, much more stern, and Layla sighs, returning to the phone.

"Mommy wants to talk to you," Layla says sadly.

"I'll talk to you tonight, sweetie," Ken assures. "I love you, Layla."

"I love you too," she returns.

There's a bit of static across the phone as it's passed between the two women. Mary says a small thank you, sending Layla off. The blonde plops down onto the couch, pressing the device against her ear.

"Hey, babe," Mary greets, smile apparent in her voice.

"Hey, Mare," Ken says. "How's the single Mom life?"

"It's rough," she admits. "I only got her to school this morning by promising that she could call you right after school. She didn't sleep a wink after we got back from the airport. I think I'm going to let her sleep with the iPad tonight. I think she misses the sound of your voice."

"I hoped she would be better. How are you holding up?"

"Good, good," she replies simply. "It's weird, ya know. You being gone again. Feels like before we were married. All we're missing is Felix screaming in the background," she finishes with a laugh. "Have you two made up yet?" She adds, voice serious again.

"It's a process," he shrugs.

"I'm about to show Layla a few of his videos," she chuckles. "Get her on my side, so you two can finally make up."

Ken opens his mouth to scoff, but his gaze flashes towards the entrance way. Felix steps in quietly, moving to the fridge and gently opening it.

"Ken?" Mary calls, pulling him back to their conversation.

"Oh, yeah, sorry," Ken bakes his head. "Felix just popped in."

"Oh! Well, ya know, I should get going," Mary offers. "Layla's probably clicking a million different videos. Tell him I said hi!"

"Okay, yeah, see you later, Mare."

The phone call ends with a click, and Ken slips the phone back into his pocket. He thought of a million conversations he wishes he could have had with the Swede, countless things he should say. Yet, seeing the blonde again wipes his mind clear, and he can't think of a single word.

Felix is raiding the fridge for drinks and snacks, shoving water bottles under his arm and snagging a pizza box. He can feel Ken's eyes on him, but he ignores them, focusing on retrieving something to fill his empty belly.

"Snack break?" Ken attempts, trying to be as friendly as possible. He cringes a bit at his own lame attempt, though he's gratefully something finally came out of his mouth.

Felix nods. "Jack's starving, and I can't resist leftover pizza."

The raven laughs weakly, the room falling into stiff silence. He doesn't want to be the one to try again, having used his only conversation starter in his mind. Felix drops the box and bottles onto the counter, turning fully towards his once friend.

"Uhm, I'm sorry about earlier," the Swede offers shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"It's okay," Ken shrugs. "I expected worse."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Felix snaps, voice a harsh bite.

Ken's taken back by the aggression, eyebrows dropping heavy across his dark eyes as his mouth forms words without his brain agreeing. "You know what it means, Fe," he retorts, arms crossing over his chest. "We didn't exactly leave on the best of terms."

"You're right," Felix frowns. "But is it so crazy to think that I may have changed in those four years? Is that really too much to believe?"

"Well, I mean, you haven't changed a bit in the five years we were friends, Fe, and-"

"Felix," the blonde interrupts. "My name is Felix."

Ken rolls his eyes. "I've always called you Fe."

"Well now I want to be called Felix," the blonde snaps.

"Really? This is the battle you're picking? This is what you want to argue about? A nickname?"

"It matters to me, okay? I just want a clean break, Ken. I just want to feel like this whole mess is actually over for once!"

"Well I just want to be friends again!" the raven retorts, frustration building from the day of tension. He can feel embarrassment rising with a soft pink on his cheeks, the demand truth but almost childish on his lips. He almost forgot how easy it is to argue with Felix, how easily stupid things fly from his mouth when directed at the blonde.

For once, Felix doesn't know what to say. His mouth snaps shut, his eyebrows draw together as he tosses the words around in his head. For the first time today, he really looks at Ken, wondering if he's really truly serious, wondering if it's stupid to risk his heart for the sake of a friendship with someone who hasn't spoken to him in years.

"I don't know if that's possible anymore," Felix decides, long buried anger bubbling up. All those year ago, he was furious about what Ken did, what he let Ken do. And now, hearing that Ken just wants to push past it, the Swede can feel the long forgotten swirl of anger in his chest.

"Fe," Ken sighs, placing a gentle hand on the blonde's slender shoulder. He's thankful, nearly surprised, that the Swede stays put, allowing him to give the muscle a gentle squeeze. "I miss you, okay? I miss our friendship. I know I hurt you, but damn, I just miss having fun together."

Felix relaxes on instinct, the heat from Ken's palm seeping into his tense shoulder. He releases a long breath, whatever building rage flowing out with it, before meeting the brown eyes again.

"We can't pretend that it didn't happen-"

"Why not?" Ken interrupts. "You were my best friend. Can't we just go back to that for this week? For Mark and Jack? For our own sanity?"

"That... that won't solve anything," Felix insists, but his voice is become quieter as he fall into the raven's words. He just wants to give in, to pretend they never hurt each other.

"I'm not trying to solve anything," he insists, the simple thought of fixing the mess they made creating the ghost of a headache behind his forehead. "I just want my best friend back. Even if it's just for the weekend."

Felix finds himself nodding, his lips parting to speak before his mind has even begun to think this through. "Okay."

Ken feels his mouth relax into the first natural smile he has had since he's gotten off of the plane. He almost pulls him in for a hug, hand still on the blonde's shoulder, but he stops himself. Sliding both hands into his pockets, he decides not to press his luck for tonight.

Felix's agreement to at least attempt to genuinely patch things up for the weekend both surprises and alarms him, attitude so different from the Swede he remembers. Perhaps he has changed.

The blonde turns towards the fridge to grab the pizza without another word, his mind racing. His thoughts make a mess of the situation, terrified of getting to close again. He takes a few long breathes, counting slowly to calm himself.

Inhale, one, two, three. He shoves the water bottles beneath his arm. Exhale, one, two, three. He takes the pizza box in one hand. His mind calms quickly, despite the sudden panic at the thought of Ken once again becoming his best friend.

"I'll see you later on then?" Ken calls as Felix closes the refrigerator and heads out of the kitchen.

The Swede gives a tight nod of his head as he retreats to the calmer glow of Jack's office.