Breaking Down Barriers
Chapter One - Close Calls
"You know, people usually leave after closing time."
A brown-haired rancher turned his head to the source of the voice, one laden with slight annoyance and slight curiosity. He offered the other a small smile. "Yes, they usually do. Thank you for giving me such important information."
On the other end of the room, a female voice giggled in amusement. "Gill, your comments don't work on Ivan. You know that."
"Well, I think it's always worth a shot," Gill retorted, stepping away from a bookshelf before dusting off his shoulders. He returned the rancher's look and said, "Why do you always hang out here, anyway? You should be trying to get the mother tree back to life."
"Geez, come off it, Gill," the brunet replied with a scoff. He approached the shorter man, giving him an intense stare before saying, "Give me a break, will you?"
The blond stood there for a moment, trying his best to return the stare his elder was giving him. Gill swallowed thickly before tearing his eyes away. "F-Fine. Just know that you're not getting any more money by staying after hours."
The woman crossed the room to join the pair, a secret smile plastered across her face. "All you think about nowadays is money, Gill. Money, money money. You should take a break and try for other things, you know? Get a hobby. Socialize." At that last word, she gave a short wink to Ivan, causing him to splutter quietly.
"I have a hobby, thank you very much," the man replied, obviously annoyed. "And I get enough attention from the two of you, anyway."
"But are you getting enough?" The question was asked with a bit of wistfulness, a twinkle in the woman's eyes as she gave Gill a sly smile.
Ivan gave a short, uncomfortable laugh before saying, "Haha, Elli, you're so funny. I think that it really is a good time to go, actually. Bye, guys!"
He shot the woman one last aggravated look before rushing out of the door.
Gill sighed, heaving himself onto the front counter. He rested his weight against the arc standing to his left and turned his eyes to the brunette putting away a vacuum-cleaner into a cupboard. "What the hell was that about, Elli?"
She turned around to face him, bracing herself on a nearby table. "What was what about?" She smiled coyly at him, inwardly giggling at the annoyed look that always seemed to grace his features.
"You know what I'm talking about," Gill replied, fingers clenching on the edge of the counter. "Are you... hiding something from me?"
Elli watched as the annoyance was replaced by a hint of worry. It was still there, but now it was in a jumbled mess of frustration, worry, and confusion. She recognized his desire to know, having worked with him so long. "No. How could you think that I'm hiding anything from you? You know I could never do that to you."
"Well, if you're not hiding anything from me, how come I still feel like I'm missing out?" the blond asked, almost to himself. A frown was tugging at his lips, similar to that of a sad puppy.
"Because you are," Elli responded, idly twirling a lock of short brown hair with her index finger. She was looking out the window to avoid his eyes. "I suggest asking Ivan about it."
A look of realization dawned on his features, the frown flattening out into open-mouthed wonder. "Of course! If you aren't hiding anything from me, then he must be..." His eyes flickered to the corner of the room, widening when he discovered how late it was. "Ugh! It's eleven! I better leave quick!"
Elli smiled at him and waved as he ran out the door. Boys will be boys, I suppose.
Ivan groaned, sliding against the sheets on the top of his bed. He just could not stand Elli's hinting, it was... It isn't even close to hinting. It's more like spelling it out! Dammit, she's gonna give me away one day, I swear to god...
The brunet turned over, the fabrics below him shifting under his weight. He stared quietly at the refridgerator sitting innocently at the foot of his kitchen counter, the barely affordable appliance buzzing faintly in the night.
At this rate, I won't gather all the ingredients needed for the Tree's fucking revival. Dammit, why does he keep distracting me? I'm better than this.... I know I can get enough fish to feed that stupid bear, I just... Always trying to get to town hall on time just to... Ugh. I'm pathetic. At least I still have my beautiful tomato plants, which... Which are for HIM anyway...
Ivan rolled over again, the sheets clinging to his waist. He glared at the window, staring angrily at his plants. The brunet groaned again and rubbed a gloved hand over his eyes, exhaling deeply through his nose.
Knock! Knock!
Jesus Christ, who the fuck is knocking this late... Ivan thought with a jump, his face instantly wrinkling into a grimace. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, ripping the sheets wrapped around his hips off on the way to the door.
Still scowling, he wrenched the door open. "What the fuck do you-- Oh, shi-- Uh, h-hey, Gill." Smooooth.
Flinching at his choice words, Ivan watched Gill's facial expression waver at the sound of his cursing.
"Hello, Ivan. I, uh, I've never heard you use such vulgar language before, but I guess that it's only natural seeing as I've probably woken you up..." The blond motioned to his tired eyes, ruffled hair, and messy sheets lying halfway on the ground.
Ivan rubbed at his face again, shaking his head as he replied, "No, no, you weren't waking me up. I don't know why I'm up this late, anyway." The brunet glared at the floor for a moment, gripping the door with a white knuckled grasp. "Soooo, what's up?"
As Ivan returned his gaze to Gill's face, he smiled when he saw the blond flush a little. "I was wondering if... I was just checking... Ugh, why am I here again?"
"I dunno, Gill," the rancher replied nonchalantly, regaining his composure. He offered Gill a smirk. "And I thought that you were the smart one."
"Oh, shut up, you, I-I, I know why I'm here," the blond replied hotly, "I'm g-getting to it. Give me a second."
Smirk transforming into a grin, Ivan moved further into his home, beckoning his companion in. "Well, better not stand in the night thinking about it. Those little fairies will come out and eat you if you do."
Gill opened his mouth to object, but closed it after a quick moment of reluctance. Carefully, he stepped into Ivan's small, one room home and gave it a quick once over.
On the other hand, Ivan was already seated comfortably in his bed again, idly picking up his sheets. He tucked them into the corners of the mattress before motioning the blond over to sit next to him. Gill shook his head silently, the blush persisting to stay on his cheeks.
"Ivan, I just wanted to know if anything was wrong," he admitted, looking at his shoes. The brown leather had a spot of dirt on it from the journey to the hilltop residence. "I mean, today was just one of those times when you'd... And Elli would... You know."
Ivan nodded at him to continue.
"I, um." Gill raised his eyes to give Ivan a quick look and saw that he was listening intently, giving him a focused stare. He could feel his face get even warmer, so he continued to fill the short moment of silence, "I'm just... Worried. That maybe I... Or, that you're... I don't know, I just want to know what's up."
The brunet crossed his legs and held his head in his right hand, playing with the sheets with his left. "Nothing's up, Gill. Maybe you're just noticing things you've never seen before."
Gill nodded, seeming to believe what Ivan said. He rubbed at his eyes, looking down to check his watch. "Yeah, maybe you're right Ivan. It's pretty late though, so I guess I should be leaving..."
"Mmhmm. You know, you could have just talked to me in the morning, anyway..." the rancher added absently, getting up to let him out. "Don't know why you had to drop in tonight. Unless it would have kept you up anyway, thinking worrying thoughts..."
The blond turned around to give Ivan a blank look. "Ivan, that's enough now."
He gave Gill a small smile, opening the door for him. "Alright, alright. Oh, and you're welcome. I know my advice is great and all that, so you--"
"Shut up, Ivan," the shorter man replied, shoving the other's shoulder lightly on his way out of the doorway. "Good night."
Ivan's smile grew as he watched Gill walk down the dirt path leading to Waffle Town. "Good night, you..."