Chapter Text
"C'mon, c'mon!" This dumb car was the only thing he had left and now it wouldn't even start! "Are you kidding me!" Chip slammed his fist on the dash and collapsed with a defeated grimace. Not like he'd been driving it much, but still would have been nice to not freeze to death!
Chip let out another self pitying sigh, anger quickly rising again as the gap in his teeth sung with it.
Dad actually did it, made him sign back control of the company and cut him off! And for what? 'Potentially murdering an entire family and almost causing irreparable damage to Big city and its citizens.' C'mon!
Now with no job, no money, no dentist, he was stuck all alone with this stupid gap, and perhaps even worse than all that, utterly broke.
Chip started going off about these many injustices in his head again as he tried one last time to start the engine.
It buzzed to life for a short second then died again just as quickly.
Chip ground his perfect teeth together in a snarl. The cold was already starting to set in, making the former ceo cling harder to the three layers of designer blazers he'd packed on his (technically escorted)way out. Dang it! How long was it gonna take for Spring to get here already!?
Chip felt his stomach growl. Groaning in annoyance, he opened the glove department and scrounged around for some cash.
A second later, he pulled out a handful of loose change and two crumpled twenties. The sun was beginning to set and he was at least five blocks away from the nearest store. Great.
And the nearest store also happened to be a Wholesome Foods. Even better.
Chip was almost grateful for his mangy appearance as he entered through the automatic doors, less chance of someone recognizing him that way.
Still, he took every opportunity to duck behind shelves, and keep his head as low to the ground as possible, his sunglasses practically touching the linoleum. He reached the freezer section and began mindlessly browsing through the selection of Wholesome T.V. dinners, vaguely wondering if he could use the car engine to heat one up in place of a microwave.
The former CEO had to practically face palmed himself a second later when he remembered the car wasn't starting. So with a disgruntled sigh, he placed them back to go look at the protein bars.
On his way there, he had the oh so pleasant joy of passing through the store's famous produce section. The former ceo looked anywhere ,but up as he listened to the incessant chatter going on all around him.
"Can you believe it?"
"I know, the prices have gone way down!"
"Just goes to show what proper management can do."
"Well yeah, cuz the founder finally put his foot down, and got rid of that lunatic."
"Oh yeah, didn't he get sent to prison?"
"Nah, I heard he changed his name and got out of the country before they could try him."
"Man, could you imagine being that dad, guess he's just throwing himself into his work at this point."
"I mean, yeah wouldn't you? With that disappointment of a son?"
Chip jolted, not realizing he had went to cover his ears till people were starting to look at him weird. His face twisted into a frankenstein of his signature smile and an angry grimace. Sweat started to flow down Chip's face like rain on a car window and he only snapped out of it when he heard his tooth gap whistle with his panicked breathing.
Without a word the blonde took off towards the next aisle.
Chip panted in relief as the judging eyes faded behind a wall of refrigerated cheese and eggs. When he finally calmed down though, his fury shot right back up again at the thought of his predicament.
Those stupid Greens! This was all their fault! He bet they were salivating their latest victory right now, probably all like 'Glad we finally got rid of that guy.'
Chip was practically foaming at the mouth as he stared down at the packaged eggs. If he ever saw Cricket Green's smug mug again especially, he'd pelt the kid with a whole truck load.
A venomous grin stretched across Chip's face as he snatched the twenties out of his pocket and began rounding up egg cartons. Not quite a truck load, but it was a start.
There it was, the stupid, rundown shack they called a home. He made the entire trek on foot, was about to give up eighty-percent of his food supply, and he was pretty sure his hands and feet were beginning to go numb ,but this would so be worth it! Just to see their stupid faces when they open their stupid front door and get absolutely humiliated!
Chip laughed as he hurled the first egg, crouching behind a bush as he waited with anticipation for someone to come out.
A minute passed, then another….then another..
Chip groaned as he rose to his feet. What was taking so long!? He hurled another egg, not even bothering to crouch again as he waited.
Nothing.
Chip raged, throwing his hands into the air as he stormed up to their crummy porch. He grumbled, going to ring the doorbell and then ditch when he suddenly felt a light shine at his back.
Chip whirled around, a pair of truck headlights stared back at him, along with the dumbfounded faces of the Greens. He yelped, dashing back to the bush and retrieving the eggs just as the sound of the truck doors opening filled his ears.
"This is for ruining my life!" Chip yelled as he blindly threw the first dozen eggs their way.
He panted, going for the next dozen and taking just a second to revel in their humilia-
He'd missed.
Every. Single. One. Of them.
Didn't even hit the truck!
"Wow." He heard them all say.
"Chip?" Bill asked. "What are you doing here?"
Chip seethed as he frantically fumbled with the second carton.
"I mean, really this is just sad Chip." Cricket said as he and he casually sidestepped the broken egg shells and yolk, the only one who looked even vaguely affected was Tilly staring disappointedly at the smashed eggs.
"You're not even doing it properly." Cricket snarked. "You're supposed to wait till they're rotten."
Chip forced a half crazed grin. "Oh yeah, well guess what?! I already knew that! This was j-just a taste of what's to come! Yeah you heard right! I've got enough cartons left for two weeks so you just better keep an eye out cuz who knows when I'll-"
Chip really should have seen that stray egg shell.
Unfortunately, he did not, and ended up slipping on it. He tumbled backwards into the egg cartons, shattering them with his fall.
"Strike." Chip sighed, surrounded by a puddle of yolk.
Cricket sounded like he'd never laughed harder in all his life, and the rest of the family soon followed. The old lady, going as far to elbow Gloria and tell her to snap a picture so they could frame it.
She did. The flash on her phone briefly stinging his eyes.
"Hey!" Chip shot to his feet. "Delete that picture, now!" Flashes of the farmer's market video filtered into his brain.
"No way." Gloria retorted with a satisfied smirk. "Think of it as payback for 'firing' me."
Chip gritted his teeth, "You'll delete it or I'll-"
"You'll what?" The Green's Gramma interjected. "You should feel lucky you're not behind bars, coward!"
"Yeah!" Cricket cheered. "Wait, why isn't he in jail again? He got banned right?"
Gloria sighed, her amusement fading into something else. "His dad probably bailed him out."
Chip rolled his eyes. "Not quite, he made me sign the company back over and now I am officially cut off." Wait, why did he say that!?
Granny huffed, arms crossed. "Serves you right, coward."
The rest of the family pretty much nodded in agreement, an awkward pause briefly settled between him and his arch enemies and then,
"Well, it was an absolute displeasure seeing you again Chip, hope we never meet again," Cricket grinned cheekily as Gloria and the old lady began leading the family towards the porch.
Once they were through the door however, Bill Green abruptly halted, one foot on the wooden steps as he gave Chip a strange look.
Chip felt his eye twitch at the sight, just who did that Bill Green think he was looking down on him, Chip Whistler, like that. Chip grumbled insult after insult in as he tried to dust the egg off. His eyes wandered to the lit up streets and he had to choke back a groan as he realized he had to walk back.
Chip slumped forward and started his trekk 'home'.
He took one step onto the road and- "Watch out!" Bill suddenly shouted.
"Huh-Woah!" Chip fell backwards onto the sidewalk just in time as a bus came rushing by. He panted for a second, then his annoyance flared as he realized he'd just been saved by bumbling Bill Green of all people. Chip grumbled to himself as he got to his feet and Bill came into his line of sight a second later. The farmer rubbed the back of his neck, looking strangely concerned.
"Careful now, this street gets busy at night."
Chip rolled his eyes again, annoyance quickly rising to indignation as he turned back to the road. What was he? A child?
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, I totally knew that, thanks again for ruining my life bye no-"
Chip just barely caught sight of the headlights blinding him before he was suddenly grabbed and pulled off the road again.
Chip would've fallen backward again if not for the hand circled around his arm, supporting him.
As soon as Chip recognized that scarred finger, he retaliated like a cat, batting away Bill's hand like it was poisonous.
Bill seemed stunned for a good minute or so, then something must've shifted, because now he was giving Chip the sternest eyes he'd ever seen.
"Ok, why don't I give you a ride before you hurt yourself?" Before Chip could respond the farmer was already headed towards his truck.
Chip opened his mouth to retort-
"Dad no!" Chip jumped, when did that little demon spawn get here?! Cricket was jumping up and down at his father's side, tugging at his arm hard enough to sever. "Who knows what he'll try, he's desperate, remember?"
"Hey!-"
"Cricket, I'll be fine. I know you don't think I'm that agile ,but I think I can handle Chip."
The former ceo rolled his eyes.
"But what if he tries something sneaky, you know like the backstabbing coward he is?"
"Would you stop calling me that?!"
"Cricket, trust me, if I can handle you and Gramma on the road, I think I'll be alright."
"But he's evil Da-"
"Would you both just shut up already!?" Chip yelled in annoyance. "I'd rather get chased by another street dog on my way back to my car than get in that thing." Chip pointed to their rusty pick up.
He was hoping for Bill Green to take at least a little offense, but the farmer just gave him a weird look.
"You, you're living in your car?"
Chip mentally face palmed, crossing his arms as he rolled his eyes for probably the thousandth time that day. "Uh, yeah what did you expect? Cut off, remember?"
Cricket, though never losing the hostile look in his eyes, did seem a little surprised by the new info.
Bill Green continued to stare at Chip across the yard. "Is it at least still running good?"
Now it was Chip's turn to give the farmer a weird look, what's with all the questions? The former CEO just shrugged, self pity and animosity quickly bleeding into his reply. "Yeah no, not really running at all. Gonna probably have to sleep in a public restroom tonight, so if you could just drive me to the nearest one of thos-what are you doing?"
Chip's back went ramrod straight as he realized Bill had walked back over and was now ushering him towards the porch with an exasperated sigh, muttering something about his darn conscience.
Chip vaguely heard Cricket and Tilly hollar after them as his sandaled feet made contact with the wooden steps. To his bewilderment he was practically pushed through the front door, the warm air from inside instantly melting his insides.
Because of the unexpectedness Chip had to yelp and blindly grab the nearest wall to steady himself. He practically face planted as Cricket and Tilly came running in a second later. Cricket, giving his dad the evil eye, obviously ready to argue some more.
Before he could though Bill spoke, "Gloria, would you take Cricket and Tilly to bed?" Chip could just vaguely make out the top of Gloria's head propped up on a couch pillow. The twenty four year old rose with a mildly annoyed groan. The second her eyes laid on Chip however, that annoyance turned to hostility real fast.
"Uh mind telling me why Chip Whistler is still here?"
"That's what I'm saying!" Cricket shouted. "I'm telling ya dad's gone off the deep en-"
"Cricket." Bill had the stern look in his eye again. The kid quieted instantly as Bill turned back to Gloria. "I know, I know, and I promise I'll explain in a second, but can you just do me this favor real quick?"
Gloria eyed everyone hesitantly ,but eventually nodded in understanding, not even asking for either child's permission as she grabbed both their hands and marched them off to their bedroom, Cricket kicking and screaming the whole way.
"Alright," Bill Green sighed, "Uh, the bathroom's right over there on the left why don't you go wash up " Bill pointed to the door with a Live, Laugh, Love sign hanging off it. "And I'll see if I can find some spare clothes that you can wear til we get yours washed."
Chip crossed his arms, muttering about the ugly furniture and what not as he begrudgingly obeyed.
Chip splashed his face several times, glaring at his reflection. The closest thing Bill could find to fitting him was a tacky set of flannel pajamas, that still made him look like a child with how much he was swimming in them.
He also had to explain to the farmer what Dry Clean Only meant at least three times when he was forced to shove his egg ridden blazers under the bathroom door. Chip groaned as he splashed more water on his face, desperately trying to get the egg smell out.
Just as he was finishing up and trying to figure out which toothbrush was Cricket's so he could scrub the toilet seat with it, the sound of knuckles rapping on the door quickly filled the tiny room.
"Are you done yet, freeloader?" Gloria called through the door. "I need to take out my contacts."
Chip growled as he threw open the door and stormed past her, ignoring her death glare as he made his way back to the living room.
There, waiting for him on their ugly couch was a single pillow (probably stuffed with newspaper), and an ancient looking quilt. Chip huffed, sulkily sinking onto the couch with his arms lazily stretched out. All the lights had apparently been turned off while he was in the bathroom, and the only one left was coming from the T.V.
Chip rolled his eyes reaching for the remote so he could blindly flip through channels all night.
However just he gripped the plastic, Bill suddenly appeared from the kitchen, startling the crud out of him.
"Woah, sorry." Bill politlely apologized, both hands raised stiff in the air. "Didn't mean to scare ya there Chip, was just making sure all the doors were locked." Chip sighed, not bothering to respond as he sunk further down into the couch cushions.
Bill stood there awkwardly with a blank look on his face, then he grabbed the remote out of Chip's hand and turned the T.V off.
"Hey!" Chip was really starting to not like this family.
"I think it's best if everyone gets a good night sleep tonight. Tomorrow we'll go pick up your car, I should still have that carry-on trailer by the shed if we need it." The farmer mused, completely oblivious to Chip's confused expression. "We'll see what we can do, it could be something as simple as a dead battery."
Chip didn't know what to say, so he kept quiet, scowling as he crossed his arms and deliberately turned to stare at the armrest.
Bill just sighed. "Well any who, good night Chip."
With that he finally disappeaed down the hall, notably locking Cricket and Tilly's room along the way.
Chip groaned, flopping backwards and smooshing his head on the borrowed pillow. He grabbed the quilt and quickly curled himself up into a tight ball of anger and irritation. He'd never admit how cozy the quilt was, nor how quickly he fell asleep clutching it.