#franklin hardesty x nubbins sawyer

[charleslee-valentine]

the angel on his shoulder looks suspiciously like Franklin…

[wispvial]

Day 7- It's a Nice picture!

for @texas-chainsaw-fanworks , i would have liked to participate in this more but couldnt, but heres a quick lil story :] cw violence ig

FRANKLIN AND NUBBINS ENJOY THE SUNSET

Thick, cloudy, honey-colored streaks captured the glow of the descending sun. The two men, noticing the sky from the window, like the surface of a far-off planet, stopped in their tracks to bask in the yard.

“It’s beyond words, man,” said Franklin.

He wanted to cry at the sight of it. He had many reasons to. His heart swelled with a terrible wonder; he turned his head, and spat on the ground.

“My grandfather spent his last years out here. In the middle of nowhere, alone; he stopped reaching out to us, and my parents let him be. He died and his house turned to goddamn ruins ‘cause we never came by to check. I wonder why it was so easy. To just leave him.”

The nearby magnolia tree rustled as black birds poured out of it, under the golden dome of the sky resembling a cloud of noisome insects.

“But I get it. Why he refused us, why to him, it was worth it. It wouldn’t be so bad to die out here, seeing this sunset.”

And here he was.

Regretting his choice of words, he fidgeted.

What was he doing out here? He had made a friend, that man now standing behind him, stroking the back of his neck, watching the sunset with him, and to end the story there would be for the best.

And if, perhaps, the story ended for him, as maybe, he thought, might be deserved, and the man reached in his pockets, and pulled out the razor, and wordlessly brought the keen edge to his throat… He imagined a quick slash, the vessels of his neck emptying out on the ground, face down in the puddle, redder than the sunset, prettier than it to the man who would crouch over him.

But the hitchhiker giggled, oblivious to his spiraling train of thought. He had taken such natural beauty for granted and was glad to be reminded, was glad to pull away from his work to marvel at it with his friend.

“I-It’s real pretty, huh? I know. I’ll take a picture. And…I-I won’t charge you none.”

“You better not.” He sighed. The crumpled dollar bills in the jeans he came with were long gone. Reassured, Franklin took an unhurried swig of his warm soda pop. It was a weekly treat for the Sawyers, and the hitchhiker, disinterested, had given the bottle to him.

“Man, even the bottle looks pretty in this light. Look at that. Everything does.”

 He thought if he turned around, the hitchhiker might look prettier to him than he would have liked. But wanting to see his friend’s crooked grin, and share in his pleasure, he—

SNAP! went the wicked camera shutter.

“Hehe.”

“Hey! You took MY picture!”

----

The bright blue of day, the golden sunset, the stars at night. It didn’t matter what he did. It didn’t matter if he was bad. As long as he lived, he would enjoy each gift given to him.

Inside the house, the bound victims writhed with chafed wrists against their restraints. It was the last sunset they would ever see—in fragments—slats of orange light on the bloody wooden floor.

[texas-chainsaw-fanworks]

Upcoming Event for the TCM fandom!

After the success of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Fanworks event back in December, this blog has been relaunched for a new upcoming event!

For one week in July, there will be a corresponding series of prompts and themes relating to disability and disabled characters in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1, 2, and the game. However, as long as disability is the primary focus of the piece, there is no requirement that these prompts must be followed.

By piece, this means that all kinds of fan content are accepted. Fics, art, writing, playlists, covers, edits, moodboards, and so on. Anything you can dream of. I simply ask that no AI generation is used in the process of the creation.

Then, when it’s time to post, participants just use the event hastags! #tcmfanevent AND #tcmdisabilityweek

Additionally, dark and disturbing content will be allowed due to the nature of canon, but with limitations. My harsh limitation is that no proship pairings be featured. This means absolutely no family x family or adult x minor ships. In the case of past trauma or references to unwanted events like these, I ask that the piece be tagged and adorned with warnings accordingly.

If a participant has any questions on limitations or otherwise, this blog is open for messaging and inbox submissions, as well as the moderators own blog @charleslee-valentine. I will answer from any of those places if questions arise.

Finally, I want to clarify that this event is neutral on disability. I am disabled myself and find joy in my life in different ways because of it. Please do not use this event as an opportunity to bash a disabled identity. This is a celebration of the canonically disabled characters in universe first and foremost, like Bubba, the Sawyer twins, and Franklin. Personal frustration, ableism, and difficulty are obviously allowed, and the content doesn’t have to be all sunshine and rainbows, as long as the line into intense and unresolved self-hatred isn’t crossed.

Again, if this leads to any questions, please just let me know.

Onto Prompts! The image below has a least for ease of saving, and there is also a text version down below.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Disability Pride Event Prompt List

Day 1- Alternate Communication

• Bubba Sawyer is nonverbal. What other ways might they speak with their family?

Day 2- Weird Lookin’

• Nubbins Sawyer stims and plays freely, but faces ableism. Feature his relationship to disability in this piece.

Day 3- ‘Nam Flashback

• Chop Top Sawyer has PTSD and head trauma. Explore his experience with disability.

Day 4- Gonna Be A Fun Trip

• Franklin Hardesty is a paraplegic wheelchair user. Highlight mobility aids for him.

Day 5- Victims

• Stretch, Sally, Franklin; How might TCM victims be disabled after their time with the Sawyers? Remember the Sawyers themselves may also be victims in the right context.

Day 6- Underestimated

• Times when a disabled character wasn’t taken seriously.

Day 7- Headcanon Disability

• Your favorite headcanon/interpretation for TCM character disabilities.

_____

The reason this event is limited to TCM 1 (1974) and TCM part 2 (1986) and the 2023 game is for ease of moderation, since these are the only TCM media I, the event runner, am familiar with.

With that said, I hope you’re all as excited as I am for this event during disability pride month! See you July 1st-7th!! No sign-ups required! Just create and post if you’re interested!!

[chaos-grimlin]

Me againnnn! Heres another chapter to why me!

Intro:In 1974 a tragedy which befell on a group of six youths, in particular Y/n L/n and he dear friend Sally Hardesty. It's all the more tragic that all of them where young. But they had lived very long lives, thry could not have expected nor would they have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they were to see that day. For them an idyllic summer afternoon drive became a nightmare. The events of thst day were to lead to the discovery of one of the most bizarre crimes in the annals of American history. The kidnapping of Y/n L/n and the Texas chainsaw massacre..

Why me? (Nubbins Sawyer x Y/n)

Word count:1177

Chapter 3- The Hitchhiker

Previously on why me in chapter 2- the graveyard: "Hitchhiker" Sally said and as she did I leaned up slightly and looked out the window....

~~~Y/n P.O.V~~~

"Hitchhiker" Sally said and I leaned up to look out the window, and sure enough, there was a Hitchhiker.

"Should we pick him up?" Jerry asked.

"Oh, yeah, man, pick him up, hell asphyxiate (meaning:kill by depriving someone of air) out there" I said. In this heat no one and i mean no one should walk! Its far too hot to do so.

"What does he look like?" Pam said, sitting up straight and trying to look out the window.

"The son of a bitch is going to smell just like the slaughterhouse!" Franklin whined, obviously not thinking about how hot it was.

"Oh, give the guy a break! He can sit by Y/n" Sally said as she looked back at me.

"What do you wanna do?" Jerry asked again.

"Oh he's weird lookin" Pam said as she stood on her knees, blocking my view of the Hitchhiker.

"Pick him up man" Kirk said and Pam looked at him and whined out a no, but Jerry didn't listen.

Jerry slowled the van to a stop and the Hitchhiker yanked the sliding door open and hopped in, closing the door behind him.

"Well I thinl we just picked up Dracula" Franklin said as the Hitchhiker got in the back with me.

I looked over at him, my eyes scanned him. He had sweat slicked hair, his skin was a pasty yet colored white tone, he had a very large noticeable red birthmark on the left side of his cheek. He wore a baggy green shirt with a fur bag around his neck along with a camera. He didnt look weird at all to me.

"Where you headed man?" Kirk asked as he eyed the Hitchhiker.

"South" the Hitchhiker said rather quickly.

"You work at that place?" Franklin asked as he pointed to the slaughterhouse.

"oh, no" he said, answering in quick spirts.

"How did you get stuck way our here?" Pam asked as she moved away from him.

"I... I was at the slaughterhouse!" The hitchhiker said.

"I got an uncle that works at a slaughterhouse" Franklin said, once again, bringing up the slaughterhouse.

"H..hey! My..my brother worked there my..my grandfather, too" The hitchhiker said with a small giggle as struggling to speak a bit.

"My familys always been in meat" the Hitchhiker said. It was odd.. His whole family im gussing worked with meat..but he didn't.

"A whole family of Draculas" Franklin whispered as he looked at Sally. He clearly didn't want the Hitchhiker here. I dont know why he didn't, he seemes like a friendly guy to me.

"Hey,man, did you go in that slaughter room or what ever they call it? The place where they shoot the cattle in the head with that big air gun thing?" Franklin asked, looking back at the Hitchhiker.

The hitchhiker frowned "Oh, that..that guns no good" he stammered out.

"I was in there once with my uncle-" Franklin started, but was cut off.

"The old way..with a sledge! Heh" the Hitchhiker said, bashing his fist against his hand with a giggle.

"See, that was better! They died better that way." The hitchhiker added.

"How come? I thought the gun was better?" Franklin asked as his slightly bushy brows knitted togeather in confusion.

"Oh, no, no. With the new way, people are put...put out of jobs!" The hitchhiker said with a frown.

"You do that?" I asked, chiming into the conversation between the two boys.

The hitchhiker looked at me and smiled, his eyes scanning my face before he grabbed at the fur pouch around his neck and rumaged through it. "Look!" He said erratically as he pulled out a handful of photographs that have clearly seen better days.

The hitchhiker handed me the photos with shaky hands.

I gently took the photos from him, being careful with the paper as I unfolded them.

"I was the killer!" He said with proudness laced in his voice amd a giggle at the end.

I looked at the photos seeing bloody, pigs and cows, organs and blood covered tables. Photos like these would normally gross someone out, but..i didn't find them gross or odd at all. I hummed slightly as I looked through them

"Let me see" Franklin said. I slowly handed the photos to Franklin who instantly looked disgusted with the photos. "Damn" he choked out.

"They don't send the heads away." The hitchhiker started.

" Did you take those photos?" I asked as I tilted my head to the side.

"Yeah!" He said with a wide smile as he looked at me, clearly proud of his work.

"Franklin!" Sally said loudly as she roughly took some of the photos from Franklins hands. Her roughness with the photographs made the hitchhiker frown.

"See, they make headcheese!" The hitchhiker started, adding onto what he said before about the heads.

"They......" There was a pause as he struggled to get his words out.

"They...take the head a-annd they boil it, ex...except for the tongue, and they scrape all the flesh away from the bo...bone..they They uae everything theu dint throw nothing away! They use the jowls and the muscles and the eues and the ligaments and everything!" He said with a large smile.

"Oh" I said as I kept my eyes on him, engaging in what he was saying.

"The nose and the gums and all th..the flesh! And they boil it down a big...big jelly of fat!" He said as he fiddled with his fingers slightly. My eyes traveled down to his hands, and thats when my eyes landed on a bracelet, one that seemed to be made from fake teeth or something of the sorts.

"Wow, i didn't know thats what was in that stuff" Franklin said, I could guess that je was oddly shocked.

"It...its really good! You like it?" The Hitchhiker side as he tilted his head, looking at Franklin then at me.

"Oh, yeah, sure, i like it its good" Franklin said with a small nod, then the Hitchhiker looked over to me. "What..what about you?" He stammered out.

"I've never tried it..but im down to try it" i said with a light smile, this seemed to make the Hitchhiker smile more with excitement.

"Oh it sounds horrible.. It is possible wr could talk about something else?" Pam whined out as she side eyed me, Franklin, and the Hitchhiker.

"Youll probaly like it if you didnt know what was in it" Franklin muttered as he looked over at Pam.

I shuffled back on the floor, still sitting by the Hitchhiker.

"What..whats your name? I...im Nubbins!" The hitchhiker said as he looked at me.

"Oh im Y/n" I said as I locked eyes with him. His eyes were a misty blue color. (Edwin neal the actor of Nubbins has blue/ grey eyes so go with it)

"Wow....pre..pretty name for..for...a..pretty girl" He said before turning back to Franklin and Pam...

[looking-for-roleplay]

Hello, I was wondering if anybody would like to do a Nubbins Sawyer x Franklin Hardesty roleplay with me. I tend to write a paragraph at least for replies. Speaking of replies, I reply as soon as possible and if I don't reply within 10 hours then I am probably asleep or am doing something. I have no triggers. If you have any triggers we can discuss them. I do better writing as Franklin Hardesty so I would love for you to write as Nubbins Sawyer. I do not have discord so we can roleplay in dms if you are comfortable with that! Like this post and I'll shoot you a dm or you could shoot me a dm instead! I'm on here at least 2 hours a day so I'll definitely see it :)

[ghoul-lover9000]

Random Facts about Dating The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) characters

Sally Hardesty

Sweetest girl you’ve ever met. Very quiet, but in a way that you know that she’s listening to you and genuinely wants to hear what you’re saying. 

Her Texas accent is the loveliest thing to hear and, if you want her to and ask her to, she’ll talk forever even sing. 

She loves slow dancing to Elvis Presley and singing excitedly to The Beatles. When you both do it together, you have a fun time and you both just feel more connected to each other.

I don’t know why but I have a clear vision of you both having a ball at a department store. You both try on a shit ton of clothes together and laugh together and try on crazy combinations stuff. She tells you you look beautiful even if you’re wearing the ugliest shit ever. Sally’s just admiring you like “You’re beautiful, baby!”

Jerry

He can be uptight sometimes, but he’s ultimately fun to be around because he does like to fool around.

Unironically says groovy all the fucking time. 

Jerry: Hey, babe, I think you’re real groovy. 

You steal his shirts all the time because they’re amazing. Look at that pattern, and they’re so comfy. He gets annoyed by this, but he thinks you’re cute. 

Try to mess up his hair. I dare you. He will have a fit. 

You hang off of him a lot and it makes him happy because you’re a cutie. 

You both like to laugh and he teases the hell out of you, but it’s all in good fun. 

If he ever gets serious and uptight, just kiss him on the cheek and he’ll be a mess and forget what he was being uptight about. 

Pam

One of the first questions she asks you on your first date is “What is your star sign?” and she loves to read about the compatibility of both of your signs and problems that both of your signs have.

Imagine drinking coffee in the morning with her while she reads you both of your horoscopes. It’s very peaceful, fun, and indicative of your relationship as a whole. 

If you’re going through a rough time, Pam lays your head on her shoulder and she talks about how it’s probably just because Mars is going into retrograde right now and it will get better because things will change and planets will move and she will always be there to take your mind off of it.

She definitely burns incense and lavender. Not sage because she doesn’t like the smell and the fact that it gets rid of all energies good or bad. She definitely believes in energies and vibes. She will only date you if you simply vibe well with her. 

She loves Fleetwood Mac and wants to be Stevie Nicks. 

Kirk

This guy admires the fuck out of you and is dummy supportive of your interests. He will listen to you talk about whatever because you’re his girl/boy. 

Imagine you and him relaxing together while he lazily strums his guitar. Maybe you smoke a little pot. Who knows it’s the 70s and you’re both young and free. 

You both definitely go to music festivals together and hang out with friends all the time. You both are always doing something. 

Put your head on his chest and he will be the most content man in the world. 

He has the cutest little tooth gap and when he smiles he’s just the cutest.

Just a well meaning Southern boy all around.

Franklin Hardesty

He’s just a sweet Southern boy. Like he loves you, he loves his mother, and he loves good Southern food kind of Southern boy. And I appreciate that. 

You’re the only one in the group who makes sure he’s never left out and you help him with his chair as much as you can. 

He plays with your hand when he gets nervous or starts thinking a lot.

When he gets interested in a topic, Franklin talks about it all the time. He’s got a lot to say about the meat industry. 

He’ll zone out while looking at you and have a little content smile while he does.

I think he gets pegged as an annoying character a lot, but he was left behind and made fun of a lot by the others and he had the most character.

Nubbins Sawyer

To loosely quote Steve and Gary from Cabin in the Woods, he may be a pain-worshiping backwoods idiot, but he’s your pain-worshiping backwoods idiot. 

Probably met him while you were hitchhiking through Texas when he was trying to get a ride home and he was charming in a weird we’re-stuck-on-a-back-road-together and he talks enough to make you not go completely crazy because you’re alone. 

Can you imagine the family dinners? I bet they would be murder. (Haha funny) But on a serious note, Drayton would hate that he took you to the house and now demands to let you live. Bubba’s kinda chill with you once Nubbs explains the situation. 

Nubbins: N-naw, we don’t kill this one. They’re good.

Good luck if you’re a vegetarian because you’re either gonna have to switch to an all meat (mostly human) diet or try to explain to the whole family why you’re not eating your perfectly good thigh stew.

After a while when you’re apart of the family, Drayton warms up to you and asks if you would like to learn how to gut a human like a father offering to play catch with his son. 

You and him walk to town once every month or so to stock up on stuff that’s not meat (You know fruits, vegetables, Oreo cookies. I think he would really like Oreo cookies if you introduced them to him.) and watch him dig up some graves. 

I’m not really into Leatherface so I’m not that motivated to write for him, but I hope these are good. It was interesting to write for these characters because I’ve never seen headcanons of any kind for them. Thanks @erikaec for the request. I hope this is at least kind of what you wanted.

[charleslee-valentine]

they’re flirting

[charleslee-valentine]

that’s the most romantic thing anybody ever said to him

(pt 2 to this)

[charleslee-valentine]

Moodboards for my main TCM ships <3

Franknub, choptop x stretch, and jeland!

[charleslee-valentine]

For The Texas Chainsaw Fanworks Event Day 1: Favorite Ship

Ship(s): Franklin Hardesty x Nubbins Sawyer, past Drayton Sawyer x Lefty Enright.

Word count: ~3,800

Warnings: child abuse mention, ableism mention, tense family dynamics.

@texas-chainsaw-fanworks

______

Franklins been at the house for all of ten minutes before a hefty, but docile raccoon gets dumped into his lap.

The Sawyer boys keep her as a pet, since they aren’t allowed any dogs after the last one raided the chicken coop of all the hens and had to be sold off. The worst their raccoon has done is chew through the wall paper, but since it’s already peeling off, that couldn’t be used against her.

Besides, she’s lazy and more than a little overweight after a few long years of getting her sustenance from table scraps, candy, and lots and lots of berries from the bushes out back. Sending her back out into the wild now wouldn’t be any bit kinder than keeping her safe and pampered.

Franklin’s well used to her being around all the time, but it’s only recently he’s started being allowed to hold her. Most of the time without any input from himself, since Nubbins just drops her down onto his lap without any warning.

Like right now, with the raccoon all curled up on him like he’s the comfiest pillow in the house. He gets comfortable scratching behind her ears and patting her tummy pouch, no longer afraid of bites.

Today it’s not just Franklin and Nubbins sitting about, but Bobby’s tagging along again, mostly because he doesn’t have much else to do. Franklin figures it probably gets lonely, just the family here on the farm.

So he’s learned to stop taking offense when Bobby’s curious eyes stare at him for minutes at a time, usually building up to a question.

This time, it’s: “Y-You ever- uh, you ever h-held a c-critter like her be..before?”

Not counting the times the Sawyer boys themselves saw to it that he had held a random rodent they found, that would be a no. Franklin answers to that truth, “Never. You sure she wouldn’t give y’all rabies or somethin?”

Bobby shakes his head. “Nuh-uh. N-Not our miss I-Ivy!”

“Sh-She don’t bite, o-or scratch, or n-nothin’!” Nubbins testifies, breaking the silence that had been his cover since Franklin arrived.

Sometimes he gets like that, all quiet and tense. He’ll usually be much more active with his random movements when that happens, and Bobby will be something of a translator for him. It’s just part of him.

Franklin doesn’t make a big deal out of it, or he knows Nubbins will get more quiet. He just teases, “That’s what you said about Bobby too.”

There’s a short pause, where the twins are processing what he meant. Franklin almost has enough time to worry they took offense to the little quip, but not before they start cackling. It’s the kind of laughter that’s so loud and genuine it echoes off the walls, and it makes Franklin want to laugh too.

He just does. With the boys, it’s easy.

Especially when Nubbins declares delightedly that, “B-But we still l-like him!”

It’s something about the way they can poke fun at each other and knows it’s all for laughs, even when some of the comments they get out in the world aren’t so innocent. The twins hear it all the time when there’s no one home to watch them and they have to go to work with their older brother.

Really, they throw themselves in front of the hateful words, knowing the next in line to take them are Bubba, or even Franklin. People like them don’t get it easy.

So sitting around the table, with a raccoon in his lap, making playful remarks with his boys? That’s something worth holding on to.

They all (except for sleepy Miss Ivy, of course) look up when the only sister in the Sawyer family walks through, having heard their conversation and announcing it to all with, “I wouldn’t count out the rabies anyhow. Bobby boy’s a wild animal.”

“H-Hey! That’s not t-true!” He argues after her, not as close with his older sister to let things like that slide.

All at once, he clumsily pushes his chair back, already darted off after her for some kind of revenge before the chair had even stopped wobbling.

Nubbins waves his hands about excitedly, craning and watching the conflict until he can’t see it anymore because the siblings haul up the stairs to keep arguing. And then he turns back to Franklin so fast his own hair hits him in the face.

Shaky, clumsy fingers pull the strands apart out of his eyes, reorienting and smiling all over again with his eyes fixed on Franklin.

Boy, Franklin knows what’s coming next.

Ever since the first time they kissed, Nubbins has been obsessed with it. Every quiet moment they get, he’s pressing kisses to Franklin’s skin wherever he can reach, be that his hands and his arms or his face.

It’s not faring well for their secret, but it’s also not something Franklin wants to stop anytime soon. Right now, it’s all the shy and chaste stuff still, little presses and gentle bumps, no lust in the mix of romantic feelings. The way they’re comfortable.

Though, Franklin still hasn’t gotten over blushing as red as a rose when Nubbins does kiss him.

This time, it’s a kiss right on his cheek, which is definitely heated up and blushing before Nubbins even pulls away. He’s not even sure what it is that flusters him so much. Probably just somebody so open with his emotions, showing them all for him.

It makes his hands sing.

Flapping and shaking like Nubbins taught him how to. Burning off all the happy that builds up in his body when his boyfriend gives him those sweet kisses.

They’re both doing it, the hand dances, when Drayton floats into the room randomly, holding papers they’d gotten in the mail and ranting about their contents under his breath. Something about bills and taxes. Franklin smiles sheepishly, embarrassed to be in a struggling man’s house, but he gets no response.

It’s all just hot air anyway. Nubbins reminds him of that by poking him in the side where he’s ticklish, making him squish up to one side and giggle. A wordless way of saying, ‘don’t pay no attention to him!’

Big brother Drayton grabs something out the drawers in the corner and paces back out to the kitchen, closing the door behind himself to deal with his troubles on his own. A couple of sheltered up seventeen year olds don’t know all that much about paying for things, so they wouldn’t have been much help to him anyway.

The thing is, the second they’re alone, Nubbins pulls his little stunt again. Kissing Franklin, that is.

This time it’s twice. Once just past the side of his mouth, and once straight on his lips. It gives him all kinds of fuzzy and warm feelings. Makes him want to grab onto his boy and never let go.

But he has to. Cause they’re interrupted once again, darn it.

The boys’ younger cousin Johnny comes running out of nowhere. He ducks behind the table, giggling up a storm. It’s only a few seconds before Bubba stumbles in, squealing delightfully. The children run around in circles, screaming back and forth with each other, playing some sort of chasing game. Bubba roars and Franklin thinks he might be playing as a dragon or something.

It’s around this time that the raccoon in Franklin's lap gets annoyed and jumps down, sauntering away towards the screen door to get outside, to get herself into some trouble probably. He sees Sissy come through and pick the old lady raccoon up and carry her to the back door instead, where the yard is fenced in and safer for her.

Nubbins is to shut down to do it himself, as he covers his ears. He doesn’t like all the noise, but he gets in trouble if he tells Bubba to stop making it. Neither of them can help it. Franklin taps Nubbins gently and shows him to shake his hands and get the yucky feelings off. To try to cope with Bubbas way of copin.

He wiggles his bottom in his chair, which Franklin would imitate if he could. He nods and smiles at least so Nubbins knows he’s doing good. A few months back, or years when the two had first met, Nubbins would’ve snapped at Bubba and hurt both of their feelings in the process.

They don’t really know what Nubbins has got going on in his head that makes him so irritable, but he’s not too good at controlling it, not without some help. Franklin wants to be the one that helps him. Forever and ever.

‘Cause Nubbins is helpful back. He teaches him to do fun things and how to make cool art. Over home, Franklin wouldn’t get nearly as much conversation, he’d probably just sit there quietly all the time and be miserable.

So he hopes it’s alright that he’s here so often. The family accepts him. Even the pet raccoon likes him!

If he’s got Bubba’s approval, he knows he’s good, and that he must, since Bubba gets hurt while playing with Johnny, and goes straight to Franklin.

He’d been running around the table again and bumped his head, and welled up with tears right away. Happy little squeaks turned into loud and snotty wines. Johnny and Nubbins freeze up, being the youngest and the most distracted two in the whole family, neither of them know how to fix it when Bubba gets upset. But Franklins been watchin’ for all his time here. He thinks he can do this.

“Come here, Bubs. Lemme see.” He adjusts his wheelchair around to face Bubba and holds his arms out to him.

The younger boy, a preteen now but much taller than Franklin, inches over and sadly lays his cheek on his shoulder. Franklin has to lean just a bit to observe the little red mark on his head, glad to see it didn’t even break the skin, “Hey now, it’s just a bump. You’re alright. No blood.”

Instant relief. Bubba babbles and pats his hands on Franklin's arms, and he knows that’s the boy thanking him. He smiles, “You’re welcome, Bubba. If it still hurts, go with Johnny boy and tell Drayton you want some ice in a bag.”

Bubba nods and turns to his cousin. The younger boy smiles, tags Bubba on the tippy top of his curly head, and takes off running back towards the kitchen to find Drayton, taking the long way around through the front hall. Bubba follows, looking much better already.

Nubbins gives him a little smile, “H-Hey you’re g-good at that.”

Franklin’s going to shrug it off, say it’s just what friends do for friends, but Nubbins isn’t listening anyways. He’s looking at his lips again. With the position of his wheelchair, they can’t reach each other, so Franklin gives a small nod. He can tell Nubbin wants to move him, but he got in big trouble for touching Franklin's chair without permission.

Frankie himself hadn’t minded it, but Sally saw, and Sally might not get a lot of things right about Franklin, but she was angry that someone would drag her brother around like a doll. She’d screamed at Nubbins til her freckled face was red, and Nubbins was near in tears from anger at being talked to that way.

He really broke down when he got home and got in trouble with Drayton for making the neighbors upset. He’d spent his whole time-out sobbing his eyes out, and punching the wall.

It was ugly and Franklin wanted nothing to do with that again. So they have their little silent moments, where Nubbins can just, sort of look and it’ll imply what he wants. Sometimes that’s better than words with them, and better than just doing it without asking.

Would it have been easier to reposition the chair himself? Absolutely. But it sort of felt nice having Nubbins spin the wheels for him and try to get everything perfect. Like he really cared about having Franklin close.

And then once he gets it, he kisses him one more time. This time, he brings up both of his hands to either side of Frankie’s face, and just holds him there. They don’t move much, it’s pretty much just a lock of their lips, occasionally shifting to breathe. It’d be weird and awkward if it was anybody else.

Instead it makes Franklin blush carnation pink and his heart go pitter patter.

That gentle rhythm turns a hell of a lot more panicked in both of them when suddenly there’s a shriek in the room,

“Nubbins got a boyfriend! Nubbins got a boyfriend!!”

Oh. Bobby came back. He saw.

There've been plenty of close calls before, but nothing the two couldn’t pass off. Two years of hiding is a long time and they maybe got careless. And now Bobby’s jumping up and down and singing and it’s just-

Too much.

“Boyfriend!!! Nubbins! Got! A! Boy-“

The kitchen door slams back open. Drayton whacks the wall with a wooden spatula instead of hitting any of the boys,

“That’s enough, boy! You lost your damn mind?”

Now Bobby’s on the defensive. He shakes his head wildly and points, putting all the attention on his brother and Franklin, “Th-They was kiss-kissin’!”

Nubbins and him stare at the ground. Bobby looks confused why they seem so upset. Romance is supposed to be good! They keep mama’s wedding picture on the mantelpiece and she don’t even live here anymore. It’s not bad that Nubbins could be like mama too, not in his eyes. It’s good that he’s got a boyfriend!

Drayton might beg to differ though. It’s hard to tell, with the tense form of his posture. His eyes are narrowed and he’s just, staring for a moment. Assessing if maybe Robert was lying to him. Til he asks gruffly, “That true?”

“Uh…” Franklin can’t speak. He knows what his boy means to him, but he just can’t articulate it, can’t defend himself in the face of someone he’s afraid of.

Nubbins isn’t afraid. He balls up his fists and slams them on the table and shouts, “Yeh! S-So what?”

“Ain’t going to have none of that in my house, is so what.” Drayton says it sort of like a command. Like he expects the two of them to just break up on the spot. Calm because of a smugness, and because he’s so angry underneath.

Oh, but his Nubbins turns bright red in anger, the glaring birthmark on his cheek deepening like the color of blood when it gets under the skin like a bruise. He accuses, “Yer just m-mad cause you got n-nobody t’ kiss! Lefty left you, a-an’ yer all-all alone! Mean old m-man!”

Drayton grits his teeth, sort of like a growl, “Shut up.”

Franklin really needs to ask more about what happened between his uncle and the oldest Sawyer. For now, he’s watching this argument like you’d watch a ball game, back and forth between the angry brothers shouting at each other. His jaws a little slackened in awe.

“Nuh-uh. I-I’m gonna kiss my Fr-Franklin whenever I want!” Nubbins declares, and gets real close to Franklin, nose pressed into his cheek, as if to prove it.

“Don’t you dare-“ Drayton warns, but it’s too late.

Nubbins kisses Franklin's face all over, cartoonishly and childlike, with little “~mwah” noises and everything. It’s sorta sweet in a way. Doesn’t stop Franklin from being mortified.

And it doesn’t stop the oldest from reacting. Drayton marches forward, shoving extra furniture out of his path, to get to Nubbins, pulling him back hard by his bony shoulder.

“Why you little-“

His hand raises up automatically to thwack Nubbins. Nubbins pokes his tongue out, disobeys, but he shrinks down too. He anticipates the painful contact.

Dread settles heavy in the room.

Franklin can’t breathe. They’d talked. This wasn’t supposed to happen anymore. Nubbins wasn’t scared, things were better now, they’d be okay-

Bobby breaks his stunned silence from things going so so wrong, to shriek out, “N-No, Drayton!”

Franklins realizes he has the power to speak too. He’s much closer to everything. Can hear the angry breaths and see the shaking bodies. It scares him, but he tries to be firm too, “Don’t hurt him.”

The image of getting a smack of his own plays in his head and he bows apologetically, “Please.”

Somewhere, that reminds Drayton of his hollow promises. His face even goes a little pale.

Stiff and awkward, he taps his hands on Nubbins’ arms. It looks like it’s supposed to be comforting, and at least Nubbins takes it that way cause he relaxes a little. Drayton eventually, with a little bit of effort now that he’s past forty, crouches down by the chair. It’s not really a hug per se, but he kinda lays his head on Nubbins, and the boy accepts it, curling up to make as much contact as possible.

This isn’t the pretend to get along stuff, or the scream until their throats are raw hatred. They’re trying to love each other. Drayton’s trying to be vulnerable. Nubbins is trying to not fight.

Franklin, for one, is confused though. It doesn’t make sense.

“I thought you was mad?” He asks quietly, eyes fixed to the floor like seeing the Sawyer siblings hug is something to be ashamed of.

“Been through a lot, kid.” Drayton answers automatically, pulling away from the bit of strange affection he was able to show, rising to his feet again.

There’s silence for a long time, while everybody tries to think of what to say.

Drayton paces on the spot a little. Bounces impatiently, his temper with himself now mostly. Wipes his hands on his work pants.

Finally, he speaks, seeing that nobody else is going to, and having something else on his mind he needs to put out, “I’m all they got. Can’t let a simple thing ruin it….. I won’t get on your case. Just.. Just you stay outta his bedroom, you hear?”

Oh god. They’re not- Franklin never- Where did he..?

Franklin just nods, and he’s sure he looks stupid, but he was caught off guard! The implication there is beyond embarrassing, something that never even occurred to him yet. He’s sure his own flushed face is hot enough to rival the sun.

Drayton accepts the nod as the answer it is, more than used to not getting words for answers. And then he lingers sort of awkwardly, extending his hand out for maybe a hand shake with the boy, but then withdrawing it immediately before Franklin can even accept.

There’s something going on in that old man’s head, and Franklin wants nothing to do with it.

It’s only because Nubbins forgives him that he doesn’t hate Draytons guts. Maybe he gets the luxury of being an outsider, or maybe it’s because he’s got both his parents and just one little sister. Whatever it is, something tells Franklin it isn’t his place to decide for the Sawyers.

Either way, doesn’t mean he has to be a fan of Drayton Sawyer.

And maybe he glares a little at the door after the man leaves again, muttering to himself about something indistinct, not the same as the finances rants. More like he’s scolding himself or something.

The twins are over it though. They’re fixed back on their respective friend and partner, both leaning in to ask him something quiet.

It’s Nubbins who does the speaking for the question they both have, “Why a-ain’t you allowed i-in our room?”

God, no. Franklin cannot answer that right now. He’ll die of humiliation trying to explain it to the boys. Shouldn’t they know that already at seventeen?

“Uh.. that’s probably a question for your brother.”

Bobby recoils and scrunches up, acting like he touched something gross, and squeaks, “Ew, we d-don’t wanna talk to h-him!”

Never thought he’d see the day, but he’s actually about to defend their older brother. Not because he likes him, that'd just be a downright lie, but because he knows this’ll be easier if they don’t all fight amongst each other all the damn time. No hitting, no arguing, no name-calling.

That’s probably wishful thinking. Franklin tries to mediate peace anyways, “You heard what he said. He cares ‘bout y’all. Sometimes you gotta talk to him.”

But Robert Sawyer is one stubborn son of a gun. He just shakes his head and flicks his hair dismissively, “That’s d-dumb.”

That offends Nubbins into speaking up, “Fr-Franklin’s not dumb, Bobby!”

There’s a moment where they just stare at each other, before Nubbins strikes. It’s like nobody in the world is allowed to breathe until they solve their problem. Which they choose to do by wrestling it out.

The fight is like watching two lions without teeth trying to kill each other. They just sort of push and hit and pull hair. Bobby bites Nubbins on the arm once. Nubbins shoves a pile of chicken feathers from the next room, that were left from Bubba bringing his favorite hen in the house, into Bobby’s face.

All of it’s mostly harmless. That’s probably why Franklin feels a little flattered, watching his boy defend him that way. If it were anybody other than his own twin brother, he might even do some actual damage.

All for Franklin. ‘Cause he isn’t stupid. Just like Nubbins didn’t deserve to be hit.

He’s glad he stood up for him. And that Nubbins did it right back.

It’s something a little like love that flutters in his chest.

That is, until the spirit of the Holy Ghost gets scared right out of him by more unexpected yelling and banging on the wall.

Drayton crowd, “Y’all aren’t gettin’ nothin’ for supper if you don’t stop yer rough housin’!”

For a moment, the twins are just stuck looking at each other in horror, before they work on untangling and righting themselves, helping each other fix their hair so they don’t look like they’ve just been fighting. It’s too late, their brother already knows, but they hide the evidence anyways.

The thing Franklin finally understands, is that it’s not a lie when Nubbins says he isn’t scared.

It sort of inspires him to wanna feel that way too.

So this time, once the boys are settled back in their seats, he initiates a kiss, right on Nubbins’ cheek. Nubbins sneaks and turns his head quick to make it a real kiss, but just a peck.

Bobby giggles and points at them, “Y’all got.. C-Coooooties!”

Nubbins would’ve probably jumped across the table and tackled him again if the rest of the family didn’t start coming in for supper.

Instead, he’ll hold Franklin’s hand, all throughout, for the rest of the day even if he can help it, and not care even one little bit who’s looking,

[charleslee-valentine]

Be My Valentime

Ship: Franknub

Word count: ~2,900

Warnings: Implied abuse

______

A piece of printer paper, some paint, and a box of crayons. Nubbins has his supplies laid all out on the table, making a craft very different from his usual string and bone art structures.

It’s for his friend, the next door neighbor. His very bestest friend.

The paper, a little stiff from being painted red, is decorated with little drawings and words that should be special for his friend. Only for him. It’s the kind Nubbins don’t want nobody else to see.

Every time one of his pesky brothers walks past, he lays all his weight on the table, hiding it under his chest and bent elbows. Problem is, he accidentally got too involved in the color of a certain sunflower drawing, he don’t even notice when his twin comes up behind him and peers over his shoulder.

Bobby speaks suddenly loud, right there in his ear, “W-Whatcha drawin’?”

Nubbins’ heart must jump halfway to the ceiling from how spooked he gets, but he don’t give up hiding it, “Nuthin.”

That only gets his brother's interest more. Bobby leans over him more, half his weight on Nubbins’ chair now, “Lemme see!”

Nubbins gnashes his teeth, trying to bite, and argues back, jus’ as loud and echoey in the high ceilinged dining room, “N-No!”

They gets a stern warning from big brother in the next room, “You boys cut that shit out or else I’ll..“

They don’t listen to the whole threat. A single, quiet-as-a-mouse moment passes ‘tween the Sawyer twins. Nubbins looks at Bobby, and Bobby at Nubbins, both of ‘em starin’ hard. It’s the latter that lunges first.

Bobby gets only one teeny corner of the card in his grabby fist ‘fore Nubbins yanks the rest back, crumbling up what he gets and tearing it ‘til it’s nothing but ribbons of colored paper.

A bold smile sits there proudly on his face. His twin though, he looks just kinda confused after watching Nubbins kill his own art piece like that.

“What was that f-for?”

“I-I didn’t want you to see.” Is a solid answer for Nubbins. All that needs said.

Only there’s something else even more simpler running through Bobby’s head. He looks side to side, a few times, ‘fore getting right close to whisper, “W-Was it a uh.. a dirty drawing?”

Nubbins’ face must turn pink as a summer sunset. First instinct that comes is to whack Bobby upside his smug, empty head.

“No! Sh-Shut up!”

Oh but that rotten thought has done planted itself firm, no amount of denial from Nubbins could change Bobbys mind. The asshole just laughs and laughs ‘til he’s turnin’ funny colors too, “It was! I-It was!!”

Makes him so mad he just wants to-

The twins end up in a tussle on the floor. Ain’t the place for it, there in the dining room, ‘cause it’s too close to being caught by Drayton. So’s they take it to the front of the house instead, crashin’ out past the heavy curtains they got hung up to keep the elements out, hot or cold.

Some time in all the chaos, Bubba’d come in to borrow the crayon tin. Really, it belonged to them anyhow, since they was the one t’ find it at the station, when it got left behind by some other little kid.

Their picture was of themself and their pet Missy chicken, with little hearts in their favoritest colors all around. Drayton done took it to place with pride on the wall in the living room, next to all the framed old pictures of the house and family members long since passed, and Bubba’s other art pieces.

That was how the boys got caught still wrastlin’.

Later on, Nubbins is snug in his bed with a bruise on his cheek.

Normally, he’d be grumpy, at least at first while the dumb thing had to settle inta his skin and heal. Not today. Today’s special, and this bruise is kinda funny actually.

Two little fingerprints by his jaw bone, ‘cept’n they don’t look like just that, these here come together and makes a purple-ish blue heart.

Nubbins presses down on it and thinks of all the hearts he’d drawn on his special piece of paper earlier. Of the friend he’d been dedicatin’ all his loves to. He decides he don’t just wanna lay here and think so much no more.

Careful as a mouse sniffin’ poison, he crawls outta his bed and sneaks his boots back on, tryin’ to be quiet so he won’t wake his brother.

Don’t work.

Bobby ain’t need much sleep, but when he’s out, he’s out hard, so he spooks bad. He sits bolt upright, them pale and foggy eyes of his struggling to make much out in a the pitch dark room with the curtains drawn and everything.

“W-Who’s there?”

Nubbins whispers back, lettin’ the first thing that comes to mind spill out, “Ain’t nobody.”

Bobby’s sleepy, equally bruised face scrunches up, “You sure?”

Even though his twin won’t be able to see it in the dark, Nubbins nods. “Ain’t n-nobody but the.. uh.. the dream fairy. Go to b-bed.”

“O-Okay.” Bobby agrees without a care and tosses back in bed, snoring like a damn bear in a cave ‘fore Nubbins even finished the laces on his next boot.

It’s funny, messin’ with him when he’s like that. Nubbins giggles about it under his breath, all quiet so nobody’ll hear and bust his butt again for what he’s ‘bout to do.

There’s a tree close to their window. The boys knows that well, but Drayton never found it out, so they never had to switch rooms. Now that he’s real tall, it’s easy just to open the window a bit and swing a leg out to the branches.

Every time, his stomach drops a little bit, but he’s yet to fall the whole height down. He’s just never successfully climbed the full way down neither. Maybe a quarter of the way there Nubbins tumbles ass first out the tree in a mess of arms and legs all a-flailin’ about.

No way old man would’ve missed a sound like all that, with them branches snapping and such.

Knowing his ass depends on it, Nubbins runs. Like a bat outta hell he runs straight to the neighboring property, finding the back like he always does, and calling up for his friend to invite him in ‘fore it’s too late.

“Hey! Fr-Franklin!”

After just a moment, the window and the shutters swings open. Franklin's head and his pretty, curly puff of hair appears in the opening, “Nubbins? That your little ass down there?”

“Y-Yeh, ‘s me. I-I made you a..a Valentimes.” Nubbins declares it proudly.

His card was for the special day that Franklin teached him all about. A holiday all’s about love and pretty things! ‘Course the first thing he wanted to do was make his best friend a special gift for it.

Franklin can’t accept it yet from all the way up high. He explains, “You gonna have to come up t’ me. I don’t got my chair.”

That’s all the more permission Nubbins needs to grab onto the ivy and scale the house. It’s easy work, after so long of nobody taking real good care of the property. The house is gettin’ better on the inside, but the outside sure is still ugly. Easy to climb on though!

Nubbins half tumbles into Franklin’s window, while he sorts out how to unfurl himself from one last twisted vine, asking up on the state of his missing wheels, “Where’s’d they g-go?”

Franklin smiles, but it’s not one of those weird ones that makes Nubbins feel silly for asking questions. It’s a happy smile.

He points to the discarded wheelchair off to the side of the room, “It’s here. Just c’ain’t get in ‘ere all by myself. Or roll my jolly green ass down the steps, now can I?”

Nubbins’ hands get happy, giggling just at the thought, “Y-You’d look like me, then.”

If Franklin hit his face on the way down, they could match, and have identical little heart shaped bruises. Maybe next beating, it would be a cut, and then Nubbins could toss Franklin down the steps, and they could have matching scars instead.

All of it makes him giggle and shake his hands about it.

But Franklin’s distinct smile has left his features behind. Now he looks concerned, “Damn it critter, who kicked your ass this time?”

“Oh, m-my brothers.” Nubbins explains, not seeing the issue, even less so when Franklin’s expression turns surprised. It’s not new that big brother gets mean. He never understands why Franklin don’t just get that it’s no big deal. So he explains again, “Well it was.. i-it was Bobby first, ‘n then I gots in trouble f-fer the noise a-and Drayton got me good too. S-So I wouldn’t do it again.”

“That’s no good, Nubbins… I wish they wouldn’t hurt ya like that.” Franklin argues anyways.

It’s not even that bad though. Ripping his heart out and stomping on it on Valentime’s is what hurts. Nubbins pouts a little, arms crossed and voice higher, “B-Bobby didn’t mean t’!”

A moment.

“And Drayton?”

Nubbins doesn’t wanna think about dumb old Drayton right now. He refuses to, even.

Silence. He won’t even look at his Franklin. His thoughts gets frantic trying to think of just somethin’ other than what Franklin wants to talk about, anythin’ but that. Then he remembers why he came over.

A tiny burst of happy comes back into Nubbins’ heart, as he shares, “Oh! I r..remembered! I g-got your Valentime!!”

“Let’s see it then- oh.” Franklin watches as the sprinkles of colorful paper are dumped into his open hand in a little pile.

His expression is unclear, so Nubbins feels compelled to explain, feels little tingles of nervous nipping at his spine.

“I-It used ta be one piece, but..but I had to rip it up c-cause Bobby was g-gonna look!”

Franklin looks down at the mess of a gift in his hands. Nubbins gets twitchy and anxious, shifting closer, tapping his fingers, craving a good answer so, so badly.

His best friend looks him in the eye, “Thank you, Nubbins. Really. It’s a good card.”

Nubbins can’t help that he gets excited. He raises his arms up and shakes them, letting out the tension that was building up in his bones. He points to the once-Valentime mess, “It said uh.. well I-I don’t really remember what it said but.. y-you like it?”

“Well sure!” Franklin agrees again, wearing something like pride in his face, mixed with happy.

Nubbins’ movements accidentally bump some of the paper scraps out of Franklin’s hands and onto the floor. He almost freezes, making messes is bad, liable to get his butt beat. But Franklin doesn’t get mad. He laughs, and warns, with nothing but playful in his tone, “Ope, ope, careful now!”

It’s all a lot to feel at once.

Nubbins gets as close as he can to Franklin like this, and lays his head on him, hidin’ from the big emotions behind a soft denim shirt and his own hair. Franklin doesn’t do anything but let him, which is fine and all, but Nubbins wants more. Impatient, he pulls for a second to pick up Franklin’s hand, dumping more paper pieces, and he guides it to his hair. He wants touches.

Franklin gets the hint eventually and pets his hair like Nubbins would pet a sad little roadside critter. Slowly, he eases back down and just lays all on his best friend. Part of him wants to bite the fabric of Franklin’s shirt, but last time he tried that he got a scolding. Instead, he chews on his own hair, focusing on doin’ something instead of feelin’ all the feelings.

It’s eventually Franklin who speaks up, never sermon’ to like the silence too much. “I like it when you visit me.”

That gives Nubbins an idea. Excitedly, he declares, “Y-You could l-live with me, a-and we could be visiting a-all the time!”

“I’m sorry, Nubbins but-“ That’s enough. His spirits already extinguished, his idea squashed. He cuts Franklin off.

Nubbins wouldn’t say he’s poutin’, but he ain’t smiling no more either. “D-Don’t be mean.”

“I won’t… I just… You know how it is. With your big brother.. I don’t really think I’d fit in there is all.” Franklin explains his side soft and quiet, trying not to poke the upset bear maybe.

Too bad. This bear is fully frustrated and ready to pounce, “Stop it. I-I don’t like you sayin’ that.”

That’s the end of it. Franklin does stop just like he asked. “Alright.”

Nubbins squeezes him tighter. He doesn’t like where that left off. Bad, bad thoughts start to replace the happy ones.

His Franklin, his bestest friend in the whole wide world of Texas, wouldn’t never hurt him the way big brother does. ‘Cept’n the worries is still there anyway.

Nubbins doesn’t lift his head, but he asks, “Is you m-mad at me?”

“Nope.” Franklin denies automatically.

Just in case that isn’t the end of it, Nubbins asks to clarify, knowing better than to assume anythin’ his stupid brain can’t comprehend. “Bu..But?”

Not even raisin’ his voice, Franklin just clarifies, “But nothin’, Nubbins. I ain’t mad. Not at you, not ever.”

That there is almost enough to lift his spirits. Nubbins at least is encouraged to switch the subject, “I-It’s still Valentimes, right?”

Franklin sort of shrugs, as much as he can with Nubbins’ weight on him, “I’m pretty sure, yeah.”

When the big feelings come this time, Nubbins don’t extinguish them all out, he puts it into one big action instead of the little ones in his body. Not for the first time, but maybe for the first where it meant something this special, Nubbins kisses Franklin.

It’s just quick, one tiny press of the lips more than anything else. He probably mostly misses Franklin’s too. Don't make it feel any less nice in his heart.

“That your real gift, huh?” Is what Franklin asks, pink in the face and soundin’ a little breathless. Nubbins doesn’t have words just yet. He nods, so Franklin shows his thanks with another kiss, though this one is to Nubbins’ cheek, “Well, thank you.”

Nubbins waits, for just a minute, but gets frustrated quick. Franklin isn’t doing what he’s supposed to.

“Where.. W-Where’s my present?”

“Go get that little box over there.”

Franklin points to the desk he’s got pushed up to the wall on the far side of the room. There’s a little white box no bigger than the palm of his hand with a burlap ribbon around it sits there.

Sneaky as a fox, even though he already got his permissions, Nubbins goes and snatches it up, givin’ it a little shake. It don’t make much noise, so he looks to Franklin, guessing with the limited number of clues what it could be in his head.

Understanding the silent conversation, Franklin allows him, “Go on. Open it up.”

Nubbins pulls the ribbon and sends it falling undone to the floor before either can blink. Maybe from excitement, or nerves, or just from the way he is, his hands shake so much it takes a few tries to retrieve the thin cord of a present from inside.

His face turns sort of blank instead of happy, showing his confusion, “Wha-What is it?”

“A new necklace. It’s some kind of leather so it won’t bust like your old one. Figured you could add your little charms and stuff.” Franklin explains it, but instead of the joy of clarity crossing Nubbins’ face, he only gets grumpier.

He crosses his legs and just sits, right there in the middle of the floor. Poutin’.

Franklin tries really, really hard not to let out a little laugh. This is serious business, even if Nubbins looks adorable like that, “What’s the matter?”

“My dumb old present was br-broke.” Nubbins huffs.

So he thinks a handwritten card don’t compare to a store bought gift just cause it was all ripped up. But he was so bouncy when he got here. Franklin don’t care none, expecting it to not be torn up would’ve honestly been the only thing more unfair’n Nubbins’ current self-depreciation.

“Hey now, it’s alright.” Franklin assures, and seeing Nubbins about to shake his head, only doubles down, “You could always make another!”

That grabs his interest again. “And th-then you’ll have two!!”

Franklin looks at the pile of scrap in his hands. There’s a piece with two little sunflowers on it still intact. He takes it and puts it in his shirt pocket, presses it down, then gives Nubbins his biggest, most loving smile.

“One for hangin’ up, and one for keepin’ close to my heart.”

Nubbins just bursts with big emotions, and good ones at that. His hands flutter like hummingbirds over sweetwater, and he wiggles side to side.

“This is my f-favorite Valentimes e-ever!”

It’s also his first, but that’s not really the point, so Franklin don’t say a word.

His heart’s gone soft for that boy. If he knew it weren't too much to feel at once, he’d tell him he loved him right then and there. Instead, he settles on agreeing about the holiday.

“Yeh. S’my favorite too.”

[charleslee-valentine]

Hey all I posted a new franknub fic! Please heed the tags as a warning for the content in this fic.

[charleslee-valentine]

Two new fics for y’all! They’re sorta part of the same au universe!

Franknub! ^

And Lefton! Also check this’n out for warnings, it’s a little darker^

[charleslee-valentine]

Chapter 4 is up! As always, the summary has applicable warnings! <3

[charleslee-valentine]

Me again with another franknub fic! Check the tags, this one’s a harder read.

[charleslee-valentine]

Chapter 5 is up! Check the warnings! That tension’s building up! <3