Chapter Text
As Balloon walks down the hallways, one thing rings threw his head. How I hate Valentine’s day.
He’s going to Chemistry, and while Suitcase would usually be with him, she’s skipping school today to be with Knife. As were most of the established couples in school, which was why no one was ever doing anything in class.
Balloon fixes his hair, reminded of how his hair always reminds people of Valentine’s Day. Like he’s actually had a date on Valentine’s Day. The one time he had a valentine, she broke up with him on Valentine’s Day.
He adjusts his gloves, hoping he doesn’t look awkward walking alone. This is the longest walk of the day, from his dorm room to the other side of the school buildings. But then, a shorter man appears next to him.
“Hey, Balloon!” Nickel calls, walking next to him. Balloon smiles, shifting a little to let Nickel walk next to him.
“Hey, Nick!”
“Happy Valentine’s Day. You got a, uh, valentine?” Nickel glances to the side, abashed for some reason.
“Nah. And you clearly don’t either, ’cause you’re here in school.”
“Yep. So, like, uh, wanna be each other’s valentines or something?”
Balloon raises an eyebrow. “You’re asking me on Valentine’s Day?”
“Sorry! I just thought that someone else would, like, get to you first.”
“Get to me?”
“Y’know, like, ask to be your valentine?”
“Who would want to be my valentine?”
“I, uh, I would.”
“Fine, Nickel. I’ll be your valentine.”
Nickel grins at Balloon, a goofy little grin that makes Balloon’s heart do a few backflips. “Thanks, Balloon.”
“Of course.”
They continue to chat as Balloon enters his chemistry classroom, waving goodbye to Nickel. As he sits down, he can’t help but realize his heart is racing. But who can blame him? Nickel just asked him to be his valentine. Balloon has all rights to be flustered.
His heart continues racing throughout all of his classes, all the way until lunchtime. He sits at his table, waiting for Nickel and Clover to show up.
Clover bounces into the cafeteria first, curls bouncing. She sits at the table, grabbing one of the sandwiches she somehow always has time to make in the morning, and smiles at Balloon.
“Hiii, Balloon! I’m coming over to your dorm today, y’know that?”
“Oh? Why?” Balloon asks, genuinely confused.
“Baseball said you guys were having a Valentine’s Day movie night, and that you guys could invite whoever you want. He also asked for me to be his valentine. I dunno why though.”
Balloon rolls his eyes. They’d been over this many times. “I dunno, maybe ’cause he likes you?”
Clover’s eyes widen. “No! He doesn’t like me! Although, I kind of wish he did. He’s so sweet, and kind, and funny.”
“So, you have a crush on him?”
“No! I don’t think I do? I just, like, think he’s perfect!”
“Clover, that's a crush.”
“Whaaat, no! Anyway, you got a valentine?”
Balloon feels himself heating up. “I- uh, yeah.”
“Who?”
“OH LOOK IT’S NICKEL AND BASEBALL!” Balloon points to them, suddenly self conscious and probably more red then he naturally is.
The two aforementioned people take their seats at the table, Nickel smiling shyly at Balloon.
“Hey guys!” Baseball says, running a hand through his hair.
“Hii, Baseball!” Clover sing-songs, causing Baseball to flush even more.
“Hey,” Nickel whispers, sliding in next to Balloon. “We’re like, uh, still, like, uh, valentines, uh, right?”
“It’s been four hours. Of course we are.”
“Uh, cool, yeah, I uh, totally don’t care!”
“You’re very awkward about this.”
“IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!”
“I never said it did! Calm down, Nick.”
Nickel shakes his head. “Sorry, dude. I guess I am kind of awkward.”
“It’s fine. I know I’m just so charming that you get flustered.”
“Oh, shut up.”
Balloon giggles. “Aww, is poor Nickel embarrassed?”
“You really should shut up.”
“What’re you gonna do?”
“Nothing, but only ’cause I lo- li- like you,” Nickel says with a slight cough.
Balloon smirks at his flusteredness. “Like me? Like… how?”
“PLATONICALLY. Completely platonically.”
“Just platonically? Are you sure?”
“YES. Completely sure!”
“You know it’s fine if it’s more than platonic, right?”
“Shut up.”
“Alright then,” Balloon turns away, satisfied with his handiwork - Nickel is tomato red.
Nickel’s silent for the next twenty minutes as the other three participate in idle conversation. Finally, as they all get dismissed to their classes, Nickel walks side-by-side with Balloon.
“Well, uh, if it was more than uh, y’know, like, platonic, would you be… fine with that?”
“I’ve said it before. I’d be totally fine.”
“Uhhhh,” Nickel glances at his shoes, then at Balloon’s shoes, then at Balloon’s shirt and finally at his face. Finally, he leans forward and presses his lips softly to Balloon’s.
Balloon stiffens, feeling Nickel’s soft lips on his. He wasn’t expecting this, but he sure wasn’t going to say anything.
After less than five seconds, way too little time if you ask him, Nickel pulls away, eyes wide in panic. “Oh shit- sorry, I should’ve asked-”
“Hey. That was completely fine, and if you like, wouldn’t mind, can I uh… kiss you?”
“I- I mean, if you want to, don’t feel forced or anythi-” Balloon cuts him off by leaning down and kissing him.
It’s messy. It’s imperfect. But like, lowkey so is Nickel so uh it matches yippee! After MORE than five seconds, so much better than their last kiss, Balloon steps back. “Was that… okay?”
“Perfect.”
Balloon smiles at Nickel. “I’ll see you back at the dorm?”
“S-see you.”
Balloon walks to his next class feeling very very light.
“So, uh, are we gonna talk about what, uh, happened?” Nickel asks, pulling his fingerless gloves up.
“What happened? We kissed.” Balloon says simply, as if that’s the only thing in his mind.
“But like… do you uh… like me?”
“Since when did you act so flustered?” Balloon says with a smirk. “C’mon. Yes, I do, if that wasn’t already obvious.”
“Really? I mean, cool! Cool cool cool.”
“Why else would I want to be your valentine?”
“Right! Yeah.”
Balloon laughs. It’s 4:40 P.M., three hours and twenty minutes before they’re supposed to have a movie marathon run by Baseball. “I’m gonna do some homework. You’re welcome to join me. Just uh, until that movie thing.”
“Oh right. Did you invite anyone?”
Balloon shakes his head. “Baseball already invited Clover, and I’m not sure any of my other friends would want to come.”
“Yep…” Nickel trails off, looking distracted, which makes Balloon raise an eyebrows.
“What’s wrong? Spit it out.” Balloon says, snapping a finger at Nickel. “You didn’t make a snarky remark, even though I clearly set you up to say ‘what friends’.”
”I mean… like, what are we? We can say we’re valentines, but uh, outside of today, what are we?”
Balloon finds himself freezing again. He lowkey has no clue. “What do you want to be?”
Nickel grabs one of Balloon’s hands, an inherently comforting gesture. “So… we’re like friends, right. I wanna be more than friends.”
Balloon’s breath hitches. “Like… boyfriends.”
Nickel’s eyes light up. “Yes. I wanna date you. I know, that’s stupid, but I think… I think I might be in love with you.”
“I might be in love with you too.” Balloon admits shyly.
The grip around Balloon’s hand tightens. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
Nickel giggles. “Let’s do our homework.”
“Y-yeah…”
Balloon and Nickel don’t let go of each other's hands the rest of the day.
Eventually the night rolls around, and both of them walk out, finally dropping each other’s hands. Knife and Suitcase are already cuddled up on the couch, and Mic, Soap, and Taco are making popcorn in the kitchen. Clover’s head is on Baseball’s lap, and she’s making random hand gestures while explaining something to him, and Baseball’s just staring down at her lovingly.
Nickel and Balloon take seats next to each other on the edge of the couch. Mic throws two bowls of popcorn to them, and Balloon grabs his, then a sprite from Taco. “Woo, this is gonna be the best Valentine’s Day ever!” Balloon exclaims, crosses his legs on the table in front of him.
“We’re literally just watching a movie,” Nickel comments.
“But nothing wrong’s happened yet.”
Yet.
Baseball puts on some sappy romance movie, called “The Bibantic” and everyone sits back and watches.
At some part in the movie, Nickel cuddles closer to Balloon, holding him tightly. Balloon reciprocates the hug, not realizing how… intimate of a position they were in.
The whole movie goes by, and at the end, when the main character Back falls off of the door that was clearly big enough to hold both him and Bose, everyone boos at the screen. Baseball and Clover get up to change the DVD, leaving a clear pathway for Suitcase to see them.
Ohhh, shit.
Balloon doesn't see Suitcase’s eyes widen, or her whispering to Knife. He doesn’t see anything until Suitcase appears in front of him, reaching her hand out.
“Can we talk?” She asks, eyes wide and worried, yet with a betrayed reflection in those caramel eyes.
Balloon and Nickel exchange a look, then Balloon gets up, leaving Nickel laying down on the couch. Suitcase extends her hand, and Balloon takes it, letting her lead him to her room.
“So… what are you and Nickel?” She asks, cutting right to the chase.
Balloon exhales slowly. “We’re dating.”
Her eyes widen. “Dating?!”
“Okay, your reaction is warranted. Yeah. We just… I dunno how it happened, but we’re dating.”
“I- what the hell, Balloon?”
“Oh, come on, are you not happy for me?”
“No?! That’s the piece of shit who made my life a living hell! And yours too!”
“So what though? He’s changed. He doesn’t do that anymore. In fact, he makes my life better. Who are you to judge my taste in men?”
“Wha- I’m looking out for you! I don’t want you lied to and hurt.”
“He won’t hurt me. He cares.”
Suitcase glances at the ground. “Does he, though?”
“Yes. He does. I can promise you that. You looking out for me won’t help.”
“B-but he’s an asshole! How can you date him?”
“Knife’s an asshole too. But you see the good in him.”
Suitcase’s eyes harden. “Don’t you dare bring Knife into this.”
“I’m being honest. Listen, I’m not saying you have to be friends with him. I don’t want you to be after what he’s done to you. I just… I need you to respect my decisions, okay?”
Suitcase blinks away her tears. “I- I don’t think I can.”
“Well. You’re going to have to deal with it, because I sure as hell won’t. He’s my boyfriend now, and he makes me happy.”
“He made both of us suffer.”
“Knife made Marsh su-”
“STOP BRINGING KNIFE INTO THIS! This is about YOU! You and Nickel! You can’t justify it, other than he’s your boyfriend. How has he changed? He’s still a fucking snake. He’s still- he’s still the same man who hurt us.”
Balloon blinks. Why can’t Suitcase see that all Nickel is doing is making Balloon happy? He was trying, changing. He was different. He was Nickel, and he was a changed man. “No, he’s not.”
With that, he turns on his heel and walks out, leaving Suitcase there, wet tears streaming down her cheeks.