Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sun hung low over Sol City, casting warm golden light through Teo’s bedroom window. The sound of squawking macaws and chirping finches from the Avian Care Center next door filtered in, blending with the occasional distant honk of traffic. The air smelled like summer—hot pavement, citrus, and a hint of rain from the brief shower that had passed an hour ago.

On Teo’s bed, three teenagers sat cross-legged around a ceramic bowl, inside which lay three folded pieces of paper. Inside this simple bowl lay all the gravity of their summer dares. A tradition they had since they were 13. 

It ensured each of their summer’s were never boring, at the least. It also had the bright side of the winner taking 3 IOUs from the two losers, which was worth 10 times its weight in gold. 

Flaca, sprawled across the blankets in ripped jeans and a cropped band tee, reached for the first slip of paper. “Here we go,” she said, dramatically unfolding it. Her eyebrows lifted as she read aloud: "Take a door from 10 houses."

Julian let out a loud cackle. Teo suspected he was the one who wrote it. “Are you serious? That’s so dumb.”

Flaca grinned. “This oughta be interesting. You guys better hide your doors!” She pressed the paper to her chest. “I accept my destiny.”

Julian snorted and reached for his own dare. He flicked it open with a dramatic flourish, then groaned . "Graffiti the walls of 10 restaurants."

Flaca whistled and Teo grinned, that one was his. “Oof. Hope you’re ready to run.” 

Julian rolled his eyes. “I’ll make it art. They’ll thank me.”

Then, all eyes turned to Teo. He sighed and picked up the last piece of paper, feeling the weight of impending doom before he even unfolded it. His gaze scanned the words, and his stomach twisted.

"Steal kisses from 10 different people."

For a second, there was silence. Then—

Julian burst out laughing, nearly tipping over onto Teo’s pillows. Flaca let out a howl of laughter, kicking her feet against the mattress. Teo scowled at her. This dare had her name all over it.

“Oh my gods,” Flaca wheezed, wiping at her eyes. “You’re so fucked. You couldn’t get a frog to kiss you! Let alone 10 whole people!”

Teo flushed and scowled harder at her, kicking outwards to get Flaca in the knee. Julian was still gasping for breath. “Teo, mi amor , you’re doomed.”

Teo groaned, covering his face with his hands. “This is rigged. I swear you guys planned this.”

Julian grinned. “No way. Fate just really, really hates you.”

Before Teo could complain further, Flaca reached into her bag and pulled out a small leather-bound notebook. She tossed it into Teo’s lap. “Here. You need to keep a list. Names, dates, and they have to sign it—so we know you’re not lying.”

Teo flipped open the first page. The empty space felt daunting. “You guys suck .”

“We know,” Julian said, still smirking.

Teo narrowed his eyes, considering his options. Then, before Julian could react, he leaned in and pressed a quick, feather-light kiss to his lips.

Julian’s laughter died instantly. His whole body went rigid.

Flaca absolutely screamed with delight.

Teo pulled back, triumphant. “That’s one.”

Julian sat frozen for a moment, his tan skin rapidly turning a deep shade of red. He blinked once. Twice. Then, in a daze, he reached for the notebook and, with shaky hands, signed his name on the first line.

Flaca collapsed into a fit of laughter again. “Teo, that was evil. You started with Julian?”

Teo smirked. “Seemed like the easiest win.”

Julian finally found his voice. “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t,” Teo said cheerfully, flipping the notebook closed.

Julian huffed. “Fine. But I hope the next person slaps you.”

Teo rolled his eyes, already wondering how in Sol’s name he was going to pull this off.

Nine more to go.

This summer was going to be interesting.

Chapter Text

The greenhouse was alive with the scent of damp earth, blooming herbs, and the faint, sweet tang of citrus. Glass-paneled walls let the golden afternoon light filter through in shifting patches, making the leaves glow like emeralds. The air inside was warm but not suffocating, though Teo suspected that would change soon. It tended to get awfully humid in the late sun. 

Teo stepped inside, wiping his brow as he called out, “Xochi? You here?”

A rustling noise came from behind a cluster of tomato vines, followed by a triumphant “Ha! Got you!” and then a sharp snap of shears.

Xochi emerged a second later, crouched down near a raised garden bed, her hands and arms streaked in soil, a wide-brimmed straw hat shoved haphazardly on her curls. She had a trowel tucked into one pocket of her overalls and a pair of pruning shears clamped between her fingers, raised like she was some kind of warrior of the earth. 

Xochi brightened at the sight of him. She hopped up and patted herself off -which did nothing to clean the dirt from her clothes- before coming towards him at full speed.  “Teo!”

“Oh no.”

He tried to backpedal, but it was too late—Xochi surged forward and wrapped her dirt-covered arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug.

“Xochi—” Teo started, but the damage was already done. He felt the damp soil smear across his cheeks and arms, sticking to his already sweat-dampened skin.

Xochi pulled back, grinning as she took in the fresh streaks of dirt on his face. “Oh wow. You should see yourself.”

Teo sighed dramatically. “I just got here, and you’ve already ruined me.”

Xochi snickers at him. Just as shameless and bright as always. “You look cute covered in soil! Very… rustic. It brings out your eyes” She added, as if that made things better. 

“Rustic isn’t the word I’d use.”

Xochi just tilted her head back and forth, shrugging. Internally he warmed at seeing Xochi in her element. Just a couple of years ago, it would have been impossible to get her outside her house in a short sleeved v-neck. They’d both grown so much. 

Teo huffed but couldn’t hold back his own grin. “Fine. Since I’m already a mess, might as well commit. Need help with anything?”

Xochi beamed. “Actually, yeah! I’m pulling weeds to make space for tomatoes. You sure you wanna get your hands dirty?”

Teo gave her a pointed look. “You just tackled me with dirt all over you. I think that ship has sailed.”

Xochi clapped her hands together. “Perfect! You know where the spare clothes are.”

She turned her attention back to the garden bed, easily pulling stubborn weeds from the earth. He entered her house through the backyard door, where he was greeted by Finnley. The Calico rubbed in between his legs and purred, butting his head into Teo’s ankles to receive pets.

He did with great pleasure, thoroughly enjoying the rumbling purrs of appreciation from his feline friend and wondered how anyone could ever hate cats. He followed him to Xochi’s bedroom door, darting in between his legs as it opened. He curled up on one of Xochi’s pillows to make biscuits. 

The room was the same as always—warm, cozy, smelling faintly of lavender and the floral detergent she used. Fairy lights were strung around the ceiling, soft linen curtains swayed with the breeze from the open window, and her bookshelf was packed with gardening books and fantasy novels. Plants could be seen in every crevice of the room, including the beloved venus flytrap that Xochi lovingly named Eureka sitting pleasantly up on her desk. 

As he pulled on the spare t-shirt and worn, soft overalls she kept for him, he hesitated, looking around. His fingers brushed the edge of her bed, and a wave of nostalgia hit him.

He remembered lying here with her on late nights, their voices hushed under the covers, whispering about everything they struggled to say out loud in the daylight. The ache of dysphoria, the longing to feel at home in their own bodies. Xochi had been the first person he ever told, and she’d held his hand in the dark, squeezing tight before cracking some awful joke that had made them both dissolve into breathless, shaky laughter. The wave of relief for both of them knowing they were no longer alone. 

A smile pulled at Teo’s lips.

Shaking himself from the memory, he headed back outside, rolling up the sleeves of his borrowed shirt.

“I’m ready,” he announced, swinging the backyard door open with dramatic glee. He dearly loved his entrances, no matter how silly or stupid. 

Xochi smiled at him, tossing a pair of gloves at him that Teo caught with immense satisfaction . “Welcome to the Hori-cult.”

“The cult for whores” Teo said somberly, earning a weed to the face. 

They worked side by side for the next hour, pulling stubborn weeds from the garden bed. Teo’s muscles ached by the time they finished, and he sat back on the edge of the bed, rubbing his arm as he leaned in the direction of the soil behind him, trying to crack his sore back. 

Xochi, on the other hand, looked completely unaffected.

Teo huffed as he took in her undiminished demeanor. “How are you not dead from heatstroke?”

Xochi smirked, resting her hands on her hips. “I thrive in the sun.” she said proudly. She leaned down to poke his cheek, “You look pretty in red.”

Teo groaned, tipping his head back. Refusing to let her see him flush even more. “I hate you.”

 “No you don’t.” Xochi piped happily.

Before Teo could respond, she reached out and brushed her fingers along his jaw. “You’ve got dirt all over your face again.”

Teo huffed a laugh. “No thanks to you.”

Xochi knelt in front of him, wiping at the streak of soil with careful fingers. Her hands were cool against his overheated skin, and Teo found himself watching the way her brown curls framed her face, the way sunlight caught in her dark eyes.

His mind buzzed, remembering why he was here in the first place. He could, he thinks. She wouldn't mind. 

Teo hesitated for only a moment before leaning in.

Xochi’s breath hitched, startled—but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned forward too, pressing her lips to his.

Their lips met, Teo could taste sweat on both of them. Xochi sighed softly into him and she swallowed the laughter he felt bubbling from his mouth with another kiss. Teo could taste the faint bitterness of the coffee she’d had earlier, and the scent of soil and rainwater clung to her skin. 

Her lips were cool against his, and he reached towards her forehead, gently brushing a few curls as he cupped her cheek. He had to lean down with Xochi below him, feeling the tug of her pulling him down further, bringing them closer. 

He could feel her nose slide in beside his and she put a soothing palm on the back of his neck, he shuddered at the sensation and Xochi smiled into his mouth, causing him to do the same. Their teeth checked awkwardly together and Teo shivered as the metal of her braces clacked against his teeth. He laughed, feeling hot breath on his face as Xochi began to laugh too, until they both pulled away.  

Xochi’s face was now red across the bridge of her nose, color spilling into her cheeks.

Teo smirked. “You look really pretty in red.”

Xochi narrowed her eyes before promptly shoving him backward. Teo yelped as he fell onto his back in the garden bed, landing in a patch of freshly tilled soil.

Xochi giggled. “That’s what you get.”

Teo groaned, wiping dirt off his face as he grinned up at her. “Worth it.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled, offering him a hand. Teo took it and placed a peck on her knuckles as she brought him upwards. She blushed harder and hit him on the chest. He reached for the notebook in his pocket, thumbing over the leather cover.

Eight to go. 

Chapter Text

Teo stood in the Aviary, the afternoon sun slanting through the open windows, filling the space with soft light. The air was alive with the flutter of wings, the occasional trill of a songbird, and the rustling of feathers as the birds hopped from perch to perch. The scent of fresh hay and warm feathers filled his nose as he sprinkled seeds into their feeders, watching as his mother’s rescued birds swooped down to eat.

A chirping parrot named Diego, who had a penchant for repeating whatever he heard, tilted his head at Teo and squawked, “Niya’s coming over! Niya’s coming over! ”

Teo startled, blinking down at the bird. Weirdly accurate, but okay.

Just as he pulled out his phone, a text from Niya lit up his screen.

Niya: I’m on my way, get the snacks ready or I’m calling you a bad host forever.

Teo rolled his eyes, smiling. “Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, typing back a quick reply.

Teo: Hurry up then, I’m making lemonade.

Diego bobbed his head excitedly. “Lemonade! Lemonade!”

Teo laughed, giving the bird a final scratch on the head. “Alright, guys, I gotta go. Don’t burn the place down.”

A chorus of squawks, chirps, and a particularly loud honk from a goose named Pancake followed him as he locked up the Aviary and jogged back home.

—------------------------------------------------------------------

Back at the house, Teo immediately beelined for the kitchen.

The first order of business: popcorn. He threw a bag into the microwave and let it hum to life as he grabbed the lemons from the fridge. He sliced them up, squeezing the juice into a pitcher with ice and sugar, mixing it all together. The scent of citrus filled the kitchen as he gave the lemonade a taste—perfect.

When the microwave beeped, he pulled out the steaming bag of popcorn, shaking it into a plastic bowl—the one with the Grinch’s face glaring up at him. He grinned, satisfied with his work.

Balancing the lemonade, the popcorn, and a growing pile of chips and candy, he made his way to his room. He placed everything onto a tray, setting it at the foot of his bed before turning to his DVD player. After a few minutes of fiddling with cables (Why did he even unplug them last time?), he finally got it set up.

Just as he finished, the front door swung open with a dramatic bang.

“I’M HERE !” Niya announced, grinning as she stormed into his room like she owned the place.

Teo snorted. “Ever heard of knocking?”

“I live here now,” she said simply, dropping her bag onto his floor before tackling him into a hug.

Teo let out an oof , staggering slightly as he hugged her back. Niya smelled like vanilla lotion and fabric softener, and her braids were still damp from what he assumed was a shower before coming over.

Once she pulled back, she gasped, spotting the tray of snacks. “Ohhh, you’re the best.”

“I know,” Teo said smugly.

They settled on his bed, pulling the tray closer as Niya grabbed the remote. “Time for the best movie ever made.”

Teo grinned as the familiar opening of The Emperor’s New Groove lit up the screen.

For the next hour and a half, they laughed, quoted the best lines, and swayed dramatically to the music. Niya nearly fell off the bed reenacting Yzma's “Pull the lever, Kronk!” , and Teo threw a handful of popcorn at her when she insisted Yzma was the real victim of the movie.

By the time the credits rolled, they were both sprawled out, full of sugar and popcorn, lazily throwing MnM's into the air to see if they could catch them in their mouths.

Teo stretched, yawning. “Alright, I’m gonna shower real quick.”

Niya waggled her eyebrows. “Need company?”

Teo groaned, grabbing a pillow and launching it at her.

She cackled as it hit her square in the face. 

—---------------------------------------------------------------

By the time he came back, towel-drying his hair, Niya was lying on his bed, half-buried in candy wrappers, scrolling on her phone.

She looked up as he climbed in beside her. “Oh good, you’re back. I was about to start eating your Sour Patch Kids without you.”

“You already were,” Teo pointed out, picking up the near-empty bag.

Niya grinned, unrepentant. “Survival of the fittest.”

They sat in comfortable silence, picking at the remaining candy, the hum of summer night air drifting through the open window.

Then, Niya’s gaze landed on something.

Her eyes locked onto the small leather-bound notebook on Teo’s dresser.

Before he could react, she shot up and snatched it.

Teo’s heart dropped. “No—”

Too late.

Niya flipped it open, her eyes scanning the first few names. Then, her eyebrows shot up. “Wait. Julian and Xochi signed this?” She turned to Teo, squinting. “What is it?”

Teo groaned, covering his face. “It’s… a thing. A stupid dare.”

Niya’s smirk was dangerous. “Ohhh, do tell.”

Teo sighed, dragging a hand down his face. “Julian, Flaca, and I made a bet. We each got a challenge to complete over the summer, and whoever finishes first wins. Mine is…” He waved vaguely at the notebook. “Stealing ten kisses.”

Niya grinned, slow and sharp. “And how many do you have?”

Teo glared. “ Two .”

She made a thoughtful noise, then closed the notebook with a decisive snap. “Well,” she said, setting it down. “I can help with that.”

Teo choked on his next breath. “What—”

Before he could protest, Niya tackled him back onto the mattress, pinning him down with a triumphant grin.

And then— SMACK .

A loud, obnoxiously exaggerated kiss was planted right on his lips.

Teo let out an undignified wheeze as Niya burst into laughter, still half on top of him.

“Oh my god—” he spluttered, but Niya wasn’t done. She leaned in, pressing quick, rapid-fire kisses against his cheeks, his forehead, his nose—

“Niya!” Teo shrieked, thrashing beneath her, face burning as he laughed.

“You’re so kissable, Teo,” she teased, punctuating it with another smacking kiss to his temple. Squeezing his cheeks and pulling at them like an old lady. 

“I hate you ,” he gasped between laughs.

“No, you don’t,” she sang, wiggling her fingers dramatically before diving in again.

Just when Teo thought he couldn’t laugh any harder, she bit his jaw. 

Teo screeched .

Niya collapsed onto the bed in hysterics.

Teo sat up, clutching his neck like he’d been mortally wounded. “What was that!?”

Niya wiped away a tear, barely able to breathe through her laughter. “I don’t know, but your reaction was priceless.”

Teo swatted at her, still laughing.

Niya just grinned, palm open for the notebook again.

“Sign it,” Teo muttered, shoving it at her.

She snatched the pen, scribbled her name with a flourish, and underlined it three times.

“Three down,” she said with a wink, tossing the notebook back.

Teo groaned, shoving his face into a pillow.

Niya just laughed, stretching out beside him. “This summer’s gonna be fun for you.”

And, despite himself, Teo couldn’t help but agree