I Feel Like A Third Wheel

The spell wore off, my significantly smaller cat body getting caught up in the mess of clothing left behind. When my head finally finds an exit, Yancy giggles and lifts me out of the mess of clothing left behind.

“Let’s get you home, Princess.” She says, softly. I mew in response, which she accepts.

We’d gone into an alley with no windows, so we’re confident no one saw the transformation. The surprising part is that, when Yancy steps out of the alley on the other side, Val, Marius, and their guards are there, still searching it seems. Or rather, were. It appears Marius had just pulled Val off to the side, not noticing us on the other side. From their body language, Marius pulling Val closer and speaking low, rubbing his back with one hand, and Val’s rapid breathing, hands on his chest and head dropping to Marius’ shoulder… Is my Vallie having a panic attack?!

“It’s going to be ok, Val.” Marius mumbles, arm sliding around his waist to pull him closer. “We’ll find her. She’s going to be ok.”

“I hope so. God…” Val whispers, breathing quickly, not moving from his place on Marius’ shoulder.

AND that low life is trying to comfort him?!

I won’t allow it!

I let out a loud meow, causing Val’s head to jerk up, eyes wide. Marius doesn’t move away, hand pausing on Val’s mid back. He spares us a glance. Yancy seems a bit stunned, but steps forward.

“Your Highness…”

“Princess–!” Val calls my name weakly, taking a few steps out of Marius’ grasp to take me from Yancy’s arms. “Y-Yancy, you actually found her…!”

“Um, yes! My, my friend spotted her. So I grabbed her and began making my way back! Looks like I don’t have to go all the way to the Palace, though.” She offers him a smile, and I watch as the stress leaves his face. He glances down, still looking like he wants to cry, a hand gliding down the back of my fur as I purr at him.

“Thank you…” He says quietly. “Seriously. When we return, I’ll find a reward fitting for you.” He holds me a little tighter.

“Your Highness, it’s my honor. I don’t need a reward for making sure Princess is safe and sound.” She smiles. “I’m simply happy she’s ok.”

“Nevertheless, you’ll receive something. Consider it a gift.” He smiles sweetly, and the moment is almost perfect! Until Marius comes up from behind and places a hand on Val’s shoulder. I can’t help the growl that escapes from me when I notice this. Marius just looks at me funny before his gaze slides back up to Val.

“Let’s go, I’ll have my driver take you home.” He offers, and Val nods his head.

“Yes… yes, that’d be nice.” He says. Val turns back to Yancy. “I shall see you at the Palace. Come find me after dinnertime has passed, we can speak more about your reward then.”

Yancy nods excitedly, and watches as Marius and Val turn to leave. I look back to her, make eye contact, and her expression softens. She gives me a private wave goodbye. I’m… glad to have helped her, even a bit. She’s a sweet girl.

Marius escorts the both of us to the car, opening the door for Val to climb in. The door closes, Val adjusting me in his lap as he buckles in. Marius slides in on the other side, addressing his driver.

“Please, return us to the palace.” He instructs, the driver giving him a silent nod before taking off.

I eye him from the side, he only moves to buckle up and lean against the window, gazing outside with an unreadable expression. Looking back up at Val, he’s staring at me with a thousand yard stare; still not fully here, but at least no longer panicking. He’s petting my fur coat almost mechanically, like he’s trying to ground himself. The tension is so thick in the car, it makes my fur bristle! I grumble, snuggling closer to Val to curl up in his lap. His hand pauses its motion as he watches, before he sighs and lets it drop to his side.

“...Marius?” He says. The guy doesn’t even look over.

“Yeah?” He at least responds without that rude tone from last time. He’s strangely quiet, though.

“Thank you… for contacting me about Princess.” Val says. “It… you have no idea how much it means to me that you’d go out of your way to do that…”

Marius huffs out something that could be mistaken for a laugh. I flatten my ears at the sound.

“It’s nothing. Just because I want nothing to do with you doesn’t mean I can’t help find a cat. I’m not heartless, and honestly, I’m furious that Janice had the gall to try a stunt like this.”

Val is quiet for a beat, arms circling me. Finally, he gets the courage to look over towards the other boy in the car.

“Do you really not want anything to do with me?” He challenges. Marius finally turns to face Val, his eyebrow twitching down.

“Yes, really. I expect this to be the last time I have to talk to–”

“You kept my number saved.” Val said, tone even and eyes unflinching. His gaze causes Marius to freeze. “You called my cellphone directly. I was surprised when I heard you on the other end. Your number was different.”

“That…” Marius shifts away from Val, unwilling to continue looking at him. “That’s nothing special. I just, I’m organized, I have everyone’s number written down. I haven’t had the time to erase your phone number.”

“You still could have contacted me through a servant.” Val argues. “As much as I’d like to believe you’re just organized, I’ve seen how you keep your space.”

“Maybe I just got better as I got older, Val!” Marius nearly snaps, flinching back at Val’s unwavering gaze.

I feel like Val is thinking something similar to me, if my hunch is right. Marius isn’t a good liar, and Val is picking up on his tells.

“Marius… ugh.” Val looks down at me, frustrated. After a beat, I hear the click of his seat belt, and before I can react, I get lifted off his lap as he scoots closer to Marius. I’m placed where he once sat, and Marius wavers when Val gets closer.

He stares at Marius, his hand coming up to grasp Marius’ hand.

“Please.” He says softly. “I’ll do my best not to hurt you again. I miss you. I’m sorry.”

Marius doesn’t move, a flash of panic in his eyes, gone as quickly as it came.

“You don’t even know what you did wrong.” He mutters, words lacking any bite.

“Then tell me.” Val counters. “I know what happened, but just… tell me what it was like from your perspective. I want to understand, if you’ll give me another chance.” Val’s voice grows smaller as he mutters; “You didn’t even try before you disappeared on me.”

Marius has a look of rage for a second, looking like he wants to rebuttal and argue with Val. But he stops just short of actually shouting at him, Val not giving up any ground. He looks like he’s weighing his options before he sighs.

“I… looking back it was stupid, but I still just… needed to distance myself after I heard you and that jerk talking, after fencing practice.”

Val remains quiet, leaning out of Marius’ personal space a bit while keeping hold of his hand. He looks puzzled, eyebrows dropping as he tries recalling the conversation. Marius notices.

“I blew up at you because of that. Remember?”

“... I remember you saying you heard me talking with someone, but you never said what it was I said. I… was it that kid that didn't like you? I remember him, but I don't remember a conversation with him...”

“You were talking about me behind my back!” Marius finally snapped, annoyed. “You seriously don’t remember when you said– said… ugh.”

A frustrated sigh escapes Marius as he rubs his face with his free hand, turning away and trying to hide behind it. Looking closer, it was easy to spot the red spreading on his face.

“I don’t know how to explain it without sounding weird. Or implying something weird.” He admits. “Yeah, it’s dumb and probably petty but, I just…”

He goes quiet, refusing to elaborate further. After a minute, Val leans forward, resting his forehead on Marius’ shoulder. Marius doesn’t pull away.

“...I’m sorry.” He whispers. “I don’t remember that conversation. I remember that since he didn’t like you much, it made me uneasy. Whatever it was, I probably said it to get him off my back. I shouldn’t have, regardless… but I promise you, I didn’t mean it. You were and still are so important to me. I’m sorry.”

“...”

“And whatever it is, regardless of how weird it sounds or what it implies, I promise I won’t think any less of you. I just want my best friend back.”

Marius stiffens, expression tightening. My fur bristles, if Marius starts arguing with Val, I’m more than prepared to pounce! He happens to look over at me in the beat of silence, locking eyes with me. All of my spirit is screaming, praying that he can pick up on the “don’t screw this up!” vibes I’m trying to put out there.

I can see the gears turn in his head, expression slowly losing its edge, before he finally sighs and rests his head on top of Val’s. Val jumps slightly at the unexpected action, but doesn’t move any further.

“...Your birthday is coming up soon.” Marius says, changing the subject. Val decides not to comment on the obvious pivot.

“Yeah.” Val mutters. “Two months.”

“Then… I’ll give you until then…” Val startles, pulling back quickly to look Marius in the face, eyes wide as saucers.

“Until then?” He echos.

“Yeah. Convince me before your birthday, that… you know… you won’t talk about me or something…” Marius shakes his head. “Ugh, just earn my trust back, idiot! That’s what I mean!”

Marius barely got the last part out before Val lunges at him, wrapping his arms around his neck in a tight embrace and burying his face into the crook of his neck, catching the other completely off guard. His back hits the car door softly, Marius’ turn to look like he’d just seen something unbelievable.

“Thank you.” Val chokes out. My ears perk; it sounds like he’s about to cry. “Seriously. I’ll… do my best, I promise.”

For the first time since getting into the car, Marius’ expression softens with affection, something I’m sure he didn’t want Val seeing. The hug gets returned, Marius’ arms wrapping around Val’s back, and they remain like that for the rest of the ride. Which to be fair, isn’t too much longer. It’s only a couple minutes later the driver clears his throat and announces their arrival.

Val exits the car with me in his arms, turning back to watch Marius’ car drive off until it’s no longer visible. A heavy sigh escapes his lips as he looks back down at me, a weak smile tugging at his lips.

“What a day, huh, Princess?” He tries to tease, turning back to enter the palace.

“I’m glad it ended this way, though.” He mutters, more to himself than to me.

Meanwhile, my own mind won’t stop running from place to place. Being privy to the conversation my Vallie just had with the Lias boy… They made up, and I guess are going to be friends again? The atmosphere in the car ride didn’t sit right with me. What was it exactly that Marius couldn’t confess to Val without sounding weird? And in the end, he still gave in, in spite of all his efforts to keep away. I don’t like that boy, but the look he gave Val when Val couldn’t look at his face was burned into my mind…

Oh.

Oh wait.

That snake might also want a bite of Val’s heart!