Chapter Text
Saturdays are usually full of sleeping, crying, eating and binging bad tv shows. But today, you'll be spending your precious Saturday away from your soul-sucking job exploring a sewer.
Now normally, you’d go on by yourself when you go out into dangerous alleys because you have no sense of self-preservence. But, thanks to the quick work of Leonardo, you have Mikey’s number. So, you decided some company wouldn’t hurt. And apparently, Mikey knows some form of self defence. He wouldn’t specify but he called himself a ninja so he must be pretty good.
…Either that or he’s lying, and you’re screwed if you run into anything bigger than a pug.
You sigh and decide to take your chances with the self proclaimed ‘ninja’. You text Mikey, asking him if he wants to join you.
Sickofpizza: Yo do you wanna help me uncover the mysteries of the odd manhole near my job??
PizzaMikey!!<3: oooo yeah!!
Sickofpizza: Oke meet up in the alley that has that graffiti of a penis >:]
Honestly, you weren’t totally sure what to expect down there, but with the mutant creatures supposedly running around, you packed pepper spray and a pocket knife. As well as a towel and some snacks.
As you made your way out, you fed your cat and left a note for your mother, who slept in. Your mother tends to sleep in. After the whole ‘She has disibilities and can't work in person’ stuff from her doctor, she sleeps in until afternoon and stays up till sunrise.
At least she works from home. You aren’t entirely sure what she does, but she makes a lot of cash so you aren’t worried. She's got her secrets. And so do you.
You walked down the street to the alley with the penis graffiti and set the towel down by the manhole cover so you can sit on the floor. The alley smells like garbage and bile, but you endure for the sake of curiosity. You pulled out your phone and texted Mikey.
Sickofpizza: Yo wya i told you to be hereeeeeee it smells like BOOTY over gere
Sickofpizza: *here
PizzaMikey!!<3: im scheming
Sickofpizza: whjat
PizzaMikey!!<3: trust
Sickofpizza: omfg HURRY im BORED
You sighed and sat back on the towel, staring at the passing clouds. Your mind wandered, watching the clouds and thinking of what you may find in the sewers. You peeked at the manhole, but decided to wait until Mikey gets here. Going in alone could result in certain destruction. Or an explosion. Or death. What if the water in the sewers is acidic or something?? You never know with NYC.
As you think about the probability of acid rats in sewers, a voice spooks you from behind.
“Care to explain why my dumb-dumb brother sent me over to talk to you? He said it was important.”
You sat up so fast on your towel you almost fell forward. You turn your head to once again see the jerkface Donnie with the signature ugly brooch pinned to his bandana that's holding his hair back. Perhaps to try (and fail) to style it. He doesn't look done-up, not at all. He’s wearing a purple hoodie and loose jeans, and those big glasses that kinda carve his face out perfectly.
“I asked for Mikey.”
“And you get Donnie.” His face had a mix of annoyance, and some sort of smug look you couldn’t quite place.
You groaned, and leaned back onto the towel. Of course Mikey sets you up. High chance he's giggling and kicking his feet while he schemes from the comfort of his own room.
“Any idea why he sent you instead of going himself?” You ask, even though you already know the answer. If you knew this was gonna happen, you would’ve just stayed home and binged your shows.
“Do you really despise my company that much?” He retorted, with his nose in the air. He's such a wet sock.
“That is not what I said.” You crossed your arms, staring at him with a look. You never understood people who are just rude out the gate, but whatever his problem was, it surely made your walls go up and your defensiveness rise.
Donnie imitates you, crossing his arms as well as he sat next to you.
“Well, to answer your question, I think Mikey wants us to be friends.” You don’t like the way he said that last part. He almost looked like he wanted to gag. But you carried on and accepted the answer.
“So, you wanna explore the sewers with me..?” You try to change the subject.
“uh, yeah sure.” His body language said ‘I’m hesitant’ but you just discarded it, thinking if you pointed it out he might get defensive.
He tried to pull on the manhole, but it wouldn’t budge. You cocked your head, and went over to help him. Even with your combined strength, the cover would not move.
“Huh.” You just stared, looking at the cover. “Can you lock manhole covers?”
Donnie didn’t even respond. He just stared at you with the: ‘I’m waiting for you to hear yourself’ stare.
“Okay, so either manhole locks are a thing, or both of us are too weak for this. Mikey said you guys have a really buff brother. Can he come out here and help?” You questioned.
Donnie shook his head. “No. Why do you want to get into this hole so bad anyway?"
“Thats what she said.” You grinned.
“I hate you.”
You laughed, “You barely know me!" leaning in a bit, just to annoy him.
“And I already hate you.”
You rolled your eyes and went back to pulling, twisting, and pushing on the cover. You knew the reason you wanted to see inside so bad. You were so bored of the job and life you had. You wanted some adventure! Some spice! Some danger.
“Maybe I'm just curious.” You say, answering his question from earlier. You looked down at the ground, sighing softly, giving up on the manhole.
While you were looking at the ground like the pathetic little worm you are, you could've sworn you caught Donnie looking at you with what looked to be sympathy. Which would be impossible, considering he has none and is a jerkface through and through.
When you looked up from the ground, finally done sulking, you caught Donnie eying your snacks. “You can’t have my food.” You spoke up, pulling him out of his dissociation.
“I didn't want it. I just remembered I have needs. And I haven't eaten since this morning.” He always spoke so bluntly. Never sugarcoated anything.
“Ah. I see.” You pursed your lips, looking somewhere other than him.
The silence between you two could be sliced with a knife. Just two awkward teenagers in an alleyway that smells like cotton candy vapes and puke. You sighed softly and looked back at him. He’s looking at the wall, picking at his nails. You just started packing up, putting your snacks in your bag.
“What’re you doing?” He asked, still picking at his fingers.
“Well, since this was a bust, and you're hungry, do you want to go eat somewhere? Maybe Mikey was right. Maybe we could be friends.”
Donnie seemed… disinterested. But he was bored and didn't want to spend the whole Saturday scrolling on his phone. So, he humored you and you both walked down to the hole-in-the-wall near your apartment.
As you sit down, you decide to start some smalltalk. As much as it makes you want to strangle yourself.
“Sooo.. what kinda music do you like?”
“I hate smalltalk. But, alas,” He starts, leaning on the table with his chin resting in his hand. “I mostly listen to dubstep, techno, and breakcore. But I like Abba and a couple other artists too.”
You lit up when he mentioned ABBA and breakcore.
“Do you like femtanyl?” You cocked your head slightly, watching his movement and his face.
His expression dropped into a mix of surprise and respect, and he nodded while examining you. “...it seems I've miss-judged you.” He comments, leaning back to let the waiter set the food down.
You nod, and speak up again as you two ate. “Do you have any hobbies? I like crafting.”
Donnie looks up from his food, “uhh.. I do tech stuff. And other science stuff.”
“Cool.”
As you two ate, you asked each other various questions. Favorite color, favorite show, best videogame, many music topics, and a lot of stuff related to science (more-so Donnie’s fault. You have no idea what half the stuff he mentions is.)
While the waiter was putting the check down, you turned back to Donnie and asked, “So, if you’re so smart, how come I've never seen you or your siblings at school..? It seems like you guys live around this area.”
Donnie’s face doesn't change, and he smoothly says, “Oh we were homeschooled.” with a mostly emotionless expression on his face as he pays his share of the bill.
You crack a smile, “Makes sense. That's why you’re so weird.” He perks up, and looks absolutely gagged.
“Homeschooled folk are indefinitely superior–” “Nah yall just weird.” You cut him off and smiled.
He groaned, and picked up his leftovers. You followed after him, catching up beside and examining his face. He seemed less annoyed. He's just so hard to read.
“I like messing with you.” You spoke up, cutting the silence as you two walked down the street. “I can tell. It's annoying.” He responded, not looking at you. You gave a soft smile.
“So, where to next?” You ask, and he seems surprised.
“Oh, I thought we were going home after–” You panicked, “No!!! Uh, yeah we can leave now.. Uh–” He talked over you, “No, it’s fine, would you like to come to my hou– Uh, I mean- can I come over?????? Question mark??”
The silence is deafening. Donnie winces at himself for asking to come over, and you rub your eyes. “Uh, you can if you want to… What would we even do though?” You speak up, you hadn’t even realized it until right now, but you guys had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, standing smack dab in front of your apartment building. You winced when you noticed.
Donnie shrugs, “Uh, do you play videogames…?” he says unconfidently. You nod, and he nods back, slower.
“...Sooo.. you wanna come over?” You ask.
“Sure?” He responds.
You both walk a couple steps, and when you’re greeted with the building’s stairs, you’re met with an “oh.” from donnie. You both walk up the stairs, and you unlock your apartment door. Your cat greets you with some headbutts at the door, and rubs against Donnie. “My room is down here. My mom is home, she mostly spends time in her own room though.”
Donnie stays quiet, looking around the apartment and following you inside to your room. Your room is covered in posters of movies and music artists you like, along with shelves of figures from your more nerdy tv shows. He looks around the room, examining your loft bed and the desk underneath. You sit on your little beanbag in the corner, and wait for him to stop snooping around so you guys can play games.
“...I like your apartment.” Donnie says as he sits down in the other beanbag. In front of you two is a small coffee table decorated with many types of controllers, an old gamepack full of xbox DVDs, a cup of soda from the pizza place you work at, and one singular potato chip.
Donnie looks at you with a mix of mild disgust, and some respect for the different old and new consoles you have. He sets his eyes on your PC, and turns to face you, “Can I have your discord @?”
“Uh, yeah, sure. Surprising, coming from you. Didn’t think you wanted anything to do with me.” You smirk. “I don't. Mikey told me to ask for it for him and the rest of us.” He crosses his arms.
“Yeah, sure.” You lean in, “It’s ‘S1ckOfP1zza’.” He scoffs, and types it in his notes app. “That's so dumb.” He mumbles, just loud enough for you to hear, ”Does your life revolve around your job?” He berates, with a small smirk on his face.
You roll your eyes and ignore the question. Instead, you retort with another insult. “Who would've thought a nerd had so much sass!!” You turn to face him directly in the chair, leaning in tauntingly. Both of your walls are so high up it makes the Tower of Babel look like a child’s block tower. The reflecting and projecting between you two was dizzying–almost sickening.
You two spent the next five minutes bickering and insulting each other, until your mother knocked on the door.
“Hellooo, honey…? I’m gonna order Italian!! Does your friend want any?” She speaks cheerfully while slowly opening the door, like she was giving you two time before she saw. Her hair was a bit messy, a couple of strands sticking to her forehead from sweat, and Donnie looked at you thoroughly confused. She was in pajama pants and a loose tee, holding your cat in her arms.
“..Ohh um, we just ate an hour or so ago.” You say, trying to shuffle yourself back, away from Donnie. You hadn’t realized how close you were, or how he seemed a bit uncomfortable. You sighed softly, putting your hands in your lap.
Your mother frowned, but she continued, “Oh, well it was nice meeting you. I'm guessing you’re the so-called ‘jerk-faced brother’ of the Mikey kid?” Your face paled. Where had she heard about that?? How does she know who Donnie is??? Was there a leak in the messages???? Are the walls too thin????? IS YOUR OWN MOM SPYING ON YOU NOW THAT YOU HAVE FRIENDS??????
Oh, wait– I'm sorry, you always had friends. This is just another one to the very, very, very long list of friends that definitely exist and are very real.
Anyway.
You snap out of your thoughts as the door closes, and turn to look at Donnie, who had his arms crossed, already looking at you.
“You talk about me?” His wide smile told you all you needed to know.
“...No..?” You fibbed, hoping and praying to any god up there that this will work.
“That it was my dear twin brother would call, ‘bum shitey’” He commented, with his finger up like a proper nerd.
“Be for real.” You rolled your eyes, and turned your attention back to the TV. …Which didn’t have a game or anything open on it.
“Donnie oh my lord.”
“What?”
“We never even opened a game. It’s been 20 minutes and we’ve spent the majority bickering.”
“...Ah.”
You got up off your blue beanbag and turned on your NES. Promptly after, you open a drawer full of games all in a set of three rows. You gesture for Donnie to come over here. You both look down at the many, many games in your collection.
“Do you play tetris?” You asked, not looking up as you thumbed through the ‘T’ section. He hummed, "I've never played the original NES version. Did you see that summoning salt video on it though?”
You paused for a second, “You like summoning salt?” You asked, pulling the tetris cartridge out of your collection.
“Yes I do.”
You hummed and put the cartridge in the console, then powered up your old CRT. It had a couple scratches on it, and some stains, but it served you well over the years you owned it.
“Well, let's see what you got, Dontron.” You handed him a controller, and plopped right back down on your beanbag. He sat down on his and selected his respective music, and type a-game. He starts on level one, and quickly figures out his controls.
You watch him as he plays, honestly, he wasn't terrible, but he wasn't really all that good either.
“Donnie, the best way to do that is to leave a one block space open and use the long one to get tetris’.” You say, trying to help, but regretting it, because you definitely came off as nit-picky.
“I do not care.” he retorted, and went back to locking in.
At some point, your mother knocked on the door again, this time her hair was in a bun, still in the same t-shirt and pants.
“Hey, honey I bought that movie you wanted on DVD. Also, it's getting late. Your friend should head home soon unless this is some sleepover situation.” She said with a small smirk, and walked in and set down the DVD, the front of the cartridge said ‘SPACE HEROES: THE END OF THE UNNKOWN’ You and Donnie’s mouths dropped.
“WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS?!?!?!?” You squealed, completely ignoring the sleepover comment your mother made. Donnie fumbled through his pockets, finding his gloves to safely touch the case without scratching it.
“At goodwill?” Your mother said cluelessly.
“....WHAT?!?!!?” You and Donnie both screamed, Donnie almost dropping the case. The Tetris in the background had been completely forgotten, ruining Donnie’s run.
“You found… space heroes: end of the unnkown, with the MISPELLED TITLE, AT GOODWILL??”
“It’s the fully authentic version too.” Donnie tapped at the date at the bottom.
“I have been waiting for this moment….” You picked it up with two microfiber towels, and gently placed it next to the original ‘SPACE HEROES’ movie, before the end scene was cut and remade because they had gotten flamed for including a very unpopular actor, known for less than legal actions.
Your mother simply shrugged. “So is that a yes for the sleepover? Should I bring out the air mattress or do you guys not need two beds?” That small smirk had gotten wider.
Heat started radiating off of your face, you could practically feel the not-real steam. Donnie immediately stood up straight and grabbed his backpack, and you followed suit.
“Sooo… that's a no on the sleepover.”
Donnie walked out the door with his face covered, and once the door shut, you immediately turned to your mother.
“WHAT IN THE STARS ABOVE WAS THAT?!?!?!?!?”
Your mother smiled, “I mean, yall got chemistry.”
"THATS BUM SHITEY."