Chapter Text
“RUDO!!!”
“WHAT!?!?”
“Come check out the banner already, I’m almost done!” Remlin shouted from just a few feet away, where they were painting on the floor.
Rudo, Amo, Guita, Dear, and even Remlin were all gathered the common room, getting ready for the party later that night. Remlin was going all out on the banner, Dear and Guita were making cards, Amo was making paper flowers with pipe cleaner stems, and Rudo was curled up on the couch stitching up an old stuffed toy.
Rudo got up from his spot to take a closer look at the banner.
The banner itself was a soft cream color, composed of an old discarded drop cloth. Various designs swirled around the edges of the fabric. Spirals, polkadots, and stripes, Rudo also noticed the cute, almost chibi but distinctly Remlin style animals that covered the canvas. Everything was colored in bright reds, soft pinks, and jet blacks. “Peppermint colored”, he thought to himself.
The swirly mesmerizing designs encapsulated a series of graffiti styled letters which read, “Welcome to the Team!”.
“Looks great!”, Rudo tried to smile, but his face ultimately ended up forming into a contorted grin that almost looked like he was trying not to throw up.
Remlin only looked him on with a disappointed frown, “You gotta stop even trying dude, that smile’s worse than last time for real”
”Pftt whatever!” Rudo barked angrily and made his way back to the couch. He picked up the doll he was currently stuffing and stitching back up. It was a little racoon, just small enough to be held with both hands. Rudo had found it yesterday and thought that it would make a great gift after he cleaned and fixed it.
You see, a few days ago Enjin had pulled him aside to discuss with him about their newest member. Apparently Corvus had given Enjin the go ahead to make Fu an official member of the cleaners, and that this time they would be throwing a better welcoming party this time as his admission was not as sudden as Rudo’s party had been.
Rudo had… mixed feelings about the newest addition, all things considered. Fu Orostor had always seemed off to the other white haired boy. He was always hiding in the corners of the room, all too eager to be ordered around, to please people. To make matters worse he still wasn’t sold on the idea of an ex Raider joining, even after a month of getting to know him.
There was just something so off with that guy, Rudo couldn’t help but be weary. However, he’s somehow more concerned with the fact he’s never thrown a party for somebody. It didn’t matter if he was throwing a party for the creepy new guy who he barely saw anyways. Rudo was determined to help throw the greatest this kid has ever seen.
The last stitch was tied, it was only late morning, so Rudo decided to sew up a little outfit from the scrap fabric August had given him. Amo looked up from placing yet another paper flower in a red solo cup.
“Wow! Rudo is so good at making things, Amo wishes she could make something as cool for Fu!”, Amo commented whilst hunched over the coffee table.
“What are you talking about? Your flowers are great! I’m sure that weirdo would like anything you get him.” He muttered that last sentence under his breath.
Amo puffed her cheeks in annoyance, “Why is Rudo so mean to Fu? Fu and Hii are very nice.
“Wa- I’m not mean to Fu, I just don’t trust him is all, his weird doll thing is creepy too! Are we sure he’s just not pretending that he’s a different person?” Rudo rambled defensively, but in vain. Deep down he knew there wasn’t a good reason to not like the masked kid, but just in case something was truly evil about him, Rudo didn’t want to be wrong.
Amo rested her head on the table while looking up at Rudo, “Amo knows, Amo was mean to Enjin too, she didn’t know why but Amo knows now to not be mean. Amo thinks Rudo should be nicer to Fu because Fu is always nice to Rudo.”
Rudo looked down at the plushie in his hand. It was pretty frayed, just like his own logic. Amo was right, Fu had been nothing but nice since he got here, he was just too caught up in his own biases that he almost forgot, Fu is just like him.
There was a time he didn’t know how to act in front of people, Regto knew all about it. Hell, Rudo still doesn’t know how to act in front of people. He’s desperate to please… just like Fu..
…
”You’re right Amo, I should apologize to Fu” Rudo spoke softly, finally realizing he should probably be giving gifts to people he actually wants to connect with.
This seemed to bring a smile to Amo’s face, she shook the table back and fourth, bouncing on her knees with excitement, much to the annoyance of Guita and Dear.
”Yay! Yay! Yay! Amo loves when we apologize! Apologizing makes everything better!”, She took a handful of flowers and threw them into the air.
“Amo already apologized for being mean to Fu at the festival, She can’t wait to see Rudo apologize!”
Rudo blushed at the comment, he was going to have to admit he was wrong in front of other people now. He could already picture Enjin and Zanka poking at him and ruffling his hair already.
Rudo looked up into the construction paper filled air, glittered with pastel flowers and homemade confetti. “Maybe I'll understand better after all, if I actually try to..”. Rudo thought to himself while paper fell onto his face.