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One, two, three, and four guitar picks rested in their spot upon the small old rickety wood table II threw in the back of his truck the second he saw it on the side of the road one evening months ago.
‘It’s probably rotted or water damaged, where would we put that anyways?’ IV questioned from the passenger seat, always against unneeded clutter or purchases.
‘Somewhere for you, III, and Vessel to properly store your guitar picks. I stepped on one wedged in the floorboards last night. Barefoot,” II explained. Stepping on one was equivalent to stepping on a Lego, and last night was II’s final straw. Iv couldn’t argue with that, but he did offer a non-sexual foot massage as an apology. II accepted instantly.
There were at least eight of them sitting neatly together just yesterday. How could half of them disappear overnight? IV didn’t see his favorite one there, either.
It was simple; a glossy scarlet that looked like a swirling pool of blood. White vampire fangs were etched into it on one side. It was a gift from Vessel, but now that he thought about it, it was a way to get IV to stop being so careless with his guitar picks. Ordinarily, IV would constantly be misplacing his guitar picks. It felt like once they left his hand, they would just disappear into the void. But since this one was a gift from Vessel, IV was extra careful to never misplace it.
His efforts were in vain.
“Why are you staring at the pick table like it killed your whole clan and made you an orphan?” III questioned as he loomed over one of IV’s shoulders to get a better look.
IV couldn’t find the strength in himself to be frightened by the sudden presence he wasn’t aware of. He felt stupid for being so upset over something so small. He promised Vessel that he would never lose this pick, always put it back where it belonged. He loved the design on it, too.
III’s demeanor instantly changed when IV didn’t react to their usual banter. “Hey baby, talk to me. What’s wrong?” the bassist asked, his voice as soft as the fur of a chinchilla. He wrapped his lanky arms around IV’s waist, hugging him from behind. He hadn’t noticed the table yet, too focused on watching IV’s expressions.
IV sighed as he leaned back against III, allowing the taller man to support his weight. He craned his neck, hiding half of his face against III’s chest.
“It’s dumb,” he mumbled, wishing to just burrow his way into III’s chest and hide in there where nothing as small as this could hurt him again.
“Nothing that hurts the love of my life is dumb. Well- it’s dumb for hurting you and should be tortured and burned at the stake for committing such a crime, but I’m trying to say that you aren’t dumb for the way you feel.”
IV giggled, a small noise that only lasted a few seconds but III still counted that as a victory. He wasn’t the best with words. They almost always come out jumbled and sound like the opposite of what he’s really trying to say, so he leaves the words to Vessel and II.
IV took a deep breath as he collected himself.
“Half the guitar picks are missing,” IV started. III leaned them both forward in order for him to get a better look. He didn’t see his beloved checkered pick amongst the surviving picks. It had also been a gift from Vessel. He cherished everything his loves gave him.
“The one Vessel gave me is gone, and I knew I put it back there after practice yesterday like I always do. I just never wanted to lose that one.”
III’s heart ached at the hurt in IV’s voice. He pulled the man closer and tighter in his grasp.
“I don’t mean to make this about me, but the one Vessel gave me too is gone, and I put mine back right when you did yours,” III said, puzzled. It was unlike anyone to touch their guitar picks, especially their favorite ones. Maybe they were dealing with some sort of house-gnome demon fairy thing.
IV spun around in III’s arms to face him, cradling III’s Sleep-stained face in his hands. “Maybe-“
“There you are, my darlings. II has something for us in the living room,” Vessel poked his head into the practice room, followed by one muscular arm beckoning them to follow him. Whatever it was, it was clear that Vessel was excited. His cryptic self vanished as quickly as he had appeared.
“C’mon, I’ll help look for the picks after,” III said before placing kisses all over IV’s face, and then on his lips in an attempt to make him feel better which worked slightly.
III took IV’s hand, guiding IV to the living room where they were met with Vessel (not so) patiently sitting crisscrossed applesauce on one of their Victorian velvet purple couches. II sat on the coffee table, suspiciously holding something behind his back. They plopped down onto the couch on either side of Vessel, both of them snuggling into him on either side.
II nervously cleared his throat.
“I had one of those creative surges recently and I saw this picture online…”
II pulled his arms from behind his back, revealing four matching necklaces dangling from his Sleep-kissed hands. Each had a guitar pick as the main pendant that hung from a black cord. IV’s eyes instantly lit up when he saw his and III’s missing picks.
“I hope you like it. I know how much you two cherished those picks but I didn’t want to see you hurt if they did get lost. I thought matching ones between all of us would be cute, and that way you’d be less likely to lose them…” II was rambling, one of his more obvious nervous traits.
“They’re perfect, II. You did such a good job,” Vessel spoke first, praising him.
“Yeah! I won’t ever take mine off and now I don’t have to worry about my favorite pick dissolving into nothing when I set it down for a second,” III chimed in (this in fact is a true story).
IV stood from the couch, taking one small step before engulfing II in a blood vessel-popping hug. The drummer carefully set the necklaces down on the table next to them so he could hug IV back with just as much force.
“I saw that the pick Vessel gifted me wasn’t on the pick table and I just got so upset thinking that I lost it after managing to keep it in the same spot for a couple of months now, but I love what you did with it, I really do.”
“Oh sweetheart, I’m so sorry. I should’ve told you first. I was so fixated on the idea of turning them into necklaces, but that’s no excuse,” II rubbed comforting circles into IV’s back as the guilt washed over him.
“Will you put it on me?”
“Of course I will.”
II grabbed the necklace with IV’s vampire fang pick on it. IV leaned back enough from the hug to give II room to put the necklace on him, but he didn’t remove his arms from the smaller male. II carefully clasped the necklace around IV’s neck.
“It brings out your eyes,” II cooed. IV playfully shoved him but II held strong. They were working on getting IV to accept compliments. It wasn’t easy for him, but II was determined to fix that. He gave IV that look.
“...thank you,” the guitarist mumbled.
“Good boy,” II praised and IV melted into his arms. He didn’t move until Vessel gently pried him away so that II could put the necklaces on III and Vessel too.