Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It started, as many bad ideas do, with a desperate need for help. 

“Fuck-!” Eddie snarled, slamming his fist into the wall beside his breaker. “Goddamn it!”

Another power surge. Another outage. He couldn’t keep doing this.

Something was wrong, clearly. His power was unstable in a way he just couldn’t handle. It had to be some sort of broken wire. He could patch it, work around the issue, try and direct the electricity elsewhere to keep himself and the club and the goddamn house running, but fuck, he was already running on empty and this was something that he couldn’t fix alone. 

Why did he have to be so alone?

Another current of electricity tore through him, hitting that broken wire inside of himself and this time he saw sparks- an arcing of electricity flaring dangerously from his inanimate self. 

“Fuck-!” Eddie cursed again, the sudden electrical shock to his system nearly sending him to his knees. He stumbled, clutching the wall on either side of the breaker and snarling at the arcing electricity like it owed him money. It probably did, in all honesty. Eddie couldn’t imagine this leakage of electricity was doing anything good for the human’s power bill. 

“Freeloader,” he grumbled at the excess electricity, as though it could hear him. “If you’re going to put such a strain on my system, you might as well do some work around here.”

Eddie paused. 

In his own body, he could feel it. Just under his skin. The buzzing of electricity. The contented, ever present hum of another presence, just beneath the surface. There was something- no, someone there.  

He stepped back, resting a hand over his chest. That would be right about where the broken wire would be, if his estimates were right. He could feel the thrum of electricity throughout his body with each beat of his artificial heart. 

He just needed some help. 

Truly, with no idea what he was doing, he plunged his hands into his own chest, ignoring the limits of what a humanoid form would allow in favor of searching for that damn wire, for the crackling charge of that electrical current. 

There. 

He wasn’t exactly sure how he knew he found it, but once he did, he clasped his hands around the current and pulled. 

And oh, God did it hurt. 

There was screaming, a horrible, agonized sound that he faintly registered as coming from his own mouth as he pulled and pulled, unwilling to let go as he dragged the very concept of electricity from his body by that rogue current until with a horrible, tearing feeling, he wrenched the electric power from himself and out into the world.

There was a blinding light as a figure of pure electricity was torn from his form and stumbled forward, falling to its undefined knees and staying down, curled in on itself and shaking. Eddie himself barely remained standing, his own hands shaking with exhaustion as the electricity that normally flowed through him took human form instead. 

After a moment, its form began to solidify. It was bigger than Eddie, despite being pulled from him, with broad shoulders and thin hips and long, nimble limbs that it kept curled around itself protectively. Blinding white light became pale skin, stretched over its figure and held together like a fucked up electrical grid of staples and thread. Faintly, Eddie hoped this new being’s patchwork appearance wasn’t his own fault, something brought about from the savage tearing of his own being he just put them both through. The last of the electrical light remained as a long, arcing waves of white hair that fell around its shoulders and hid its face from view. 

It was naked as a newborn human, and it had to be the most beautiful creature Eddie’s ever seen.  

“Eddie,” it rasped, and Eddie couldn’t help but shudder because of course it knew his name. “What did you do?”

“It worked,” he breathed, finally allowing himself to drop to his knees as he crawled over to the new concept. “Sparks, it actually worked..”

It- no, he looks up at Eddie through the curtains of electrified hair with metallic silver eyes, still dazed and confused as he clutches the skin of his new body, not quite cold, not quite in pain, not quite… sure. 

“What am I?” His voice would be smooth, almost sultry if not for the horrified tremble to his words. 

“You’re alive.” Eddie answers, taking the oversized coat from his back and wrapping it around the trembling new man, embracing him in a hug. The man’s pale skin feels electric against his own, but he doesn’t draw back. “You’re here.”

The concept doesn’t answer, allowing his broad frame to be pulled to Eddie’s chest, to be bundled in his coat, to be soothed. The new concept’s trembling is starting to ebb, but the shake in Eddie’s hands remains. They stay together like that for a while. 

“… Volt.” He eventually says. 

“What?” Eddie answers.

“That’s my name, I think. Volt.”

“Volt.” Eddie tries the name, feeling the word out with his lips and tongue. “Definitely a fitting name.” 

The concept- ‘Volt’, laughs softly at that. The sound makes Eddie’s heart flutter. He must have given himself some sort of palpitations. 

“It is, isn’t it?” Volt’s smile fades. “Eddie, why did you… why did you do this?”

His fluttering heart drops. He literally just tore the very concept of electricity out of himself, and for what? Sparks, he’s exhausted. 

“I… I needed someone.” Eddie finally admits. “I needed help. This house… my wiring… something’s wrong. The power keeps… surging. the whole house depends on me to keep it going and I-I… I can't control the surges, I can’t keep the power going… I can’t do it alone anymore.” He finally scoots back from Volt, bowing his head and clasping his hands together, literally begging on his knees. “Please, Volt. I need you. Please. Help me.”

Volt looks stunned, mouth hanging slightly open for a moment, before he closes it with a determined look on his face. Despite being brought to form literal minutes ago, Volt clutches Eddie’s coat around his body and pushes himself to his feet. He steps steadily over to the kneeling man before offering his hand. 

“How shall I start?”

Eddie looked up, hesitating for just a moment before taking Volt’s hand and allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. Volt’s hand was strong, but almost delicate with long fingers that were cool to the touch and skin with that strange, underlying feeling of electrical charge. He grinned, playfully looking Volt up and down in a way that made the new concept’s cheeks flush, much to his satisfaction. 

“How about we start with getting you some clothes?”

...

The club was, blissfully, completely empty after the latest power outage, so Eddie didn’t have to worry about what kind of nonsense the roomer mill would come up with if he was spotted smuggling a naked man in nothing but his coat up to his apartment. Volt tailed behind Eddie, glancing around the club with a quiet wonder. After pulling Eddie to his feet, Volt had continued to keep his hand gently linked with the other man, and Eddie didn’t have the heart to pull away just yet. 

He glanced back to find Volt delightedly observing the club with his own eyes for the first time, his pale face lit beautifully by leds and neon. Eddie looked away, cheeks suddenly feeling a bit hot. 

It was fine. They just had to get Volt some pants and they’d be just like two business partners or something. He just wasn’t quite used to the nudity in the way some of the other objects were. Who came to fix their breaker box in the nude, right? It was totally fine. 

“This way,” Eddie urged. ”I have an apartment upstairs.”

 He… wasn’t fully sure what Volt knew for himself already considering they were… well, he wasn’t quite sure what they were to each other. Was Volt some part of himself or another presence that had just been tagging along for the ride all this time? Now wasn’t really the best time to think of it. He was already running on empty after the latest outage and… this. No use throwing some kind of existential crisis into the mix too. 

Pushing those thoughts aside for now, he gently tugged Volt along, up the stairs and into his home above the bar. It wasn’t… much, but it was enough. There was a kitchen and living room separated by a small island, then another hallway leading to his bedroom and bathroom. Large windows looked out from the living room area, currently covered by dark colored curtains that matched the rest of the sparse furniture. It wasn’t much of a view, considering the breaker was inside of a closet, but it was something, and the extra light during the day was good enough for Eddie. 

“Ah, well. I don’t really have a spare room...” Eddie murmured, mostly speaking to himself. “You’re welcome to the bed, though. I’m sure you could use the rest.”

Volt fixed him with an odd look, cocking his head to the side in a way that made his arcing white hair fall in a curtain. 

“I’m not going to displace you from your own home, Eddie.”

“You’re not, Volt. Really. Just let me take the couch- at least for tonight.” 

Volt gave a ‘hmph’, tugged Eddie’s coat further around himself, and stalked over to the bedroom with long strides. He poked his head into the room, then turned, fixing Eddie with another one of those unreadable looks. 

“Absolutely not.”

“What? Why?” 

What was wrong with his bed? Volt made his way back over, snatching Eddie by the wrist and dragging him after him.

“Woah-! Hey, hang on-!”

“Clearly, both of us can fit in this bed.” Volt declared, gesturing to the length of the bed like a proper showman. “I may be ‘new’, but I know you have to be exhausted.”

He had to be kidding. 

“Volt, seriously. I’m fine. Take the damn bed. I’ve slept on the couch before, and I’ll do it again, okay?”

Eddie held his hands up in surrender, trying to pull himself free of Volt’s frankly impressive grip. Unfortunately, that only served to worsen the situation as Volt narrowed his eyes and dragged Eddie forward again, bringing them to what would be nose to nose, had Volt not been about half a foot taller than him. 

“You brought me here to help you.” Volt spoke slowly, as though explaining to a child. Eddie continued to squirm in his hold. Volt didn’t budge. “This is me helping you. If it makes you uncomfortable, I will leave and find another place for myself for the time being, but if you do not get into the goddamn bed and rest yourself to recover from whatever day caused you to rip me from your body, I will wrestle you in there myself. Am I understood?”

“…”

“…”

“… Fuck. Yeah. Okay.”

And that was how Eddie found himself sharing his own goddamn bed with a man who was certainly not just some other part of himself. He was a relentless bastard and already driving Eddie nuts despite only existing for maybe the past hour. 

“Comfortable?”

Eddie grimaced, fidgeting with a stray thread coming off of his sleep shirt. He usually just slept in his boxers, but he was not going to do that next to mister ‘I just got brought into existence and haven’t materialized any clothes for myself yet’.

“If I say no, will you let me sleep on the couch?”

“Hmm…. No.”

“Then I’m fan-fucking-tastic.”

Volt snorted, rolling over so that his back was to Eddie’s sulking form. 

“Wonderful. Good night then, Eddie.”

He paused.

“… good night, Volt.”

Chapter Text

To Eddie’s relief, Volt was a blissfully quick learner. 

They started small, alternating between the Sisyphean task of repairs in the day and work with actual customers at night. While Volt didn’t quite have the natural drive or talent to work with his hands that Eddie did (something that seems to get on both of their nerves now that they’re a split presence), he was eager to help and more than willing to make up for his inexperience with enthusiasm. 

“It’s absurd, I’ve seen you do this a million times,” Volt grumbled around the recently flattened thumb in his mouth. “Hammering nails should not be so complicated.”

Eddie laughed at that as he finished up nailing down the floorboard Volt had abandoned in favor of licking his wounds. 

“Yeah, alright. And how long, out of those million times, have you actually had hands for again?”

Volt’s cheeks flared red, his hair sparking from where he’d tied it up in a messy half bun. 

“Point taken.” He sulked, removing his finger from his mouth in favor of crossing his arms with a huff. “How many of those million times is it that same floorboard, however?”

Eddie gave him a grunt at that, standing to dust off his pants with a ‘pop’ of complaint from his knees. 

“Shut up. Damn thing just won’t stay down. Probably exists just to spite me, like someone else I know.”

It was Volt’s turn to laugh then, standing from his barstool and rejoining Eddie at the counter. 

“Ah, not quite, Eddie. I don’t see that floorboard helping you around the club, after all.” He teased, rolling up his sleeves. “Alright, what’s next?”

It wasn’t that Eddie didn’t appreciate Volt’s help with maintenance. Even just the company and occasionally extra set of hands made it that much more bearable. When it came to the work needed to run the club at night, however, that was where Volt really shined. 

Volt took to mixing drinks with the aura of a natural showman, oftentimes drawing a crowd to watch him work just with the absurd flourishes he’d add in, tossing shakers and flipping bottles between nimble fingers with lightning fast reaction times. So far, he’d only broken a glass or two, and so Eddie resigned himself to letting Volt’s little performances continue. Not like he himself was also watching. That would be silly. He could mix half these drinks with his eyes closed, so there was no point in watching Volt other than to make sure he didn’t break something or give someone alcohol poisoning. 

And yet. 

“Eddie, you with me, man?” Hoove had asked him once, drawing his eyes back from Volt and the little crowd he’d gathered. 

“Huh? Yeah, I’m listen- shit !” 

Eddie groaned internally as he overfilled Hoove’s glass, sending alcohol spilling over his fingers. 

“ Fuck me ,” he grumbled, already grabbing a rag to wipe up the spill. “Sorry, Hoove. It’s on the house.”

“No worries, I get it! Gotta keep an eye on the new guy.” He paused, drumming his fingers on the bar. “Though, I’ve gotta say. Dude’s a natural. You’d think he’d been doing this for years. Where’d you find him, anyways?”

Eddie’s grip tightened on the rag, pausing for a moment. He could still hear Volt’s voice, smooth as silk, bantering with customers at the other end of the bar. 

‘Eddie. What did you do?’

“It’s a long story. Let me just get you another drink.”

That was one of the times Eddie had really noticed the way they ebbed and flowed with their similarities and differences. It was hard not to, considering how Volt thrived as the center of attention while Eddie ended most shifts drained of energy and ready to fall face first into bed (the sleeping arrangement of which they continued to occasionally argue about, but usually decided to save their collective energy and just share the damn bed). 

There were other things, though. Their way of dressing, for instance. 

Volt took it upon himself to match Eddie’s own style of dress, whether or not it was to actually make them match or because they actually had the same underlying taste, Eddie wasn’t quite sure. There were definite differences, however. 

While Eddie wore his shirts buttoned properly to the top, neatly smoothed and professional, accessorizing himself with an occasional necklace or two of copper wiring, Volt made his outfits work around him instead. He wore his shirts opened down to the chest, just far enough to show skin and accentuate his form, while still somehow avoiding bringing the strange stitches and staples that held him together into view. He wrapped his wrists in the same copper wiring Eddie enjoyed, and kept the rest of his look fairly simple. Eddie really wasn’t sure how he continued to move as much as he did in those skin tight pants he’d chosen, though. 

It took a while for Volt to settle on his wardrobe, especially before a night shift, spending an amount of time in front of Eddie’s bathroom mirror that Eddie himself never bothered with. Volt took his time, hemming and hawing as he undid, then redid his buttons, then undid them again, tossed his hair back, then up, then to the side over and over until he was satisfied with himself. 

Eddie was always ready about thirty minutes prior, but decided to let him have this. Just this once. He’d shoo Volt out of the bathroom next time he took more than ten minutes. Next time. 

So Volt was a bit of a pain at times, but ultimately… his help was more than appreciated. Eddie tried to remind himself to mention it, occasionally clapping Volt on the shoulder with a quiet “good job”, or giving a small nod of approval when Volt would meet his eyes across the room. And sparks, when he did, Volt’s entire being would light up as he always hit Eddie with a thousand watt smile, no matter how simple or soft his encouragement had been. 

Going from completely alone to… this…

It was jarring. 

Especially when the power would act up. 

It wasn’t as bad as it had been, especially with Volt here to help distribute the energy, but some days were worse than others, and Eddie still wasn’t used to having someone around to… to worry, he supposed. Besides the sleeping arrangements (which, honestly, both had stopped really caring about a while ago), this was the main source of tension between the two. 

Volt would have preferred if they stuck to arguing about the bed. 

“Eddie, for the love of- just lay down !”

“I’m fine, I just need to- ngh-!” Eddie tried again to push himself up from the mattress, but the electrical current arcing through him made it a fruitless effort. “Just help me down there to patch it and then I can open the club for tonight. Don’t need to make such a big- ggghh fuck-! F-Fucking deal over nothing.”

He was panting for breath, but still somehow glaring at Volt as though he was fussing over a splinter. 

Volt grit his teeth, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration before leveling Eddie with a glare of his own. 

“You are in no shape to be attempting the stairs, let alone running the club for the evening.” 

“Well, what do you suggest we do then? Stay closed?”

“No, I-“ he sighed. “I’m suggesting you get some rest. Obviously you don’t want me playing doctor, and I don’t want to see you half-dead trying to run the club, so...”

“So..?”

Volt hesitated, worrying his lower lip between his teeth. 

“What if I took over running the club? Just for tonight.”

“Volt-“

“No, hear me out. I’ll take hold of the extra electricity for tonight, get the house running on my power. Then, when you’re feeling better, I’ll pass control back to you.”

Eddie stared at him for a long moment. 

“I know how much this all means to you, Eddie. I’ve been zipping around in the background for years, so even if I’m new to actually doing it myself, I’ve seen how you’ve done it for ages now and-“

“Alright.”

“No, let me finish. I’ll keep it nice and calm for tonight, no crazy bar tricks, no toying with the lights, just a nice and easy- wait, what did you say?”

Eddie groaned, letting his head drop back to the pillow. 

“I said ‘alright’. I’ll let you control the power for tonight. But-“ Eddie raised his head again. “If anything and I mean anything happens, you come get me, and we’ll trade off again, alright?”

Volt’s face split into a smile. He crouched down, grabbing Eddie’s hands in his own.

“Yes!” He gave Eddie’s hands a squeeze. “You won’t regret this, Eddie. I swear it.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Eddie sighed, giving Volt’s hands a light squeeze back. “Go on, go get everything ready for tonight or you’re gonna end up opening the doors late.”

Volt stood quickly, nodding. 

“Yes, of course.” Another small pause. “Thank you, Eddie. I hope you rest well.”

“… thanks. Good luck tonight, Volt.”

Chapter Text

Volt snagged Eddie’s overcoat from where it lay draped over a chair in their apartment, tossing it across his shoulders with a flourish. With a spring in his step, he made his way to the club proper to begin the morning’s prep for the night’s opening.

He really hadn’t expected the idea of running the club for the night to leave him so electrified. (He was electricity, after all. That was his usual state.) Perhaps it was knowing how much this meant to Eddie. Regardless, he was so amped up, he actually managed to get everything ready to go ahead of schedule.  

The tables and bar were clean, the stools and chairs set out, even the new, comfortable couches they’d set out for a lounge area were pushed into place. The lights were all tested, the bar was stocked, and well, he was ready to go. 

He just had to take control of the power. 

Volt pushed open the door to the back room, silent except for the click of his boots against the wood floor as he made his way over to the breaker. 

“Hello there,” he murmured, unsure quite how to approach this. He traced the pad of his fingers over the metal door, taking a moment to find the latch to open the front. “Just.. ah… Well, I figure you know. You’re also Eddie, after all, aren’t you?”

The breaker didn’t immediately hit him with snark, but Volt figured it would have, had it been able. This was definitely just another version of Eddie. 

“Cute,” he hummed at the breaker’s aura of attitude. “Time to hand over the power for the night, hm?”

The hinge of the door creaked as though huffing at him, but otherwise it seemed to have no protests. With gentle touch, he reached into the box, pressing his hands to the red and black cords that filled much of the space. He wondered, faintly, if Eddie’s corded hair would feel the same under his fingertips.

The damaged wire sputtered out a few stray sparks at the contact, but it was nothing Volt couldn’t handle as he coaxed control of the electricity through the wires and into himself. 

The amount of electrical power that hit Volt’s system made him shudder, nearly stumbling on his feet. Oh, the power truly was unstable today.

“Nngh… fucking hell, Eddie.” He grit out, hair sparking and jumping in arcs as power literally flowed through his body. “The hell are you overloading yourself with this much power for..?”

The breaker didn’t answer, of course. His Eddie was still upstairs, resting. Hopefully. 

He could feel it better now that he was once more connected directly to the electricity- the way the power would fluctuate. It would stay steady for a time, then, once it hit the damaged wiring, spark out of control with a surge and a drop, then back to steady until there was another pass through the damaged zone. No wonder Eddie could barely get out of bed some days. How was he living like this? 

Volt drew his hands back, taking a steadying breath in as he untangled himself from the wiring. As he exhaled, his breath sparked in the air. His form buzzed with the power he’d returned to himself, and he was sure the arcing of his hair was far more wild then when he’d set out down the stairs this morning, but he had it handled. This was his electricity, after all. He could control it. He could save Eddie from this pain, just like he was brought into this home to do. 

“Pleasure doing business with you.” He hummed to the breaker as he relatched the door, giving the top a little pat. ”You let me handle the show for now, hm?”

He strode back out of the room with purpose, the breaker’s broken wiring sparking anxiously as he went. 

…

The night had been going better than expected. Many of the regulars to the club had already gotten used to Volt’s presence beside Eddie, and so accepted the change in leadership without so much as batting an eye. Others had questions, of course, but it was nothing serious. All Volt had to do was assure them Eddie would be back, and that he was simply covering the floor while Eddie took care of some other, unnamed business this evening. 

Other than that, the club was as lively and full of chatter as ever- new and familiar faces alike stopping by for a drink and a chat before heading back to business as usual.

“Hey, hey, hey! Who’s this here today?”

Volt beamed at the new object striding up to the bar, bowing with a flourish of Eddie’s coat. He had to get one of these for himself eventually.

“Good evening to you, my friend. My name is Volt, I’ll be running the club for the evening.”

“[Well How You Doin’?]” the object quoted, pulling up a seat at the bar. “Name’s Telly, Nelly! Taking Eddie’s place just for the day, or are you actually here to stay?”

“Pleasure to meet you, Telly.” Volt hummed as he worked at the other patron’s drinks. “I assume I’ll be around to help for the foreseeable future, but Eddie just had other things to attend to this evening.” The lie slipped in easily. “Rest assured, he’ll be back charming you all with his sarcasm before you’ve even truly had the chance to miss him. Consider me… ah… just a bit of a change of pace.”

“Change of pace or change of channel?” Telly teased. “I’ve been plugged into Eddie’s circuit for years, my dear, but I think I’d remember seeing your handsome face ‘round here. [But Don't Touch That Dial!] I like your style! After all, seems like you’re quite e-lec-tro-fy-in’ from what I’m spyin’.” 

Volt laughed, nodding as he continued to work the bar. As promised, he kept his mixing tricks to a minimum, instead focusing on the patrons themselves. Many of the folks coming in had questions about Eddie’s absence, of course, so it was best to focus on making a proper impression without Eddie around to give him back up. 

“Ah, quite a charmer, aren’t you? You could certainly say that. I’ve been told I’ve got quite the spark~” Volt chuckled, flashing Telly a wink. “But no, I’m just running things for the evening. Eddie couldn’t stand to be away for more than a day, I’m sure. This club means so much to him, you know.”

“[What’choo Talkin’ Bout, Willis?]”

“Hm?”

“Of course I know how much this club means to him, Slim! What’s got me not believing my eyes is seeing him hand the reins to someone I don’t quite recognize! The Breaker Box is Eddie’s baby, you know. Quite impressive to see someone else controlling its flow.”

Volt just shrugged, setting down the drink he’d been working on by the object who ordered it before moving to give Telly his full attention for the time being. 

“Truly, you flatter me. I’m just glad to help.” He paused, drumming his fingers on the bar for a moment. “Though it does certainly mean a lot to learn how much I’ve gained Eddie’s trust.”

Telly nodded, looking understanding. 

“[Well, Ah, Just One More Thing,]” they mimicked, leaning across the bar and dropping their voice to a stage whisper. “I gotta know, what’s the trick? How’d you get you and Eddie to stick?”

“I guess you could say the bond Eddie and I share is… quite electric.” He hummed, internally chuckling as he watched Telly process the information they’d been given. Hopefully that would be enough to give the roomer mill its fill without anyone actually prying too deep into their business. 

“[Is That Your Final Answer?]”

Volt grinned. 

“You do with that information what you will. Otherwise, my lips are sealed~” 

“Aw, jeez, you’re such a tease!” Telly threw their hands up in faux exasperation, clearly having more than enough fun just bantering with Volt for the evening. “Gonna leave the audience on a cliffhanger for this banger?” 

“Like I said: Lips. Are. Sealed, darling~ Now, how about I get you something to drink?”

…

By the end of the night, Volt understood why Eddie often just fell face first into bed after a shift. 

As he finished guiding the last of the patrons to the exit, locking up, and cleaning the bar, Volt slumped into the nearest chair with a sigh. 

Sparks, he was exhausted. Physically, anyways. Mentally? His extroverted mind was running laps around the rest of him. 

A voice from the stairwell made him jump from his momentary rest. 

“Well, looks like you did good tonight.”

Eddie had a hand on the metal railing of the fire escape-esque stairway that led to their apartment, bracing his weight against it. He looked… better. Certainly still exhausted, and his other hand still clenched and unclenched over his chest on occasion (Volt had learned quickly that it was where his damaged wire resided), but he was… well, he was no longer bedridden with pain. 

Volt stood quickly, already going to rush his companion, but a horrific wave of dizziness and nausea and ’oh fuck no’ hit as soon as he got his feet under him. The power surged and he stumbled, hearing Eddie distantly grunt in pain at the power fluctuation. 

Ah. And Volt had been doing so well tonight.

He internally braced for his face becoming more acquainted with the floor, but to his surprise, it never came. Instead, warm, calloused hands held him close as he was caught. 

Eddie.

“Wh…? Eddie?”

Eddie gave him a lopsided grin. Volt’s head was still swimming. How’d Eddie get over here so fast? Nevermind, didn’t matter. Oh, god, he was seeing spots. 

“Guess we know how the fluctuations affect you, then.” Eddie murmured, gently adjusting Volt so he could lean on him. “You with me, Volt?”

“M… Mhm..” he squeezed his eyes shut, willing away the nausea and dizziness that crashed over him I. waves. “You don’t… uh… this?”

“Faint? No, can’t say that I do.” Eddie sighed. “Makes my chest hurt when it surges. Sometimes my head. Sometimes the rest of me.  Otherwise, it just makes me feel…” he chuckled faintly at the unintended pun. “… drained.”

That made sense. The electricity was Eddie’s power source, but it was Volt’s, well, everything. If it was going to be like this every time he stood up, he was never sitting down again. Fuck. 

“Didn’t burn down your club, Eds.” Volt mumbled, hoping to change the subject as Eddie eased him up the stairs to their apartment, balancing the power between them in the meantime. “Might’ve taken your coat, though. Makes me look sexy.”

Eddie snorted. 

“Yeah, I see that.” A small pause. The smile on Eddie’s face was remarkably fond. Volt blamed it on the fact that he was probably, definitely dying. “Keep the coat. It suits you.”

“Oh.” Another pause. “You sure? You’re the owner, of course, so…”

Eddie nudged open the door to their apartment with his boot, guiding Volt inside and to the bedroom. His head was starting to clear, but he still felt a bit sick. 

“Consider yourself co-owner, then.”

“Co-owner, mh? I can work with that.” Volt detangled himself from Eddie to sit on the edge of the bed and work at his shoes. “Do I get ‘employee of the month’ as well?”

“Don’t push it.” 

Oh he was absolutely going to push it. Volt grinned.

“What about a raise?”

“Definitely not.” Eddie was, to his confusion, stepping away- towards the bedroom door. “Get some rest, Volt.”

“… not going to join me?”

Eddie’s face flashed with an emotion too quickly for Volt to decode it. 

“No, I’m gonna take the couch tonight. I’ve been in bed all day anyways.”

That was… fair. Their arguments about the sleeping situation had all but petered out, but ultimately there was no reason for them to share the bed if they didn’t have to. Something about that… still made Volt a bit sad. For some reason, he found himself protesting. 

“But--“

“I said no, Volt. It’s your turn to rest. You can pass the rest of the power back to me in the morning if you want, but take it easy for now.” 

His tone left no room for negotiation. Volt was, unfortunately, too tired to do much of it anyways. 

Bastard. That was probably his plan all along. 

“… fine. But I can handle half the charge. It’s my job to help you, Eddie.”

Eddie ran a hand through the front of his hair as he often did when exasperated. 

“Yeah, well.” he huffed.”Don’t kill yourself over it.” Eddie continued to make his way out, effectively signaling the end of the conversation. “Thank you for today. Good night, Volt.”

“… night, Eddie.”

Chapter Text

Time passed quickly once the two became settled as co-owners. Years in the span of minutes, months in nothing more than the blink of an eye. They worked together like.. well, electricity and wiring- impossibly intertwined. 

Slowly, Eddie began to shift his focus more to behind the scenes, managing the repairs and working the bar while letting Volt run the show. And run the show Volt did. If he was already formed a natural, once he got comfortable, it was as though he flourished on stage. Eddie couldn’t help but be… not quite jealous- no, he liked working with the other objects, of course, but he found it so draining sometimes- so seeing Volt come alive with the others made Eddie feel more… hm…

Well, he wasn’t quite sure. But Volt seemed so happy , and that was more than enough. Eddie would take all the maintenance if he had to, work until his hands were raw and bleeding, so long as he could continue to see that beautiful smile light up the room as Volt took the stage. 

Now that they were splitting the power, the fluctuations were easier to manage, too. 

Eddie could temper the surges that would send Volt sparking out of control, and Volt could reign in the drains that would have Eddie plummeting, dead on his feet- the duo working together to keep the energy steady and balanced as best they could between the two of them. 

Yeah, Eddie was tired, but it wasn’t like it had been. It never would be like that again. 

Things were good. 

They were. 

“Eddie! Darling!” Volt’s voice from the stage brought Eddie from his thoughts, his hands stilling as he paused his repairs in favor of looking up at his other half. “I’ve just had the most wonderful idea— do you have a moment?”

Eddie grunted as he stood, wiping sweat from his brow across the back of his arm and dusting his hands on his pants. 

“Yeah, yeah. Was just finishing up over here anyways. What’s up?”

Volt beamed at him from the stage, still absolutely glowing despite (or perhaps because) of the sunlight filtering into the building. They had a while to go until open, but per usual, repairs and set up would likely eat away most of their time. Eddie worked on the more hands-on fixes like fraying wires or damaged furniture while Volt fiddled with their lighting and sound for tonight’s show. Eddie couldn’t quite remember who’d signed up to perform tonight— probably Keyes or Miranda, one of their regulars. It was hard to find new, live music when everyone you’d ever met (or meet ) pretty much lived together. 

Volt trotted over to the edge of the stage with a spring in his step, Eddie already coming to meet him down below. The current offered a hand to his other half, which again, Eddie met half way. To his surprise, however, Volt didn’t pull him up onto the stage, instead gently bowing to brush his lips across Eddie’s knuckles. A faint bit of electrical charge zipped across his skin, a touch of static beneath Volt’s grin. Eddie scoffed, shaking his head and pulling his hand back despite Volt’s playful pout.  

“You’re getting better at that,” Eddie admitted, desperately hoping his ears weren’t turning red, though he was sure he already knew the answer. “Try it on someone who will actually feel the electricity next time. Probably won’t fry anyone now.”

Volt waved him off, his usual, pleasant smile already returning. 

“Obviously you felt it, Eddie~”

Eddie raised an eyebrow. This is what he got for being practically shock proof: Getting to be Volt’s guinea pig while he figured out new tricks to charm their patrons. 

“Barely—“ Eddie continued before Volt could resume pouting. “—which is a good thing, y’know, considering I’m insulated and all.” Volt shrugged, which Eddie took as permission enough to change the subject. “Alright, alright, I know you didn’t call me over just to try that damn trick again. What’s your idea?”

Volt lit up again, clasping his hands together. 

“Yes, of course!” He started to pace the length of the stage while he spoke, unable to keep himself still for the moment. “You see, I was thinking, there’s only so many proper performances we can get, so… why not open ourselves up to more options?”

Eddie cocked his head to the side, crossing his arms and fixing Volt with a look. 

“‘More options’? What do you have in mind?”

“Well, for one, why not something like… an open mic, for those who aren’t so well known, but are still so inclined.” Volt continued, pausing his pacing to momentarily drape himself over the mic stand and brace his weight as they talked. “Give others a chance to… hm…“ he twirled his hand in the air as he tried to find the words he was looking for. “… Make a name for themselves and all that. ”

Well, it wasn’t a bad idea… that said, the Breaker Box was partially known for its music. But would it be so bad to add a little more variety? Amp knows Volt’s arrival already shook things up in such a great way, maybe some other objects should get their chance in the spotlight for a bit. 

Maybe others should step out..?

Eddie eventually nodded, giving a small shrug of his shoulders. 

“I mean… hell, that wouldn’t be such a bad idea, actually.” Volt perked up slightly, a grin already beginning to split across his face. “But—“ Eddie held up a hand for him to wait. “— But , this is gonna be your project, okay? I-I mean I’ll help if you really need it, of course, but I…” 

Fuck, I’m still so tired, even splitting the power lately…

Volt’s delighted expression fell slightly, twisting into something more worried before he could catch it. He schooled his expression back into a charming facade so polished, Eddie could almost trick himself into believing he never saw the all-consuming concern that had been gracing the other man’s features previously. 

Volt made his way back to the edge of the stage, hopping down to join Eddie on floor level. He reached out, and Eddie, as he always did, leaned in to meet him part way. 

Volt’s hands against his cheeks almost tingled with the man’s permanent charge. Eddie nosed gently into the touch, his own hand coming to rest over one of Volt’s own. 

It was intimate, it really was, but neither of them could really bring themselves to avoid the damn near magnetic draw of the other for embarrassments sake, because fuck , it just felt right , and it only seemed to get stronger the more time passed. It was terrifying. It was exhilarating. It was addicting. 

“Eddie…” Volt’s voice was soft with concern, almost fragile, and filled with so many words he didn’t have to say, yet Eddie could understand them still. 

It was like that between them sometimes. 

“Don’t.” Eddie murmured. “Please don’t. I’m alright.”

Volt sighed, but acquiesced, letting his hands fall back to his sides. 

“I can handle it, don’t you worry. You focus on resting where you can, hm, Eddie?”

Eddie didn’t snark back as Volt expected, simply giving his other half a little smile. 

“Yeah, I know you can.” Eddie stepped back first, hands on his hips as he surveyed the bar. “Alright, Sparks, you get that going, I’ll make sure nothing falls apart on the back end. You got the stage set for tonight?”

“Is Dorian a door? Of course I’ve got the stage ready, darling.” Volt teased, taking his own step back. “What do we have left to do?”

Eddie chuckled, running a hand through his hair. 

“Not too much, all things considered, actually.”

Volt’s dazzling grin returned. He gave the stage two kicks with his heel and the speakers zapped to life, music beginning to flow through the space. Eddie rolled his eyes, still smiling despite himself. 

“You done having fun with your party tricks?” 

“Oh, hush. Surely you of all things don’t mind a bit of music while you work, Eddison. 

“Depends how terrible your taste in music is, lately.” He teased. “C‘mon. Let’s get this place open.”

…

Open Mic came together far faster than either of them had expected, not that Volt was complaining. As it turned out, plenty of objects were vying for a space in the spotlight, even just for a moment. What started as a simple sign up sheet Volt carried around in the pocket of his coat soon filled up for the first night. Then for the first few. Then they were scheduling weeks out. And then Volt gave up on planning anything in advance because he really couldn’t keep stretching himself between his duties as host and helping to run the bar and checking on Eddie all while handling the sign ups. 

That, and all but one of those things really couldn’t be removed from his schedule. 

So, instead, they kept it on a night by night basis. 

Open Mic would be once a week, with blank sign up sheets becoming a permanent staple at one end of the bar. Then, all would-be performers would need to do is get Volt their form the night of and he’d set them up. 

Easy as pie. A pie made of all the different things that made up a house. A touch chaotic, but thrown together in a way that worked, one way or another. 

“Good evening , objects and gentle-things, goods and chattels from all across the house!“ Volt purred into the mic, and the club clapped and whooped its approval for his electric presence on the stage. 

“Settle down, settle down.” he chided playfully. ”As you all well know by now, tonight is, once again, open mic night!”

Another burst of cheers. 

“Yes, yes,” he laughed. “I know, I know, you’ve all been oh-so-patiently waiting since last week’s open mic for another chance up on the stage, and here we are once again. Tonight, we’re getting a taste of something new! If you’re not careful, darlings, you might be at risk to slip and fall for him~ Please, welcome our first act to the stage, our very own Johnny Splash!”

Volt threw his arm out with a flourish of his coat, ceding the stage to the shower with a playful bow. Johnny flushed, giving the host a bashful, though truly delighted grin as he made his way to the mic and Volt hopped off the edge of the stage. 

“Well, ah, good evening, everybody! Thank y’all for havin’ me!” He gave a little nod to Eddie and Volt, who was now leaning back against the bar while his other half continued to mix drinks. Volt gave an encouraging grin and returned the nod. “And of course to Mister Eddie and Volt for givin’ me a chance up here on their lovely stage!”

Volt chuckled softly, turning his attention to Eddie as Johnny began his act. 

“You hear that, Eddie? You’re a Mister now.”

Eddie rolled his eyes, focusing instead on finishing the drink he was garnishing and sliding it over to one of the objects sat at the bar.

“Ugh, don’t even start. Making me feel like an old man or something.” He paused. “Shit, at least it wasn’t ‘Mister Watts’. Then I’d feel really fuckin’ old.”

Volt laughed, and Eddie couldn’t help but crack a smile. A crooning, sour note came from the stage and they both cringed.

“Amp, are showers supposed to sound like that?”

“Don’t ask me, darling. I don’t usually get anywhere near water if I can help it.”

Eddie shook his head, snagging a glass from another patron to clean. 

“Fair enough. Hey, at least he’s having fun… or something.”

Volt gave a small chuckle, glancing up at the stage where Johnny appeared to be… vocalizing a guitar solo. 

“Mh, that he is.” He drummed his fingers against the bar top. “Despite my… ah… feelings towards water, I can’t say I’d mind seeing Johnny up there more often. His enthusiasm is a bit inspiring, don’t you think?”

Eddie snorted, shaking his head. 

“Volt, I feel like you’re gonna eat those words.”

“Oh, don’t be rude. He’s not that —“ another deeply unpleasant, out of tune vocalization. “— Okay, perhaps he is that bad.” Volt raised a hand to stop Eddie’s snickering. “ But it is an open mic, and as I said when I told you about my idea, it’s to get some new faces up on stage, so I intend to let the shower sing.”

“Alright, V. Whatever floats your boat.”

Volt gave a playful huff. 

“ Thank you , Eddie. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I need to go save Johnny Splash from himself.”

…

Johnny went… semi willingly from the stage when the booing started, though his smile remained as genuine as ever, even when Volt stopped to check on him backstage between the other acts. 

”Don’t you take a word of that to heart, alright, darling?” He murmured, hands resting gently atop Johnny’s shoulders. “I think with some practice, you’ll truly have something special, don’t you?”

Johnny beamed up at him, cheeks dusting with pink.

“You’re too kind, Volt. I appreciate that.” 

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just part of my duties as host, hm?”

“Well, you’re mighty fine at it.” Johnny glanced away, seeming sheepish. “If you… don’t mind me saying, you’re ah… mighty fine in general, too, you know.” 

Volt gave a low chuckle, one hand shifting to drag his lightly sparking fingertips up the back of the other object’s neck. 

“So I’ve heard~…” 

Johnny’s mouth fell open for a moment, cheeks burning before he ducked out of Volt’s embrace with a flustered laugh. 

“Well, I’d best be going. Song ain’t gonna rework itself!” He dusted himself off of nothing in particular. “Thank you very much for the opportunity! I’ll see you next week, Volt!”

And with that, Johnny Splash was gone, zipping from the backstage quicker than a stray spark. 

Volt laughed again, taking a moment to compose himself this time before returning back to the bar. The current act likely had a couple of minutes left, and so he could check to see how Eddie was doing in the meantime. No surges or drops as far as he could tell… though someone had slipped an odd open mic slip into his coat part way through the night. 

Eddie greeted him with a nod and the placement of a Whiskey Sour at his frequented space at the bar, the latter of which Volt accepted gladly. He took a long drink, setting the glass down with a soft ‘thunk’ and a sigh. Eddie raised an eyebrow at him. 

“So. Johnny just went running for the exit like his plumbing was on fire. You have anything to do with that?”

Volt stared coolly at him as he traced his fingertip along the rim of the glass, eventually raising it for another drink. 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Eddie snorted. 

“Uh huh. And I’m the second coming of Cheesus Crust.” A small, strangely tense pause as Volt took another swig of his alcohol. “Look, I… I don’t really care who or what you do in your free time, but don’t go wandering off to screw all our patrons, yeah?”

Volt choked on his whiskey.

“Well I—“ he sputtered. “That is not what that was!”

“ Right. So what do you call how you and Betty vanished the literal minute I gave last call the other night?”

“Just a passing fancy!”

“Sure, alright. How about when I caught you and Amir in the back room between acts?”

“Simply a fling!”

“Mhm. And when Ben-Hwa practically dragged you out of here by your belt loops?”

Volt paused, lowering his glass. 

“Okay, that was just for sex.” He admitted, and Eddie sneered in faux disgust. “But you can’t even blame me for that one!”

“No, no I don’t suppose I can.” Eddie sighed. “They’re just like that.”

“ Exactly . And back on topic, Eddison, I really was just going to make sure he was alright, I’ll have you know. He did just get booed off stage.”

Eddie chuckled, tucking away the glass he was cleaning and clapping Volt on the shoulder as he walked out from around the bar. 

“Alright, yeah, that’s fair. That’s good of you, V.”

Volt cocked his head to the side.

“Where are you going, then, darling?”

“You’ll see. How about you sit for a minute?”

Volt’s brow furrowed in confusion. Ugh. Sitting. 

“Sit? We’ve still got one more act, apparently.” He pulled the slip from his coat pocket, waving it between two fingers. The sheet was unsigned, simply reading ‘special announcement’ in large letters. “And even then, we still have to pack up for the night.”

“I know.” Eddie sighed, worrying his lower lip with his teeth for a moment. “Just… trust me. Sit, would you?”

This did not bode well.

Despite himself, Volt did as he was asked, allowing Eddie to grab the open mic sheet and slip away. His leg jumped with restless energy against the bar stool as he waited. 

The Whiskey Sour Eddie made didn't taste quite right as he nursed the damn thing alone. With no alternating current of playful jabs from the other man to keep him company at the bar for once, Volt resorted to swirling the remaining ice and maraschino cherry around the bottom of his glass,  following the red with his eyes as he tried to figure out just what the hell was going on. He could wait to savor the last bite of sweetness until he made sure things were as they should be. 

An all too familiar gruffness from the stage drew his attention. 

“Well, give it up for Sinclaire and… whatever the hell that just was!” 

The club’s audience cheered, though whether it was for Sinclaire’s act or the fact that the owner of the club had made his way back onto the stage for the first time in amp knows how long was unclear. 

Volt was nearly too stunned to join in the applause. 

“Alright, alright. That’s enough.” Eddie directed after a moment, causing most of the Breaker Box to quiet itself. A wolf whistle broke through the silence. “ Enough. ” Eddie chuckled, directing his glare towards the rubber perpetrator. “Amp, you’re all going to make me fray early, I swear.” He ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. 

“So, what am I doing back on stage, where’s the last act, and what’s the occasion? Well, they all go together, but I will tell you now, no, no one died, and no, I am still not bringing back ‘Mix-Your-Own Monday’, sorry Beverly.”

A couple laughs, a few groans. 

“Right. Well, I’m sure by now you’re all plenty acquainted with Volt, seeing as he’s considerably more social than I'll ever be, has been co-owner of the Breaker Box for years now, and literally glows.” Eddie nodded to Volt, who gave a small, playful wave as the club’s attention turned his way. “Great. Cool. If you somehow hadn’t seen him before, now you have.” A few more chuckles. The object nearest to Volt elbowed him in the ribs, but he barely registered his own polite laugh and nod of acknowledgment as Eddie cleared his throat to continue. “Anyways, Volt has been doing, just, an amazing job. Honestly, I’m… I’m grateful for that. And he’s been here a while now, and even got Open Mic night set for y’all damn near on his own, so I figure now is a better time than ever to do this.”

Volt’s hand was shaking as he held his glass. He wasn’t sure why. 

“I’ve been running this club for… damn, it’s gotta be something like thirty years now, and if Volt’s shown me anything these days, it’s that sometimes… a little change can… well, it can really do you good.” Eddie smiled, his silvery steel and copper eyes meeting Volt’s own electrical pale blue, almost white even from across the club. “So… I’d like to formally announce that I am, officially stepping down from running the Breaker Box and passing sole ownership to Volt’s very capable, moderately electrically charged hands.”

What did he say..?

With a nod of Eddie’s head, the wires of the spotlight pulled taut, directing the beam to Volt out on the floor. The light was blinding, overwhelming, almost consuming, and all Volt could think was how it was so fucking similar to when he’s been pulled from Eddie’s charge to become something new. 

The club was clapping, and Volt was grinning, but it was just a mask, an instinct to protect and hide the startled, soft part of himself while he thought because Eddie was saying something else now, probably about Volt being capable or… or something , but he really couldn’t hear it right. He couldn’t hear anything but the electrical current rushing in his ears, threatening to surge if the two of them didn’t get a fucking handle on things. 

Eddie wanted Volt to take full ownership..?

To replace him?

Volt… he couldn’t.

He was a patchwork creation of desperation, a summoning of power from the darkest time of Eddie’s existence. He could never, never replace Eddie. Sweet, sarcastic, darling Eddie who poured every ounce of his heart and soul into this place for years. Who gave everything he had and then some until he was forced to rip himself in two just to keep going, and still did so without ever expecting anything, even something as small as a thank you. 

How could Volt ever, ever take his place?

Like this. And with his blessing, apparently. 

The spotlight eventually clicked off, and Volt’s staged smile cracked, though he was sure no one would notice, as Eddie gave a bow and one last farewell into the microphone. 

“And with that, the club is now closed for the evening! Good night, everyone!”

Chapter Text

Eddie gave a small sigh as he leaned away from the mic. He expected to feel lighter after this whole thing. He’d spent ages watching and subtly testing to make sure Volt could truly handle the responsibility (and the success of open mic nights had really been the final indicator to Eddie that he could truly slip behind the scenes now), but something still weighed heavy on the back of his mind. He looked up from where he was toying with the cord of the microphone as objects continued to filter out of the club, eyes immediately drawn to a shock of white hair at the bar. 

Volt was positively glowing , and not in a good way.

Silver, nearly white, pupilless eyes bored into Eddie, sending a shock to his very core, almost as though he’d grabbed hold of a live wire. Many of their patrons stopped by Volt to give him a clap on the shoulder or playful nudge with their congratulations, and though Volt would look back to them, smiling wide and laughing politely, his charged gaze always returned back to Eddie. 

Shit. 

Closing came in a blur after Eddie made his way off the stage, nearly everyone knowing that after Eddie called it for the evening, it was time to head out.  Unfortunately, that meant that in less time than he would have liked, he was locking the doors to the Breaker Box, closing him inside with what was evidently the very upset personification of electricity. 

“Eddison.”

Eddie looked up from the lock, giving a tired grin to his other half. 

“Volt.”

The other man’s hair was crackling and arcing as though he was about to surge, despite the remarkably calm expression on his face. Eddie let the grin fall. 

“I’ve never known you to be one for such showmanship.”

Eddie tucked the keys into his pocket as he tried to push past Volt and get to closing up the rest of the club. Volt grabbed his shoulder, electricity literally zipping between the two of them. 

Good thing he was insulated, because Volt wasn’t just upset, he was fuming . Eddie could feel it in their charge, through that touch. 

“Yeah, well. You never saw much of me running this place by myself, have you?”

Eddie grumbled, rolling his shoulder to get Volt to release his impossible grip. He did, though the other man still followed after to the bar, crossing his arms.  

“That’s unfair and you know it.”

Maybe it was. But Volt didn’t have any reason to be throwing a fit. This was a good thing. 

“I’m just saying.”

He got to work packing up the bar for the night. Volt didn’t move from where he was standing on the other side of the bar top. 

“Sure. Is that what tonight was too, then?” Volt accused. “‘Just saying’ that you’re retiring out of the blue? That you’re dropping everything and giving it to me?”

Eddie grit his teeth, setting a bottle of alcohol down harder than he meant to with a resounding ‘ thunk’. 

“Oh come on, Volt. You can’t honestly tell me you didn’t see this coming. Even if, for some reason, you can’t see it, I know you could run this whole club by barely lifting a finger.”

“That’s not tr—“

“It is , though!” Eddie hissed out. He paused. Took a breath. “Volt, I’m fucking failing. We both know it, and I’d at least like to— to go out with some kind of fucking dignity instead of, fuck , I don’t know, frying myself in front of half the household.”

Volt looked paler than usual. Eddie could have counted the electrical blue veins under his skin if he wanted. 

“Don’t say that.” Volt whispered. “Don’t fucking say that.”

“Why shouldn’t I?”

Volt moved forward, using a hand to brace himself and hopping over the bar despite Eddie’s displeasure. 

“Because—“ he reached forward, as though to cup Eddie’s face in his hands. Eddie flinched away. Volt inhaled sharply at that, but lowered his hands. “— Because I’m not— I’m not going to let you fail. I won’t. I don’t care what you say, Eddison, I need you just as much as you say you need me.” 

Eddie’s lip curled in disgust. Volt tried to reach for his hand. 

“Don’t touch me.” Eddie snapped, yanking his hand away. “Don’t fucking touch me! I’m not some kind of experiment you can shock back to life every time something goes wrong, Volt! If I’m going to go out, you better damn well let me.”

Volt’s pupilless eyes had never been more unsettling. When he spoke, his voice was almost a whisper, deadly serious. 

“I can’t promise that.”

Eddie scoffed. 

“Then you’re even more of a coward than I am.”

Volt visibly bristled at that, arcing more violently than before. One of the bar’s lightbulbs popped above them. Eddie didn’t flinch, instead, he continued to press. 

“ That’s what makes you mad, huh?” Eddie’s voice oozed with venomous humor, practically dripping, sizzling onto the wood floor around them as he stepped into Volt’s space. Volt grit his teeth. He continued, outright mocking now. “‘Say whatever you want about me, but amp forbid you have a stray word about Eddie . No, no . Never him . Not the faulty fucking breaker! ’”

“Oh, that’s real mature, Eddie! In case you’ve somehow forgotten, I’m not your goddamn ‘replacement!’” Volt hissed. “I’m here to help you!”

Eddie threw his hands up, whirling away from his other half and dragging a hand through his hair. He felt like something was about to give. His chest ached . He could nearly see that damn wire, hidden deep in the rest of his wiring, sparking and arcing with excessive charge. When he caught his own eyes in the mirror behind the bar, they were glinting manically. Something was wrong, but he and Volt were clearly both too angry to care. 

“Right, of course, how could I forget! It’s not like I tore you out of my own fucking chest or anything!” Eddie growled, turning back to face Volt once more. “But if I say I’m done, I’m done! I can make my own choices! I’m not some kind of invalid, Volt, despite what you seem to fucking think. Y’know, because half the time, I can’t even tell! You don’t want to run the place, despite being more than capable! You want me here, for some damn reason, half dead , but amp forbid someone notice I’m anything less than fresh off the line! And how dare I even bring up that it’s only a matter of time now, because you won’t even let me die in peace?! For amp’s sake, Volt, you’re acting like some kind of—“

“ Eddison Watts!!! ” Volt roared. When he spoke again, his voice was low, dangerous as the buzzing charge around them as he continued. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”

Eddie was quiet for a moment, gritting his teeth. 

“… Oh, so that’s what you need to finally fucking defend yourself. Why? You know what I’m going to say?”

The air inside the club was heavy as an electrical storm, the tension threatening to snap with a shock of lightning and crack of thunder. 

“If you’re going to call me ‘some kind of monster’ , say it with your whole. Fucking. Chest.“ Volt snarled, punctuating each word with a step closer to Eddie, jabbing a shaking finger into the other man’s chest. “And then you remember that ultimately, you’re the one who made me what I am, and you are nothing but the same.”

Eddie opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off as the rest of the lights around them burst in what had to be the worst power surge they’d had in years . The pain in his chest practically exploded, surging through every wire of his being and ripping a cry of pain from him as he curled in on himself, crumpling to the floor. Across from him, Volt’s power flared just as violently, his whole form overtaken by blinding white and blue from the excess charge. 

“ Fuck—!” 

Volt dropped to his knees, whether it was solely from the power spike or to try and help Eddie was unclear, though he didn’t get very far before he was curling in on himself like the other man. Through the haze of pained tears, Eddie couldn’t help but think of how similar this was to when Volt first came to be, blinding and dangerous and painful and beautiful .

“ shitshitshit..!” Eddie hissed through grit teeth, squeezing his eyes shut.

Volt gave a desperate sound in return. Eddie could hear crackling and smell burning wood from where Volt clawed desperately at the floorboards for something to ground himself. 

Without thinking, Eddie blindly reached out, flailing momentarily before gripping Volt’s hand in his own. It burned from the sheer amount of electricity leaving his other half, even through his insulation, but he didn’t let go. 

Volt needed him. 

Volt made a strangled noise in the back of his throat, squeezing Eddie’s hand with shaking fingers as they both tried to ride out the surge, to regulate the power again. 

Both were panting by the time the power stabilized, Volt curled on his knees, forehead pressed to the floor and heaving while Eddie gasped out on his side, staring blindly into the middle distance. Their hands were still intertwined amidst the shattered remnants of lightbulbs all around them. 

Volt seemed to recover first, sitting up with a small groan as nausea and vertigo threatened to take him right back to the floor. He looked over at their linked hands, expression unreadable. 

“Eddie,” he managed, voice scratchy and worn. “Are you alright?”

Eddie blinked slowly, then squeezed his eyes shut fully again. His face crumpled with discomfort, a small groan forcing itself from his throat, but he managed a little nod.

“Peachy.”

He sounded ready to vomit. 

Volt chuckled weakly, shifting carefully through shards of glass to brush wires from Eddie’s face with one hand, still unwilling to unlink the other from him just yet. He could feel Eddie’s mechanical heart thrumming away through his palm. 

Eddie rolled onto his back with a grunt, lifting their joined hands to rest on his chest as he regained the rest of his breath. 

“ Shit, that was bad.”

“Mm.”

“… Are you okay?”

Volt sighed.

“From the surge? I’m fine. But… Truly, Eddie? I…” Another sigh. “Well, I suppose I will be. But for now, no. No, I am not.”

Eddie closed his eyes again, matching Volt’s sighs with his own. 

“… You really don’t want to take over the club?” Eddie murmured, looking up at Volt after a moment. “I thought you’d be happy getting to run everything. Without having to worry about going through me.”

“I was happy when I was your co-owner, darling. I was happy even just… being an extra set of hands for you. But if you are ready to ’retire’, I…” Volt managed a small laugh. “Well, clearly your mind has been made up. So regardless of my feelings on the matter, I will take over ownership for you.”

“… thank you.”

”Of course. I just… wish you would have told me differently, is all.”

They stayed in silence for a moment, save for the crackling of currents in the air and the soft sounds of their breaths evening out as the entire breaker box worked to recover from the surge. 

“I wasn’t going to—“

“I don’t think you’re—“

They spoke at once. Eddie sighed, gesturing for Volt to continue as he pushed himself up to sit, despite the crunching of glass around him. 

“I don’t… I don’t think you’re an invalid, Eddie. You’re honestly the most capable and incredible thing I've ever had the honor of knowing.” He held up a hand to stop Eddie before he could speak again. “And don’t say I’m biased simply because I met you first. And share a bed with you half the time. Take the bloody compliment.”

Eddie snorted softly, shaking his head. 

“I think you know me too well, sparks.”

Volt grinned tiredly at him. 

“Oh, what tipped you off, hm?” 

“Ah, I dunno. Maybe the fact that you’re up my ass half the—“ he cut himself by clearing his throat when Volt made an odd choking, snorting noise. “— I-I mean. Shit.” He put his face in his hands. “Fucking— Ugh. You know what I mean! Get your head out of the damn gutter, we just went through a surge! Outlets above , Volt .”

“Your phrasing, not mine, darling.” Volt teased, pushing himself to his feet and offering Eddie a hand. “Maybe you need to get a lay one of these days too, then~”

Eddie rolled his eyes, but accepted his hand, both grunting as Volt pulled him to his feet. 

“Yeah, I think I’m busy enough, actually. I’ll pass.”

Volt tilted his head.

“Aren’t you retired now, or some such nonsense?”

Eddie groaned. 

“I—“ He sighed, dragging a hand down his face. “Look. If you want me around so bad, I’ll… I’ll stay and do maintenance or something for now. Just… you get to handle the power, okay?”

Volt’s relief was palpable, and not just because he immediately seized both of Eddie’s hands in his own. 

“ Yes.” He breathed, desperate and so genuine it made Eddie’s heart ache, even against the lingering pain of the surge. “ Please. ”

Eddie flushed, looking away from the other’s intense gaze. He could feel Volt’s smile, even without looking at him. 

“Yeah. Whatever. I was basically doing that anyway.” A small pause. “Volt… I…” When Eddie spoke again, his voice was soft. “For what it’s worth, I wasn’t going to call you a monster.”

“… Oh?”

I don’t think I could ever think that about you, honestly.

“… I was going to say you sounded like a fucked up version of Harper.”

Volt made a horrifically offended noise, causing Eddie to look back in time to see the hideous expression across his face as well. Eddie failed to bite back a laugh. 

“Don‘t- Don’t laugh—! Arguably that’s worse!” Volt bemoaned, dropping Eddie’s hands and storming towards the back room so they could attempt another patch of the wiring. Eddie followed easily behind. “I take it all back, in fact! I hate you and will not be taking ownership of this blasted– Eddie! Eddison Watts, stop laughing — we’re still fighting! ”

Despite Volt’s complaining, there was an undercurrent of his own laughter in every protest. 

They’d figure this out, just like they always had. 

One night at a time.

…

Eddie awoke part way through the night— something truly surprising considering how long the latest patch took him and Volt to complete (that wasn’t even including the time the two had to spend cleaning up the carnage of burst bulbs the surge had left). After that and their fight, he expected to spend the night out like a light, but instead, here he was, tossing and turning in a…

In a too empty bed. 

Where was Volt?

They’d fallen into their shared bed together for once more, a situation no longer as common now that Volt spent a decent amount of his free time touring the other objects’ beds around the house. Something about tonight demanded their closeness, however, and after all that, Eddie could understand wanting to curl up in a familiar bed. 

Eddie pushed himself up with a small grunt as his body protested leaving the cozy blankets. He rubbed his eyes as he looked around the dark room. It was still the middle of the night, the room bathed in deep blues from the darkened rest of the closet. 

The light was on in the bathroom. The vent fan too. 

Normal enough. 

That really shouldn’t have been enough to wake him. 

The opened door, however, letting a sliver of light out from the crack, and the cool feeling of the sheets on the other side of the bed told Eddie that he’d been alone for a while now. Perhaps Volt’s absence was enough to rouse him after a while. 

Half of him liked that idea. 

The other half wanted to puke at it. 

Ignoring both halves for now, Eddie slipped fully out of bed. He rapped gently on the bathroom door with his knuckles before calling out softly. 

“Volt? You okay in there?”

A soft ‘ shit!’ and the sound of a heavy footfall. 

“Yes, I’m alright, Eddie.” Volt poked his head out through the door, arms behind his back. He was shirtless except for some long, pajama pants, baring the strange, stitched together look of his torso for once. There was a guilty look in Volt’s eye, like a dog who’d been caught going for food on the counter. He smelled like smoke. “Sorry, darling. Did I wake you?”

“Nah, no. I just noticed when you uh…. When you got up, I guess.” A small, deeply awkward pause. “I’m sorry, are you smoking in there?”

Volt groaned, dropping his hands from behind his back. There was indeed a cigarette between his two fingers. 

“Might be.”

Eddie snorted despite himself, eyebrow raised as he crossed his arms. 

“Since when do you smoke?”

Volt rolled his eyes. 

“Since I found out you used to.”

Ah. 

Wait a moment. 

“You bastard ,” Eddie gasped. “You’re stealing my cigarettes?”

“Is it really stealing if you haven’t smoked in years and have a ridiculous backstock?”

“Wh— yes???” Eddie shouldered past Volt, pushing his way into the bathroom. He crooked two fingers at the other man, shaking his head slightly. “Alright, gimme that.”

“I do hope you aren’t planning on scolding me.” Volt playfully sighed, though he handed over the cigarette regardless and leaned back against the bathroom wall. “Hypocrisy isn’t a good look on you, Eddie.” 

“Shut up,” Eddie grumbled, placing the cigarette between his lips. He rubbed his index and thumb together, summoning a bit of electricity to relight the end and taking a long drag. When he reopened his eyes to blow out a breath of smoke, Volt’s eyes were locked on his lips. Eddie grinned. “I’m makin’ you share.” 

Volt let out a little, breathless laugh, running a hand through his hair as Eddie offered the cigarette back to him. 

“Ah, well… I suppose that’s just fine. Just don’t let Arma catch us then, hm?

Eddie’s eyes were twinkling with mirth. 

“Fan’s strong enough that you can just stand in here. What, were you standing on the toilet and everything like some kind of teenager, V?”

The dusting of blue across Volt’s cheeks told him everything he needed to know. Eddie snickered, though Volt just rolled his eyes, flipping his other half the bird as he exhaled smoke with a sigh. The corners of his lips were still twitching up with a smile, enough that Eddie could start to see his fangs. 

“Fuck off. Can’t even sneak off to smoke in peace, can I?”

“Nope. Not in my club.”

“We’re not in your club. Which is now also my club, if you’ll recall.” 

Eddie snatched the cigarette from Volt this time, earning a laugh from the other man as he handed it over. 

He had noticed rather quickly into Volt’s existence that the larger staples across his torso held together what almost looked like an autopsy scar, with a small gap in the center of his chest that allowed electrical blue light to shine through from Volt’s ‘heart’. It was a bit spooky at first, but Eddie didn’t even bat an eye at it now that Volt had been around for so long. The glowing blue light of the charge in Volt’s chest thrummed away steadily, even now, casting the bathroom in an eerie blue, even with the lights on. 

“Shit, alright, I can tell when I’m not wanted.“ Eddie teased, redirecting his gaze from the other man’s chest and back to his face. “Gimme a minute and I’ll leave you to it.”

Eddie went to take another drag, but Volt’s remarkably serious expression made his movements stumble. 

“What?” He readjusted, inhaling a lungful of smoke. 

“Eddie, did our previous… ahem ‘conversation’ teach you nothing?” Volt continued to look right through him with those damn, impossible eyes. “I always want you.” 

That was far too close to a love confession for Eddie’s liking. He choked. Hard.

Volt was immediately at his side, giving Eddie a few, solid claps on the back as Eddie coughed, nearly doubling over to hack out the smoke. 

“Y-You— you can’t just—“ a wheeze. “ Fuck , you can’t just say that to a guy!”

“Can’t I? It’s true. ”

No, no. No no no. 

Not Eddie. Not him. Volt couldn’t . Even if he hadn’t pulled Volt to creation from himself like some fucked up biblical reference or gothic horror story, they both knew Eddie was failing. He wasn’t long for this house. Volt couldn’t. Perfect, charming, beautiful Volt. He had so many other objects to love, there was no reason he should fixate on Eddie, with his more than workaholic tendencies, faulty wiring and generally unpleasant personality. 

All that, and even after their earlier argument?

They were not having this conversation. 

“That’s— it is way too late to be talking like that, V.” Eddie forced out a laugh, handing the other man back his cigarette. “I’m going back to sleep.”

Volt stammered a moment, and Eddie used the momentary hesitation to brush past him with a gentle touch on his shoulder. 

Volt couldn’t love him. There were far too many faults. And even if…. No, even though Eddie loved him back, (how could he not?) he wasn’t in the habit of being selfish. Especially not when his failing was putting everyone else in the house at risk, especially Volt. 

Because what would happen to the electricity if the breaker went out?

Eddie was asking so much of Volt already, especially now that he’d handed him control of the Breaker Box. He wouldn’t add loving a faulty machine to that to do list. 

“Goodnight, Volt. Don’t stay up all night smoking, okay? I’ll find a better place to hide my shit if you do.”

“I-I—“ Volt hardened his features into something more charming, more practiced. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I won’t. Of course I won’t.” 

Eddie tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his gut as he made his way back to bed. Volt called after him.

 “Rest well, darling. Good night.”

Chapter Text

Volt’s transition to sole owner of The Breaker Box came easier and sooner than he would have liked. More often than not now, Eddie was naught but a lurking shadow, slipping either behind the bar or behind the scenes for maintenance. Volt treasured his company and wry wit, often joining Eddie to mix drinks or simply linger when at all possible, but maintenance was Eddie’s priority now.

So it wasn’t unusual for Volt to spend much of his nights alone.

It was fine.

Volt swirled his whiskey sour, staring as the ice began to melt and water down his booze. His lips pulled into half a grimace, half a sneer— not that it really mattered, he wasn’t quite in the mood for a drink at the moment. 

Miranda’s final song of the night came to an end, and in the breath between the last note and the applause of the audience, Volt swore he could almost hear Eddie holed up in the back room, desperately wiring and rewiring himself to try and keep the whole place running. He could see it now, those beautiful, calloused, (now, more often than not) bruised and burned hands buried into the wiring of his own inanimate self as though he planned to throttle the damned thing. 

The lights overhead flickered. Volt cringed minutely as it sent a wave of vertigo through his mind. 

Something was going to give. Sooner than later, that final, fraying wire would snap and the whole house would be plunged into darkness. 

But not yet. Not tonight. 

He popped the maraschino cherry from his drink into his mouth, crushing the little treat between his molars with a burst of syrupy sweetness before making his way to the stage. 

“Absolutely delightful as usual, darlings.” He purred as Miranda stepped aside with a breathless grin, allowing him access to the mic. “Give it up one last time for Miranda and the Migos, everyone!”

The crowd whooped their approval, the band waving to their fans and giving a bow as Volt gestured for them to make their way off stage. 

“Now, that may be the last of the live music for tonight, folks—“ The club echoed with a collective sound of disappointment. “—But! We’ve still a bit of time before close. Don’t you worry, you poor, rollicking rabble. The drinks are still flowing.” He leaned into the mic, cherry stem still pinned between sharpened teeth. “Do come visit me over at the bar if you’d like to take advantage~ A wonderful evening to you all!” 

A few scattered whistles and hollers followed him as he slipped away from the microphone, but that was to be expected by now. Volt just chuckled to himself, hopping off the edge of the stage (never taking the stairs, of course) and returning to the bar. He knocked the toe of his shoe against the floor twice, and the stage speakers came to life, filling the club with prerecorded tunes. It seemed the human was on a bit of a jazz kick these days, which was fine enough for Volt. Anything but that damned "Caramel Dance" they had ended up looping for about a week on end would be acceptable in his mind, frankly. 

Speaking of Volt‘s mind, he began to let it wander now that the acts for the evening had come and gone, falling into the familiar fuzz of routine as he worked.

Maintenance had been rough in recent memory. An old, fraying wire acting up, Eddie had said. That shouldn’t be taking so long to repair, though… a simple patch would be fine, then he’d probably be out for his usual Whiskey Sour before the night was through. 

Volt chatted mindlessly with patrons as he mixed their drinks, the cocktail shakers flying between his hands as easy as breathing. He kept a bottle of whiskey at the ready for Eddie’s inevitable exit from the back room, but he never came.

Volt cycled through the information he already knew, again, reasoning with himself for his other half’s absence. Repairs were needed more and more frequently as of late. More frays in Eddie’s wiring. Always fraying wires. He never let Volt get too good of a look, to be honest. Always alluded to his faults, his failing, but never wanted Volt to see it first hand, not if he could help it. Something in Volt wished the human would see it, even if he never got to. Wished they’d notice something was wrong and bring in an electrician or something to finally give Eddie the proper care. They could only hold it together on their end for so long, after all. 

He was setting down another drink as the lights began to subtly brighten, and Volt had just enough time to take a bracing breath at the tell tale sign of a power fluctuation as—

—With a tremendous, almost heaving sigh, the house‘s power went down and everything went black. 

Just for a moment. 

Volt jerked back to consciousness like a dead man rising from the grave: with a similarly heaving gasp as he lurched upright from his spot on the floor. Someone in the club shrieked. 

“Volt! Are you alright?!” The floor was awash with concerned murmurs, Farya in particular leaning over the bar as though she planned to vault over and check on him. “Did the power just go out? Should we get Eddie? Stay there, let me check your pulse and-“

“A-Absolutely not, Fayra.” Volt managed through grit teeth. “I’m just fine.”

He pushed himself to his feet with a grunt, forcing his wobbling legs beneath him despite their (and Farya’s) protests. The crowd continued to whisper and chatter until Volt cleared his throat for attention. 

“Well, now,” he heaved, clutching at the bar like a lifeline. “I think, on that note, it’s best I call it for the night. If you would kindly show yourselves out, it would be much appreciated.” He brushed Fayra’s concerned hand from his shoulder, already having made his way around the bar to address everyone properly. “Don’t worry about your tabs, my loves. Consider it on the house for a…lapse in showmanship this evening. We’ll have everything right as rain by tomorrow's show, I promise you! Don’t you worry!”

A few more worried mutterings floated about, but the promise of free drinks and Volt’s steely gaze paired with his charming smile were enough to shoo the last of the patrons out for the evening. 

He didn’t even bother locking the door, staggering towards the back room as quickly as he could. It had just been a moment, but even still, his limbs felt leaden. Had it been any longer… well…

He’d rather not think about that right now. 

“Eddie,” Volt rasped as he finally threw open the door to their maintenance room. He was clinging to the doorframe hard enough he wouldn’t be surprised if they found gouges in the wood later. “Eddie, what happened? Are you alright?”

Eddie’s head whipped around from where he was frantically working at the breaker, startled steel and copper eyes meeting hazy, electric silver. 

“Volt-!” He drew his hands back, quickly wiping them on his trousers and rushing to where Volt was starting to slump down against the wall. “Shit, I’m-- fuck, I’ve been trying to keep us from an outage all night but the damn thing just—“

“‘S okay, love. ‘M fine.” Volt hushed him, raising a hand for silence. “You’re alright?”

Eddie gave a noncommittal shrug, helping Volt forward to sit down on one of the spare couches they kept in case.. something happened to one of the ones in the club (because honestly, who knew what could happen in a house like this?).

“Amp, you’re freezing…” Eddie tugged Volt’s coat around his shoulders more properly, as though fixing a child’s before sending them out into the snow. “I’m fine. H-Hurts, but you’re still controlling the power so—“

Volt made a noise in the back of his throat, something more characteristic of Eddie’s growling than his own, usually smooth as silk vocalizations. 

“Fuck. Shouldn’t be hurting you if I’m managing the power. Damn it.”

Eddie huffed a small laugh through his nose. 

“I’ll be fine. Worry about yourself right now, dumbass.” He gave Volt’s leg a pat before returning to the breaker. Volt didn’t like how hard Eddie’s hands were shaking as he tried to rewire himself. 

“Can I help?”

“Volt, you just went down out there, didn’t you?” Volt sniffed, but refused to answer. “And I’m worried we’re about to black out again. Just- just hang in there, let me get it.”

Another snarling protest from Volt, though when he tried to push himself to his feet, the world began to swirl into a kaleidoscopic mess of color and sound and fuck, too much.

He sunk back into the couch with a groan. Eddie’s eyes flicked to his splayed out form, at the hand coming up to rub at temples between pinched fingers. Volt could feel his concern, though in his mind, it was truly focused on the wrong place. 

“Eddie, love.“ Volt managed, sounding haggard. “Talk me through it. We’ll figure it out together. What have you tried?”

Eddie groaned, but relented in letting Volt assist. 

“Damn near everything, it’s just this fucking wire—“

“What would it take to truly fix that wire, then?”

Eddie hesitated just long enough. Volt’s eyes narrowed. 

“I—“

“Eddie.”

“It’s not that— it’s not that simple, V.”

“Bullshit. You could fix or rewire half the damn house with your eyes closed. What do you need? Why is this wire any different?”

Eddie grit his teeth, pressing on his brow for a moment. Volt waited, gaze unwavering as Eddie tried to gather his words. 

“It’s— it’s different because…” Eddie gave a rough exhale. “To fix this one, we’d need to… fuck, probably at least a patch and then a full reset. Totally switch everything off.”

“… and? Spark, you’ve done a million patches by now, and while I have to assume you’re unwell when the power goes out, you’re still here, so you should be able to—“

“That’s just it, though, Volt.” Eddie cut him off with a ragged, horribly pained laugh. “I’d still be here as the wiring, but what about you?”

It was Volt’s turn to pause. His fingers traced quietly over one of the seams of the couch, digging at the occasional loose thread with his nail. When he did eventually speak, it was quieter, almost hesitant. 

“… I’d… well, I’d… simply return when the power comes back on. Like usual, I assume.” 

Eddie snapped his fingers, pointing at Volt. Volt winced. 

“That. That, right there. You assume. We both know how regular blackouts go for you, so…” Eddie ran a hand through his wired hair, pushing it from his eyes despite the smudges of grease on his hands. “This is… it’s the wire I pulled your current out of in the first place, Volt. I’m not taking the chance that when the lights come back on… maybe you won’t, okay?”

For once in his existence, Volt found himself completely at a loss for words. He opened his mouth. Closed it. Leaned forward, taking his head in his hands and running his fingers through his hair to try and ground himself, to smooth the arcing. 

Fuck. 

He might go out… he might actually go out for real… but this was killing Eddie.  

“Eddie… you can’t…” Volt’s voice was desperate enough that Eddie quickly made his way back to Volt’s side, taking a knee beside the couch. “I can’t ask you to live like this— you— you’re killing yourself for me.”

Eddie grabbed one of Volt’s hands by the wrist, gently tugging it from his hair. Volt raised his head, meeting Eddie’s eyes as the latter pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles. His scruffy upper lip was rough against the back of Volt’s hand. 

“You didn’t ask me to, Volt. And you don’t have to.” He spoke softly, but firmly, as though trying to soothe a wild animal. “It’s my choice. I choose to do this for you.”

Volt looked desperately across Eddie’s face, his eyes searching, searching for something… Something that… just wasn’t there. He gave a long, suffering sigh and squeezed Eddie’s hand, leaning forward to press his forehead against the other man’s.  

“… Alright. Yes, it is.” Volt murmured. He drew back, reaching a hand up to cup Eddie’s jaw in his palm. Eddie pressed into the touch without hesitation. “Promise me you’ll rest where you can. For me, if you must.”

Eddie’s brow furrowed slightly, but he nodded. 

“I… yeah.” Promise.”

“Thank you.”

Eddie nodded, then pushed himself to his feet. He dusted off his slacks, then returned to tinkering with the wiring. Volt’s tired eyes trailed after him. 

“Alright. Let me see if I can keep us up and running for the rest of the evening.”

“Club’s empty, darling. Just do what you can.”

A glance over Eddie’s shoulder. A nod. 

“I’ve gotcha, sweetheart. You rest up.”

Volt gave a bemused exhale through his nose, though he did finally seem to begin to relax. 

“Should be telling you that.”

“Maybe.” The sound of Eddie’s work rewiring again filled the back room. “Tell me something else?”

A pause as Volt thought. 

“… Farya tried to take my pulse out there.”

“Hah! Did she really?”

“Mmh… That she did.”

“Do you even have a pulse?”

Volt snorted. 

“Now that’s the question.”

Eddie continued to work. The lights flickered with a power fluctuation, and Volt hissed out through his teeth as another wave of vertigo and nausea washed over him. Eddie remained silent, stock straight and still but Volt knew from experience how he was biting his tongue. 

“…. Was it. Uh. A good night otherwise?” Eddie managed, attempting to fill the silence, to distract them both as he quite literally played with their hearts. 

“It was fine.” Volt smiled despite himself. “Better, now, I think. I must admit, I don’t like ending the night without you.”

“Ah… well… I’m nearly done. Then we can call it a night.”

“Wonderful…” Volt trailed off momentarily. “Now, I don’t want to rush you, but if you take too long I may just doze right here.”

“Oh yeah? You’ll sleep on the couch for once?”

A small huff. 

“…. Not if you phrase it like that, no.”

It was Eddie’s turn to snort out a laugh. 

“I’m kidding. I’ll- we can share the bed, but if you want to sleep now... I’ll wake you when I’m done, okay?

That answer seemed to satisfy Volt. He shifted slightly, arms crossed over his chest as he settled in to rest. 

“… you better, or I’ll—“ a yawn. “I’ll sic Farya on you next.”

“Right. ‘Course you will. Good night, Volt.”

“‘Night, Eddie.”