Six actually helped Eight with the dishes that night.

Eight wasn't sure if it was the sudden realisation that Six was, in fact, a valid part of this family, had spurred him to help with small chores, but Eight appreciated it nonetheless. Two smiled at him, as he headed up to his own bedroom, presumably to work on something, leaving the two to do the dishes together.

Six had clearly not done this before. Immediately, he had volunteered to man the sink, rolling his oversized pyjama sleeves up past his elbow. He winced as he stuck his pale hands straight into the steaming water, and Eight chuckled. He was used to this kind of thing, so he didn't feel it, but Six had small, delicate hands, almost always covered in ink or paint. Maybe this was a good way to get him to wash his hands for once.

Despite that, he was clearly enjoying himself. He wiped sauce from a dinner plate with his hands, before dunking it ferociously in the hot water, splashing himself in the process.

"Hey, wanna see a trick?" Eight asked, slyly. Six looked curious for a moment, as he nodded enthusiastically.

Eight dunked his hand in the soapy water, grabbing as many bubbles as he could, before grabbing the washing up liquid and squirting a small amount into his palm, rubbing it through his fingers. He then made an 'O' shape with his thumb and forefinger, and blew.

Six watched in amazement as a decent sized bubble stretched out from his fingers, before popping out into the air and floating around. Six watched it for a moment, before sticking his hands out and grabbing it with a shy giggle.

Eight watched as it popped in his hands, with a fond smile. This kid was extraordinarily cute and Eight wasn't sure if his tiny thing for the artist was...developing.

Immediately, he'd hoped not. It would be awkward and embarrassing, but on the other hand, if Six did ever accept any of his advances, it would be absolutely awesome! He grinned to himself at the sweet and slightly embarrassing thought.

"Why are you smiling?"

Six was now staring straight at him with wide eyes. Eight jumped slightly, soapy plate almost slipping out of his hands.

"Huh? Oh...oh, uh...I dunno?" He winced. He'd never been able to lie effectively and it was evident Six knew this. Six eyed him suspiciously, before shrugging and returning to the sink. Eight exhaled in relief.

He needed to stop zoning out like this.

He almost dropped the plate once more when One walked through the door. He stopped suddenly, almost doing a double-take at the pair doing the dishes, before a sly smirk broke out on his face.

"Eight, how are you?" He said, sweetly.

Eight shivered. What was he planning? Six looked up at Eight questioningly, and he knew something was off. Eight shrugged.

"It's nice to see you two spending time together. Tell me if...you know..." He said with a smile, before stalking away.

"You know what?" Six piped up curiously.

"Oh...Eight knows what I'm talking about. I didn't know he didn't tell you." One murmured, seemingly offhandedly. Six turned back to Eight and his expression looked ferocious. He had the same expression as Two when...

...oh...

That bastard was trying to get him back for stitching him up last time! Eight gripped the plate so hard he could feel it shaking under his grip. That stupid old man! He set this up!

It was now that Eight despised the fact that Six and Two were actually rather similar in terms of behaviour and reactions. Six had that little pout when he was interrogating someone, similar to Two. Eight smiled, sheepishly.

"He's just joking! He doesn't mean that..." He mumbled, awkwardly. Curse his lack of ability to lie, damn it! Six frowned at him, clearly not buying it.

"Tell me!" He insisted. "You gotta! Tell me!"

Eight wanted to sigh but he was too nervous. He couldn't say it. He physically couldn't bring himself to say it. He swallowed thickly.

"I just...Look, he's trying to get back at me for stitching him up before! I ended up pushing him into a situation where he had to admit his feelings for Two." He blurted out, and Six raised an eyebrow.

"His...feelings?"

"Y-yeah! Y'know how they're together now? That's because I pushed him to it. Two made him tell him!" He babbled, and Six was finally getting the picture now. Unfortunately, he seemed to understand more than Eight would've liked him to.

"So...you like me?"

Eight remained silent, slowly drying the plate he had almost come to destroy twice. When it was evident Eight wasn't going to reply, Six turned back to the sink and continued washing. The pair remained silent for the whole duration.


Once they were done, Six quietly dried his hands and bid Eight a very quiet goodnight.

Eight was left there, feeling more hopeless than ever. The moment his feelings had began to spike up, something had gone wrong. It sent a horribly cold feeling to his stomach. He wanted to puke.

Instead, he painfully dragged himself to bed. He flopped down on the creaky mattress, pulling his thin duvet over him, and lay there in the darkness.

He didn't know what to do. Any chance of him getting with Six was now completely ruined. He didn't even feel that strongly about him, but after seeing his face...and that horrible feeling in his stomach...he wanted him more than ever.

He rolled over to face the window, basking in the beam of moonlight that shone through. He wanted to go back home. He missed his family.

But this was his family now.

He began to think. Even if he did pursue a relationship with Six, there was a big chance of it ending and if it ended, everything would be awkward. Eight wasn't leaving, and Six wasn't leaving which left them in a kind of tragic stalemate.

He flinched inwardly when he heard his room door shift open. Was that Two checking on him? Or One? Or...

A soft padding noise could be heard, and one side of his bed was suddenly levered down. He clenched onto his duvet hard, almost putting nail marks into it.

Whoever it was, shifted into a lying down position and then curled up behind Eight.

...

"Goodnight, Eight." Six yawned.


Short but sweet. Just like Six (Also, Angel, you're not annoying, like your name suggests, ur a gift from the gods thank you very much for reviewing w)