Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was one of those days when you're too tired to really do anything, but awake enough to not be able to go to sleep. D hefts himself out of bed and takes a few shaky steps to get to his chair. He had a little bit before he had to start working. He looks down at a sleeping Cherri Cola and sighs. He had felt an abnormal amount of movement, he'd be sure to ask Cherri about it when he wakes up. He sighs, going to go over notes from the previous day.

There wasn't a whole lot of news, just some reports of drac sightings and obituaries. At least it'd be a slow day. He gets everything ready and starts at exactly 6:30 AM. He does his normal intro and puts on the latest by Mad Gear and Missile Kid.

He mostly doesn't have anything else to do until Cherri wakes up. He reads the news after a few songs. Most everyone should be up by now, he learned quickly that if you want anyone to hear the news, you gotta wait 'til at least nine. Pony's out getting more, there's always more. Nothing ever stays the same in the desert.

There’s been heavier drac movement in the recent weeks, and it didn’t seem to be lightening up. D liked to think ‘joys heeded his warnings, and some did, but most was wishful thinking. Everyone wanted to be a martyr. There was bound to be plenty obituaries before the day was out.

Sure enough, Show Pony gets back a bit later with some more information. Admittedly, a lot of the ‘news’ was gossip. It was simply their nature to gather stories. Pretty much everyone knew them so they got all sides of the story.

There's always at least one story about the fabulous four. Five minutes doesn't pass where they don't get hurt. This time Kobra and Ghoul had a competition in Tommy's shop to see who could hold their breath the longest that ended with Ghoul passing out (He still won). That was one of the more tame ones. And of course there's the incident with the Zone One Men's Chorus, but we don't talk about that. On multiple occasions, Poison's kissed exterminators and dracs to distract them. Nothing too out of the ordinary happened. That's less common than people might think, though. Something's always happening all the time. It wouldn't be long until Show Pony caught wind of something. Until then, D just had to wait.

Chapter Text

Cherri wakes up with a start. Nightmares weren’t an uncommon thing to the people in the zones. The wars were not kind to anybody.  Cherri could seldom close his eyes at night without seeing carnage.

Cherri somewhat resented the rebellion. It wasn’t the kids themselves, but the idea. The fact that literal children thought they needed to take matters into their own hands, that they thought they needed to die for the cause. It made him sad. He placed a lot of blame on himself. He wasn’t able to end it when it should have. He tried not to dwell on it, but on nights like that, he couldn’t help but think.

Cherri sits up and runs his hand through his hair a few times to comb it. He stands and goes to find D. Cherri always woke up late. His segment was very late, so he needed to compensate somehow. He thought the night suited him better, though, so it was fitting.

”Morning,” Cherri says gruffly. His morning voice wasn’t quite gone yet. He leans down to kiss D’s cheek.

“Heya, Cher,” D smiles.

Cherri takes his seat in the broadcast room. D always kept an extra chair in there for him. He left his notebook in there the previous night. Be picks it up and looks over what he wrote. As he did so, The Doctor reported on the recent drac movements. He reported on a clap and read an obituary.

“…I’d stay out of Zone Five if you can help it. They’re on to the location of the Market and I’d rather not there be a disaster.” D says into the microphone.

There's more news a bit later, Kobra and Ghoul tried to convince people at the zone 05 market that Party Poison was the reincarnation of God himself. Again, just a regular Tuesday. Cherri stands after D puts the next song on,

"Well, I’d better get going,” Cherri sighs. During the day he ran for Tommy Chow Mein.

D nods, "Be safe, don't get yourself ghosted," he says without looking up from his notes.

"You can't tell me what to do," Cherri smirks. He kisses D again before he leaves.

Chapter Text

Cherri had made some questionable decisions as a kid. His biggest regret was enlisting in the military. He enlisted after D was drafted. He didn’t want to worry about where he was, if he was okay, so the best idea he had was to follow him. D didn’t want him to, but Cherri had his mind made up. Cherri lost his left arm in the same explosion that paralyzed his husband. They were discharged at the same time, left to pick up the pieces of what their life was before. They thought the best move to make was to go to the desert. Battery City was getting bad at the time, it was the only way they wouldn’t be immediately killed.

Dr. D wasn’t always at the shack. He left like, twice a year. The sand was really hard on D’s chair, so he just decided it was easier to stay inside. As much as he reported on them, (and music in general) he didn’t really go to concerts. He couldn’t handle the volume after the wars.Cherri practically had to beg him to leave. He wanted a date night.

They had found a neutral town with a bar in it, and went out for a few drinks, nothing too crazy. They were heading back to the van. D stops and puts is arm out in front of Cherri. Someone was behind the van.

D gets his gun out, “I’ll give you a warning, whoever you are.” There’s no answer, “Now c‘mon, I’m not stupid. I know there’s someone back there.”

It’s a kid who looked to be in their early teens. D’s face softens as he puts his gun down, “Hey, there,” The kid looks like a deer in headlights. “Why were you touching my car?”

“I-I’m sorry, I was- I-I just,” they sound terrified, “I n-needed something to hold onto.” D gets a good look at the kid. They’re scrawny with short brown hair and green eyes.

Cherri interjects, “Why don’t you come over here.” The kid’s breath was shallow and shaky, their hands were trembling.

“We’re not gonna hurt you,” D reassures. “It’s kinda late for you to be out here by yourself. D’you have a crew to get back to?”

The kid hesitates, debating on whether or not to tell the truth. They shake their head.

S “What’s your name?” D asks.

“Checker,” they say quietly. Their eyes are rimmed with tears.

“Do you wanna come home with us, at least for the night?” Cherri asks.

”I…” Checker starts, “I-if you could spare the supplies…” They say sheepishly.

“I wouldn’t have asked if we couldn’t.” Cherri says softly.

~

Over the few days Checker had been with Cherri and D, they learned that they were 13 years old and that their right leg didn’t work.

Checker mainly gravitated towards Cherri. They were a nervous kid, and didn’t talk very much. There was a point where Cherri caught them staring into space.

”Whatcha thinkin’ motorbaby?” He asks.

Checker jumps slightly, “Oh, um…” They collect their thoughts, “Not much,” they say, making Cherri laugh slightly.

”Yup, been there.” The older man replies.

Checker looks down and messes with their hands for a moment. “Cherri…?” They start after a moment.

”What’s up?” 

“Thank you… for-for helping me out…” they say quietly.

”No problem, kid. We weren’t just gonna leave you.” Cherri says.

Checker blushes, “But you could have, so thanks.”

Cherri sighs, “You’re welcome, kiddo.”

Chapter Text

Checker had basically become a second Show Pony, and they were okay with that. They would have little races to see who could get done with their errands faster. Checker had only won once. They were sent out with Pony today. Apparently there was something big they needed to get done.

They'd encountered a small cloud on the way there. Checker had been in claps before, she had a special way of killing them, though. "You got a gun, kid?" Pony asks.

Checker scoffs, "Don't need one." They look at them oddly and start fighting.

There are only about four they need to take care of. Checker basically beats them to death with their crutch. It was honestly kind of jarring. It was like a switch had been flipped in Checker as they took care of the drac. They were always scared of claps like this, but could at least kind of hold their own.

They get one and a half dracs. Pony helps them out on the last one. Yeah, maybe it wasn't the most efficient way of doing it, but it worked. Pony looks down at them, "You need a gun." 

“I mean yeah…” Checker agrees.

The two of them stop at a vending machine of the way home, "Do you know how to get something outta this?"

Checker shrugs, "I usually just hit it a bunch.

Pony smirks, "Smart kid."

They get a gun after a few minutes of torturing the vending machine. “I could prolly get Poison to paint this for you. Unless you want it white. Don’t know why you would, but if you do…” Pony shrugs.

”That’d be good. White is kinda boring.” Checker says. Pony agrees.

~

“Why are you left handed?” Pony asks abruptly. The two are standing outside the radio shack, shooting at some pop cans.

”What?” Checker looks up at Pony with their brows furrowed. 

“I had no clue you were left handed.” Pony laughs slightly.

Checker shrugs, “Do you want me to be… not left hand?”

”I mean, if that’s what you wanna do then do it, I just didn’t realize.” Pony says.

”I don’t think that’s how hands work.” Checker says. They shoot and hit one of the cans, causing them to celebrate.

“But maybe it is. We don’t know.” Pony says, talking with their hands.

”I don’t think it is.” Checker laughs.

”Yeah, whatever. D prolly knows. I’ll ask him.”

Checker raises their eyebrows and smirks, “Alright, you do that.”

Chapter Text

Throughout their time in the desert, all Checker wanted was to be held. They didn’t know their parents, their sister did when she was alive, but she's long gone. Checker decided to just hold themself. Affection like that was very uncommon in the slums and desert, (That would require staying in one place for a prolonged amount of time) but when at night when they would find a building to sleep in or behind, they’d curl up on the ground and kinda give themself a hug. They shared a room with Pony, and they would probably let Checker sleep in their bed with them, but they were seldom home at night. They were usually going from parties and raves instead.

Not every place was stone cold, such as D’s station, but Checker got in the habit of not asking. Throughout the years, they convinced themselves that they functioned better on their own. They got that far by themself, they had to be good at it, right?

Everyone in the zones got nightmares from time to time, and Checker was no exception. They usually kept them quiet to not disturb the others, though. They were a little shaken after the clap. If they could, they would be a pacifist. Unfortunately, if they got their way they would be dead.

Checker screamed this time. They shot straight up, breathing heavily. It took them a moment to collect their thoughts, so they didn’t notice the footsteps coming towards their room.

“Are you alright?” Cherri asks softly, the door was only open wide enough for his head to fit in. 

Checker looks up at him, “Y-yeah,” they stutter.

He sits on their bed, “Did you have a bad dream?” Checker nods, embarrassed.

Cherri nods sympathetically, “Do you wanna talk about it?” They shake their head.

He stands to go back to bed, “Well, let me know if you do. I’ll probably be awake for a little longer.

“…Wait, Cherri?” Checker says before he leaves.

The older man turns around, “Hm?”

They look down, blushing, “Will you stay…?” They ask quietly. “I-I’m sorry…”

Cherri’s face softens, "Of course," he comes back and sits on their bed.

Checker's about to fall back asleep. They hug him, “Thank you. I’m sorry.” They say into Cherri’s shoulder. They pull away and wipe the tears that were threatening to fall.

Cherri gently rubs their back, “There’s nothing to be sorry for. You’re okay.

They hug him again, crying this time. They’d longed for that feeling for years.

Chapter Text

Checker had a route when they delivered mail and got the news. On this route, there was this one girl that rode with someone who always had news. This girl was, in Checker’s opinion, the most beautiful person they’d ever laid eyes on. They didn’t know her name, and there was no way they were gonna ask, but their gay little brain loved her.

They headed to the girl’s base to find the one that usually did the talking wasn’t there. The girl got the door instead. Oh Witch. She had shoulder length blonde hair with a pink streak in front. She wore a lot of pink, but it wasn’t neon. Instead, it was more of a dusty color, almost more red than pink and it suited her perfectly.

“Hey,” she smiled. Her voice is as pretty as she is oh Witch.

“H-hey, um… I was… I was just here, wonderin’ if you had any news…” Checker looks down, blushing.

“Oh, yeah, I do,” the girl gives her information about where the Market is going to be next. Afterwards, the girl turns around to go inside.

“Wait,” Checker says. The girl turns back around and raises an eyebrow, “I-I never caught your name.” They fidget with the cuff of their sleeve.

“Oh, I’m Mouse,” she smiles.

That’s…

That’s adorable.

“That’s, uh… That’s a really cool name,” They smile nervously, looking into Mouse’s honey brown eyes. They then straighten, “Um… I’m Checker.”

Mouse nods, “I’ll see you around, Checker.”

Checker nods, “Bye…” They start towards the station, unable to stop thinking about Mouse.

~

Checker made up their mind. They really liked Mouse. They wrote her something to give to her on their mail route, slipped it in her bag and went on their way.

Mouse got the door again, “Hey,” she smiles. God, that smile would kill Checker.

“Hi, I, uh… I got some mail for you today…”

She raises an eyebrow, “From who?”

Checker blushes, “I don’t… I don’t know.” she hands her the letter. She gets the news and makes her next stop.

~

Checker was terrified to go the next day. It’ll be fine. If she says no, it’s not a big deal. People refuse things all the time! I’ll be alright. She debated on even going to their base, but she found herself wandering back there. Mouse gets the door.

“Hey,” Mouse’s blushing, “I read the note.”

Checker looks up, “You did…?” They try to get their thoughts together.

Mouse hugs Checker. The latter freezes.

”Does that mean you…” Checker trails off

”Yes,” Mouse laughs, “You’re kinda cool. I like seeing you every day. We should get to know each other.”

Checker blushes and smiles, “Cool… That’s shiny.”

Checker can’t focus on the mail that day.

Chapter Text

Checker didn’t ask for help. They didn’t need it. Whatever they were dealing with, they could handle. Witch forbid they bother anyone. It’s better to keep everything down there than make someone stop doing something potentially important.

Checker wasn’t zone born. They have no way of remembering what the city was like, nor did they care, but because they weren’t a zone-born, they weren’t immune to the diseases native to the zones. It’s not like they would get sick or anything, right?

They woke up one day with a headache. It’s nothing much, they’re fine. They get ready to go. Mouse had given her a pin the day before, they’re sure to put in on. The sun definitely didn’t help their head. They should have brought a bottle of water. They deliver the mail and go home.

~

Checker wakes up the next day and immediately wishes they didn’t. Their head was pounding and they had a sore throat. They slowly get up and leave their room.

D looks up from his notes, “Good Morning.”

Checker’s face is red, “Mm,” they mumble.

He looks at her oddly, “Are you feelin’ alright?”

They nod, “M’ jus’ tired.”

He looks concerned, “Alright… Take some water with you today.”

They do as their told and leave.

~

It goes on like that for a few more days. They’ve only been getting worse. They go to sleep as soon as they get home after the fourth day. Their entire body hurts.

Checker doesn’t wake up the next morning. Or the next. They’re still breathing, but it’s slow and labored.

”They’ve been looking kind of sick the past couple a’ days. I should’ve kept ‘em home.” D says quietly the first day Checker was asleep.

”They’ll probably be fine. They’re just sleeping it off…” Cherri tries to reassure. He doesn’t entirely believe it.

~

Checker wakes up a few days later to someone running their hands through their hair. They can barely move. They make a little noise, causing D to look down at them “Checker…”

They look up at him and start to cry. D calls Pony to help him onto the bed. He pulls Checker onto his lap, “Shhh, it’s okay, you’re okay.” They try to apologize. “Shh, you have nothing to be sorry for, sunshine.” He continues to run his hands through her hair as she falls back asleep.

The only sound in the room for several minutes afterward are the sounds of Checker’s labored breathing. It slows to a stop.

Pony deposits a green bandana into the mailbox the next day.