Chapter Text
Tim's place looked just like it did the first time you saw it. A bit messier after three people had been living in it. But still all the same. The uneven stools at the counter, the torn carpet, the worn-out doors, all the things you remembered. It was oddly nostalgic, faint memories of the past, blurring with the current moment. The old floor boards creaked under your feet with each step. The familiar sound echoed through the house as it always did. The house smelt of faint cigarette smoke, pine trees, and... iron? What was making the house smell like iron?
Toby rushed past you, jumping onto the couch. He collapsed against it, sprawling himself out with a relieved sigh. You couldn't help but snicker at his childish behavior. Brian wasn't far behind him. Entering just shortly after him, your bags clutched in both of his hands at his sides.
“Toby!” Brian snapped, “you’re supposed to be helping you ass!” He moved to the couch, nudging Toby with your bag as he spoke. Toby whined dramatically, kicking his feet against the couch in protest.
There was a gentle thud from behind you, you turned your head over your shoulder to see Tim lumbering through the door with the last few bags. You quickly moved to him, reaching for your bags.
"I told you guys you don't need to carry my stuff." You reminded, remembering how they refused to let you pack your bags into the car or carry them into the house. "You're already letting me stay here, I can't make you my personal slaves." You joked awkwardly.
After everything we put you through, it’s the least I can think to do.” Tim muttered guilty.
You bit the inside of your cheek awkwardly. You didn’t want him to feel guilty, but for a long time you did. Why were you sympathizing with him so much? You placed a hand on Tim’s shoulder.
“I promise, it’s fine.”
He gave you a strained smile, grateful for your kindness but struggling to accept it. He reluctantly handed your bag over to you after some heavy coercing. When you turned around, you were met with the sight of Brian and Toby wrestling on the carpet with fat grins plastered on their faces. Tim pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head with disappointment. You snickered at the scene before you, Toby kicking at Brian’s stomach gently. Tim walked up to Brian, nudging him in the side with his foot.
“Hey.” Brian raised his head to Tim at the nudge. “Go show them the guest room. I’m gonna get started on dinner.”
Brian rolled off of Toby, with a dramatic sigh. “Always so serious, Timmy.” He teased, using the nickname that you all created in college.
“Don’t make me kick you.” Tim threatened, pulling his leg back.
“Alright, alright.” Brian raised his hands in a mock of surrender. Standing to his feet he stretched out his back with a groan. “I need to work out again.” He muttered, rubbing his back.
“Maybe I’ll come with you.” You offered jokingly.
Brian gave you a wide grin, mischief glinting in his eyes. “Is that so…” You saw him shift positions. “Let’s get a head start. First lesson, WRESTELING!” Before you could process what was happening, Brian launched himself towards you. Brian grasped your waist, taking you both down to the floor with a heavy thud. Tim, stuck his head out from the corner to see you and Brian tussling on the floor like children. Toby was standing off to the side, cheering you both on.
“Hey!” Tim shouted, you both froze like children being caught doing something they shouldn’t be. “You’re both adults, act like it.” He snapped, his patience for your nonsense clearly snapped long ago.
You and Brian awkwardly shifted off of each other, rising to your feet. You cleared your throat. Brian picked up your bag and pointed down the hallway.
“The room’s down here.”
He led you down Tim’s cramped hallway. The small bathroom on the right, the small closet shoved full with towels and obscure items Tim refused to get rid of. The bedroom at the end of the hall, the office to the left; filled with random items and memories. Brian stopped in front of the door on the opposite side of the office. He pushed open the door, stepping into the surprisingly clean room. Brian placed down your bags at the end of the bed, straightening up and stretching out his back. He let out a dramatic groan; a smile twitched at the corner of your lips with amusement.
“This makes me nostalgic.” Brian announced suddenly.
“What do you mean?” You tilted your head slightly, confused.
“Takes me back… when we would climb in through Tim’s window whenever we needed a place to crash.” Brian turned his head over his shoulder, looking solemnly at the old window.
You leaned around Brian to look at the window, a faint memory returning to you. “Yeah…” You remembered, smiling to yourself.
“Welp!” Brian spun around, slapping his hand down on your shoulders firmly. “Those days are gone, time to live in the present!” He wrapped an arm around your shoulder, waving his hand in front of you theatrically.
You attempted to stifle a laugh, but you failed to hold it in. You let out a gentle laugh, leaning forwards slightly. Brian's hold on your shoulder tightened slightly. Suddenly, he turned to pull you into a hug. Holding you tight against him he exhaled deeply. He held onto you as if you were anchoring him to the ground. He nuzzled into the top of your head tenderly.
“Words can’t describe how much I missed you.” He whispered earnestly. His arms squeezed you against him. Worried that if he let go you’d fall through his fingers again. You hesitated before resting your hands on his back in a less enthusiastic hug. Brian gave a heavy squeeze. “Hug me back.” He demanded in a joking tone.
You snickered into his chest before hugging him properly. You stayed like that for a moment before Brian reluctantly pulled away. He raised his nose into the air, sniffing aggressively. His eyes widened and he jerked his head down. He grabbed you by your triceps, yanking you towards him. Your faces were so close your noses were practically touching. Brian never did have a sense of personal space.
“Do you smell that?!” He asked urgency, shaking you slightly.
“What?” You asked, taken aback slightly.
“Smell.” He ordered.
You turned your head to the side, raising your nose into the air. You sniffed the air slightly, then it hit you. Your eyes widened and you looked back at Brian with the same urgency.
“I smell it.
You and Brian whipped your head to the door. You grinned to yourself wickedly. You turn to Brian, “Hey, Brian…” You met his eyes. “Race ya’!” You push Brian off you and dashed for the door. Yanking the door open you started down the hallway. Brian wrapped his arms around your stomach, yanking you back.
“Oh no you don’t!” He laughed, lifting you up into the air. You squealed, kicking your feet in an attempt to wriggle your way out. “You’re gonna pay for this!” He threatened playfully, swinging you back and forth. You couldn’t help but laugh as he swung you around.
Tim came around the corner to investigate the commotion. He saw Brian tossing you around like a rag doll and smiled to himself. This was an oddly familiar scene, just like from back in college. The memory of Brian picking you up and spinning you both in a circle in the center of the cramped dorm room. The laughing is an echoing reminder of the past. Tim leaned against the hallway, crossing his arms over his chest with a smile spreading across his face. He took in the moment in a reminiscing way.
Brian finally set you down, you wobbled slightly as your head spun. You were still grinning wide, the dizziness slowly settling from your vision.
“You guys done?” Tim asked from the end of the hall with a smirk. You stumbled to the end of the hall, Tim extending his arm in prediction of your fall. It was kind of comforting how well the two of them still understood you, despite the time spent apart.
You groaned, your vision still swimming from the dizziness.
“Maybe I swung them too hard…” Brian thought aloud, putting a hand on his chin as he made his way to stand beside Tim.
“No shit Sherlock.” Tim punched Brian lightly in the shoulder teasingly. “Can you stand?” Tim asked, looking down at me.
I staggered to my feet, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, thanks.” I smiled at Tim, thankful. “You!” You turned around to face Brian, pointing an accusatory finger to him. “This isn’t over.” You promised with a wicked grin.
“I’ll be looking forward to it.” Brian cooed mockingly, leaning in; invading your personal space.
You squinted your eyes at him suspiciously. You gave a flick to his forehead making him wince back dramatically. He clasped his hand to his forehead preformatively.
“This is assault!” He cried out, leaning into his days doing theatre.
You rolled your eyes dramatically before turning back to Tim. “So what did you make?”
“Pancakes, scrambled eggs, and french toast.” Tim listed, gesturing to the kitchen behind him with his thumb.
“Did you get-” Brian began leaning over your shoulder.
“Yes, I got the avocados. You weirdo.” Tim interrupted, a grin twitching in the corner of his lip in amusement.
“How dare you, avocados on french toast is a delicacy!” Brian gasped, placing his hands on either side of your shoulders. “Can you believe this?” He leaned around your side, looking at your face from an odd angle.
“He has a point, Brian.” You replied with a shrug.
“This is blasphemy!” Brian threw his hands up in the air, feigning his distraught. Tim sighed at his behavior and you gave a chuckle.
* * *
You didn’t talk much, surprisingly. You all sat surrounding the table, eating silently. You thought back to college when you barely ate dinner with how much you were all talking. Despite being in their presence for over a month, the tension had hardly lightened up. You picked at your scrambled eggs peckishly. They used to be your favorite, and in a way they still were. But for some reason seeing them was painful. Maybe it was because they were made by Tim, or maybe it was because you were eating them in this house, or maybe it was because you were eating them with. Toby, however, did not seem to feel this tension. He was too busy devouring a large stack of pancakes so graciously granted to him by Tim. Tim was reading the newspaper and sipping on coffee to your right, sneaking short glances at you every so often. Brian sat on the opposite side of the table, chewing at his avocado toast as he scrolled through his phone. Toby raised his head to look at him, syrup smeared on the chin and the bandage next to his mouth that he never seemed to take off.
“Oh, Tim.” Toby spoke with his mouth full of pancakes.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” Tim pointed to Toby, not looking up from his paper.
Toby scowled at Tim before forcefully swallowing the pancakes. “Happy?”
“That’s better.” Tim folded the paper, placing it down on the table. “Now, what do you want?”
“The boss said we have a mission.” Toby explained, already picking up another piece of pancakes.
Tim’s eyes widened slightly and his brows furrowed. Brian had looked up from his phone, his mouth hanging open, frozen in mid bite. Tim whipped his head around to look Brian in they eyes. “Did you know about this?” He asked accusingly.
“You think I wouldn’t tell you if I did?” Brian retaliated sharply.
Tim sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose frustratedly. “Well, we have to do it.” He replied, gesturing to Brian.
“I don’t see what the big deal is.” Toby butt in, his mouth full of pancakes.
“I told you not to talk with your mouth full.” Tim snapped back. Toby rolled his eyes, returning to his pancakes sulking. You gave a soft smile to him but he didn’t notice.
You looked at Tim who had gotten up and stood by Brian’s side, whispering in his ear. Brian’s eyebrows furrowed as he thought. He chewed the inside of his left cheek just like he did whenever he thought hard. Tim pulled away, straightening up to his full–short–height.
“So?” Tim asked, placing his hands on his hips.
“Do we really have a choice?” Brian asked, propping his elbow on the table and resting his cheek in his hand.
“You’re right.” Tim sighed, his hands falling to his sides in defeat.
You cleared your throat loudly. “So… are you guys gonna tell me what’s going on?” They all looked at you and then Tim and Brian looked at each other.
“Oh, sure!” Toby beamed, finishing off the last of his pancakes. “So you see-” He started, but Tim had rushed over to clamp his hand over his mouth
“Not a word out of you-” Tim snapped but he quickly pulled his hand away with a repulsed look. “Did you just lick me? You little shit!” Tim shouted, wiping his hand on Brian’s shirt.
“Hey! Don’t give it to me!” He argued, pushing Tim away.
“Go wash your face Toby.” Tim picked up Toby by the rim of his shirt, almost looking like a kitten being held by the scruff of his neck. “You need to change your bandage anyways.” He dragged a kicking and screaming Toby off to the bathroom.
You followed their movements, Toby’s protests fading as the bathroom door slammed shut. You sighed a small amused laugh. You turned your gaze to Brian. He had his head hung and he was muttering something to himself. He didn’t look like himself, he looked somewhat distant. Like his body was here but he wasn’t controlling it. A chill ran up your spine, you shook your head; denying you strange thinking.
“Brian?” You called softly. Brian raised his head suddenly, looking at you with wide eyes.
“Huh? Oh! Sorry, I was thinking.” He apologized, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly as he spoke. His ears had turned a light shade of pastel pink, exposing his embarrassment.
“Don’t apologize.” You gave him a soft reassuring smile. He sighed resting his forehead on the table.
“You’re too good for us.” He mumbled into the table.
You stood up, making your way around the table to Brian’s side. You placed a hand on his back, rubbing it in a soothing way as you did whenever he was drunk in his college dorm. You felt Brian’s muscles relax under your hand. He seemed calmer at your touch. You both heard a loud cry from the bathroom. Brian raised his head, resting his chin on the table; and you leaned over to look down the hallway.
“Damnit, Toby, stop squirming!” Tim shouted, causing you to snicker.
Brian turned his head onto his cheek, watching you laugh. He smiled warmly at you. His heart felt warm but his stomach twisted into a knot. His mind ridiculed him for getting attached. For knowing they couldn’t stay and yet he still dragged you into their mess. He averted his eyes, looking out the window behind you. In the distance he could see Slenderman stalking outside, his blank face unmistakable. A pounding headache split through Brian’s head, he quickly looked away as he broke out into a coughing fit.
“Woah! You okay?” You held his shoulder as he coughed, trying to steady him.
“I’m good.” He managed through violent coughs. “Water.” He pointed to the sink as he continued coughing.
You rushed over to the sink, searching for a cup. You heard a rattling and looked over your shoulder, Brian pulled out an orange pill bottle and was struggling with the cap. When you returned with the water, Brian had shaken three pills into his palm. He snatched the water from you and quickly downed the pills with one swift gulp. His coughing died out as he wiped his mouth against his sleeve.
“Sorry…” He murmured into his sleeve flustered.
“Don’t be.” You patted his shoulder with a sympathetic smile.
Tim walked out of the bathroom with a sulking Toby at his heels. “Is everything okay?” He asked, looking to Brian specifically.
“Yeah,” Brian sighed, running a hand through his short hair. “I just had to cough.”
Tim looked at him with a strange amount of seriousness and concern. “Was it because?...” He trailed off. Brian gave a small nod and Tim cursed under his breath.
You stood up, your patience ran to its end. “Alright, I’m done, you’re going to tell me what the fuck is going on and you’re going to tell me now.” You demanded.
Tim exhaled deeply, walking to Brian’s side. “We can’t avoid it anymore.” He placed his hand on Brian’s shoulder, squeezing it lightly.
Brian placed his hand on top of Tim's. You noticed his thumb gently stoke Tim’s hand. You look at them skeptically for many reasons but you don’t comment on it.
“So?...” You clapped your hands together, trying to start the explanation.
“Do you remember when you nearly passed out at your mail box?” Brian asked, not removing his hand from Tim’s.
“Yeah?” You confirmed suspiciously.
“We know what you saw.”
His words felt oddly sharp. They weren’t judging, they weren’t calling you crazy, they were almost warning. Warning you that what you saw you weren’t supposed to see. You felt your stomach twist, the same static feeling coating your brain as you thought back to the faceless man outside your apartment. Your breathing picked up, your chest felt tight. You clutched at your chest, it felt hard to breathe. You whipped your head around the room, searching to see if he was here.
“Hey…” You recognized Tim’s voice but it seemed distant. “Hey?” You felt a hand on your shoulder shake you slightly. “Are you okay?”
All three of them were looking at you with serious expressions. Your breathing seemed to ease as you came to. Your mind swirled with questions, but you could only manage one.
“What is it?…” your voice trembled slightly.