Hilo walked up to his apartment, grabbed the handle, and twisted, but he found it locked. Weird. He shook his head, unlocked the door, and walked in. The living room was quiet. He thought Marv was home for the day, but he guessed not. Hilo was just about to head for Min's room when screams came from upstairs, his heart jumped and he rushed towards the sound.
Hilo walked in on Nandi and Marvel, screaming in excitement with Min's phone in Nandi's hand, "What's happening?" He looked at his friends.
"Nothing" Marvel squeaked out.
"Nothing at all," Nandi said, slowly placing her hand down.
"What are you doing back here? Lo, I thought you were off," Marvel said, trying to distract him from them being caught.
"Min forgot his phone. His next job is on route to my work, so I came to pick it up," Hilo explained.
"His phone, we haven't seen his phone," Marvel said in a silly, misplaced voice.
Nandi pulled Marvel to her side. "Yeah, we haven't seen it," she smiled.
Hilo looked down at Nandi's hand. "I need that. " He pointed to her hand.
"Oh, yeah. " Nandi handed the phone to him.
"Well, I am off. " He left the room. Nandi and Marvel exhaled but Hilo popped his head back in, "Do you go through everyone's rooms when they are not home?" he asked.
"Noooo" Nandi and Marvel chorus together.
Hilo stared at the two but all they did was give him a cheesy smile "I don't have time for this" he grunted "Fine, I will see you two later".
As they landed on the couch, Nandi and Marvel let out a breath. Nandi held a shirt in her hand and Marvel's heart was still beating from the confrontation, but they had evidence. Nandi held up the shirt to her nose and sniffed, nodded excitedly.
"so what do you take from that?" Marvel turned to Nandi.
Nandi sat forward "mmm '*had a great time, can't wait for the next date*' sounds very mature but the scent is sweet" Nandi's suddenly frozen, her eyes wide "they are a 24-year-old person, bright and sweet personality, probably works in an artsy profession and is 5'8 or maybe 5'11" Marvel clapped at the Nandi's brilliance.
"So what now?" Marvel said, looking at Nandi with hopeful eyes.
Nandi stood walking about the room. "we will use this party as a way to sniff out the lucky person"
Marvel raises her arms "Yes" before falling back into the couch "I wonder why he hides this from us, so unlike him"
….
Hilo walked into a busy cafe, skip passed the long line and heading for the table in the back. He sat down as a server place a cappuccino in front of him. He thanks her just as Min came walking through the door, and sat down before him. Hilo handed him the phone.
"oh thank goodness, I was worried" Min kissed his phone and pocketed "I didn't want this laying in the apartment, especially with those nosey Nancys about" he smiled.
Hilo smiled, pouring a sachet of sugar into his cup "well, start to worry" Min's ears perked up "I found your phone cradled in Nandi's hands and they were screaming" Hilo chuckled.
Min grabbed his head "Oh no" he whispered.
"Yup" Hilo patted his best friend's shoulder "I still don't understand why you don't just tell them about her. "
"because they are worst then my mother, prying" Min explained "I just wanted to play things out, and not think about the girls reaction to her" Hilo chuckled but Min pointed at him "you know Nandi is overprotective and Marvel does that thing where she can read everyone intentions" he stressed "I just want to have fun with someone" Hilo watched his friend grip his head.
"Yea, someone great," Hilo expressed to Min "someone who actually could be the one. " Hilo analysed his friend for a moment. "What was fun is turning into something serious and you got scared. "
Min raised his head. "Scared of what?" he chuckled.
"Scared that you didn't involve them sooner" Hilo took another sip of his drink. "Now you are worried that you like this girl too much that they might not approve of her" Hilo raised his hand and dropped an imaginary mic.
"Yea, maybe," Min said more to himself.
Hilo finished up his coffee "I have got to run, see you later" he pulled out his wallet and a paper butterfly shot out into his face but he didn't flinch.
Min let out a laugh "read the note"
Hilo looked down to see a note that said *BOO!!* which made him roll his eyes "seriously" he said, slipping the note into one of the window compartment of his wallet "these pranks are just bad"
Min shook his head "it is so embarrassing"
Hilo smiled at the sentiment, "it truly is" he paid the bill and left.
….
"I can't believe you got me to attend party and dress up," a deep voice moves through the Marv's room, it was an earthy bohemian paradise with crystals and sage tucked in every nook, cranny and corner.
Hilo walked out of Marvel's bathroom in a rag doll outfit with his inky black hair spray red. Marvel sat in front of a mirror with black paint in her hand. White paint covered her taupe skin, and dark eyeshadow adorned her almond eyes.
Marvel grabbed his hand and placed him in front of the mirror. "all thanks to this smile. " She gave him a wide smile then walked off to get his nail polish.
"Actually, it's your eyes," Hilo whispered under his breath.
"Excuse me. " Marvel turned to face him.
Hilo cleared his voice, picturing those big black pleading eyes again. "But this" he gestured to his body "rags and red hair, I am a rag doll, what?" he flickered his hair, Marvel kneeled down before him and he looked away.
Marvel raised her finger at him "Firstly, you are Sammy, a gender-bent version of Sally from The Nightmares Before Christmas, secondly, we are a couple piece" She moved Hilo's head to face the mirror "Thirdly, you like suits and platform heels, so no complaining" he shook his head and stared up at the smiling woman behind him.
"Fine," he grunted, which made Marvel squeak, and began to paint his nails.
By the time Min and Nandi came through the door, Hilo was transformed into a Tim Burton character. With the sharp cheekbones and round eyes to match, Marvel couldn't help but stare at him and his arched eyebrows, those soft oval lips, and those eyes that see everything but react to nothing.
Nandi was the embodiment of Storm while Min stood in a Levi costume with the iconic straps around his thighs and cosplay design mobility gear.
Min flicked his recently black hair and smiled. "Are you ready?"
Marvel and Hilo looked up at them. "Awe, Baby Min" Marvel cooed and Nandi pinched his cheeks.
Upon seeing Min in his natural hair color, even if it was temporarily dyed, Nandi exclaimed, "Baby Min, aren't you just adorable."
Hilo chuckled at the teasing, "Yeah, we are ready, are you, Skelly? " Hilo asked Marvel. He gave her a wink, which made her blush.
Marvel cleared her voice. "Yup, I am ready. " She stood up in her pinstriped thigh-high boots.
Hilo noticed the heels and stared down at them. "Are you sure about those?" Marvel looked down at her boots.
"Yeah, I walk in these for cosplay. All. The. Time" Marvel caressed her waist and took a step forward but stumbled, which caused Hilo to wrap her waist.
"Nope" Hilo pushed Marvel onto the bed. "Where is your Converse?" he began to unzip down her boots.
The scene flushed marvel before her. Hilo kneeled before her, looking up at her with those hazed eyes and his fingers caressing her thigh. "In my closet," she choked out, looking at Nandi, who was giggling under her breath.