A/N: Sorry again that this took so long! I got hit with a bout of 'my writing isn't as good as all these other tomco fic writer's works, why did i choose the BMB it's getting so overdone, i should just quit.' before getting pulled out of that by some lovely reviews! 3
i honestly don't know why you people read this, but ima not complaining, thank you very very much! Also, people have been promising fan art and ima very happi, here's not fan art but a fan edit someone did for this: (http)(:/)(/)(prntscr).com(/87he11)
subtracting the brackets of course! thanks lovely~
Marco said goodnight to Tom, and hung up the mirror, falling backwards onto his bed. A quick glance out of his window informed him that night had fallen whilst he and the demon prince were talking. To Marco's surprise, the past few weeks have gone by without a hitch, and dare Marco say it, normally. Well, as normal as life was nowadays for the poor Mexican boy. The only major difference in Marco's life is that when he comes home, after fighting whatever grunts Ludo had sent that day, he calls the - frankly exhausted looking - demon prince of the Underworld. No biggie.
Marco really didn't expect that he'd call Tom everyday, but he almost couldn't help himself. The demon was surprisingly understanding and easy to talk to, not to mention that Tom seemed actually pretty cool- when he doesn't fall asleep on the call that is. Even then Tom looks adorable (not that Marco would ever admit to it, just like he would never admit to taking a picture of Tom sleeping with a bunny on his head, as it is in no way his laptop's screensaver, not at all), and if it was, it'd only be for blackmail obviously.
Honestly, Tom has been a good friend to have, he didn't ask about Star, and let Marco rant about his day to him, although he did laugh whenever Marco brought up some reasonable objections to obvious safety hazards. He even helped Marco with his homework on occasion, as apparently the curriculum in the Underworld was ahead of what they had on Earth, who knew. Of course Marco still hung out with Star all the time, she was his best friend and befriending Tom wasn't going to change that, but the Mewni princess seemed to be hanging out with Jackie more frequently, so Marco didn't feel bad for not spending every second with her. The only thing Marco feels bad about is not being able to tell Star about the whole, 'soul-bonded to your ex' thing. It's not even that Marco thinks Star would be mad - a bit understandably cautious yes, but not mad -, but it's still an awkward topic to just bring up in casual conversation. What was he supposed to say? 'Hey Star pass the milk, oh and I'm soul-bonded to Tom. Isn't it nice weather out?' Like that would go over well.
Marco looked down at the mini mirror on his wrist, that more or less functions as a watch now, since he hung up. He recalls the first time he tried to make a call on the mirror, and how he freaked out when the tail wrapped around his arm. Tom had explained that it does that as a safety precaution, so that the owner can't drop it and so that they could use their hands whilst on a call, though he did tease Marco on how he should be glad as it's so safe. Tom then taught him how to remove the tail whilst still on call, and how to enlarge the mirror to the size of Star's own, which when in its enlarged state, floats. Shaking the memory from his head, Marco couldn't help but think it was kinda weird that Tom just sat, listened and helped him, rather than complaining about anything in his own life. Especially because being a prince would most likely give Tom a lot of ammo for rants, and he seemed like he would be such a complainer as it was so easy to tick him off- though he is getting better bit by bit.
Marco just sighs and gets ready for bed. Maybe Tom just didn't trust him yet. They had only been friends for about three weeks - though not to sound cliche, it does feel like more than that -, so Marco guesses he can't blame Tom. Nonetheless, he can't help but wonder why Tom looks so tired nowadays.
"Problems in hell maybe? Obviously Tom knows he can talk to me about anything, we are apparently bonded so its not like I'm going to backstab him," Marco mumbles to himself, not realizing he was even speaking out loud, "He'll just tell me when he's ready I guess. I just hope it's before the dude literally passes out from exhaustion in a dangerous situation."
Not bothering to scrutinize too hard on why he's suddenly so worried on Tom's health, Marco quickly falls asleep.
Marco wakes up very contently, blearily reaching over to turn off his alarm. For the past three weeks, Marco has been waking up more refreshed and happier than usual - a fact he blames on finally sorting everything out with Tom -, but this morning he feels even more content than usual. He shrugs it off, rubbing his eyes, and steps out of bed.
... And right onto someone's foot. Marco shrieks and jumps back onto the bed, before realizing it's Tom, who had been fast asleep at Marco's desk before being (rather rudely) awoken by someone stepping on his foot and screaming. Before Marco can even get a word out, Star bursts in through the door, still in her nightgown and holding her wand out, ready to fight back whatever caused Marco to scream. Marco's throat feels like it's tightening in panic, before he realizes Star still has on her sleeping mask, and can't see anything.
She waves her wand around, and yawns, "What happened," she interrupts herself with another yawn, "Marco? More monsters?"
Marco signals to Tom to keep quiet, before saying to Star, "Oh no, sorry. I just...eh, stubbed my toe is all."
Star yawns again, before falling from her defensive stance, "Oh. Silly, clumsy Marco." Star starts to sway on the spot a bit.
"Yeah, silly clumsy me. How bout you go back to your room, and take a shower? I'll let you use the shower first, as long as you promise not to fall asleep in it again." Marco says as he gently ushers the princess of Mewni from his room.
"That was one time Marco! One time." Star says as she leaves the room, still blind to the world around her.
Marco sighs in relief, and closes the door, leaning his back on it, before looking at Tom and whisper-screaming, "What are you even doing here?!"
Tom places his hands out in a placating gesture, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I swear I wasn't like, watching you sleep or anything creepy like that. I've just been doing my homework, see?" Tom gestures to a pile of papers, open notebooks, textbooks, pens and pencils, all which were scattered on Marco's desk.
Feeling slightly relieved that Tom didn't suddenly turn out to be some creepy stalker, Marco slowly makes his way from the door, back to his bed.
"Still doesn't explain what you're doing here dude."
Tom rubs the back of his neck a tad bit embarrassedly.
"Well, you see the bond actually won't let us be far away from each other for long stretches of time, well not without punishment - which can already be nearly unbearable for a demon, so I'm guessing it might be deadly for a human."
Tom clears his throat, "So, I decided I'd come here while you're sleeping and just, uh, stay in the room so the bond is sated, so you don't have to go through any vile punishment, or you know," Tom made a choking noise while miming cutting his throat.
"Uh, I figured this way you can easily go to school and wherever else you wanna go in the day without being worried about me having to following you, or anything. So," Tom shrugged a bit, then two of his eyes looked away from Marco to stare at the door in embarrassment, while the third one was still watching Marco as to gauge his reaction, "I've been doing this for the past three weeks. Um, not just schoolwork of course, not even my tutors could be that hellspawn-ish as to give me a mountain of work to everyday, even if they're from the Underworld. But, yeah, um, sometimes, I just bring my laptop and headphones and watch a movie, or read a book, or scroll the multi-net - uh, stuff like that. I'm usually out of here like a few minutes before you wake up, but I guess I passed out. Sorry." Tom scratches his cheek.
Marco nods slowly as all this new information processes.
"Alright, I can understand that. Plus, that does explain why you've been looking so tired lately," Marco completely misses the shocked look on Tom's face as he says that, "But why didn't you just tell me about the bond side effects? If nothing but to spare me the heart attack of waking up to a surprise demon in my room. We could've probably worked something better out."
Tom looks at Marco with all of his eyes and replies, "Well, I kinda just thought this was the best option. I wasn't going to like, force you to spend time with me, especially not in the Underworld where I have to stay for most of the days - I understand my home can be kinda off-putting for people not born or created there, or well, dead. And as I said, I doubt you'd want a demon stalker up here."
When Tom calls the Underworld his home, Marco's eyes widen as he realizes he's been unconsciously selfish. He thinks back to a time when he had first gone to prep school, and people either ignored, made fun of, or made light of his home life, traditions, and culture, just because it was foreign to them, and thus made them uncomfortable, and how he had always been trying to change himself, as if he was the one with the problem. He remembers befriending an Muslim girl who had her hijab ripped off, and was unable to do anything, because if she fought back, people would just feed that into the unfair stereotype that all Muslims were violent terrorists, and how unjust that was to her.
Marco facepalms and says to himself, "I've been such an idiot."
He removes his hand from his face, and looks at Tom who had been packing up all his schoolwork. "Look Tom, I've probably been going about this whole soul-bond thing in the wrong way. For that, I'm sorry, and gosh I really need to stop getting into situations where in the end I have to apologize to you, huh? Anyways, how bout instead of staying in my room while I sleep, getting sleep deprived, and looking like a creeper even though you're not, you go to school with me? You're currently homeschooled, right? You shouldn't have any problem catching up, especially seeing as you've actually helped me with most of my homework recently, you're probably even a bit ahead. I mean, they accepted a magical princess from a different dimension, why not the prince of the Underworld? Then on weekends, and maybe short holidays, I'd spend the days with you in the Underworld? I mean, since we're bonded and you are eventually going to be the king of that realm, I might as well get to know it. Plus, I won't lie, I am kinda curious on your customs and traditions. Star is the best, but she isn't really the person to ask for any book or history info. Some nights I could even sleep over if you want? And visa versa of course, as long as you don't have a problem. Long holidays however, are another ballgame that we'll have to see how to split. Here, let me just-," Marco brakes off his sentence, to stand up and reach behind Tom to get his calendar and a pencil from his desk, planning to use sharpie after he figured out how they were gonna split things.
"Sounds good to you though?" Marco asks Tom as he starts marking up his calendar.
Tom seems to be in an incredibly happy stupor, but he snaps out of it when Marco goes for his calendar. Tom asks confusedly, "Uh, yea, yes, that sounds perfect actually. But why would you do this for me? I get the Underworld isn't really the cosiest place, and I wouldn't hold a grudge against you or anything, for not wanting to spend time down there."
Marco replies, "Well, I can't just expect you to drop your future, home, family, nature, traditions, and cultures just because I don't understand it, or it makes me uncomfortable. Might as well see what the Underworld's all about, and adapt to it I guess. Find out what makes you tick, what not to do, what means what, maybe even find a way to ban you from my room when I get mad at you." Marco laughs a bit, "Added bonus being you don't look like you're going pass out every second. Plus I'm kinda interested in your written language, it seems really cool, and if I learned it, then I could write anything about anyone in this dimension, and they'd have no idea what it meant! Perfect for getting back at Jeremy Birnbaum anytime he does anything to me."
Marco looks up, "But this is a two way street buddy. I expect that you'll at least try to understand and adapt to my traditions and human culture in general, especially when you're up here."
Tom smiles widely, unconsciously flashing his fangs, "Of course I will."
As much as he adores Starship, Tom always had to water-down and change his demonic ways and traditions in order for her to feel comfortable, much to the chagrin and muttered complaints of his subjects. Not that he blames her in anyway - as he said, the Underworld isn't the cosiest dimension around -, but to have Marco so ready to learn about those traditions as they were, without any dilution, was a big, unexpected, and very pleasant surprise.
Marco smiles slightly, and looks up from where he was marking up his calendar, "I thought you would agree." Marco then looks at his alarm clock, and his eyes widens. "I don't want to kick you out or anything, but Star's probably out of the bathroom now, and if I don't start getting ready right this minute I'm going to be late for school."
Tom impulsively reaches over to grab Marco's head, and kisses his forehead. "I don't think I mind this soul-bond after all. See ya later, Marco Polo." Tom then falls through a suddenly created hell hole.
Marco didn't need a mirror to know that his face was red at the moment. He hesitantly puts his hand up to touch where Tom had kissed him, before realizing, 'Oh crap how am I going to explain this all to Star? Oh double crap, I'm going to be late!' Marco rushes towards the bathroom.
A/N: okay i hope i didn't somehow offend anyone, and if i did spray me with water and hit me with a newspaper, and i apologize.
Reviews, follows, and faves are my life-blood at this point, and fan art makes me squeal like a 12 y/o, so any of that would be fantastic if you want! Thank you for liking my work thus far~