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Ray and Chatterbox pulled up at Kitty's countryside home, parking next to a brand-new mailbox with 'Kitty & Octo' etched onto it. As they got out of Chatterbox's bright red club, Ray tentatively asked, "Chatty, why did I have 40 missed calls?"
Chatterbox hesitated as Ray fished out her key and unlocked the front door. He silently followed Ray into the house, unable to meet her eyes. "I was mad, Cups," he said, staring at the hardwood floor, embarrassed by his insecurities from the previous day. He clenched his fist to keep himself grounded as Ray waited patiently for an explanation, looking around the living room.
"I talked to Curtis. He told me you held hands with Zolo. I—"
Ray cut him off, her eyes blazing. "Chatty, I would never cheat on you! We pinky promised!"
Slowly glancing up at her, Chatterbox continued, "I know you wouldn't, Cups. I was just jealous... I just..." He struggled to find his words. "Why me?" He unclenched and clenched his fist several times, unsure of what Ray would say, fearing she might realize she could do better than him.
Ray tilted her head, eyes narrowed in confusion and crossed her arms. "What do you mean, Chatty?"
Chatterbox hesitated again, letting the silence hang in the air as he gathered his thoughts. "That time on Chiliad, you said you had them lined up. You weren't yucking kidding about that..." He looked up at her, searching her eyes for answers. "I don't have money, I don't have a gang, I don't have anything to give you." Ray frowned, her eyebrows furrowing as she let him continue. "You could've had your pick of any of those gang bangers, Cups. Why me?"
Ray uncrossed her arms and mumbled, "You're such an idiot, Chatty." She began pacing up and down the room, her heels clicking on the wooden floor. He watched her, his frustration growing.
"What?" he grunted softly.
She raised her voice slightly, freezing in her spot for a second to stare at him. "I said, you're such an idiot!" She resumed pacing, feeling jittery from the conversation, unsure where it would lead.
Chatterbox grew frustrated by her response, angry at himself. Angry that he wasn’t enough for her. "If I'm such an idiot, why aren't you with yucking Benji right now, or dating Zolo?"
"Because I don't want them!" Ray drew closer, ready to beat some sense into him for being so dense.
Chatterbox backed away, trying to maintain a safe distance. "What, you want Tyler then? Romanov? Tommy T?" He held firm as Ray descended on him. "Twinkles wrote you that song as well. He probably likes you still." His voice grew louder as he thought about everyone who could replace him and take his Cups from him. Someone more deserving of her time and affection.
Angrily, Ray screamed, "No!" She tried to grab him as he dodged behind the couch and walked around the coffee table, playing a game of cat and mouse.
Chatterbox gestured wildly as he spoke, upset. "You've got better options. Aren't you tired of me? Don't you want to break up?" He stepped closer, staring into her blazing eyes. Usually, he loved when she got mad, but right now, he was scared she would leave him.
Ray lurched forward and swiftly poked him in the collarbone. "Shut up!" She grabbed his arm and brought him closer, so he'd stop trying to run away.
Heated, she screamed in his face, "I don't want any of them because I have you!"
Chatterbox deflated, his shoulders slumping forward and his voice growing smaller again. "You can do better than me, Cups."
"No, I can't!" Ray kept poking him. "You're so oblivious!"
"I want you, Chatty! You're the best thing that's ever happened to me and if you think otherwise, I'll hit you with a wrench!" Chatterbox stood wide-eyed as Ray kept shouting at him, her dark chestnut hair bouncing with every poke.
"Chatty, I can't imagine my life without you. You don't need to be insecure!"
"How can I not, Ray?" he replied, his voice small.
Frustrated, Ray huffed out, “Because I love you, Chatty!”
Silence lingered as Chatterbox stood speechless. He opened his mouth a few times, struggling to find words. "You love me?"
Suddenly shy, Ray inspected the freshly painted wall behind him, mumbling, "Yes."
“Really?” Chatterbox asked, his tone growing hopeful.
Ray stared into his dark eyes before gently replying, “Yes, you idiot. I love you."
The air in the room grew heavier as her words lingered. Chatterbox wanted to pinch himself, wondering how it could be true. Why would someone so wonderfully funny and beautiful love him? He was just a sad, scarred clown, how could he deserve her love?
Ray stood lost in her thoughts, trapped by doubts. What if he was lying about loving her? What if he left her like everyone else did?
Chatterbox bravely took a deep breath, stepping closer. "Cups," he said breathlessly. She looked up, her eyes still blazing but now with a softness that mirrored his own.
"I love you too," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't know it, but I always have, ever since our talk in the mines."
Ray's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, they simply stood there, staring at each other, the weight of their emotions filling the room. Then, without thinking, Ray closed the distance between them, her arms wrapping around his neck as she pulled him into a fierce embrace.
Chatterbox held her tightly, feeling the warmth of her body against his, the rapid beat of her heart matching his own. For a moment, everything else faded away — his insecurities, his doubts — all replaced by the overwhelming certainty that this was where he belonged.
Ray pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, her face inches from his. "You really mean it? You won't leave me?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of hope and fear.
Chatterbox nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Yes, Cups. I mean it. I love you more than anything, I'm not going anywhere."
Ray's face broke into a radiant smile, "I'm not going anywhere either Chatty, I picked you."
And before he could say anything else, she closed the gap between them, reaching her hands to his mask, pushing it up past his lips. resting one hand along his jawline. Her lips met his in a kiss that was both tender and passionate. It was a kiss that spoke of promises and futures, of love that was fierce and unyielding.
Chatterbox reached up to remove his mask completely before he tangled his hands in her hair, cupping her head and pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss, pouring all of his love and gratitude into that single moment. Ray responded with equal fervour, grounding herself in the moment. Her hand left his face to grip his shoulder, fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt as if afraid he might disappear. Pressing her body closer to his as they stood less than a hair's breadth apart from each other.
When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other. Ray's eyes filled with love, and she whispered, "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Chatty. Don't ever doubt that."
Chatterbox smiled, feeling a sense of peace wash over him. "I won't, Cups. I promise."
They stood there in silence, wrapped in each other's arms, knowing that despite their insecurities, they would always be there for each other. And no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.