Chapter Text
Sal woke up to a sudden weight on his thighs. Groggily opening his eye, he was met with two yellow ones staring back at him. Soft purring emanating from the orange and white ball of fluff on his legs.
"Oh Giz, morning bud." Turning, he looked at the time, the discarded game controller falling off his leg at the motion. Sal shot out of the red bean bag he had been on, almost tripping on a wire with Gizmo in his arms.
"Shit, Larry, we're late!" Sal screamed, sprinting out the door to the elevator. As Sal rapidly tapped the button, attempting to close the door faster, he heard a muffled thud. Before he could get out to see if Larry was okay, the doors closed followed shortly by an even more muffled string of swearing.
Sal managed to grab his phone and a change of clothes and clean his mask and eye without stopping. He heard Larry ask if he wanted a ride from the door.
"Yeah, I'll meet you at the van. M' gonna grab a monster from the fridge. Do you want anything, Lar?"
"Oh, then can you grab me a coffee, Sally? I have to go start the van." The sound of Larry fumbling with his keys along with his voice called back.
"A coffee gotcha. I'll be there in a couple of minutes." Sal practically flung the fridge open as he snatched out his and Larry's drinks. He yanked his keys off the hook and ran out the door, giving the handle a quick jiggle, making sure it was locked. When he got to the van, Larry took his drink and handed Sal his bag.
Sal took note that Larry had changed into a pair of dark blue ripped jeans that brought more focus to his shirt, a black shirt with the band name Polyphia written on it in a fancy white font. His hair, usually down slicked back, was in a Larry-style bun.
"Who are you seeing after classes that made you tie your hair up, LarryFace?" A teasing tone in Sal’s voice. Larry almost spits out his coffee with how quickly he turned to look at Sal. Larry opened his mouth before reaching for the radio and turning the volume up a bit. His face flushed red as he turned back to the road.
"I might have a date with Aspyn, okay?" Larry managed to grumble out embarrassed.
"The non-binary kid, with heterochromia and curly red hair that you met at our last show?" It had been obvious that they had feelings for Larry, but Larry had never shown interest in dating, so Sal was thrown off by his reply. Larry was red again as he slowly nodded his head. Sal smiled at his brother’s actions.
"Well, I hope you guys have a nice date." Sal grabbed his stuff as they pulled into the parking lot. Larry hummed in acknowledgment as they headed into the school. The pair gave each other a quick nod and started to walk to their respective classes.
Rounding the corner, Sal was met with a metal door to the face (well, mask). The noise caught the attention of the owner of the locker. None other than Travis Phelps.
Travis turned to Sal, his usual sour expression softening a bit. Sal wasn't one to care about looks; if his own was anything to go off of, he couldn't help taking in the other's appearance.
The color of his hair dyed blonde with bleach had given way to his roots, showing its natural darker brown. He noticed that Travis didn’t have his normal purple sweater on; it was instead replaced with a blue button-up shirt. Travis wore black dress pants with thin white stripes accompanied by his usual neon green sneakers.
On anyone else, the combination would look off-putting, but somehow, Travis Phelps made it intriguing. Sal realized he was starting when Travis gave himself a once-over, a small red tint lining his cheeks and the tip of his ears appearing to remember what he was wearing.
Sal couldn't help but stare at the small scars and scratches that painted Travis's flushed face, reminding Sal of the stars. Sal wanted to hurt whatever asshole made them. He had a guess who. But he also wondered if he had more on other parts of his body. What other parts would they be on? How big would they be? What color would the healing skin be? He wondered if Travis would be sensitive and shiver if he touched them. How they would feel under his hands.
The sound of Travis clearing his throat snapped Sal back to reality. He was looking to the side, the blush from earlier having calmed a bit. What the fuck did I just think? Sal was thankful for his mask at that moment, or he's certain Travis would have made a comment on the furious blush he was trying to fight off while listening to him.
"My uh father is picking me up for a fundraiser at church, so I had to dress a bit more "proper" in his words." Tavis claimed, mimicking his father's voice. Sal chuckled a bit. Travis looked at Sal dumbfoundedly, a blush creeping its way back on his face at the melodious sound. Shaking his head, Travis turned to his disregarded locker with colorful notebooks and folders. Closing it before turning back to Sal.
"Why are you not in class yet, Sally?" Travis looked genuinely curious, so Sal decided to grace him with a response.
"I just stayed up a bit too late, Travy. Though we should probably get to class, we're already late enough as is. Also, you look pretty." Sal turned his body, eyes, still glued to Travis as they started to walk to class together. Travis grumbled something under his breath, starting to walk with Sal. Both boys stayed in a comfortable silence as they continued walking to their classroom.
Until Travis paused for a minute, causing Sal to stop as well. He looked at Sal, his mouth opening and closing again. Sal could see Travis thinking hard about whatever it was he was trying to say.
"Did you call me Travy?" Sal stared at him, confused before nodding slowly. Had he said something that upset him? Travis stared blankly at Sal's confused expression.
"Oh right, you wouldn't know?" That was a nickname people used to call me when I was younger. I guess I haven't been called that in a while, so it caught me off guard is all." As Sal listened to Travis explain, he couldn't help but picture a younger Travis. Larry had mentioned the two used to be close before Travis's mom and Larry's dad disappeared; no doubt both had something to do with the cult. Whenever Sal asked about it, Larry would stare blankly at him, but in the end, Larry could never say no to Sal. Travis, from what Sal could remember, was a shy yet energetic kid with eyes that would light up when he was enjoying anything. Sal smiled under his mask at the thought.
"Well, would you mind if I called you that from now on?" Sal watched as an extinguished version of the spark Larry described flashed briefly in Travis's eyes. He gave a small chuckle before responding to Sal's question.
"After what I used to call you and your friends, you can call me whatever you want, Sally." The pair stopped outside the classroom door. Travis put his hand on the doorknob as Sal placed a reassuring hand on his, squeezing it before they opened the door together. When the door opened, a girl ran up to them with what looked like a baby and a small box.
"Congratulations on your marriage, and here's your baby." She handed a small bundle in a blanket to Sal since he had regained his composure faster than the stuttering blonde next to him. The health classes in Nockfell were far different from the ones in New Jersey.