Work Text:
"you're never going to be enough."
"why are you so stupid, iggy?"
"you're useless, you know. you can't even help yourself, why are you trying to make everyone else happy?"
"they wouldn't care if you died. who even would, for a sorry bitch like you? fucking freak!"
Iggy's gaze dropped to his boots as he shivered in the snow, one bad thought after another coming to bombard him. He took one step back, then two. He was stupid. So, so stupid. Why did he think Gidget really would meet him of all people out here, in the snow? It was his fault anyway that he had run away from Gidget at the party, all his fault, it was his fault whydidhehavetokeepscrewingeverythingupwhycouldn'thebe-
He clapped his gloved hands over his ears, breaths coming in short, quick gasps as the snow started falling faster and faster. His vision blurred and he let out a few small, quick sobs, taking a step back, then another as the memory of the party flashed into his mind. He remembered the bright, overwhelming colors, the flashing lights that seemed to blind him as he moved through the dance hall with the blond.
Gidget had always been so sweet to him, walking with a grace that Iggy could never hope to replicate as they had woven through crowds of people. He remembered Gidget's soft voice, asking Iggy if he needed to leave constantly, and how the blond had never left his side, even when others had asked them if they wanted to dance, chat, or even get food. Then...his mind wandered to the last dance of the night. The slow dance.
Gidget had given him a look, silently asking if he would want to dance with them, and the albino male was so comfortable at the party- with his prince- that he had said yes.
Gidget had taken Gidget's hands in his own, cold hands meeting warm ones, the blonde making sure he was okay as they started the dance. It had felt almost...magical, being led through the dance steps with Gidget- before they stopped. Iggy shut his eyes as he remembered his words.
"I like you Iggy. A lot. This party...it- it let me be what..well, what I wanted to be for you. Your prince." the blonde had stammered out, flustering the albino as Gidget let go of his hands, covering his face as his face turned red. "I know it sounds silly and childish, but it is how I feel! Being with you here...dancing with you like this.." the blond uncovered their eyes but kept their hands over their mouth. "It's perfect. You're perfect. My Cinderella."
Iggy had been too stunned to speak at the time, before managing out a "I..I..." opening and closing his mouth a few times as Gidget uncovered their face again, grabbing Iggy's wrists with a gentle but firm grip.
"Iggy..can I...can I kiss you?" they blurted out, face full of determination.
He had waited a second. Just a split second too long before Bucks had cut in and interrupted everything. If he had just gone a second earlier, if he had been better-
The warm, fuzzy feeling he had had thinking about Gidget was gone, now replaced by a wave of guilt as he took a step back, then two as the thoughts from before flooded into his mind again. Why would Gidget of all people love him? A monster, an albino freak- why did they defend him back in grade school, he didn't deserve them-
He let out another choked sob. He was a mess. A sniveling mess that didn't deserve to be loved. Not now, not ever.
He turned back around to go walk to the bus stop or maybe call an Uber before he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Iggy!"
The white-haired boy turned back around slowly, seeing a familiar blond running towards him desperately, their scarf coming undone and billowing out behind them like a princely cape. Gidget stopped a few feet away from him, hesitating silently before the two started talking at the same time.
"Oh gosh Iggy I'm so sorry I went too fast didn't-"
"I'm sorry Gidget I can't believe I'm such a failure I-"
Both men stopped at the same time, staring at each other. "you can go first!" they said in sync before stopping, "no, you!"
Finally, after awkward silence, Gidget cleared his throat. "Look, Iggy...I'm sorry. I went too fast and I probably-" he was cut off by Iggy's hand going up.
"No, no..it's my fault. I love you too." he blurted out before realizing what he said, blushing heavily and covering his face with both hands, mumbling apologies.
Gidget grabbed both his wrists, and Iggy gasped at the sudden burst of warmth. "Iggy..don't be sorry. Really."
"I don't want to lose you, Gidget. I really don't." Iggy mumbled, shoving his hands in his coat pockets. "I..I.. want to get closer with you too. I enjoy being around you, though. Being..being with you." He swallowed, looking away. "Gidget, I'm sorry- It- it's all really new to me and I don't understand this- you probably would want someone who's better at this-" he flushed, burying his face in his scarf.
"Iggy." Gidget said firmly, making Iggy look up at him. "Don't worry. I don't really understand it all myself..but...we'll work through it together, yeah?"
The white-haired boy nodded quietly. "...yeah. Yeah we will." He took his hands out of his pockets and began fidgeting with his gloves until Gidget cleared his throat again.
"...can we..try again? From the party? If..if you want. I just..I want a second chance. To be your prince again. It just..it feels right..." Gidget trailed off, looking away from Iggy nervously.
Iggy hesitated, flushing more. "Of..of course." the words left his lips before he could think about it, and he ducked his head nervously. "If it's...okay..."
Before he could say anything else, Gidget laughed, breaking the tension between the two of them.
"Hey! It's not funny!" If tomatoes could get any redder, Iggy had already far surpassed that level.
Gidget put a hand to his mouth to stifle his laughter. "It's just..you're cute. You're an anxious ace Cinderella- my anxious ace Cinderella. C'mere."
They kissed in the snowy moonlight, an anxious princess and his blond prince. A lock and a key, one of a kind but made for each other.