Chapter Text
Noelle couldn’t stop shaking. Bright blue obscured her vision. It was cold, it was freezing. Within the bright blue she could see them. The wire beasts, the mice, the cats. Each one trapped in a frozen prison. Numbness began to take her left hand as she tried with all her might to slip off the ring, its thorns ripping her skin apart with each tug. The blue was becoming so blinding it was turning white, making it easier to see the six sided crystal that stood in front of her. She tried to focus her gaze to see what was inside it but her eyes moved upwards as something much bigger looked down at her from behind the crystal.
Yellow and Pink staring down at her. It spoke. “[Angel] DON’T YOU JUST FEEL [Heaven]LY!?” The creature lurched forward. Its silhouette was imposing. Giant wings shielding Noelle from the light behind it. “YOU WOULDN’T JUST THROW IT [In the garbage] AND [Ruin] MY [Chaos, Chaos] WOULD YOU!?” Noelle could make out its face. A pale long nosed puppet. “YOU WOULDN’T [$!$!] ME OVER RIGHT AT THE END WOULD YOU!? ALL BECAUSE OF [They/Them]!?”
Who was this thing talking about? That thought only sat in her mind for a second before she could remember. She heard Kris’s words.
“Proceed”
——
Noelle jumped out of her trance as her partner shook her slightly. Kris stood between her and her computer. It appeared she did something to cause it to blue screen.
Once Noelle was able to focus on reality again Kris turned towards the computer, shutting it down and moving closer to inspect Noelle’s hands. Dust and torn fur covered her wedding ring, she was accidentally tearing her skin fiddling with it.
Noelle pulled her hand from Kris and looked at it herself. “Oh jeez! I’m sorry I’m so sorry!” She began hyperventilating as she spoke. “I didn’t mean to do this again, I thought I was doing better, I didn’t think it would be a problem to wear it again, I’m so sorry you had to see me like this again, Kris” she was cut off by Kris placing a finger to her mouth.
Kris slowly pulled the ring from her finger. The skin underneath lacked fur and was irritated. It was obvious she was at this for a while.
Noelle looked at her hand and then up to Kris’s face. The look on their face, they were upset but trying hard to not show it. Noelle’s vision began growing blurry as tears began to obscure it. “I’m sorry.”
Kris embraced her, the warm feeling of their body against hers was the only thing that could comfort her in a moment like this. It’s been this way for 11 years now. After that horrible dream and that terrifying prank Kris had been there to protect her. Through their last couple school years she’d begin to notice the new Kris. They would check up on her daily. Have it be at school, her house, on the phone, or online. Even when she and Susie were dating she couldn’t help but notice Kris’s determined focus on keeping her and their best friend happy.
But she knew it was Kris. They spoke like Kris, they walked like Kris, they pranked like Kris. Nothing like the thing from her nightmare. She felt awful breaking up with Susie just to start seeing her best friend but Noelle had to be close to Kris. They would protect her in a way no one else could. It was fate that they would marry not that long after finishing school. It had to be.
Noelle felt as Kris helped stand her up, walking her over to their bed and tucking her under her heavy blankets. They slowly pulled away before walking over to the computer. They were going to figure out what caused the computer to freeze up like that.
Noelle knew she had to tell them what she was doing even if she didn’t want to. “I was testing out the modding capabilities of the game my team was working on.” Noelle was leading a dev team working on a Cat Petterz Fan Remake. Her Mother had no issue in her daughter being unemployed if she’d keep herself busy with projects like this. “I guess it wasn’t ready for more than a couple being active at a time.”
Kris just nodded before Noelle watched them open up her discord and begin messaging someone. Her heart dropped a bit, it was about to happen again.
Kris walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge refusing to make eye contact. “You’re taking a week away from the game.”
Noelle tried to protest. “But they can’t continue the project without me. I need to do my part!”
“Catti can handle any questions for a week. Your team is fine.” Kris responded.
“But, but…” Noelle tried to stop herself from crying even more but the tears were breaking through. “This is all I have right now you can’t just… take this from me.” She burst into tears, grabbing Kris’s shirt and pushing her face into their side. “Please, please let me do this. I have been doing so good it was just a small hiccup it won’t happen again!”
She continued crying and begging into Kris’s side as they sat there unresponsive. She clenched onto her partner as tightly as she could but she felt them start to pull away, standing up and tugging themself out of her grip. Leaving her to curl up on the bed alone. She gripped at her knees trying to make herself as small as possible.
——
Kris walked out of their bedroom, unable to figure out how to fix this issue right now. They came home for their lunch break. They still had work after this hour was up. Kris was working under the Mayor, doing whatever small jobs Carole asked of them. Carole had no issue spoiling her Daughter and in law for such simple work. There was no way Kris was going to be able to go out and help Mr. Cattenheimer fix his car while Noelle was sitting at home crying.
Kris took a deep breath and felt at their chest. Their heart rate was quick, that’s good it meant it was reacting with their own emotions. They could sit with Noelle without worry, hopefully.
They pulled out their phone and quickly called their boss. Carole was always quick when it came to answering Kris. They kept their hand on their chest as they waited for the mayor to answer.
Carole answered. “Kris? It’s your lunch break. You shouldn’t be focusing on your work until 1. Please enjoy yourself.”
Kris took a second to put a bit of energy behind their voice. Carole couldn’t really understand their usual mumbling over the phone. “I can’t finish my tasks for the day. Noelle needs support.” Kris could hear Carole sigh over the phone.
“You understand that I need those tasks done right Kris?” She sounded disappointed. A tone most couldn’t pick up on as she always sounded disappointed to those who didn’t know her well.
“I’ll get someone to help Mr. Cattenheimer I promise. The work will get done.” Kris grasped at their chest. The tasks were getting too much for them to handle but they had to handle them.
Carole was silent for a second before responding. A kinder tone. “Good, I’m counting on you to figure this out yourself, Dreemurr. Enjoy your weekend and please make sure Noelle is happy. You may come around if you think it would calm her down to see her mother.” She hung up.
Noelle sat in bed, barely able to see her dust covered hands. Kris was going to change their mind, they wouldn’t hurt her like this. Her focus changed once she heard Kris in the hallway. They were talking to her mother. Maybe if they were going to stay home she could convince them to let her continue the project. She couldn’t let this one fall through. Not like all the others.
When Kris returned Noelle was laidback in bed. She wasn’t crying anymore but she looked upset. She hid most of her face under her blanket.
Kris walked over to the computer. Shutting it down before they crawled into the bed next to Noelle, half covering their face as well. “I’m staying home.”
Noelle was still upset but had calmed down enough to speak clearly. “I don’t want to stop working on the project Kris. I’m so bored at home right now. Working with the team, it’s been making me feel like I can work a job again. Like I’m not just sitting at home waiting for you to come back.” It’s been too long since she felt useful. After those panic attacks at her last job she had been stuck at home for years. “Please let me get back to work.”
You stared at Noelle for a good few seconds. “Okay you could do whatever you want.”
Noelle jumped a bit. It was so blunt so matter of fact so… familiar. That fear was broken when Kris scooped her up into their arms.
Kris nibbled at her neck. “But first I’m hungry.”
Noelle let out a loud squeak. “KRIS!!!” That was more like it. That was Kris.