Chapter Text
Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale.
Smoke drifted from Cronus Ampora's lips, wafting lazily away down the darkened street. The only illumination came from the streetlamps dotted down the sidewalk; One posted over the bench where he sat.
It was somewhere between 2 and 3 am, last he'd checked, and the park he was currently sulking in was dead.
Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale.
Another plume left his lips, brow furrowed tightly. He wasn't always the greatest guy: Shit, he knew that better than anyone. Sometimes he lashed out at his friends, family, loved ones. And sometimes people seemed to like to push him into a corner, and make sure his only option was to fight. He wasn't really sure why, but, something about his obvious buttons seemed to scream "Push me!" to others.
He clenched his jaw, and flicked ash off the tip of his cigarette.
Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale.
At this point, the cigarette was burnt up to the filter, and he put the stub out on his hand: A bad habit he'd developed after possibly starting a trashcan fire. Not that anyone knew it was him, but...
He felt so stupid, so tired. He felt alone, and like nobody listened or cared. Like nobody wanted to side with him.
Cronus didn't know why he felt surprised about any of this. This was like any other friendship, doomed to crumble when he was pushed too far, and people were shocked to find that he bit. As though he didn't try and give everyone fair warning that he came with teeth.
Whatever. Their loss, he guessed.
At least he didn't have to spend any more time tip-toeing around them, like he was ready to breach a landmine at any goddamn second. There was that.
He sighed, and stretched his arms out over the backside of the bench, leaning his head back and turning his face to the streetlamp.
A couple moths bounced off the globe - their numbers were thinning as the cool fall air replaced the warm summer nights.
Cronus closed his eyes, and breathed in.
To top it off, he'd gotten in a fight with the old man. Always harping on him, never satisfied with anything he did. Like he wasn't goddamn trying. That had been the straw that broke the camel's back, and he'd grabbed his jacket and stormed out.
He'd been texting Kankri, but, damn. Guy needed sleep too, and he'd eventually just stopped, in favour of lighting up a cigarette and smoking his troubles away. He sort of felt better, he thought, but didn't feel good enough to head home.
Maybe he'd fuck around one of the 24/7 gas stations for a while, then take a walk by the coast, even if it'd surely be breezier and chillier there.
He stood and stretched, getting ready to make his way uptown when his ears met with the sound of someone running, and a "Wait up!" He didn't need to look to know who it was.
"Kanny, I thought you went to bed." Cronus said gently, holding out his hands. When Kankri stopped before him, he rested them on the shorter man's arms, before pulling him into a soft hug.
"Heavens, no!" He breathed, awkwardly returning the embrace. "I got worried when you stopped texting me. I called Eridan and asked if you were still there, but he said you'd stormed off. So, I contacted a few of your friends - all dead ends, naturally - and then came out to find you." Kankri huffed, crossing his arms over his chest and eyeing Cronus in a sort of exasperated way.
"Sorry." He smiled apologetically, rubbing the back of his neck before offering Kankri a hand. "I was tryin' to let you sleep, babe."
Kankri took the hand and rolled his eyes. "I'm sure I'll survive." He chastised, then added very gently, "I'd rather be here with you than worrying in bed, anyways." He gave the hand in his own a tender squeeze. "Would you like to talk a walk, and perhaps tell me more about what happened? I could offer you advice, or simply listen if that's what you require most right now."
Cronus nodded, leading the way down to the beach. "Yeah, I think I'd like to get it off my chest. And honestly, if ya have any advice on what to do, that'd be great." He laughed humourlessly, looking over to his partner. "'Cuz, for real? I'm lost."
Kankri gave him one of his rare smiles and nodded, falling silent beside the other while he allowed him to speak his mind.
He was by no means a terribly affectionate man, but... When it came to Cronus, everyone knew he had a little bit of a soft spot. And he showed it, in his sometimes strange ways.