Ch 24: Tom gets suspicious

"I think Star is cheating on me"

"Nonsense!" Marco said "Is that all you called me here for? Because then i'll be on my wa-"

"She gets anxious when I come in her room without warning and gets bored around me. The only possible explanation is that she has some more interesting things to attend to, so interesting in fact that she has to keep it secret." Tom explained while pacing in the back palace garden they met up in.

"You're overthinking this way too much, dude. Besides, look at what you have! Been going strong for one year now, and for early teen relationships that's really long."

"Exactly." Tom said, "It's a long relationship, but she isn't interested in me. It may be living, but it's not strong."

Marco gave out a smile "You have a foolproof plan anyway. You already got her under the moonlight! 'Destined to be together until death...' or something like that" Marco felt a little hurt by his own statement.

"That's what I'm worried about. What if that didn't work for some reason?"

"It's basic relationship stuff. You always have your ups and downs, you just need to put your trust in each other and ride it out." Marco knew the type of person Tom was, if he suspected something he would go through any means to find out the truth unless he was convinced diplomatically.

"Still, I got her under that moon! Marco, you need to help me find out what's happening! You in?"

"Eh…" Marco hesitated then realized he could sabotage Tom's investigation "Sure." He said nonchalantly.

"Great! We should start with her room!" Tom flicked his wrist and got them teleported both of them into Star's room.

"Woah!" Marco stumbled around in the room, getting a sense of the new environment "You gotta warn me if you're gonna-"

Tom wasn't listening. He was deep in Star's personal stuff, thoroughly overturning each and every drawer, box, and anything in between.

"Cmon, I know it's in here, show me the evidence…"

"Yo… aren't you taking this a little too far?" no response from Tom "Hey, what if Star comes back? You're overturning alot of-"

"Star!" Tom said "Of course, you genius! We hide until Star gets here, then take her by surprise!"

"Wait no that's not what I-" Too late. Marco was already stuffed in the wardrobe, while Tom stuffed himself under the bed.

"Marco, you are a mastermind. All we have to do is wait here and jump Star!"

"What do you mean we?" Marco said "I'm not gonna spend hours on end in this wardrobe!"

"Oh, you aren't? What a shame." Marco could tell by Tom's voice that he wasn't gonna let him go.

And so he waited. Quietly, so that no one would hear them of course. It was just Marco, the cramped wood walls, and a desire for Star to come in. Marco closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but his own thoughts kept him up.

When Star assigned him to actually participate in the war, every other commander dismissed him. Didn't even assign him people to command for the first day, and when they did they gave him one platoon that was previously part of a larger battalion. He knew he was a bit inexperienced, but he got a full education from the most senior guy there!

Marco ruminated on this for a while, then he knew what he had to do. He would have to prove himself to them. He needed to go the extra mile. Well, maybe not the extra mile, going all out and leading in person or something, but maybe the extra 500 feet.

Marco did eventually drift off, despite the uncomfortable box he was in. Once he woke up, he knew something was going on. He felt a presence in the room. Star's presence. Shortly after, he heard some magical sparkles.

Marco opened the wardrobe. He saw sparkling dust settling on the floor, and an unconscious Star on the ground.

"Marco, help me tie her up." Tom grabbed Star by the shoulders and attempted to drag her onto a chair.

"Tie her up?" Marco said, "You're definitely taking this too far now. What are you even gonna do to her? Interrogate her?"

"Yes, and?"

"Wait, you're serious?" Marco said after realizing Tom was serious "Ok, I can't help anymore. Exposing her as a cheater is one thing, tying her up and demanding answers is another thing."

"Fine, just help me out after I tie her up." Tom had her on the chair and started to wrap magical bindings on Star.

Marco bit his lip. He couldn't stand idly by, he had to help her out. Doing nothing would be as bad as actively betraying her. And he would never betray her. Marco breathed in, and breathed out.

He whispered to himself, "The space under the ear and over the jaw, the space under the ear and over the jaw…" Marco got himself into position, and did a flying roundhouse on that spot on Tom. Tom immediately stumbled over with a grunt, and went limp.

Marco got Star off the chair and got Tom on it. He tied him with the same bindings Tom planned for Star.

Tom didn't see it coming, but when it did come he knew what happened. Marco was a prime suspect when Tom was thinking about who Star cheated with. But he trusted Marco, so instead of immediately striking he went out of his way to look for evidence.

He brought Marco along to see if he was anxious. To see if Marco acted cool if he was caught in a crime. Now Tom knew, he was right all along. He would not spare a second the next time he got a chance to exact revenge.

"Ughh…" The first thing Tom felt was the magical bindings on him. He could not teleport away or cast magic, he was tied up. The next thing he felt was the hard wood of the chair he was in. When he realized, his head immediately shot up. And his head was full of rage.

"IKNEWITFROMTHESTARTISHOULD'VEATTACKEDIMMEDIATLEYBUTPUTYTRUSTINYOUYOUWERE-"

"Chill! Chill!" Star said.

"-ICONSIDEREDYOUAFREINDUNTILIREALIZEDSTARWASCHEATINGONME"

"Hey, you really think I would have a chance with Star? Come on, you hit a massive score!"

Tom struggled in his chair and relaxed ever so slightly. This was when Star and Marco could see tears in his eyes.

"You… I fucking hate you…"

"Hey, please don't swear." Marco said.

"Tom," Star knelt down and got on Tom's level and put a hand on his shoulder "I did not cheat on you."

Tom knew she lied. Maybe it was that the hand was cold on his shoulder, maybe it was that her face had the same demeanor when she was clearly lying, but he knew.

And that did not put him into anger, it put him into depression.

He hoped, he prayed, that he was wrong. But he was too insightful, he was too-

No, he thought. As a last ditch effort to prove himself wrong, he hatched one last hail Mary plan.

"Kiss"

"What?!" Marco and Star said in unison after a moment of silence.

"Kiss each other, on the lips, right here, right now. Or else I still won't be happy."

"Hey, I really can't do that…" Marco said.

"Please, just do it." Tom had tears running down his face. Then he whispered, "I still have hope," to himself, but Marco heard.

"C'mon, just a peck." Marco stage whispered "It'll make him happy." He said audibly.

Star just stood there, concerned look on her face.

"Oh fine." Marco gave Star a dry kiss on the cheek "There, you happy?" Marco wiped his mouth.

Tom sat, relieved. He knows it could have been faked, but he pushed that to the back of his mind and ignored it. What was important was that if he had really been cheating on him then they would have kissed deeply.

"Ok, now have you calmed down-" Marco got pushed by Star to face her "Hey what are you-"

"Stop acting." Star pulled him by his collar and kissed him. A real kiss this time, and Tom saw it all unfold.

First was Marco's shock, then realization, then desperation as he tried to pull himself from Star. He was successful, then looked at Tom in silence.

Star moved in front of Tom and said "I'm tired of lying."