Three Man Value [IDV]

Phobias

Luca, Andrew, and Victor were all hanging out in the garden. It was more peaceful than the other areas of the manor, and provided space for them to all do their own things.

Luca seemed to be fiddling with some wires— probably trying to see how he could improve his ability— and Victor was busy scribbling new letters.

After a few moments, Andrew nervously decided to break the silence. "Are they changing your abilities?" he asked the postman.

"Only a little bit," the blond responded. He held out the letter he was working on to Andrew. He grabbed the letter and inspected it, knowing that he was subconsciously squinting at it, due to his poor eyesight.

"It looks the same as another letter you have," Andrew muttered, handing back the letter. "Are they giving you different ones to use."

Victor shrugged. "No, not really. I think they're taking some of them away, honestly. Through, they might be making me work with Wick a bit more, so that's a plus."

Andrew nodded and the two returned to what they had been doing. He wanted to talk to them— which was weird, because he usually felt uncomfortable around most people— but it was a bit boring just sitting here doing nothing.

"So, what're you guys scared of?"

The two looked over at Luca, who hadn't bothered to look up from his little invention.

Victor thought for a second before saying, "I think fire. I'm not really sure."

Luca, assuring it was his turn, seemed to already know his answer. "Confined spaces." he muttered, fumbling with the wires for a second, as though he was looking back on something. "What about you, Andrew?"

"Me?" The other two nodded. "Light."

"Light?" Luca questioned. The other two had reasonable fears, but light?

"Y-Yeah. It's an actual thing. Helio-"

To test out what Andrew had said, Luca grabbed a lantern that was on the ground next to him and quickly turned to Andrew, putting it somewhat close to the poor albino's face.

Andrew cut himself off and let out a high pitched squeak as he covered his face and backed up. He was embarrassed on how stupid he sounded when he suddenly got nervous and his voice raised up like that, but he just really didn't like bright things. Plus, his pale skin and red eyes were quite sensitive to it.

Luca stifled a laugh, but a small smirk appeared on his face. "Light, huh? I'll remember that." He hesitated before saying, "You don't have to be embarrassed. It's honestly kinda cute when you get scared."

This made Andrew keep his hands over his face as he realized he was blushing. He could feel it. He cursed at himself to stop it but that just made it worse.

"Oh c'mon, put your hands down," Luca taunted, that crazed grin on his face again.

Andrew quickly shook his head and sat back down, putting his hands down but keeping a firm gaze on the ground at his feet.

"Fine, fine," Luca said as he looked back down at the wires he had once more, with Victor going back to writing his letters. None of them even noticed the three girls walking away from the entrance of the garden, snickering amongst themselves.

Why did Andrew get like that at just the one small compliment? He had received compliments before— though it had been a while since he had heard one— but never did he get all like that. Why did he get like that?

The albino thought to himself about the situation. On how he'd get so easily flustered around both boys. How he'd hang out with them the most. How he was comfortable around them.

Before he knew it, he thought reached a conclusion, and— oh. Oh no. It couldn't be that... could it?

But there was no other explanation for it, and he knew that loud and clear. But, he also hated himself for feeling that way, even though he knew the sad conclusion to it all.

He liked them.