Archive of Our Own

Another phight came and went. Groups gathered outside the venue, linking up with friends from the opposing side to head back to their respective factions for the evening or whatever their post Phight plans were. For Medkit, it was just another Tuesday.

The phight was another win for the healer, albeit a tough one with a rough start. His team pulled through in the end with plenty of assistance from him, of course. But that didn’t stop the phight from being as nerve wracking as it was.

How could it not be? Trying to get his team to cooperate together as a group took way longer than it should have. Furthered by the fact that he was up against both Ban Hammer and Katana. Not to mention the thorn in his side, one of the most annoying phighters he’s ever had the misfortune to phight with and against.

Boombox.

That cheery, happy-go-lucky phighter who was as annoying to interact with as he was hard to deal with on the battlefield. When they first met Medkit was taken aback by how such a phighter could be so lax and carefree during phights. Throwing caution to the wind and rush in without a second thought. It made no sense, it was a battlefield they were phighting on, either with each other or against.

It was downright infuriating.

How he fought with his gear only added fuel to the fire of annoyance that was inside of the healer. Blasting such obnoxious music so loud it could most likely be heard from outside the venue itself.

However, there was something different about how the musician fought today. Medkit could see it, how his carefree attitude was shifted slightly off course, almost clumsy in a way. Not that it was his problem anyways. Assumably, letting one’s personal life dictate how they phight on the battlefield was foolish at best, enough to cost him his match. That was his own fault.

Medkit sighs, taking in a breath of fresh air now that he was out of the arena. Both hands, now freed from his gear, shoved in his pockets, though his revolver remained nestled in its holster. A hand idling with his trusty lighter as he wandered for a bit until he found the perfect place to smoke.

Most of the phighters have left the area by now, so he didn’t mind hanging back and smoking a bit before taking his leave. He deserved this one after all, hoping to end his match on a higher note compared to the headache that was a phight. Maybe a glass of wine when he got home…

Lighting up a cigarette, he stood leaning against the neighboring wall and began to smoke. Watching the remaining two or so phighters trickle out from a safe distance. That looked to be the last of them. He shrugs, taking another hit and rounding the corner. Taking a few steps before stopping in his tracks.

There sat Boombox on the ground with his back pressed against the wall, knees tucked close to his chest. In his hands wasn’t his gear this time, but a notepad and pencil. He was oddly quiet, scribbling away on the notepad with a gentle hum.

Medkit blinks once, then twice.

The sight before him was… confusing to say the least. The otherwise loud mouthed, noisy Playgrounder being so… calm. Well, calm was a strong word, judging by his furrowed blows and the way his tongue stuck out of the side of his mouth. He’s clearly lost in thought, his eyes glued on the notepad in his hands.

The healer really should be using this as his out, escaping from the inevitable conversation that will follow after he’s noticed but for the moment, Medkit stays. Quietly taking in stillness, the silence surrounding the musician. What was with him? Medkit quietly wondered. Not that he wanted to ask and find out, but he was curious. It was so unlike him that the healer couldn’t help but be a little curious.

A slight shift in posture is what alerts Boombox to the healer’s presence, his electronic eyes raising to meet Medkit’s gaze. Whatever ounce of annoyance was on the musicians face seems to fall when he sees the healer, a bright smile stretching across his face.

Great, here we go…

“Med! Didn’t see ya there!” Boombox laughs out softly, breaking the once peaceful silence between the two phighters. Jotting down one more final thing in his notepad before glancing back at the healer and letting his hands rest.

Again, with that damn nickname. No matter how many times he’s stated not to call him that, Boombox never seems to get it through his thick skull.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Medkit comments with a sneer, taking another drag of his cigarette. “Should be like this more often,” he murmurs, glancing down at the other.

“Really? Nah, don’t think so. I think it threw off my game today, I feel kinda bad!” Boombox laughs, brushing off the snide remark before, turning his eyes back to the notepad.

“Something’s been bugging me, I had a dream about this fresh new tune to share with the guys back at studio, and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head!” he continued, as if prompted.

Medkit gives a small hum of acknowledgement, tapping his cigarette ash to the ground. Okay, now it was time to leave. He sighs. “Well, I hope you figure it out by our next phight. I don’t want to have to carry you,” Medkit replies dryly, turning on his heels to leave.

“Wait, Medkit! You don’t wanna know what it is? I think you’ll like it!” Boombox shouts after him, scrambling to his feet to catch up with the healer who was now actively walking away. The pair walk for another few steps because Medkit gives in with a sigh. At this rate Boombox would pester him all the way back to his car.

“Okay but after this, that’s it,” Medkit huffs but begrudgingly agrees, his attention now on the musician.

“Okay, okay so!! It goes like this,” Boombox exclaims before starting to hum. A chipper hum to warm up his vocal cords. He begins to vocalize the notes right off the page with varying amounts of hand moments added on to emphasize his points.

The tune is soft in nature, far softer than anything Medkit was expecting from the Playgrounder. Is this what Boombox produced in his free time? Why couldn’t he play something like this during phights? Maybe he’d be a bit more tolerable if he did but no, it was always the same noisy racket.

Boombox finishes the tune, before turning to look up at Medkit with a bright smile. “So, soooo? What’d ya think?” he asks, eagerly awaiting Medkit’s response.

“It’s...  It’s fine,” Medkit slowly replies as if he were pulling teeth. The tune itself was fine. Maybe catchy, even. However, that didn’t downplay Boombox’s voice; despite how loud he was, he had quite a nice singing voice. Not that Medkit would ever admit it or tell him to his face. A lot of people thought his voice was, so why feed his ego?

“I think a slight pause between da, and da da, would be better,” he adds, shaking the last of his cigarette ash to the ground.

“Oh, I see! Thanks.” Boombox replies, erasing what Medkit assumed to be a word or two before filling in the black space. “It’s still in the early stages so this helps out a ton.”

Boombox lowers the notepad just enough for Medkit to catch a glance at what he was writing. He expected lyrics of some kind, but what stared back at his was music notes dotted along the page, the beginning of messy, Boombox style sheet music. With one set of notes in particular sticking out like a sore thumb. A set of notes that baffled him. How could the DJ not notice such a glaring mistake?

His brow twitches in annoyance.

“Let me see.” It was more of a demand than a request coming from Medkit, who motioned towards the notepad. Determined to fix the musicians mistake before he left. Usually, something minor like this he wouldn’t give a passing glance but knowing his luck, he’d be up thinking about it all night.

“Oh! Yeah sure, it’s just the first draft.” Boombox nods, handing over the yellow notepad and pencil.

Medkit scans over the notepad with a careful eye, taking in every note and mentally playing the tune. Pausing when he got a certain set of notes.

“This note is wrong, it’s too high for the section.” He states, showing the musician the section he’s talking about. He turns the notepad back over, erases the aforementioned note and scribbles a new one.

Medkit sighs. “Something like that would fit better.” Medkit hands the notepad over to its rightful owner. Of course he had to edit his work for him.

Boombox takes a moment to look over the adjustment, quietly humming over the bit that Medkit corrected. It was strange because that wasn’t even the part Boombox hummed for him, that was closer to the final bridge than the chorus. He thinks for a moment before smiling.

“Oh, I totally see what you’re going for, thanks!” Boombox beams, looking back at the healer. “I didn’t know you knew how to read sheet music, Med!”

Medkit blinks, taken aback by the statement. “It’s not an uncommon skill to have.” He scoffs.

“Still! I just didn’t expect it from you.” Boombox chuckles. “That’s pretty cool.”

Medkit rolls his eye. There’s more he could say, explain the reason as to why he knows how to read sheet music, but that’s not Boombox’s place to know. It goes back to a different time, a time he spent under Blackrock’s control. For whatever reason, the faction wanted certain Inphernals to learn how to play high classed instruments such as piano, violin, cello, etc.

Something about wanting to prove that they were the better faction, not that he paid much attention for the reasoning. Violin was the one he was taught or rather forced to learn. Ever since the loss of his sight and had a boat load of work stacked on him, he fell out of touch with the graceful stringed instrument. Part of him wishes he had more free time, anything to keep himself from forgetting the skill.

“Maybe you could play something for me some day! Oh, oh! Or better yet we could have a jam session! I think we could work something out with whatever you play—”

The musician’s ramblings are cut short as a loud, annoying ringtone rings out through the area. Naturally, it gets his attention. He fumbles to find his phone and quietly reads off the caller ID. It wasn’t a name Medkit recognized.

“Shit, I forgot all about that…” Boombox swears under his breath, swiping to answer the call. “Hello? Hey- hey, yeah! I’m on my way now!” He says to the Inphernal on the phone, starting to jog away from the healer.

“I’ll talk to you later, Meds! See ya next phight!” Boombox shouts back to Medkit, bidding him farewell with a wave of goodbye.

Medkit is left standing there, baffled by the interaction that just took place. What… What was that all about? Whatever, it wasn’t his place to know, nor did he care about it in the first place. But still, he’s never seen the musician take off like that. Usually, he’s the one trying to leave the conversation, not the other way around.

Medkit sighs, shaking his head before looking down at what was in his hand. That damn note pad.

Mentally he groans. Great, now what was he supposed to do with this? It’d be a bit of a dick move to just throw it out, it’s Boombox’s work after all. For now, the healer hangs onto the notepad as he makes his way back to his car. He’ll just give it to him before their next phight.

In the meantime, he makes his way home. Thankfully, the drive back wasn’t too bad, given how far he had traveled out for the phight, but there was something that nagged at him the entire time. A low hum in the back of his mind, the hum of a certain green horned Inphernal that he wished would quiet down or stop all together.

--

Medkit’s about halfway home when he receives a call from the annoyance himself, asking about the notepad. Medkit informs him that he’ll be returning it during their next phight and Boombox practical begs him to bring it over tonight.

Begrudgingly, the healer agrees. Just a quick trip over to Playground and back, then he can rest for the remainder of the evening. Simple, right?

Boombox greets Medkit at the door with the same bright smile he always wore, still in his street clothes. Doesn’t seem like he’s been home long enough to change or begin to unwind.

“Here,” Medkit says, handing over the notepad and accompanying pencil. Gloved hands just barely brushing against the others.

“Thank the Heights, you’re a real life saver Meds!” Boombox thanks, breathing a sigh of relief.

“If that’s all then I’ll be taking my leave,” Medkit announces, turning to make his way back down the hallway.

“Well, hey, since you drove all the way out here why not come in? I’ll make it up to you, my treat!” the musician offers, welcoming the healer inside by moving to the side a bit. Was that… Was that a smirk?

With Boombox partially out of the way, it gave Medkit to have a decent view of the living room. Carpeted floors, olive green couch, a coffee table. It was simple but it had this Boombox touch to it. Something on the coffee table caught his attention though, a small glass object that Medkit was all too familiar with.

A clear bong with a black lip, littered with stickers.

Not once in his life would he pin Boombox for a stoner, but life was full of surprises. Skateboard most definitely was; he supposes since the two were friends that the skater would drag the DJ into his hobbies as well. Was Boombox high right now, is that why he offered? Well, that would explain the smell of weed.

Medkit clears his throat after a moment, fixing his gaze back on the musician. “No. I have other matters to attend to.” A partial lie, his important matter was going to bed.

“How about this, next time you’re in the area?” Boombox offers, his smirk still present.

“No.”

Boombox laughs. “Well, thanks again for this. I’ll see you later!”

After the door is closed, Medkit sighs and leaves the apartment complex, thankfully there wasn’t as many cars on the road as there was during the drive out. Yet something nagged at him the entire way back.

That stupid melody.

Even when he got home, had dinner and a shower, and began to settle in for the evening, that stupid tune persisted. Of course, Boombox would just so happen to write an annoying tune as annoying as himself.

--

Medkit goes through the next few weeks like he would any other, yet the tune still managed to get stuck in his head. At this point it was driving him mad. He’s tried everything to get it out of his head, from listening to other music or podcasts, trying to ignore it, or trying to forget about it all together.

No matter what he tried, it was temporary. The melody always managed to make its way back into his head at the most random of times. He even attempted to recreate the melody on his violin, but the notes never came out right no matter how many times he tried. The doctor has even caught himself humming it during phights, that’s when he realized he had a real problem on his hands.

Speaking of problems, someone else has taken it upon themselves to become more of a problem than ever before.

Not only was it the tune that was taking up space in Medkit’s mind, but the musician himself. The teasing and taunting during matches, that annoyingly bright smile he always seemed to wear. All amplified by the backing track of the melody he wrote.

Boombox has always been a bright ray of sunshine, always smiling or having a good laugh. That light never dimmed even when he was around the healer. If anything, it glowed brighter. Becoming a stark contrast to Medkit’s stiff and dull outlook. Boombox was known to be a bit of a tease, always poking fun at his friends. But there was something about the way he teased Medkit, how he paused to try and think of something smooth, how his teasing turned into light flirting when they were out of sight from prying eyes and ears.

Medkit could swear Boombox was reading his mind. Teasing him more and more inside and outside of phights. The healer could swear at some points that he thought the musician was flirting with him. A thought he brushed to the side every time it came up, sometimes even shot down the more direct ones. Yet he found himself replaying the interactions in his mind over and over again.

That dumb musician and his stupidly charming smile.

Occasionally Medkit would lay awake at night, listening to the soft melody playing in his head when he struggled to sleep. Questioning how the noisy Playgrounder could come up with something so… intimate. It was beyond strange to say the least. Medkit always thought he’d make something in the pop territory, maybe something closer to the music he blasts during phights. But no, this was gentle and mellow, like a warm sunset at the beach.

Medkit has always thought of Boombox as the annoying Playgrounder. About how much of headache he was. Now when he thought of the DJ, he didn’t know what to think. Boombox was still as annoying as ever, maybe worse. But now, the tune simply made him think of the one who made it.

He started to see the musician in a different light thanks to that damn song. He’s found himself staring during phights, hesitating to fire his weapon for the first time in ages. All because of that tune.

All because of Boombox.

--- Pause

Would it be weird to ask for updates on the song? To see if it ever became more than just a draft on a yellow notepad. They’ve barely spoken to each other outside of phights, Medkit made sure of it. Stating that texting him was off limits outside of anything related to phights. No small talk, no photos. Just messages straight to the point. ‘Hey, can you cover this phight for me?’ And the like.

Another few weeks of teasing and post phight conversations go by before Medkit cracks. Reaching for his cellphone laid neatly on the kitchen counter, quickly flicking from whatever he was doing last, over to his contacts. It doesn’t take him long to find what he’s looking for. A simple contact name with a photo of that dumb smile of his. Boombox. He opens up their messages.

The healer’s fingers hover over the digital keyboard, hesitating for a moment. Was he really about to text Boombox of all people first? How would he even go about it, breaking the thick layer of ice between them just to ask about a song that he could’ve scraped by now.

Medkit exhales a breath before shaking his head and setting his phone back down, allowing himself to pinch the bridge of his nose. Was he seriously getting worked up over texting someone? Apparently the answer was yes. Right, focus. He sighs again before picking the phone up again and just goes for it.

---

Good morning Boombox, I have a question.

---

The message is simple and to the point, just how the healer liked to keep his messages. He sets his phone down and continues on with his morning. Only coming back to it after he’s made a cup of coffee.

---

Hey Meds! Good morning! What’cha got for me?

Do you recall that song you were working on a few weeks back? On the yellow notepad.

Oh! That one! Yeah, I finally got the notes in the right order and even finished the lyrics! I have a demo version of it. Pretty cool, yeah?

---

Medkit doesn’t notice himself smiling slightly against the rim of his mug. He sets the cup down and continues to type.

---

I’d like to hear it if you have the time.

Are you sure you wanna hear the demo or do you just wanna see me? ;]

---

Medkit freezes in his place. Thankfully, he set his mug down because he damn near would’ve dropped it on the spot. He blinks down at the messages, another wave of unease washing over him. No, he didn’t want to see Boombox. He wanted to hear that melody and finally get it out of his head. But now the song was linked to Boombox and has the poor healer questioning himself.

No. There was no way in hell he wanted to actually see Boombox. It was just to hear the song, nothing else.

…Right?

Shaking his head, Medkit looks back at their messages and pauses again when he sees the DJ typing.

---

When are you free next?

---

Medkit takes a minute to stop and think. Well, he does have a phight scheduled at noon. After that, he can’t think of anything else he had on his plate. Of course there’s work, but what he’s currently working on can be put off for another day. Two days if he’s lucky. He sighs, writing back a reply.

---

This afternoon.

How about this, swing by my place. Just text me a heads up when you’re on the way, yeah?

Of course, I’ll see you then.

---

Medkit sighs, picking up his mug and taking another sip of coffee. Finally, a solution to his ever burning problem. Something to hopefully put a stop to that dumb tune in his head.

__

It’s about midafternoon when the phight concludes. Another rough one with Subspace taking up the role of being a thorn in his side. Seriously, why do they keep pairing them together?

A simple car ride and another cigarette later, Medkit arrives at Boombox’s apartment with little hassle. If anything, it was easier finding it the second time around.

The healer gives the door a few knocks and pauses when he hears soft footsteps approach, followed by the sound of the door being unlocked.

“Meds! Hey, c’mon in!” Boombox greets, welcoming the healer into his home. Wearing something far simpler than Medkit was expected. Medkit had only seen him in his usual street clothes, so to see Boombox in everyday clothes such as a basic graphic t-shirt and sweatpants was unusual to say the least.

 “Make yourself comfortable, I just need to grab my laptop.” Boombox says after closing the door behind the pair and making sure it was locked.

“Man, what a phight! Almost made me wish I was scheduled for it; we could’ve worked together and won!” He continues, not giving Medkit much room to reply without shouting as he disappears down the small hallway to what Medkit assumed as the bedroom. Loose natural, curly hair bouncing behind him with every step. Swaying even more now that he didn’t have his classic backwards hat on.

The thought isn’t as bad as Medkit once thought it to be. If anything, he’d choose working with the Playgrounder over that disgrace of an inphernal any day of the week if it meant he didn’t have to work with Subspace ever again.

Now sitting on the couch (which proved itself to be quite comfortable), Medkit was able to get a good look around the place and notice a few things he hadn’t before. Knick knacks lining the nearby shelves of the entertainment center with a decently sized TV on top of it and a bookshelf tucked into the corner. Anything from video game cases to trinkets to small figurines that Medkit assumes are from various media that the musician enjoys.

The rest of the apartment looked the same as when he first saw it, including what was currently grabbing his attention.

The same bong as before, sitting on the coffee table amidst the chaos of papers with a lighter and grinder close by. Being so close to it now, Medkit could see the deep green dots lining the bottom edge. The beginning of murky water mixed with weed and ash that probably needed to be changed soon. And the darkened, well smoked bowl that held what was once weed that’s now mostly ash. Definitely needed to be repacked.

Soft footsteps break Medkit away from analyzing the bong further, looking up at Boombox as reentered the area. Laptop propped up in one arm and his gear in his other hand. The LEDs on his visor display a question mark, furthered by the slightly confused head tilt he gives.

“Huh? Oooohh” Boombox muses, setting his gear down and turning to the doctor. His digital eyes returning to normal.

“Forgot I still had that out.” The DJ continues, sitting on the floor and setting the laptop up on the coffee table. The now open laptop screen now blocking the healers view on him. “Don’t worry about that.”

“It’s a lot bigger than what I’ve seen.” Medkit flatly states, his cheeks warm up a bit as Boombox breaks out into giggles. His horns taking on a faint glow.

“What, me or the bong?” Boombox snickers.

The doctor’s horns brighten even more at the comment. Medkit can only sigh. SFOTH almighty, the things he goes through to quell his curiosity.

“The bong, stupid,” Medkit spat back.

There’s a hum from the musician, brushing off the insult. “You wanna hit?”

Medkit pauses. Well, he hadn’t considered smoking until Boombox offered. His eyes return to the bong as he weighs his options. It has been some years since he last smoke weed, of course. The idea itself does sound nice, but smoking with Boombox of all people sounded more like a nightmare. Who knows if it was laced with anything else?

“No, I’m fine,” he declines, turning his attention back to the musician as he stands.

“That’s fine then, just wanted to offer.” Boombox shrugs. “I’m all set up by the way.”

Medkit nods in acknowledgement but also motioning for Boombox to begin. The musician picks up a notebook this time from the table and begins to hum, warming up his vocal cords.

Boombox is utterly nervous, the soft glow of his horns reflecting his frazzled state. Not only was he about to sing for Medkit but sing him a love song he wrote on top of that. One he may or may not have written with the healer in mind. His cheeks dusted a soft lime green, clammy hands holding onto the notebook.

With a quick kneel, Boombox hits play on the laptop and a soft, gentle melody begins to play. A synthetic track that Medkit was begrudgingly accustomed to hearing during phights, that took on a more delicate approach.

The sound was pleasant, the lighter notes mixed beautifully with the deeper ones, the electronic drums that set a steady pace that wasn’t too fast or too slow. All in all, the track was shaping up to be a mellow one.

It wasn’t until Boombox began to sing that Medkit started paying close attention.

“Soft vines down to your hazel eyes… Topped off with a secret smile. We’ve got plans to devise.”

Boombox’s voice was nothing short of stellar. Boombox had a wonderful singing voice, and he sure knew how to use it. Hitting all the right notes with that wide vocal range of his. Medkit has heard the musician sing before, they bumped into each other during karaoke one evening while out with Sword. But hearing it up close like this, not filtered through a microphone and speakers was… different. Drawing in his attention more than ever before.

“Souls red, baby don’t lose your breath, because I love you to death. Jungle cats in our head…”

It was… alluring. Like Boombox was a siren luring him closer with each word he sang. The song was shaping up to be something more intimate than Medkit ever expected. He felt breathless just listening to the inphernal sing, his face flushing a gentle shade of teal when he said the words baby. Even if the words weren’t directed at him, they had the same effect.

Boombox launched into the chorus without any hesitation, starting to move to the beat. Something that really caught the eye of the healer. With Medkit’s gaze shifting down from his face to his hips. His face flushed teal with his horns gleaming a bit brighter. Watching them sway had him in a trace, even as the second verse played and the chorus repeated.

Medkit wasn’t paying attention to the music anymore, his gaze was fixed solely on the musician and him alone. Everything around him seemed to fade from view watching him move. Lax, carefree… Just like their phights. The backing track was nice, but Boombox’s voice was far nicer than he ever anticipated and Medkit had a front row seat. His very own personal concert.

That’s when it hit him.

“Silhouette… Hand me a cigarette. I’m just so glad we met…”

That damn melody.

That cursed melody that’s been plaguing him for over a month now. Paired with such kind, adoring lyrics. The sound was perfect, even if it was the demo version. It was something Medkit could listen to over and over again. His prized song on repeat.

It’s unclear when the song officially ended, Medkit was too caught up in his thoughts to pay attention. Not to mention that he’s been staring at Boombox the entire time, even after the song had ended. It’s not until a grey hand starts waving in front of his face that he breaks away from the daze.

“Eeeaarrrth to Medkiiit!” Boombox chimes, continuing to wave. Startling the poor healer in the process.

Medkit flinches at the close proximity, swatting the DJ’s hand away. Shooting a pointed glare in this direction.

“You alright Meds? Ya seem a little zoned out.” Boombox comments, taking a step back to give the healer some space. Still, his head tilts to the side and there’s a small look of concern on his face.

“Don’t ever do that again.” Medkit continues to glare. “I’m fine, just…”

Medkit was anything but fine, his glowing horns giving him away. He was confused, dazed, startled by how easily he got swept up in his emotions for the musician that just sang a love song of all things to him.

“Look, I just had a rough phight. That’s all.” Medkit settles on that, there’s no way he’s opening up to the DJ about his complicated feelings about him. Medkit has barely figured out how he feels about Boombox, why tell him now if he can’t get his own head straight?

“Ya’know, I’m not trying to push but the offers still on the table. Quite literally in fact!” Boombox laughs, referring to the bong sitting before them. “It helps me unwind after a bad phight, I think it might help.”

Despite the offer, Medkit once again declines. He shakes his head, his nose scrunching up at the thought. Still, even as Boombox begins to pack his stuff away, Medkit can’t help but let his eye wander. At first it was DJ’s gear sitting on the floor next to the TV stand, then the posters on the wall, then Boombox himself. Kneeling in front of the coffee table, humming a part of the song he just sang for the doctor.

The most annoying person in the Inpherno. Medkit huffs quietly to himself, yet his gaze still lingers. As much as he wants to keep his eye off of him, he can’t bring himself to stop looking for more than a few moments. Watching every little movement. The way his loose baggy tee sagged, teasing bits of his shoulder and collar bone. The way his hips moved without a care as he made his way towards the bedroom, laptop in hand.

“What’s wrong, Med? Something caught your eeeye?”

It’s only when the musician announcing his return that he realizes he’d been staring the entire time. The warmth on his face slowly returning, as well as the shimmer of his horns and crystal. Was he… Was he seriously blushing?

“No, just…” Quick, think of something. Anything.

“I have to go.” He abruptly announces, quickly standing up and makes a break for the door.

“Awwww leaving so soon? C’mon, you just got here!” Boombox whines but doesn’t do much else to dissuade the doctor. As much as he wanted the doctor to stay long, if he wanted to leave, he could. That’s his choice.

“It’s late and I have work to do.”

Another partial lie, it had barely got into the late afternoon hours. While it was true, he did have work he could be doing right now. He was using it more as an excuse to get out of Boombox’s sight and by extension his apartment. To put as much distance between them as possible until the healer could get his thoughts to stop racing.

Medkit reaches for the handle, his hand inches away from it when a loud crack of thunder rings out through the area.

Fuck.

--- Pause

Medkit turns around, eye staring past Boombox to the sliding glass door that led to the balcony. As if on cue, it begins to rain. Not a simple mist or light sprinkle, no. A heavy downpour that pounds against the glass, the near deafening sound filling the now awkward silence.

“No… This isn’t…” He quietly mumbles to himself.

This made no sense. There was no chance of rain today, the doctor made sure to check the weather before he left for the day. Medkit scrambles to pull out his phone, double checking the weather. Sure enough, the weather was clear skies with no chance of rain.

In Crossroads.

He swipes the page over to use his current location and much to his displeasure and horror, it’ll be raining for the next few hours. Not just raining, but a fierce system of thunderstorms are set to roll through the area.

Great. Just great. Now he's stuck in the apartment of the guy who's been semi-flirting with him for Heights knows how long. He wasn’t really paying attention up until the past few weeks if he was being honest with himself.

Another bolt of lightning illuminates the now dimly light apartment. The wall of rain blocking out the natural lighting they were enjoying up until this point. The bright flash of light casts deep shadows of Boombox, leaving nothing but his glowing eyes shining in the darkness.

“Huh, guess it’s raining.” Boombox notes, turning to face the window himself. His small grin not faltering even in the face of such fierce rain.

Medkit stands there dumbfounded, looking out the balcony door to be faced with nothing but rain and the occasional flash of lightning. Medkit could barely see the railing for the balcony itself. He’s unable to even make out the neighboring apartment buildings through it all.

And there stood Boombox, unaffected by the sudden change in weather.

Medkit could feel his eye twitch.

“Hey, you’re not gonna drive in this sorta weather, right? I don’t think it’ll be a good idea.” Boombox advises, looking over at the healer. A slightly worried look on his face.

“No, I’m going to walk home,” Medkit dryly replies, finding the strength to at least sit back down. Propping his elbows up on his knees to hold his face in his hands.

“That’s also not a good idea, trust me! I’ve done it loads of times,” Boombox says, letting out a light chuckle. Hinting at the times he’s had to walk to the bus station in the pouring rain after a phight. Usually, he’d ride home with Skateboard but on the days when neither Skateboard nor Slingshot were available, he was left walking. Rain or shine.

There was no way Medkit was driving home in his weather, the thought alone made him grimace. He could barely see out onto the balcony, how was he supposed to drive? You’d be stupid to try and attempt it.

“Lovely…” Medkit groans, sarcasm dripping from his voice. He could really use a cigarette right now, something to ease his mind while he figured out what the hell he was supposed to do.

After a few moments, Medkit quietly asks. “…Do you mind if I smoke?”

“Oh yeah, go ahead.” Boombox replies with a shrug, taking a seat on the couch. Maintaining a good distance between him and the doctor.

Medkit gives a small nod of appreciation before reaching for his pack of cigarettes. Patting his jacket pockets and finding… nothing. His eyebrows furrow as he stands, actually looking down at his empty pockets and continuing to check every pocket he had.

Shit.

Medkit pinches the bridge of his nose and exhales, somewhere between a sigh and a groan. Of course, fucking of course. Today would be the day that he would leave his cigarettes in the car. His eye returns to the window in front of him.

There’s no way in hell he’s going outside in this weather. He would be drenched the moment he steps outside. Then what? Return to Boombox’s apartment utterly soaked just to smoke a cigarette? Hard pass.

“Goddamn it…” he curses under his breath, receiving a confused glance from Boombox. Quietly praying to Windforce for this rain to cease sometime soon. The healer’s prays would go unanswered as checking the weather app again for Playground showed that the rain wouldn’t be letting up anytime soon.

“What? Oooohhh…” Boombox breathes out, realizing the situation.

Great.

Now to spend what was supposed to be a good night catching up on his work, with one of the most annoying inphernals in the entire inpherno. Of course, there was a high likelihood he would’ve taken the evening off to relax after such a rough phight and try to recollect himself after… after whatever happened earlier, but now there was no chance of either happening.

Maybe… Maybe Medkit’s over thinking this. Surely it can’t be that bad, right?

“So, Med! What do you like to do when it rains?”

Illumina strike him down now.

“When it rains I like to chill out. Sit back and watch TV or a movie, mess around and try to come up with some fun beats or just cozy up in bed.” Boombox rambled on, his bright smile unwavering despite his silent audience.

“Sleeping. I’d rather be home sleeping.” Medkit sighs and returns to couch. Returning to hold his head in his hand as he thinks. Easily getting lost in his thoughts in an attempt to tune the rambling musician out.

“Sleeping is nice. I’ll be honest though; I just end up smoking most of the time. It’s fun, passes the time, and it makes snuggling up in bed ten times better.” He continued, reaching over for the glass object.

The doctor seems to perk up at the mention of smoking. A quiet voice in the back of his head began growing. It’s not a cigarette, however… It’s something to calm that urge for smoke in his lungs.

Boombox seems to pick up on this. Cocking an eyebrow at Medkit’s reaction, at how his eye followed the bong in his hand. Watching it with such a focused look, as if he was analyzing it for whatever reason.

“…Are you sure you don’t wanna smoke? You’re eyeing it pretty hard.” Boombox asks, once again offering.

“I’m…” Medkit hesitates, his throat already dry at the prospect of something, anything, to curb his craving. It’s not like this was anything new to him either, he’s smoked weed before. Yet there was something about smoking it on your own verses smoking it with something else. Much less someone you find insufferable.

His hands felt clammy at the offering, looking at the glass with a look of… want. How long had it been since he last smoked weed? Five years, no. Longer? Perhaps he couldn’t put a number to how long it had been. Was he seriously going to break that streak with Boombox of all Inpherals?

Medkit looks between the DJ and the bong before sighing. Oh, to hell with it all. He didn’t have anything else he could smoke anyways.

“…Repack it and pass it to me.” Medkit requests, reaching for the lighter.

“Oh, hell yeah Med, I didn’t know you were cool like that!” Boombox cheers softly, reaching for his grinder and beginning the process of refilling the bowl.

Medkit scoffs, shaking his head. “You’ve seen me smoke cigarettes, how is this any cooler? Weed is legal so it’s not like I’m doing anything wrong.”

“Nah, I just didn’t take you for someone to smoke anything, period. Seeing you smoke for the first time was like, whoa! But Scythe smokes so I guess you picked it up from her since you’re always around her? I don’t know.” The musicians eyes are focused on his hands as he rambles on, carefully adding more ground flower to the tiny glass bowl. Delicate motions that caught the healer’s attention.

A small spark of wonder dancing in his eye as he watches Boombox hands. Sure, he’s packed a bowl loads of times before but watching this noisy, reckless Playgrounder pack it was… different. A complete flip of his usual demeanor, how he handled the small piece of glass with such care. Maybe it was because it’s made of glass…

Yeah, that sounds right. The doctor reassures himself. There’s no need to overthink something as simple as hand movements.

“We all have our bad habits.” Medkit simply replies, toying with the bright green lighter. A simple plastic lighter; a children’s toy compared to his sturdy metal flick lighter. One that sadly remains on the dash of his car. “They help people cope.”

“Is that why you’re so grumpy all the time? Would it really kill ya to smile?” Boombox asks, putting the now filled bowl back into place.

“Would it kill you to be quiet and not ask so many questions?” Medkit fires back with a glare, only to be met with gentle laughter. What a long night this will be…

“Yes. I will explode into a million pieces on the spot.” Boombox answers with a small smirk on his face.

“Good.”

Boombox erupts into another giggle fit, only quieting down when he goes to pass the bong. “You know what you’re doing, right?”

“Mhm, it’s similar enough to smoking a blunt.” The healer responds, receiving a hesitant nod.

“Just be careful.”

Medkit gives a small nod in response, pressing the glass to his lips before flicking the lighter. Once, then twice until he gets a flame. Okay, here goes nothing. He doesn’t hold the flame there for long, just long enough for the flower to burn a little bit. Inhaling the sweet, sweet smoke that his body so desperately craved. Taking to what is most likely far too much smoke for him to handle all at once.

The healer fumbles to remove the bowl smoothly with just one hand like he used to. So instead, he drops the lighter into his lap and removes it with his other hand. Pulling the bong away from his mouth, he tilts his nose upward and exhaling a long puff of smoke from his mouth. Eye closed, taking in the smoke that had once filled his chest, the gentle burn that lingered afterwards.

Medkit lowers his head, opens his eye and glancing over to catch the DJ staring with a look of awe on his face. Though, it’s hard to make out what was going through his mind, especially with his visor on. But the way his body softens, his mouth just barely hanging open, said it all.

“Stop staring, it’s weird—” Medkit tries to retort but instead he breaks out into a coughing fit. His hold on the bong tightening as he struggles to maintain his cough. The glow of his horns brightening with every cough. Coughing so much he managed to drop the lighter in the process, letting it fall to the floor below.

Swords, how long has it been since he last smoked? He used to not cough this badly after taking a hit but now he looks like a total noob taking a rip for the first time. Okay, making taking a hit wasn’t worth the coughing tight and pain in his chest…

“Heights, man!” Boombox exclaims, taking the bong from Medkit’s hands and setting it back on the coffee table. Letting the doctor freely cough into his hand. “Hold on, lemme get you some water.”

It take a few moments for Boombox to come back with a glass of water but by that point Medkit’s coughing fit had subsided for the most part. Not that it helped much, he was still occasionally coughing, his face scrunched up in discomfort.

Medkit blinks up at Boombox as he’s passed the cup of water. A small, barely noticeable smile on his face. “Thank you.” He croaks out, his voice hoarse.

He takes a sip of water, thankful for how cool it is. A pleasant contrast to the gentle burn in his poor throat.

“No problem dude, are you alright?” Boombox asks, his head adorably tilted to the side. Glancing between Medkit’s face and shimmering horns. Gosh, they looked so pretty like this.

“Yes, just… Fine. I’m fine.” Medkit coughs out.

“Okay man, just let me know… I don’t want you pulling a Skateboard.” Boombox says, picking up lighter before reaching over to grab the bong.

“What’s what supposed to mean?” Medkit asks with a pointed look. Was Boombox seriously comparing him to that skater? How stupid did he think he was, he was so much better than the Playgrounder.

The musician doesn’t give an immediate response as he pressed the rim of the bong to his lips and inhales. Holding it in for only a second or two tops and exhaling. The cloud of smoke being twice the size of Medkit’s, slowly dissolving into the air.

Now Medkit is the one who was left staring. Boombox smoked like a natural, which would make sense. He must have been smoking for a while with Skateboard and the gang with how easily he handled his smoke.

But there was something about how his LEDs eyes closed into crescent moons, mirroring what the healer assumed was him closing his eyes. How his lips looked against the glass and how they pursed together when he exhaled. The sight alone sent a new flush onto Medkit’s cheeks. Tact on his light high and it made his blush face and glow of his horns even heavier.

Boombox’s eyes go back to their normal resting position, glancing at the doctor’s starstruck expression. “Man, you’ve got a staring problem tonight, Med. Your horns have been glowing like crazy,” he teases with a wink.

Medkit pauses before he can think of another retort, to do anything to keep from giving around how flushed he was. Instead, he’s hit with a wave of his high. The high was really starting to set in now. The once soft fuzzy feeling growing in size, like his mind was filled with static. Everything felt fuzzy, just like his mental state. A surge of warmth hitting him like a crashing wave.

Oh this… This is nice.

Medkit can’t remember the last time he felt this blissed out. To feel free from his growing pains, the ache in his back and legs, and the dull thumping in his head. With the strange warmth bubbling up from his chest and head that slowly made its way through the rest of his body.

Medkit exhales and sinks further into the couch, letting his eye fall close and just. Breathes. Exhaling all of his worries and stressors, along with his stoic demeanor.

“This is… So nice, it’s been so long,” Medkit breathes out.

The statement catches Boombox’s attention. “How long has it been since you last smoked?” he plainly asks.

“A cig? On the way here. Weed? Years…” Medkit quietly replies, his fuzzy gaze shifting to the wall in front of them.

“Dude,” is the DJ’s only response. Okay, that’s an incredibly long tolerance break. Hopefully, that doesn’t impact Medkit’s high experience.

“How many years are we talking?” He asks, turning his gaze over to the zoned out healer.

“Uh…” Medkit struggles to think of how long it’s truly been, his voice coming out a lot softer than was usual for him. “Several?” he settles on.

“Oh my god and you just- Dude, you’re gonna be toasted.” Boombox can’t help but let out a nervous laugh.

“Toasted?” Medkit questions, glancing over at the DJ. An unamused look on his face.

“It’s a phrase you use when you get, like, really really high.” Boombox answers, shifting on the couch to better face Medkit.

“Oh.” Medkit simply replies, slowly furrowing his brows. “I can’t believe myself.”

Medkit is going to kill him in the morning. If he even makes it through the night, that is. It didn’t look like a lot of smoke; how hard could this be?

“Hey c’mon it won’t be that bad! You have me to keep you company, doesn’t that sound fun?” The DJ beams, a bright smile on his face. A smile Medkit could get lost in.

“A trip to Banland sounds fun…” Medkit dryly replies, letting out a small huff. His attempt at laughter. Well, as close to laughter as he’s willing to go for the time being.

“Wow, was that a joke? From the Medkit?” Boombox jokes back,

“No.” Medkit fires back, shooting a glare in his direction. “Besides, I know how to joke.”

“Yeah, but you rarely do it,” replies Boombox, turning his gaze down to his phone. Replying to a text message if Medkit had to guess by the rapid keyboard noises.

For now, Medkit lets the silence be, his head felt too fuzzy to try and come up with a witty reply. Of course, Medkit knew how to joke around but that was usually reserved for Sword. Besides, there was a time and place to joke. Phighting on the battlefield wasn’t the right time nor place to be cracking jokes.

Medkit was content where he was at with his high, but that content feeling slowly fades away when he’s hit with a second, stronger wave. One that left him breathless, his throat dry and his ears feeling like they were about to pop. Okay, maybe he was a little higher than he was comfortable with being.

Medkit sinks further into the couch, continuing to stare at the wall. His vision starts to become fuzzy which is when he starts to panic. The poor healer tries to remain calm, but that doesn’t stop his rushing thoughts. What was gonna happen next? His arm felt weird. Oh Heights was that something he should be concerned about? Why was his heart beating so fast? Gods, why does his mouth feel cold, why was his throat so dry?

“…Medkit?” Boombox’s voice snaps Medkit from his daze.

To Boombox, it just looked like Medkit was spaced out staring at the wall. That same dazed look as before when he was watching the DJ perform. It was kinda cute. It would be even cuter if Boombox didn’t know the healer was tripping balls right now.

“Hmm…?” Medkit slowly and quietly hums in response.

“Are you okay man?” The DJ quietly asks, growing rather concerned for his house guest.

“Uuuuh, yeah. Why?” Medkit replies, sitting up a bit.

“You’ve been staring at the wall for the past fifteen minutes. I’ve called your name like twice now.”

The doctor rather slowly shakes his head. It hasn’t been that long, right? It felt like it had only been a few minutes. Another wave of panic hits him.

“Yes, it has. Hey, look at me,” Boombox asks, extending his hand to the healers face. Gently grabbing it and directing it to face him.

Medkit flushes, putting up barely any fight as his face is moved. He stares back at Boombox, at the kind smile he was giving him and how he failed to hold back his amusement.

“Dude your eye is so red.” Boombox can’t help but laugh, seeing the signs of how truly gone Medkit was.

The sensation sends shiver down the doctor’s spine; how cold the musicians hand was in comparison to him. How soft and delicate his touch was, like Medkit was made of glass. Medkit can’t help but slightly lean into his touch before realizing what he was doing.

“Stop touching me, your hand is cold,” Medkit scoffs, swatting Boombox’s hand away.

“My hand isn’t cold, you’re just really warm. Wait, is it?” Boombox muses, pressing his hand to his face in various positions. “I mean, kind of?”

Medkit groans, shaking his head. But now he was curious, how red has his eye gotten? Medkit pushes himself off of the couch, sluggishly standing up. “Let me see for mysel—"

Medkit doesn’t bother finishing his sentence, stumbling a bit as he’s met with weak legs. He pauses entirely, freezing up on the spot.

“Medkit, are you okay?” Boombox asks after a few moment, chuckling to himself as he stands up.

“Everything is… Spinning…” Medkit quietly slurs out, panic evident in his voice. Heart thumping in his throat, his breath quickening with each passing moment. “I can’t feel my feet anymore.”

“Oh dude, you’re gone. I’m so sorry, I didn’t think it’d hit you this hard,” the musician apologizes with a soft, sympathetic smile.

Ah, he’s pulled a Skateboard. Accidentally getting too high for his own good. Boombox should’ve known better than to let Medkit take the first hit. He should have taken a hit and left some smoke in the bong for Medkit to have. What matters now is helping the doctor through his high, at least until he mellows out to a comfortable state.

“How about we get’cha sitting back down, right? I don’t need you falling for me,”  Boombox giggles, raising to his feet.  “I can get a hand mirror—”

The question barely leaves the musicians mouth when he’s suddenly grabbed. Medkit’s hand quickly grabs onto his forearm, holding on to Boombox for support to keep himself from falling over.

“Whoa there!” Boombox exclaims, mirroring the doctor’s action and holding him with a firm grip. His face warms from the sudden touch, even if he was just holding onto his arms. He was still touching Medkit, much less holding him if not for support. Something Boombox dreamed about happening but wrote it off as a fantasy.

Medkit’s face is dusted teal as he attempts to steady himself. Seems like his high had other plans. The room felt like it was spinning, and he could swear he saw the room filling with blurry, swirling shapes. And the thunder sure wasn’t helping as he flinches every time it crackles overhead. It takes a bit for Medkit to steady himself, the act taking far longer than he wanted to admit.

Usually, Medkit would recoil at being touched, no matter who it was from but especially from Boombox. He’d do his best to put as much distance between him and the DJ as he possibly could but in this moment he didn’t care, it was the only thing that kept him at least a little grounded.

“Okay hey, just breathe.” Boombox does his best to reassure the healer, keeping a secure hold on him. “I’m right here, Med… I’ve got you.”

Medkit flushes, the soft words and gentle voice making his heart flutter. He couldn’t tell if it was because of how high he was, or how close he was to Boombox that was making his chest feel like it was about to burst. Maybe a mix of both? He couldn’t tell.

The healer does his best to remain calm, looking at the musician with a worried, almost fearful expression on his face. He takes a deep breath, keeping his eye focused on Boombox.

“Why… Why did I agree to this…” He mumbles out in between breaths. He was really starting to regret his decision to smoke. This is way higher than he’s used to getting.

Everything is spinning, the world around the poor doctor shifting without a care. Everything feels like it’s drifting to the right despite him being perfectly stationary.

“Shh, you’re doing great,” Boombox coos with a warm smile, stepping closer to the other and nudging him towards the couch. Eventually helping the other sit back down.

Medkit can’t help but let out a soft whine. Boombox was… being so kind. Showing a genuine care for the healer that he’s never seen before. Even the care he showed for Skateboard or Slingshot wasn’t this soft. Maybe it was behind closed doors, but this was another side to the musician that Medkit was getting to see.

To enjoy the moment and his company for once. However, there’s only so much you can enjoy when your entire nervous system was fighting against you.

“I think I’m going to be sick…” Medkit groans with a grimace.

Boombox sighs, taking a moment to think. What usually helped ground someone in a moment like this? He knew what would ground himself, usually crawling into bed and laying there for a while did the trick but Medkit had no bed to crawl into. The DJ highly doubted Medkit wanted to curl up in his bed, though the thought of them curled up in bed together sets his face and horns on fire. He briefly glances around the room until his eyes land on the cup sitting on the table.

“Hold on a second. Think you can take a sip of water for me?” Boombox asks, reaching over and grabbing the cup off the table.

“Fine.” Medkit does as he’s asked, taking a few gulps and simply holds onto the cup, as if he was afraid it’d disappear if he let go. Though, it was only a drop in the water compared to the ever growing pit in his stomach.

“That’s… That’s a bit better…” Medkit breathes out, sinking back into the couch.

How embarrassing this was, how he clung to Boombox the way he did. Holding onto for dear life as he tried to stand up right. And knowing Boombox and the why he loves to tease… Heights he knew he was never going to live this down.

Boombox gives a kind smile. “That’s good!”

There’s a brief pause between them, with Medkit trying to enjoy the company as best as he can with how high he was. It was nice though, getting to see the change in demeanor from the musician. Going from the loud, noisy Playgrounder to a softer spoken, caring soul. Helping Medkit through the beginnings of his rocky high as best as he could.

Medkit’s back is leaning against the arm of the couch at this point, legs tucked close to his body. His body swaying lightly as he just…stares in Boombox’s direction. A small, dopey smile on his face. Ah, the infamous high grin.

“…You have a nice smile; you should show it off more,” Boombox comments, quickly realizing what he said. Now he was the one blushing out of embarrassment, horns glowing.

“Oh please, it’s nothing special. Besides, I smile when I want to,” Medkit replies, taking another swig of water. Yet despite how much water he drank his dry throat still persisted.

“It’s cute,” Boombox compliments, the words being drowned out by another pop of thunder.

“Come again?” The doctor hums.

“It’s—” Boombox is once again cut off by the weather. Another flash of lightning and clap of thunder rings throughout the area and before the pair knew it, they’re plunged into darkness. Within the blink of an eye, the power had cut out. Every whirring sound of background noise comes to halt, leaving the two in silence.

Fuck.

--- Pause

As if the night couldn’t get any worse, it did. With the pair of demons now sitting in complete darkness.

Medkit blinks, his mouth hung open. Slowly processing the situation that the two of them were in. Stuck inside Boombox’s apartment, now without power in the dark. High off of his ass with Boombox being just as high, though he was maintaining it a lot better. Truly a nightmare situation.

“Damn, it must be really bad out there,” Boombox notes turning to the window for a brief moment, the LEDs from his visor and their glowing horns being the only thing illuminating the pair, even if it was faint.

Boombox is relatively unaffected by the sudden loss of power. This happened pretty often in his area especially when the storms were particularly nasty like they are now.

“Ya think?” The doctor scoffed.

“Hold on, I think I have a candle somewhere,” Boombox says before he gets up. Traversing through the now dark apartment, with the glow from his visor and horns disappearing from view.

“How can you even see?” Medkit asks, painfully curious as to how the inphernal was able to navigate his apartment in the dark so seamlessly.

Boombox turns back with a smirk, though the doctor is unable to see with how far away the other is standing. “Built in night vision, bay-beeee!”

Medkit can’t help but blush again at the pet name, the high amplifying his flustered state. Boombox… didn’t mean to call him specifically baby, right? Was his mind playing tricks on him or did the musician actually mean to call him the pet name? Was he reading too far into it? Maybe. But then again, he was high.

It’s okay, everything will be okay. It’s just a minor power flicker. The power will be back soon, right?

“How long does this usually last for?” Medkit calls after the DJ.

“Uuuhh, until it stops raining? That’s what happened last time,” Boombox shouts back, soon his glowing green horns returning into view.

Medkit groans, closing his eye and shifting around to allow his body to sink into the plush cushions once more.

“C’mon, it won’t be so bad,” Boombox does his best to reassure, taking a seat next to the doctor.

There’s a small clatter in front of the doctor as Boombox moves a few things out of the way to make space for the candle. The candle itself was well loved, one of the DJ’s favorite scents. Nothing too strong since his nose was a bit sensitive to certain scents.

“Hand me the lighter, yeah?” The DJ requests, not wanting to grab at the lighter himself. The thought causing a faint blush to creep onto his cheeks. That’d be weird to do, right? Especially in the dark. What if Medkit moves and then… No don’t think about that, not now.

Medkit does as he’s asked, patting around for the lighter before finding it and dropping it into Boombox’s open palm, who makes a small hum of appreciation.

“Thaaaank you!” Boombox once again smiles into the darkness before turning his eyes to the candle below. Striking the lighter a few times before it produces a flame, using it to light the 3 wicked candle and setting it on the table. The fresh scent of citrus drifts into the air.

The newfound candlelight serves to add an oddly intimate moment to their situation. Of course, it was just a candle, and this was better than either one of them draining their phone batteries just to have some light, but it did set the mood nicely.

“There, much better! Now you can actually see,” he chimes.

“Great, I can see you again.” Medkit mumbles out with a sigh, gaining a laugh from the musician.

“I don’t know man, you seemed to be looking pretty hard earlier,” Boombox teases, nudging the healer with his leg. “Maybe even liked what you saw.”

“I was not,” Medkit huffs, his face growing warm as the musician references what happened earlier that afternoon.

Maybe Medkit did like what he saw, liked the way he sang and moved. Liked that stupid, cheesy grin of his. He wasn’t certain. Great, his horns were glowing again just thinking about it.

All Boombox does is snicker in response. “I don’t believe you, your horns just got brighter.”

Medkit huffs in an attempt to cover up how embarrassed he was. His mind shifts elsewhere as Boombox asks him a question.

“Hey Med, random question. When was the last time you ate? I’m starting to get hungry,” he asks.

Medkit hums in response, slowly processes the question. “Um… Before the phight? Sword and I went out for lunch.”

“Oooohhh, that makes a lot more sense. No wonder it’s hitting you so hard,” Boombox concludes with a nod. “How about we get something to eat and see if that helps any, yeah?”

“I… suppose it couldn’t hurt.” Medkit vaguely understood the thought process, maybe it was akin to eating while drinking so the alcohol doesn’t completely wreck you. He’s made that mistake before and woke up with a nasty hangover the next day.

“I think I still have some lunch meat in there…” Boombox says before getting up from the couch and making his way into the kitchen. “Do you want a sandwich?”

“Lunch meat?” Medkit sneers, shifting around again to prop himself up on the arm of the couch.

“Yeah! If the power was on I’d actually cook something,” Boombox replies fumbling to open the fridge for a brief moment before opening to door. Thankfully it hasn’t been too long since the power went out so everything in the fridge is still safe and cold. He peers around the fridge until he finds what he’s looking for.

“Oooo you got options! I have ham and turkey!” Boombox calls out to the healer, leaning up from the fridge to look in his direction.

Medkit takes a moment to weigh his options before shouting back. “Turkey is fine.” Oh well, it’s better than nothing.

A sudden chill overtakes him through his core. A chill that spreads through his body but seems to settle mostly on his limbs. Has it… Has it always been so cold in here?

Boombox begins to hum a tune as he pulls out the lunch meat and starts to prepare two sandwiches. One turkey, one ham. “Any preferences? Light mayo, cheese or no cheese?”

“Light mayonnaise, with cheese.” The healer replies, glancing over at pair of green, glowing horns in the distance. Watching the way the LEDs on the other’s visor shifted around the dark kitchen.

Medkit sighs again as the chill runs down his spine. You’d think he wouldn’t be cold with his coat still on but no, there he was shivering in a relatively lukewarm apartment.

Boombox returns sometime later with a plate in his hands. Two neatly made sandwiches stood on the plate, one stacked on top of the other. He blinks for a moment; head cocked to the side in slight confusion. There sat Medkit with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.

The DJ flushes, his face dusted with a pretty shade of green with his horns glowing even brighter. Never in a million years did he ever think he’d see the doctor snuggled up with his favorite blanket. But then again, he never expected to be getting high with the doctor either.

He even dared to say he thought Medkit looked especially cute like this. Bits of his prim and proper appearance being stripped away like it was nothing.

Boombox shakes his head and pushes his thoughts to the side. Plopping himself down on the couch next to the healer and setting the plate on his lap. He picks up the sandwich that was resting on top before passing the plate over to Medkit, who eagerly took it.

Medkit felt like he was seeing food for the first time in ages. Looking down at the sandwich in his lap like a hungry animal. Had it really been that long since he last ate or were these so called munchies affecting him a lot more than he originally thought.

“Thank you,” Medkit quietly thanks, picking up the sandwich and giving it a hesitant look over.

“I didn’t poison it if that’s what you’re wondering,” Boombox laughs before taking a bite of his sandwich. Humming with glee at the food he’s made.

“You could have, if anything I’d take that over the high,” Medkit huffs, waiting a few more moments before finally biting into the sandwich.

The sandwich was actually pretty good, good for a hastily made sandwich in the dark. Maybe it was the high talking, but it was a damn good sandwich, the best he’s had in a long time. It would’ve been better if it included things like lettuce or a few tomato slices, salt and pepper but who was he to complain?

There’s a comfortable silence that stretches throughout the apartment. Just two inphernals eating sandwiches by candlelight. It wasn’t a true candlelit dinner you’d see in the movies, but it was the best the pair could two given the situation they found themselves.

Sitting by candlelight had it’s perks. It wasn’t ideal in the slightest but with the way it was illuminating Medkit’s tired, worn features, and the sleepy squint of his eye. It was definitely nice. His tired eye, the small wrinkle lines between his brows from how he so commonly keeps them knit together. The warm flicker of orange causing his horns and crystal to shimmer in the low lighting. It was magical. Medkit was beautiful like this.

Medkit catches the look Boombox is giving him. “What’s that look for?”

“I don’t know, you just… Look pretty like this,” Boombox quietly says outright, blushing when he realizes what he just said.

This seems to really Medkit off guard. He scrambles to think of a reply fast enough, his blush returning to his face. No, Boombox didn’t think that. He’s just saying it to mess with him because he’s high.

…Right?

“No, you’re fucking with me because I’m high,” Medkit huffs, lightly pouting as he tries to make a serious face.

“Ooooohh, potty mouth Medkit!!” Boombox exclaims, breaking out into laughter. Anything to cover up how embarrassed he was.

“I’m an adult, I can swear whenever I please.” The healer continues to huff and pout. “Besides, your favorite words are fuck or shit. You use them so often in and out of phights. Even where they’re not needed.”

Medkit had a point, Boombox did have a bit of a swearing problem especially when he was around Slingshot and Skateboard. If anything, they brought out the worst in him.

“Hey! Fuck and shit have their uses! They’re the things you say before you’re about to be shot at!” Boombox fires back, crossing his arms and fake pouting.

Another flash of lightning illuminates the rest of the apartment, this time casting Boombox in such beautiful lighting, if only for a brief moment. The light shining through his horns and reflecting off of his horn jewelry.

Medkit can only stare. Stare at the annoying phighter and his stupidly cute pout. He shakes his head, breaking himself away from staring any longer.

“Yet you don’t hear me shouting fuck at the top of my lungs when Hyperlaser is after me.” Medkit snickers, letting out something closer to a genuine laugh.

Boombox pauses at the noise, cracking a smile. Wow, he got Medkit to let out more than just a huff of laughter.

“Ya’know, I didn’t think you’d get this chatty while high,” he comments.

“Well, I suppose I’m full of surprises, now aren’t I?” Medkit replies, a dumb smug grin across his face. Now that was the Medkit Boombox came to know and love.

There it was, that four letter word that’s usually reserved for partners and family. Of course, Boombox has been massively crushing on the healer for months now, but love? The thought alone made his heart flutter. Similar to the feeling the healer was currently experiencing.

“You’re really full of surprises, it’s nice to finally get to see them. To see the real you, ya’know?” Boombox smiles fondly,

“Maybe if you weren’t so annoying you would’ve seen it sooner,” Medkit pauses, pressing a free hand to his chin in thought. “Though, I suppose you wouldn’t even if you weren’t as annoying.”

Boombox hums. Not having much to reply with. Medkit was always a pretty reserved guy and that’s what first caught Boombox’s attention. He didn’t talk much and when he did it was usually mumbled complaints under his breath or telling people to pull their own weight, most like his boss. It was always hard to tell what he was actually thinking.

Boombox lets the silence stretch on for a few more moments before deciding to pick the conversation back up.

“Hey, you never told me what you thought about the song,” Boombox says in a hushed tone. Not wanting to disturb the stillness too much between them. He’s genuinely curious why Medkit was so insistent on hearing the piece.

Medkit gives a small hum of acknowledgement, his mouth being full at the moment with crumbs spilling down his jacket.

“It was… It was fine.” Medkit slowly settles on. While the song itself was lovely, he would have more to say if he didn’t spend half of it zoned out ogling the lead singer.

He chooses not to voice the fact that he rather enjoyed it. How the ending melody has been haunting him for weeks now, clouding his thoughts and interrupting his work at the worst times possible.

Not to mention, every time he thought of the song his mind would drift over to the person who wrote it.

“Just fine? You drove all the way out here just to tell me it’s ‘just fine’,” Boombox lightheartedly mocks, making air quotes to further his point.

“I-I…” Medkit pauses and blinks a few times before turning away, his face growing warm. “I’ve um. Been thinking about it ever since you first showed it to me. It surprised me, I didn’t know you knew how to make such a song.”

“What’s so surprising about it?” Boombox asks, his head tilted to the side like a lost puppy.

“Boombox. Blasts such loud, annoying songs during phights and you… You wrote a goddamn love song. You- You sang me a fucking love song. How else am I supposed to feel about that?”

“You seemed pretty into it, that’s all! Wait. Does that mean you liked it?!” Boombox beams, shaking his hands in excitement now that he was done with his sandwich. His LEDs changing from their usual circles to stars.

Medkit fails to hide his dopey smile but avoids the eye contact. Turning his eyes down to the dimly lit, half eaten sandwich in his hands. Instead of admitting, he takes another bite.

“C’mon Med, you can admit you liked it! You can’t hide behind that sandwich forever!!” The musician rather loudly states, his eyes shifting back to their usual circles.

“Can and will,” Medkit says between bites. No longer caring about keeping up his stoic demeanor anymore, not that he was maintaining it very well ever since he got high.

Boombox can’t help but laugh, throwing his head back and full on cackling. This was so unlike Medkit, which made the moment even funnier. Weed did seem to bring out a softer, more silly side to him, the DJ was discovering.

The healer is slowly taking small bites of his sandwich at this point, trying to prolong the inevitable. A cool, almost mischievous look on his face. Smirking behind two pieces of bread.

“You’re fucking with me at this point.” Boombox groans, lightly pouting.

“Consider it payback for earlier.” Medkit huffs, taking another tiny bite.

“Pay back for what? Wait hold on, don’t tell me,” The DJ places his fingers to the sides of his head as if he was trying to beam the answer into his head. “Med, all I did was call you pretty.”

A gentle warmth returns to the doctor’s face. “…Exactly. You were just saying it to mess with me,” Medkit slowly says, glancing over briefly at Boombox before keeping his eye glued on his food.

“Medkit, I really mean it. Besides, I compliment and tease you all the time.” Boombox calmly states, scooting just a bit closer. His leg pressing against the warmth that was the other’s leg. “You look really pretty in the candlelight.”

“How high are you?” Medkit plainly asks with a light after a moment of silence, nervous chuckle after finishing the rest of his sandwich.

“Just high enough to enjoy the moment,” Boombox replies with a warm smile and a wink before standing. He swipes the plate off of Medkit’s lap and makes his way to the kitchen, leaving the healer speechless.

Maybe… Maybe the healer was wrong about the musician. About how annoying he was. Getting to see this softer, quieter side to him was nice, enjoyable even. That didn’t help him discern how he truly felt about the demon. To think he was falling for Boombox of all inphernals, Medkit would’ve laughed at the thought as if it was the funniest joke imaginable. But now he was second guessing himself. Was he actually enjoying being with Boombox for once?

Medkit yawns, suddenly struck by how tired he was. He’s had a long day, a rough phight and on top of that the weed is making him sleepy. Plus, it was something to get his mind off of his complicated feelings for the DJ. Soon enough he was lying down, taking up part of Boombox’s spot on the couch. He doesn’t bother stripping out of his coat, it was too cold for that anyways. Instead, he shifts the blanket around and does his best to get comfortable.

“You’re not gonna fall asleep on me, right?” Boombox laughs, walking back into the room. Actually, maybe it was a good thing for the healer to get some rest. That way he can sleep off the rest of his high.

“Mm… I’ll consider it,” Medkit half jokes, snuggling further into the blanket.

“Here, at least let me get you a pillow,” Boombox says once again turning to leave the room. By the time he returns, he’s met with the cutest sight.

There was Medkit, snuggled up on the couch, fast asleep. His leg partially hanging off the couch, eye closed in what Boombox assumed was going to be the best sleep of his life.

To think, one quick trip over to the Playgrounder’s home turned into quiet laughs and even spending the night. Something Boombox never thought would happen, but he welcomed it with open arms. Not that he would’ve let Medkit drive home with how high he is, rain or shine.

The last thing Boombox does before he turns in for the night is slip the pillow under the healers head, receiving just the faintest of a murmur from the healer. Boombox puts the still burning candle out and leaves out a fresh cup of water. Just in case he wakes up thirsty.

By the time he’s snuggled up in bed, the power flicks back on with a dull hum. Every light in the apartment flicking on, blinding his poor visorless eyes. Begrudgingly, he stumbles out of bed and goes through the grueling task of turning them back out.

He pauses when he gets into the living room. The lights were already out from when they were enjoying the natural lighting but this time he’s not focused on the lights. The DJ has his eyes solely set on the doctor peacefully sleeping on his couch. A soft, gentle smile creeps on his face as he looks for a few more moments before remembering something.

Oh right, the powers on. He can charge his phone now. He glances around the room before finding two phones on the table. One with a black case decorated with music notes and stickers, while the other has a teal diamond pattern on it was gold accents. Medkit’s phone.

Boombox picks up both of the now dead devices and inspects Medkit’s charger port. Yeah, he think he has a spare charger cord.

--

Medkit slowly blinks back to reality. The events of the evening were a blur of simple hazy memories that weigh on him as he wakes up cozied up with a soft, fuzzy blanket with a pillow under his head. He groans, slowly propping himself up on his elbows. Scanning around the room with a tired eye and a hazy mind, his memories of last night slowly coming back to him.

This wasn’t his blanket, this wasn’t his pillow, and this certainly wasn’t his apartment. But there’s a gentle tune playing somewhere within the home, one he recognized from the day prior, and the scent of something savory in the air. His gaze turns to the source of the smell, finding tall, lime green horns.

“…Boom..box?” The healer’s voice is groggy and dry as he slowly blinks in disbelief.

When… When did he fall asleep? How long was he out for? Heights, what time is it? A hand slowly comes up to touch his face. Thankfully his eyepatch was still there. Ultimately, the doctor sighs.

Medkit sits up fully, accidentally letting the pillow slip to the floor. He yawns, taking another glance around the room before his eye lands on the phone charging on the table.

He skims through the notifications and is greeted by about a dozen or so missed calls and messages from Sword, and nearly as much from his boss. Scythe he could care less about what she had to say, but it seems like he’s worried the poor swordsmen sick over his absence.

Medkit fires off a quick text, explaining how his phone died but not explain the whole truth. It’d be too embarrassing to have to explain what happened last night and why he was with Boombox of all demons. He doesn’t bother checking Scythe’s messages, that’s for another, more sober him to deal with.

“Boombox?” This time he calls out to the inphernal, who lets out a small yelp.

“Med! Hey! I didn’t know you were up,” Boombox replies, making his way around the countertop and into view of the healer. His smile is warm, LEDs’ displaying little up arrows in place of his usually circle eyes. Wearing an off-white apron around his neck and tied around his pudgy waist.

“I hope I didn’t wake you. I-I was just making breakfast!” He stammers, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.

The healer hums, swinging his legs off of the couch to fully sit up before standing up. He stumbles at bit, throwing his arms out to steady himself.

“Whoa there, hey. Take it easy!” Boombox rushes to his side, holding him steady like he did previously. Taking on a more intimate approach, grabbing him by the hand and holding onto his forearm.

“I-I’m fine, really.” Medkit tries to push the other away but finds himself leaning further into him.

“I think you’re still a lil high. That’s okay! Happens to the best of us.” Boombox smiles. “Here, come sit in here and we can chat some more.”

Medkit doesn’t protest, letting Boombox lead him over to the kitchen table before taking a seat. Boombox returns to what he was doing, shifting around to remove bacon from the pan he was tending to.

“What… What happened last night?” Medkit asks before breaking out into a yawn. Eventually reaching up to wipe a tired tear from his eye. God, this was as tired as he’s ever felt before and that’s saying something compared to all the all-nighters he’s pulled trying to get Scythe’s extra work done that she dumped on him last minute.

“You don’t remember? You kinda smoked a little too much and greened out. The power went out; we talked like a bunch which was a first because you were so chatty!” Boombox begins to ramble, highlighting the events of last night.

“Actually, we did a lot of talking, it was crazy! Oh!! And we had sandwiches in the dark. Eventually you laid down and went to sleep.” The musician continues to explain, shifting around the kitchen with swift moves. Pulling out a few eggs from the fridge. “I thought I’d treat ya to breakfast at least since I think I lowkey traumatized you.” He let out a nervous laugh that’s met with an eyeroll from the doctor.

“When don’t you?” Medkit scoffs, right back to his usual self.  Ah yes, that was the same Medkit Boombox came to know and love.

“What are you making anyways?” Medkit asks, setting his elbows on the table and leaning against his hands. Gazing at the musician with a sharp, questioning eye.

“Just something simple. Bacon, eggs, maybe some toast if ya want.” Boombox doesn’t bother looking his way as he responds, far too focused on the task at hand.

Medkit hums in response, his gaze softening. Despite how noisy the DJ is, the tone he’s using now is soft, almost gentle. Almost. He is still partially shouting over to the healer despite only sitting a few feet away. Yet… He could be speaking louder but he chose not to.

“Toast would be nice.”

---

Boombox finishes up making breakfast before settling in across from the doctor. Their morning filled with a comfortable stillness. There’s conversation sprinkled in here and there, but for the most part it’s two inphernals enjoying a quiet morning.

Now with food in his stomach, Medkit finally felt well enough to stand on his own and more importantly drive. Boombox asks time and time again if he’s sure it’s well enough to drive to which the doctor replied yes each time he asked. Eventually snapping back that he had work to do.

Boombox lets the healer go, but not before one more request. “Text me when you make it, okay?”

Medkit groans but eventually agrees to it. Once out of the apartment and into his car. Medkit sighs, looking at his reflection in the rearview mirror. Gods did he look rough. His hair is a mess, his now infamous eyebag looking darker than usual. Right, he should get home pronto. No stops, no nothing. He had work to do.

He’s about halfway home when he receives a call from the swordsmen, the call ringing out from his cars Bluetooth. Just loud enough to startle him.

“Hello Sword—” Medkit is cut off before he can get another word in.

“Medkit! Oh, thank the Heights you’re alright, I thought something bad had happened when you weren’t returning my texts or calls,” Sword says, relief evident in his voice. “What were you even doing in Playground?” he asks.

Medkit pauses, a wave of dread washing over him. Great, now he had to explain himself otherwise he wouldn’t hear the end of it. Sword was always a curious demon, always wanting to pry into Medkit’s social life or lack thereof. Not that Medkit could blame him, it was so unlike him to randomly end up in Playground of all places.

“How did you know I was in Playground?” Medkit doesn’t try to deny where he was, lying didn’t seem to benefit him much in the moment. Sword already knew far more than the doctor wanted him to.

“We’re sharing locations, duh. I can see you just got home,” Sword reminds him, being met with an irritated huff. He had a point.

“So, you’re stalking me now?” Medkit rolls his eye, pulling into his usual parking spot. He’s met with a laugh.

“Return my calls and maybe I won’t have to,” Sword says, still chuckling.

“Touche,” Medkit simply replies.

“Now c’mon, what were you doing over there?” Sword once again asks.

“I was…” Medkit hesitates, thinking for a moment.

“Visiting a friend.”

---

Medkit’s only inside his apartment for a few minutes when he remembers that he was supposed to text Boombox when he made it back. It was the least he could do after everything the musician had done. Medkit quickly grabs his phone, navigates over to his messages and sends a simple response.

---

I made it home.

That’s great to hear!

Hey, I had a lotta fun, we should do this again sometime!

---

Medkit thinks for a brief moment before replying.

---

I’ll consider it.