“Um, I think you have to take your hands off first?”
“Oh, right, sorry. Let me try again.” Frenchie took a deep breath. “Surprise!” he shouted again, and this time, he removed his hands from Wee John's eyes so he could actually see the surprise in question.
Frenchie had led him to their old room, the one they had been sharing before they were captured by the English all those months ago, but now, it looked… different. It seemed lighter, somehow. Cozier. There were colorful, soft-looking pillows on the bed, pictures on the walls—Lucius's handiwork, if Wee John had to guess–and even a potted plant in the corner.
And most importantly, there was a large, obviously handmade blanket in Wee John's favorite colors, carefully placed over their sitting nook.
Utterly confused, Wee John turned around to look at Frenchie, who was shifting nervously from foot to foot.
“So… what do you think?” he asked, and Wee John didn't know what to say. This wasn't even their room anymore–Olu had taken it back almost immediately after Jim's return. Frenchie was still watching him, though, so he needed to say something.
“What did you do to the room?” he blurted out, and from Frenchie's reaction, he could immediately tell it was the wrong reaction.
“You don't like it?” Frenchie asked, eyes widening.
“I didn't say that! It's just… We don't live here anymore, do we?” The truth was, Wee John missed the room. And more than that, he missed living together with Frenchie. He had never been interested in romantic relationships, and neither had Frenchie, but being friends, being roomies… that just felt right. Like they belonged together, in their own special way.
To Wee John's surprise, Frenchie brightened at his words. “Actually, we do. I heard Jim and Olu talking about how they need a bigger bed now that they're sharing it with Archie and Zheng, and since that is definitely not going to fit in here,” he gestured vaguely at the small room, ”I told them they could move into the jam room instead. So, voilà, welcome to our room.” He smiled triumphantly.
Wee John could barely believe what he was hearing. “Really? So we can still be roomies?”
“Babe,” Frenchie said solemnly, taking both of Wee John's hands in his own, ”we will always be roomies. Or did you think you'd be getting rid of me just because I'm captain now?”
Wee John laughed, until he suddenly realized: “Wait, you are captain now. Shouldn't you live in the captain's quarters or something?”
“I probably should, yeah” Frenchie sighed, leaning his head on Wee John's shoulder. “But it feels… wrong, you know? Like, that's Stede's room. And Ed's, too, I guess, in a way. I'd much rather stay with you in our own room.”
“Hmm, that makes sense,” Wee John agreed. “Also, it's much nicer here. ‘specially with your renovations.”
Frenchie perked up at that. “So you do like them?”
“Obviously,” Wee John grinned. ”Did you make the blanket yourself?”
“Yeah, did it turn out okay?” Frenchie asked shyly. ”I know it's not perfect, but you knit stuff for me all the time, and I want to take care of you, too, so–“
“I love it,” Wee John interrupted him. “Want to test it with me?”
Instead of answering, Frenchie draped the blanket over both of them and snuggled into Wee John's side, sighing happily.
Wee John looked down at him and smiled. Snuggles with his roomie, plus a new cozy blanket? Best surprise ever.