protect icarus

i’ve written shamefully little about the rowdies as more than supporting characters in my other fics so i’m a little shaky on my feet when it comes to more extensive character inspection with them - compared to team jacket and amanda anyway - so if this is more ooc than usual i’m really very sorry. i tried! hopefully i’ll get a little more confident as i write more! (which is why i chose this prompt today as opposed to the ones that felt a lot more natural for me - challenge!)

also i’m not sure how well i did with the “sprinkle of romance” in this particular setting. it’s a pretty light sprinkle, but it’s there.

this is a pretty short one but i hope it does the job!

~

Amanda smiled fondly as she watched three of the rowdies excitedly jumping around with the Wendimoorians, occasionally stopping for group hugs and enthusiastic pats and punches on each others’ shoulders.

“Good to have the whole gang back together, huh?” Said Martin as he nudged Amanda’s shoulder.

Amanda turned to flash him a smile. “Sure is.” She replied and leaned her head on Martin’s shoulder.

They both watched the happy display in front of them until something caught Martin’s eye.

“What happened to the kid’s hand?” He asked, having noticed Vogel subconsciously protecting one of his hands from all the shoving and hugging.

Amanda’s smile turned into a frown. “That guy. Vogel called him Priest or something?” She said and lifted her head to look Martin in the eye.

Martin’s expression hardened visibly, the recognition of the name clear in his eyes.

Amanda nodded slowly. “Yeah. I figured you’d know who that is.”

“I’ve had the displeasure of meeting it, yeah.” Martin practically growled.

“I got the sense he’s a dick. And that was before he, you know... Tried to kill us and shit.” Amanda commented.

“Sounds like Priest.” Martin remarked. “He messed up Vogel’s hand?” He asked.

Amanda averted her eyes. “Yeah.” She replied.

Martin narrowed his eyes. “What’ya not saying, drummer?” He asked.

Amanda swallowed and took a deep breath. “It’s my fault.” She finally said.

Martin turned so that he was now facing Amanda fully. “How’d you figure that?”

Amanda blew out a breath. “I’m the one that said we needed to go to Bergsberg. I’m the one that had a feeling that something was wrong. I knew in my gut that the van was a trap, but I still couldn’t stop him from running out there. For two months, all Vogel did was follow me wherever I said we needed to go. He did everything I asked of him and helped me in any way I needed. And I led him straight into a trap.” Amanda explained in a quiet voice.

Martin was just about to speak when they heard a third voice chime in.

“That’s dumb, dog.” Vogel said, having appeared next to the duo during Amanda’s speech.

“No, it’s not, Vogel.” Amanda sighed. “It’s true. And I feel like shit about it.”

“Well don’t!” Vogel screamed. “It was me, I’m the dumb one!”

Amanda furrowed her brows. “What do you mean, Vogel?”

“Man, come on! We survived two months of running from that place and the piggies who were after us! But then I was still dumb enough to not see a trap! That’s dumb shit 101!” Vogel explained loudly.

Amanda shook her head. “Vogel, that’s not dumb. You were just happy at the possibility of seeing the guys again. Anyone would do that.” She reassured him.

“You didn’t!” Vogel screamed. “You knew! Cause you’re smart, boss! Not like me!”

“Yeah, Vogel, I knew. And I still let you run off. If anything that makes me more dumb.” Amanda explained.

“Not much can stop me when I get going, you know that, boss.” Vogel said. “But I dragged you out there too. You were in danger because of me. And not the induce-visions, jump-under-a-train danger. Real one. Priest danger. That’s a bad danger. Really bad. And I know that. Martin knows too. I’m sorry, man, I dragged her right to Priest.” Vogel said, the last sentence clearly directed at Martin.

Before Martin could chime in, Amanda rushed to reply. “No, Vogel, that’s not your fault! That’s his fault. And even if you’re headed to hell itself I’m gonna follow right behind to keep an eye on you. That’s not up to you, it’s just something that’s gonna happen.” She explained.

Vogel smiled a little. “I’m still sorry, boss.”

“No, I’m sorry. It was all my doing.” Amanda replied.

Vogel groaned. “No it wasn’t! Why-“

Then Martin cleared his throat. “If I may?”

Amanda and Vogel quieted down and turned their attention towards Martin.

“Ya both are being dumb.” Martin said.

“Gee, thanks for the input.” Amanda huffed.

“Listen to me, drummer.” Martin said. “You two were doin’ everything you could to stay safe and get back to the rest of us. And ya did. Mission accomplished.” He reasoned.

“Yeah, but-“ Amanda began.

“No buts.” Martin interrupted.

Vogel laughed. “Butts.”

Martin smiled at him. Then he continued. “Drummer, you did not put the kid in danger. That’s all on Priest. Everythin’ is on Priest. All you were doing was trying to find a way for you two to get back to us. And kid, you know what Priest is capable of. If he found you and wanted to hurt you, there ain’t no stopping him. You didn’t put ‘Manda in any more danger than ya both already were in. You leaving the room didn’t change nothing. He would’ve come through the damn wall.”

Vogel nodded sadly. “He’s scary as shit, man.”

“I know, kid. But hey, you took him on and came out on the other side. Not a lot of folk can say that.” Martin said.

Vogel brightened. “Yeah... Yeah! Priest ain’t got nothing on me!” He screamed. The other rowdies and their Wendimoorian friends cheered.

Amanda laughed. “Hell yeah, dude!”

Martin smiled too. “Can we agree that you two ain’t to blame and Priest is vermin?”

Amanda and Vogel shared a look.

“Okay.” Said Vogel.

“Okay.” Agreed Amanda.

“Good.” Martin said and then opened his arms. “Now c’mere, both of ya.”

Vogel and Amanda both happily scooched closer to Martin and wrapped their arms around him.

Martin briefly placed his head atop Vogel’s before moving away again. “You smell, kid.”

“You smell!” Vogel shot back.

Amanda laughed. “We came in through a lake. I’m pretty confident he hasn’t changed or washed since then.”

Martin hummed, seemingly unsurprised by this information.

Amanda looked up at Martin and smiled. Martin bent down to place a soft kiss on the crown of her head, which only made Amanda smile wider.

“Gross.” Vogel remarked.

“Fuck off.” Amanda replied.

“Good to have the whole gang back together, huh?” Martin laughed.

~

if you have any ideas for fics, send me prompts! my inbox is always open! x

i decided this prompt would work with a christmas setting, so here we are! i’m back!

i tweaked the prompt just slightly by making dirk “play along” unknowingly, so without realizing what todd’s parents are implying. the result however is the same mortifying ordeal for todd, amusement for everyone else and fluffy set up for the next step in dirk and todd’s relationship! i hope that’s alright!

possible tw: alcohol and some swear words.

merry christmas y’all! x

-

”Are you absolutely certain it’s alright for me to tag along?” Dirk asked, for maybe the 18th time that day.

”For the last time, Dirk, my parents were the ones to invite you themselves. I know you don’t know them yet, but let me tell you, my parents are the kind of people who won’t do something they don’t actually want to. So yes, Dirk, I’m absolutely certain you’re welcome to spend Christmas with me and my family this year. Now please, stop asking.” Todd explained, for what he hoped would be the last time. He kept his eyes on the road as he drove - much to Dirk’s dismay who wanted to be the one behind the wheel himself, which Todd refused to let happen, insisting that he wanted to live to see the new year - but he could practically feel Dirk furrow his brow in deep thought.

”As long as you’re sure.” Dirk finally mumbled his reply.

Todd resisted the urge to roll his eyes. ”I’m sure.” He said instead.

Dirk was uncharacteristically quiet on the drive over to Todd’s parents’ house, a fact which would normally demand all of Todd’s attention, but he was currently too nervous himself to be of much comfort to his friend. The last time Todd had seen his parents was when he told them everything. The faked pararibulitis, the real reason for him dropping out of college, the screwing his band over, the money… They had, of course, been very upset and hurt, but ultimately willing to forgive Todd. They just asked for some time, which Todd happily gave them.

That had been four months ago. Todd had talked to his parents in the meantime, on the phone and via email, but he had yet to actually spend time with them, face to face. His mother had assured him that she and Todd’s father had moved on and forgiven him. And Todd believed them. But he also knew they would like to talk about it. As soon as his parents had expressed their need for some time to think, Todd had taken the opportunity to escape the uncomfortable situation. Four months ago.

It was one thing to hash things out over email or even on the phone, but another to do so face to face. While his parents’ gesture to invite Todd’s eccentric colleague/best friend along had been made to assure Dirk didn’t have to spend Christmas alone, Todd’s relief of being able to take Dirk with him had been partly selfish. Dirk was his buffer. Any time he felt too uncomfortable, he could just use Dirk as a distraction. That, and Dirk provided Todd with comfort and support he desperately needed, a fact he was a little less willing to admit, even to himself.

Too soon for both of the men, they had arrived at Todd’s parents’ house. Todd took a deep breath after putting the car safely in park. ”Ready?” He asked the man next to him.

”No.” Came Dirk’s reply.

”Yeah, me neither.” Todd sighed. ”Let’s go.”