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     Quin clung to Grimerson tightly as if he wasn't surrounded by governors, press and citizens, while the orphans watched from inside the airship.

     "Quin, this is not exactly professional..."

     The man only hugged tighter, and despite his words, Grim reflected the gesture. Just after doing so, though, he pulled back to lean in and plant a peck on Quin's lips.

     Now, they've shared cousinly pecks before, but it was Quin that usually initiated them, and they were most certainly not that long and they certainly didn't involve tongue.

     Grim could have been sympathetic of the fact that people were around, which meant he was lowering the reputation of the ship, but he couldn't care less by that point. All that he cared of was Quin, and the way his body responded- he could feel him shivering against his fingers, and the grip on his jacket tighten.

     "I'm quitting." Quin coughed out, shaking his head. "There's no way I'm going to run that airship with Peterson."

     Grim chuckled. "It's just what you said about me when my brother passed away, Quin. Besides, Peterson is a good man. If I grew on you, he'll most certainly manage."

     Quin shook his head, turning towards one of the governors in charge of the ship. "I am quitting."

     Before anyone got to react to his impulsive, uncharacteristic reaction, a determined but quiet voice interrupted.

--------

     Veronique glared at the security guy, whose hand was gripping one of the double doors. Turquoise eyes moved from the guard to the principal outside and back to the guard, the teenager's posture as stiff as a statue, until the creak of the door snapped him out of it.

     "Don't!" he screeched.

     Without much thought into it, he ran forwards and slid between the doors, reaching outside on the gangway.

     Outside.

     The first thing he felt was the overwhelmingly fresh air punching its way into his lungs with each pant he took.

     There was so much space! Anywhere he looked, there was just infinite horizon that made him feel so small and fragile and helpless! And despite the enormous space, there was not a place to hide from all the people gazing at him and him only.

     So many people. The most he ever saw were the orphans gathered at the dining room, near 200, but this... So many unfamiliar faces just gazing at him. Outsiders...

     "Me too..." he whimpered, then cleared his throat. "I'm- I- I'm leaving..." he tried, he really tried to stop his knees from shaking, but one of them did give up, making him limp once before getting back in balance.

     Walking was even worse. He felt handicapped under the crushing stares of the citizens, but he eventually managed to reach Grim and cling to him as if his life depended on it.

     Grimerson looked from Veronique to Quin and to one of the governors, Parker. "This is disrespectful towards the governors, I ask of you to put an end to this charade..."

     But he closed his eyes and sighed the moment he heard another round of steps coming from the ship. He didn't even need to look to know Matthews was approaching, William certainly on his trails. A chain reaction was slowly and steadily building up, and it couldn't possibly end up well.

     "We'll leave too." Matt casually announced, hands in pockets and shoulders slumped, just as the swooning girls in the crowd remembered him.

     Veronique sighed in relief, peeking from behind Grim at Matthews and looking at him guiltily. The last thing he wanted was to be parted from the man, but taking him away from the orphanage meant ruining his future.

     Oliver, though, seemed even less caring than Matthews showed himself to be.

     The blond strode towards them, his strands waving like tentacles in the wind. His lips were in a slight smirk and his eyes searched the crowd, occasionally winking at giggling girls. "Count me in!"

     Now, Oliver was quite the sociable guy, it would be only natural for him to have a considerable amount of friends. And so, with him came another wave of orphans, who in turn carried with them friends and their friends' friends. It was a mess.

     Quin grinned happily at that, while Grimerson glanced embarrassed at Parker.

     The governor waited for the silence to settle in, point at which he looked each orphan in the eyes with a considering glare.

     Veronique, despite the lump in his throat and the nausea overwhelming his insides, managed to smile hopefully. Sure, few of those students would plan to actually leave for the principal, but the intention mattered, and it would surely make a big enough impact for the principal to remain.

     "Would you all honestly leave if the man is to be fired?" Parker asked, his voice betraying no hint of what he was getting at.

     The students nodded enthusiastically. Of course, they weren't all intending to quit, that would put them into the ground orphanage or leave them on the streets, but they knew that Parker would in no way just shoo about two dozen geniuses at once.

     "Very well. You may follow me to the dining room, where you will be provided the necessary documents you must sign to leave."

     Veronique vomited.

     Matthews hugged Veronique with an arm as the boy looked around the dining room. Orphans were steadily leaving, about half of them gone, and the other half slowly subsiding. Their steps on hard wood echoed through the room, pumping Veronique's heart harder and harder.

     The teenager then moved his gaze on Matthews, eyebrows raised and eyes uncertain.

     "Don't look at me like that. I saw Quin signing his resignation, there's no way I'd stick around with a stranger. Besides, I've grown tired of the same scenery." he assured, leaning to nuzzle his hair.

     Veronique leaned into the touch, tilting his head to peck Matt on the neck. Then, he wrapped his arms around his neck, sighing shakily as the man embraced him. "It's just... outside, you know?"

     "You'll grow used to it, I promise. I'll be there all along." Matthews said.

     "Us too." William joined.

     The point of his pen was touching the paper as he rubbed his jaw.

     Veronique pulled back from his lover. "Are you sure about this, Willie? You really have potential to become someone..."

     The brunet shrugged. "All I wish to do is read, and I've gone through most of the Library up here. That, and I don't wish to part from you two."

     Veronique sketched a smile, then looked at the blond. Oliver grinned, nudging Will's shoulder.

     "I'm just going where he's going, mate."

     The teenager sighed shakily, looking back at the document. Just then, a shadow leaked onto it, making him look up curiously.

     "Hello, boys." Quin said, taking a seat at the head of the table. "You haven't signed yet?"

     Veronique scratched at his shoulder. "You think we should?"

     "What do you mean?"

     "I mean… We're four, and… Until we find a home, I'm guessing we could only stay at Grim's."

     "So?" Quin smiled. "Me and him have been saving our salaries all those years. There wasn't much we could spend it on other than fancy suits anyway, considering the airship assured our comfort just fine." he assured, patting Veronique's shoulder. "We'll manage to take care of you four."

     The boy still looked hesitant.

     "Look, I know it must be hard, having your friends' futures on your shoulders, but believe me, none of you will regret it. I know you pals since little, I can tell that you're going to be happy as mere citizens."

     Veronique looked at his second cousin with a smile, feeling the hand on his shoulder emanate encouragement and safety. If there was anyone he trusted all those years, it was Quin. More so now, that he saw him as family.

     Gripping Matthews's hand, he faced the paper and picked up his pen.

     And that is how a new life started for everyone.

     Veronique, after only a couple weeks of living in Grim and Quin's home, was enlightened by the sight of a perfumery. He entered right ahead, and the old man running the place, Jean-Pierre, recognized the sparkle in Veronique's eyes as his own. With no hesitation, he hired Veronique as an apprentice, and Matthews tagged along, helping with whatever he managed: cleaning, arranging, calculating, even contributing in the making of perfumes. The two lived with the old man for a while, at the small flat upstairs the shop.

     But Matthews couldn't help but notice that old Jean-Pierre read quite a lot in his 70 years of living. He suggested that the man sold his books, seeing as he knew two certain people that could convince customers into buying them.

     Jean-Pierre seemed enlightened by the idea, and he took William and Oliver under his roof as well, decision which improved his economy visibly. The four friends were rather crowded, all sharing one room, but that was until it happened.

     The old man peacefully passed away in his sleep, leaving the perfumery for the four friends to run. They still carry the business, and if anyone is to ever momentarily space out under the dominating influence of a scent like none other, they would know it was Veronique's hand.

     Of course, they didn't forget of Grimerson and Quin, paying them visits whenever manageable.

     The two men were living healthily and happily together, the matching rings on their fingers bonding them to this day. They couldn't marry from legal reasons, of course, but that didn't stop them from loving one another ever since Grimerson proposed with a shy "Cousin Quin, may I be your king?"

     And so, the variegated mess that was their lives settled into a smooth rainbow.

     Thud

     William placed the thick notebook on his lap, looking up at the three people sitting on the bed ahead of him.

     "Well?" he asked huskily, nibbling his thumb.

     Matthews tightened his hug on Veronique, head placed on the smaller one's shoulder. "Well, what? Go ahead and publish it."

     Will scoffed, shaking his head. "I need some criticism so I can change it before going head first into presenting it."

     Oliver shrugged, messing up the blond cascade that was his hair, now reaching his hips. "I liked the sex scenes."

     The brunet sighed.

     "I don't like my character." Veronique snapped, turquoise eyes scowling. "You made me act like a little pansy."

     Matthews pecked his cheek. "Said Veronique, wearing stockings at the age of twenty-two and crying whenever a perfume doesn't work out."

     The young man crossed his arms, at which his friends laughed.

     "In all honesty," Matthews told Will, "we're no critiques. You can ask Grimerson and Quin's opinion on it tomorrow."

     William nodded, placing the notebook on a nightstand and then stretching over the mattress with a crack of his back. He knew what was to follow, but he still smirked when Oliver slumped on top of him, blanketing him in warmth.

     Veronique smiled at his friends, then untangled himself from Matt to lay down as well. He turned around, raising his arms expectantly, and his lover moved above him, propping himself on his elbows. He bent his head slowly, planting a peck on Veronique's lower lip.

     The younger caught Matthews's mouth in a row of loud, wet smooches before trying to initialize an actual kiss. However, his lips accidentally slid off Matt's, causing him to get his chin instead.

     Matthews hissed out a laughter.

     "Six years and you still can't get this right." he sighed, pecking him. "And it's as cute of you as ever."

     Veronique smiled, running a hand through the man's hair and pinning his head on top of his chest.

     "Goodnight Mattie… Goodnight Willie… Goodnight Ollie…"

     With that, he sank in the warmth that was having a family and slept. 

Well? Well? I am so nervous about this :( Please comment letting me know if the book was all right! 

Aaaand Holy mother of God this is another book done :o That would make it 6 books in one year? + the short stories one. 

Speaking of short stories, with the ocassion of Christmas, I invite you to read "VVonders of Christmas." But not before commenting what you thought of Variegated :D 

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