Just Friends! We Promise! (Erwin x Clock)

[Mituna Captor]

@ClockTowerSociety


"Hey Vallie, what does queer mean?" The raven headed boy asked, picking one more brightly coloured flower from the small patch beside him and attaching it to the rest of the chain.


"Mother And Father were talking about it at the dinner table last night. But they sad it was a bad word, and it probably wasn't the best idea to talk about it." He said, Tying off the cute little flower chain so that it formed a crown to fit his friend.


"Here, I'm done with yours!" He said with a giggle, placing the crown atop of the boy's messy blonde hair.


"it's cute, no?" he asked, leaning his head against Valentine's shoulder, smiling and cuddling against him.


"you're the best friend ever, you know that?"


(so I'm thinking they're 9 and 10 at this point.)

 

[Clock]

Valentine gave a small shrug. "Queer is a bad word? Katrina calls Yves that all the time." Katrina was Valentine's oldest sister, Yves her flamboyant husband. They were an odd couple, Valentine thought. Mother never approved. She'd even refused to come to their wedding. The cool, spring breeze blew gently across the hills, making the blonde shiver instinctively. Cherry blossom petals scattered.


He gasped as the crown was placed atop his head. He was an expert at making flower chains, all due to his older sisters' consistent influences. But, Sei's were neater; better. Valentine traced a wiry finger over the flower petals, smiling nonchalantly, allowing himself to be warmed by the other boy's closeness. Their rather intimate relationship had been labelled off "odd" for their age... And gender. Valentine bit his lip as a pink petal landed on Sei's dark hair. He watched it for a bit, before smacking it off. "Sorry," he laughed quietly.


(btw, the title hehe. just be friends?)

 

[Mituna Captor]

Sei giggled, linking their fingers and picking petal back up and placing it behind his ear.


"I like Katrina and Yves. they're a rather pleasant couple." he said softy, resting his head in Val's lap and squeezing his hand, closing his dark eyes.


Even though the other boy was almost a year younger than Sei, he was already quite a bit more mature.


"why are we odd...?" Sei suddenly blurted out, "That's what they were talking about at dinner last night, us and our friendship. Mother called it odd, Papa called it queer. And then they both looked at me... are we queer, Vallie?"

 

[Clock]

Valentine - or endearingly Vallie - was taken aback by Sei's question. Katrina called Yves a queer but she loved him very much. So, queer could not be a bad word, could it? Yet just like Sei's family, mother had been very upset at Katrina's harmless taunts. She'd called her daughter mannerless after that. Their fights had been loud, the word queer just a trigger to a bigger war. Valentine flinched at the thought.


"We can't be queers, Sei." He prompted, stiffening suddenly at the other boy's closeness. He had begun to notice the way other kids their age looked at them. No one else hung out on the rolling hills, making flower chains, touching, hugging and occasionally kissing each other...


"Let's promise not to be queers, okay?"

 

[Mituna Captor]

Sei looked at Val, his eyes watering slightly.


"I can tell what you're thinking." he whispered timidly. "well, Valentine. I shall not promise!" he said, raising his voice. what his best friend had just said upset him, he would never promise to not be something that he might very well turn out to be.


He shook his head, tears running down his pale cheeks now.


"and here, is why." he simply said, before cupping Valentine's cheeks quickly and kissing his lips.

 

[Clock]

The kiss wasn't what had surprised Valentine, it was the setting behind it. As soon as Sei's lips touched his own, Valentine moved back. Or, more accurately, jumped back. He glared at the older boy, as if he should've known better. It had always been easier to kiss and touch Sei when they were younger. The older they got, the more distant Valentine felt. As if they really were odd. And Valentine had no interest in being unique. Not really.


"Let's go home, Sei." It was final, with those words. Valentine had an aura of authority around him, despite his young age and innocent appearance. He got up, dusting nonexistent dust off his t-shirt. The flower chain had fallen and it now lay on the grass. Forgotten.

 

[Mituna Captor]

Sei nodded blankly, still snivelling as he trailed behind the younger boy, The back of his head hurt a great deal and he felt like he was going to be sick. He stopped, recollecting all the precious memories that the two had shared in that valley, all of the kisses, the hugs. and all of the flower crowns. He presumed that nothing was going to be the same again.


The thought of this only made Sei cry harder as he tried to keep up with Val, the tears clouded his vision and he looked down whenever the other boy checked to see if he was still there.

 

[Clock]

Valentine heard Sei's sniffles, saw the other's tears, but did next to nothing to lighten the burden. Surely, someday, Sei knew it was coming, right? As the path led into the familiar neighbourhood, Valentine relaxed. The houses cast large, imposing shadows on the young boys. It was a magnificent neighbourhood, filled with royalty, politicians, sophisticated entrepreneurs and the lot.


The blonde stopped in front of a traditional yet expansive bungalow. Sei's house wasn't far. Only then did Valentine turn back to Sei, titling the other's chin up. He looked right into those dark eyes he'd come to... Like. "Good bye." He offered him a light punch on the arm, before running into his house. No more kisses, whoops.

 

[Mituna Captor]

Sei let out a little sob as he turned away, not in the direction of his home. But he began to run back to the meadow, the only place that he really wanted to be right now was with Val, he was smart enough to know that his best friend had lost all interest in him.


When the ravenette arrived at the clearing, he sat down once more, crying again. He didnt know what to do, he'd lost his best friend in the whole wide world, he truly felt like he was nothing without Val. He picked up the powder pink flower crown from earlier and ran his fingers over it, before making grabs at it and ripping It up, screaming at the sky as he did so.


whatever queer was, he was it. Val was not.

 

[Clock]

If Valentine had known of Sei's breakdown, his resolve might have just broken. Like a twig. And maybe they'd forgive each other and go back to their elementary queer style. Yet Valentine didn't know. He went home, ate dinner with a full house and slept.


~


The next morning brought pouting rain. Valentine grudgingly made his way out of bed and half an hour later, he was ready for school. His sisters joked he took longer to get ready. He smiled, events of yesterday, forgotten. Valentine walked to Sei's house, as always, ready to walk together to their private school.

 

[Mituna Captor]

Sei had arrived home in the early hours of the morning, soaked through and sneezing and coughing all about the place. His parents had been worried sick, but he brushed them off without a single word, catching up on what little sleep he could before the next day came.


-


He raced down the stairs, his eyes duller than usual. His hair hung around his cheeks and his lips had a slightly blue tone to them after freezing in the meadow last night. With his bag slung over his shoulder and a single cherry blossom behind his ear, he slipped out of the door and wrapped his arms around the blonde that stood before him.


"d-don't pull back from me... not again..." he whispered.

 

[Clock]

The older boy seemed so helpless that it evoked intense, conflicting emotions from Valentine. He felt remorse and regret for having left Sei in such a sudden manner. But, anger and rage were also there. Why couldn't Sei just be stronger? Couldn't he even pretend?


Valentine smiled innocently, "Let's get serious, okay?" He pulled the petal off the other and then gently stepped out of Sei's grasp and began to lead them down the path. Ahead, Rei was walking alone. He was another boy their age, son of an esteemed politician. Valentine ran ahead to catch up with him, yelling back, "Sei! Hurry up!" Valentine sighed, he'd never walked with Rei before. Or, more accurately, he'd never walked or hung out with anyone but Sei.

 

[Mituna Captor]

"Go walk with Rei or something. I'll see you later, Vallie" He said softly, tears pooling at the corners of his eyes once again as he bent down to pick up the cherry blossom, he stuffed in his pocket, his eyes willing Valentine to leave, but also to stay. He didn't know what he wanted anymore.


His mind quickly changed and he ran to catch up with Valentine. Even though he didn't speak, he knew that being with Rei was probably better for Val. Rei wasn't queer, was he? He wouldn't turn Val queer. The tallest of the three boys trailed behind to two others, who seemed to already be deep in conversation.

 

[Clock]

Rei talked nonstop, even while dribbling a basketball, to the point it tired Valentine. He just nodded attentively, sneaking glances at the boy behind him. He seemed so lost. Valentine bit his lip. Only when they finally reached the imposing school building did he relax. Sei and Valentine weren't in the same grade. They usually hung out at lunch. Valentine remembered sulking and throwing a tantrum not being able to see Sei during school hours...


"I have to now, bye. See you after school." Valentine's mood softened as he waved to the older boy and headed into the building. Rei raised an eyebrow, as if to ask 'are you his mother now?' but didn't say anything.

 

[Mituna Captor]

School passed, unlike his usual self, Sei was sent out of almost every class, for disruptive behaviour or just not concentrating.


He spent much by himself, with no Valentine to be seen. Must've been with Rei or something. His last class was English. One of the things that he was passionate about in all moods. Sei was top of his class for English, he loved his teacher and almost everything they studied.


After the day ended, the elder boy raced to the meadow. That's where he met Valentine, every day after school. He'd only been sat down for a few minutes before something pink caught his eye. The flower crown he'd ripped up in a screaming fit last night. Seeing this brought back memories of yesterday, making the boys eyes water.


When Valentine arrived, he was bent over the flower crown, silent tears leaking from his eyes. He didn't even expect Valentine to come.

 

[Clock]

"You cry a lot, don't you?" Valentine sat beside the other boy, entwining his fingers with the long strands of grass. He watched Sei for a while, before falling back onto the ground.


"I asked Katrina..." He started, tracing the pattern of the clouds with his finger, "...about us. She said it's just a 'phase.' It'll pass." His voice sounded lighter, happier, "So, we don't have to worry Sei! It's fine." He got up on his elbows, looking at Sei expectantly. He decided to leave out the part where Rei had insulted their closeness, calling it "abnormal."


"We're supposed to hug girls, Sei." Valentine went on explaining, "And then we marry them and have kids." He blushed a little, hiding his face behind his hands.

 

[Mituna Captor]

He looked up, his shapely features moulded into a pout, a very childish pout.


"Maybe I don't want it to pass. I liked the old Valentine; where he hugged and kissed and didn't think we were queer, but the new one is only concerned about what people will think about him, not the friend who accepts him. You're queer, Valentine. QUEER!" He spat. He knew now that he was being childish, but for some reason, he didn't think there was any other way to explain how he felt. Something had to be done about his wanting to be more than friends with Valentine. Something.


He crossed his arms and scuttled closer to Valentine, his dark eyes begging him for forgiveness.


"I'm so sorry... I-I didn't mean to call you that... It just sort of... Slipped out... I'm sorry!"

 

[Clock]

Valentine flinched, shocked, while not understanding the whole situation. Sure, he was known to be more mature than others his age... He nodded numbly, the word queer ringing in his head like a damned church bell. Along with the way Sei had said his name, so much disgust and loathing. Valentine. He never called him 'Valentine,' it was always some nickname.


He stiffened as Sei moved closer, his limbs growing rigid. After a small pause, he broke into a smile as he got up and started walking away, "It's fine, Sei. I'm supposed to go over to Rei's now." He despised going to Rei's; the boy only wanted to play with basketballs. And Valentine hated physical exertion and any activity that would get him dusty and messy. Whoops. What a man.

 

[Mituna Captor]

He nodded. His eyes following Valentine until his shuffle broke into a run down the bracken filled path. Sei didn't cry, he just sat there. He turned around again after five seconds.


"I'M SORRY!" He shouted, hoping the other boy would hear, come running back and kiss him all over his face.


But then he realised that Val didn't do those things anymore. He was too busy with his new, not queer friend.


Hadn't Valentine always hated basketball anyway? Ah well.


He lay back, soaking up the sun and closing his eyes. Thoughts between to surface in his mind. Thoughts about the intense feelings he had for Valentine. And how he should go about them... It would have been find admitting it before, Val would have thought it sweet... And they might've kissed and cuddled. They could have even been boyfriends.


He laughed sourly, crushing another pink blossom in his hand. Queer. That label kicked it's way into his train of thought and he sighed. He had decided that he was most definitely queer.

 

[Clock]

(aw, poor sei. shall we do a timeskip now as it's the perfect transition? to them being 14-15 or slightly younger?)

 

[Mituna Captor]

(Sure! so maybe they haven't spoken all that much since, but their families are brought back together for a dinner party or something like that, and because Sei and Valentine would still be considered young at 14 and 15, they're sent to Sei's room after they've eaten to that the adults can chat?))

 

[Clock]

(perfect. i'll marry off one of his sisters. LOL.)


Aria was getting married, and a small get together with the closest, most prestigious families of Manhattan's upper east side was due. She was barely 23, yet a stunning vision in a dark maroon number. Elegant, simple, all the eligible bachelors teased and taunted Cedric with hidden envy. Praises and greetings filled the air, the sound of clanking glasses and cheers not far behind.


Valentine was too young to drink wine; instead his mother had suggested, "Go hang out with someone you know. The Fukuwa family is here. Weren't you friends with-"


"You invited them?" Valentine asked, his carefully articulated smile still there, but the malice couldn't be hidden. Good thing his mother was the definition of 'dumb blonde.' Whoops, bad son.


"Well, of course. Ah there he is right now. Now, go along." His mother was smiling at someone behind him before walking off to greet some governor. Awkward.

 

[Mituna Captor]

Sei had been bored out of his brains all evening. It had been nearly five years since he had spoken to Valentine. Sei had grown at least a foot and ten inches since he'd seen the other boy, and he hadn't really been eating that well, so his skin had an even whiter hue to it than before. He was sat in a chair in the corner of the room with his drawing pad and collection of pencils. His dark eyes outlined with just the slightest bit of Khol pencil, emphasising the size of them.


A flash of blonde and a cute face stopped him in his tracks and he stood up abruptly, his Pencils dropping to the ground. When his mother whipped around to face him, he quickly bent down and grabbed them, picking them up again.


He made eye contact with Valentine the next time he saw him, smiling faintly. Although he had changed a lot, he was still recognisable to his best friend... well. He couldn't really call him that anymore, could he?


When Valentine approached him, he quickly put down his pencils and outstretched his arm to shake the blonde's hand, feeling a hug wouldn't be appropriate infront of all of these people.


"Hey, its been a while!" He tried to say it normally, but his voice faltered and he quickly let go of Val's hand, things were going wrong already. great.

 

[Clock]

"5 years doesn't qualify as a 'while,' Sei. And I see you still don't know how to greet a friend?" Valentine's remarks were as sharp as ever, perhaps more so as he got older, words coated with fake smiles and sweet tones. He'd seen the way Sei pulled his hand away abruptly, as if the younger boy was filth. And still, Valentine couldn't help but notice how handsome his best friend had grown. He felt his cheeks colour as young girls giggled as they passed them. They were looking at Sei, not him. Even when he looked obviously uncomfortable and unwell.


Valentine finally managed to look away from the older boy. His fingers twitched involuntarily. Being so close to Sei often did that; they mostly held hands or had some contact. With Rei it had been different. They still did touch a lot, but there were fights too. The hidden bruise on Valentine's arm was proof of that. Finally, Valentine exhaled, reaching out to grasp Sei's hand. Or, more accurately, touch it with as little contact as possible, "Let's see if you remember where my room is. Take me there." Indeed, what a prince.

 

[Mituna Captor]

Sei's fingers flexed around Valentine's hand, dragging him away from the rest of the party and up his stairs, down a few corridors, He then made a right and ended up straight in front of the blonde's room, relaxing as he let go of the other boy, turning to face him and smiling gently.


"I'll let you go first, seeing as it is your room and all..." He trailed off, lost in Valentines eyes... it was happening again, his face flushed slightly and he turned away slowly, stuffing his hands into his pockets and casting his eyes downwards as he did so.


His feelings for Valentine never really did go away, they were always lingering at the back of his mind, countless pages filled with his face in Sei's drawing book, but gazing upon Valentine just now, they weren't all that accurate really.