(no subject)
Title: Stay With Me. Buddy
Pairing: Sonia Knope-Wyatt/Leslie Traeger/John Swanson/Oliver Traeger
Note: The fic that was started on March as a kind of joke which I still haven't finished yet. This is going to be a three-part fic. Dedicated to castelfranca. Thanks for the sudden bursts of ideas. ♥
SONIA KNOPE-WYATT
Your first memory of her is when both of you are four years old but you know you already know her way back then when you are babies because you always see pictures of the two of you in every moment of your birthdays. Your mothers are best friends and you are sure they make the two of you best friends too. Not that you hate it.
Well, it sometimes makes you uneasy calling her by her whole name because her mother, Aunt Ann, named her after your mother. So you call her Les or Lili which she hates but you know she is just pretending to hate it.
You genuinely like her. You like talking to her about a lot of stuff. You Gryzzl each other most of the time and when the two of you meet in person, both of you are inseparable. You play a lot with each other, sometimes with the boys, his brother, your twin brothers and John, Uncle Ron’s son.
But you like it the best when it’s only the two of you playing chase in a park nearby or stargazing in the nearest hill behind their house. That’s why you are ecstatic when you learn from her that they will come and live in Pawnee because you overheard your parents that the whole family might go back and stay at Pawnee for sure too. It obviously means the two of you will leave near each other. You keep it a secret from your parents though.
So when the two of you meet again in person, both 11 years old, you talk non-stop. Your parents and their friends are busy catching up inside the office where your mom used to work. Ivy and Zoey are amazed that both of you always finish each other’s sentences and like you’re not going to stop talking.
Later, Oliver tells you that he wants to show you something. With Les busy with baby Jack, you walk with Oliver to the side of the office. You can see Aunt Ann and your dad talking about something. Oliver whips out his Gryzzl tab and shows you a new app. It is interesting and after a few seconds the two of you are so into the game. You look up and see your mom doing thumbs up to you. You just smile and look down again to play with Oliver. You feel Oliver’s mother and your mom are trying to set the two of you up. You are not really bothered by it but you think of Oliver so you ask him.
“Oliver, do you like me?”
Oliver looks up to you and shyly smiles. “Yeah. How about you?”
“I like you too” you answered.
Oliver beams you a smile.
The days pass, even years and you and Les and the rest of the gang’s friendship is still strong because you go to the same school and you sometimes hang out to study or just to have fun. Your group, which Wesley nicknames the “Parks” gang, is inseparable especially during summer. Your favorite time is during school breaks because Zoey and Ivy always treat all of you out to pizza and it makes you feel that everything is complete. It makes you hope things will never change.
You are 14 when you hear about Oliver and John getting into a fight and the reason is you. You are both surprised and concerned because the friendship of the gang might be in danger. That night, Les calls you.
“Uncle Ron and Auntie Diane came by here with John.” Les says as soon as you answer your cell phone. “Both Oliver and John’s faces are bruised. They tried to make them tell why did they have a fight but they won’t say anything because it was something personal. Our parents respected their decision but they said they should make up soon.”
“Are they friends again?” you ask.
“Maybe, I don’t know. But I am sure they really had a fight about you.”
You scoff. “Come on, Les. You think John has a crush on me?”
“I think so, because Oliver was talking about you and John interrupted him then they had a heated argument that ended up in fist fight.”
“Where did you learn all of these?”
“From the other boys in the locker room at the school gym.”
You don’t know why but you suddenly feel a twinge of jealousy. You know Les is close with other people especially the boys but you are not worried about that because your friendship is very solid but you don’t know why you are feeling the jealousy now.
“I really hope they will be okay soon.” You say before sighing.
“Do you really like my brother?” Les asks in almost a whisper. “I know he has a thing for you.”
“Yeah, maybe. I don’t know. Why?”
Les becomes silent for a few second.
“Les?”
“Well, you are friends. Are you not afraid that someday if ever you got together and then maybe you break up, you won’t be friends anymore?”
You let out an awkward laugh. “What are you trying to say, Les?”
“Friendship and love don’t really mix, I guess. Well that’s just my opinion.”
It’s your turn to be quiet. A pinch in your chest is starting to grow. You push it away and try to change the subject. The next day, you learn and you are so relieved that John and Oliver are friends again. They are able to hang out without awkwardness at all.
You are 16 when you and Oliver started dating to the joy of your mothers. It is ecstatic and you feel happy but you know you are happier for your mother and Auntie Ann. Your friends easily accepted your relationship though most of the time they tease the two of you. Even your parents’ friends too, saying the two of you are Pawnee’s future power couple. Of course you laugh with them. Oliver seems happy too. You are also 16 when you receive your first kiss from him.
You like it and everything that is happening between you and Oliver, you always tell your best friend. Les is always there to listen but you can feel the two of you are drifting apart even though you still always hang out. You think maybe Les needs a boyfriend too so you try hooking her up with Stephen or Wesley but it doesn’t work. Les gets angry at you when she realizes what you are doing. She stops talking to you for a week. You are hurt and you cry every night in that first week.
When you see a note inside your locker on a busy Monday at school, you immediately know it is from Les. You hurriedly open the note and scrawled with Les’ familiar handwriting are the words “I’m sorry.” You get teary-eyed because you know you should be the one who is sorry.
You look up and Les is there with a small smile. You realize how beautiful she is especially when she’s looking shy. Your heart start to beat so fast as a grin forms in your face.
“Hey.” Les said.
“I’m sorry.” Both of you said then you laughed and hugged each other. You feel your friendship never faltered.
Or so you thought.
--
JOHN SWANSON
With every punch, your fists ache but the ache in your chest is heavier than what your hands are feeling. You feel Oliver fighting back which make you think. Why did you punch him in the first place? You heard him talking about Sonia earlier and it made you feel rage in an unexplainable way so you said something between the lines of the likes of Sonia who is very beautiful will never like someone like Oliver.
It made Oliver’s face flush into bright red and he mumbled something which you retorted by laughing and another snide remark. You know you did not mean it but you can’t stop yourself. It became physical when he launched himself to you, so you fought back and he fought back too. Everything went into a blur when the gym instructor broke off the fight. It feels surreal. You just punched your friend of so many years. You hurt him because you were hurting
What a shame. What will your father say, your sisters, especially your mother?
That night you sit with them with a bruised face and fat lips. Your father, Ron Swanson, lectures you calmly as your mother, Diane, cleans your wounds. Your father never shouted at you but you can feel the heaviness of the words he is currently telling you.
You have to apologize to Oliver. That’s what you and your father agreed upon so your mother called Auntie Ann. You go to their house. You still feel ashamed you can’t look straight at Auntie Ann and Uncle Chris’ faces. Oliver has his head down too. Auntie Ann starts asking questions on why you fought but Oliver says it is personal and you nod in agreement. Uncle Chris, the optimist he is, decides to just let the two of you talk about it on your own way so they leave you alone in the living room as the adults prepare for dinner. Your parents accept the Traegers’ invitation.
Oliver sits down on the arm chair. You catch a glimpse of Les in the top of the staircase. You feel more ashamed because you know you fail her as a friend. You and Oliver are the oldest yet you don’teven think of becoming a good role model to the younger ones.
“Look, Oliver.” You start. you have to clear your throat because it become too scratchy. “I am sorry. I am so sorry for hurting you. I guess. I got jealous-“
Your speech is cut short when Oliver’s head shoot up to you, eyes inquiring. “You like Sonia too?”
You swallow and feel the protest in your chest. “No, of course not. I feel jealous because you have someone you like and it seems she likes you too. I envy you because I still can’t find someone who will like me as much as I like them.”
Oliver seems to take in every word you said. “Oh.”
“Let me make it up to you. Tell me, Oliver, what can I do for you to forgive me?” You know there is desperation in your voice but well you are really desperate. You don’t want the friendship to end. You don’t want the other feeling awkward because of what you did to Oliver.
Oliver drop down his head then shook it sideways. Your heart went down to your stomach. You did it. You will never be forgiven. He looked up again at you and he smiled. Your heart soared.
“I already forgive you, John.” He extended his hand to a fist bump and you gladly bump it before saying your thanks. “So you really think Sonia likes me?”
You laugh and punch his arm playfully as the two of you walk to the kitchen. That night is the best night for you as you eat with your friends’ family.
You and Oliver grow closer. You become his confidante; you are always there to help him with stuff and with Sonia. He always tells you about her and you just get along with him, telling him that you are rooting for him. You try convincing yourself, to be honest.
Two years later, Oliver and Sonia finally start dating. You are happy for them or rather you try to. You always try. Behind your every smile and congratulations is a heart that is aching, a boy that is scared and hurt because the person he loves will never love him back.
You can’t explain to yourself why or how you fell for him. You start hanging out with Les, trying to give her what you want to give to Oliver. You want to love her more than a little sister but you stop because of what Les ask you.
“Have you ever loved someone who can never love you back because that someone loves someone else?”
After a long pause you uttered “Yes.”
“It hurts right?” Les said, her voice sort of wavering.
“Yeah.”
Les scoots closer to you and put her head on your shoulder. “I guess we are on the same boat.”
You didn’t say anything this time. You put your arm around her shoulder and kiss the top of her head. You might not love her romantically but you love her as a little sister and you promise you will be there for her as the big brother she needs.
You wonder what will she ever think of you if she learns you are in love with her real older brother.
Pairing: Sonia Knope-Wyatt/Leslie Traeger/John Swanson/Oliver Traeger
Note: The fic that was started on March as a kind of joke which I still haven't finished yet. This is going to be a three-part fic. Dedicated to castelfranca. Thanks for the sudden bursts of ideas. ♥
SONIA KNOPE-WYATT
Your first memory of her is when both of you are four years old but you know you already know her way back then when you are babies because you always see pictures of the two of you in every moment of your birthdays. Your mothers are best friends and you are sure they make the two of you best friends too. Not that you hate it.
Well, it sometimes makes you uneasy calling her by her whole name because her mother, Aunt Ann, named her after your mother. So you call her Les or Lili which she hates but you know she is just pretending to hate it.
You genuinely like her. You like talking to her about a lot of stuff. You Gryzzl each other most of the time and when the two of you meet in person, both of you are inseparable. You play a lot with each other, sometimes with the boys, his brother, your twin brothers and John, Uncle Ron’s son.
But you like it the best when it’s only the two of you playing chase in a park nearby or stargazing in the nearest hill behind their house. That’s why you are ecstatic when you learn from her that they will come and live in Pawnee because you overheard your parents that the whole family might go back and stay at Pawnee for sure too. It obviously means the two of you will leave near each other. You keep it a secret from your parents though.
So when the two of you meet again in person, both 11 years old, you talk non-stop. Your parents and their friends are busy catching up inside the office where your mom used to work. Ivy and Zoey are amazed that both of you always finish each other’s sentences and like you’re not going to stop talking.
Later, Oliver tells you that he wants to show you something. With Les busy with baby Jack, you walk with Oliver to the side of the office. You can see Aunt Ann and your dad talking about something. Oliver whips out his Gryzzl tab and shows you a new app. It is interesting and after a few seconds the two of you are so into the game. You look up and see your mom doing thumbs up to you. You just smile and look down again to play with Oliver. You feel Oliver’s mother and your mom are trying to set the two of you up. You are not really bothered by it but you think of Oliver so you ask him.
“Oliver, do you like me?”
Oliver looks up to you and shyly smiles. “Yeah. How about you?”
“I like you too” you answered.
Oliver beams you a smile.
The days pass, even years and you and Les and the rest of the gang’s friendship is still strong because you go to the same school and you sometimes hang out to study or just to have fun. Your group, which Wesley nicknames the “Parks” gang, is inseparable especially during summer. Your favorite time is during school breaks because Zoey and Ivy always treat all of you out to pizza and it makes you feel that everything is complete. It makes you hope things will never change.
You are 14 when you hear about Oliver and John getting into a fight and the reason is you. You are both surprised and concerned because the friendship of the gang might be in danger. That night, Les calls you.
“Uncle Ron and Auntie Diane came by here with John.” Les says as soon as you answer your cell phone. “Both Oliver and John’s faces are bruised. They tried to make them tell why did they have a fight but they won’t say anything because it was something personal. Our parents respected their decision but they said they should make up soon.”
“Are they friends again?” you ask.
“Maybe, I don’t know. But I am sure they really had a fight about you.”
You scoff. “Come on, Les. You think John has a crush on me?”
“I think so, because Oliver was talking about you and John interrupted him then they had a heated argument that ended up in fist fight.”
“Where did you learn all of these?”
“From the other boys in the locker room at the school gym.”
You don’t know why but you suddenly feel a twinge of jealousy. You know Les is close with other people especially the boys but you are not worried about that because your friendship is very solid but you don’t know why you are feeling the jealousy now.
“I really hope they will be okay soon.” You say before sighing.
“Do you really like my brother?” Les asks in almost a whisper. “I know he has a thing for you.”
“Yeah, maybe. I don’t know. Why?”
Les becomes silent for a few second.
“Les?”
“Well, you are friends. Are you not afraid that someday if ever you got together and then maybe you break up, you won’t be friends anymore?”
You let out an awkward laugh. “What are you trying to say, Les?”
“Friendship and love don’t really mix, I guess. Well that’s just my opinion.”
It’s your turn to be quiet. A pinch in your chest is starting to grow. You push it away and try to change the subject. The next day, you learn and you are so relieved that John and Oliver are friends again. They are able to hang out without awkwardness at all.
You are 16 when you and Oliver started dating to the joy of your mothers. It is ecstatic and you feel happy but you know you are happier for your mother and Auntie Ann. Your friends easily accepted your relationship though most of the time they tease the two of you. Even your parents’ friends too, saying the two of you are Pawnee’s future power couple. Of course you laugh with them. Oliver seems happy too. You are also 16 when you receive your first kiss from him.
You like it and everything that is happening between you and Oliver, you always tell your best friend. Les is always there to listen but you can feel the two of you are drifting apart even though you still always hang out. You think maybe Les needs a boyfriend too so you try hooking her up with Stephen or Wesley but it doesn’t work. Les gets angry at you when she realizes what you are doing. She stops talking to you for a week. You are hurt and you cry every night in that first week.
When you see a note inside your locker on a busy Monday at school, you immediately know it is from Les. You hurriedly open the note and scrawled with Les’ familiar handwriting are the words “I’m sorry.” You get teary-eyed because you know you should be the one who is sorry.
You look up and Les is there with a small smile. You realize how beautiful she is especially when she’s looking shy. Your heart start to beat so fast as a grin forms in your face.
“Hey.” Les said.
“I’m sorry.” Both of you said then you laughed and hugged each other. You feel your friendship never faltered.
Or so you thought.
--
JOHN SWANSON
With every punch, your fists ache but the ache in your chest is heavier than what your hands are feeling. You feel Oliver fighting back which make you think. Why did you punch him in the first place? You heard him talking about Sonia earlier and it made you feel rage in an unexplainable way so you said something between the lines of the likes of Sonia who is very beautiful will never like someone like Oliver.
It made Oliver’s face flush into bright red and he mumbled something which you retorted by laughing and another snide remark. You know you did not mean it but you can’t stop yourself. It became physical when he launched himself to you, so you fought back and he fought back too. Everything went into a blur when the gym instructor broke off the fight. It feels surreal. You just punched your friend of so many years. You hurt him because you were hurting
What a shame. What will your father say, your sisters, especially your mother?
That night you sit with them with a bruised face and fat lips. Your father, Ron Swanson, lectures you calmly as your mother, Diane, cleans your wounds. Your father never shouted at you but you can feel the heaviness of the words he is currently telling you.
You have to apologize to Oliver. That’s what you and your father agreed upon so your mother called Auntie Ann. You go to their house. You still feel ashamed you can’t look straight at Auntie Ann and Uncle Chris’ faces. Oliver has his head down too. Auntie Ann starts asking questions on why you fought but Oliver says it is personal and you nod in agreement. Uncle Chris, the optimist he is, decides to just let the two of you talk about it on your own way so they leave you alone in the living room as the adults prepare for dinner. Your parents accept the Traegers’ invitation.
Oliver sits down on the arm chair. You catch a glimpse of Les in the top of the staircase. You feel more ashamed because you know you fail her as a friend. You and Oliver are the oldest yet you don’teven think of becoming a good role model to the younger ones.
“Look, Oliver.” You start. you have to clear your throat because it become too scratchy. “I am sorry. I am so sorry for hurting you. I guess. I got jealous-“
Your speech is cut short when Oliver’s head shoot up to you, eyes inquiring. “You like Sonia too?”
You swallow and feel the protest in your chest. “No, of course not. I feel jealous because you have someone you like and it seems she likes you too. I envy you because I still can’t find someone who will like me as much as I like them.”
Oliver seems to take in every word you said. “Oh.”
“Let me make it up to you. Tell me, Oliver, what can I do for you to forgive me?” You know there is desperation in your voice but well you are really desperate. You don’t want the friendship to end. You don’t want the other feeling awkward because of what you did to Oliver.
Oliver drop down his head then shook it sideways. Your heart went down to your stomach. You did it. You will never be forgiven. He looked up again at you and he smiled. Your heart soared.
“I already forgive you, John.” He extended his hand to a fist bump and you gladly bump it before saying your thanks. “So you really think Sonia likes me?”
You laugh and punch his arm playfully as the two of you walk to the kitchen. That night is the best night for you as you eat with your friends’ family.
You and Oliver grow closer. You become his confidante; you are always there to help him with stuff and with Sonia. He always tells you about her and you just get along with him, telling him that you are rooting for him. You try convincing yourself, to be honest.
Two years later, Oliver and Sonia finally start dating. You are happy for them or rather you try to. You always try. Behind your every smile and congratulations is a heart that is aching, a boy that is scared and hurt because the person he loves will never love him back.
You can’t explain to yourself why or how you fell for him. You start hanging out with Les, trying to give her what you want to give to Oliver. You want to love her more than a little sister but you stop because of what Les ask you.
“Have you ever loved someone who can never love you back because that someone loves someone else?”
After a long pause you uttered “Yes.”
“It hurts right?” Les said, her voice sort of wavering.
“Yeah.”
Les scoots closer to you and put her head on your shoulder. “I guess we are on the same boat.”
You didn’t say anything this time. You put your arm around her shoulder and kiss the top of her head. You might not love her romantically but you love her as a little sister and you promise you will be there for her as the big brother she needs.
You wonder what will she ever think of you if she learns you are in love with her real older brother.