Work Text:
(he's into superstition - black cats and voodoo dolls
i feel a premonition; that boy's gonna make me fall)
Joko watches from afar as Cooper works on the Anti-Cult Coalition's headquarters. He's not sure why - something about the fish hybrid seems to fascinate him, almost luring him in.
Cooper bickers constantly with his groupmates. While he seems completely dedicated to their cause, he can't seem to get along with them for the life of him.
Maybe it's his unorthodox way of dealing with things. He slips away from time to time, and Joko follows from a distance to observe.
He confronts Jadarko directly. Threats uttered out in a way that makes Joko feel oddly drawn to him. Weapons out and intent to kill visible in his eye.
Cooper puts his crossbow to Jadarko's head with a grin. "Fuck you, and fuck your Salmon God, man."
(he's into new sensations - new kicks in the candlelight
he's got a new addiction for every day and night)
Cooper has started another new project today, Joko notices. It seems like he always has something new.
A new shop at Spawn City, a new elaborate scheme, a new build, a new farm, a new way to drive Joko fucking batty… It's always something.
Luckily for Joko, today is the "new shop" variety. Concrete, he thinks? If he heard correctly.
It's nothing spectacular - a simple spruce and cobblestone building.
Joko watches as Cooper hauls himself up, seating himself on the window to take a break, tail curling around himself.
He quickly looks away before he's caught staring.
(he'll make you take your clothes off and go dancing in the rain)
"Let's dance," Cooper tells him, pulling Joko flush against him with a sly grin.
"Fuck off," Joko retorts. He tries to hide his embarrassment, though he knows it's futile given his nature. He can see shades of red and pink in the strands of hair that fall in front of his face.
Cooper sticks his tongue out at him and laughs. "Come on," he says. "You're so mean, Joko."
Cooper's tail coils around his leg, and Joko quickly tries to look away from the man. "And you're annoying," he shoots back. "I don't even think you know how to dance."
"Teach me, then," Cooper replies smoothly, leaning against Joko.
Joko rolls his eyes. "Fine," he mumbles.
(he'll make you live his crazy life, but he'll take away your pain
like a bullet to your brain!)
Joko hears the sound of a crossbow being loaded and flinches, looking up from his work to glance around. He can't make out where it's coming from for the life of him.
He sighs, and turns back to his work before hearing another sound and feeling an arrow strike him dead-on, a stinging sensation spreading through him as his health bar drops.
He turns around, anger prickling. "Alright, who the hell is it this time?" He shouts.
"Boo."
Joko jumps when he hears Cooper behind him. "God fucking damn it, I knew it!"
Cooper bursts into laughter, tail swishing with amusement. "Oh, man, you should see the look on your face, dude."
He draws his sword, swinging at Joko.
"You know how it is," he says. "Nothing personal."
It's not hard for him to take Joko out. He sits down and waits patiently for him to respawn, pulling up his communicator screen to check for new messages.
When Joko does respawn, he shoots Cooper a death glare, which earns another fit of laughter.
"You are the fucking worst," Joko says.
"You love me," comes the amused response.
(upside, inside out, he's livin' la vida loca)
Only a couple players left. Joko can win this.
The assassin event had been easier than he was expecting. Perhaps not helped by the fact that his targets kept dying in other ways.
Joko continues forward as he tries to find one of the remaining contestants, stepping through the trees and undergrowth carefully.
He's tackled from behind, and he can't make out who it is as they roll downhill. When they stop rolling, Joko can finally make out who's got him pinned down.
He's completely unsurprised to see that it's a certain fish hybrid.
"Dude," Joko says, trying to push Cooper off of him. "You suck, you absolute fishy gremlin."
Cooper presses the blade of his sword against Joko's neck. "Shut up," he mutters. "I'm gonna win."
Joko manages to kick Cooper off of him, drawing his own sword quickly and backing the fish hybrid into a tree as he strikes.
"You fucking wish, man," Joko laughs. "Sorry."
(he'll push and pull you down, livin' la vida loca)
As Joko hears the piston activate under him and feels himself tumble down into the pit in front of his shop, all he can think is that he probably should have seen this coming.
He groans as he hits the ground, glancing up in irritation to see Cooper leaning down to look at him with amusement.
"I am so fucking tired of you," Joko says.
"Huh?" Cooper calls down to him. "I can't hear you from down there."
Joko manages to grab his tail where it's poking over the top of the pit and yank it, pulling Cooper down into the pit with him.
"I said," Joko reiterates, raising his voice this time, "I am so fucking tired of you."
"Yeah?" Cooper laughs.
Their faces are just inches apart at this point - not helped by the cramped space they're now stuck in.
"You wanna kiss me so bad it makes you look stupid," Cooper adds teasingly.
He clearly isn't expecting it when Joko does just that, pulling on the fish hybrid's shirt to connect their lips. Despite being taken aback, though, he gladly returns the kiss.
"Shut up," Joko mumbles when they separate. "You're annoying."
"Sure," Cooper chuckles.
(he will wear you out, livin' la vida loca)