If last chapter was a social test, then nearly every single one of my commenters would've failed.

Honestly, I gave you guys only a few details about Wels and Hels's relationship: That Wels had somehow previously hurt Hels both emotionally and physically.

THAT'S IT.

Not the ratio of good memories to bad, not if it was on purpose or not- heck, Wels could've tried to apologize, and you all would've never known!!

Honestly, y'all pull out your knives too quick /lh

No warnings!!

WC: ~1500

Enjoy!

"This makes zero sense," Xay grumbled. It was the next morning, and Etho had taken them out to learn the mechanics of their new world. Wels and Hels had joined them, and assured the others that everything was fine between them. However, Xay still noticed Hels flinching ever-so-slightly around Wels, and Wels hesitating before helping Hels with anything, or even saying anything to him.

They seemed to be trying to act normal, so Xay hoped that they really did have things under control.

"You'll get the hang of it," Etho promised airily. "Believe me."

"No, I mean," Xay tried again. "It literally makes no sense. You can't just line up these tiny item-things on some squares and then magically they make a new tiny-item-thing which can grow to like ten times its size when you place it down in a certain way."

"That's far too many 'tiny-item-things' for my taste," Iskall muttered.

"I brought Ren and Mumbo!" Beef called out cheerfully, and everyone turned to see him landing with his elytra, two others following.

Before anyone knew what was happening, Grian got up and rushed over to hug one of them- the one with the suit.

Neither of them said anything, but it was clear they had known each other before.

"That's Mumbo," Beef mumbled after a moment. "And this is Ren."

Ren turned out to be a dog-hybrid, with a bright red shirt, suspenders, and two fluffy ears that poked out of his hair. He grinned at the group, his chocolate-brown eyes surveying them, lingering for a second longer on Iskall.

"Hey dudes!" his voice was cheery, and had an accent that Xay couldn't quite place.

"Hallo!" Iskall smiled and waved at him, and more greetings were spread around the rest.

"What are you all doing?"Mumbo asked, detangling himself from Grian.

"Crafting," Etho replied simply.

"Oh here we go," Ren grumbled as Mumbo spotted a staircase.

"THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE," he cried, grabbing the item. "You would think that a one-meter by one-meter cube with a fourth of it cut out-"

"Mumbo, please spare us," a new voice spat. "Yes, the stairs are more expensive. That's just how servers work."

Everyone glanced up to see... okay- what even is that-

"And this is Doc!" Beef added, nodding at... the other person.

Xay couldn't even begin to describe Doc.

"I AM HERE AS WELL," a person came crashing down in a bolt of black, faceplanted, then looked up at them, his bright red bandana doing practically nothing for his mess of dark hair that poofed out everywhere.

"Bdubs," Beef said. "Are there any more of you who'd like to conveniently pop out of no where?"

"Nope!" Bdubs responded, getting up and dusting himself off, as if it helped his case.

"Well, this is Xay, Hels," Beef pointed as he recited their names. "Impulse, Grian, Iskall, and Xisuma!" Greetings were exchanged, swift but friendly.

"Do they have communicators?" Ren asked.

"Not yet, but I'll get it done," Etho said dismissively. "And ones for Zed and Tango too."

"Communicators?" Xisuma echoed.

"They're, well, communication devices!" Ren explained. "Each one is, I don't know, coded, to be able to send messages under your name."

"And they have a symbol that represents your magic engraved in them," Wels added, holding his up to demonstrate. There was a water droplet on his.

Ren also held his up, and there was the face of a dog.

Doc had a creeper face.

Mumbo had a bunch of wires and gadgets.

And Bdubs had... well, Xay wasn't quite sure what it was.

"Powers?" Wels asked.

"Fire," Hels offered.

"Fire," Xay chimed in.

"Part blaze or something," Tango laughed.

"Ice," Iskall added.

"Electricity," Impulse piped up.

"Void," Xisuma mumbled, earning an eyebrow raise from Doc.

They kept going around until everyone was clear.

"Hey, Bdubs?" Xay asked. "What's your power? I can't tell from the symbol."

Suddenly, Bdubs looked scared.

"Uh- you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Xay tried at his sudden expression change.

"I have the power to channel emotions from myself to others,"

Silence.

"What?" Xay whispered.

"If I feel a lot of pain," Bdubs added, his voice hushed. I can just transfer it to someone else. I won't feel any more pain, but they'll be in just as much pain as I was. And it doesn't work nearly as well for positive emotions." he shuddered, and Xay felt like doing the same.

"Oh..." was all he could think to say.

There was a thick, tension-filled silence after that.

"Well, we should get you guys building," Etho cut through the awkwardness.

"And show you around," Beef added.

Xay smiled.

I think I'm going to like it here.

It had been a couple of weeks since they came.

Xay started becoming more and more comfortable around the Hermits.

It was oddly enlightening, being surrounded by other magic-wielding people.

You learned something new from someone every day.

Building was also ridiculously fun, and Xay was proud of his base.

Living with the Hermits felt right.

And Xay loved it.

Grian had decided that building was the best thing ever.

And the other Hermits were also the best.

The shock from finding Mumbo again still hadn't settled, but the two were more than happy to spend some time together to make up for lost experience.

Everything felt perfect.

Impulse was ridiculously happy.

Finding Tango and Zedaph again felt like a missing hole in his heart finally being patched.

And as hilarious as it was to watch the two fluster each other, Impulse enjoyed it when they all just... were friends together.

The same chaotic trio they used to be.

And Impulse wouldn't have it any other way.

Iskall loved the new life presented to him.

At first, it had been rather hard letting go of The Missing- they were his life.

But with the help of Ren, who he had taken a quick liking to, Iskall became more and more comfortable.

Ren and him stayed together, and Iskall didn't mind at all.

He felt complete.

Sorting out his complex relationship with Wels wasn't the easiest thing.

But Hels would say it was worth it.

The happy memories greatly outnumbered the bad ones, and Wels was more than willing to start over.

Hels felt ready to forgive and forget.

But, even though everything had come together, he still felt something... missing.

And now he finally knew what it was.

"I can't believe it, Hels!" Xay breathed, smiling at his best friend. "We don't have to run anymore. We're with the people we want to be with. Everything feels perfect!"

"No,"

Xay blinked at Hels's response, sitting up straighter. The two were in a room in Xay's base, relaxing and just enjoying the other's company.

"No?" he echoed, confused.

"No, there's still something... missing-" Hels swallowed, and Xay was horrified to see him so suddenly distraught.

"And that is...?" Xay pressed, concern in his voice.

"Xay... what do you see when you look at me?" Hels asked unexpectedly.

If Xay wasn't confused before, he certainly was now.

"I see... you," Xay tried. "I see a really good friend who turned my life right-side-up. I see someone who pretends to be all tough and grumpy, but secretly cares a lot about The Missing, and probably some of the other Hermits too."

"So you see me as a friend," it wasn't a question. Xay found himself staring into Hels's eyes- the eyes that flickered like flames, the eyes that seemed to draw him in, the eyes of the boy who had saved his life and completely changed it in the process.

"Y-yeah," Xay mumbled, remembering to answer Hels's question.

"Xay... I see most of The Missing as my siblings," Hels continued. "They're like my younger brothers. Except you. I don't see you as a brother."

"You- erm-" Xay stammered, unsure of how to respond.

"Xay, I..." Hels swallowed thickly. "I-think-I-love-you-"

"You-"

"But not like a brother," Hels rambled. "Like- like something else- more than that-"

"You like me... like like me?" Xay breathed, needing to say the words himself to process. Hels nodded slowly, averting his gaze.

But... how do I feel about him?

It hit Xay like a tidal wave.

All the little thoughts.

The things he had noticed.

The way he felt like he was blushing around Hels, not that he was sure why.

Oh my god I'm in love with Hels.

"Hels... I don't... love you as a brother, either," Xay whispered. "But I- I still love you- like a... well, something more."

Hels's fire eyes snap over to meet his own, the flames sizzling with hope.

"R-really?" Xay has never seen Hels so fragile, so worried, emotions that lie deep beneath his hard exterior.

"Yeah," Xay murmured. "I... I love you, Hels."

There's a beat of silence.

Hels smiled, then cupped Xay's cheek with his hand, a touch that Xay melts into. They're sitting close to each other, something Xay only just realized.

Wait- is he gonna-

Hels took a deep breath, leaned over, and kissed him.

*slams hand on a button, activating the gay sirens*

WE GOT HEX, SCUDROOSTERS-

-Storm