Chapter Text
It was a beautiful day in the mystery shack. The birds were chirping, the sky was blue, and none of the eldritch abominations in the woods were trying to kill us. I was halfway through a daydream about what I was going to do that weekend. Probably help uncle ford research a new monster or go to the fair with Mabel and wendy
Crash! The door slammed open almost knocking the singing bass off the wall. I looked to the sound, most likely Mabel with some new fixation to ask for help with. But instead of a wide-eyed girl in a crazy sweater, I was met with…
A boy? He had dark fluffy hair with light blue just on the tips and His bangs fell in his face. He was wearing a black button-up shirt with the sleeves cuffed and rolled up, a black and white striped long sleeve layered under. A long silver pentagram necklace hung around his neck. He wore dark grey cargo pants and large clunky platform boots. His hands were decorated with rings on every finger connected with chains except for a plain black ring on his ring finger.
“You have to hide me” he whisper yelled. When I just stood there he pulled up his bangs out of his face “please” he murmured. He had startling grey-blue eyes, that looked wild. He walked over to the curtains and peeked through, clearly he saw something he didn’t like and he started quickly muttering under his breath. He threw his bag onto the floor behind the register. “Wallet in here, take whatever you want” I had no time to react before he bolted further into the shop. “You never saw me” he hissed with an unsettling sense of urgency.
I was about to chase after him but a customer came in. this man in sharp contrast to the last one looked like he could be in his 20s. He had rusty red hair that was slicked back with way too much oil, and he wore a stained white tank top and dusty jeans. He had a handlebar mustache, a mean face, and angry eyes. He slumped over to the counter and began ringing the service bell repeatedly. I sighed and walked over to him. As soon as I was behind the counter he began speaking.
“I’m looking for my boyfriend, he’s off his meds and convinced I’m after him” My heart pounded out of my chest as I willed myself not to look into the exhibit the boy had gone into. The man continued to describe the boy to a t. His excuse seemed reasonable but something was off about it.
I could buy a person being off their meds making them paranoid but the boy who had come through seemed too young for the redhead in front of me. And the energy radiating from this man in front of me was terrifying.
“No haven’t seen em” I replied trying to sound casual.
He cursed under his breath before turning back to me. “Well I’ll be outside if you see him, tell him Alex is waiting for him”
.
Close one… I stood for a few minutes trying to calm my heartbeat but just as I was about to go check on the boy he slowly walked out of the exhibits he looked around the shop to check we were alone before slowly walking to the window and once again peaked through the curtains
He leaned against the wall letting out a sigh his, legs crumpling out from under him like a baby deer. His legs splayed out on the ground for a moment as he stared up at the roof. Looking at this enigmatic boy I wondered what he could be thinking, what lead him here in such a frenzy, who the man looking for him was, and why this boy seemed so intent to avoid him.
I was drawn out of my thoughts by the boy jumping up. He ripped a plastic bag from behind the cash he ran to leave the cash area but hesitated turning back, he kicked the leather bag he had thrown on the floor under the counter. The leather bag with a silver eye embossed onto the cover. Looking back up the boy was... changing? He threw his cargo pants into the bag. Practically ripped off the button-up he was wearing. He slid a mystery shack brand hoodie on. One several sizes too large, to the point it covered the boxers he was wearing. His thighs were barely exposed, the rest of his legs covered with a pair of knee-high socks. The colors clashed, bright red and green contrasting the mellow brown of the hoodie.
I went to go ask what he what doing when for the third time today the door was thrown open. He grabbed my arm pushing me against the wall. Sending my head reeling. His hood was pulled up and I’m sure that from behind you wouldn’t be able to tell he was the same person from before
“Is he looking at us?”
The boy whispered in my ear. I peeked past his shoulder and yeah, Alex was right there. “Yeah,” I said trying my best not to let my voice crack.
“Shit”
He leaned in closer, his hair tickled my face but before I could giggle I felt hot breath on my neck.
“Sorry” he murmured into my neck. “Sorry? For wha-”
Interrupted by cold lips on my jaw, my breath hitched. The scent of pine invaded my senses, causing them to dull. I bit back a moan as his teeth raked my neck. A chuckle rumbled in his throat the vibrations whipping me further into my haze.
“Is he still looking?”
I tried to force myself to focus through my mental fog. I could just barely make out the figure of Alex making his way toward us. Before I could say anything a cold blast of air hit me as the boy's body was pulled away from me. I was pulled back to focus by yelling
“I told you to find my boyfriend, not sit here making out with yours!”
“Look dude I already told you. he’s not here.” I said trying to sound confident
“I saw his bag on the floor in here kid, now where is he”
I heard a slight whimper as his grip tightened around the stranger boy's wrist.
“Dude I don’t know! Just leave me alone!”
“I’m warning you kid, if I find out you’re lying to me I’ll make sure you regret it”
And with that, he stormed off. I turned to the boy, who was standing there rubbing his wrist.
“Hey, are you ok?”
“Yeah I should be now he’s gone, thanks”
The boy picked up his bag from behind the counter and pulled out a wallet. He placed down a 50$ bill on the counter and went to leave. Stopping right before he opened the door. For the umpteenth time today, he peaked through the window. I joined him at the window. After scanning the view for a moment I saw Alex, leaning against a pickup truck.
“He’s got my truck…” the boy lamented. “I know you’ve already stuck your neck out for me a lot but do you think I could stay the night?”
I thought about my uncles, what would they say, Ford would let them stay right?
“ I think you should, he isn’t safe is he?”
“You have no idea” he chuckled
I looked away at the clock, it was already 5 pm, Mabel, stan, and ford should be back soon. A soft dial tone came from the boy's direction. I turned to look over at him. He was on his phone. It was a simple white phone, with a clear case, inside there was a polaroid of him and Alex. The boy had his arm over Alex's shoulder, he was grinning and even Alex had a slight smirk. 1 month's anniversary! was written on it.
He talked with someone on the phone for a few minutes before putting his phone away.
“Ok so my parents know I’ll be out tonight, you can’t live here alone when’s your family coming home?”
“About an hour and the shop actually closes in 5 minutes, so we can sit maybe… watch something while we wait for my uncle?”
“Heck yeah! Popcorn!” he cheered
The dim light of sunset filtered through the grimey windows, the gas-burning stove only serving to make the quiet more awkward as we waited for the popcorn to pop. the boy sat on the countertop, swinging his feet slightly and humming, he had finally fixed his hair, and I could make out his eyes, they were a pale blue, strangely wide, and really… pretty.
“So… I don’t think I caught your name?” he said peering out the window at the setting sun
“Uh, it’s Dipper, Dipper Pines”
“Like the constellation?”
“Yeah! What about yours, in all the commotion I didn’t quite catch it.”
“Oh! Right! My name’s Nico. well that's more my nickname but still”
“So then Nico, who was that guy? And what was he chasing you like that”
Nico looked uncomfortable for a second before answering
“He’s… he was my boyfriend. We’d been dating for about four months now, and we were basically inseparable. we had even moved in together. About a month in he went with me to a doctor's appointment, I usually have my mother come with me since I tend to zone out without realizing it, but she was busy.
When we got back to his house after he told me I had been given a new prescription while we were there, he handed me the bottle and I started taking them. He always insisted on being the one to refill them but when I ran out the other day I forgot to tell him.
I had gone without them for a few days, so I decided to go refill them myself but the pharmacist told me I had no prescription, I showed her the bottle and she told me she had no clue what they even were.
I freaked out and left, I guess he wasn’t happy about that, he left me a voice mail saying he was on his way back from the shop and he’d deal with me when he got home, so I packed everything I could into my truck. He must have seen me leave 'cause he followed me here.”
“Wow, that’s a lot…” I thought things like that only happen in movies but wow
I nodded as we both ran out of things to say, a few short minutes of awkwardness later the popcorn was ready to take off the stove.
We sat down in the living room and I flicked through the tv trying to find something to watch, Nico opted to sit on the floor, pulling off his hoodie and sitting on top of it. I finally settled on an episode of ducktective getting a nod of approval from Nico.
“You don’t have to sit on the floor yah know,” I said as they shifted
“There’s not much room on the couch, and I don’t mind the floor.”
A few minutes pass as we watch the soap opera. I begin to feel a light weight on my leg, looking down I can see that Nico had leaned his head on me.
“Nico? Nico are you still awake?” I whisper
When I get no response I assume he must have dozed off, he's had a long day so it’s understandable.