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“Schlatt not that bad.” Tubbo tells himself, sitting on the floor, his neck burning from the hands that had gripped it tight, “Right?”
Δ
Schlatt was in one of his “moods” as Quackity, Fundy, and Tubbo, called it. He walks into the office drunk, with a half drained bottle of whiskey in his left hand..
Fundy takes one look at the man and high tailed it out of there as fast as his legs would take him, fox tail swishing behind him as he closed the door.
“Tubbo…” Schlatt says, “ c’mer.” he says, holding a hand out as he sits down in his chair behind the desk.
“ Ye-yes sir.” Tubbo says, quickly walking up to see what Schlatt wants.
“How those horns comin’ in?” Schlatt says, slurring his words a little.
“Uh…” Tubbo says, not wanting to respond with, ‘you saw them earlier’ .
“Let me see.” Schlatt says, placing his bottle on the ground, he leans forward, and roughly grabs Tubbo’s hair.
A small whimper leaves Tubbo’s lips, as Schlatt tugs particularly hard on one brown lock.
“Schlatt, ple.-” he tugs on more hair, “please stop, you're hurting me.” Tubbo says.
He finally lets go, “I thought I told you to stop that.” Schlatt says, voice harsh and bitter, “I told you to stop that, you're showing weakness.”
“You whe-” Tubbo gets cut off as Schlatt stands up suddenly, right hand wrapping around Tubbo’s throat, pushing his back to the wall., with a thud.
“I told you to STOP THAT!” Schlatt says, left hand coming up to join the other, as he squeezes his hands.
Tubbo’s vision starts to blur, as he attempts to draw in any air. Black spots materializing at the edge of his vision.
“Is everything okay in here?” Quackity asks, popping his head in the door, eyes going wide as they land on Tubbo, back to the wall with Schlatt, strangling him.
He runs over to them, shoes clacking on the floor, butter yellow duck wings on his back, flaring in fear, and anger.
He stops behind Schlatt, and puts on his best smile, “Schlatt, what you doin’?”
“Quackity!” Schlatt says, releasing Tubbo, who slides to the ground, gasping desperately for air, “there you are!” he says, throwing his arms out in a dramatic gesture.
“Hey, Schlatt.” Quackity says, pining his wings behind his back to tell him how they were completely giving him away, “Want to get a drink together?” he asks, tone laced with honey.
Schlatt looks at him for a long minute.
“I’ll pay.” Quackity adds on.
“Okay then, let’s go Sugar Pumpkin.” Schlatt says, throwing his arm around Quackity.
“Ya, let's go.” Quackity responds, through gritted teeth, turning towards the door.
Quackity shoots a quick glance back at Tubbo who is still sitting on the floor, (still alive,) and mouths a quick ‘I’m sorry’.
He closes the door, leaving Tubbo sitting on the floor alone, heart still racing.
Δ
“You're still her?” Quackity asks, as he re-enters the room, “I thought you would have scurried off, or something.'' He says walking up to Tubbo, who is just sitting there staring at the door.
Quackity sits down next to Tubbo, his back to the wall, with his wings pinned to his back, in between the wall and his body.
“I thought you went for a drink.” Tubbo mutters so quietly, Quackity almost did not hear him.
“Naw.” Quackity breathes out, releasing slightly, well pulling his left knee up to his chest, “I hate it when he drinks that stuff.” he takes a deep breath in, “I don’t know where he got any. I thought I hid it.”
Tubbo hums a response.
“So where is he?” Tubbo asks, voice still quiet.
“I led him to his room, and he took one look at his bed, walked over, and passed out on it.” Quackity says.
“Are you okay?” Quackity asks, a beat, “how bad did he hurt you this time? Do you know why?”
Tubbo takes a deep breath, “he wanted to look at my horns.”
“Again?”
“Again, I think he is getting mad they aren't as big as his.” A beat, “he was tugging on my hair, and I asked him to stop ‘cause it hurt, so he yelled at me, and then…” Tubbo says, gesturing simi-vagly to his neck.
“I see.”
“I don't know why.”
“I don’t know why.” Quackity echos, twisting the gold engagement band on his ring finger (Schlatt currently wears the matching one).