Cushions and Comedy

When Tired returned, Bus put Boy back in the carrier. Then, they both sat on the edge of the bed.

"Are you going to be okay?"

Bus glanced over at Tired and nodded. Clearly, he wasn't okay, but he didn't want Tired to worry too much about him. This was supposed to be a fun night, and he didn't want to ruin too much by just being a pouty mess.

"Yeah, I think so…Enough about me! What's going on with you?"

"Oh, nothing really. It was uneventful until I got here. How about your teammates? Are they doing okay?"

"Well…they've been better."

"Seriously? Geez, you guys are-"

"A mess? Yeah, I know. It's just the tiniest things. Phil strained his shoulder, and Mike Hawk was just being a complete a*s, so-"

Tired had to do a double take. Did she just hear what she thought she heard?

"Wait, wait, wait…What did you just say?"

Bus raised his eyebrows and looked backed at her.

"Y'know, Mike Hawk? The team member? You don't know him?"

Tired covered her mouth to prevent herself from laughing. He couldn't have actually been serious, right? Who names their kid that and thinks it's a good idea? Bus got this reaction before from many people when he mentioned Mike, and he never understood why.

"What? Why does everyone get this way when I mention Mike Hawk?"

Tired giggled. It was somehow funnier the second time he said it. Bus facepalmed himself, frustrated.

"Every. Single. Time."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I know it's not like you to lie about a name like this, but-"

She couldn't even finish her sentence in between her laughter. Bus- confused on how Tired could suspect that he'd lied about a name- just brushed it off and shook his head.

"Anyways, I think Mike's drama comes from trying to deal with his older brother, Tony. They've been through a lot."

"…Wait-"

"Then, the Chads have been letting their increasing fame get in their thick heads. Those guys can't even focus when they're trying to wave to the crowd during a game. Morons…"

"Well…at least they have a quarterback like you leading?"

Bus looked up at the ceiling. He wanted to believe the words she said, but he couldn't come to doing so.

"It's just…things have been so stressful lately. I know that's not an excuse, but it's the truth! I've been off my game for so long. I got distracted by a butterfly, for crying out loud! I just…I dunno…"

Tired furrowed her brow as she gazed forward, her head deep in thought.

"Well…not everyone has an off-day. Sometimes, they have an off-week, y'know? It might be stressful now, but as long as you keep pushing and don't let it get to your head, you'll get through anything. Perserverance...that's what makes a good leader, in my opinion."

She looked up at him, and Bus locked eyes with her. A soft, subtle smile peered from the corners of her lips.

"Well, you haven't given up yet, right?"

Bus's eyes lit up, his perspective on his situation changed. The obstacles he encountered now felt like a test of his abilities, a way to prove he's worthy. Who would've thought a woman like Tired would've helped him realize that? His smile slowly started to reappear as he laughed softly.

"Yeah…I guess I haven't."

Then, his eyes widened as another realization hit him like a bus. His smile turned into a smirk quickly.

(Author's note: Lol, get it?)

"Waiiiiit a second. Did you just admit that I was good at something?"

"What!? No way! Shut up!"

He laughed harder and clenched his stomach.

"You totally did!! Ohhh, I should've caught the moment on video!"

Not being able to come up with a good comeback on the spot, Tired grabbed a pillow and hit it on Bus's back. Bus stopped laughing and looked down behind him, picking up a pillow of his own. He chuckled.

"Uh oh! I think you just started a fight you can't win!~"

Tired stood on the bed and looked at him with a mischievous grin.

"Ohhh, this isn't just a pillow fight, Sweetie; this is a pillow war!!!"

"Hah! Bring it!!"

Stuffing.

Stuffing everywhere.

The pillow war was- surprisingly- an equal match. Because of Tired's smaller stature, she was able to hide easily in the tiny crevices of Bus's room. With that being said, Bus couldn't find her anywhere. In one moment, she was right in front of him, and the next, she was gone.

"Tired? Tired, where the heck did you go???"

Little was he aware, Tired was right behind him, standing on the bed and preparing to strike. Bus turned around and immediately put up his defense as Tired pounced on him, knocking him down to the floor.

"Gotcha!!! Now, you have to admit that I won!!!"

Bus laughed lowly under his breath and looked into her eyes with a sly grin.

"Oh, foolish Tired~ With how smart you are and how athletic I am, you didn't once consider that I was going easy on you?~"

Tired's eyes widened as Bus quickly got up and hit her with the pillow, pinning her down to the floor.

"Now, you have to admit that I won!!"

"What!? No way!! This isn't over yet!!"

"Fine. You've left me no choice."

"...Huh? What do you mea- AHAHAHA-"

Bus had started tickling her, once again pressuring her to cave in.

"All you've gotta do is say that I won, and I'll stop!~"

"NEV- HAHAHA!!! O-OKAYYY, OKAY!!!! YOU WIN, YOU WIN!! I ADMIT IT!!!"

Bus stopped, out of breath and exhausted.

"Good."

They locked eyes with each other, and their smiles turned into faces of shock as they realized the position that they were in. Bus had a slight blush in his cheeks, and just like the moment near the doorway, he was dazed. Tired slowly reached her hand down, and…

She stole Bus's pillow, hitting him at both sides of his head. She jumped up and cheered in victory.

"Hah!! I won!!!"

"Heyyy, no fair! You cheated! Plus you already admitted that I won!!"

"How about we have another match and settle it, then?~"

"Ohhhh, you're on!!!"

They played and wrestled all night.