"You big clingy baby," Connie giggled, bracing herself with her hands. "Are you having fun down there?"

Steven's eyes were so glossy and sweet when he looked up at her and nodded. "Uh huh. You're so pretty."

She sighed and rubbed his cheek. "Your stubble's getting rough, Starboy."

"I'll shave tomorrow morning!" After a quick second he grew serious again. "I like when you touch me like this, by the way. It makes me feel nice."

Someone clearing their throat pulled them away from the moment. Alex shook his head in disgust with a phone up to his ear. "Guys, this wonderful photographer– No, hold on Sir. Yes, I'm still here just doing promo things– is trying to do his job. Don't be gross."

They giggled and blew kisses at him until he snarled and stomped off.

"Sorry if we are being gross. He can't help it," Connie told the photographer. "He says he's in love with me or something."

They chuckled. "Really? I couldn't tell."

Steven's jaw dropped in miffed offense and Connie leaned forward to drop a laughing kiss to his forehead.

*

Jacob had put a good show on for the fake photo op, but now he was genuinely dreading this. He hated having his picture taken, and that's all today was going to be consisting of. This wasn't like The Red Carpet, that was for a real reason. This was just for an album cover they could easily have gotten from one of the ones Alex had sneaked. But no, it was a beautiful day and Steven had turned on the puppy dog eyes when he saw what the weather was going to be like and–

"Still mad you got persuaded?" Jasmin teased. "Steven's puppy dog eyes are weapons, I'm telling you."

He grunted in agreement and nuzzled into her neck. "Don't act innocent, you had the finishing blow." Jacob gave her a cocky grin as he hugged her from behind to him. "Your ass looks especially enticing in the sunlight, my love."

She rolled her eyes and tried to hate him. "I'm wearing sweatpants. And how does sunlight make any difference? Just say you've been staring at my butt." Subconsciously she returned his smile, though hers was a bit rueful. Her idiot fiancé (fiancé!!!) was her all time favorite person, but good Lord every time he opened his mouth she couldn't decide if she wanted to kiss him or bite him.

"Hey Alex, this could be us," Jacob called to the man who was now texting like it was his job, which it was. He walked over typing with one hand and his finger up to ask for a second.

"Jacob, it won't look good if I kick you in the balls for being a flirt," Alex calmly explained as he sat amongst the chaos for his one glamour shot.

"Healing powers!" Steven reminded him.

Alex cursed under his breath. "What's my pass toll?"

"A kiss and a compliment for my fiancee."

Sighing, the promo manager let Jacob present his cheek for a kiss and the photographer giggled to themselves. "These are really good pictures. Your band should do modeling when you're done."

Jasmin pinched Alex and blocked a smack. "At this point, we're stuck together for life."

"Jasmin, you look a lot less like someone I want to punch in the mouth today," Alex told her amiably. Actually, she looked like someone he'd absolutely love to hit with a bus, and way, way deeper down, his best friend.

But fuck her with a rusty knife, also.

Jasmin put a hand over her heart and presented her hand. "Why, thank you, Alex. Since we're on good terms now, why don't you kiss my hand to make sure your compliment is authentic?"

Jacob cackled as Alex gagged multiple times before he placed a kiss there and scrubbed at his lips. "You taste like perfume."

"Better than tasting like someone's asshole."

Jacob collapsed to the ground in laughter and the two started arguing. "I'm so in love with you idiots."

"You're the idiot!" They shouted in perfect unison.

"These are such good pictures," The photographer repeated.

*

"Being a wallflower had its perks, actually," Adam said, sprawled out on the ground while Anna and Hazel sat next to him and listened as they laughed. "In the 10th grade, I was able to just walk out of class whenever I wanted. So, I had to take a lady piss and in the hallway I heard commotion near the bathroom doors. I head over there and these guys, Eric and his childhood best friend Dylan, are freaking the hell out because they were trying to be gay in the bathroom and shoved a mechanical pencil up Eric's ass. It wasn't even the right way, I saw it unfortunately. Pencil tip in, eraser out. So I'm just staring at them both sobbing in the hallway, Eric's pants are halfway down and it's pretty obvious Dylan thinks he's going to prison. There was blood and Eric was still half hard for some reason I can't begin to understand and... Ugh." He shuddered, enjoying the crowing laughter of his partners. "I think I take 10 years off of my life every time I tell that story."

Hazel poked Adam playfully. "I didn't know you were funny. You should talk more."

Adam tossed his beanie to the side. "I'd say the same to you but my metaphorical dick is always in your mouth."

Anna smacked both of them and giggled. "Don't you two start this again."

"Speaking of starting things, let's talk about why Adam is blushing." Hazel leaned in until his head could rest comfortably on Adam's knee. "Awww, he's so cute I just wanna snuggle fuck him..."

Adam frowned. "No. Just because we're in public and you know my secret doesn't mean you'll get anything out of me here."

Hazel chuckled darkly. "Oooo, you wanna do me so bad~." Adam's knee dropped and before Hazels head could fall Adam tugged on his hair to bring him to eye level.

Hazel expected a glower, but received a grin instead and those eyes burning right into his. "And what if I do?"

Hazel grumbled and shoved him off, scooping up Anna into his lap. "Fuck you."

"Only if you'll call me your dirty slut."

"Adam!" Anna scolded through a poorly hidden snort. "Stop it!"

Anna motioned for Adam to come closer and he sighed deeply, pressing his lips to her thigh. "My princess."

Hazel scoffed. "My princess."

"Fine. My babygirl, your princess. I refuse to argue about it any more," Adam replied smoothly. Hazel glared at him until Anna sighed and kissed both of their cheeks.

Hazel tried for a lip-to-lip kiss, but Adam's hand blocked him. "Miss."

Cocky and overconfident, Adam pulled Anna down for a kiss only to be blocked the same way by a smug Hazel. "Miss."

"YOU GUYS!" Anna cried in frustration. "I want my kisses! Quit cockblocking each other!"

"Oh! Hold that one!" The photographer snapped an extra photo and then another as they switched off. Taking pictures of poly situations was usually a hassle, but they were tickled by the boys arguing while the clearly bright sunshine of a girl scolded them to be good.

*

"Okay, group photo!" Jester announced. "Steven, you can't stand in front of Hazel."

The hybrid snickered and avoided Hazels punishing hands. "I dunno. He seemed pretty thrilled about it yester–,"

"Steven Quartz De Mayo-Maheswaren Diamond Universe!"

The hybrid snapped to attention and a bit of color drained from his face. "Uh oh. She didn't add the Cutie Pie." He turned to the photographers. "That means I'm in trouble."

"On your knees if you're going to be a smart ass," Connie demanded. He laughed and sunk to them, hoping to the stars that his dominance would turn back on. After living with his friends and having their arguments and disagreements and good days and parties, it was just much easier to act how they always did rather than put on some front. Thankfully, the camera crew was either ignoring them or didn't mind.

He sulked anyways, crossing his arms.

"Connie!" Anna whined. "Look what you did! He's all pouty now!"

Connie dipped down at the same time Anna did and Jester shouted, "Anna, Connie, Steven! Don't move! Ever!"

"Locked and loaded," Steven quipped. "I can't believe being a giant teddy bear with a smart mouth gets the ladies like this." He motioned to the two ladies kissing his cheeks.

"Steven~ I'm sure you're quite the panty wetter, but sit still!" Jester laughed.

Steven turned even pinker and pouted even harder. "Pretty boys don't get the respect we deserve."

"Shaant baitho, Staaraboy," Connie murmured against his cheek.

Anna giggled when her lips got warmer. "See? Isn't being a good boy rewarding?"

Over on the other side of the group photo, Alex and Jasmin were unrelenting in their bickering.

Adam held the back of Jasmin's shirt and squeezed Hazels hand. He didn't remember picking it up, but Hazel had no time to answer with Alex wiggling so much. He did turn to catch him staring though. Adam simply refused to be flustered by the teasing look he had in his eyes, only opting to smirk back at him.

"Boys!" Jester called, racing around to readjust them a bit. "Call this Freeze Tag, because you boys are frozen! Do not move!" Jester peeked over the shoulder of the photographer. "Oh. My. Gosh. This is so gay on so many levels. I love it."

"Hazel, just let me get one punch in. I swear I'm not a woman beater, I'm a Jasmin beater." Alex strained against Hazel but gained no ground since he was once again being ignored in favor of love. A tiny smile broke through at that and Jasmin scoffed.

"How can you even threaten to punch me when you've gotten so soft, Alex? Where's the fire I used to actually respect?" Jasmin struggled against Adam's grip and growled in frustration. "You're just a purse puppy!!!"

Alex gasped as the others made faces of shock and grinned. "A purse puppy?! You son of a bitch!"

The arguing raised a bit louder and Jacob snapped his fingers at the camera. "I've got something to spruce this right up." He got down on one knee just a step in front of the two bickering and made his hands into a heart, all while smiling like a kid on picture day.

"You're a cute guy, Jacob," Adam laughed.

Jacob glanced back bashfully. "I know, right?"

"I'm so glad you never call me cute," Hazel admitted to a laugh that was met with a glare. "What!? I'm handsome! I'm a grown man. I like when you guys call me handsome."

"S'cause your mommy calls you handsome and you're a Mommas Boy!" Anna goaded to laughter.

In the end, they got the picture and it worked perfectly with what they were.

Yeah, Alex and Jasmin were snarling and foaming at the mouth.

Sure, Jacob was being a goofball and not being helpful at all.

Maybe Hazel and Adam were being (unsurprisingly) the gayest men in the universe by giving each other bedroom eyes as they held back the two rabid animals they called partners.

And yes, Stevens cheeks were now a heady blushing glow as Connie whispered something extremely dirty in Hindi in one ear and Anna whispered praise in his other mischievously.

But they were best friends, lovers, shoulders to cry on and each others' safe place. They were happy and together and that's all that mattered to them.

When they posted it, the first comment made most of them cry.

'This is a complete freak show. This band is my favorite ship.'