This is my second RTC fic (there will be more there will be) and it is not canon compliant with my other RTC fic. So let's just assume from this point on that the RTC fics are only canon compliant with each other if I say so. Anyway, happy Valentine's Day!

Dying had taught Noel more about life and love than any French tragedies ever had, and, when given a second chance at life with the people who he'd nearly died with, he decided he would live and love abundantly.

Unfortunately in Noel's case, this meant falling head-over-heels for someone with a dedicated internet girlfriend. Which meant, at the very least, he needed to take his time and wait for the right moment before confessing his love. Because if he didn't at least put himself out there then what was the point of being alive at all?

He spent the next few months getting closer to Mischa as friends, trying to get up the nerve to say something. To say anything.

And then, suddenly, it was February and all Noel could see was their Senior year slipping away. Mischa would probably go back to the Ukraine where Talia was waiting and all of Noel's watching and planning would just be wasted potential.

And so he decided to throw a hail mary.

He saved his Taco Bell money and bought Mischa a bouquet of roses for the cheesiest, straightest holiday ever, Valentine's Day.

And his cheesy gesture was immediately misconstrued.

Mischa hit up their Cyclone Survivors group chat with a smug selfie of himself holding the roses, getting Noel's hopes up.

M: Bet I'm the only one who got roses on Valentine's Day

C: My parents got me flowers

M: Doesn't count

M: These are from my girlfriend

N: What? Really? Are you sure?

M: I told you. Talia is real

N: I believe you man

N: But how do you know Talia sent you the roses?

N: Did she tell you that?

M: There's no note

M: But who else would send me flowers on Valentine's Day?

Right. Who else? Noel wanted to gouge his eyes out. This was not turning out well.

O: Ooh Mischa, maybe you have a secret admirer

M: Or maybe my girlfriend sent me flowers

M: Why do you guys have such a hard time believing that Talia could do something nice for me?

P: I believe you

C: No one is saying we don't believe you

M: Noel is

N: That's not what I mean

M: Whatever dude

R: Why don't you just ask her?

M: Fine, I will

M: You'll see

This was officially a disaster. Because he'd forgotten to put a card in the roses Talia was about to find out someone else had sent her boyfriend flowers on Valentine's Day. She'd think Mischa was cheating on her -loyal, loving Mischa- and might just end the relationship.

And Noel would be the other girl, breaking Mischa's heart. On Valentine's Day.

Noel exited out of the group chat and opened up Mischa's contact separately. He scrolled past the dumb memes they sent each other and the links to Mischa's songs on YouTube and frantically typed out a plea to his former friend. Former, because after Mischa heard about this he would want nothing to do with him.

N: Hey before you text Talia I need to talk to you

M: Okay

N: In person

M: Be there soon

Mischa had been to Noel's house before but the concept made Noel ungodly nervous now. This wasn't going to end well.

A few minutes later, Mischa arrived at Noel's house in all his awesomeness, reminding Noel why he'd fallen in love with someone who would show up no matter what. He felt sick to his stomach thinking that after today Mischa might not show up anymore.

Mischa already looked upset as he crossed the room and sat down on Noel's couch, and it took everything within Noel not to break down right there.

He summoned all of his courage and spoke, "Mischa I'm so sorry for the confusion but Talia really didn't send you those flowers. I did."

"I know."

"What? How?"

"Because I'd already messaged Talia by the time you told me not to."

"Oh… I'm so sorry, Mischa, I didn't mean to cause any confusion."

"It's okay. No one wants to be alone on Valentine's Day."

"Yeah…" Noel said, still feeling mortified, studying his feet as if they held the answer he was looking for.

"So thank you for helping me feel a little less alone."

Noel's head shot up, "What do you mean?"

"My own girlfriend forgot me on Valentine's Day. But you didn't. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"I guess you didn't want to be alone, either."

"Yeah," Noel said with a forced laugh, "I'm pretty tired of it."

Mischa offered Noel a sad smile.

"Was Talia mad that someone else gave you flowers?" Noel asked, forcing himself to remember that Mischa wasn't his to love.

"Nah. She is real. She is. But… She isn't here. I mean… She can't be here for me the way I'd want her to be. And I can't be there for her the way she wants me to be. It's too far. It's too hard. We realized that today."

A beat of silence passed between them before Mischa continued.

"I think we broke up."

Noel's hand hovered over Mischa's shoulder before settling in his lap.

"I'm really sorry, Mischa. I didn't mean for any of this to happen, I just… I like you. And I was so scared of graduating and us going our separate ways without you knowing how much I like you."

"You bought me roses," Mischa pointed out, running a hand through his hair, "I think it is more than like."

Noel blushed and looked away.

"It's not your fault me and Talia broke up. And it's not your fault for liking me. I'm awesome. Who wouldn't like me?"

"Still…"

"No. You did what any man would do. You took your shot."

Noel waited expectantly for Mischa to say something more. Like maybe, "Thank you for the roses but I'm not interested in you."

Mischa didn't say anything, just hugged himself in silence, looking small for once.

"Mischa?" Noel asked softly.

"I'm still hurting. I really loved Talia. But it's not your fault, it's not anyone's fault. She and I weren't on the same page. All that love for her will just have to be heartache now."

Noel choked back another apology, knowing Mischa really didn't want to hear it, and finally felt brave enough to rest his hand on Mischa's shoulder.

Mischa turned and buried himself in Noel's arms, and Noel held him close while he wept.

"I wanted it to work. I know she wanted it to but it didn't, and now all I want… Is to not be alone on Valentine's Day."

"You can stay here with me," Noel said. It was the first confident thing he'd said all day. "You can stay the night, even."

Just as Mischa had loved Talia, Noel loved Mischa. But Valentine's Day wasn't just about romantic love, and right now it was more important to be there for Mischa as a friend.

"We can invite the others if you like," he added so that Mischa didn't feel awkward after Noel's confession.

"No… You're enough. This is enough. Thank you."

"Always. I'm here. I'll always be right here."

And for both of them, today, that was enough.

Huh! I meant for this to be both angsty (hurt/comfort?) and romantic and I think it was but it did not end the way I planned. Oh well, Nischa doesn't have to happen the exact day Mischa and Talia broke up. I guess I'll just have to write a sequel!