Latula watched in dismay as Mituna fell off his skateboard yet again, and he smacked his hands against his helmet. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" he shouted, watching the board roll away, and then he turned to Latula. "Ahhh I can't do it, Tulip, I'm sthoooooo… stupid…" Latula took a breath. She loved Mituna, there was no question about that, but it was a bit difficult to… deal with him sometimes. Latula paced over and linked her arm through his, putting a light smile on as she helped him stand up.
"Come on, Tuna, you can do it, babe." She pecked him on the cheek and then went after the skateboard, digging it out of where it had crashed into a bush. Supportive girlfriend, she reminded herself in her head, and then had a spurt of anxiety about the fact that she even had to remind herself about that. "Okay, shake it off, Tules," she muttered to herself, and returned to Mituna with his skateboard in hand. She knew he could skate; it was part of how they fell in love, so she handed him the board. "Alright, Mituna, try again." He looked up at her, a confused glint in his eyes.
"Tula, I… don' wanna fall anymore."
"Come on, babe, you got this," Latula said again, feeling a genuine smile spread across her face. He really was so endearing sometimes. A determined expression dawned on Mituna's face.
"Ack- you're right I c-c-can do this!" Latula grinned watching her boyfriend light up with confidence, and then immediately upon getting back on his board, he fell again and his face crumpled. "AHHHHH! Ah! I'm… disappointing you, Tulip." No, he couldn't put that on her. "I'm just so…" Don't say it. If he said it, Latula was going to lose it. She couldn't stand that Tuna got so down on himself. That gut-wrenching sadness and fear and a bolt of anxiety wracked through her. "…retar—"
"Radical!" Latula interjected, little angry, frustrated tears starting in her eyes. "You're radical, Mituna. I…" She began to dissolve into her tears a little more, and she looked down at the street. After a moment, she saw Mituna's shoes next to hers, and felt his hand on her shoulder. After another moment, he said something.
"Tulip, don't cry. Please don't cry. I'm sorry." Latula sniffled, trying to pull herself together. Mituna seemed to have collected himself from his own outburst, and he tugged her closer into a hug. "I'm sorry I screw up so much," he whispered. Latula sniffled again.
"You don't screw up, babe. I love you," she said, smiling lightly through her tears.
"I love you too, Tulip. Can we go?"
Latula let out a light sigh. Part of her missed how Mituna used to be, and maybe that was why she wanted him to be able to skate again. "Yeah… let's just go to my house."
"This skate park is dumb anyway.:
A million thoughts were running through Latula's head on the drive home; how she missed the old Mituna, but she still loved him, but being with him was so hard sometimes, but she really shouldn't think that; that would make him feel like he's a burden, but what about her problems? No, she couldn't make things about herself. But maybe she needed to be by herself? What would things be like if they broke up? But Latula couldn't do that to him, and she'd miss him too much anyway… Mituna's voice shattered the glass cage of anxiety closing in around Latula's brain.
"Tulip? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, Tuna… everything's fine," she lied. "I… I'm fine." Latula felt his eyes on her for a moment. "Hey, Tulip, let's turn on some jams." He reached for the stereo knob and started bouncing along to whatever the newest Walk The Moon song was, but the noise just felt like static in Latula's head. She flicked it back off.
"Sorry," Mituna muttered, and a flash of guilt went through her. She reminded herself to take deep breaths, and let herself relax for the rest of the drive. When they got to her house, it was empty.
"Looks like Mom is still working," Latula muttered to herself. "Not that I'm surprised." She was beginning to see Terezi's point about their mother overworking herself. Mituna paused at the threshold to kiss Latula on the cheek, and she smiled and took his hand in hers. "Terezi, I'm home!" she called out. "Mituna's here too!" She tossed the keys on the side table and plopped onto the couch, Mituna following suit, and the house was oddly silent. "Terezi?" Latula called out again. "Maybe she's with Karkat or something." Latula wasn't one to worry about her sister; Terezi was incredibly self-sufficient.
"Sthweet! Then we have the place to ourselves," Mituna cheered, leaning over to kiss Latula on the cheek again. And then again, small, light kisses. Latula giggled, tipping back onto the couch as Mituna crawled over her, planting tiny kisses all over her face and neck and shoulders, and when he leaned back for a moment, Latula reached up and pushed his messy bangs out of his face, where they'd been covering his eyes. There were still scars around his temples, but in that moment he was so bright and excited and happy, and Latula felt it too, pulling him closer to her and kissing him deeply. After a moment, they both sat back up and Latula turned the TV on, switching over to Netflix.
"So… Tulip," Mituna said after a while, "I… was thinking."
Latula laughed a bit. "A very dangerous habit."
"Tulaaaaa, I'm being serious!" Latula glanced over at him, curious, and then paused the show for a moment.
"What is it?"
"Well. You and I have been dating for… like a super-long time, right? And I just, ah, thought that…" Latula looked at him eagerly as he thought over his words. "Agh."
"What?"
"I want… us to… I love you, Tulip. And I wanna… this is, this is so hard. Words are hard."
Latula reached over, placing her hand gently on Mituna's cheek. "Shh, it's ok, my love." She wanted him to know he could take his time; there was no pressure to figure things out. Mituna paused for a moment, his cheeks lightening to a slight pink as he clasped his hand on top of Latula's.
"I want you… to be my first." Latula's first emotion was a slightly shocked surprise that jolted through her heart. "First everything. I- I- I… you were my first kiss! My first, first love! And…. ugh. I d-don't… know if that came out right." The slight pink Latula had seen in his cheeks was now an aggressive red. Latula blinked at him, this whole thing seeming to have come out of nowhere.
"Mituna, has Cronus been giving you shit about this?"
"What? N-no! I… well. Yes. But that doesn't mean it's not true. Cronus is… a shit head." Oh boy. Maybe Latula shouldn't have mentioned that name. "I don' know why he hates me so much. I feel like… that's wrong? He… shouldn't… I din't do anything to him"
What had happened was obviously beyond Mituna's control, but Cronus still lashed out at him because they did used to be so close, a myriad of inside jokes and intense conversations and… well, things that Mituna didn't remember or understand. Cronus had started getting aggressive and angry when Mituna started pulling away, back when his and Latula's relationship began to bloom, but now Cronus shouted at him in desperation, trying to bring his old friend back. He was bitter and angry that the old Mituna was gone, and Latula could understand that to some degree, but he was still an asshole who made too many crude comments to let it slide all the time.
"No, you're right, you didn't," Latula answered.
"He didn't used to hate me, right? I remember… a little bit. He and I were friends. Does he hate me because I'm broken?"
"You are not broken, Tuna," Latula said, a heavy tone weighing down her voice.
"Yes I am." Mituna said, dampening the entire mood of the evening. Latula felt those frustrated, angry tears prick at her eyes again. She hated hearing him put himself down like that; it didn't matter how true he thought it was. And then she let her anger overflow.
"God dammit! Mituna Captor, you are not broken! You listen to me right now; you have made it through two years since your accident, and has it been hard? Yes! But you've made it this far. You're almost done with high school. Just because you're different doesn't mean you're damanged. And I can't stand to see you hate yourself because of it." She was actually beginning to cry at this point. She hated to think such selfish things, but… things were hard for her too. Not the Mituna stuff, but her anxiety. It had really been peaking lately, with college applications and the thought of being a real adult out in the world. It easily overwhelmed her, and there was no appropriate outlet for it. "And for that matter, why is this always what we talk about?"
"Wh- what?"
Latula struggled to calm herself down. "I'm… sorry, Tuna. I didn't mean to yell, I just hate to see you like this."
"Don't be sorry."
"Just… I also hate that this is always how the day ends. I know Cronus sucks, and I know you shouldn't let him get to you, but… God. Mituna, you're not the only one with problems. Don't you understand that I have my own insecurities? Why can't you… why do we always focus on you? A relationship means mutual support and I feel like… you don't emotionally support me. And it's so frustrating to feel that way! Because I know you can't always help it, and I know you love me, and I love you too, but I'm just so…" Words escaped her for a moment. "…inadequate."
"Latula Pyope, you aren't fucking inadequate. You don't have t-to fake a thing. I think you… are beautiful and amazing and sweet and generous, and if anyone else is too stupid to see that, they don't deserve anything from you. N-not even friendship." Now Latula was crying from the genuine, albeit aggressive, love she was feeling from him.
"Maybe we're both broken." Maybe they could be broken together.
"If I know anything, I know you're not broken."
"Maybe it's just anxiety talking."
"Latula, I will fight anyone who thinks you aren't the BEST girl ever," Mituna said, a laugh entering his voice. Latula couldn't help but laugh too.
"You're not a fighter. Not in your nature."
"Aha! You're right; I'm a lover. And I love you."
"I love you too, Tuna," Latula said, and then she thought about his initial suggestion a bit more. They had been dating for a long time, and they did love each other. Wasn't that what mattered with this sort of thing? "And, well, since you asked, maybe we can move into the bedroom?" Mituna's face turned red again, and then he let out a laugh as he started running for the stairs.
"Yeah-heah!" he cheered, Latula laughing behind him as they ran to her room, Latula lingering over Mituna on the bed before giving him a long, hard kiss.
Latula rest her head against Mituna's shoulder, enjoying the copious amounts of snuggling the two were doing in the aftermath of everything else.
"Ahaha, you're the best, Tulip." She giggled, then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek again.
"As great as this is, Terezi's probably going to be home soon. We should get dressed." Despite the fact that her sister was blind, this was probably the last thing Latula wanted her to walk in on.
"Aww, but you're so hot!"
"Tuna," she grinned at him, but there was a note of seriousness in her voice. He grumbled, but still began to gather his clothes. After a moment, Mituna was on the phone.
"Uh, hey, nerd!... None of your beeswax! …I'm with Tulip, god! Fuck no!... Aaaaaagh!"
"Who was that?" Latula asked, though she had a feeling she already knew. Mituna could be crass, but he didn't usually speak to his fathers like that.
"Sollux."
"Do you have to go?"
"Noooo! I don' wanna."
"Tunaaa, come on. I'll give you a ride," Latula offered, but Mituna just frowned at her.
"Nooo… you wanna be home when Terezi gets here. I can walk home."
"Are you sure?"
"Mhm!"
Well, there was certainly something to be said about his enthusiasm. Latula walked Mituna back down to the door, giving him one last kiss before he left, and then resumed her viewing of Parks and Recreation, but her phone was just itching for her attention; for her to tell someone. School hadn't even gotten out that long ago, either; she and Mituna just had an empty sixth period. Latula wondered if Porrim would be online; she'd gone pretty crazy at the Halloween party. Still, she gave it a shot.
gamegrlCredz [GC] began pestering genderedArticulate [GA]
GC: yoooo!
GC: popo merrygamz!
GC: you would not BELIEVE what just happened
GA: I wasn't under the impression you were the type to gossip.
GC: oh DAMN you got me
GC: well does it count as gossip if it's about me?
GA: In that case, please do elaborate.
GC: well ya know how me and tunez have been dating for like, EVER, but never really got physical?
GC: i didn't really think he'd be ready for that since, uh
GC: well our relationship backtracked after the accident
GA: But now?
GC: popped mah cherry, grl!
GA: Congratulations.
GC: is that really something to congratulate?
GA: Yes?
GA: I don't know, it is something of a landmark.
GA: At least, in a relationship.
GC: i dunno
GA: Well you messaged me to tell me, I presume.
GA: Clearly you thought a big enough deal of it to be excited to share the news.
GC: fair point
GC: i wanted to talk to you about it tho cause you're the most
GC: sexperienced?
GC: idk if that's like an offensive thing to say
GA: It's not, simply a factual statement.
GC: kayyy, didn't wanna come off as slut-shamey or anything
GA: You can't shame a slut if she has no shame.
GA: I don't think sexual proclivity is anything to be ashamed of.
GA: It's not as if I've cheated on anyone.
GC: GURL you know i wish i had your kind of confidence
GA: You know you let yourself get too bogged down in your insecurities
GC: yah but i can't help it
GC: sometimes i feel like i'm just not good enough
GC: idk, like not feminine enough or resilient enough
GC: definitely not smart enough
GA: Latula, you're not giving yourself enough credit.
GC: man i knowwww
GC: you tell me that every time we talk about this
GC: and then you tell me that i overcompensate with the RAD GRL schtick
GA: You do.
GC: i can't help it!
GA: I'm not saying it's a bad thing, Latula.
GA: Just that there may be a better way to deal with your insecurities.
GA: If this is how you cope for now than far be it from me to stop you.
GA: Are you still on anxiety medication?
GC: yeah but trying to get better without it
GA: That's good.
GC: i wish i could talk about this kind of stuff with mituna but we always end up talking about his issues
GC: which is fair but like
GA: No it isn't.
GA: It's not fair to you.
GC: actually yeah
GC: and i kind of exploded at him today
GA: What do you mean?
GC: idk it was like a lot
GC: before the sex
GA: You yelled at him first?
GC: it's a long story
GC: i yelled cause i hate to see him down on himself
GC: and he did the same
GC: and we decided neither of us are broken
GA: You two certainly have an interesting dynamic.
GA: But hey, as long as you're both happy.
GC: fo SHO
GC: LOVE that boy
GA: Well at any rate, sounds like you deserve a night out.
GA: Whether to forget about your insecurities or to celebrate.
GA: I know a bar that won't card you.
GC: oh man that would be RADICAL
GC: but we have school tomorrow
GA: Don't be ridiculous.
GA: I know for a fact that you can miss your first few classes, and I won't be drinking, if you're concerned about having a DD.
GC: i mean…
GC: ok
GC: yeah RADICAL
GC: sounds TIGHT popo merrygamz
GA: That nickname…
GA: It is… it is just so awful.
GC: oh whoops
GC: want me to switch back to pornstar?
GA: …Merrygamz will be fine.
genderedArticulate [GA] ceased pestering gamegrlCredz [GC]
It wasn't like Latula to go out with the explicit intention of drinking underage, especially to a bar, but Porrim simply had a way of convincing her. The only thing Latula didn't care for about the bar was guys hitting on her, and not sensing that she was uncomfortable or respecting her boundaries until she said, "sorry, I have a boyfriend." Porrim handled things a lot more smoothly than Latula did. It was supposed to be a girls' night, so Latula wasn't opposed to it when she realized that Porrim had found another friend at the bar.
"Latula!" Porrim called, waving her over. A lean, tall, blonde girl was standing next to Porrim, and Latula walked over to meet them at a patio table.
"Hey GIRL!" Latula said, grinning at the new friend. "I'm Latula."
"Roxy Lalonde," the blonde said.
"So, Rox, what's this with your cousin?" Porrim asked. Not that it was any of Latula's business, but if Roxy was willing to share, Latula would be happy to listen.
"Oh. So I got a message from Dirky yesterday asking if I'd heard from Dave but I didn't see it until later 'cause I was HELLA hung over from my own Halloween party, and I didn't know what was going on so I went to talk to Rose who said that Dave messaged her and he was hiding out at his friend John's place? Anyway so we all do some prodding together and through a confusing exchange of Pesterchum chats figure out that Braiden is a complete wad. So, he's been doing this training shit and basically saying Dave isn't tough enough and all this like… oh fuck, what did Rose say? Stuff about toxic masculinity. She knows about it, she talks to Dave more. So we tell my mom since she's like, I dunno, a responsible person and she knows Braiden really well; they're like siblings even though they're not siblings because fuck if my family isn't screwed the hell up. And she spent yesterday chewing him out on the phone, and then talking to John's dad and like, figuring out legal stuff? Anyway I knew Braiden was gonna be here tonight and like up until now he and I always got along but I wanted to tell him I think he's the worst scum imaginable. Like, who spars with a 14-year-old kid?" Porrim and Latula exchanged a look. Latula had literally just met this girl and everything she'd just heard was incredibly alarming and she didn't know whether to feel bad for her or buy her a drink. Sounded like she needed one. At that moment, Roxy flagged the waiter down. "Hey, can you get me a martini?" she asked.
"Sorry, Rox, I'm not supposed to be serving you anymore. Braiden told us how old you two actually are and I technically should probably kick all three of you out."
"Oh come on, one more for old time's sake?" Porrim cooed at him. Latula covered a snicker. She sort of admired how Porrim wasn't afraid to use her sexuality as a weapon.
"Well, uh… sure. But this is the last time," he said.
"Nice!" Roxy cheered. "What about you, Por, you getting anything?"
"No, I'm the DD for the evening."
"Tules?"
Latula was the slightest bit caught off guard by the shift in attention towards her, but she composed herself quickly. "Aw RAD, uh, can I get a vodka lemonade?"
No sooner did the waiter leave than another man appeared, his hair spiked underneath a baseball cap and a scowl beneath a pair of triangular sunglasses. He planted his hands on their table and leaned forward towards Roxy, Porrim and Latula on either side.
"Dick move, Rox. You come to my workplace and assault me?"
"Throwing a drink in a bar isn't assault. Girls face worse on a daily basis and if you think child abuse and abandonment doesn't warrant more than that then you are deluded!" Roxy shouted, her voice raising.
"Keep your voice down, you little shit, or I'm gonna lose my job."
"You should! You deserve to lose everything! You're losing your cousins, you lost your brother, you're gonna lose your other one, and you don't deserve the wealth you have."
"If we weren't in public, I'd—"
"Oh my GOD, did you just grab my boob?" Porrim shouted, gathering way more attention than Latula was comfortable with. "The DJ just groped me!"
"What? No I didn't! Alex, you saw."
Latula turned in her chair to see the waiter with their drinks. "I saw… I saw you giving these three a hard time…"
The result, at the end of the day, was justice—Braiden got fired and forcibly escorted from the premises. Latula grinned; Terezi would have loved to see this.