Work Text:
I, I will tell your story
All of the grief and all the glory
The tales from within these pages
They come and they go in stages
Now all that will remain
Are stories of joy and pain
Purpled laughed, the cold winter wind whipping against his face as he ran. “Walli, Levi, wait for me!”
Walli glanced back, a large grin spread across his face and his purple hat half-flying off his head. “You’re just slow! Keep up!”
“Yeah, hurry up!” Levi added, even though he himself was barely keeping up with Walli and his faster pace.
Purpled groaned good-naturedly. “Walli Bear and Levi Athon, I swear-”
It was a beautiful day. A few birds were in the trees, occasionally chirping. The sun was out, but there were just enough clouds to keep it from melting the fluffy white blanket of snow covering the town of Bedwars.
Purpled loved it.
“Last one to the ice cream shop has to pay!” Walli yelled, still ahead of Levi and Purpled. “And I’m not paying!”
“Not fair, you’re already ahead!” Purpled yelled back.
Levi snorted. “That’s because you’re last right now!”
“Speak for yourself, Lev!”
The three boys made a turn upon reaching the street, the crunch of the snow under their feet giving way to the firmness (and slight slipperiness) of the sidewalks, slowing down a bit so they wouldn’t slip on hidden ice patches. They still kept moving though, the prospect of ice cream in the middle of winter on their minds.
Their parents might not have approved as much as the boys did, but the trio didn’t care. It was the Christmas holidays, they had the money, and as 3 14-year-olds with too much energy…..well, it wasn’t the worst thing they could come up with.
Walli reached the end of the block first, the ice cream shop just ahead on the opposite corner. “Ice cream, here we come!” he cheered. “Johnson Bozzo always wins!”
“Johnson Boss says you need to slow down!” Purpled retorted.
Levi rolled his eyes. “And I say you two need to stop competing before someone slips on that giant ice puddle in front of us.”
His warning, however, went unheeded. Walli, being too busy bickering with Purpled, walked right onto the icy patch and went sliding with a yell of surprise.
Purpled burst out laughing. “Oh my gosh, Walli, are you alright?”
Wall, flat on his back, raised a fist at the sky. “Walli Bear never dies, baby!”
“....We’ll take that as a yes.” Levi said, as he and Purpled started to cross the street to help Walli up.
None of them saw the truck speeding towards them.
That morning, three went to the ice cream shop.
That night, only two came home.
So look, look up at the sky
And keep, keep it all inside
You have to say goodbye
The tears will come but, don't you cry
Tell myself I'll be okay
Even if it's all a lie
Purpled, now 18, stared at the scrapbook in his hands. A scrapbook that was opened to a page with a single photo of a dark-haired boy with glasses and a large bear plush and a blond boy in a purple hoodie.
The date on the photo was December 29. The same date as the calendar on Purpled’s desk.
It had been exactly four years since Purpled had last seen him alive.
Just over three years since his family had left Bedwars for Essempi.
Two years since Ranboo had joined the family.
One since the accident.
“Purpled? Uh, are you alright?”
Purpled looked up to see Ranboo standing in the doorway, the ridiculously tall boy having to duck his head slightly to avoid banging it on the doorframe. Ranboo’s dual-colored hair was messy flopped over his eye and he was wearing a mask and sunglasses again, but somehow he still managed to look concerned.
Or maybe that was just Purpled’s imagination filling in the blanks.
Purpled cleared his throat. “Oh, um, yeah. I’m good, just fine. No need to worry about me.” He winced as his voice squeaked, he definitely did not sound fine. Between the stuffy nose and the tears building but never falling from his eyes, he was probably a mess.
He doubted Ranboo would buy that sorry attempt at covering his misery.
Ranboo tilted his head. “Doesn’t sound like it.”
Yup, he sure hadn’t.
“Like I said, I’m just fine.” Purpled’s shaky voice was terribly unconvincing, even to himself.
The duo stared at each other for a few seconds.
Ranboo looked down and saw the scrapbook, still open to the photo.
Then he came in, closing the door behind him before sitting next to his brother in silence. He may not have known the boy with the bear, but he knew he’d been Purpled’s best friend.
And that was all Ranboo needed to know for him to keep his brother company as the latter grieved.
And it's another friend of mine that's gone
Another friend won't see the dawn
Stuck in between what I love and what I've lost
Everything I've lost
“His name was Walli, and he was my best friend.”
So I, I will tell your story
All of your grief and all your glory