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In all honesty, life had been oddly domestic lately…and he had no idea what to do with that piece of information.
The entity formally known as SCP-049, now known as Vincent Haselhurst, let out an annoyed grunt as a beam of sunlight shone into his eye. Part of him simply just wanted to roll over, put a pillow over his head and sleep for another hour. But another part of him said he had to get up and get ready for the day. He listened to the part that wanted to get up and elected to ignore the part of him that wanted to stay in bed which was now growling in protest.
He let out a quick stretch before he walked over to his dresser. Pulling out his binder, which he quickly put on. He was just about to try and put on his other clothes before he decided he at least needed something else in his stomach before then, so he opened his bedroom door and walked over to the kitchen.
After a few seconds of thought he decided to go with cereal for today, not the most healthy option but he’d deal with that later. Vincent grabbed the box of cereal (some honey thing he didn't really know or care for,) and poured it into a bowl. He then walked over to the fridge, electing to ignore the completely preserved cow heart that he could only guess his brother got for…some reason that alluded him. He grabbed the milk and poured it into his bowl, grabbed a spoon from a drawer and began to eat.
Other than the crunch of his cereal, the former plague doctor was completely alone with no other sounds, he could only guess that Stella and Sam were still asleep. Which made sense, it was late June so school was out and there wasn't much else for the two of them to do other than sleep in, after quickly noting to himself to get his kids something to do this summer he began to think about what had happened this past year.
To say the “Veil”, as his former colleagues the researchers had called it, had broken would honestly be an understatement. It was more accurate to say it had been annihilated completely in an event that he honestly had no way to fully describe to someone who hadn't seen it up close, the small amusement of the foundation accidentally breaking the Veil while trying to preserve it was out-weighed by the feelings of fear and confusion that surrounded the whole thing. Honestly he, Stella, Sam, his brother and his fellow anomalies were lucky to even still be alive. All that combined with the fact that the Chaos Insurgency had tried to raid while the GOC had swept in to try and save it? Yeah safe to say the aftermath hadn't been pretty at all.
The entirety of Sites 17, 19 and several others had been destroyed, multiple high ranking personnel were now missing, leaving only those under qualified left and multiple others left the job. Several GOC units were now missing and the entirety of the Chaos insurgency was decimated, along with that the entire world was exposed to the anomalous. The months following that had been…intresting to say the least. Many anomalies found in the aftermath were given therapy and, after a while , had been able to reintegrate with society…it was strange.
He’d never really thought about his life before he became who he was. He supposed that there had been some form of trauma response he supposed as he had never really fully healed from what happened then, but in the aftermath he'd ...made progress, in more ways than one…
He proved the pestilence was real, He had help. He was making more progress than he had in years. Sure it hadn't been in the way he thought he’d cure it but still. All he needed was to research and test more and then he’d crack it. Though there was a small problem in that his therapist had said that after a while he had to take a break, which annoyed him to no end. Though considering that after those breaks that was when he made the most progress he supposed it worked.
At the time, after he made his first big progress and the possibility of fully curing the Pestilence was in his reach he…didnt know what to do with it. It was a scary thought. Being left without a purpose in the world. But as he watched over Stella and Sam. allowing the two of them to just…be kids?...Stella was still a child, and even though Sam was almost an adult he’d no doubt visit often, who knows? Maybe he’d even like to…settle down with someone.
He let out a relaxed sigh at that thought, that would be nice wouldn't it? He was completely willing to entertain that thought some more when suddenly he heard the ringing of a cell phone.
He’d been given one in the aftermath to allow for more easy communication with his therapist, though he’d quickly also gotten a few other numbers down. Mostly fellow anomalies he wanted to continue interactions with. As he looked at the caller ID a part of him from the long past let out a groan which he ignored.
To say him and the anomaly formally known as SCP-035 had a…rocky relationship originally was a rather large understatement. In fact it often felt like he wanted nothing more than to annoy the plague doctor into oblivion until he snapped. So color him surprised when in the aftermath of what happened he and the mask's relationship…got better somehow? He had honestly no idea how that had even happened but he now thought the mask as less of a nuisance and more a friend. Of course the two of them still weren't all that close but hey, progress was progress he supposed.
After a moment he clicked the accept call button and put the phone to his ear, he could just barely make out what sounded like a conversation on the other end of the phone. He couldn't make out specifics though. The only thing he could really get was a feminine voice on the other end going “just say anything!”
He let out an annoyed sigh before he opened his mouth.
“Hello?” he asked.
The other end of the phone went silent.
After what felt like a few minutes he was just about to hang up before a familiar voice came from the other end.
“O-oh! Uh, Hey Doc!” Dyo hastily said on the other end. He sounded nervous for some reason. He heard a gulp on the other end of the phone. Vincent felt his eyebrows raise slightly
“Dyo, If i may ask, why did you call me?” he heard Dyo take a deep breath on the other end of the line. For some reason he could just imagine the mask lightly playing with his fingers as the call went on.
After a moment Dyo replied, “I….I got something to tell you…” after a second of silence he continued “I got something to say….” a second went by. Vincent was pretty sure his eyebrow couldn't go any higher.
“Dyo, what are you trying to say?” he was getting slightly concerned at this point, who was the other voice? Was the mask in trouble? Then again Dyo would have already said that over 50 times by now if he was…
He heard Dyo take what sounded like a very deep breath. “..Got something to tell you…” …another deep breath… “got something to…say…”
…okay ...something was going on here, at this point Vincent was rather confused, what exactly was Dyo trying to tell him? Clearly it was important, so why wasn't he telling him what they needed to say?
“Dyo just tell me what you're trying to say,” he let out a quick sigh, his unused hand going resting on the area between his lower back and his boxers, “What ever it is seems important so just let me hear it.”
The other end of the line was silent for a moment, he could hear Dyo’s laboured breaths as the seconds passed.
“I..I-I…I- Really wanna-” Dyo sputtered out on the other end, Vincent brought the phone closer to his ear.
“Dyo?”
“You-..You-You- Make me-” Dyo continued on the other end, seemingly trying to start his question over again, at this point Vincent was getting concerned.
“Dyo, whats going on, what are trying to-”
An annoyed grunt came from the other end, “we, We- We could really-” another annoyed sound, not from Dyo this time though.
Vincent let out another sigh, “Dyo-”
“I-I..I…I really wanna-” it sounded as if Dyo had stopped himself from continuing on the other end, Vincent looked at the phone for a second before he put it to his ear again.
“Dyo…I don’t know what you're trying to do here, just say it. Whatever this is, is clearly important to you so, just spit it out please” he asked. He was rather concerned at this point, just what had gotten Dyo so worked up? Why couldn't he just tell him? He lightly tapped his foot as he waited for a response.
He could hear Dyo’s breathing on the other end, they took a deep breath before they continued. “Doc, what I'm trying to say is…is…I-” Vincent heard him let out an annoyed grunt.
“Dyo, wh-”
“Sorry Doc, I'm gonna have to call you back later-” Dyo stammered out.
“Wait D-” before he could get the words out the call had already ended. He stared at his phone for a moment, at the green call back button near the bottom of the screen, his finger resting close to it, should he call them back? He wanted to know what was going on with the mask and what exactly was on his mind. His finger began to slowly move to be right on top of the button, he slowly lifted it up, then…
“Dad?” a small voice called out from the hallway, Vincent turned to look at who it was.
Stella stood in the entrance to the kitchen in her pink Hello Kitty sleep shirt and matching pants along with a pair of white bunny slippers, her short black hair was an absolute mess with it somehow sticking in multiple directions at once. In one of her arms she held a large oversized Hello Kitty plush that was half her size and even though she lacked eyelids it was fairly obvious she was still tired, she let out a yawn as she began to walk over towards the kitchen table.
Vincent was taken aback for a moment, he took his attention away from the phone for a moment. In order to his daughter. “Yes, Stella?”
Stella let out another yawn, “im hungry…” she said in an innocent tone of voice. She sleepily waddled over the chair, using her free arm to feel for any possible obstructions in her path. When her hand touched the chair she began to pull it back a small bit before she climbed up onto the chair when she got close enough. She put her hands on the kitchen table, her small hand brushing against the forgotten cereal box, her eyebrows raising slightly as she did so.
“You had cereal?” She asked. Vincent looked at the bowl he had been eating from, the cereal within it had long become soggy it appeared, a few of the honey covered tori were beginning to sink to the bottom of the bowl, his eyes shifted back over at Stella, who waited patiently for an answer. He lightly clicked his tongue.
“Yes” he answered, looking at his little girl all the while, looking for a possible reaction. Stella was quiet for a moment before let out another yawn.
“Can I have pancakes Dad?” She asked. Vincent blinked for a moment. He let out a sigh as felt a part of him let out a warm laugh.
“Of course Stella,”
“Can you also make Sam some?...” Stella added, she hugged the Hello Kitty plushie tighter as Vincent nodded his head. “can you also add chocolate to mine and blueberries to his, please?”
Vincent felt himself let out a small sigh at that. He opened the cabinet and grabbed the pancake mix, “yes I will, Stella.”
After that he tried to call Dyo back with no luck, as it seemed that for whatever reason the mask had hung up on him? This was especially strange as it became very clear that the mask had proceeded to text him multiple times though they always seemed to delete whatever message they sent before he could see what it was.
He eventually decided that he was definitely going to talk to Dyo about this, maybe over lunch? Either way. A small talk between old friends wouldn't hurt right?
-
Dyo let out a haggard sigh as they stared at his phone for a long moment….they fucked it up….they fucked it up so…. so bad didn't he? The simple fact that he has had feelings for the Doctor for actual centuries and yet they couldn't even tell that to them without ending up looking like a blubbering school girl was palpable…Gods was his crush on the doctor that bad they couldn't even tell him how he felt?
His head went into his free hand, his host’s fingers touching their porcelain face. What exactly were they going to do now? Call back and tell him it was just a joke?...No, that would just make this whole thing worse! They swear he was beginning to feel their pale faces light up in heat…he took a breath and looked up and looked at the only other soul in the room.
Vector stared at him with wide, green eyes. She was wearing a band-tee from an Indie punk rock band that Dyo hadn't really heard of but from what they heard they sounded pretty good. She also wore a black pair of shorts and a pair of stockings with far too many holes in them. She was quiet for a moment until she suddenly erupted into a hysterical fit of giggles.
“...shut up,” Dyo said with a small growl as they fell backwards onto the bed, desperately trying to hide their face in shame. This did nothing to stop Vectors laughing.
“When you said you had it bad for him to the point you couldn't say it,” she began in between fits of hysterics “I thought you were joking!” she let out another howl “I am fairly certain that was the worst confession i have ever seen!” Dyo could only let out a groan in anguish.
After a few minutes. Vector stopped laughing. She looked at Dyo for a moment. Bit something back and let out a sigh.
“Sorry if I sounded a bit like a bitch,” she said. Giving the mask an apologetic look “it's just you said you have had the hots for this guy for like what? Centuries? I'm pretty sure after a certain point you just have say ‘fuck it’ to tell someone how you feel.”
Dyo sat back up and looked back at Vector with the face of tragedy. Though it was clear it was more annoyance if anything. “Yeah? And what if I ruin it? Me and Doc's relationship hasn't really been all sunshine's and rainbows for your information!” they shot back. Breathing deeply for a moment. “...I've already nearly driven him away more times than I can count…I don’t want to do any more damage…any unforgivable, relationship running damage..” his hands gripped the off-grey bed sheets like he was fighting for dead life. He couldn't lose him.
Vector looked at him. Blinked and then she reached out and touched their shoulder. The mask looked up and looked at the woman. Her bright green eyes sparkling. “I'm sure just telling him would be better than saying it at all.” she began, a smile appearing on her face. “Besides, I'm sure even if the Doctor doesn't feel the same, he wouldn't hate you for it. He’d still wanna be your friend, or pal or whatever you two are.” She lightly laughed at that. Then she looked at him again. “Just tell him Dyo, it's gonna be okay…”
Dyo felt their face turn to comedy at that. A small, subtle form of comedy at that…the Doctor wouldn't hate them if he didn't feel the same. Besides who knew? Maybe….maybe the Doctor felt the same feelings they felt for him.
Vector's hand left his shoulder as she began to get up, “and besides…” she began, turning to them with a mischievous grin. “If you don’t tell him…. I will!~” she teased in a sickly sweet, sing-songy voice. It took Dyo a second to realize what she said and….
They felt their mask burn bright red. They shot right up to their feet. “D-DONT YOU DARE!” his finger pointed accusingly at the horrible no-good green eyed gremlin of a woman they called their friend. Who seemingly right now was preoccupied laughing if anything. Vector looked back at them, a smile still on her face.
“Remember what I said! He won’t hate you if you tell him!” she said as wondered over to the room's exit, her smile slightly softening for a moment. “It's better to let him know how you feel if these feelings are that bad, just get them out there…he’ll understand I'm sure.” Dyo’s finger fell back to their side as the words registered. She gave them another mischievous grin “go get em’ Mockingbird!” she added. After that she waltzed out of the room. Leaving Dyo alone with their thoughts.
Dyo thought for a moment…He didn't really know what the Doctor was attracted to but they knew for a fact he definitely did feel romantic love as even though Doc never said it he definitely had a crush on Dr. Hamm, meaning he was at least attracted to guys. Sure Dyo was sometimes not a guy but even when they felt more feminine they still identified as a guy at those times. Besides the possibility that Doc was either Bi or Pan was still in the air so…Dyo looked at their phone and took a breath.
They’d confess over text. They were sure they could do that, right?