Chapter Text
The kids were not the same after Sburb ended. Yes, they had beaten the game. But at what cost? Their guardians were dead. The trolls, back in their godforsaken universe where they would never be able to meet again. They never said so, but John, Rose, Dave, and Jade all felt as if the world they once knew, and were now forced to return to, was strange.
They didn’t belong in regular society, after everything they’d been through, and seen. The power they’d had. Having to become regular humans again, was harder than they’d ever believed. It was if they were in their own little world, cut off from reality. Like they’d never finished Sburb after all.
The four of them stayed tightly knit together, fitting like a puzzle, incomplete without the presence of at least one other. They didn’t go back to school. They supported each other in every way they could. Rose, against their wishes, forced her money down their throats, and physco-analysed their reactions. She inquired on their well-beings daily, and always implied that she was right, without speaking a single word. She kept them financially sound. John was the one who kept their interactions intact. He organised meet ups, talked to everyone daily. Dave… Dave needed them more then he’d ever let on, and they knew that. They kept him in line. Out of trouble. Away from addiction that posed threats to his well-being. There were his reason to stay on track. Basically, the three of them acted like they’d were expected to act.
Jade acted completely different.
Jade had always been known to her friends as a happy, enthusiastic, caring girl. After Sburb, she seemed… distant. Almost immediately, Rose bought her an apartment and gave her no choice about joining them in the big city. Jade went along with it. During their regular get togethers at the local cafe, John, Rose and Dave chatted happily; it was the only time they felt they belonged, when they were together. Jade would simply sit, sipping her coffee as she listened graciously. They tried to involve her, talk to her. Her reply would be nods, with a gentle smile, or a quick, one word answer. Dave raised his eyebrow at this.
Once when Jade wasn’t with them, he addressed this issue. Rose and John glanced at each other then back at Dave. He frowned.
“What?” He asked. John bit his lip.
“Dave, it’s really only around you that she acts different. When she’s alone with us she’s basically fine!” John told him warily.
“Bullshit.” He said. “You can’t tell me she hasn’t changed.”
“She has! But… for you she’s really different.” John admitted. Rose intervened then.
“You and Jade haven’t been alone together since the incident in Sburb.” She said. “All of us have met separately, but not you two. She’s avoiding you.”
“Why the fuck would she do that. No one can resist Dave Strider.” Rose gave him a look at this and Dave sighed. “Fine I’ll talk to her.
“She’s overwhelmed.” Rose told Dave. “I’m certain she’ll appreciate your words more than those I’ve attempted to press on her.”
Dave shrugged. “Yeah. I guess.”
So one day after as they pulled on their coats to leave the cafe, after another hour of silence from Jade, Dave grabbed her shoulder, pulling her towards him.
“Hey, wait up.” He said calmly. John and Rose left together, after a wave and quick goodbyes. Jade avoided eye contact, keeping her head down. Dave towered above the girl, so looking down on her, Jade’s hair hung across her forehead, blocking the girl’s face completely out of Dave’s view. He frowned.
“Look, Jade… I know we haven’t spoken in a while, like, alone…” Jade kept her hands folded in front of her, twiddling her thumbs. Dave rubbed the back of his neck. “Can we, catch up sometime?” Still no reply. “How about tomorrow? Are you doing anything-“
“I don’t think that’s a good idea Dave. Maybe another time.” She said this and began to walk away, heading for the door. Dave followed and blocked her way.
“Hey, don’t do that. Enough with the bullshit.” Jade tried to step past him once more. “What is up with you? You can’t tell me this is all because you fucking moved to New York. Jade stop. Can you at least look at me-?”
As Jade tried to step past him one more time, Dave grabbed her arm and she turned her towards him. Finally, she looked at him, and in that moment that they held each other’s gazes, Dave saw only fear in her eyes.
He was lost for words. He released her arm, and didn’t say a thing as Jade left the store at a brisk pace. He watched her through the window as she almost ran around the corner, and disappeared with a pained expression. Good job. You’ve made the girl you love terrified of you.Dave sighed at Bro’s voice in his head. The only question he had waswhat had he done?
==>
“Really? She actually ran away from you?” John said as they walked down the road. He seemed unsure. “Are you sure you’re not over reacting?”
“Not a chance.” He replied, sticking his hands in his pockets with mounds of regret clouding his thoughts. “Something’s up with her. I just don’t know what I did.”
John chuckled. “Well Dave, you are sort of a jerk!”
“Shut up, Egbert.” Dave said, nudging him in the shoulder.
“Well, why don’t you just tell her?” John suggested. Dave raised an eyebrow.
“Tell her what?”
“Aw, come on Dave stop being daft! I thought you were supposed to be the cool kid.” He said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Dave replied, and when John tried to question it further, he suggested he shoved his opinions up his ass. John backed down then, giggling furiously. A phone started to ring. Dave tapped his pocket; no vibrations from his cell. Dave shook his head, so John pulled his out, and flipped it open.
“Oh, it’s Rose!” He said. “Just a minute!”
Dave took a seat on a bench as John took the call. He rubbed his hands together, pulling his coat closer around his body. It was winter in the city, and Dave wasn’t used to the snow. His body had adapted to the heat of LOHAC. The white reminded him of past experiences that he was desperate to forget. John approached him with a worried look on his face.
“Who died?” Dave questioned. John bit his lip.
“Jade’s not talking to Rose.” He said.
“So? She doesn’t talk to me.” He said this with a certain tone of disappointment that surprised him as it left his mouth.
“Yeah, but she’s not letting her get in contact at all. She’s offline, she won’t answer her mobile, and the phone in her apartment is going straight to message…” He frowned. “Rose says you should go see if she’s okay.”
Dave huffed and leaned back on the bench. “Fuck that. No way. Jade’s a big girl, she can handle herself. Why can’t Rose do it?”
“Pshh, she has a meeting. She’s the only one of us that works, remember?” John sighed. “Jees Dave, you’re being kind of harsh. You’re the one who’s worried about her not talking to you. Why won’t you go visit her?”
Dave removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes, sighing.
Because, a voice in his head said, you don’t think you can handle it if she looks at you that way again. You’re just as scared of seeing her as she is of seeing you. If she gives up on you… it might near break your heart.
He tried to ignore it. Fuck that. No way. He was still cool. Cool kids don’t get broken heats.
But as he slipped his shades back on his face, his hands were shaking.
Still… cool.