(AN: Evening to all! Welcome back for some more Rooming In! Well, we're getting close aren't we? With all the ship teases through all the chapters, and some even bigger ones here, the time is coming soon. And yes, THAT time!
But, before we do that, you know how it goes; family fluff time everyone as December rolls around for the Chaotix who aren't called the Chaotix in this AU but I'm too lazy to name them individually!
Hope you enjoy, and see you for the... very worth while next chapter.)
Outside, snow fell heavily and rapidly onto the ground as sheets of snow fell off from the roof of the apartment complex. Someone passing by moved out of the way as soon as they saw this, hearing the noise of the snow hitting the ground.
Inside of Espio's apartment, Charmy was excited that he had school off for the day due to the apparent blizzard. On the other hand however, Vector and Espio were miserable. Due to their cold-blooded nature, they wore several layers of sweaters and pants, and even then, it didn't help. The reptiles shook like they had gotten out of a pool of ice water.
"And I have to go to work in 10 minutes…" Espio groaned, cup of hot cocoa in hand.
"Hey, winter's like this," Vector mumbled. "Gettin' back from work last weekend was tough."
"Honestly, I think I might get another sweater…"
Espio got up from the table and went to his room, getting another sweater on. Vector couldn't help but think that the chameleon bundled up looked rather adorable.
"Oh Chaos, there ya go again…" He thought to himself.
"Vector? What do you think of this one? I actually got this not too long ago at the thrift shop."
"Looks good! Makes ya look even cute, heh heh."
As soon as Vector spoke this, he wanted to do nothing more than to throw himself out the window.
"O-Oh… thank you. Charmy?"
The bee, who was eating a donut, nodded.
"It's good!"
"Well, I'll be off. I shouldn't be late. Vector, could you order take out for lunch? I actually didn't prepare leftovers because this blizzard took me by surprise, that, and there isn't much in the fridge. Okay?"
"Gotcha, Espio!"
The two reptiles did their ritualistic 'pat on the back before work', but noticed that they did it for longer this time. They took their patting slower before slowly letting their hands rest on the other's shoulder. They both laughed as Espio parted ways (not before giving a kiss to Charmy on the forehead).
As Espio left, Vector only rest his head on the table.
"Curse fallin' fer somebody ya can't have…"
"What did you say, Vector?"
"Charmy, I didn't say anythin', just eat yer donut…"
Sometime after breakfast, Vector sat on the couch, watching videos on his tablet and munching on chips. He held onto his tail like a teddy bear as the crocodile looked for funny videos to watch. Suddenly, Charmy buzzed up to Vector.
"Waugh, wha?!" The green reptile said, being taken off guard.
"Hey, Vector! Can we play outside?!" He asked.
"I mean, if yeh want ta, go ahead. But I can't. Imma reptile, ya know that. We're not good in the cold."
"O-Oh…"
"I'm sorry lil' bud. I wish I could join you, but I can't."
"But I don't wanna play by myself, I wanna play with you!"
"Look, I'm sorry Charmy, but there's nothin' I can do! Now if ya wanna play by yerself, I can get yeh bundled up."
Vector got up from the couch and headed over to Charmy's room, a sad bee following behind him.
"Where do ya keep yer winter stuff?"
"In my closet…"
Vector pulled out a red hat, scarf, and gloves, pink earmuffs, black pants, and a heavy orange coat.
"Can ya get this on?"
"Only some of it… I need help with the coat…"
"Well, just dress yerself in what ya can put on and I'll do the rest."
Vector walked out of Charmy's room as he waited for the bee to dress himself. When he announced he was finished, the green reptile entered the room and buttoned up the coat, zipped up the bee's zipper, and tied his shoes.
"Okay, let's go. Lemme just put on a hat and gloves first."
After getting what he needed, Vector and Charmy walked out of the apartment and went down the elevator. Letting him outside, the crocodile watched from outside the bee starting to play. Despite him being happy, he could tell something wasn't right.
Sometime later, the insect began making a snowman. He was having some difficulties rolling the heavy snow, and Vector trusted his gut enough to let Charmy be by himself.
But before he could properly leave, Vector looked back once more. He couldn't help but feel sad for the bee, who really wanted to be out there with him, to play in the snow and have a good time.
He saw from a distance a father playing with his son, the two clearly having a fun time as the son hugging his dad. Vector looked at his wear; multiple sweaters on top of each other, a heavy pair of pants, and his hat and gloves.
"Ya know what… maybe… maybe I can indulge mahself just this once…"
The crocodile braced himself, then opened the door to run up to Charmy.
MEANWHILE, AT SOAR'S YOGA & WELLNESS…
It wasn't a very busy day at the yoga center, since everyone either stayed home, or had work to go to. This meant that the workers lazed around all day, only one or two of them teaching a class.
Espio sat on the couch in the employee's lounge, a cup of coffee in his hands to keep warm. He couldn't help but brood though. What happened this morning had been bugging him since he had left the apartment complex.
Just then, Sonia walked up to him.
"If it wasn't for this snow, I think I'd ask you why you look like that. You look miserable, Espio," She said.
"Eh, it's just the snow and the cold. You know how us reptiles are," Espio lied partially.
Sonia didn't believe it however. She raised an eyebrow. "I know how you are, but I also know you, Espio. Something's going on, isn't it."
"Wh-what are you talking about?!"
"Espio, when you're around two twin brothers who are completely different than you, you learn this kind of stuff."
The chameleon sighed. "So you noticed…"
"Clearly. Alright, what happened? It's not something between you and Vector, is it?"
"It IS… but, it's for a different reason."
"Well, what kind of different reason are we talking about?"
"I… I think I love Vector."
It took a second for Sonia to process it, but when she did, the pink hedgehog put her hands up to her face.
"D'aww, lil' Espio caught feelings for Vector!" She said. "This is your first time falling for a guy like this?"
"No, not particularly… Just the first time in a long while…"
"I think you said once you moved here, you only slept with men."
"I did, yes. But to think it's come to this between me and Vector…"
"If I were you, I'd tell him. Otherwise, he might go with someone else."
"I do but just… at the same time, I DON'T want to tell him… I feel it'll ruin our friendship."
"It's better to let out how you feel then it is to keep it in. Here, let me give you an example. I have this friend, and they ended up finding out they were pansexual. Well, they were raised by loving parents, but they were afraid to tell them the truth. So, they kept it in, and never talked about it. It all came crashing down one day when they broke down and told their parents everything."
"And how did they respond?"
"They supported them of course!"
Sonia took a bite of her celery stick.
"So put it in this way, Espio. Do you think Vector would be uncomfortable if you told him the truth?"
"N-No…"
"Exactly! So, you don't really have any reason. You two are both raising Charmy, sleeping in the same bed, doing activities together, and you're a handsome guy too, so I'm sure he'll feel the same!"
"You think so?"
"Yeah!"
Just then, the owner, Soar, came into the lounge.
"Alright, lunch is over, back to work everyone!"
The pink hedgehog got up, got her bag, and put her hand on Espio's shoulder.
"I have to get going to my class. Now, go get that buff croc. For me, will you?"
The chameleon smiled and nodded. "Okay."
Sonia left as Espio cleaned up his area, wondering when it would be a good time to tell Vector the truth.
BACK AT THE APARTMENT
Vector and Charmy had put on the finishing touches on their snowman, smiling at their success.
"Let's write our name on it!" Charmy exclaimed.
"No prob, bud!"
The two written their name as they had seen what they've done. Snow angels littered the block around the apartment, as well as uneven patches of snow from the two having a snowball fight.
"I think that's enough fer today. Let's head back inside so we can warm up."
"Yeah!"
Vector put Charmy on his back as they ran back to the apartment, laughing on the way. They continued to laugh as they came back inside, feeling the warm, crisp air.
When they returned back to their living quarters, the crocodile ordered a pizza for lunch, then dipped into a hot shower. Charmy took off his winter clothing, put on comfy clothes, then turned on the TV and put on cartoons.
By the time Vector was done, their pizza had arrived. The green reptile gave the delivery man an extra tip for making it all the way through the snow.
And so, the pizza box sat on the table, Vector and Charmy taking slices as they watched the bee's cartoons on TV.
"Now, this magic spell will make you tiny for only thirty minutes. So make sure you have enough time to reach Xorda's lair!" A blue winged creature said.
"And if I don't?" replied an owl wearing rather odd clothes and spiral glasses.
"You lose a million brain cells."
"A million brain cells? Pah, too little for me."
The creature hit the owl with its wand.
"Fine, now it's TEN million."
Charmy giggled at this scene as Vector took another slice.
"Hey, so Vector?"
"Hm? What up, Charmy?"
"I've been meaning to ask you something. It's about you and Espio."
The crocodile felt his stomach twist. "Wh-whaddya mean me 'n Espio?"
"I notice you've been acting weird around him. Is something going on?"
"So… I can see yer pretty observant."
"I know right! Ms. Vanilla said the same thing too- and why am I talking about school!"
Vector laughed, then cleared his throat. "Well, if ya really wanna know, Charmy… ya gotta promise me you WON'T tell Espio at all, okay? Can ya promise me that?"
"I promise on my comic book collection!"
"Alright cause if ya tell Imma take it, sell em, and not let ya have the money. Understood?"
"Got it? Now, what's going on?! Tell me, tell me!"
Vector let himself relax as he vented everything to the bee; his friendship, their closeness, and finally, the biggest of them all, his feelings.
"So you like Espio? Eww, gross!"
"Wh-why ya sayin' that?!"
"Because love is gross! Even when girls aren't involved!"
The crocodile rolled his eyes. Of course, Charmy was at that age where romance in general was icky to him.
"Well, whaddya think I should do? I don't wanna say somethin' like that then have 'im say he doesn't feel the same."
"Okay, so, I got an idea!"
"Really?"
"Well, in class, we read a story where a prince saved a princess and they fell in love by the end, and the way they did was a kiss!"
"Charmy, I dun think it's gonna work like that."
"Oh come on! It's worth a shot!"
"Still, I just… I wanna tell 'im, but I can't. I'm too nervous."
Charmy only looked at the crocodile.
"I'm sorry fer bringin' all this up now. It's just… Espio is such an attractive person. And… I can't have him. He's just a friend."
Vector shook his head. "Of course, I ain't expectin' ya to understand. Charmy, lemme just say this; love is complicated. When ya get older, yer soon gonna realize that. But, what am I sayin'? Ya probably don't comprehend what I'm talkin' 'bout. Just… forgot I said anythin', and remember, don't tell Espio, got it?"
"Got it!"
As the crocodile got off the couch to pour himself a drink, the bee only looked at Vector. Of course he knew what was going on. As a matter of fact, this past weekend, as Espio got himself a late night snack, he heard him murmur; "I wonder if I should tell Vector how I feel when he gets back…"
That's when Charmy realized he had one goal and one goal only:
Find a way for Vector and Espio to fall in love with each other.
Later that afternoon, Espio got home around a quarter 'till 4. He coughed and hacked as he got inside.
"Yo, ya sure don't seem good. Here, lemme prepare ya some coffee," Vector said.
"Th-thank you, Vector…" Espio shivered. "I'll get into the shower now to warm up."
"Vector did that earlier today!" Charmy exclaimed.
"Oh, Charmy, hello. I'll ask you how your day was later; just let me get into the shower first, okay?"
Espio stepped into the bathroom as he closed the door behind him, the crocodile looking at the bee with a peculiar look on his face.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Espio stared out the window at the snow continuing to fall down as Vector's loud snoring rung throughout the apartment. He and Charmy were asleep on the couch, a blanket over the two.
The chameleon couldn't help but smile. He got up, and stood by the two. Espio kissed his finger, and placed it in between Vector's snout. It twitched slightly.
"That is adorable…" He said to himself. "…you're adorable…"
Espio stroked Vector's cheek softly, hoping he didn't wake up. He stopped after a few strokes however, realizing he was treading on thin ice.
The fuchsia reptile walked over to the fridge, feeling hungry all of a sudden. He found a container of cream puffs and decided to have a few. As he did, Espio looked at the sleeping crocodile, who was still snoring.
"Oh, what's the point in even trying to hide or deny it anymore," Espio thought to himself, butterflies in his stomach. "I'm in love with Vector… I just hope I have the courage for when the time comes to tell him everything…"
END OF CHAPTER 11
Next time, on Rooming In…
It's Christmas time!
But before that, Charmy's grade has its Christmas concert, where Vector and Espio get… closer?
Vector brings along Espio and Charmy to hang out with his friends on Christmas Eve.
And finally, the moment you've been waiting for; will Charmy's plan to get Vector and Espio together succeed?