Mumbo had been fidgeting all day...
Which wouldn't be a big deal, he's always fidgeting.
But today, today was special!

"Are you ok?" XB asked.
"Mhm!" Was his only response.

XBC is now texting group chat "older brothers"

XBC: yooo Mumbo actin strange

Bee: good morning to you too XB

XBC: gmornin

Bee: how strange we talking?

XBC: like strange strange!

Bee: I see

R: yes very helpful dude

R: ok pup, is he having a panic attack?

XBC: I don't think so

R: is he having an anxiety attack?

XBC: I don't think so? But he's definitely anxious

R: ok have you tried... Oh I don't know
.. Asking him what's wrong?

There was a pause.

R: I'll take that as a no

R: do that first then if you don't know what to do after that text us, k?

XBC: kay

Mumbo looked up when XBC tapped his shoulder.
"What's up?" Mumbo asked, a large smile across his face.
"Are you ok?" XB asked.
"Whaaaaat? Yeah of course! Don't worry about it!" Mumbo assured, patting his older brother's back.

XB just raised an eyebrow.

XBC: well it ain't a panic attack but it's def something strange

••••

Mumbo squeezed his hands together anxiously while Grian attempted to latch a button onto their Redstone wiring.
"Aaaand- we're done!" Grian chirped a grin across his face.
Mumbo clapped half-heartedly.

Grian raised an eyebrow at him curiously.
"You seem... not as into it as usual. What's up?" Grian asked.
Mumbo swallowed the lump in his throat and turned to Grian, his movements fast and jittery.
"Would you go on a date with me?" Mumbo asked quickly, "to the movies maybe? There's this really great outdoors one-"
"Sure! I'd love to!" Grian agreed.

Mumbo burst into a wide grin and burst with a soft whoop of joy.
"Mr.Hermit?" The teacher interrupted.
"Oh sorry! It's just uh- he didn't blow anything up this time! Deserves some celebration I'd say!" Mumbo lied offering a strained smile.
"HEY!"

••••

Mumbo brushed off his shirt. It was a black button-up that he usually would wear alone but this time he had a red tie stuffed away in his pocket. He wanted to look good for his long-time crush after all. He sighed, reached for the door handle and-

"Where are you going so late?" Wels stopped him.
Of course.
"Uh... Drive-in Movie Theatre?" Mumbo answered.
"Pft, ok that's fair. Going with some friends?" Wels asked.
"Uh, yeah! Friends..." Mumbo nodded vigorously.

There was a long pause while Wels took in his appearance.
"You're going on a date!" Wels announced with a gasp a bit too loudly.
Mumbo winced and quickly covered the blond's mouth.
"Not so loud! Wels!" Mumbo hissed.
"Oh, sorry sorry," Wels apologized much softer.

Mumbo groaned and dropped his face into Wels' shoulder.
"But you are going on a date?" Wels asked.
Mumbo sighed, "yes bubba, I'm going on a date."

Wels let out a soft squeal.
"Aww, Mumby!" Wels squeezed his little brother's cheeks and laughed when his face was overtaken by a red hue.
"Oh I'm sorry Mumbo," Wels chuckled.

"You have fun! Erm- not too much fun though.." Wels ruffled Mumbo's hair.
"Wels!" Mumbo hissed.
Wels chuckled and watched him leave.

Mumbo drove until he was a block away from Grian's house. He fiddled anxiously with the steering wheel and glanced anxiously at his driver's license. Learner's permit?
He's technically supposed to have someone with an actual driver's license with him in the car but-

You are now texting G

MJ: I'm a block away

MJ: wanna meet me here?

G: sure!

G: give me a minute

G: which way?

MJ: uh.... I'm by a fancy looking brick and stone house with black/dark colored shudders and roof

G: k I know which one ure talking about

MJ: it's the red 1967 Chevrolet Camaro

G: uh...

MJ: red old looking car

G: ah ok

••••

Grian slung his hood up and slipped out the basement window. The walk to Mumbo's car from there was relatively simple.
Other than cutting through a few people's yards and ducking into a bush when his dad's car returned home for the day.

A minute later Grian found the car. Red, old-looking, with Mumbo sitting in the driver's seat anxiously.
Grian knocked on the car window causing the younger to jump.
Mumbo grinned and waved as Grian opened his car door to get in.

"Nice car," Grian half-joked.
"Isn't it?! It's not the best or well-known model but boy does it work, you know?" Mumbo fawned.

For the next 15 minute drive, Grian listened to Mumbo go on and on about cars. Although it wasn't his specialty it clearly made Mumbo happy, so who was he to deny him that?

When they got to the drive in movie theatre Mumbo took a deep breath and said.
"Ok, I was thinking we could watch Max but the other movie playing is The Help," Mumbo explains.
"Oh, I love The Help! Buuut I've already watched it so let's go for Max," Grian offered.
"O-ok!" Mumbo nodded.

Mumbo paid for the movie and they parked near the back.

Mumbo set the radio channel while Grian ran up to the booth below the tvs to get some popcorn.

During the movie they settled on the hood of the car and snuggled up together. For the most part they were silent but at some point they started to throw popcorn at each other. Usually, it ended in someone's mouth or on the hood of the car, though a few times it got thrown so far they couldn't even see it to pick it up.

"Oops," they laughed.

••••

"Why are all dog movies sad?!" Grian whined, bonking his head into the headrest of his seat.
Mumbo laughed.
"You should watch A Dog's Purpose," Mumbo teased.
"Nooooo!" Grian whined, meanwhile he pulled out his phone and started googling the movie.

"Ooo, they're making another one. A Dog's Journey..." Grian hummed before dropping his phone into his lap.
"You should take me to watch that one when it comes out!" Grian grinned, staring intently at the driving man.

"Yeah? When does it come out?" Mumbo asked.
"May next year," Grian hummed.
"Hmm, ok! But we gotta watch A Dog's Purpose first," Mumbo agreed.
"Ok! How are we gonna watch it?" Grian asked.

"I own it! Scar has a TV in his room. Knowing him he'd be elated to let us watch it in there," Mumbo snickered.
"Really?" Grian asked.
"Oh yeah," Mumbo huffed out a laugh as he pulled up to an ice cream parlor.

Grian raised an eyebrow and Mumbo waved for him to join him. The ice cream parlor looked like it came straight out of the 60s.
"G*d Mumbo, I feel like you just dragged me through time! With your old car and this 60s ice cream parlor and that drive-in movie!" Grian laughed.

Mumbo pulled Grian inside and they bought some ice cream.
Grian got salted caramel and Mumbo got butter pecan and cookie dough.

They sat at the bar in the patted red seats and laughed together as they ate.

"No, no, seriously! I'm serious!" Grian laughed.
"I don't own a time machine, Grian!" Mumbo laughed.
"Then how are we here?!" Grian bumped his shoulder with Mumbo's and Mumbo let out a boisterous laugh.
"Guess I just know the right places!"

"Bullsh*t! You took us back in time to the 60s!" Grian claimed.
"Your car is from the 60s, what other century is known for its Drive in movies? Literally, 60s ice cream parlor!" Grian proclaimed before stuffing his icecream into his mouth.
"Your logic is flawed by the fact everyone else looks like they're from the 2000s," Mumbo reasoned.

Grian laughed. He leaned over startling Mumbo before catching his lips with his.
They pulled apart and Grian whispered, "let me have this one?"

"Only if I get another kiss," Mumbo replied.
Grian smiled and the 2 connected their lips again. They could taste the other's ice cream on their tongues and Mumbo could smell Grian's chapstick as they parted.

Mumbo smirked softly, "Oh come on Grian. If I told you old cars bring you back in time you'd call me an idiot!"
"Well do they?!" Grian asked.
"Maybe," Mumbo mumbled.
Grian let out a soft squeal of a laugh.
"I knew it! You can't hide that from me!"
The 2 laughed and finished their ice creams.

••••

"It's weird to kiss three times on a first date right?" Mumbo teased.
"Maybe a little," Grian agreed moments before catching Mumbo's lips with his, "but who are we to judge?"
The 2 snicker and Grian slipped out of the car.
"Drive safe getting back home Mumbo Jumbolio!" Grian chuckled before closing the car door and waving him goodbye.

Destined to walk home alone once he's gone.

••••

You are now texting group chat "Is Tin Still Bby Now?"

Tin: anyone see Mumbo?

Wel: he went to hang out with friends

Wel: count on him not to text anyone where he's going....

Wel: he told me he was going to the movies if I remember correctly

Tin: ah ok thanks Wels

Tin: he say when he's coming home?

Wel: Nah but I'm assuming around like 2 hours

Tin: how long has he been out?

Wel: 2 hours....

Tin: ok can someone call him?

MJ: no need I'm headed home right now

MJ: pray I don't get pulled over cuz I just dropped the person with a license off at his place lol

R: Muuumbooo!

MJ: whaaat?

MJ: hol on can't text

••••

You are now texting WelsKnight

MJ: hey Wels...

WK: yeah? Wuzzup?

MJ: thanks

WK: of course

WK: did you have fun?

MJ: yeah a lot of fun!

MJ: he joked that we went back in time to the 60s

WK: good I'm glad

WK: get back to 20■■ safely

MJ: will do