#they can do no wrong in his eyes. holes dug in the garden? couch all chewed up? 'you can't blame them! it's just in their nature!'

[still-a-morosexual-help]

Lucifer & MC's relationship is so fucking funny??? It gives me heavy 'Dad and the pet he said he didn't want' vibes

[henryobsessed]

The Veterinarian and the Werewolf - Chapter 8

Word Count: 1879

Warning: trigger - hunting, and demeaning verbal abuse.

A/N thanks again to my beautiful @sillyrabbit81 for your editing and @amberangel112 for your encouragement.

Chapter 8

Henry could not understand why Jessie was still considering going out with this jerk. He huffed at Joe’s words and was pleasantly surprised at Tom’s reaction. Pleased to have someone in his corner, he nuzzled into the young man’s arms. It felt nice, an odd feeling of loss and regret pulled at his soul. He hadn’t seen his nephew in five years, he would be fifteen years old now four years younger than Tom. Memories of their last time together flooded his mind, the feel of his hands running through his fur. Even then he had refused to change, sadly his nephew had never known him in Human form.

The packhouse was large, made of local stone it would be considered menacing to outsiders. But for those invited in, it was a house filled with love. They had found Henry and his nephew Adam just outside their forest line, half-starved, dehydrated and desperate for care. The pack doctor had tended to Henry whilst one of the pack's mothers had shared her milk with the little pup. Adam had captured the mother’s heart and at Henry’s approval had adopted him into the pack. Henry had grieved the loss of his only kin but been so grateful to them. He knew he could not look after the little one, not with his heartbroken in pieces.

Over the next ten years, he had come and gone from the house checking up on Adam, watched as he grew strong, not only physically, but emotionally he had developed into a beautiful soul. Their last time together they had sat just like he was now with Tom. He had curled up next to Adam, his head in his lap, Adams fingers running through his fur. “I wish you could change for me Uncle, I see all the other dads and sons playing together and I love the idea that when I change next year we can run together. Then I can finally talk to you and hear your voice back. But I want to know what you look like, to be able to hug you like I see that others hug their dads.” His face had added to Henry’s grief looking so heartbroken and longingly at him. He had tried at that moment, had attempted to honour his request but his human side was so lost, hidden in pain. He had left the house that day, knowing even if it broke his heart, he needed to let his nephew grow with his new pack and not be held back by him.

Now nestled against Tom he regretted that decision. He heard a chuckle soft and happy. “Well look at you two. I would never have guessed Wolfy could be so comfortable with another human. I haven’t seen him like that with anyone except with me. What’s your secret Tom?” Her bright eyes landed on Tom who had continued to scratch behind Henry’s ears.

“I don’t know Miss Jessie, but I have always loved wolves, well any kind of animal really but especially wolves.”

She seemed thoughtful as she eyed them both making Henry wonder what she had planned. “Tom, are you free tonight? I have a date and I really don’t want to leave Wolfy alone again.” Henry felt Tom stiffen. Wondering what was wrong with the request, he moved his head to look up at the boy.

A brief look of disapproval flashed in his eyes before they softened as he looked down and saw Henry watching him. “Yes, Miss Jessie. I would love to spend more time with this beautiful boy.” Internally he chuckled at Tom’s words, if only he knew he was twelve years older than him.

That afternoon Henry, Jessie and Tom spent out in the garden. Tom seemed to fit beautifully into their friendship group kneeling beside Jessie as they planted new flowers and shrubs where they had pulled up the weeds. Together, Henry dug the holes, Tom placed the plants and held them in place whilst Jessie filled the soil around them. Henry enjoyed hearing the light conversation between his Mate and his new friend until it became heavier. “So, Tom, when did you begin to love wolves? I know your father traps them, so I’m interested as to why you don’t follow his belief.”

Tom continued to work, as a gentle hum was heard working up from his throat. “I know why Dad does it, although I don’t think he is correct. He blames the wolves for his loss of cattle, but I haven’t seen that many around. The wild dogs are more to blame but he won't listen. They have a group that meet purely to discuss the wolf problem, but in my whole life, the only large group I have seen was back when I was four. It’s the first and last time Dad allowed me to come to a hunting party. Mom was horrified that he was taking me, but I wanted so much to be with Dad, and he wanted me to be just like him.”

Henry shuddered as the boy spoke as if by some force of nature, he knew that he was about to hear what had happened that day. He also sensed the grief radiating off the boy, wanting to calm him he pushed his body into Tom’s side. Nuzzling his head as if to say, “It's ok, I’m here for you.” Tom let out a heavy chuckle as if he had heard Henry’s voice.

He sat back looking down at Henry as he spoke, “Thanks Wolfy, you would think that I would not remember something that happened that long ago, but it's imprinted in my mind. They had been tracking a pack that had only just entered the area, convinced the rest of the ranchers that they were a risk to our lively hood, that we couldn’t let them nest here. So, the best of their marksman left, when we found them all, sitting around a tree, curled up sleeping, all I wanted to do was go play with the cuddly animals. Dad kept pulling me back holding me still and quiet. I didn’t understand until the loud bangs began.”

Tom’s voice wobbled at this point and Jessie who had been silent up till this time also came closer. She pulled him into her side, her arm encasing his thin body as his shoulders began to shake. “I started screaming as I saw a single wolf with a baby on its back running away, Dad aimed for it but I managed to push the barrel up making him miss. I got the thrashing of my life that night. I couldn’t sit for a week, but it was worth it. I was never allowed to come again after that, not that I wanted to. It took a while, but Dad eventually began to trust me enough to check the traps. I am glad too because it meant I could help this fella.”

Jessie held the boy as his sobs subsided. Henry was trying to hold his anger in, these were the people who had destroyed his family. And yet this one boy had not only saved him once but twice, his gratitude was the only thing stopping him from wanting to go rip the throats out of the group. Ignorance and fear were the driving forces that ended his family, if only they knew the wolves would only ever take a sick animal, and sometimes the young, never the strength of the herd. They would never kill without need. But the wild dogs he had seen were giving us a bad name.

Jessie's voice interrupted his thoughts, the softness not hiding the grief in her own. “Was that near here Tom?” How did Jessie know?

“Yes, Miss Jessie, by the tall tree in the middle of the forest.”

She silently picked up the tools, both animal and human watching her, wondering what she was thinking. Sighing she stood up, “Come, it’s getting dark and I need to get ready for this date.” She walked silently back into the house. The boy and the wolf looked at each other before both followed.

Jessie fixed dinner for Tom and Henry then left to dress, leaving the pair to their own devices. Tom seemed quiet after revealing his early childhood trauma and Henry was eager to help calm the boy. After eating, he plodded into the living room, jumped up on the couch and yipped in Tom’s direction. Chuckling, Tom responded, “You want to watch some TV boy?” Nuzzling the remote, he yipped eagerly hoping to distract the boy from his thoughts.

Tom settled next to him and picked up the remote, they settled on watching a rerun of M.A.S.H before they both heard the clicking of heels and the rapping of knuckles on the front door. Open-mouthed both Henry and Tom sat dumbstruck as Jessie walked down the stairs in a light yellow sundress her dark hair flowing softly twisted into waves. “Wow Miss Jessie, you look amazing” got in first before Henry followed with his eager Yip. Giggling Jessie smiled softly at them both, “Ok I won't be out late, but even so, don’t get up to any mischief”

This caused both Henry and Tom to laugh, one sounding more like a series of yips. The door opened and closed and Jessie was gone. Together the two sat, watched movies and shared some popcorn that Tom had found in the pantry. Just as the end of a Witcher episode finished they heard yelling coming from outside. “I don’t give a dam Boyd, you had no right to hit that poor man, It was an accident.” The front door opened as Jessie stormed inside, the front of her dress had a brown stain down the side of her skirt.

Next Boyd came crashing into the room his face red as he reached out to grab Jessie's arm, this caused Henry to jump into action his snarl reaching the ears of the big man before he saw the wolf racing towards him. Jumping back almost stumbling over the kitchen chair Boyd’s face grew hotter, “Keep that mutt controlled Jessie otherwise I’ll control him for you with my shot Gun.”

The air went still as Henry felt Jessies and Tom's hands on him, “That is enough Boyd Hatfield, you are no longer welcome in this home. Get. Out!” Surprise filled Boyd’s face as he not only recognised Tom but registered his marching orders. Menace replaced the look of surprise, “Listen here little girl, you better watch that attitude of yours. I’ll allow you to cool off but we are not finished talking, and if you value the life of that mutt you will do as your told.” Punctuating the statement with a nod of his head he turned and strolled out the door.

Heart pounding he turned looking up at Jessie who seemed to have lost her speech, her face pale and her hands shaking. Tom moved swiftly pulling her into his arms as she began to cry, frustrated that it wasn’t his arms holding her, Henry pushed his body against her to show he was there, but inside he was furious. That man had threatened not just himself but Jessie, but he had to focus on her right now, she was more important no matter how much he wanted to go after him.

Chapter 9

[buriednurbckyrd]

Right In Front of You (1)

***Bucky hasn't had a rut since before the war, and now he has to accept that one is coming. He'll need to find an Omega mate but he can't help but wish he could ignore biology. Things would be so much easier if he were just a Beta like his best friend, Y/N.

...She is a Beta, right?***

The greenhouse was warm and fragrant.  Bucky took a deep breath and his lips curved into a peaceful smile.  He traced a fingertip over the petals of a delicate orchid, taking a moment to appreciate the vibrant colors around him.  She could have told him the names of all the different variates, and had several times with unending patience, but he would never remember them all.  He just liked to listen to her talk.  He looked around and focused on what he could hear but after a few moments realized that she wasn't inside the glass walls.  After a relaxed stroll through the plants he finally spotted the person he was looking for, she was outside on her hands and knees digging in a flowerbed.  

She wore a wide brimmed hat to shield her face from the sun, a pair of gardening gloves sat abandoned beside her.  She preferred to sink her hands into the soil and feel the earth.  But she would spend a fair bit of time that evening cleaning it from her under her fingernails, questioning why she didn't just keep the gloves on and save herself the tedious task.  He smiled again at the thought.

“Hey Y/N, what'cha planting?”  He called out.  She glanced up from her task.

“Lilies.  I found some beautiful ones at the farmer's market.  They were on sale for Mother's Day, but they don't need to know I'm keeping them for myself.”  She gestured at her truck, and he saw several pots of flowers sitting in the bed.  “They smell incredible and the bees really like them.”  

“Want me to carry the pots over here for you?”  He asked.  Y/N sat back on her heels and wiped her hands on her stained jeans.

“Getting all macho Alpha on me, JB?”  Her eyes sparkled with humor.  “Who do you think loaded them into the truck in the first place?”  Bucky rolled his eyes.

“I assume you batted your eyelashes and sweet talked some big strong man into doing it for you, ya pretty little Beta darlin'.”  She laughed in response and halfheartedly threw a clump of dirt in his direction.  

“Go get my flowers, you brute.”  She giggled.  He gave her a mock salute and sauntered off towards her truck.  

She showed him how to gently de-pot the lilies and plant them into the holes she had dug.  The two of them settled into the simple routine, gently teasing each other while they planted the flowers in their new home.  Bucky felt completely at ease with Y/N.  Underneath her outer layer of sass, she was kind and nurturing.  His gaze slide over to look at her covertly and smiled at the smudge of dirt on her cheek, probably from brushing her hair behind her ear.  He remembered how beautiful he had thought she was when Steve and Sam introduced them when he was finally welcomed to live at the Avengers compound.

…

“This is Y/N, Buck.”  Steve stepped aside so he could get a look at the woman behind him, she waved and said hello.  The first thing he noticed was her crooked grin beneath a pair of the most lovely pair of (color) eyes he had ever seen.  The second was her full figured body, curvy and soft; and obviously powerful.  When he failed to greet her in return her eyebrow arched.  

“Not what you were expecting?”  Her tone was pointed.  Sam chuckled and nudged Bucky in the ribs and he started.

“N-no!   I mean, hi.  It's nice to meet you.”  

“Don't worry about it, I'm used to being underestimated.”  She replied, tilting her chin upwards almost in challenge.  

“Oh boy, here we go.”  Sam muttered under his breath.  

“I'm not-” Bucky stuttered, eyes going wide.  Her expression narrowed and before he knew what has happening she picked up her heel and brought it down with a definite 'thump'.  A mild tremor went through the ground and knocked Bucky onto his butt.  

“Really Y/N?” Steve groaned.  “Here.”  He reached his hand down to Bucky, who was looking up at her in shock.  Before he could take his friend's hand she stalked over and smacked it aside, offering her own instead.  Her face had softened into a friendly smile.  

“Just a little initiation prank, Captain,” she reassured Steve.  “I think we're going to get along just fine, right Bucky?”  He eyed her curiously, but reached for her hand and stood up.  She didn't let go of him, her grip was firm and comforting.  He felt a slight shift in his chest, like his body already knew she was going to be very important to him. She squeezed his fingers and looked up at him with a soft expression.  “Come on, cutie pie.  I'll show you my green house.”

…

He held onto the memory of that day tightly. With his prewar past still incredibly foggy, and his HYDRA days a painful reality; the happy moments of his present were priceless treasures.  As they had walked around the plants that day she asked him no uncomfortable questions that she doubtless already knew most of the answers to.  Instead she gave him her own back story.  

Turned out and disowned by her family when her abilities manifested.  Taken in and forced to participate in brutal fights against other enhanced individuals.  Her stature and Beta status lulled opponents into a false sense of security until the full range of her powers were revealed.  He realized her 'prank' was a defense mechanism, left over from a life of abuse and manipulation.  No matter what people thought of how she looked she was capable of extraordinary things, and she wasn't going to give anyone the chance to ignore that fact.

“I love this!” Her happy exclamation brought him back from his reminiscing.  She was on her feet, hands planted on her wide hips as she surveyed the new flowers.  He unfolded his long legs to stand beside her, metal arm slung around her shoulders.  Neither of them made any mention that the casual contact with the vibranium appendage, something that would never have happened just a few months ago.  

“Looks great,” he said.  “Don't suppose you made any other stops at the market?”  He looked down at her with a sly grin.  She tapped her chin thoughtfully.  

“Hmm… I might have.  There's a good chance there's a box of cookies hidden in my room to share with my favorite Sargent.” He kissed the top of her head, missing the way her breath hitched in her throat.  

…

After showers to wash away the dirt and changing into clean, comfortable clothes the two of them were lounging on the oversized couch in her rooms with a white bakery box between them.  

“Mmm...” Bucky hummed happily as he bite into a soft chocolate chip cookie. “Too bad Shuri couldn't stick around to enjoy these.”  

“Aw, I missed her?  Why didn't you tell me she was coming?”  Y/N pouted. “I wanted to ask her if they have had any luck trying to reestablish the heart shaped herbs.”  The precious Wakanadan plants needed to be found and saved if at all possible, and Shuri had asked for Y/N's advice.  

“I didn't know she was going to here or I would have.  I think it was a last minute thing on their way to check up on the outreach center.  She wanted to see my latest blood panels.”  He paused reaching for another cookie.  Y/N rested her hand on his knee, concerned.

“Is there something wrong?”  He shook his head and dropped his hands into his lap, picking at his sweat pants.  

“No. But my hormone levels indicate that I'm going into a rut soon.” His voice was quiet.  Between being pumped full of suppressants and going in and out of cryo-freeze for decades, his Alpha cycle had gone dormant.  

“Oh.” She stared off in front of her.  “That's good, right?”  Her tone was trying to be optimistic.  “It means your body is starting to function normally.”  Bucky swallowed the lump in his throat.  

“Yeah, for sure.”  He said.  He rubbed at the nagging empty feeling in his chest.  His ruts starting meant it was time to find an Omega mate. His body required the bond between an Alpha and their Omega to satisfy his biological needs.  A disquieting air settled over the pair of them, something that never happened when they spent time together.  There weren't awkward silences between them, but neither one of them seemed to know what to say.  Y/N reached over and laced her fingers with his.  

“Well,” she said managing to keep the complicated emotions out of her voice. “I'll do whatever I can to help you through when it hits.”  Her smile was strained.  “Until you find...someone.”  His smile was equally tight and he squeezed her fingers.

***This will be minimal angst, just a sprinkle of conflict for the sake of plot. After Endgame (don't worry, no spoilers here!!) I'm in need of some nice fluff and sexy smut. Not sure how many chapters this will have yet, but it will probably be much shorter than my previous a/b/o fic, Necessary Paradox.***

next

[affectionatealien]

Your Heart is a Garden

Summary: Habit’s had something on his mind, and tries to do a little gardening to distract himself. It’s a bit obvious though he can’t quite focus on anything else like he wants to.

Warnings: None

A/N: Another fic of my flower protag/ insert and habit! This time it’s long sappy confession junk bc I’ve been dying to write this out ;v; 

Mountain air seemed to be so refreshing in the morning like this. It seeped in through the windows Boris opened while he busied himself in the kitchen, and crept into the living room while I usually tried to prepare to be awake for the day.

 However, it took me awhile of laying on the futon to realize there was no mountain air, or kitchen bustle to wake up to. I hadn't woken up that late had I? No, a glance at the clock assured me it was still early. Still trying to rub the sleep out of my eyes I got up, peeked into Boris's room since he'd left the door open. Not there either. Odd, especially for him. 

I had to catch myself as worry threatened to bubble up- Boris was probably just down in the garden, or, somewhere else in what was left of the habitat. Of course. Besides, it was silly to worry about him not being here just one morning... Perhaps a little time to myself could be a good thing, after all! 

Making breakfast was easy enough with something simple like toast and cereal, and now my mind could wander to what I'd spend the rest of the day doing. Maybe I could watch that one movie I'd been waiting to check out... Ah, no, I wanted to save it for me and Boris to watch. Games? No, I'd already beaten most of what I had and just liked doing two player stuff with Boris when he was in the mood for it. Art? Now that could work... Ever since I'd come to stay here, my inspiration had spiked like I hadn't seen in years. It was refreshing to make something I didn't hate as soon as I was done with it...

Flopping back onto the couch, I fished out the sketchbook that was always hidden away under it or in a crevice somewhere, depending on how tired I was when I stashed it. Opening it, I was met with what I was last working on... A page full of sketches of different blossoms, ones found in the garden me and Boris had been tending to so carefully. Among them, was a single sketch of the tall russian man himself- carefully cutting a rose blossom from a bush. I'd almost forgotten about it, about watching him look so tender and focused and the urge to capture it that was impossible to ignore. And something about it feels so embarrassing and... Alien about it, I close the sketchbook again, any previous ideas gone. Damn.

Perhaps it wasn't a bad idea to go down to the garden anyways. I just needed some fresh air and sunshine maybe, certainly that would clear my head, help me pass the time. And if Boris was down there I could check on him. Maybe even work in the garden with him a little. It'd be much better than being so listless up here. I just had to actually finish getting ready for the day first...

Coming down from the apartment through the boiler room, I found myself in the courtyard, now repurposed into a garden and fully in bloom. It was something Boris had truly put his heart and soul into since he closed the Habitat for good, and it had really shown in even just the past couple of months I'd been here.

 Blossoms of all shapes and colors and sizes made a meandering maze, one I'd learned to navigate by memory at this point. The only hard part would be finding Boris- he was prone to attending to the plants in a somewhat flighty manner, never too still before finding another plant that needed his love and affection (and maybe some fertilizer). 

With that in mind, it was pretty surprising when I found him sitting in one of the nooks formed by a gathering of hydrangea bushes, a single potted flower in his lap. He didn't seem to being so much gardening as he was letting himself get lost in thought. 

"Boris?" I called out, moving carefully past some recently planted bushes. His head snapped up upon hearing his name, and that surpised look lingers a little too long, like he's in a daze. But it quickly disappeared, giving way to a soft smile upon recognizing it was just me. But, there was more to it... The way his smile is just a little too tired for this time of the morning. Almost forlorn...

"Ah! Finn... I didnn't expect you to come down. Did you need som-thing...?" He asked. I shook my head, instead opting to take a seat in the cool grass next to him.

"Just wanted to check on ya. Not used to seeing you down here this early I guess..." I explained. And in the moment I want to tell him how lonely mornings without him feel, but it'd be too much. So instead I lingered, waited for him to say something so I could forget about it.

"I see... Sorry, I didn't mean to worrie you. I just needed some time to think I suppose... The garden seams to be a good place for that." His gaze had returned to the flowering plant in front of him, like looking into it would help him eventually have some grand epiphany about whatever seemed to bother him.

  "Yeah, I get what you mean... And, y'know you can talk to me too. It's what friends are for right?" He didn't answer right away- leaving an uncomfortable pause hanging in the air.

"Yeah... Of course." Even as plainly as he tried to say it, there's still a tinge of pain to it. It wasn't a tone I'd heard from him in awhile, which was particularly worrying. He'd never had issues talking to me about what was on his mind in the past, why start now? Was it me, something I'd done? 

We continued to sit in silence, nerves wracked as I desperately wanted anything else to replace the silence that soured the fresh morning air. Anything that could change the mood, or subject... 

My eye was drawn to what looked like a flower bush Boris had been planning to plant. A hole already dug for it, it just needed to be reburied and whatever other tending it needed. "U-uh... I noticed that bush it looks like you were gonna replant. Did you want any help with that? Or, really, anything else out here? ... Since I'm out here and all!" I asked. Still staring into the flower, he shook his head. 

"I appreciate it, but I think it will be fine for now." He sighed, placing the flower in his lap to the side. "...I'm really not doing anything out heer. I should probably go back inside." Boris stood, dusting his coat off- only to freeze again as my hand darted to the hem of it, like my body was on autopilot. He stared down at me, expression somewhere between startled and anticipation. I had to say something now, I couldn't just let him go without saying anything-

"Boris. Please tell me what's wrong. If it's something I did we can talk about it... You're my friend, I need to know if I messed up, or if I can fix it-" His face furrowed into a pained expression as he continued to stand, frozen, looking like he can't even sort out his own words. This continued until he sighed, resigned, and knelt back into the grass beside me.

"You didn't do anything. I promis. It's just how... Exactly that. You're my closest friend, and it means a lot to b here with you, through everything... But... Is it, ah... Is it wrong to want... More?" He asked. His question brought back plenty of thoughts- almost all of them about how he's always so close, how he lets me sit in his lap when we play games together, or how his comforting hugs never seem to last long enough no matter how long we sit there. The way I'll hope and wish a late night movie marathon will put him to sleep so we have an excuse to wake up the next morning together. But that was just Boris being... Boris isn't it? Of course he'd be close with his first real friend like this. I'm reading into it too much. Even with him, in front of me, staring at me with nothing but longing in his eyes. It was too scary, too exhilarating to think it could be anything else, it had to be. 

"I-I'm sorree. This is selfish. I shouldn't- you shouldn't have to answer that. We can just-" He shifted again to get up, only to freeze when I spoke up.

"Boris... I-It's not. It's okay. Especially when people... Mean so much. But it can be.... scary you know?" He nodded, understandingly. His gaze had lifted from the spot on the ground in front of him, attention on me. 

"Do you think it's worth it? Even if it's scarey?" He asked. Now it was my turn for my stare to wander to the grass beneath me, unsure what the correct answer was. 

"I don't... know, really. Guess you just have to find out sometimes." I said. It wasn't much of an answer, but it was all I had. "Boris... Could I... Kiss you? I want to know." At first he didn't, perhaps couldn't say anything- and slowly, he gave a very deliberate nod. He fumbled across the grass, side to side with me, and even sitting down towered over me. It certainly wasn't intimidating though, not with how he squeezed his eyes shut, leaned forward, tense. Not quite sure what to do with his body. Waiting. I leaned up to him, careful as lips met- god his face was so warm. And for a moment, I'm the only one leaned into the kiss, as he remained still, like he wasn't sure how he felt. Enough to have made me waver too, close to pulling away and apologizing. What a stupid idea. But at the last moment it was like he'd come to life, pressing feverishly into the kiss. And for a moment I know what it feels like to be a flower in bloom, face to face with the sunlight it needs so much.

It was dizzying how fast he went from frozen in place to practically fumbling into my lap, hands grasped over my shoulders, nudging his way further into the kiss. It was nervous, inexperienced, and downright heavenly the way his mouth clumsily pressed into mine. My hands buried into the soft fuzzy collar of his coat as I matched his fevered passion, and it only drove me further on as he whined into the kiss at even the hint of my touch. Time was slow, or maybe just didn't mean anything for the longest time as he melts into the kiss, unsure frozen hands slowly moving to pull me flush against him, a warm embrace so much like all the ones he'd given me before but.... more this time, one that didn't leave me feeling like I was still missing something. 

Boris was the first to break the kiss- his hands didn't move, and he's still staring at me, like the rest of him is still catching up with what was happening. He wasn't quite panting- but he drew these deep, long breaths, clutched to me like I'd fall into nothing if he dared let go. 

"Still... Scar-ed?" He asked. I shook my head and chuckled, which made a warm smile ease onto his face. 

"No.... This is good. It's, uh. Wow. Kinda exhilarating, I think." His smile turned wide at that, showing off that characteristic, cute crooked row of pearly whites of his- and now it was my turn to be the flustery one out of the two of us. 

"Are u shure? Maybie... We should do it again so we're doublie sure..." Boris hinted. It only took a short nod for him to lean back in, hands cupped on either side of my face. He pulled me up, ever so gently into another kiss, but not as pushy or urgent- this time it was deep, slow. He was still a bit hesitant about what to do with his mouth, but god it didn't matter, not with how soft and deliberate he was while I clung to him. Surrounded by the garden we'd poured our hearts into, and now pouring into each other, it almost felt unreal, the only thing that kept me grounded was Boris's thumb stroking gentle circles against my cheek, and every other little sensation of him against me. 

Boris pulled away again, giving a satisfied hum as he did- he looked like he was in as dreamy of a daze as I had been in. His clawed hand pushed a strand of hair from my face ever so carefully, eyes fixated on me. 

"Boris..." I started. A pause. I knew what I wanted to say but it felt stuck in my throat, awkward to say. So instead I opted to bury my face in his coat collar, soaking in his scent, thinking those words again, and again, and again. "... I love you." His arms squeezed around me, tight, warm, unyielding. I felt him rest his head on top of mine, face nuzzled into my hair. 

"Ah, flower..... I lov you, too. I love you a lott..." And I can hear it in his voice- after all the hard work he's poured into making the garden around him flourish and bloom, his heart has done the same, alongside mine. 

His embrace loosened, prompting me to look up at him. That goofy smile of his was still there- for someone who fretted about his teeth so much previously, it was amazing how gorgeous it was. So handsome. So very, well, him. 

And I couldn't help the laughter that bubbles up next, but it didn't matter, not with how it spread so quickly to Boris too, just as relieved and giddy as I was, and perhaps still wandering if this was a dream like I had been. 

"Ah, if onlee you had said somthing sooner... There were som lovelie lillies in bloom I daydreamed about giv-ing you, you knowe." He confessed. I smiled, and patted his arm reassuringly. 

"Oh, Boris- don't worry, they'll have time to bloom again. And I'll be here, still." I promised. And the smile he gave me was perhaps the sweetest I'd ever seen on him.

[uas-fics]

Title: Sleeping Like Adults

Rating: T

Summary: For the first time in four years, Craig and Tweek get to sleep in the same room!

Ships: Creek with a few other minor ships

Other: For @thefabutrash​ for the @creekcrew​‘s Secreek Santa event. I hope you like it! Happy Holidays! =D

Check the first reblog for the AO3 link

~~~~~~

Craig Tucker had never fancied himself a genius before, but as he plopped down in the back of the bus, he couldn't imagine himself anything less.

He pulled his bag into his lap, just to make sure he brought everything with him: toothbrush, pajamas, cell phone charger, a change of clothes, and most importantly, a new pack of correction tape and an ink pen.

Clyde slid into the seat next to him. He waited until the chaperone finished roll call and sat down before elbowing Clyde in the ribs.

"Did you get it?" Craig asked as the bus started forward.

Of course, Clyde got it. Why was Craig even asking? Clyde was his bro, helping bros share rooms with their boyfriends is part of the Bro Code, and Clyde swore by the Bro Code. There was no way Clyde didn’t get it!

Since Clyde's dad was the chaperone of their club trip, it would be super easy for him to get the rooming list. All Craig had to do was white out his roommate’s name and change their name to Tweek's! Once all was said an done, Clyde could just say he accidentally grabbed the sheet when they got to the hotel.

It was perfect!

Clyde laughed nervously, scratching his neck. "Ok, so, about that. I don't have it."

"What? Clyde, dude, that was your one job!" Craig cried. He looked around, hoping no one heard his outburst. If anyone did, they didn’t seem to care.

"I know, I know, but Dad didn't have the class list printed out." Clyde shook his head. "He has it on his phone -- Google Docs, I think."

Craig groaned, slumping back in the faux leather bus seat. "That was my only chance, Clyde!"

"I don't get why this is such a big deal, dude. You and Tweek have sleepovers all the time." Clyde took his phone from his pocket. "How's a hotel any different than the ones at your house?"

"It's different because our parents aren't there." Craig leaned his shoulder into the window. "Whenever we have a sleepover, our parents go out of their way to make sure we don't actually sleep in the same room anymore."

"Wow, really?"

"Yeah, I have to sleep in Tweek's guest room and Tweek has to sleep on the couch." Craig shut his eyes as his goal fell out of reach.

He and his boyfriend hadn't been allowed to sleep in the same room overnight since they were eleven, nearly four years ago. It didn't help the matter that both their parents were strict on them keeping the door open when they were together, either.

Clyde set a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'm really sorry, dude. Unless we can get my dad's phone, there is no way to change it."

Craig's eyes snapped open. He bolted up as Clyde continued, "Maybe next time we have a group sleepover at my house, you and Tweek can bum it in the guest room and--"

Craig slapped a hand over Clyde's mouth.

"Clyde, that's it." A sly grin spread across his face. "That's it! Help me get your dad's phone. If the document is on Google Docs, maybe I can edit it!"

The color drained from Clyde's face.

"What?!" He choked out. "Dude, I can't do that. It's not a piece of paper. It's my dad's phone! If I take it and mess with it, he'd kill me!"

Craig took hold of Clyde's arm in an iron grip. He fixed his unwavering gaze with Clyde's uneasy one.

"If you help me do this, I'll take the fall if we get caught," He promised. With a squeeze, Craig added, "And I'll let you have my dessert at lunch for the rest of the year."

Clyde squirmed in his seat and bit his lip. He looked away then groaned.

"Fine!" Clyde relented. "Fine, fine, fine! How do you plan on doing it?"

The moment Craig dropped his hand, Clyde started to rub his arm. It probably wasn't going to bruise, and even if it did, Clyde was still getting the better end of this deal. Everyone loved the brownies they got on Thursdays with their corn dogs.

"It's simple. The ride to the hotel is four hours, right? Go up to your dad at the first rest stop and ask if you can play on his phone. Just make something up, like yours ran out of battery,” Craig explained.

"How do you know he'll give me his phone?" Clyde asked, looking down at his smartphone.

"No offense, Clyde, but your dad is kind of a pushover." Craig resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "If you pout like you always do, he'll let you borrow it. I'm sure."

"I don't pout," Clyde snapped. "I'm way too manly to pout."

Craig didn't try to correct any of the lies in that statement. Instead, he leaned back into the seat with a smirk.

Yes, for sure, Craig Tucker was a genius.

~~~~~

"Now, kids, settle down!" Mr. Donovan called over the shouting and yelling of the robotics club. He had to yell a few more times before everyone quieted enough that he could be heard.

Mr. Donovan pushed his glasses up. "Alright, kids, as you know the gardening club is also going to the museum this weekend, and since Kevin got on the wrong bus, we're going to wait at the rest stop for a few minutes so the garden club's bus can swing by and drop him off."

A few of the students groaned. Craig couldn't entirely blame them. The trip was already long and boring, waiting at a rest stop only prolonged the suffering.

The teacher sponsor of the robotics club pushed himself from his seat and sent a glare over the student, silencing any protests.

Mr. Donovan nodded approvingly. "Alright, now, everyone file out to use the restroom and stretch your legs."

Moments later, the robotics club had shuffled off the bus. Craig lifted himself up on his toes as he stretched.

"Ok, you ready?" Craig asked.

Clyde rolled his eyes. "Can a guy pee first?"

"No," Craig deadpanned. He reached into Clyde's jacket pocket and took his phone.

Ignoring Clyde's protests of "Hey! What the fuck?", Craig took the phone out of its case then turned it over to pull the back off. He pried out the battery before pocketing it.

As he reassembled the phone, he explained, "If your dad needs proof, you can press and hold the power button without it turning back on."

Clyde scrunched up his face as he took his phone back. "Fiiiiine." Spinning on his heels, he headed towards his dad.

Craig took a few steps towards a bench to casually sit and watch as his amazing plan came to fruition.

Mr. Donovan's head went up when Clyde called his name. He gave his full attention to his son while Clyde held up his phone and pointed.

Craig's heart skipped a beat when Mr. Donovan reached for the phone. If Mr. Donovan held Clyde's phone, he would feel the weight difference. Luckily, by some miracle, he stopped before he could touch it.

They talked for another few minutes before Clyde returned with a solemn look on his face.

"He says I'm just out of luck, and he'll look at it at the hotel." Clyde shook his head.

"Fuck!" Craig clenched his fists. "We have to get that phone, Clyde! Just let me think a minute..."

"Dude, maybe you should just give it up." Clyde shrugged. "Like I told you, next sleepover at my house, you can--"

Craig jumped to his feet, eyes sparkling. Plan A never works. That's just facts. Plan B, though, Plan B would be perfect!

He dug around in his pockets then held the contents in his palm. Craig flicked the pocket lint out of the pile then shoved the ink pen behind his ear.

He turned over the pack of Fruit Stripe gum he stole from his sister. With his braces, he technically wasn't supposed to chew this type of gum, but what his orthodontist didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

Shoving the gum and the phone battery into Clyde's hands, Craig began to count his change out.

Disregarding the pennies, he had a grand total of fifty-five cents.

"Clyde, give me a dollar." Craig made a gimme motion with his hand.

"What? No! You have a wallet on the bus," Clyde said but took out his wallet anyway. He fished out a one dollar bill, which Craig snatched.

Without a word to Clyde, he dashed towards the vending machines. Of course, there was a line.

Craig tapped his foot impatiently as some sophomores he didn't know jabbered on about something he didn't care about.

What was taking them so long to buy a soda? Every second they wasted talking, was a second less Craig had for his plan! Didn't they know that the gardening club bus would be here soon?

A bottle made a thunking sound when it fell. Craig took a step forward, only for one of them to feed another dollar into the machine.

Craig and Tweek weren't in any of the same clubs this year. The pure coincidence that the science museum would hold both an exhibition on space age robotics and sustainable farming was a blessing from God that Craig didn't want to waste!

When he was only ten seconds away from pushing the sophomores out of the way, they finished. Still animatedly talking, they walked away with an arm full of soda each.

Craig rolled his eyes. "Finally." He muttered, just loud enough for the sophomore he was passing to hear. She shot him a dirty look, and Craig flipped her off. The sophomore scoffed but didn't try to pick a fight.

After smoothing out the dollar on the side of the machine a few times, Craig fed Washington’s visage into the dollar slot and pressed the Coke option.

Sold out.

Any of the drinks would work, so long as they were sticky and sugary, so he pressed the Diet Coke.

Sold Out.

Pepsi.

Sold out.

Diet Pepsi. Sprite. Double Dew.

Sold out. Sold out. Sold out.

The only option he had left was Gatorade and water.

Cursing those sophomores with every fiber of his being, Craig pressed the Gatorade option. This was the last drink that had sugar in it.

He braced himself, waiting.

Th-thunk!

A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he knelt down to retrieve the cherry sports drink.

When he returned to Clyde, Craig had already cracked open the drink and chugged some of it.

Clyde frowned. "Not to poke holes in whatever your plan is, but I doubt electrolytes are going to help."

"It's not the electrolytes I need," Craig smirked. "I'm going to walk over and then 'accidentally' trip and spill this all over your dad's pants."

"You're going to what?" Clyde cried, only for Craig to elbow him in the stomach. He doubled over, clenching his middle.

"Quiet! Look, all you need to do is steal your dad's pants when he's changing them. It'll be easy."

Clyde looked up from his bent over position. "This is not a good plan, Craig!"

"Are you my bro or aren't you?" Craig narrowed his eyes.

After a heartbeat, Clyde muttered, "I'm your bro..."

"Good, now get ready."  Craig nodded sharply. Clyde flashed a thumbs up before hobbling over to sit on the bench.

With a breath, Craig started towards Mr. Donovan. Luckily for him, Mr. Donovan was distracted, chatting with the teacher.

Honestly, this should have been Plan A. What was he even thinking with the original Plan A? Of course, Mr. Donovan wasn't going to give up his phone because Clyde's ‘broke’! Even if he did, he would have probably logged off all his apps.

Someone hip checked Craig, sending him stumbling to the side. The bottle fell from his hands. The rest of the liquid spilled over the concrete.

Craig stared, flabbergasted, as his Plan B flowed down a crack in the sidewalk towards the grass.

Someone snickered. Craig spun around, ready to fight. The sophomore he'd flipped off smirked at him before heading towards the rest of her friends.

Shaking, Craig took a step towards her. He was not above starting a fight in the middle of the public rest area.

Clyde came up then and caught his arm.

"Not worth it, dude," He said with a shake of the head.

"Fuck me!" Craig groaned. "Clyde, another dollar. Let me try again--"

The gardening club's bus pulled up before Clyde could pull out his wallet.

Clyde patted his back reassuringly.

"Sorry, man," He offered softly.

"Yeah," Craig heaved a sigh then straighten up. He shoved his disappointment down as he began to scan the crowd of garden club kids for his favorite shock of blond hair.

He spotted him hanging around Token. Before his club was called to their bus, he and Clyde hurried over.

"You can explain it all you want, I still don't get it." Token was saying.

"No, like, dude, agroforestry isn't hard; it's--Craig!" Tweek cut himself off, smiling.

"Hey, honey," Craig greeted, pulling Tweek into a half-hug. Tweek snaked his arm around Craig's waist and leaned against him as Craig held his fist out for Token, who bumped it.

"Hey, dudes," Token nodded to him and Clyde.

"Having fun learning about dirt?" Clyde teased. "This is what you get for being so whipped by your girlfriend."

Token rolled his eyes, but he didn't have a counter to that. The only reason he joined Garden Club was because Nichole asked him to.

From what Tweek had said, Token's thumb was 'averagely green'. Though he could tend to plants, he didn't care about doing it and spent most of his time sitting around or organizing the supplies.

"Clyde, how many times have you been on Bebe's beck and call during volleyball practice?" Craig snorted. He pitched up his voice to mock, "'Bring me my water, Clyde. Can you get my towel for me, sweetie? Go grab the ball, baby!'"

Token laughed into his hand while Clyde's face went red. Craig felt Tweek's shoulder shake in laughter just a little under his arm.

"Oh, screw you," Clyde snapped. "I'm going to find Kevin." With that, Clyde spun around to search the rest of the crowd.

"How's your ride going?" Tweek asked when Clyde disappeared.

"Boring," Craig admitted.

"We had a kid throw up," Token commented. "That's why we're late. We had to turn around, take him home, and get a new bus."

Craig cringed. "That's really gross."

"It kind of worked out, since we were able to pick up Kevin." Tweek pointed out.

The trio chatted for a few more minutes before Mr. Donovan called Craig’s name. "Craig, come get back on the bus. I need to do a headcount." He shouted.

 Tweek pulled himself from Craig's side. "See you at the hotel, Craig." Tweek pressed a kiss to Craig's cheek.

Reminded of the hotel and their separate rooming, Craig fought to keep himself from deflating.

"Yeah, see you there." He waved before heading back towards his bus. As he crawled on and made his way towards the back seat, he noticed that sophomore girl sitting near the front. Her bag was half in the aisle.

With a smirk, Craig purposely stepped down hard on it. He heard a pencil snap but kept walking anyway. As tempting as it was to see if she noticed, he couldn't risk it looking like he did it intentionally.

He sat back down, leaning to look sullenly out the window until the rest of the bus hustled on, except for Clyde. Craig eyed the empty seat next to him with a frown. He hadn't hurt Clyde's ego that much, had he?

"Ok, roll call!" Mr. Donovan said, clearly not noticing his son wasn't on board. He patted his pockets. "Oh, uh, where is it?" Turning out his pockets, he furrowed his brow.

"Hey, kids," Mr. Donovan raised his voice. "Has anyone seen my phone? I swear I had--"

"Here it is, Dad!" Clyde held up Mr. Donovan's phone as he and Kevin climbed up the steps. "You left it on the bench outside."

"Oh, thank you, Clyde." His dad nodded, taking the phone.

Craig stared at Clyde with wide eyes as he came down the aisle to sit.

Clyde smiled proudly, reminding Craig of a puppy wishing to be praised.

"Who's your bro?"

"You are. You’re the best fucking bro ever!" Craig put his hand on Clyde's shoulder and shook him.

So what if Plan A failed, and Plan B was doomed before it could start?

Craig could always count on Plan Clyde to make it through to the end!

~~~~

Of the brilliant ideas Tweek had ever had, drinking an entire gallon of Arizona sweet tea on the two hour ride was not one of them.

Honestly, the whole idea of bringing the jug of tea instead of his thermos of coffee had been on his dad’s prompting that Tweek should ‘slow down’ on the coffee drinking. His parents claimed it was ‘for his health,’ but Tweek knew that was a lie.

They still hadn’t gotten over Tweek using some of their special roast last week. He didn’t even get to drink any before they saw him making it and got mad!

That was how Tweek ended up with a gallon of tea instead — a gallon he’d absentmindedly down not even halfway to the rest stop.

He had been sitting on a bladder that was about to burst for the last hour. Then when they did finally stop, Craig tracked him down before he could make it to the restroom.

The whole time they were talking with Token and Clyde, Tweek felt his eyes floating a little higher. He nearly shouted out in relief when Mr. Donovan called Craig back to his bus.

Tweek washed his hands in the rest stop sink. The whole place smelled a little too strongly of cheap soap and lemon cleaner. Something that strong smelling could only be covering up something that smelled even worse.

Tweek had little desire to find out what that smell was, so he forwent drying his hands to instead hurry out the door.

He nearly barreled into Kevin.

"Oh, sorry, Tweek!" Kevin said as he bobbed around him into the restroom.

Standing just outside the door, Clyde leaned against the wall, playing on a phone, but not his own. Clyde's phone case had glittery football and baseball stickers Bebe put on it. The one he had was just plain silver.

"Clyde?" Tweek turned his head a bit to the side.

Clyde jumped. "Ah, Tweek, hey, man, what's up?"

"Shouldn't you be heading towards your bus?" Tweek asked.

"Yeah, just waiting for Kevin." Clyde shoved the phone into his pocket. "He didn't have fifteen minutes to dick around like we had."

It had been a stroke of luck that right as they returned to the bus barn at the high school, Kevin's mom pulled up. Apparently, he overslept.

"Oh, right, I guess that's true." Tweek nodded.

Clyde twiddled with his thumbs a moment, humming to himself. He held back a smile, and that made Tweek uneasy.

"What?" Tweek wrung his hands in his shirt.

Clyde was about to burst when he finally blurted out, "You and Craig share a room at the hotel!"

"W-what?!" Tweek choked on the word.

"Yeah, dude. I guess the teachers didn't know you were boyfriends or something." He cheekily elbowed him in the ribs. "Lucky duck, aren't you?"

Before Tweek could reply, Kevin exited the restroom.

"Come on, Clyde, we have to hurry back to the bus." Kevin grabbed Clyde's arm.

"Right." Clyde nodded. To Tweek, he teased, "Don't have too much fun later tonight." He punctuated his tease with a wink before letting Kevin drag him towards the bus.

Tweek watched, suddenly frozen to the ground, as Kevin and Clyde made their way to their bus.

The bus rumbled to life, the door shut, and pulled out of the parking lot before Tweek melted. The moment he could move his feet again, he dashed across the grass to the playground.

Nichole sat at the top of a jungle gym that was much too small for a high school student while Token leaned against it.

Tweek wasted no time darting up to Token, grabbing his shoulders, and screaming into his chest.

"Holy shit, Token! Shit, shit, shit, shitshitshitshit!" Tweek panted. His eyes darted around in panic.

"W-Wow, Tweek, dude," Token furrowed his brows, "calm down."

Tweek turned a quick glare towards him. Token knew fully well that telling him to 'calm down' didn't help! It just made Tweek realize how much he was panicking more than before!

Nichole slid off the jungle gym. She set a hand on Tweek's shoulders.

"Hey, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Clyde, He--!! The teachers fucked up, and, and, and!" Tweek grabbed his hair. "The teachers assigned Craig and me to the same room!"

Token's eyebrows shot up. "Really? Lucky." He turned a flirty smile to Nichole. "Think they messed up with us, too?"

Nichole rolled her eyes, clearly unamused, and turned her attention back to Tweek.

"If that makes you uncomfortable, you can ask a teacher to change it, Tweek," She offered. "Or why not tell Craig you're not ok with it?"

"That's the thing!" Tweek squeezed his voice out through his clenched throat. "I'm not uncomfortable with it. I'm totally fine with sleeping in the same room as him."

Token crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you freaking out? It's not excitement. I know that much."

Tweek began to fiddle with his buttons. This was embarrassing! Why did the teachers have to do this to him? Did the robotic club teacher hate him that much? Or was it his teacher sponsor?

He swallowed the lump in his throat before looking around. There was no one in earshot, but he gestured everyone to move closer anyway.

"You can't tell anyone. Promise, on your l-lives," Tweek held out both his pinkies as added insurance. Token and Nichole each wrapped a pinkie around his and shook on it.

"We won't tell. What is it?" Nichole prompted.

"It's just, well, Craig and I, we haven't slept in the same room since we were little kids!" Tweek almost smiled at the memories of late night fart sounds and bad jokes. "That's the thing though: we were little kids. Craig's getting his full driver's license next year and my parents have hired me for real at the shop. We're adults."

Tweek chewed his lip a moment. "It's different now, and, uh, I-I want it to be different, you know? It's not just another kiddie, platonic sleep over anymore."

Nichole clasped her hands over her heart. "Oh, Tweek, that's so sweet and romantic!"

Token snorted a chuckle. "Wait, so you want to sleep sleep with Craig? Like sex? On a school trip? Tweek, you wild animal."

Red painted Tweek's face. He sputtered before finding his words. "No! No! No! No! I don't mean it like that! I mean--"

Nichole gently shoved Token's shoulder. He took a step to the side, more to humor her than succumbing to her strength.

"No, he means he wants to sleep in the same bed as Craig like adults do, like our parents do." She smiled at Tweek. "Right?"

"Y-yes! That's what I mean," He nodded, then pointed to Token. "I'm worried that Craig will take it like Token did if I ask though. I don't want him to think I'm a pervert or a creep."

"He's not going to think that, Tweek." Token shook his head. "If he does, just explain it to him."

"Then he'll think I changed my story when I made him uncomfortable, which will make it even more uncomfortable."

Tweek winced at the thought. He couldn't have 'sex-crazed' add to the list of adjectives he knew Craig thought of him as.

It took him months to remove 'musophobe' from that list when Tweek shrieked after a mouse ran across his toes in Craig's basement. It wasn't even fair to claim he's afraid of mice. It was a big mouse and ran across his bare feet! Anyone would scream.

Nichole screwed her face up in thought. "Then why don't you make it where he asks you?" Her eyes sparkled. "Yeah, do that!"

"How?" Both Tweek and Token asked. The former in a tone of interest and the latter in a tone of dubiousness.

She shrugged. "I don't know, um...drop the temperature? If it's cold in your room, he might ask to snuggle in bed, and if you two just so happen to fall asleep, well, that's just how it goes, right?"

Token shook his head. "Nichole, you have to know how silly--"

"That's perfect!" Tweek grabbed her shoulders before pulling her into a hug. "Nichole, you're so smart!"

She patted his back and nodded contently. "Thank you."

Token opened his mouth, then shut it, shaking his head without a word.

~~~~~

Tweek was excited now that he had a plan of attack. When they got back on the bus, he and Nichole brained stormed more ideas to freeze Craig into Tweek's arms.

First, he would see how low he could get the thermostat to go. Since the plan for dinner was to walk across the street from the hotel to the buffet, the room would have plenty of time to get nice and chilly. If Tweek made sure to get back to the room first, he could turn it back up to normal temperature. He'd shut the vents after that, so no warm air could get in.

Then it would be romantic snuggling the rest of the night!

If all else failed, he still had that gallon bottle from his tea. All he needed to do was refill it when they got there. If it 'accidentally' spilled on one of their beds later that night, the other would undoubtedly be a gentleman and offer to share the remaining bed.

It was a foolproof plan!

A half hour to the hotel, Tweek's phone buzzed.

"We're in the same room at the hotel," Craig wrote. "If the teacher asks, we had a fight and broke up. act bitter about it, otherwise, they might separate us."

Tweek frowned. Clyde told him the teachers forgot they were dating. Why would they remember now? Unless one of the other students ratted them out. He could see that.

Some of the girls in the robotics club gave the kind of vibe like they would throw anyone to the lions at the first chance.

"What did we fight about this time?" Tweek texted back. "Was it 'Michael' again?" He smiled to himself, ending the text with a wink emote.

A moment later, Craig replied, "If you don't let that die, then we really will have a fight." His text ended with three fist emoji. Before Tweek could even open his keyboard, another message came.

This one said, "jk jk. idk. something that doesn't make me look like a dick this time. why don't we fight over stripe? you're being a bad dad and overfeeding him or something."

Tweek didn't like the idea of this fake fight painting him as a bad pet parent, but considering Craig still got flack over their fight in fourth grade, maybe it was only fair.

"ok. I'm letting Token and Nichole know though. Love you!" Tweek tried to look annoyed as he sent a string of kiss faces and hearts. If there was one thing Tweek had become really good at since he and Craig started dating, it was acting.

He huffed, throwing his hand up in the air.

"That bastard!" Tweek cried out just loud enough the other club members around him would hear, but not the teacher.

"How dare he!" Tweek continued, leaning across the aisle to Token. "Look at what Craig said! Me? A bad pet parent! I'm the fucking best parent Stripe has!"

Token raised an eyebrow but took the phone. He rolled his eyes, turning the screen enough for Nichole to read. Nichole chuckled but sent Tweek a small nod. She would play along with this.

"Fuck him! We're through!" Tweek took his phone back. "How do you change your relationship status on Facebook? Under ‘about’ right? I'm not letting him say those things about me."

The other students turned in their seat or scooted closer to the aisle. Gossip hounds, most of them. Usually, Tweek couldn't stand his personal info getting around like this, but the grapevine of whispers would reach up to the teacher and chaperone faster this way.

Craig had already started vague posting about him.

Along with a picture of a fat, plushy guinea pig, Craig posted, "This is what SOME PEOPLE think a guinea pig should look like! Rolly polly and one treat from a heart attack! #badpetparent"

It took all of Tweek's composure not to laugh. Between the two of them, Craig was the one who usually gave Stripe one too many treats.

For the rest of the bus ride, Craig and Tweek made snide comments and jabs about the other on social media. Honestly, he was having fun with it. None of what they said to each other was particularly true, or really that bad, but the rumor mill had already worked its magic.

According to posts shown to him by Nichole and Token, Tweek had broken Craig's heart and curb stomped it by attempting to take full custody of Stripe from him. At least one tweet said they were going to court about it.

When they pulled into the parking lot of the hotel, the robotics bus was already parked. Even in the dim evening light, the antics and excitement of the other club shown through the windows. A paper airplane launched out one of the rear windows and crashed against Tweek's window.

Tweek squinted to try and make out anyone he knew, but the closest he came was thinking he saw the top of Craig's hat.

"Alright, students," the teacher clapped her hands, stealing his attention "We're all going to head to the lobby. Take your bags. I'm not walking everyone back and forth to the bus."

Tweek shouldered his backpack on and stood. When he passed the teacher on his way off the bus, she put a hand on his shoulder.

"Tweek, I want you to know if you ever need to talk, I'm here." She smiled softly. "I know how hard it is to lose a pet to careless actions."

Tweek stared at her a moment before her words clicked. "Oh! Um, thank you, ma'am." He tried to sound downtrodden.

So their 'break up' had already turned to manslaughter. Great. Crowd control was going to be a pain in the ass after all this was said and done.

The robotics club fell silent when Tweek came into the lobby. Some eyed him with distrust, and others with pity. Clyde avoided looking at him, and Craig fixed him with a faux dirty look before flipping him the bird.

Anyone who didn't know Craig well could tell there was no malice in this gesture, but Tweek pretended he was offended and threw him a middle finger right back.

Craig shoved his hands in his pocket and scowled to the side, all the while holding back a smile. Tweek thought it was simply adorable. He made a note to tell him that and watch Craig get flustered about it later.

"Alright, is everyone off the bus?" One of the teachers shouted, and the crowd of students quieted. "Alright, so, when I call your name, come up and get your room key."

She reached held her tablet to her face as she read. One by one the students walked up. There were a few groans and whines, a couple of cheers, but no one seemed too opposed to their rooming assignments.

Then the teacher called out Craig's name.

"Craig Tucker, Room 203." She held up his key. "You're rooming with...oh, um, T-Tweek Tweak."

A group gasp nearly sucked all the air from the lobby. Tweek squared his shoulders and marched up along with Craig.

Mr. Donovan and the garden club teacher exchanged looks, while the robotics teacher couldn't care less.

She started, "I don't know how they got...um--maybe we should switch them with--"

"I'm fine with it." Craig snapped, snatching a key card off the table. "Unlike some people, I am a responsible adult who is in complete control of his emotions."

"Bullshi--I mean, I am too!" Tweek grabbed the other card from the teacher. "You just stay on your side of the room, you gay jerk."

"Don't call names, Tweek. It's immature," Craig scoffed.

"It's not immature if it's all true," Tweek grumbled. Before the teacher or Mr. Donovan could reply, they both stormed off back into the crowd.

~~~~~

Tweek wasn't sure how they pulled that off, exactly, but none of the adults tried to take their keys away from them or make them switch rooms.

At this point, Tweek narrowed it down to either the adults didn't know how to deal with this situation between two men or didn't want to get dragged into their drama. Either way, Tweek wasn't going to complain.

Still scowling, Tweek unlocked their door. With a sneer in his voice, he held the door and said, "After you, Mr. Mature."

"Thank you," Craig spat back, all fake venom.

Mr. Donovan grabbed the door handle, standing between the two. He forced a nervous smile. "Um, if you boys need anything," Mr. Donovan said. "I'm in the room right next door."

"Don't worry, sir." Craig frowned. "We can handle ourselves. Or, I can anyway."

"Yeah," Tweek took a breath, "don't worry at all."

Mr. Donovan didn't look any more relaxed but nodded anyway.

The moment after Tweek shut the door then threw his bag on the bed, Craig grabbed his arm and pulled him into a hug.

"Everyone hates you now," Craig stated matter-of-factly, "for being a guinea pig murderer." He kissed his forehead.

"We'll have to post a picture together with Stripe when we get home." Tweek chuckled. "Proof of my innocence."

Craig squeezed him once, then took a step back. "I need to brush my teeth. Clyde dared me to eat a Jolly Rancher we found on the floor of the bus."

Tweek winced. "Was it completely worth it?"

Craig shrugged. "I got fifteen dollars and ten minutes picking candy out of my braces since I accidentally crunch down, so half-and-half."

"You're disgusting, Craig Tucker," Tweek teased.

Craig took his hat off and chucked it at his face. "If it hadn't been grape - flavored, you would have done it, too."

Tweek gave Craig that as truth with a slight nod before shoving his hat over his head.

When Craig left for the bathroom, Tweek dove into action. He spun around and darted towards the thermal unit under the window.

Stooping down, he fiddled with the controls. The unit wasn't complicated, so it only took a minute or two to lower the temperature setting from a cozy seventy-five to a chilly fifty.

He bounced to his feet and spun around. Twisting the tassels of Craig's hat, he wandered to the bathroom. Craig leaned over the counter to the mirror, picking at his braces. He ran his tongue over his front teeth before sticking his mouth under the faucet to take a drink.

"Get it all?" Tweek asked.

Craig held up a finger as he swished the water around in his mouth then spit.

"Probably not, but at least my mouth doesn't taste like bus floor anymore." He held out his hand. "Gimme back my hat."

Tweek reached up to pull the hat from his head. A smirk played on his lips, and he strode forward and threw it on Craig's head. With a tug, he pulled him down to press a kiss to his lips.

Craig chuckled. "Damn, hope we get over this fight soon."

~~~~~

The buffet was nothing special, just an average all you can eat joint. On their second trip up, Clyde loaded up on more enchiladas than could possibly be healthy, while Craig had taken a more Italian root with a plateful of pasta and pizza.

They sat together in at a table in the back with Token. From their vantage point, they could people watch and mock almost all of the other restaurant goers and had quick access to the dessert bar.

Token took one look at Clyde’s plate and rolled his eyes.

"Didn't your dad tell you to eat something healthy?" Token made a point to stab up some zucchini.

"This is plenty healthy," Clyde replied. "The sauce has tomatoes. Cheese is a dairy product. Grain in the tortilla, and chicken is protein. All the food groups are there."

Without fighting Clyde’s logic, he turned towards Craig. "Ok, so how are you and," he jerked his head towards Tweek, “doing?”

A gaggle of girls surrounded Tweek, cooing over him and comforting him, including the ones who took all the sodas earlier that day. Somehow half the girls on the trip got it in their heads the whole 'fight' was Craig's fault and Tweek was an innocent victim in it all.

Tweek himself looked incredibly uncomfortable, picking at his chicken breast. One of the girls reached out to mess with his hair and Craig tensed. Tweek didn't like people touching him for no reason, much less stroking his hair like that.

Luckily, Nichole reached up and grabbed the girl's hand with a frown. Craig made a note to thank her for that later.

He poked at his pasta without spinning the fork. "We're fine," Craig answered.

Token hummed. "Ok. Actually, can I ask you a question since you and Tweek are sharing a room?"

"Shoot." Craig took a drink of his cola.

"If Tweek offered, would you spend the night with him, like, in the same bed?" Token asked, a little too bluntly.

Craig choked on his drink. He beat his chest, panting. Clyde burst into laughter, bits of enchilada flying across the table. In response, Token crouched over his food, protecting his plate with his arms.

"Token, what the fuck, man?" Craig gasped. "Shit, dude, fuck! You can't ask stuff like that in public!"

Token shrugged, straightening back up.

Clyde wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "So is that a no? You'd just leave Tweek by himself? Guess it's a good thing you two broke up."

Craig took his fork, stabbed one of Token's zucchini slices, and dropped it on top of Clyde's enchiladas. Clyde hurried to remove the offending squash before it contaminated his meal.

Craig pointed his fork at Token. "Ok, why did you ask that?" He lowered his fork and leaned closer. "Did...Did Tweek say he wanted to do that?"

Token chuckled. "What? No. I was just wondering. You two are sharing a room, after all."

Craig reached up and tugged at his hat. He was glad it covered his ears. They were burning with embarrassment. This was not public restaurant talk. This was beanbag chair, playing video games in someone's room talk.

At least if they were in someone's room, Craig could chuck a pillow at Token and loudly tell him to fuck off.

"It's none of your business what Tweek and I do--if we were still together." Craig spun his fork in his pasta. "Which we're not because he's a huge dick and a bad parent to Stripe."

Token opened his mouth, only to have Clyde interrupt him before he started.

"Ok, ok, ok, screw Craig for a minute here. We both know the answer is 'yes', no matter what he says." Clyde reached across to grab Token's hand. "The real question is if you would say yes if I asked you." He wiggled his eyebrows.

Token snorted a laugh. "Of course, Clyde. What are best bros for?"

Clyde raised his fist up to pump it down, only to slam his elbow down on the rim of his plate. The enchiladas flew off the plate.

Red sauce, tortilla, and ground beef splattered against Craig's shirt. Out of instinct, Craig moved back, only to knock his drink forward so it splashed down onto his pants.

"Clyde!" Craig roared, holding his shirt from his body.

"Sorry!" Clyde grabbed a napkin and moved forward to wipe some of the beef off, but Craig slapped his hand down.

Without a word, Craig sulked over to the table with the teachers and chaperones. As he did, he passed the table with Tweek and all the girls. Some of the girls glared at him and some snickered. Tweek, on the other hand, looked shocked and worried.

"Hey, can I head back?" Craig interrupted whatever the teachers were saying. The adults looked up.

"What happened?" The robotics teacher asked.

"Dropped a plate," Craig muttered.

Even though it was all Clyde's fault, he didn't want to get him in trouble for screwing around. Craig would find some other way to have his revenge. For now, he'd let Clyde sweat about when his retribution would come.

Mr. Donovan scooted his chair back. "Of course, Craig. I'll walk you back over and--"

"Mr. Donovan?"

Craig looked over his shoulder to see Tweek walking up.

"Are you heading back? Can I come?" Tweek tugged at his sleeves, looking to the side. "I, uh, I forgot to take my medication this morning, and my anxiety finally caught up with me in such a crowded place."

As added emphasis, he wrapped his arms around himself and twitched.

Craig nearly reached out but stopped himself. For one, they were still 'fighting' and for two, He was pretty sure that was all a lie.

Tweek never forgot to take his medication. He had no less than three alarms to remind himself. It would not surprise Craig at all if Tweek was just using this as an excuse to get away from all the people fawning over him.

Craig caught Tweek's eye for just a second, then muttered, loud enough to be heard by the teachers, "He probably doesn't trust me not to mess with his stuff."

Tweek pretended to grit his teeth. "Please. I'm finished eating."

The adults talked for a moment before Mr. Donovan nodded. After getting a to-go box for Craig and Mr. Donovan's food, the three made their way back to the hotel.

~~~~~~

Craig tossed his shirt into the sink and turned on the hot water. He could try to scrub the sauce off with the complimentary soap but doubted it would do much. Though he liked the shirt well enough, it wasn't a favorite. So if he failed, there wouldn't be that big of a loss.

"Here."

Craig turned to see Tweek in the doorway, holding something out.

"What is it?" Craig stepped over and took it from his hand. He turned the pen-shaped object over in his palm. It was one of those Tide To-Go Pens.

A snorted laugh escaped him. He wasn't surprised at all. Tweek was the only boy Craig knew who would bring something like this with him on a school trip.

He wondered if Tweek brought a sweater with him, too. The hotel room was polar cold. Craig could probably suffer with it, but he didn’t like the idea of Tweek freezing overnight.

Hopefully he could just crank up the thermostat to remendy the situation.

"Thanks, dude," Craig said as he turned to work on the shirt. Tweek leaned against the door frame, watching with interest as Craig worked.

After a while, Craig removed as much of the stain as he could. Luckily, it wasn't too noticeable. As long as his mother never saw it, it was all good. No harm, no foul.

Holding the shirt triumphantly up, he spun around.

"Ta-da!"

Tweek snickered but indulged him with a small round of applause. Craig bobbed his head proudly in a faux bow before tossing the shirt over the towel rack to dry.

"I think I'll take a quick shower. I can still feel the soda sticking to me through my PJs," Craig announced. With a smirk, he added coyly, "Don't go messing with my stuff, got it, Mr. Tweak?"

Tweek's shoulders shook. "I'm way too mature to be that petty, Mr. Tucker."

The two burst into giggles. Tweek started to leave, but Craig followed behind him. He walked past their beds towards the window unit. When he got out of the shower, he’d rather not have all the water freeze to his body.

"Thought so," Craig muttered after crouching down. "Whoever had our room before us left this on fifty." He readjusted the temperature back up to a cozy seventy-five.  

“Oh, that’s why it’s so cold?” Tweek rubbed his arm. “I hadn’t even thought to check it.”

“Yeah, well, at least we won’t turn into popsicles overnight.”  

Tweek grinned at him. There was something a little off about it, but Craig didn’t comment. With how his luck was going this evening, Tweek probably figured Craig thought he was stupid for not noticing.

Craig put his hand on Tweek’s arm, over his knuckles. He explained, “It must have been programmed to kick on while we were out. I didn’t notice until we got back how cold it was.”

Tweek looked down at Craig’s hand, then up at him. He nodded then smiled. The off feeling about this smile dissolved instantly.

With a squeeze of his hand, Craig then left Tweek to take his shower.

Craig’s chest well with pride at the accomplishment as he shut the door. How many people could pacify Tweek’s worries with a few correctly-chosen and reassuring words?

Dang, did Craig like Tweek’s smile. Really, he just liked Tweek over all. Their relationship might have started on less than stellar terms, but by now, Craig had a hard time imagining his life without Tweek in it. It was asilly thought, Craig knew, but maybe they'd get married one day.

Craig stiffened as Token's question rang in his head again.

"If Tweek offered, would you spend the night with him, like, in the same bed?"

He tried to force the idea out of his thoughts but failed miserably. That was a topic he hadn't sunk too much thought into. Sex seemed like a distant concept, more of a late-night thought experiment than a something that would actually happen.

After all, it took them nearly a year and a half of dating to share the most chaste kiss ever, and Tweek still puked from nerves on Craig's shoes a second later. Sex was way too big of a leap! Even if Tweek could get over his nerves this time, Craig knew he couldn't do it.

When they were older, maybe, but...

Craig groaned, burying his face in his hands. Why did Token even ask that? Tweek had to have made him do it, right? A question like that was way too out of the blue for Token to ask it any other time!

He ran his hands through his hair before slapping them down on the sink.

If Tweek wanted to know if Craig was interested in sleeping with him, it would be best to come out in the open and say he wasn't! His boyfriend might be disappointed, but Tweek would have to just respect his decision.

Spinning on his heels, Craig marched out the door. He needed to do this before his confidence wore off.

"Tweek, we need--the fuck?"

Tweek stared at him, eyes like a deer in the headlights. In his hand, he had his jug of water held over Craig's bed. A thin trickle poured onto the covers.

"Don't be mad!" Tweek cried, pulling the jug to his chest. "I can explain, I promise!"

"Then explain. We're not really fighting! You're taking your acting too far!" Craig rushed over to tear the jug from his hands. His bed didn't look too wet. He could probably just pull the sheets off or sleep in the recliner in the corner.

"No, that's not--uh, shit, Craig--!" Tweek wrung his hands together. "Don't be mad! Don't be mad! I, I just..." His shoulders shook and his head dropped.

Craig adjusted the jug to one hand, reaching out with the other, when Tweek's head shot up and he bursted out, "Do you want to sleep with me tonight!?"

So Tweek did get Token to ask Craig! He knew it!

Craig stumbled back. His face was already feeling hot. All of the confidence Craig had seconds ago vanished into thin air when faced with the actual question.

"Tweek, we c-ca-can't!" Craig sputtered. "For one, you, we, uh, need things for that and for two I’m not comfortable with it right now! I don’t want to sleep--"

"Not like that!" Tweek's face was just as red as Craig's, if not more so. He grabbed his shoulders, shaking his head so fast that Craig worried he might break his neck.

"I don't mean it like se—urk—like making l-love," Tweek forced out. "I mean like married people. Normal sleeping, but in the same bed. Same way parents do."

Craig looked down at the jug. Tweek followed his eyes. He snatched it back, his face somehow burning even more.

"I...I wanted to force you to ask to share a bed with me," Tweek admitted. "I was going to chill you into it, but you turned the heat back up."

Craig tried to keep a straight face as Tweek explain but failed almost instantly. His shoulders scrunched and his chin fell to his chest. His cheeks puffed out as he tried to hold back his laughter.

He peeked up at Tweek. Tweek clenched his hand around the jug handle, eyes wide and confused.

"Dude, no offense, did you get this idea from a bad fanfiction?" He snorted into his hand. "Freezing me into your bed? Really? That was the best idea you could come up with before jumping straight to dumping water on my mattress?"

Tweek looked down at the jug, then back up at Craig, before a smile spread across his face. He chuckled, taking a step back to set the jug on the bedside table.

"Shit, now that you say it like that, it's a horrible idea, isn't it?" He shook his head. "At least Nichole's heart was in the right place."

"It was her idea? That explains...never mind." Craig plopped back onto the bed. He patted the seat next to him. Tweek slipped down beside him. Craig eyed the space between them then scooted closer until their sides touch.

"Sooooo, Tweek," Craig slipped his hand around behind Tweek and lean against him, "Do you wanna sleep together? Tonight? Like adults?" He got face to face with Tweek and winked.

Tweek stiffened up a heartbeat, then relaxed. Before Craig could comprehend what Tweek was doing, Tweek pressed a kiss to his lips.

"Yeah, I'd really like that."

A fond, soft feeling welled up in Craig's chest. The feeling spread through his body. He clung to it as Tweek wrapped him in a warm hug. They wouldn't even need blankets if he kept this feeling around.

“Craig, wanna look at the fallout of our ‘break up’ on Twitter?” Tweek offered after a moment. “Some of the girls at the table with me were saying some pretty out there things. Apparently, someone wants to call the FBI out on you.”

Craig glanced over his shoulder towards the bathroom door. He really should get back and take his shower, but this would only take a few minutes. They’d be done before too long.

Of course, ‘before too long’ stretched from a couple minutes to an hour of scrolling through their friends and followers’ feeds on Twitter and Facebook. Nothing could hold back their snickers and snorts as they each took turns reading the more and more outrageous ideas the rumor mill churned out.

As Craig sat in the recliner chair and Tweek laid on his bed, a knocking came from the door.

"Boys? Boys?" Mr. Donovan called through the door.

Craig scrambled out of the recliner, nearly tripping over his legs. He darted over and pushed Tweek down against the bed.

Craig hissed, "Pretend to be asleep, ok? I have a plan."

"Um, why--I mean ok?" Tweek clambered to pull the covers over his body as Craig hurried towards the door. As he passed the bathroom door, a wall of steam hit his face.

Swearing to himself, Craig darted inside and twisted the shower off. Taking a breath and smoothing out his hair, Craig unlocked the door and peeked out.

"Yes?"

"It'll be time to turn off the lights in about fifteen minutes. I'm going around giving everyone their warning." Mr. Donovan told him. He furrowed his brow, looking over Craig into the room. "Where is Tweek? Are you two alright?"

Craig's face fell into a cringe.

"Ugh, yeah, I guess. He went to sleep, like, right, when we got back. I'm going to bed after I take a shower."

"'After'? I heard the shower start a while ago." Mr. Donovan frowned.

"Oh, uh, yeah, I..." Craig wracked his brain a moment then quickly said, "I went in to wash my shirt, and when I left to go get my other shirt, Tweek slipped in and took a shower himself."

"You said he went to bed right after you two got back," Mr. Donovan pointed out.

Shit! Craig felt a sweat start across his skin.

From inside the room came the sound of a bed creaking. Tweek came up from behind Craig, a blanket covering his clothes.

"What's going on? Are we in trouble?" Tweek asked around a yawn. He sent a glare to Craig. "Was he tattling on me for taking a five minutes shower while he was trying to wash his stupid shirt? I thought he was done. I just woke back up, and showers help calm me down! He was the one who chased me out before I could turn the water off. The wasted water bill is all on him!"

Craig rolled his eyes, about to snap something back at Tweek, when Mr. Donovan interrupted.

"No, Tweek, no one is in trouble. You both have fifteen minutes before lights out, alright?"

Craig sighed internally. Thank God, Mr. Donovan seemed to have bought Tweek's lie.

"Yessir," Craig bobbed his head.

"I already was out before someone went to complain," Tweek muttered, turning on his heels and marching back towards his bed.

Mr. Donovan shook his head. "Fifteen minutes, boys." And with that, he left.

Craig shut and locked the door before slumping down, letting out his internal sigh. That was close, too close. Tweek's acting and quick thinking saved them once again.

~~~~

In the fifteen minutes before lights out, Tweek changed out of his clothes into his PJs and Craig took a quick shower to remove as much of the remaining red sauce and soda as he could. They hit the lights moments before one of the teachers made his rounds to tell everyone to go to bed.

Tweek pulled the covers up to his chin. His eyes flicked towards the digital clock on the bed stand. The plan was simple. After another fifteen minutes, he would sneak over to Craig's bed.

His stomach twisted. They were really going to do this, weren't they? Sleep in the same bed, not as platonic friends or as children, but as romantic adults.

What if he messed up? What if he rolled over and accidentally pushed Craig off the bed? What if Craig couldn't get comfortable with Tweek next to him and wasn't able to sleep?

This was just like their first kiss all over again!

No, he needed to calm down. Go to his calm mind space and breathe. It was just sleeping. It's not possible to mess up sleeping. This wasn't like the kiss where a thousand things could go wrong. He and Craig were going to snuggle up and sleep — and Tweek was not going to puke.

This was all just nervous excitement. He wanted this. He'd wanted this for a while now since he came to the conclusion that they weren't kids anymore.

This was the most adult part of a relationship they could do. This was what married people did. He and Craig skipped sex and went straight to something more deeply romantic!

As Tweek wondered how Craig thought about marriage, the fifteenth minute ticked by. The moment the digit on the clock changed, Craig shuffled around in his bed.

"Tweek, it's time," Craig whispered.

Tweek nodded, though he knew Craig couldn't see it, and began to crawl out from the covers. He padded the two steps between their beds before leaning down to grope the covers.

When he finally found the end of the blanket, he lifted it and slid under.

"Comfy?" Craig asked.

"Um, y-yeah!" Tweek rested his head against the pillow. "So, this is it, huh? Sleeping in the same bed, like adults."

"Not really," Craig replied.

"Huh? What are we doing wrong? We really like each other, and we're sleeping, together, in the same bed. That's exactly like adults do." Tweek chewed his lip. What was he forgetting?

Craig scooted closer to Tweek then rolled around so his back was towards him. Finally, he pressed his back against Tweek's front.

"Now, put your arms around me. This is how adults sleep." Craig muttered.

Tweek did as he was told and put an arm over Craig's side.

"What do I do with my other arm?" Tweek asked. "Sleep on it, or do I put it around your shoulders, or, um..." He tried to move his arm up to maneuver it under the pillow, only to clunk Craig in the head with his elbow.

As Tweek stammered apologies, Craig grunted in pain.  Craig shifted away to the other side of the bed.

Tweek's heart pounded in his chest. Great! They weren't even asleep yet and he'd messed it up!

The bed groaned as Craig reached off the side for his phone. He clicked it on, nearly blinding them both, before setting it between them.

"Maybe that's a little too advanced for the first time," Craig stated flatly. "You want to just, like, sleep face-to-face?"

Tweek wished Craig's phone would turn off so his boyfriend couldn't see the embarrassment on his face as he nodded. Craig didn't look annoyed about taking a hit to the head. If anything, he looked just as apprehensive as Tweek felt. That settled some of Tweek’s nerves, at least.

Tweek smiled at him, then pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"Night, Craig." Tweek murmured against his skin.

"Um, yeah, night." Craig smiled but refused to meet Tweek's eyes as he clicked off the phone. With how brightly both their cheeks were burning, it was a wonder that the room went back to being just as dark as before.

They lapsed into silence. Nothing but the humming of the thermal unit and their breathing filled the room.

So, this was it. This was what sleeping with his boyfriend was like. He'd laid down next to Craig before, but this was different. They weren't just watching a movie or trying to finish homework. This was deep and romantic and very mature!

Tweek focused on Craig's breathing as it began to slow. No doubt Craig would be asleep soon. Would it be alright if Tweek reached out and pulled Craig to his chest while he slept? Was that allowed, or would it be weird? Maybe he could just set his hand over Craig's side again or maybe--

A pair of cold feet pressed against his ankles, and Tweek bit back a yelp. Craig's toes pinched Tweek's legs, tugging unpleasantly at his leg hair, until his feet moved until they were under Tweek.

Craig muttered contently, "Warm..."

Tweek swallowed down a sharp, "No, cold actually!" and instead just let it slide. Part of being in a mature, adult relationship was making compromises, after all.

~~~~~~

Craig's cheerful alarm woke them early the next morning. Sometime during the night, they had become a tangled mess of teenage limbs, so it took Craig a bit to snake his arm out from around Tweek.

He turned off the alarm as Tweek yawned. Before he could stop him, Tweek snuggled closer, burying his nose against Craig's chest.

"We need to get up," Craig told him.

"Nooooo," Tweek whined back. "I just got comfortable."

"You weren't comfortable the rest of the night?" Craig teased. Tweek wouldn't have fallen asleep if he didn't feel safe and comfortable. That's just how Tweek was. They both knew it.

Though, Craig was inclined to agree. Last night was one of the better nights of sleep he's had in a while. Tweek was practically a human furnace, not to mention softer than the pillows themselves. When Craig had to pee halfway through the night, he'd ran to the bathroom and back so he wouldn't miss a second of Tweek's deep, comforting breathing.

Tweek turned his head up to fix Craig with a mildly annoyed expression. "Only when you weren't trying to freeze me with your feet. I'm getting you fuzzy socks for next time, man."

Craig raised an eyebrow, smirking. "There's going to be a 'next time'?"

Tweek nodded. "Well, yeah. If you want there to be."

With a laugh, Craig wrapped his arms around Tweek, pulling him close. Of course, there would have to be a next time, and a time after that, and a time after that...

[luca-corpse]

Heyo! I decided to share some old writing of mine with all of you! It’s kind of an apocalyptic story with some weird fantasy elements! Please note that all things contained in this are mine, and this is technically still my story though infinitely delayed!

Chapter 1

The Travellers

I always questioned the eye on my foot. Whenever I looked at my bare feet it always creeped me out. I blankly stared at me, not blinking as it was simply in a hole in my foot.

Doctors always questioned it, it wasn’t exactly a common occurrence. My dad insisted my parents named me Iris instead of the planned Izabella as soon as he saw the deformity. My mother shot him down, but the name stuck as a nickname.

The eye never hurt, I couldn’t see out of it, it was just... there, staring, it’s bright sclera and bright cyan hue standing out against my dark skin. I occasionally picked at it, I was even able to pop it out of it’s spot in my foot, a thick fleshy sting connecting it to the hole it laid in. I always put it back in fear that, even though it never bled when I popped the eye out, the hole might get infected.

Though, over time the eye stressed me out. Doctors made a fuss about it every time they saw it, and I hated the way it stared at me and the way it never blinked. It was fun doing staring contests against it when I was little, but as a 16 year old it was just plain creepy.

One day I decided I was done, I grabbed my nail scissors from their drawer in the bathroom and sat down on top of the counter and put my nails around the eye. I closed my eyes and pulled at the orb, it never hurt, but it always made me wince, hearing the squishy pop.

I grabbed at the string of flesh connecting the eye and my foot. I dug my nail into the flesh, it hurt a little, but I was willing to deal to get this creepy thing gone. I had the scissors open around the string, and I was seconds away from cutting the thing off... but I hesitated.

Something felt wrong about cutting it off. This always happened when I got close to cutting the thing off. I felt like something would happen if I did so. But I was done.

I cut the fleshy thread in one slice.

Nothing happened, no pain, no blood, nothing. All that happened was the eye bounced across the floor with a series of squishy splats.

I got off the counter and grabbed the eye, I finally was able to compare it to my own. I looked into the mirror and held the eye a few inches besides my own. I was sure to be careful to keep it from touching my black and gold curly locks.

It was much brighter than my eyes, a bright, almost ghostly blue compared to my more natural dark green. It was kind of creepy.

I grabbed my old tooth box from my childhood. I always left it on my bathroom counter, it brought back good memories of running into my dad’s room yelling about ‘loofin a toof!’ and listening him laugh and ask about if I’d lost it at 2:30. I quickly dropped the eye inside and shut it, locking away the neon food coloring blue peeper.

The rest of the day passed without much hassle, a lazy Saturday of browsing my phone and wanting to take a nap. I kept the eye close by, for some reason I wanted to just have it to remind myself it wasn’t attached to my body. I stayed up late into the night, before finally passing out on the couch.

I woke up suddenly. I didn’t know why, but I was up. I never woke up late at night. I grabbed my phone and checked the time. 12:32 AM. I went to bed at 1 in the morning, the hell was going on?

I got up and grabbed the eye, holding it close to my chest, something in me told me I’d need it. I slowly walked around my house, looking for... something.

There was a keyhole on the bathroom door. My bathroom door never had a keyhole, but even if it did, this keyhole was... odd. It was round, like a....

I grabbed the eye from the box, I slowly placed it in the hole, it stared at me, and after an uncomfortably long moment I heard a click, and the door creaked open.

The door opened to a darkness, it was pure black, the only thing visible being a door in the distance. I yanked the eye from the keyhole and moved forward with curiosity.

I was never good at thinking ahead.

As I went through the door it slammed behind me. I turned and tried to open the door, it didn’t open, there was no eye keyhole (eyehole?) this time.

My only option was forward. I sprinted through the darkness, the ground seemed to splash beneath me. I stumbled and fell against the door. I stood straight and reached for the knob. There was no keyhole this time.

I opened the door and walked through, only to find a city. A deserted city with thick air and the appearance of being abandoned for centuries. The inhabitants shuffled around, heads pointed towards the ground. Some looked up just to hiss in pain, and pointed their heads back down.

I only had three questions.

1. What was happening?

2. What is that in the distance?

And the most worrying,

3. Is it getting closer?

I quickly ran behind a building, careful to avoid any of the husks aimlessly shuffling about. I stared at the thing that drew closer. As it drew closer, it was something I didn’t expect.

“Hey, Uno, are you sure this garden was a good idea? It so far from base! And why couldn’t we bring Nuke or Ancient?” I heard a voice yell. It was fairly feminine and had a raspiness to it.

“Well, our hope is the garden can grow us food so we don’t have to rely on Being! It’s far from base so it hopefully can’t so easily connect it to us! And we didn’t bring any of the others as to not make as much noise!” Another feminine voice responded, it had much more energy behind it. So much for them being quiet.

As they got closer I couldn’t help but wonder why they weren’t like all the other’s here that wandered around with their heads to the ground.

When they finally got close enough to see I took in their appearances. One wore glasses while the other wore goggles, both had messy black hair with a few silver streaks. The one in glasses wore it long in a ponytail, while the other had it in a simple bob. The one with a bob wore a hole infested army jacket that was clearly meant for someone much larger and more muscular. They also wore messy and ripped jeans, and sneakers. The one with a ponytail wore a poncho that fluttered in the wind. They wore tall combat boots, tights, and gloves as well.

They slowly came to a stop on their motorcycle, which was being driven by the one with a bob. They both quickly got off and scurried away. The both looked to be in their late teens, 17, maybe 18.

I slowly followed after them, being slow as for them to not see me. The sand and dirt on the ground squished under my feet. It was hot and dry, I could only wonder when the last time it rained was.

After following their trail, I found them. I saw the two walking through a rough dirt garden, checking on tiny little sprouts. They all were yellow and dry.

“God damnit!”

“We’ve been watering you every day! What more do you want?”

They both began yelling at the plants, one sounded legitimately mad, while the other just sounded tired.

“Well, I mean, we’ve been sending Nuke. Who knows how much she’s been actually been watering them.” The one in the ponytail murmured and scratched their head.

“Yeah, why did Ancient say we should’ve sent Nuke.”

“He’s stupid.”

“Indeedy.”

I slowly walked out from behind the building where I was hiding. I felt unbearably hot in my pajamas that I fell asleep in, I didn’t know how those two wore such heavy clothing without burning alive.

The two turned around and went wide eyed. They both had chocolate brown eyes.

“Who’re you?” The one with the bob yelled.

“Uh, I’m-“ I didn’t trust them just yet, something was so weird about all of this.

“Wait wait wait! Don’t- don’t tell us! We’ll call you- ah- Noon! Noon, Noon, Noon!” The one with the bob cut off the silence.

“I- alright?” The one with the ponytail slowly added.

The one with the bob was bouncing on their feet, “Get over here Noon!”

I slowly walked over to the two, they towered over me, at least 5’ 9” compared to my 5’ 6”. The one in the ponytail was trying to calm down the one with the bob, who was clearly exited towards my presence.

“I’m Uno! Well, I go by Uno among the Travellers! The Travellers is the name of our gang! Oh I’m so happy to meet someone new! Nuke, Ancient, and all the others are sooooooo boring!” The one with the bob yelled, a stupid grin on their face stretched from ear to ear.

The one with the ponytail placed a hand on Uno’s shoulder, hold them down, “Calm down, Uno. Anyways, Noon, I’m Dos, Uno’s twin sister.”

“And I’m Dos’ twin brother!” Uno chimed in.

“She could probably guess, Uno.”

I quietly added, “Uh- call me a they please?”

Uno seemed even more excited, “Yaaaaayyyy! And enby pal! My trans buddy!”

Uno quickly shedded his coat and held it out to me, “Here! You look hot! It has ice in it so it’s super cold and nice!”

As I took the coat Dos grabbed my arm, and I flinched.

“Ah, sorry, I’m just gonna bring you back to our motorcycle so we can bring you back to our base. Trust me, you don’t want to be stranded and alone in the Dunes for long…. By the way, question; do you know how to drive?”

I nodded.

“Hey, I can drive perfectly well!” Uno yelled.

“No you can’t. Anyway, c’mon, Noon.”

It wasn’t long before we were zooming down the road, dodging cars and debris as I got a better view of the city. Dos had her arms wrapped around my waist, with Uno behind her.

Dos also had her face buried into my back, but based on Uno’s screams I think he was just pushing her into that position. Also based on the fact I could hear Dos yelling and cussing at her brother as we rode.

As we drove Uno occasionally screamed incomprehensible and hypocritical instructions at me.

“Left! Nononononono- Right! Wait, nonononono- Just get out of the city!”

But Dos was actually yelling real instructions into my back, so I just listened to her.

It was weird looking at the environment. It was barren and sandy, the sun never seemed to move. Mindless people just shuffled around in the city and even in the barren and empty wastelands. Some even had their faces buried into the ground as their legs twitched.

It was honestly just creepy.

Dos instructed me to stop at a corner store that had the sign sloppily drawn over with a backpack. Dos told me to pull up in the driveway, and stop near the entrance. In the driveway there was also a pickup truck and a tiny Jeep. Each had a backpack and initials sloppily drawn on the side. Though, the motorcycle didn’t have any such marking.

Before we even fully stopped Uno jumped off the motorcycle and Dos did the same. I pulled the cycle to a stop and climbed off.

Uno turned to me with a grin and simply asked, “What do ya think?”

The building was rundown, and generally looked like it shouldn’t have been standing, yet with the power of sheer luck it stayed strong. I could see figures inside and shelves filled with anything ranging from knives to actual jars full of literal eyes.

I slowly nodded and gave Uno a thumbs up and he somehow seemed to grin even wider, “C’mon! The others are inside! We have Nuke here for once, too! Perfect timing!”

Both him and Dos scurried inside, leaving me to carefully follow. This all was so surreal. The landscape, the way I got here, everything. I honestly wondered if something I ate today was laced with something seriously impressive.

As I entered a broken bell weakly ringed, and I was immediately hit with the beautiful sound of distorted mid-2010’s pop. Carly Rae Jepson weakly blasted on the speakers singing how you should call her maybe.

Many people sat around the corner store that had been turned into an impromptu base. Some seemed to be as young as twelve, a few others in their mid twenties. They ranged immensely despite there only being 5 or so in the building. A small Latino person with a side shave and a puffy dress, a large and pale man who was stacking boxes on shelves, even a tanned person with long hair who simply wore a tank top and short shorts.

Uno and Dos were going around hyping people up about my arrival, telling them about someone new joining them, and telling them to “find the others”. Because of course they’re more people in these 17 year-olds’ gang.

Quickly people gathered around asking me about my “eyehole” or where I came from. Some were trying to get the others to shut up and I firmly kept my mouth shut myself. Some were giving their names and genders, others were just repeating hi and probably hoping for answers.

“Heyyyyyy, leave the newbie alone. Don’t want someone to join me, I imagine,” someone spoke in a calm voice that almost seemed like a purr. It was the person in the tank top. They held a quill in their hands as they wrote in a scorched and scraped up journal.

“No one will join you Nuke!” I heard the little Latino person yell as they blew a raspberry.

“Don’t be mean Void,” someone with faded lime green hair chimed in, “She is our guest after all.” They wore punkish clothes that covered up cutesy Hello Kitty clothes that barely fit them.

“Hi?” I quietly asked.

“She speaks! We didn’t need another Radi!” Void squealed. They patted their left upper arm, “She will be missed.”

I heard pats from the rest of the group. I had no clue what that meant. Another oddity in this place.

“Anyway! Travellers! We have someone who is a fellow captor of the Dunes! We have dubbed them Noon! As they came at noon!” Uno yelled over the group.

“Uh, Uno, it’s always noon here?” The green haired person added.

“Shush. Anyways! We welcome them with wide arms into the Travellers! Of course only if-!”

“If they pass the test,” the rest of the travelers continued.

“Just get them in already! We found a Capsule on the edge of Seabed Chasm, it’s some grocery store!” The man who was stacking boxes earlier yelled. He had grey hair and was coated in hair and faint oil stains.

“Okay, fine. Their test will be to venture into a Capsule and successfully loot it without getting caught by the timebug or it’s loop victims! Okay! I’m done! Happy?” Uno yelled, which got responded with everyone cheering things like “No horrible speech!” (I think that was Dos) or “YAY CAPSULE!”(I think that was the little kid, Void.)

After Uno and Dos settled everyone down, they announced that everyone has to introduce themselves to me. Of course, this was taken as ‘Everyone, yell your name at the new person all at once.’

“No! One at a time, people! Uh…. Nuke! You go first!” Uno yelled over the crowd.

Everyone went quiet as Nuke stepped forward. They were the one in the tank top. They had sandy blonde hair and tanned skin. They held out a hand.

“Hello, Noon, I am called Nuke by these idiots. Pleasure to meet you.” They purred. From their voice and way of speaking she was clearly a woman.

From the way I’ve been hearing about her, she’s merely an outsider or guest who simply tags along. I lightly shook her hand and she simply walked away with a sway to her hips. Great, that kind of girl.

The little Latino person came up to me, pushing everyone else aside. Bouncing on the balls of their feet they waved with a ton of enthusiasm. They wore an oversized jacket and puffy dress, they looked no older than 13. “Hi! I’m Void! By the way, I’m not a girl! Call me they! Or it! I dunno, but I’m so happy to have someone new! Everyone tells me I’m annoying, so maybe you won’t think that, but in the end I guess that’s up to you. Anyway-!”

The person with the green hair rested a hand on their shoulder and cut them off, “They probably could guess, Void. Oh, and I’m Nucleic. Xe/Xem,” Xe held out a hand, which I took and shook. Xe definitely looked the most laid back of everyone, which was nice with how crazy everyone else seemed. Xe had the greenest hair I had ever seen on anyone. It had clearly faded from xem being here a while, but it still was bright. I couldn’t help but fight back a giggle at xyr bright shirt that read Friends Forever! in glittery yet faded bubble text.

Suddenly, someone else butted in, standing over everyone else, “Well! I’m Sandstorm. Not a pleasure to meet you, I honestly couldn’t care less.” It was the buff man who said it, he gave me a glare as he did so. I couldn’t help but notice the gaping hole on the back of his left hand, similar to my own where I removed the eye.

The eye! I quickly grabbed and lightly shook my box, hearing quiet squishy bouncing from inside. Good, something tells me I’m gonna need it,

An older person approached and tapped my shoulder. I turned around to get a better look at them. They were about 30, maybe even 40. They slowly began speaking. “I’m Ancient. Please excuse my younger companions. Void has hyperactivity issues, Sandstorm doesn’t understand being nice… and Nucleic does whatever xe does. No one knows what xe’s thinking, not even xem, I’m willing to bet,” Ancient laughed and continued, “Anyway, call me a he. Pleasure to meet you, Noon.”

Others came up to me and introduced themselves as well. There was Sclera who had platinum blond hair and an overkill attitude, beside her was Ruin who seemed to be very fatherly and kind. There was Drei who seemed incredibly tired, yet I could still tell she was trying her best. Finally there were Time and Bug, two lovers who basically hung off of each other, with Time refusing to let go of Bug’s arm, and Bug refusing to detach himself from his datemate’s side.

After everything was said and done with Uno and Dos basically dragged me to the back of the store and into a broom closet turned makeshift bedroom. It had two piles of blankets and pillows on top of a mattress that covered the whole floor. In one corner hung a sheet that covered the corner, and in the other was a large trunk that was filled to the brim with clothes and other necessities. Uno immediately ran to the chest and began sorting through everything making spare piles of pants, shirts, and boots, meanwhile Dos sat down and gestured for me to join her.

“So, welcome to the base of the Travellers. It’s kinda messy and thrown together, but it’s the best we could manage,” She laughed a little and pointed to Uno, “My brother over there insisted we settle in a corner store or something. So blame him for the mess.”

I decided now was the best time to ask questions, so I thought for a moment before stating one thing that should get me all the answers I need.

“Okay, what is going on here?”

“Oh, now you’re talking, but, yeah, we haven’t explained anything yet, have we? Well, it’s a long story….” Dos trailed off, seemingly lost in thought.

“Well, I’d rather get a lengthy explanation than no explanation at all,” I retorted.

“Well, in summary, you’re in a place me and Uno call the Dunes. It’s an alternate dimension from ours that can be accessed with special eyes. This place was hit with a bomb a long time ago and was devastated and many things got taken over by horribly mutated and even supernatural creatures. Anyone who enters here without their eye is trapped until they find theirs or a replacement,” Dos sighed, “That’s a good chunk of it.”

“Okay… that is still incredibly confusing?” I quietly added.

“Alternate dimension, disaster, giant time spiders, poisonous air, eyes. Does that make more sense?”

“Could you possibly reiterate on the third and fourth one?” I squeaked out.

“Okay, there are giant time bugs that make time loops, we call these timeloops Capsules, we usually raid them since they have food. And in some places there is poisonous air, we have collected masks for that. Don’t worry, it’s safe here,” she simply said. I was still confused and a little freaked out but I decided to just act like I knew what she meant.

As I nodded Uno sat down beside us with a large pile of clothes, “Well Noon! Time to dress you for the Dunes, we can’t have you in pajamas here!” He began holding up clothes asking for a yay or nay. We ended up going through the whole pile of clothes over the course of what felt like at least an hour. Dos and I made small talk while her brother dug through the clothes.

She ended up filling me in on more about this alternate reality. The longer she droned on the more I found myself actually believing this all could be real, no matter how surreal it sounded. She talked about the sun, how time never changed, how eyes worked, but what interested me most was one thing: Being.

“Oh? Being. It’s a creature that inhabits this place. It sells food and other things. It even steals eyes and sells them back. But for eyes it usually charges… human flesh,” She trailed off before continuing with a sorrowful look, “That’s how Bug lost his leg, he was trying to get an eye for Time.”

“Did it not work?” I simply asked. Time was still obviously here, so I was confused on why they hadn’t left.

“No it did, just many of us have a deal that if one of us leaves those closest to us are going to come with us. Since Bug didn’t have an eye, Time refused to leave,” She simply stated, “Uno and I have a similar deal.”

“Indeed we do!” Uno chimed in, “Even so, neither of us have an eye, so we couldn’t leave even if we wanted to! Right, Dos?”

Dos responded with a simple nod, before speaking, “No sibling left behind is what we said, so we’re not gonna leave each other behind, no matter how many fights and squabbles we get into.”

It was kind of sweet, they definitely were very strong to get along after being here for who knows how long.

Once we got through all the clothes we settled on a dirt stained button-up with ripped sleeves, some ripped and faded jeans, and a pair of tall and worn combat boots. It was simple, but practical for the rough environment.

As I grabbed the clothes, got up from my sitting position to go find a bathroom and change, Dos came up to me and handed me a belt covered in loops and pockets.

“It’s always good to have extra space to put and hide things, trust me.”

The bathroom was clearly not in a safe condition. Though, it was gender neutral, which I appreciated. The tiles were worn and some even cracked and filled with dirt. The mirrors were stained and fogged up by the humid weather, the air conditioning was bad in this building, but in the bathroom it was even worse.

I quickly got changed and rushed out of the dusty room, slightly relieved to not have to breathe in any more of whatever had collected in that bathroom. I liked the look of the outfit, simple and surprisingly cool, which I attributed to the ice which was inside bags in my jacket.

As soon as I peeked back into Uno and Dos’ room they both looked happy with my look. Uno basically squealed with joy and Dos gave a smile and thumbs up of approval.

They took me out to see everyone else and most of them seeming happy with their new member (Because at that point I could be counted as a member, right?). The only exceptions being Nuke, Sandstorm, and Drei, who looked bored, slightly angry, and tired respectively. From what I knew of them, I wasn’t surprised in the slightest.

The next while was honestly a blur, getting my stuff together for the night (Well, it’s never really night, but everyone was getting tired), and picking me out a room. Though, of course, there wasn’t enough room for everyone, so I got stuck in the same room as Void and Nucleic. It was better than it could be, but I felt like Void wasn’t going to let me sleep for a good while.

Void was really helpful in setting up my section of the area. We were stuck in a freezer that was clearly broken a long time ago. Nucleic even encouraged me to check that the door wasn’t locked and feel how warm the walls were to see it was safe. Apparently xe had the same worries when xe got here, I was a little surprised based on xyr calm attitude.

Before I knew it everything was ready, a pile of blankets and a couple ripped pillows that made for a semi comfortable place to rest. It was better than nothing, I guess.

It wasn’t long before the blasting pop music on the store’s speakers abruptly turned off, and Uno came over the mic, mumbling in a lazy voice, “Sleep.”

I looked to Nucleic and Void and they both gave similar looks that read ‘Yeah, he does that’. So I decided to take the hint and try to sleep.

It was surprisingly a good sleep despite the sun shining bright outside and the hard floor beneath me. But, eventually I was rudely awakened by Void who was yelling in my face.

“Hey! Let’s go fight some man eating spiders!”

[seanshumblehome]

Randy Cunningham in:It came from the oak tree.

It was late one cold November morning and Randy lie in his bed still sleeping after last night ninja outting.Randy then felt a hand gently grip his shoulder followed by warm kiss to his cheek.

Mrs.Cunningham:Come on sweetie, it’s time to get up. Mrs.Cunningham said gently shaking Randy’s shoulder.

Randy:Hrm five more minutes. Randy groaned still tired.

Mrs.Cunningham:Come on now, I’m not gonna let you sleep through the whole entire day. Mrs.Cunningham jokingly said.

Randy simply groaned and truned to his side.Mrs.Cunningham rolled her eyes then turned to walk out of Randy’s bedroom.

Mrs.Cunningham:Well then I guess I am just going to have to drink that big pot of freshly made hot chocolate that’s down in the kitchen all by myself. Mrs.Cunningham said feinging disappointment as she exited Randy’s bedroom.

Randy:Okay okay, I’m up. Randy said as he threw off his blanket and got up from his bed.

Mrs.Cunningham closed Randy’s bedroom door as she left, allowing him some privacy so he could get dressed out of his sleepwear and change into his signature red shirt,black mcskinnies, and purple mckicks.Once he was done getting changed Randy sauntered down the stairs to kitchen where upon he poured himself a cup of his mothers freshly made hot chocolate.While he sipped on his hot chocolate, Randy approached the kitchen window and stared out into the backyard admiring his garden that he had started three months prior. Mrs.Cunningham walked over and stood next to her son and began admiring his garden with him.

Mrs.Cunningham:Your garden is coming along nicely. Mrs.Cunningham said before taking a sip of hot chocolate.

Randy:Thanks mama, You know when you first suggested gardening to help with my stress I was sceptical but now I have to say it was a pretty good idea. Randy said calmly.

As Randy and Mrs.Cunningham stood starring out the window drinking their hot chocolates Randy began to notice that there was something rustling through his newly planted rose bush.

Randy:Hey mama, do you see that over there? Randy asked curiously.

Mrs.Cunningham:No, could you point it out? Mrs.Cunningham replied.

Randy:Over there near my rose bush. Randy said while pointing at the rose bush.

Mrs.Cunningham squinted her eyes and noticed that there was definitely something rustling through the rose bush.

Mrs.Cunningham:Hey you’re right there is something there! Mrs.Cunningham exclaimed.

Randy placed his cup of hot chocolate down on the kitchen counter then grabbed a knife from the knife holder and approached the slidding glass door.

Mrs.Cunningham:Be careful out there sweetie. Mrs.Cunningham said with concern.

Randy:Don’t worry I will. Randy said as he opened the slidding glass door.

Randy stepped outside, closing the slidding door behind him.Randy began to slowly approach the rose bush holding his knife upside down.Once he was close enough Randy could see that what ever was rummaging through his garden was small,  covered with brown fur, and had a big bushy tail. Unfortunately Randy stepped on a perviously unseen twig causing the graden rummager to turn and face Randy.As soon as the creature turned to face him, Randy immediately knew what was digging in his garden, It was...a squirrel.The squirrel stared at Randy for a short moment then ran between his legs as he tried to grab the squirrel.Randy watched as the squirrel ran up into the oak tree to hide from him while Randy was more concerned with the state of his garden.

Randy:That bastard, that furry little bastard! Randy exclaimed as he fell to his knees.

Mrs.Cunningham:What’s wrong Honey? Mrs.Cunningham asked with concern.

Randy:That furry little bastard ate my pumpkin seeds! Randy exclaimed.

Heidi:Hey! Stop yelling out there you shoob I’m trying to work! Heidi shouted from her open bedroom window.

Randy:Stay out of this Heidi! Randy shout as he pointed at Heidi.

Heidi rolled her eyes, closed her bedroom window and returned to her computer to continue working on an article for her website.Mrs.Cunningham watched as her son arose from the ground, brushing the dust off of his mcskinnies then walking back towards the house.

Mrs.Cunningham:So what are you going to do now? Mrs.Cunningham asked as she followed behind Randy.

Randy:I’m gonna grab my pellet gun, sit next to the slidding glass door and if I see that furry little bastard again I’ll blow his little furry head off. Randy angrily said.

“Two hours later.“

Mrs.Cunningham sat on the living room couch watching a soap opera sipping her hot chocolate while Randy sat in a chair in front of the slidding door(Which was cracked open slightly)holding his lever action pellet gun in his hands with a cup of hot chocolate next to him watching the backyard for any sign of movement.Suddenly there was a knock at the front door so Mrs.Cunningham quickly got up from the couch to answer it.Mrs.Cunningham opened the door to see Theresa standing on the porch.

Theresa:Hello Mrs.Cunningham, may I please come in? Theresa nicely asked.

Mrs.Cunningham:Of course come on in. Mrs.Cunningham said waving Theresa in.

Theresa walked past Mrs.Cunningham and immediately approached Randy while Mrs.Cunningham sat back down on the couch to continue watching her soaps.

Theresa:Hey Randy, what’s up? Theresa nicely asked.

Randy:I’m waiting for the squirrel that ate my pumpkin seeds to show up again so I can shoot it. Randy said firmly

Theresa:Aw but way do you have to kill it, way not just catch it then let it loose in the woods or the park? Theresa suggested.

Randy:But if I do it won’t send the message to the other squirrels in the neighborhood that my garden is not an all you can eat buffet. Randy replied.

Theresa sighed then looked at Randy with a somber look on her face.

Theresa:Just make sure that it doesn’t suffer alright. Theresa said in a slightly sadden tone.

Randy:Of course, I may be angry with it but I’m not gonna torture, I’m just gonna put a little steel ball in its head. Randy said nonchalantly.

Theresa crossed her arms and rolled her eyes then turned around.

Theresa:Well I gonna go sit with Mrs.Cunningham for a bit, so if you want to talk about something other than squirrel killing, I’ll be over on the couch. Theresa said before turning around and walking towards the living room couch. Randy simply shrugged then continued to monitor the backyard for any signs of movement.

“A few moments later.“

Theresa had left to go hangout with Heidi and Debbie, His mother had left to go grocery shopping for some ingredients she would need for dinner that night. So now Randy sits silently in his house watching the backyard like a hawk. Suddenly he saw it, it scurried down the side of the oak tree, coming to a stop once it had reached the grass. Randy slowly stood up from his chair clutching his lever action pellet gun tightly in his hands then slowly opened the slidding glass door.Randy aimed down the sights of his rifle then steadied his breathing.

“POP!“

The squirrel fell softly to the ground, twitching slightly before finally succumbing to death.Randy then approached the squirrel’s body, nudging it with the barrel of his rifle to make sure it was dead and upon the confirmation of its death, Randy reached into his back pocket pulling out a pair of bright yellow rubber dish washing gloves.Randy placed his rifle on the ground then put on the rubber gloves and grabbed a small garden shovel.Randy then dug a hole big enough for the squirrel at the base of the oak tree then laid the dead squirrel’s body inside the hole.Randy covered the hole, took off the rubber gloves and picked his pellet rifle up off the ground then went pack inside to enjoy the rest of the his day.

The End. Sorry for shitty ending.