Chapter Text
Derek lifted his head from a hard surface and groaned. What was going on? He blinked his eyes open and stared at a black screen. The memories started flowing back. Him, The Crossroads, the King in Yellow, the worlds he explored, Avery… How was he not dead? He should be dead, he let the king into his mind to destroy him and Derek himself—He shouldn't be here in the real world anymore.
Avery…! Derek shot up from his seat. A terrible idea, really. His head was pounding and his vision tilted. Must have been from when he couldn't take his eyes off the screen. He looked down at his hands. His very real hands. Dark tanned and rough from no care.
Derek remembers Avery, but does Avery still remember him? He said he had recordings but what if he forgot about those too? He had to find him. Tell him he was alright. Luckily, Derek still had his great knowledge from the King in Yellow, so he knew Avery’s address and what his pretty eyes looked like
He slowly walked to the door and hesitated. What would happen if he interacted with Avery? Would it be just like in Minecraft or would he hate him for everything he did or would he still see the King in Yellow in him somehow or would he not remember and think Derek’s a creep for knowing his address and name or–no… he had to try. Even if things go south, he needed to try. So he sucked in a sharp breath and turned the handle.
The house was silent, as if no one was there anymore. It was eerie and wrong. Like every sound in his house was drained from existence except for his breath.
Derek trudged through the living room of his house like he'd never been there before. He found a smart watch on the coffee table. He picked it up and turned it on. He needed to know the day and how long he was out. 3/10/2026. Right. New years happened when he “died.” He set the watch down and made for the front door.
The sun was blindingly extra bright to his sensitive eyes. Shielding his eyes with his arm, Derek walked to the car outside the building. He had grabbed the car keys before leaving out the door. He climbed in and turned it on.
Avery lived surprisingly close to Derek, only a few miles. He parked right outside Avery’s house, slammed the car door, and walked over to the front door. He hesitated a beat then knocked firmly. There was a silence before it opened. And there, in all his glory, Avery. He'd found him. “Um–hello? Can I help you?” Avery asked, unaware of what was about to unravel. Derek smiled. He replied, voice quiet and low, “Avery…” Avery’s eyes widened in recognition. “...Are-are you,” His voice was choked and his eyes swelled. “Yeah,” Derek replied. “It’s me.”
Avery collapsed into him in one swift motion, and Derek wrapped his arms around him after a brief hesitation. “I-I-I thought you were dead,” He whispered. “I thought I was too,” Derek replied, chin resting on top of Avery’s head.
Avery pulled back, blinking tears away from his eyes. Derek reached up and wiped them away, but quickly pulled away at the contact, blushing faintly. Avery looked him up and down, his own face slightly pink. “You look way better in person than I imagined,” Avery said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I already knew what you looked like.” Derek said slowly. “I just never thought I would witness–everything–about you in person.”
Avery let out a weak laugh then cleared his throat, “Why don’t you--uh–come inside?” He stepped aside. Derek Smiled then stepped in.
The warmth of the room hit him instantly. A warm voice came from the kitchen. “Avery, who’s this?” The woman, Avery’s mom, came into the room where Avery and Derek were. Avery blushed even more. “This is my friend, D3rl–Derek,” He answered, voice catching on friend ever so slightly. Derek’s smile was small but there, and he waved.
“Any friend of Avery’s is welcome here,” she said. “Now look at you. When was the last time you had a proper meal?” Avery and Derek exchanged a look. Derek responded, sheepishly, “You’d be surprised…” Derek couldn't actually recall the last time he had something actually good for him.
“Ah well now I feel bad for making something quick and easy,” Avery’s mother said. “What did you make? ‘cause I feel like anything's better than straight smoothies for days on,” He said the last part too quietly to catch and kept his expression polite. “Avery’s current favorite food right now,” She responded and Avery perked up. “And that is…?” Derek asked Avery.
“Ramen, it’s ramen,” Avery responded, suddenly embarrassed for who knows why.
“I like ramen…” Derek replied, trying to sooth Avery without realizing it. “Well then,” His mom said. “Then it'll be ready in a few minutes. Feel free to make yourself at home, Derek.”
Home.