Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

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"So, who's the lucky 'phernal?"

"Ah, he's a close friend I have. I don't do this stuff often so... I hope he can see that I'm not joking around when I give him this."

The shop was quiet, the subtle hum of a breaking AC, chatter of people from other aisles, clicking of registers, and shuffling of shoes being the only sounds filling up the store.

This was a pet store. One of the only ones in Playground, too. It was a bigger than average building for the faction‒ yet still crammed into other buildings by its sides, only separated by walls with paint peeling at the corners. Usually, most days pet shops would go bankrupt or barely stay afloat in this part of the Inpherno because of the declining need for pets. People either couldn't take care of them due to work constrictions, and having one just added onto too much extra work which was unneeded. But this one was special; they specialized in selling Lovedoves, Playground's native star bird. They were one of the higher end stores, known for taking good care of their Lovedoves and being able to provide adequte instructions on how to care for them. They also had little goodies. People all the way from Blackrock, a faction notably infamous for having their inphernals rarely leave the faction, would come all the way to this store to buy a Lovedove. So, of course, it'd be one of the more popular stores in the entire Inpherno.

For the uninformed, a Lovedove isn't some ordinary bird‒ it isn't some pigeon, some goose, some swan‒ it has a very important meaning to the Inpherno. They are known as messengers of love, a very special gift for a partner; giving one to another inphernal is a declaration of your love for them. These birds sported fat, fluffy warm coats of white and pink, occasionally tinted with the faint color of yellow. Everything, from the softness of their feathers to the shape of their beaks, were the common agreed on "standard" for a gift of love. But the most prominent and most important feature of them were the pink hearts on the fronts of their bodies. On every type, a large, rose colored heart would be on the forefront of their body, the thing the Lovedoves liked to show off most. Some even had multiple hearts. Lovedoves, rare yet powerful, had easily become a very important symbol for all inphernals, and it isn't really a surprise. Love sells. Love songs are probably the most common songs you'd hear. Romance is one of the leading genres in movies, in shows, and it's sometimes what people focus their whole existence upon. So of course love sells.

"Alright, this one‒ whoo! Haha‒ flapped at me with her wings there, she's a little feisty sometimes. This is Layla, a Hearttail Lovedove. I believe she's coming up on a year old now? Startin' to get old there, aren't you, litte lady?"

The elderly woman lifted up her pointer finger, curled, to the Lovedove. The bird cooed and nuzzled into it, moving its head back and forth upon the finger as it resisted the urge to nip at it, before pulling back and ruffling its feathers as it eyed the second inphernal down. The woman was helping a younger inphernal, 20 years of age, by the name of Coil, find the perfect Lovedove for him to buy.

"A what?"

"A Lovedove? Hun, the thing you were looking for?"

"Oh‒ shit‒ nah I meant the... Hearttail thing. Forgot they came in like... different... colors..."

"Pwaahahaa, you're a funny kid! They just sometimes look a little different. A little fluffier. A little skinnier. That's all."

She laughed hard, throwing her head up towards the dim light above them as she bared all her teeth. Layla shuffled around on the woman's arm, flapping her wings as her cheeks puffed up in defiance. Coil did not join the laughing.
Soon after the woman had finished her excitement, she positioned her arm towards the cage Layla came from, the Lovedove bouncing back into her home as the door was shut and locked.

"So, did you find her acceptable?"

Coil thought for a moment‒ taking a longer look at the Lovedove, who looked right back for just as long before giving a pompous "hmph!" and shuffling away. He squinted, recounting the bird's demeanor and physical appearance.

"She's pretty, I think Ska‒ HE'D like her, but she seemed... I dunno, not wanting to be here. He probably needs a bird that can... cuddle?"

The woman thought for a moment, before hastily nodding and putting the bird back into the lineup with the other Lovedoves, before bringing out another cage, this one coming with a bow as an add on.

"If you want cuddly, Prince is the perfect one for you! He's real‒"

"Woah, woah, uhhh... nah. Eyes are too freaky. He'd either get really excited or really scared. I don't wanna take any chances. Could you keep the bow though?"

"Ah, that's okay. Messengers aren't right for everyone. Let me see..."

Prince was put back without a chance to show himself off. Luckily he was asleep so no feelings were hurt, and he was set back down with a soft "coo" as he shuffled around in his cage. The woman carefully removed the silk bow from the cage and placed it down onto the counter, right next to Layla who tried to nip at it‒ but it was just out of reach. Soon, another cage with the quintessence of a Lovedove inside it was brought to Coil's face.

"Here's Lovey. He's probably the most standard and the best example we have of a Lovedove here. No mutations, not curly, not a hearttail, not a messenger. Standard run of the mill."

She unlocked the cage, Lovey flying out and landing on her head instead of her outstretched arm.

"He's wide awake since it was just feeding time. Likes perching on people."

Coil stared at the bird, who was flexing its wings atop the worker's head. While watching the dove, he allowed his own arms to be outstretched by her so he could perch on him, and soon Lovey did. It noted to stay away from the unusual electric bands that coiled around his arms.

Lovey wasn't bad. He really was the spitting image of what most people would think when they thought Lovedove. Not too fluffy, well groomed, friendly, and very symmetrical. Especially the heart. But he didn't feel any spark with it. Sure it was cute and all, but there wasn't really any emotional bond there. It yawned in his face as he moved one of his hands to cup the bird's cheeks with two fingers, examining it. It allowed itself to be studied, staring at him back with just as much confusion. At least they had that in common.

He squinted once more before shaking his head, offering the bird back to her. "He's not bad... but I don't feel any connection there. Do you got any more?"

For once, Coil was actually picky, and he noted that. Guess he found this important enough to settle for only the best.

The woman eagerly nodded as she placed Lovey down before immediately replacing the empty spot of her hands with another, larger cage. She turned the open door to Coil, having already unlocked it while she was grabbing the cage.

“This is our last one that still isn’t a baby, if that’s okay. This is Plume. She’s coming up on a couple of months now, and is a cuddle bug, but only sometimes! She's a big sleeper. ”

Plume slowly walked out of her cage, having just woken up from a long nap. She was excessively fluffy, some of her untamed feathers covering parts of her beak. Fluff adorned most of her body, with her being able to tuck in her head into the layers of her coat akin to a seal. Her signature heart was on the top of her beak, unlike the others.

“Why’s she so fluffy?” Coil questioned, raising a finger at the Lovedove who was now busy attempting to preen her feathers, curling her own body backwards and nipping at random spots.

“She’s a curly variant. They’re known for, well, bein’ curly!”

“Wow.”

He didn't attempt to make his intrigue in her obvious.

This one seemed different, or at least more normal. She was friendly, occasionally glancing over at Coil but mostly trying to preen her own feathers, twisting backwards and excessively nipping at her pure white and pink coat. The woman noticed Coil’s interest in her, and offered him to hold her.

“Here, hold her from under. She likes being held like a baby.”

Taking the dove into his arms, he was able to get a better perception of her. Fluffy and soft, with two beady eyes that slanted slightly down. She seemed to notice the sudden change of position, but didn’t seem to mind as she stopped her preening and decided to nestle down where she was, already trusting him. Watching all this, Coil started to murmur to himself.

“Skate likes fluffy things…”

He sat in silence for a while, staring at the living being held by him. He could feel the warmth of her body radiating off of her feathers, and the warmth of her blood. The pounding of her tiny heart thumped against his hand rhythmically like a drum. The longer he held her the more it seemed she began to melt in his arms, literally, her head slowly tucking into the layers of feather. He could even tell when she took a breath due to how tiny she was.

After pondering for a moment, and the Lovedove seemingly not too keen on moving, he looked back up at the worker.

“I think she’s good.”

“I think she likes you too.”

——————————————————

Plume was busy not being busy at all, sitting down on the cold and cluttered counter, loafing. She was watching the odd transaction between the two beings as one typed numbers into a machine and the other watched.

“So, how close are you two? If you don’t mind me asking.”

The woman was typing in credentials and SFOTH knows what into the computer next to the cash register, Coil expectantly waiting as she prepared the checkout. He was subconsciously tapping his fingers against the counter, eyes never leaving the computer.

“We’re, y’know, friends. Roommates.”

“You two ever dated before?”

“Nah, but he’s dated many times. Actually, it’s really funny because he’s dated probably every friend he has except…

Except me.”

The woman didn’t respond, fixing her glasses as she intently watched the screen before the total came up. She probably hadn’t responded because Coil had gradually lowered his voice the more he spoke. Plume, on the other hand, was trying to nestle closer to someone, torn between the woman and Coil, just wanting to be pet.

“Mhm, mhm, sounds nice. Wishing you two luck out there.”

While waiting, Coil quickly checked his phone to see Skateboard’s location. If he came home with a random Lovedove it’d be not pleasant to explain… and he’s sure Skate asking him about it would be painful just because it was meant for him. Shit… how was he gonna hide Plume anyway? The old lady was right, they WERE expensive. You bought one- you buy life to prove that you’re really in love. Damn, he cannot let Skateboard find out about her. But he’ll figure that out later.

Good news though was that Skateboard was hanging out at Slingshot’s Cafe, alongside Boombox and Slingshot. Now that he really thought about it, Skateboard HAD dated both of them. And he was basically on the same friend level as them two. Maybe not as close as Slingshot, but he’d been friends with Skateboard for long now. He even lives in the same house with him!

So… why wasn’t he an option yet?

No.

He was an option.

He was just overthinking things, like always, and that was a terrible habit he needed to break for his own sanity.

Needing a distraction (and maybe some validation), he sent a quick little text to the group chat between the four of them.

* if u guys have like
corn nuts over there can i have some
please 🙏

He wasn’t sure who read it because it was a group chat, but as soon as he sent it he regretted it because it was boring and dry as fuck. He swore he could’ve said something funny instead. Boombox responded shortly after he sent that.

* i have Sour oatch kids with me rnn!!! Yk if u want some😄
and chocolate milk packets

Coil thought over what he was going to say next.

* thanks boom for taking care of me unlike some people here 🥹

Little jab at Slingshot even though he lets him taste test new desserts he puts on the menu. Boombox did not reply, or at least he didn’t see his reply, because he had already stored away his phone. The woman had finished typing and now was waiting for him to pay.

“I betcha really care about him since you’re buying a Lovedove. These babies are expensive! You sure a young thing like you can handle it?”

“Pretty sure, been saving up for a while now.”

She laughed, leaning back in the chair and turning her head towards the ceiling before the wrinkly fingers came back to wipe her face.

“Haha, I’m just joking with you. Total is 1,285.88, including tax. Cash or card?”

“Holy shit- uh, card is… good.”

Thank SFOTH he saved up.

Chapter Text

Making the journey back home with an expensive item in the Inpherno is hard because you're almost bound to get robbed. This wasn't Coil's concern though. He knew backalleys, could fend for himself, and picked a time where people relatively weren't out often.

The real problem was hiding Plume‒ an alive, living, breathing thing, inside an apartment he didn't even own, away from the owner of the apartment.
Gods, things just couldn't be worse, couldn't it?
But he could manage.

He fumbled with the keys in his pocket, balancing Plume in her cage (with the pink bow) with one side of his body, while the other side of his body leaned over, putting its weight on that side, with the keys. He hastily struck the keyhole a couple times, missing due to nerves of someone potentially watching him from behind and trying to keep Plume from falling or jostling around too much; though he prevailed, managing to fit the key inside the hole it was made for, turning it and opening the door, then pulling it out and locking the door from the inside. He didn't need to check if Skate was there because he'd already checked his location from his phone at the pet store, and on the way back home.

The apartment was quiet, the penetrating heat of Playground giving the air a strange warmth to it combined with wetness. It hadn't been lived in for at least 10 hours, because Skate and Coil had both gone out early in the morning and split their separate ways, and neither had come back until now. Plume, as fluffy as she was, didn't seem to mind Playground heat at all. She seemed like a bird suited for Blackrock‒ her layers of fluff, coat after coat of feathers and muscle providing an escape from the icy mountain's biting cold. Plus, her color (minus the overwhelming pink) would allow perfect camoflauge against the glittering white that went as far as eye could see. But she didn't seem bothered at all.

Coil scanned around the apartment for a moment, his eyes darting from wall to wall and the occasional furniture or doorframe to really make sure no one else but them two were here. The silence drew out for awhile, enough for Plume to decide to get settled, closing her eyes and shuffling back and forth for a moment only to be disturbed by the sudden incomprehensible noises above her and movement.

"Okay Plume, this is your new home. I hope you like it because it's your forever home!... Y'know, I hope. Cause I can't really return you, and if Skate doesn't like you, then...

Then..."

He paused for a moment again, essentially talking to himself as the language barrier between the two species didn't allow for any communication. Which also allowed him to REALLY say anything he wanted, and that almost all the time leads to spiraling.

What if Skate didn’t like Plume? What if he was confused or was put off by the sudden gesture? How expensive she is? That's so out of character for Coil, it might've just ruined it.
What if Skate didn't even like him?

...

There was no time to think about that now. The decision had been done, and therefore he had committed himself to confessing. Plus, he wasn't a quitter.

He walked to the end of the apartment, passing through the living room and kitchen before making it to a familiar closed door. Turning the handle revealed a flight of stairs leading into the earth‒ or the soil that was in the sky? Because Playground was floating? It didn't matter‒ it was a basement, where Skateboard so generously offered to Coil to hide himself in since he was on the run. It was supposed to be a temporary few weeks thing, but months had already passed and neither of them said anything about it. Sometimes Coil felt guilty about not saying anything, but if he did he wouldn't know where else to go. And Skateboard didn't seem to mind, so it wasn't that much of a problem. As long as he helped out around the house.

Great, another thing to worry about if the confession did go wrong. Where would he live? He couldn't just continue to exist in a space where he felt the loom of a broken heart around every corner. Not possible and not healthy.

Plume definitely stood out in his room. Almost nothing in there was both pink and white, and the consistent dark colors and edgy imagery just worked against the idea of hiding her. Even she seemed to notice.

"Damn, how am I gonna hide you?"

He placed her down on his bed, the covers slightly crumbling under the weight of the cage as she watched Coil. He was holding a hand up to the space between his eyebrow and his horn, a perplexed look spread across every inch of his face before he started pacing around the room, occasional mumbles escaping from his mouth.

For any good bird owner, they'd put their beloved animal companion out in the open, where air could reach and they could see the sun. Even letting them out of their cage all the time after they were trusted enough. Coil was not a good bird owner, and he also had to hide a particulary noticeable bird. Without making it unhappy and killing it from a lack of resource. So, he checked the shelf he had on one of his walls. It was cluttered with random junk, unimportant enough to be able to be discarded and free up enough space for Plume and her cage to live in. But it was too in the open. You might as well have put her cage right on his nightstand, because it was so out of place and just not hidden at all. So then he checked the wall right at the staircase. There was a wall where you'd need to turn the corner from the stairs to see what was behind it. But that wouldn't work either, because Skate commonly came into Coil's room. Especially because it was another person living in his house. There's no way he wouldn't see‒ or hear‒ Plume. Since that wouldn't work he walked to his bed and crouched down, checking under it. When he looked back up, Plume was glaring at him, her feathers ruffled, opposed to that option.

"Don't give me that look. It wouldn't fit you anyway."

Running out of ideas, he remembered his closet. It was a hole in the wall with a door. The definition of a closet.

He slid open the door and his eyes immediately knew where to go, turning themselves up. The closet was dark in the absence of the light, dark enough to where something could be hidden from someone with eyes that didn't know how to properly scan. And there was a shelf above his rows of clothes, currently fitting nothing but blankets. He could store her up there (with the door cracked halfway open so that she could have fresh air, and he'd only store her up there when absolutely needed, like when he was absent from the house. He didn't trust her to roam free and hide herself just yet).

(ALSO ATTENTION ALL BIRD OWNERS DO NOT STUFF YOUR BIRDS INTO CLOSETS PLEASEEEEEEEEE THAT IS SUPER BAD DO NOT LEARN FROM COIL HERE LMFAO 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I CAN'T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BRO)

Okay. Possibly the biggest problem was taken care of in less than 20 minutes. That was great! If everything went according to plan he could confess by... basically 2 days. Maybe if nothing went wrong. And he wouldn't have to hide poor little Plume in his closet for weeks and make her unhappy.

Now that he could think, he needed to build rapport with her. He did own her now, and would be taking care of her for as long as she lived. Maybe. How long did Lovedoves live anyways? 3-6 years? That was... a long time. If she lived for her full lifespan he'd be 26. And she could possibly live past 6 too. He was smart, so why didn't he think this through??

...But that didn't seem bad. Taking care of something didn't seem terrible at all. Maybe not with his current lifestyle. But it didn't seem bad if things were different.

He didn't want to dwell on thoughts that were going to make him overthink again. He could sort things out with Skateboard and think about the future from there. There. Wishful thinking was good.

Plume came with a little paper giving a more in-depth and personal description of herself for whoever bought her. Coil hadn't forgotten he had it, and unfolded it from his pocket before reading its contents, because he really didn't know anything about this bird yet.

- Name: Plume

That was easy, he didn't change her name.

- Age: 5 months
- Birthday: February 8th

There was a couple more lines of information, which ranged from medical to personal. Coil did take note that she slept often, regularly got more dirty than other Lovedoves (due to the excessive amounts of feathers), and especially liked head pets. Now he could attempt to talk to her.

He turned to the gate of her cage and unlocked it, already knowing she was on the brink of sleep from the large bars that allowed him to see her. He was almost tempted to let her rest, but then again he didn't know how much time he had until Skate was home, and putting her into a closet wouldn't be a good first impression at all. So he pushed through and held his hand in front of her, allowing her to smell him and know he was there, and also letting her know he wasn't a threat. Though he was pretty sure she didn't care if he was a threat or not.

Plume picked up her head, folds of feathers moving along with her, and almost instantly nuzzled and rubbed her head against Coil's hand. He was surpised an animal other than stray dogs would be friendly with him, but maybe that was just her. He found that good enough to move to rubbing her head, which she found even more satisfying, cooing happily before pulling away and flapping her wings.

"You think Skate will like me back?"

Plume had absolutely no idea what the fuck he was saying, but she just made a happy sound due to the previous kindness she had received and that was enough for Coil. Not like he knew what she was saying either.

"Haha, knew it."

He had walked away with the gate unlocked to grab a small package of sunflower seeds he had bought as a snack for her. He wasn't sure when the last time she had eaten was, but assuming it was the morning, he decided not to feed her a full meal yet and used seeds as a snack instead. He turned around, canines on display and eyes closed as he held the bag up in the air for her to see.

"You hungry? I got sunflower seeds if you want some."

He was almost expecting her to not turn that down, but not expecting her to be right in front of his face, flying, when he opened his eyes. She was nipping at the bag, wings carrying her body in the air as she hummed around it like a drone. He flinched once he noticed and recoiled the bag behind his back which made Plume confused as to where the food went.

"Holy shit‒ ok‒ just let me get the bag open, goddamn..."

When he turned back around, he held his arm out and put the other hand palm up with a gracious amount of sunflower seeds. Plume happily landed on his arm and began eating, not leaving a single one left.

"This is gonna be a problem, isn't it?"

She didn't respond, wings fluttering happily as she ate her snack.

-------------------------------------------------------

An hour or two had passed, and nerves had hidden themselves away to be replaced by the presence of tranquility. Plume was sitting at the edge of Coil's bed, sleeping, while Coil was also on his bed, scrolling on his phone. He was watching videos without any meaning, that he wouldn't learn anything from. But for the past 40 minutes it had been nothing but how to take care of birds, what birds liked, their habits, etc. And then it went over to relationship advice. It was a simple search, just looking something up in the spur of the moment. But like any other inphernal smitten to death, he quickly fell down a rabbit hole of videos. And he kind of cringed at most of them, but it was okay because it wasn't like he was going to follow them anyways. (He was.)

But that had brought up an extra thought in his mind. He had recently started talking to another phighter, Vine Staff. They had met over phights and had started bonding because they both had healing properties in their gears, to the point of becoming friends and sharing contact information. She was even kind enough to teach him how to utilize his healing coil more efficiently.

He had seen her around plenty of times after phights with her spouse Medkit, who he also knew, but not as well. Medkit had commented on his trips to Blackrock many times, though he didn't understand why he had such an interest in that about him. But that wasn't important at all! The big, big thing was that he knew someone who was in a successful relationship. And to be honest, on the occasions he did see the two together, they did seem really healthy. They rarely fought‒ if at all‒ though every relationship must have a couple arguments. Vine Staff would be working in her new flower shop, watering the plants, and Medkit, unexperienced but eager to help, would always come along even though he didn't specialize in that at all. And in Medkit's case, when he'd be overworked from papers, Vine Staff would keep him company and even work on some of it with him. There were too many things to list. They were, in all, the perfect healthy couple.

Maybe he could learn something from them...?

* hey vine

* Hi, Coil! I haven't seen you in awhile, how have you been? I hope you've been well!!

She was always quick to respond.

* i'm doiong good thank you :) hru

* Going great, my wisterias are blooming very quickly‒ though Shuriken has been getting on my nerves again, but it's okay.

* LOL, sorry

* Did you need anything?

* ohhh yeah ummmmm
how do i put this
i need relationship advice

* WHAT

A brief pause between both of them. Vine quickly typed again.

* Sorry, I just didn't expect that! That's so sweet Coil!!!!!! I never expected someone like you to be smitten with someone!!

* idk if im SMITTEN

He totally was. He bought a 1,000 dollar bird just for him. He absolutely knew and did not deny that he was smitten to death.

* Who's the lucky inphernal

* don't tell him this cuz ik u know him but it's skate

Vine Staff started typing faster, making her grammer a little worse

* I'm so happy for you omg omg Oh my gods
I'd be happy to help you
Maybe I can get Med to help too maybe

* lol it's fine if it's just you. i don't wanna make it a big thing or anything

* That's totally fine!!! I can like meet in person tomorrow if you want????????

* meet in person? it's fine if we can justt text

* NO HTIS IS TSUPOER IMPRLTANT WE MUST MEET IN PERSONA T MY HOUSE TOMRORW OKAY

* OK???????????

* 12:00 BE THER EOKKK BE THERE NOW I WILL PREPARE EVEYRHTING

* I ALSO BOUGHT A LOVEDOVE THAT WAS LIKE SUPER EXPENSIVE....................................................................... THAT'LL HELP RIGHT

* FUCK YEAH

DO NOT FRGET COIKL OR MAY FIREBRAND STRIKE YOU DOWN HIMSELF I WILL NOT LET YOU BE UNHAPPY FOREVER

* OK LMAO BYE

* Goodnight!

Coil closed his phone, ending that conversation more happily reassured than he expected himself to be. He knew Vine Staff would help him, but not be that enthusiastic. Maybe she was just a sucker for seeing friends fall in love. And she was just a nice person in general.

Then he opened his phone again after remembering he needed to check Skateboard's location and saw that he was at some park in Crossroads. Checking Boombox's location he saw he was also there, and checking Slingshot's showed that he was at home. So Skate was probably still hanging out with Boombox. It was getting dark anyways.

* skate u want me to make dinner or something

* wut?? i can just grab something dw

* r u sure

* yeah

* r u sure sure

* yeah

* ok
if you're picking something up i want the pasta from that place i like ok

* ok!!!! :]
let's go hangout tomorrow?

Godsdamn you Skateboard, proposing a hangout opportunity when he had important stuff to do tomorrow. It made Coil bite his lip in regret.

* sorry man, i can't
gotta meet with a friend

* oh ok
glad to see you getting out there and stuff

Before their short conversation ended, Coil debated asking a very risky question. But it had been on his mind for an unbearable amount of time, and if he was going to ask it he could ask it now, right? So he took his chance.

* quick question what did you see in the people you dated

* lol? what kinda question is that

Coil didn't respond, making Skateboard confused. But after a few minutes of silence he added onto his response.

* uhhh i guess i liked them? like like like? some of my relationships weren't serious tho like that one that lasted a week
bro this is hard to explain idk but if u love someone u love them right?
yea

Fuck that didn't help at all.

Coil stared at the phone for awhile, looking for answers that could've been hidden between the text. But there was nothing. While he was waiting he was wondering what'd he do for the rest of the day. He decided he'd just eat dinner and go to sleep. So, he just groaned, somehow more defeated than before, and typed back a reply.

* get home safe

Skateboard didn't respond.

Chapter Text

Waking up wasn't any different than it always was.

Last night, Coil took it slow. On normal days he'd stay up later than Skateboard, but with all that happened that day he just decided more energy for tomorrow would be beneficial. He didn't put Plume in the closet juuust yet, mainly because after eating dinner Skateboard said he'd watch a couple movies and go to sleep after that; so Coil could keep her out without having to hide her, unless Skateboard randomly walked into his room...

He didn't. Waking up was normal, or... abnormal, because after this he'd probably HAVE to put her in the closet when he slept, just to avoid Skateboard seeing her too soon. Plume was wide awake in her cage, perched on the tiny log that came with her purchase. Her cage had been put on Coil's nightstand so that he could keep watch of her and so that she'd feel safe when sleeping, but now she was making a scene. She was attempting to bite at Coil, eyes angrily downcast because it was just about her feeding time. Her continous squaking and biting forced him to check the time on his phone.

10:20 AM.

His phone was cast to the side, his other hand slapping the flesh on his cheek as he tried to wake up with a discontented groan. He said to himself that 5 more minutes would be enough, but knowing himself those 5 would turn into 10, and then 30, and Plume would never be fed and he'd be a terrible bird owner. So, he found the will deep in his core to actually get up, Plume's angry squaking acting as a makeshift alarm clock.

His legs automatically took him to the bag he had in the corner, filled with necessities for bird survival. He took out a small but decently sized bowl and put a couple of pellets in there, which made Plume even more loud as she waited. He hurriedly unlocked the door and placed the bowl in her cage, the only loud sound in the room quieting down within a minute and the pellets slowly disappearing one by one. He could only laugh at her while she ate before he decided to get dressed.

He didn't put on anything special, just his normal outfit. It felt like if he didn't go somewhere without his hoodie it'd be bad luck, though he knew it wasn't true. He just wanted to wear it again. And again.

Walking back into his room, it was clear that Plume had finished eating because she was now sitting down again in her cage. Coil walked up to her and reached his hand in the cage, petting her head once more and a tiny portion of her back.

"Umm, you probably eat fruit too, right? I can go get you some fruit from the kitchen."

Plume didn't understand again. But that was okay, because she seemed happy, displaying her wings and chirping, as if she really understood and was saying yes.

"That is if Skate isn't already awake..."

Coil brought a hand up to his face, debating his options once more. He did have to go up to leave the house and talk to Vine Staff, but also he needed to talk to Skateboard. Since they were roommates. It'd be weird if he suddenly started ignoring him, and that would plant suspicion onto him, meaning Plume would probably be found. Though randomly getting fruit would be weird if Skateboard saw, because he didn't eat breakfast.

"Nah, I can sneak it."

He turned around from Plume's cage and quickly went up the stairs leading into the main part of the apartment. It was quiet, minus the background hum of the AC. No Skateboard in sight, so Coil just casually made his way to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Inside were a numerous amount of consumable goods- but none of them were what he wanted. He messed some things up and out of their place, but eventually found a small pack of strawberries that were just bought. Skate probably wouldn't mind if he took these, right? He didn't even know when his stuff was missing, so...

...He was about to take the small package when the backdoor opened, blinding rays of yellow and white flooding into the house and almost where Coil stood. He instinctively closed the fridge before whatever thing was opening the door was and covered his eyes.

Skateboard stepped in, holding his gear under one arm and the door handle with the other.

"SFOTH, Skate- you could've given me a warning or something-"

"Sorry, I didn't know you were here!!"

Coil rubbed his eyes for a moment as he leaned against the fridge, Skateboard desummoning his gear and closing the door as he did so. He locked the door and turned back to Coil, who only had one hand on his eye now.

"You're up earlier than normal."

"Fuck you mean? It's only a few minutes earlier."

"For the past two weeks or somethin' you've been waking up at 12."

"Yeah, for the past TWO weeks. Not month."

"Can't blame me for not expecting something different."

Skateboard moved over to the kitchen counter, grabbing a bowl filled with cereal that he had made for himself an hour ago and chewing on it. Coil made his way over next to him to grab a cup.

"What were you doing out?"

"With my gang. Y'know, the other Skateboards."

Skateboard took the time to stare at Coil an extra long time now that he was right next to him. Sometimes he'd just like to stare at the other when he was just doing his normal activites, to get guess what he had done that day. It wasn't anything serious. It was a normal thing he did with friends. Friends just being Coil, but nothing serious. He just liked doing that with him. Nothing serious. No motive behind that.

"Did you just wake up?"

"Wow, yeah, no shit man, I can't believe you guessed that."

Coil obnoxiously rolled his eyes, earning a laugh from Skateboard and him excitedly clapping his hands as Coil walked away.

"Haha! I know, right?"

When he turned around, Coil already had a half full glass of water and was staring at him, his other hand behind his back. Skateboard didn't know why he was looking at him.

"I'm gonna go back to my room now."

"Man, are you sure you can't hang out today?"

"Well- I can- just not this afternoon, I got something later. What about tonight?"

"Yeah that works."

"Ok. Bye."

Skateboard didn't know why he got happy when Coil said that he could find time to spend with him. He chalked it up to nothing.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coil made it back into his room safely, pack of strawberries in hand behind his back. Plume happily greeted him back, knowing he brought her something as he picked up the bowl and filled it with 3 small strawberries.

"Is that too much fruit? Maybe I should take some back..."

Plume bit his hand. Okay, that was enough fruit.

She was a bit confused on how to eat this new food, but quickly learned as she put her beak to it and started chewing. Coil was satisfied with what he had managed to do and checked the time again.

11:02. Seems like a reasonable time since he took an extra long time getting up today, and then talking with Skateboard, and then feeding Plume. But now he realized- it was also barely enough time to make it to Vine Staff's and be on time. She lived all the way in Crossroads which, without those monorails, would take a long time to get to. And then he'd have to navigate Crossroads, which might be more unorganized than Playground just because of the crowding. Ah shit.

"...Plume, I gotta go like, now."

She just stared at him, her feathers as puffy as usual as she chirped in confusion. He quickly looked for a place to put the strawberries, not even caring as he put them on the shelf.

"Don't eat all of these."

She tilted her head. Coil ran upstairs as he put his phone in his pocket, trying to save time. He didn't even realize he left the gate unlocked.

Coil passed by Skateboard, who was on the couch still eating his cereal while scrolling on his phone. The two of them didn't look at each other- or that's what the other thought, because they looked at each other when the other wasn't.

"I'm going out, bye."

"See you later."

When Coil left and closed the door, Skateboard sat up and stared hard at the door. He was almost tempted to follow him- he rarely was in a rush for things he was late for, even purposefully taking extra time to get there. But then again it'd be an invasion of his privacy, and that'd be weird to explain just randomly following him. Plus he had his own stuff to do, so he just slumped down on the couch again.

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11:58 AM. Crossroads was as bad as he expected. Too many people, too many buildings, somehow there were people in the backalleys too. He managed to find some points of respite- a small clearing of about only 4 or 5 people before it went straight back to hell. But he made it, a building in a quieter area of Crossroads, the edge. It was notably covered in flowers, and there was a "Welcome!" mat in front of the door. This was Vine Staff and Medkit's new house after moving in together, shared between the two of them. They had just recently moved for convenience. Shuriken and Slingshot still lived at their own apartment, now just missing Vine Staff. They visited very often.

Coil knocked 3 times, hard, on the door. Behind it shuffling could be heard, and soon the lock coming undone. The door opened, revealing Vine Staff behind it, excitedly waving at Coil.

"Coil! I've been waiting for you. Don't be shy- come inside!"

"Hi Mrs- COUGH Vine Staff. Thank you..."

Coil walked inside and was greeted with the air being filled with the scents of meat cooking and flowers intermixing. It was a strange scent- the meat would overpower, then the strange sweetness of the flowers, and it'd go back and forth. Someone was cooking.
And the house was pretty roomy too. There were many rooms, a long hallway down the middle coming from the door. Photos were on the walls, living memories from both Vine Staff and Medkit. Seeing all this only made himself think about this exact same situation, but with him and Skateboard. Gods, he really knew it but still couldn't believe it every time he thought of these two in his mind. He wanted him and Skateboard's future to be like this. He stopped when he entered the house, trying to memorize every exact detail about it.

Vine Staff noticed after he stopped following her to the dining table. She turned around and grabbed his hand, bringing him back to reality.

"It's okay. Med already knows."

Was she referring to what he was just daydreaming about, or that Medkit already knew he was coming over??

Coil just followed her into the dining room, where he was offered a seat right next to Vine Staff. Looking over to his left he could see Medkit in the kitchen, half struggling and half actually cooking some food. He wasn't sure what he was making, but Vine Staff grabbed his attention when she sat down with him.

"Are you hungry? He's making spaghetti. I'm... teaching him."

He didn't get a chance to respond as Vine nervously looked back, turning her body to talk to Medkit.

"Honey, are you doing okay? Do you need any help?"

Medkit didn't respond, holding a pan in a shaky hand while he stirred with the other. He set the spoon down and gave a thumbs up.

"...Why is he using a spoon? My gods..."

Vine Staff pinched her nose in disappointment and sighed heavily before going back to normal and smiling at Coil, fully attentive.

"So, who is it?"

"Well, it's a little... eh..."

"You can tell me. I won't tell anyone!"

Vine Staff paused, scratching the back of her head in embarrassment.

"Maybe Med. But he won't tell anyone. Right, honey???"

She turned around, raising her voice so Medkit could hear her. He was still battling with the pan, now pouring... milk in there??

"WHAT?!!"

"...Vine, I don't think he heard you-"

"No he totally did! He responded, didn't you hear him?"

"HUH???"

"Yeah! He just agreed! That 'huh' means 'I won't tell anyone!'"

Coil knew Medkit had absolutely no idea what they were saying to him, but Medkit was pretty tight lipped so he trusted the two enough to tell it to Vine Staff.

"Okay. But nobody else knows this, so keep it to yourself. Not even Slingshot and Boombox know."

Vine Staff eagerly nodded, ears perking up as she waited.

"It's Skate. Skateboard."

"Oh.

Yeah, that makes sense. Okay."

"...You sound less enthusiastic now."

"No- no I'm not! It's just that it's so... obvious! So it makes my job easier."

"It's OBVIOUS?"

"Yeah, when you think about it. Everyone sees how you two act around each other. He obviously likes you too."

"Huh?????"

Coil flushed, for a moment. Vine Staff was stating something so outside of his frame of mind that he couldn't understand. Like she knew everything that was going on between them.

"He does?"

"At least I think so. And- actually- Slingshot has been onto it for like, forever now. He tells me Skateboard talks to him about you.

...I don't know if I should tell you that, but-"

"No no you TOTALLY SHOULD'VE TOLD ME THAT OKAY, okay..."

He was almost tempted to pull out his phone and text Slingshot right at that moment. But this wasn't confirming anything, right? It could've been him complaining about him. Actually, it'd make more sense for him to complain. But that was a bit of hope.

"Sorry, I got sidetracked... you just need general advice for this, right?"

"Yeah."

"Cool! It isn't that hard to do. Just pick up on cues, that'll help ease your nerves telling you if you want to confess or not. Also, making it a big thing will either work or backfire, depending on the person. But you know him best, so you get to decide how you confess."

"...Is giving him Plume making it a big thing?"

"What? What is a plume?"

"My Lovedove."

"Oh- oh!! Plume won't be a problem. She's more of a way of saying that you're not messing around.

Speaking of her, where is she anyways?"

Coil froze. In his rush, he had forgotten to bring Plume with him. He could've taken the backdoor so that Skateboard wouldn't have the chance of seeing her, and now he might actually find her. Fuck.

"Oh, I... may have... forgotten her in my room..."

Vine Staff seemed to understand the severity of his action, but not care as much, even making a joke about it. She reached into her pocket and brought out a pack of gum, offering him some so he could calm down.

"Awh, I wanted to see her. Send me some photos of her, okay? But you've GOT TO introduce me to her in person someday. Or I will never forgive you."

"Pffh- okay."

"Haha, let's pray Skateboard doesn't see her, okay?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two hours had passed. Medkit had managed to succesfully cook spaghetti, and Coil was offered (forced) to eat lunch with them while Vine Staff continued counseling him. Medkit, casually ate with them, occasionally talking when Vine Staff made him add onto her advice for Coil. Then the conversation went to something more casual, just talking about life. Then the time came for Coil to leave.

"Keep us updated, okay?"

Vine was waving at him from her doorway, Medkit standing in the hallway behind her just barely being able to be seen. Coil was out in the hot Crossroads sun, waving back to Vine Staff and walking away from the cold house and into a crowd of people.

"I will!"

Coil merged into the crowd of inphernals, heading towards the nearest monorail to Playground.

Vine Staff was still watching him for as long as she could, Medkit coming up behind her as she stared. She had a smile on her face when he left, but now that had morphed into a sad, concerned look.

"Do you think those two will be okay?"

"Are you worried about them?"

"Mainly Coil. He seemed convinced that Skateboard did not like him at all. That's never good."

"Maybe he needs something to happen to really drill it in his head?"

"Yeah, I guess. But from what he told me, Skateboard is so obviously head over heels for him- and Skate doesn't even realize it. He's never going to confess because he doesn't even realize his feelings yet, and so it all relies on Coil. And I'm even unsure about that because he isn't convinced. At all."

"Didn't he buy a Lovedove?"

"Plume. He picked her out because he thought Skateboard would like her."

"It's not your responsibility to take care of them."

"I know Med. But he came up to me for help. If something happens, I'll just feel so..."

Medkit held his arms outstretched, which Vine Staff fell into. She then pulled back and shook, trying to shake off bad energy from the conversation. Medkit fixed her headband.

"They'll be fine. We've already done all we can to help, and now they've got to work things out on their own. It'll be okay."

Vine Staff reluctantly sighed, holding the door as she tried looking for where Coil went one last time. All she could see were swarms of people.

"Okay. I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid."

Chapter Text

Skateboard was absent-mindedly scrolling through various videos on his phone, not even focusing on them as he failed to find something to do. He had already finished what he needed to do around the house- which was also what prevented him from following Coil out and now that was finished in less than 20 minutes. So... free day!! Yay...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or- well, free day until Coil came back home. Cause the other said he had time to hangout when he came home, so he'd have to wait for at least another hour...

He COULD go do stuff with his gang, but he had already gone around with them this morning and didn't want to do that again. And then his mind went around to his closer friends, Slingshot and Boombox. Specifically Slingshot. His cafe was closed today, so he had free time to call, right? Calling Slingshot was a great idea!! He almost always picked up and they could call for hours. When Sling wasn't mad at him.

He tapped off the app he was using and went to his messages app, going to his pinned contacts. Slingshot's number was right up there, and he facetime called him.

Slingshot didn't respond right away, so Skateboard adjusted himself a little while he waited. His arm was outstretched all the way, above his head, while the other was resting behind his head. His hoodie was pushed up from how long he was laying there.

And then Slingshot picked up.

"Hel- oops- Hello?"

He was currently at a store, probably rushing errands as he dropped whatever he was browsing at. He took a cautionary glance at his surroundings, making sure nobody saw him drop the bread that was on the floor, before he crouched down and put it back in its place. He then squinted and took a long look at Skateboard.

"Hiiii Skate."

"Hey Sliiiiing."

"What are you doing?"

"I dunno."

"You're on the couch and you look like your high."

"I- I'm not high?? What the hell???"

"Haha, just messing with you. Now what do you want."

Slingshot was putting a "get your shit done and leave me alone" type of attitude aroound Skateboard. Skateboard wasn't taking it and would push him in order to talk to someone.

"I'm bored and I wanna do something so I called you..."

"And I want a million bux."

"...That isn't related at all."

Slingshot just glared at him through the camera. Skateboard stared back with puppy dog eyes. Not real puppy dog eyes he can't do that but he was trying his best.
Slingshot glared harder. Skateboard upped the intensity.
Slingshot squinted until he was barely keeping his eyes open. Skateboard didn't change.

"Ugh, fine, you can talk to me while I run errands."

"Yay!"

Skateboard sat up from his spot on the couch and adjusted his helmet. Slingshot was busy grabbing various amounts of items from the shelves and throwing them into a basket out of view of the camera.

"Why're you buyin' food?"

"For lunch tomorrow. Almost running out."

Skateboard stopped smiling and paused. His eyes slowly gazed over to the empty bowl on the table next to him, and then back to his phone. And then back to the bowl. And then back to the phone. And then he slowly swung his legs onto the floor, standing up and starting to slowly walk towards the kitchen.

"I think I forgot to eat lunch."

"Really? I can make you something and bring it."

"It's good, I'm just gonna make a sandwich."

"Kay."

Skateboard entered the kitchen and propped up his phone against the side of a coffee maker so he wouldn't have to hold it anymore. Slingshot, on the other end, had finished shopping and was busy checking out, searching his wallet to pay the inphernal in front of him. Skateboard opened the fridge, a gust of cold air greeting him first before he grabbed a cold bag filled with ham. He returned to the counter and opened a bag with precut slices of bread, placing one face up on a plate already on the counter. Slingshot was now walking out the store to his next destination.

"So, how's your day been?"

"Meeeh. Went out with the gang. Nothing more than that. Coil said he could hang out with me when he gets back though."

"He's out? Where?"

"Beats me. Was in a rush too- not like he said he was in a rush, but like, I could just... tell."

Slingshot stared at the phone in confusion for a moment, Skateboard not noticing since he was busy throwing two slices of ham onto his sandwich. Slingshot rolled his eyes and kept walking.

"Well my day's been okay. Gotta go back to work tomorrow, so I got-"

CRAAAAAAAAAAAASHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.........

Skateboard's eyes blew open as his body stiffened. Slingshot paused for a moment too before looking at his phone.

"...Did you do that?"

"...No, I've just been making a sandwich."

"Do you make sandwiches that loud?"

Skateboard straightened up slowly, hands nervously releasing themselves from the plate he was holding. He turned his head back around and found nothing.

"Maybe...?"

Skateboard started to feel nerves creep their way into his skin and prick under. For how hot Playground was, it suddenly felt cold. He checked the cabinets. Then the counter. Then the fridge, and the oven, and the microwave, and the toaster, and even behind his own phone. And there was nothing, and that wasn't supposed to happen because there should've been something there to make that noise because he was sure he didn't do that.

"Where'd it come from?"

CRRRRRRRRASH...

Slingshot started growing more concerned, trying to pull into the nearest alleyway so he could focus properly. Skateboard pinpointed where the noise was.

"The basement."

"The basement? Isn't that where you store Coil?"

"Yeah.

...

...

...

I'm gonna go check it out."

"What- Skate!"

Skateboard started taking very cautious, very gentle steps towards the basement. Slingshot started to very frantically protest.

"Skate! You don't know what made that noise!"

"That's why I'm *investigating.*"

"Ok, well- don't go in there alone! What if it's someone dangerous? What if you get kidnapped??! I could help you NOT die!! Don't leave me here??!?!?"

He left him there.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Skateboard had been very cautiously stepping down each carpeted step, peeking his head out the corner of a wall when he reached it. All he saw was Coil's bed, the stuff he had brought into his room. Seeing no danger but also no culprit yet, he descended farther down the stairs.

Coil's room. Or- the basement. His brain defaulted to saying "Coil's room", because he had been living here for so long. To be fair, if he always said "the basement", the house would feel emptier. He didn't like that.

He ran a hand along the wall as he approached Coil's bed. He absolutely knocked more than 5 things down- not on purpose as he put them back immediately, poorly out of place. Coil probably wouldn't notice. Then he made his way to the closet and opened it, finding nothing but clothes and blankets. Nothing in there could've made the sound, so he inched his way over to Coil's bed. He was starting to think there was no cause for the noise, or maybe it was some weird animal that had made its way into the house, like a raccoon. But then again, how could something slip by him and Coil? The door was closed so often that only bugs could get in.

Even with all that reassurance he was silently praying he wouldn't be murdered, casually-not-so-casually repeating multiple different prayers from different religions inside his head, just to ensure his safety.

And then he saw it. On the floor, in front of Coil's nightstand. It was weird saying that- "Coil's nightstand". He started off with a sleeping mat because he was supposed to be here for only a couple weeks. But it had been months, and he upgraded.

A bird cage. Small enough to not be for a predator bird, but also roomy. There was a small door, a gate, that was pushed open as if something escaped. The cage itself was laying on its side, rolled over as if it fell down. He crouched down, taking a pink bow attached to one of the bars of the cage in between two fingers.

"Yo, what the fu-"

There was a chirp. Or was it a squack?

Skateboard froze. Again. His heart beat inside his chest hard, like it was begging for escape. He glanced down at the cage again, noticing its appearance, how it looked like something escaped from there. Then he jolted as he stood up and turned his head around.

His eyes landed on something. Something fluffy, alive in the corner of Coil's room, near the ceiling. It was behind the wall where entering from the staircase gave it a blindspot, at the top of a shelf, dangerously close to the ceiling. Two beady eyes landed right back onto Skateboard's own eyes, the creature's beak covered in a red goo like it had just murdered something.

"Holy shit, is that a bird...?"

The bird kept staring at him, having never seen this strange inphernal before. It was in food provider's room, staring at her like she was an alien. She was not an alien. She was a bird who wanted food and pets. Where was food provider anyway?

Skateboard squinted, trying to keep his jaw from dropping. And then he could actually tell what he was looking at, which was a first (he knew jackshit about birds).

"HOLY SHIT, IS THAT A LOVEDOVE?"

His jaw actually did fall. He just stared in, astonishment, honestly. How did a Lovedove get in here? In the basement?? And it was just... eating strawberries from a package. Wait. Those were his strawberries. Did Coil...

Nevermind that. He needed to figure things out. First of all, he could guess that the bird made the noise from falling out of its cage through the gate. So he found what made the noise. Was this bird a stray? No. Lovedoves were WAY too expensive and way too important to be strays for long. Plus, there was a cage. A cage with a pink bow on it. Coil must've bought it. And those strawberries must've been to feed the bird, because Coil would never steal those from him. Actually no- he most definitely would and has and would eat them right in front of his face. But he wouldn't hide it on a shelf away from him. He's never done that before.

Plume kept on eating Skateboard's strawberries, finishing the entire package as she soon found out there were no more left. She grumbled discontentedly and looked back down at Skateboard, who, after realizing he had her attention immediately tried getting her to come down, holding out his hand.

"...Hiiiiiiiii little... thing... little bird... little, uhhhh...

Yeah- yeah little bird... come down here... please...?"

Pathetic.

She came down anyway because she was a sympathetic and kind soul. Also he smelt like sandwich.

Plume landed on the couch, bits of strawberry on her feathers and beak. She stared intently at Skateboard, like a queen looking at a servant, expecting something. Skateboard was now able to see how cute she was, and his natural inphernal-to-animal instincts kicked in.

"Oh my gods you are so cute-"

He quickly sat down on the floor to get on her level and held a hand out, to which she accepted and allowed him to pet her head. Her feathers puffed up once more.

"You are so fluffy!!! You are so cute!!!!! I really hope you don't have rabies!!!!!!!!"

Soon Skateboard was holding Plume like a burger. (Do not hold bird like burger.) She didn't protest, actually enjoying being held like that for a moment until she started getting nuzzles to her face, which she backed away from and Skateboard pushed forward.

"Why didn't Coil tell me about you??! You are such a cutie!!! Cute little fattie!!!!

Wait."

Skateboard paused for a moment, putting Plume back on the bed as reason started to come back to his head. This was a Lovedove. Lovedoves were like, gifts to partners. And from what he knew Coil wasn't dating anyone at the moment. So that left for one thing- Coil liked someone. That kind of explained... everything.

"Oh my SFOTH."

Plume grumbled.

"Coil likes someone?"

Skateboard paused for a moment again, staring off into the distance, spacing out.

"Coil likes..."

His mouth frowned for a moment. He didn't even register that he was frowning, his mind absent as his body acted on its own. Then it went back to smiling as he continued smothering Plume, now rubbing circles into her plump cheeks.

"Wow, this is gold. He likes someone enough to get them a Lovedove. Too bad you aren't mine, because you are really cute. I'd keep you forever if he'd let me! Little fat thing. Sorry you're not fat I think you're just fluffy. You so fat though, little baby..."

He quickly stood up, bouncing on one foot two times before balancing himself and holding a hand out to Plume, who was watching him suspiciously again.

"Ooohhhhh he's gonna tell me everything and anything about this person... tonight!- Tonight! I can ask him tonight!!! This is perfect!!! I gotta tell Slingshot NOW.

Stay here little plump bird I do not know the name of!! And do not escape!!!!"

Plume didn't understand a word he said. She was already falling asleep, again.

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Slingshot, after realizing Skateboard wouldn't be coming back after awhile, stopped trying to wait for him and continued on with his errands, though it had been so long he managed to complete them all and was heading back home. He debated going over to Skateboard's house to check if he was okay, but then again if Skateboard was dead and whoever killed him was still alive, he'd die too, right? So he just started walking home and waited for something to happen on the call. And then something did happen, Skateboard walked into view.

"Oh thank the gods- Skate, you're alive! Did you figure out what it was? Why did you leave me here you bitch????"

"Sling you absolutely won't believe this- there is a LOVEDOVE down there. Like in Coil's room. He bought a Lovedove. Can you believe that?"

Slingshot stopped walking as he stared at his phone in disbelief. He blinked many times over and over before coming back to his senses.

"A Lovedove?"

"Yeah, it's all fluffy and everything. It even allowed me to pick it up and cuddle with it when I just met it. And its so cuteeee...

But that totally means he likes someone!!"

"...Isn't that everything you like in a pet? Fluffy and cuddly?"

"Huh? Whatddya say?"

"Nothing- nothing. Just mumbling what I'm gonna do tomorrow."

"'Kay weirdo. Anyways, while we're hanging out tonight I'm gonna ask him about it. I wanna know so bad..."

Slingshot was not oblivious. He knew, just like Vine Staff and Medkit, and basically everyone who interacted with Skateboard and Coil long enough. He really didn't want to help out his #1 ragebaiter, but if times came to it he'd help. Better tell Coil he knows first though.

"Don't you think you should've not told me his personal business? And that you shouldn't pry in it either?"

Please Skateboard, use your head for once, not for headbutting, just think for a moment, put yourself in his shoes, maybe take him out to dinner first-

"Uhhhh I dunno! I won't be pushy I'll just let him know I know! And then he won't have to hide it from me anymore!!"

Skateboard you fucking idiot may the Inpherno itself set you ablaze.

"Okay... well, good luck, with whatever that is."

As soon as Slingshot had finished his sentence, the front door unlocked and opened. Coil stepped in the house and waved to Skateboard, who smugly waved back. Coil gave him a snarl, but Skateboard just looked more smug than before. Slingshot, watching all this

"Okay see ya Sling!"

"Don't mess anything up. For all of us."

"Huh?-"

Slingshot ended the call, leaving Skateboard confused as he stared at his phone. Coil walked into the kitchen and looked over his shoulder.

"Talking to your boooyyyyfrienddddd?"

Gods that only got worse and worse to say each day.

"Bro- we haven't dated in like. Two years now."

"HAHA, I know. I just like teasing you."

Coil grinned, showing off all his teeth. Skateboard stuck his tongue out at him. While watching him go to grab something, Skateboard found an opportunity to get some answers he wanted and to jab back at him.

"Were YOU talking to your boyfriend?"

"Hah?"

"Or girlfriend. Or partner."

"What are you on about?? Skate, I really don't got time for this shit."

Coil flipped through a couple cabinets, still searching for something. Skateboard was starting to get a little nervous about what he was about to say, but he steeled through it and continued pushing.

"I know about the Lovedove in your room."

Coil stopped. He stopped for a long while, just staring at nothing, almost frozen in place, hand in the same place it was when he crouched down to open a cabinet. Skateboard couldn't tell what facial expression he was making, or what he was feeling at all, because he was completely still and silent. It almost chilled him to the bone, regret did. Regret made him cold and he didn't like that. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Coil tightened the grip on his hand. Hard. He slowly pushed himself up, Skateboard cringing at the decision he had just made. Coil turned around, a mocking smile on his face clearly tainted with fear as he tried processing what the other had just said, caution, fear, and anger mixed into one hideous meeting as he spoke.

"What?"

Chapter Text

The kitchen became silent, dead silent, like they were listening for something, anything, that would never come. A waiting game, waiting for something, but after a long while nobody knew what they were waiting for anymore.

Coil didn't continue waiting, because in truth, the only person waiting was Skateboard. Coil was smart. He was caught off guard, put through a hell of his own mind when Skateboard spoke to him, but he was smart. Smart enough to go over a million options in his head, a million times over, and a million different ways. Skateboard was the only one waiting.

When he spoke, it wasn't in shock and fear like the first time. This one was calmer, cooler, more calculated, like how he normally talks with added caution. As if nothing had scared him before, as if he were taking everything the conversation had to say- as a joke.

"Sorry, what?" A repeat of his question.

Skateboard, after realizing the tension had died down (at least for himself), allowed his body to unfreeze itself, starting with his hands and ending with his lips. What was he thinking? Coil wouldn't get that serious over him finding out about his Lovedove. He was barely serious about anything anyway.
All he wanted to do was let him know he didn't have to hide that bird from him anymore. And if he needed someone to talk to about it, he was avaliable.

"You know, the fluffy pink thing huddled into the corner of your room eating MY strawberries."

"Skate-" Coil laughed, pinching his nose and holding one of his arms as it turned into a scowl. "You went in my room without me knowing?!"

Skateboard had a confused look on his face, readjusting his helmet on his head before he shot back.

"I heard something down there and I went to check! In case there was a robber?? Or a stray animal? And I guess I did find a stray-"

"Why would a robber be down there anywa- She's not a stray, dude, she's mine!"

"Oh, so you admit owning her then?"

Coil paused for a moment. His hand went behind his back, flexing its fingers as if it were trying to grasp onto something to regain control in the moment as they continued holding onto air. Skateboard, now cooling down, realized his arms had crossed over each other in a makeshift defense. He quickly let them fall to his sides as a way to not seem intimidating. Coil had done the opposite and crossed his arms across his chest, back leaned against the counter, smile gone and eyes looking at the floor away from Skateboard. A nail was silently digging itself into his arm, between the coils that curved around it. His voice was quieter, like a child in trouble attempting to apologize.

"What's it mean to you anyway?"

Skateboard just stared for a moment, breathing in cold air, watching Coil. Oh shit, so this was serious. There was no excuse for him to be acting like this because he had never, ever acted like this and most likely not in front of him. It wasn't like he was crying or yelling or anything, just, quiet. Almost shutting down over what Skateboard thought was nothing at all. And that was weird, seeing him shut down. And not run away. And not yell at him. And not make a joke.

Maybe it was because they had just argued. No- argued wasn't the right word. It worked well, but not good enough. Their conversation hadn't gone on long enough to be classifed as an "argument". More of a... disagreement? Falling out?

Skate couldn't pin it down. He couldn't find the right word to describe anything, not because of a limited vocabulary, but because of the way Coil responded. They argued sometimes. But could this still be classified as an argument if he just stopped responding?

"I-...

It's just-

Coil..."

Skateboard tried moving towards him, step by step. Coil's eyes snapped back to him, glaring, body still turned away. Skateboard raised his hands in defeat and stepped back.

"I didn't mean anything bad by it. It isn't anything to be ashamed or embarassed about, uh... I mean, you know me!- I've dated like, so many people before, so-"

"I know."

That was more of a growl than speech, which caught Skateboard's attention. It seemed that ticked him off more than anything else he said, which made him a bit confused (and worried), but he didn't question any more and continued.

"I'm actually a bit interested in who caught your attention, since you're like a... lone wolf... and shit..."

"Hah."

"Plus, now that I know, you don't have to hide him anymore, right? And you don't have to steal my stuff to feed 'em anymore..."

Coil didn't respond for a moment, thinking a bit as his eyes returned to looking down at the floor. Skateboard patiently waited, nervously, hoping that he managed to temporarily atone for his mistakes. It was just so unnatural- Coil being so smitten that he got a Lovedove? Usually when he dated it'd last for less than two months. Because it was never that serious. He had never done this before. Skate couldn't help it if he was curious.

He suddenly got a text from his phone, which made him want to check it, but Coil interrupted after his long session of thinking.

"Her."

"Huh?"

Coil lifted up his head, arms still crossed but now he was looking Skateboard in the eyes.

"She's a girl.

...Her name is Plume."

The other perked up at this, trying to hide his excitement. He held his hands together and smiled, trying to be as soft as possible.

"Plume- cool, cool...

When I met her she was really nice... I think she liked me too. Whoever's getting her is really lucky."

Coil's eyes lifted for a moment, taking in information. His arms uncrossed themselves and fell.

"...Yeah. Thanks."

Skateboard couldn't tell if Coil wanted to leave or not. In the beginning he could tell- it was obvious- but now he wasn't sure. He wasn't moving, and so he copied him and didn't move either. As if Coil was waiting for something, but what he COULD tell was that he didn't know what he was waiting for.

Skateboard coughed, not needing to but to clear his throat. "If you still want to hang out tonight, I could buy you ice cream and we could talk about it...?"

Coil tilted his head, looking at Skateboard once more. He was nervously rubbing the back of his helmet now, attempting to smile but it just coming off as awkward. Now he was the one trying to not look at the person in front of him.

Talk about it? Talk about Skateboard- in front of Skateboard- while Skateboard is listening and providing feedback on what he's saying. That is a death wish. That is ruling out Plume's #1 purpose. That would basically be confessing.

That is, unless he was vague.

His first thought was to decline. To turn down the whole opportunity- not hang out, not go get ice cream, not talk about anything and just go to bed. But after he gave it more thought and intent, it actually wasn't a bad idea at all. He'd always say he felt strong about not talking to anyone about his problems, which is why he didn't have a therapist, only confiding in his friends on the rarest occasions, in short sessions. But this was different from everyday troubles. He acknowledged it felt good to talk to someone and let his thoughts out, even if he wasn't telling the full truth. And the thing that sold his decision was getting Skateboard's view on everything. After all, he was the object of which his distress revolved around. Getting his own thoughts, his own feelings, his own words to whatever Coil said actually might help him feel better and confess quicker. Truth be told, he didn't know anything about how Skateboard thought about love. About him. He knew he had dated many times, but he didn't know what made the serious ones last compared to the week-long ones.

If he didn't say his name, maybe lied about what he looked like, kept being vague about everything, it just might work out.

And maybe Skateboard would catch on, and finally get a hint, and not be so clueless to everything Coil said anymore.

"Okay. I'm not against it."

"-Really?"

"Yeah."

Coil started walking away, putting his hands in his pockets as he kept his gaze set forward, heading towards his room.

"You're paying for everything though."

"Yeah, of course."

Skateboard gave him a thumbs up that Coil didn't see because he was already at his door and walking down the stairs. Skateboard kept staring in his direction, his heart tugging at him though he was unsure why. Maybe heartburn. He's never had heartburn before though.

He turned back to his sandwich, which was just as cold and slightly soggy as ever, picking it up and taking a bite out of it. He forgot to ask if Coil had eaten lunch. Oops. Well, if he hadn't eaten, he'd probably make himself something soon. He should probably get out of the kitchen so the other can be alone.

Skateboard picked up his phone and unlocked it, checking who the text was from. It was from Slingshot, who had texted him to check up.

* Is everything good

* uhhhhhhhhhhhh
well i told him
and then he got mad at me for being in his room
it's my house anyways.......
and then we like kinda argued but not it was super qucik
and he started acting really different!!!!! but its ok i think we're good now

* i hate you so much

* but we're still going out later tonight

* going out?

* NOT LIEK THAT

* haha.
u must have some Weird luck or guardian sword or smth because telling him was the worst mistake ever and you're somehow still on good terms with him
give me some of that luck

* No

* ok :(
keep me updated?

* sure, but can we PLEASEDES tell boombox i dont wanna keep him otu

* skate if this is the mentality you're having the whole inpherno will know

* but he's like. the only one of our closest friends hwo doesn't know. only u and me know. he shoudl know too right!?!?

* that's an invasion of coil's privacy
but if u really want to i'll tell him and let coil know

* ok!!!!!!!!!!! rhank you sling :))))))

Slingshot didn't respond, prompting Skateboard to close his phone and stretch, blinking his eyes open again. He placed his phone in his pocket and leaned against the counter, continuing to eat the sandwich.

Meanwhile, in Coil's room, he was holding the fully eaten pack of strawberries and staring at Plume, who was asleep, before getting a text. He took his phone out of his pocket and checked the text, which was from Slingshot. Slingshot didn't text him often.

* hey

* hi slingyyyyy slingshot slingggyygyygyy

* stop this is important
just here to tell you that skate told me and boom about the lovedove
it'd be wrong not to tell you

Coil was smiling at his phone before he saw that text. And he was still smiling after he saw it, just not blinking. Ooooooooooooooooooooooooh gods damn you Skateboardddddddddddddddd.

* what.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coil had stepped out of his room, debating whether to put on a proper jacket but deciding against it, wearing the same thing he always wore. Skateboard did the same- though maybe it was just because he always had the same hoodie on. For like, every occasion. Skateboard was on the couch, scrolling on his phone again before seeing Coil. He waved to him and sat up, putting his phone in his pocket as the couch cushions shifted under his weight.

"Ready to go?"

"Meh."

"Cool."

Skateboard went and unlocked the door, but instead of going out first, he held the door open for Coil. Coil gave him a weird look as he walked out, and Skateboard followed him.

"What's the time?"

Skateboard was trying to get his keys out from the door, pulling hard a couple times before they came loose. He turned back to Coil and put the keys in another pocket, a free one without his phone.

"Like... somewhere around 6:50-6:58. That's when I checked the time on my phone when you came out."

Coil shrugged his shoulders, starting to walk out with his hands in his pockets without Skateboard. Skate quickly followed behind as they weaved through a smaller than average crowd of inphernals.

"I think we just missed the biggest foot traffic of the day. That's good."

Coil nodded in agreement. Skateboard took a couple glances back at the door of the apartment.

"Are you sure you don't wanna bring Plume? We're gonna be out for awhile."

"How long does it take to eat ice cream?"

"They give us a discount if they think we're dating."

"...I don't know how you know that but yeah, ok."

Coil turned back and recounted his steps all the way to the door, to which he disappeared in. And then he returned with a small cage in hand, back in the same place Skateboard was waiting.

"I actually didn't want to bring her because of the stares. But I think she can stay for now."

"Yay!"

7:15. They had made it to the ice cream stand, which was in a secluded park where only a few inphernals were out now. It was a small stand, but popular, and a favorite among Playgrounders. It was ran by a nice old man, who'd become sort of a famous local now.

He was busy cleaning the counter in front of him with a rag, waving to the two excitedly. There were display cases of all the flavors offered.

"Good evening you two! Eating ice cream for dinner?"

He was right. It was just around dinnertime. Skateboard responded.

"Yeah, we're just getting ice cream right now. Are you closed?"

"Nope, we close in around 30. You're just in time...?"

The man was smiling at Skateboard and keeping a happy tone up, but his eyes graviated towards what the inphernal next to him had in his hands. He was fascinated.

"Excuse me sir, but is that a Lovedove?"

Coil was busy staring at the ice cream flavors, but his head whipped up as soon as his ears heard those words. Skateboard and the man were now looking at him, and he coughed nervously.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Yep."

"Then I hope it isn't too outrageous to assume you two are...?"

The man held his two pointer fingers out, wrinkled by age, and moved them towards each other, then back out, then back in again. Coil hadn't thought out how awkward this conversation would be now with Plume, but there was no turning back and he wasn't a quitter. So he just doubled down.

"Yeeeeep!!!!! And we're actually on our honeymoon... right... now...!!! Right this... instant!"

Skateboard had returned to looking at the flavors, but his head slowly turned back at a painfully slow speed, his jaw open and his face confused. Coil kept shooting him glances but didn't stop smiling, trying to mouth to him to stop what he was doing. But Skateboard didn't get it, so Coil just stomped on his foot, which got the other to go back to normal. Plume, if she could laugh, did.

"Oh wow- that's a rarity... Well, I was going to give you the discount, but I might as well make it on the house for this occassion, right?

So, whaddya two want?"

Holy shit that actually worked. It worked out better than they both thought it would. How is anything possible. Everything must be a joke it's actually so stupid.

"Uh- chocolate."

"Chocolate please."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The two had found a bridge above a lake, both eating their ice cream at different speeds. Coil had climbed onto the railing of the bridge and sat on it, almost teetering into the water. Skateboard was intending to stay on the ground, but seeing what Coil did made him change his mind and sit next to him. Plume was resting on Coil's lap in her cage, hugged close to his chest so she wouldn't fall.

"Honeymoon. You really didn't have to go that far."

"Bro shut up! It worked, right? Would you rather have a discount or have it free?"

"...Free."

"That's what I thought."

Coil smugly smiled at Skateboard, who responded by punching him in the arm. He was tempted to punch him back but prioritized his ice cream over revenge. Skateboard did the same, silence taking up the space of speech before he finally said something.

"So, mind telling me about them now?"

Coil turned his head to Skate, scanning over his face a couple times before staring down at the water below him. He squinted his eyes in thought as he questioned what he was going to say.

"Oh, well, hmm..."

He took a lick of his ice cream. Then another, and another. He gestured his free hand erratically as he kept staring down at the water.

"They're cool, I guess."

"...Is that it?"

Coil shot him a glare. Skateboard smiled. "No it isn't, you idiot."

"They're nice. Actually, now that I think about it, they're really nice to me. I'm not their best friend, but, they tries a lot. And that's kind of funny because I barely try for hi- them."

"Barely try? I'm sure you try enough, right?"

Skateboard pointed at Plume in her cage, who was staring straight back at him through the bars. Coil stared down at her. He wanted to say, "Yeah, I picked her out just for you because I care so much!!" but he couldn't. And that was really cheesy and stupid sounding anyway.

"...I mean, I guess.

You know, I actually saved up a lot for her. Like, a lot a lot.

...More than I ever have for someone."

"Then why are you doubting?"

"I don't know."

Coil reached into Plume's cage, petting her softly on the head as she leaned into his hand. Her wings spread and tucked themselves back in when he pulled away. Skateboard had almost finished his ice cream while Coil had already finished it, probably not wanting to spend too much time going in depth talking to him, which was okay. Skateboard kept eating it, speaking in between licks.

"Don't stop there. What else?"

"He's-"

"He's?"

Coil snapped his head at him, dropping the cone he had finished into the trash can behind him, using his other hand to raise a fist at Skateboard.

"Say anything and I will push you in."

"Haha, I won't!! I won't!"

Coil rolled his eyes and placed a hand on top of Plume's cage so that he could have better hold of it. He then went back to staring at the water, which was now reflecting lights in the darkness.

"He's funny.

I like spending time with him.

I don't like to think about futures, but when I do- when I'm FORCED to, he's usually in it.

He makes sure I'm okay even if I don't want it.

I feel safer around him.

He... patches me up when I get hurt.

And he's one of my closest friends.

And he might be one of the only friends I don't want to lose."

Coil almost got lost in thought, starting to muse on the thought of Skateboard while slowly hinting to him that the person he was talking about was him. But then he shook his head and acted disgusted, sticking his tongue out.

"Ew. This sappy stuff is weird. I can barely come up with anything without cringing."

"Dude, for your standards I think that's like, triple of what'd you'd normally say."

Coil didn't stop staring at the water, placing his hand onto Plume again and rubbing her feathers, only giving a sigh of acknowledgement. "Huh."

"I guess he's my type. Or, I didn't have a type until I met him, because I guess I just knew it was *him*. I finished watching Hotel Transylvania yesterday (author's note i actually did it was so peak) so this is a weird analogy, but, think of like the... zing that they talk about. It wasn't instant but I think I got it. And thing is I don't know if he has... ever gotten that. For me."

Skateboard placed a finger on his lip, thinking for a long time. The hand that owned the finger moved up to his own cheek, holding it as he turned his head to stare at Coil. Coil did not stare back.

"How d'ya know?"

"Hah- he's never shown any interest in me. Besides jokes. Fuck Skate, he's dated probably everyone he's met besides me."

Skateboard really paused for a moment. This time even longer than before. SFOTH knows what he was thinking, whether he caught on or not. But the way he responded said that he was trying to sympathize, trying to make his friend feel better.

"Oh.

Haha,

That kind of sounds like my problem right now."

"What?"

"I've dated so many people but they just, never clicked for me. And now that I think about it- not that I gave it much thought before- but maybe I like someone- like, REALLY, SERIOUSLY liked someone, and I just didn't know until... right now."

"...What?"

Coil's arm, his right one, the one out of view from Skateboard, involuntarily spasmed for a moment. His eyes blinked normally, then slower, then faster than ever before as his heart started to pick up the pace. His breathing threatened to become erratic as he held back, keeping a calm and cooled demeanor fronting while his insides were getting out of place, his heart almost ready to burst, his lungs barely working, and yet he looked normal. And he responded, like normal.

"You like, really, truly, seriously like someone? Not like an experiment with Boombox or Slingshot?"

"I think."

Oh, shit.

Oh, no.

Oh, this can't be happening.

Oh, is it him?

Is it a joke?

Is he making up a story to sympathize?

Is he telling the truth?

He's telling the truth.

"Not to redirect the convo, but now that I realize it... can I tell you what I like about them? Maybe it'll give you some ideas?"

"...Go. For. It."

"Cool."

Skateboard, having discarded his ice cream too, rested both of his hands behind him on the railing he was sitting on. He started staring at the moon, which was shining directly above the lake, reflected on the water.

"He's... cool too, I guess. We work well together.

I talk to him to my friends sometimes."

"But not me?"

"Well- you don't know him, it'd be-"

"I understand."

"...Nice? Anyways- he's really strong.

And when we phight together he heals me. A lot more than our other teammates.

And he's real kind when he stops that sarcastic and arrogant attitude.

I think we're pretty close.

And I guess I've always admired him, but never thought anything romantic until now. Is that weird?"

"Wow. He sounds really. Fun."

And Coil purposefully stopped listening after the first sentence. He didn't bother to hear anything.

Skateboard kept glancing at Coil during that entire monologue, trying to hint at him, stopping when he realized the other wasn't looking back. He kept staring towards the sky, as if he were looking at something, imagining something other than the moon. And Coil was slowly shutting down next to him, not picking up on any hints, all of them going in the ear and out the other. Because he didn't want to know anything about this myserious person. Who he didn't know about. Who Skateboard hadn't bothered to tell him about at all, and he didn't know why because he told Slingshot and Boombox. But not him.

Coil sighed. Twice. Skateboard was lost in this dream like state, never taking his eyes off the moon, while Coil stared down at the lake. And starting to get annoyed, not just at Skateboard, but at everything, he stared up at the moon too. And so did Plume. And they all stared for a long time, a very long time, and Coil whispered something low but made sure Skateboard could hear him perfectly.

"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?"

Skateboard didn't respond, still staring at the moon. And so Coil waited, and waited, and waited.

"Mhm."

And he didn't get it.

He took a chance, shot his shot, and he still didn't get it.

Maybe that helmet was doing something to his brain, preventing any critical thinking from getting through there.

How did he fall in love with someone who was so oblivious?

And it was quiet. It was quiet, like the many times before, a peaceful quiet, something that they didn't get often. Coil wanted to cry. Coil wanted to laugh. Coil wanted to jump in the lake or run away or go home or just wake up from this stupid nightmare.

The lake was quiet. The passing of inphernals, which was loud before, was now to a standstill. Nobody passed through the bridge anymore. Plume was acting the same, still doing the same actions she always did.

The ice cream stand was quiet. The man had left with it, and now people were starting to dwindle out to their homes and new people, mainly couples, were coming out of theirs.

The trees were quiet. They softly whispered in the wind.

The grass was quiet. All the billions of them, each blade, quiet.

The moon was loud. And intimidating. And imposing. And knowing. And Coil swore, when he missed his shot, it judged him. It glared at him. It beat its gaze into his soul, as if it was picking apart every insecurity, every fault, every mistake in his life, and throwing it back at him. Like it was disappointed. Like it was never going to look back at him again.

And then his hands started shaking. And then his chest. And his mouth, and knees, and every part of his body he could think of. And it all stopped when Skateboard spoke again.

"Sorry- I didn't even realize how quiet it got- keep talking?"

Coil leaned into Plume's cage, which laid on his lap, which felt cold against his face.

"I got to use the restroom."

Coil swung his legs over the fence, not looking Skateboard in the eye. Skateboard finally stopped looking at the moon, and at him, and didn't think anything of it. He didn't know anything, like always, and everything was fine.

"I'll be back."

"Kay. I'll wait for you here."

He didn't even register Coil took Plume with him, looking at the empty spot next to him. Did he not trust him to take care of Plume? Well, it made sense. If he didn't leave Plume with him, Plume must be for someone else. And he finally understood where that tugging in his heart came from. Where that "heartburn" rooted from. He liked Coil. And Coil liked someone else.

And he didn't get in the way. Because why get in the way when they already tried so hard for that person?

And he felt happy for them.

He felt happy for them.

He felt happy for them.

He felt happy for them.

He felt happy for Coil, for Plume, for whoever this mysterious inphernal was.

Because if Coil could be happy, he could he happy.

Coil walked across rock. And more rock, and more rock. The moon stayed. The moon watched. Plume was watching, too. Coil did not pay attention to either of them.

He doesn't know where's he's going. He just knows he can't go back

He can't go back. He can't go back at all. Because if he goes back, he's going to die. And if he dies, he'll never get to live. Being around Skateboard became a scare. Something that threatened to hurt him. Something that made him angry, almost violent, and that was bad because whenever- WHENEVER something bad happens, when he was truly angry, sad, he got violent. Because he's a violent person. He's not soft. He's not kind. He's violent. He's angry. And dangerous. Down to his core, he can't change, and nothing he does will affect that.

And he didn't look back at Skateboard, not once.

He didn't go back.

Chapter Text

…

I’ll tell you something.

They say Lovedoves can tell when a heart is broken.

When their owner is heartbroken.

And then their own hearts breaks, too.

Plume was a fluffy bird. She had the softest, pure white feathers that covered her entire body down to her ankles. The ends of her feathers were coated with a pink and so were the ends of many other parts of her coat. She had a pink beak. And on that beak was a broken heart where a whole one had just been.

The process is quick. It’s like a cut and a shot mixed into one. “Hearts” are the showpiece of a Lovedove. They belong on their fronts, where they’ll be seen, proudly showing themselves to the world. And these hearts can also break.

It doesn’t hurt. It may sting for a second but the pain disappears. It grows numb. And it’s like the heart tears itself apart with such force that you have only a split second to see it happen. Because once a Lovedove knows, knows that you’re heartbroken, you cannot stop it.

Plume’s heart split perfectly, like every other Lovedove. Fur took up the space of the crack, which was decently sized and noticeable. And soon Coil would notice, just like the inphernals giving him looks around him.

Speaking of Coil, he had found himself in a more urban part of Crossroads. The whole city was advanced, but this part must’ve been a special sector. And it only mattered because he was making distance from Skateboard. If he saw the scenery change he’d get more happy. He’d get more sad.

He’s an intelligent man. He plans things when he can. Does things with a purpose. Intentionally challenges himself to do better.

And he didn’t plan this out at all.

He could’ve. He had the time to plan. And yet he didn’t before. He didn’t when he bought Plume. He didn’t when he hid her. He didn’t when Skateboard found her. He didn’t when he took her out with them. He didn’t when he ran away.

He could’ve when he stopped listening to Skateboard on the bridge. But his mind spaced out. His brain stopped listening to him.

He doesn’t know where to go.

He knows he has nowhere to go.

He can’t have a place to stay unless he changed his name, identity, appearance- everything. Skateboard was an angel for letting him stay with him.

And he just ruined it. He can’t go back to Skateboard’s.

He knows some other people. Slingshot wouldn’t let him. Well, he would, but Skateboard would know because they’re friends is Slingshot will not let him hide from him. Boombox would let him, but he’d do the same as Slingshot.

Factions weren’t an option. He was wanted everywhere. Actually- just the fact that he was a wanted criminal limited his options down to basically nothing.

And suddenly there were no more options. There was only one, going back to Skateboard, and that made his stomach twist and his heart sting and the presence of bile come up in his throat.

He had nowhere to go.

Plume was crying- or, well, whatever a bird does that is “crying”, in her cage. She was pacing around, making disgruntled squeaks in her distress; the sound slowly filled the air. She was confused and scared, like a baby.

Coil didn’t even notice. His mind had gone on autopilot for survival long ago, and his body couldn’t say anything. His legs carried them both for so long they were feeling numb. And then he stopped.

“Gods Plume- can you shut up??”

He had finally heard her. Yet he kept walking, step after step over hard concrete. The cold air had pricked at his arms and was starting to get to him. Plume did not stop crying.

He ignored it and walked. His free hand balled up into a fist only to be placed into his pocket. His posture hunched over and his face scrunched up. Plume continued.

His eyebrows twitched. His eyes felt puffy yet they looked fine on the outside. His teeth ground against themselves in defiance. And Plume only grew louder.

He couldn’t take it anymore. And he got violent and yelled at her like he always did.

“What do you POSSIBLY have to say SO BAD?!”

And he listened.

And he heard her.

And he lifted up her cage to his face.

And he saw it.

Plume looked depressed and anxious. Her wings were flattened and would not come up. Her beak was spewing nothing but chirps. She was on her 30th lap around the cage when she finally drooped to the floor, stopping her chirping, closing her eyes. And the thing that stuck out was the heart on her beak was split in half.

And Coil didn’t know what it meant.

His pace slowed down.

And he thought she was dead.

“…Oh.”

He came to a full stop. Nobody else was out anymore.

“Shit!”

A full panic came on. His heart suddenly kickstarted itself to be faster, pumping quicker than it had in his life. Plume’s cage violently shook at the will of his hands. She responded by opening her eyes.

“Gods fucking dammit- are you sick?”

Plume rolled over. She was sadly cooing at Coil, watching him, her eyes never leaving. Coil pulled out his phone.

On his home screen was a 4 text messages. Only the first was readable.

* Did the ice cream man kidnap you

He barely looked at it as he unlocked his phone and immediately went to typing in a search bar.

* how gong tell ic

He was typing too fast, moving into an alley that looked uninhabited, setting Plume down onto the floor that he soon sat down on too, back against a brick wall. He deleted the text.

* why do hy lvoeodve heart is broken

Deleted.

* why is ym lovevoe’s heart broken

That was… acceptable. He entered it.

The answers came. They all quelled his fears of her being unhealthy. They all reinforced his belief that Skateboard didn’t like him.

“…Fuck.”

His phone shut off and put itself in his pocket. His hand, unusually clammy and cold, slid itself up his face as he sighed hard.

Ok. Plume wasn’t going to die. It was just his fault.

It was freaky though. He didn't know Lovedoves hearts could physically break. It didn't hurt her, right?

He slid a thumb through the bars to check her reaction, pressing it against the two pieces. She did not react in any way besides sighing, so it wasn't painful. That was enough.

A strange calmness fell over him. Despite the now constant vibrations of his phone in his pocket, he felt… in control. He actually got away. It was peaceful. Plume was there with him.

He unlocked her cage to see if she would be kind to finally moving. She slowly stepped out, one step at a time.

The view was horrible. The air lingered of usual night cold and leftover cigarettes. Arguing could be heard from people up above them on their balconies who had disappeared into their own homes now. He stared up at the sky.

“This is nice.”

The feeling of his heart calming itself was pleasant. It felt like it had been stressed forever.

“…Sorry Plume.”

The bird reacted at the sound of her own name. She had now walked out a few short steps into the concrete before him, sniffing at a bug who was slowly dying before turning her head away in disgust.

“I don’t…”

His train of thought unexpectedly came to a halt.

“I don’t know what I’m doing.”

They say Lovedoves can sense heartbreak. But birds are all the same to other species when another is sad.

Plume, who was busy moping, noticed no change in Coil until he went silent. Her head turned over to him, beady eyes landing on his face. On his face were clear streaks running down where his eyes were. They seemed to have already been present for a while and were not stopping.

Otherwise he was fine. The tears on his face was the anomaly. His face seemed contented, calm. He wasn’t looking at the sky anymore, but he couldn’t see it through the buildings and balconies anyway.

And there were no sniffles. No snot. He was quiet.

“I mean I should have expected it.”

He even smiled when he said that.

“Maybe I should’ve thought things through.”

His speech slurred and slowed at the end. His mouth was still smiling, eyes staring pits into the ground. And then his mouth faltered and fell, becoming neutral, hateful even. The voice coming out had been clear and steady before, but it had suddenly disappeared after the mouth refused to talk. And then the eyes became angry and desperate. The lungs took shallower breaths. The mouth quivered. The tears became heavier.

“I did think things through.”

A hand came up to muffle the mouth. The cheeks finally became puffy and red and ugly. The pupils darted away to not look at the body.

“I thought about fucking everything.”

Knees came up to meet the chest. That hand’s fingers were starting to quiver, and the voice became stronger and angrier- but broken and weak.

“I could’ve- I don’t know- kept her a secret, actually be a good bird owner.

Maybe I should’ve not done anything at all.

I- fuuuuck, I could’ve… told him, I could’ve told him so long ago.

I could’ve fucking said something and I wouldn’t be here.

…Maybe I shouldn’t have bought Plume.

Why did I think that I could take care of a bird? A living thing?

…Why did I think that we could’ve?”

His face buried itself into his own knees, the air becoming hot and sad. His hands moved to huddle around his knees, the fabric soaking up the tears that still remained and the ones to come after those.

Then there was a foreign feeling next to his thigh, almost heavy. Something was leaning on him, like a rat.

His knees lowered themselves until they were flat on the floor, fabric flattening against it. His hands rubbed his eyes as he blinked, a blurry figure coming into view at his side.

Plume’s feathers were ruffled in all the wrong ways. The broken heart was still the most prominent feature on her fuzzy face, next to the eyes that did not dare to look away from Coil.

“…Plume.”

His voice became softer, gentler, almost like he was talking to a baby. It wasn’t something he spoke with often. Or maybe at all.

He wiped a final tear from the bottom of his eye before reaching over and cradling Plume in his lap.

“…Oh Plume, baby, I don’t know what we’re gonna do.”

Plume felt heavy as if her body had given up on trying. Heartbreak made even the happiest Lovedoves sad.

“I shouldn’t had brought you into this. I could’ve done it alone. Hah- I should’ve been comforting you sooner.”

Plume leaned into Coil, the warmth of her coat making him feel a little better. Her presence there was the real help though.

“You don’t deserve to have your heart broken.

I don’t know where we’re gonna go.”

He rubbed the feathers on her head, the eyes no longer watering and now drying. The annoying vibration of his phone had been nonstop since forever. His pocket was a prison for it, for it kicked and cried like an animal.

It wouldn’t stop. Coil knew who it was from. He couldn’t stop himself from looking.

An uncountable amount of messages.

* coil

where tf are you

did you bail on me
the ice cream man isn’t there

Then a space. It indicated Skateboard waited for a response long enough he replied to himself.

* hello

dude answer
ur purposefully ghosting me are you
is it something i said wya.
if you don’t respond ima look for u

A space between the texts again. Though it was only by a couple minutes.

* i lit don’t see you anywhere wtf dude
did you leave?????,(
Why is your location off
Are you ok do you need help
I’m calling sking and boom

And he while he called them he still texted. Coil could see because their shared group chat was in an active call.

* join the vc
Please
this isn’t fucking funny if i find you dead
come back
Just tell me your there :(
Come home

As a safety precaution, he checked Skateboard’s location. He was far, but heading his way. Plus his gear was a skateboard. He’d find him eventually.

Those weren’t even all the texts. They started getting erratic at the end, so Coil shut his phone off and turned it on silent and do not disturb. He was genuinely glad he had set his location off most of the time.

Plume nibbled at the phone as if she was trying to reach Skateboard. Coil gently pat her beak to push her away.

Knowing he can’t stay out in the open without being caught- whether that be by the police or Skateboard and his friends, he started to again brainstorm options where they could stay.

And he came up with nothing again.

“You got any bird friends we can stay with?”

Plume made a drawn out chirp in disproval.

“Damn.”

Well, what was he thinking anyway? He could stay out by himself for days- he had before.

But he wasn’t by himself.

He was with Plume.

He bit his nail in distress, looking at the feathery being in his lap.

And a thought came to mind.

A brilliant thought.

Plume was promptly ushered into her cage to which she did not protest. His heart pumped in his ears as he put every ounce of luck he thought he had into this action he was about to make. Then he left.

When he arrived, he was greeted by an orange lamp beside the front door. A flower grew beside it and a moth hovered, trying to touch the light.

Coil steadied his grip on Plume’s cage as he knocked on the door, to which the lights of the house were still on.

They say good people help others.

The door cracked open, bright light flooding into the darkness as an inphernal stared in surprise at the two on her doorstep.

And Coil made the most desperate and important plea of his life.

“Vine- can we please stay here?”

Chapter Text

Just earlier, the bridge above the river was lively with the presence of two inphernals. Not many others passed through dark places at night, so it was painfully quiet when one of them decided to leave.

The one that left departed for the sole, simple purpose of using the restroom. But he hadn't returned in many, many minutes, and the one left on the bridge was starting to worry.

Passing the time for the first few minutes he sat there with little movement, not doing anything of worth. After noticing the scattered strange stares directed at him (and the few questions asking him if he was going to kill himself by jumping off the bridge), he decided to act like he was doing something. He picked at the dirt under his nails, checked his helmet for any signs of damage and scratches, started scrolling on his phone just so he wouldn't feel that embarassment again. Maybe doing all that quelled his worries of the other not returning. But it's not like they could keep him ignoring the situation forever, because it never left his mind in the first place.

The awkward silence that filled up the space made the situation worse. It became so late that the footsteps of inphernals passing by started to dwindle, and the air became colder, and the night became even darker. He kept reminding himself that he was only waiting a few short minutes, but the longer time drew on the less he could convince himself that it had only been a few minutes. No, it couldn't have been five minutes of waiting. It wasn't any less than twenty, and he was sure it was already long past that.

His head kept turning the way the other left, looking to see if he was coming back yet. He had actually prepared himself to be attacked from behind by him- just because it was so common for him to do that- but it never happened. There was no tackle behind his back, or a random scream over his shoulder. The eerie quiet actually worried him even more, and he assumed he was about to be scared shitless.

* coil

where tf are you

did you bail on me
the ice cream man isn't there
it's getting so late even he left
if you're gonna try scaring me im NEVER forgiving you!!!!

Skateboard took a moment to look up from his phone to check for Coil again. He saw nothing but flickering streetlamps and no sign of life at all; so he started waiting again, not sure if he was expecting a reply or not. After sadly not getting a reply, he started typing again.

* dude does it relaly take you that long to use the bathroom

Except he deleted that.

* r u taking a shit lol

And he deleted that too?

* Did I say something wrong

Of course he deleted that.

He wasn't sure why he deleted those texts. He usually never did that and just spoke whatever came to his mind, but, the longer this went on just... threw him off. It was weird. He was sure by now Coil would've come back and if he hadn't he would've at least responded to his texts. But he didn't say a single thing. He ghosted people, yeah, but only now Skateboard realized that he himself had never been ghosted by him. Coil hadn't even read his texts.

* hello

dude answer
ur purposefully ghosting me are you
is it something i said wya.
if you don't respond ima look for u

And he waited. And he received nothing again.

The time really had become late. Late enough that he knew it was time for them to head home, but he couldn't just leave without Coil. Not with him suddenly going silent.

In any other circumstance he'd be completely calm. He'd probably go home, wait, maybe tell a joke over text. He'd waited for hours some days and Coil always came home. He always came home, whether he was covered in wounds or not. And yet, in all those times, that was his only option. Waiting was the only thing he could do. He couldn't completely monitor Coil- it wasn't his job and he wasn't able to keep up with him. It'd be micromanaging his every move just checking if he's going to the store or not instead of Blackrock.

Skateboard hated it when Coil went to Blackrock. He always came back wounded. He hated it even more because Coil didn't tell him he was going, ever.

He could only wait back then because he wasn't with him; he didn't know where he went, or how he was, or if he were somewhere dangerous. But he was just with him- even if it was over thirty minutes ago. He was certain Coil hadn't just randomly left to Blackrock. There was no way he was in the bathroom now. If he randomly bailed on him, so be it. Sure, it'd be awkward at home and it's a little out of the blue, but it wasn't a danger.

What was a danger though, and Skateboard's whole motive to go looking for Coil, was that Playground was dangerous at night. Not horror movie dangerous like some other factions, but pretty fucking worrysome, especially the later it got.

No faction was safe at night. Not even Crossroads, the heart of the Inpherno was safe. Too many dangers skulked through the streets: robbers, murderers, inphernals who'd take your horns and put it on their wall.

Coil could take care of himself very well. He frequently went to Blackrock- the most guarded, most technologically advanced faction and stole from them and lived to tell the tale.

But it's not like he can hold himself forever. Even with the crystal. There were many probablities to what could happen to him.

He could've gotten drugged. Someone could've shot him.

Or stabbed in the back.

What if he got kidnapped? Or got attacked? There's no way he could just- leave him?

No- Skateboard was just spiraling. It's not like everyone is out to kill someone. It is actually safe, especially with how crime rates have been dwindling for the past couple months. Even though the rate of which people are mugged or kidnapped are still higher than average everywhere.

But now with these thoughts entering his head and the lack of responses, it really gave him more incentive to actually look for him. Though, he didn't know exactly where he went, just the direction. But searching wasn't a bad idea- he could use his gear and save lots of time if he started now. And he wanted to go home too...

He swung his legs onto the hard rock of the bridge, still completely alone in the emptiness of the park. It was actually starting to come to that time where inphernals were going to clubs or underground fights. Some people were still out just walking around. He quietly thanked for the lack of people present so he could find Coil easier.

His hand held itself out in the air, cold pricking at the exposed parts of skin. In the palm of his hand red sparks emerged from the depths of his core and formed themselves into the shape of a skateboard, personally painted by himself. It landed on the ground with a thud and started rolling forwards when shoes took control of it, pushing off the ground and into the direction he needed to go. He really wished he had rocket boosters right now.

Wind whipped past his head, an invisible force constantly pushing back at him, trying to stop him from doing what he needed to do. He was skating a little faster than normal, circling around a couple areas and double checking alleyways and stairs leading to hidden places he hadn't seen before. Everything turned up fruitless but that wouldn't stop him, not now. He didn't realize how serious his paranoia had gotten, but it only worsened the more he found nothing. Worst thing of all- he went to check Coil's location- and found that it was off.

"Why is his location even off?- Fuck."

He rapidly tapped around buttons on his phone, trying to see if he could fix the problem himself or if Coil really just didn't want to share his location. His fingers tapped and slid against the screen but nothing he did worked. Okay, so that was probably the best way he could find Coil. And now he couldn't use that anymore. Great.

He slowed the skateboard's pace so he could focus and not crash into anything, which he surprisingly hadn't yet. There still was no sign of him anywhere, not a single text coming through. He had even triple checked the bridge just to see if he came back, which he did not. The time was well past 8 pm now, and a sudden surge of inphernals returning from what seemed to be a large gathering were heading his way. He had already lost precious time the moment Coil left and the fact that he wasn't responding or showing any sign of himself didn't give any hope to Skateboard, to which he needed immensely at that moment.

It's not like Coil would die or anything. That wasn't possible, right?

He didn't like him randomly going missing though.

A couple minutes ago he had asked a couple of inphernals who were still out if they saw him.

They all answered yes, only because they had noticed the Lovedove he was carrying. It made sense, since people didn't normally carry Lovedoves out in the open. They all pointed in the same direction.

Someone, a teenager, maybe 4-5 years younger than Coil himself, had said that he just seemed out of it. Someone had called out to him, a street scammer, trying to get his attention. The teen said that they didn't even think he noticed them.

Another inphernal had stated the Lovedove was particulary loud and whiny, as if it was a child being forced to do something. When Skateboard asked if he had ever turned to go into a building, they only said no.

Everything was strange.

He didn't know when it started or why, but he eventually started to use his and Coil's conversation as a diary.

* i lit don't see you anywhere wtf dude
did you leave?????,(
Why is your location off
Are you ok do you need help
I'm calling sking and boom

He had started to not expect a response at all, but a tiny part of him held onto hope that he would type back. He did not.

He took a long sigh as his skateboard slowly halted to a stop. His whole body came to a stop too as he stood on the skateboard, waiting for something. He was waiting for Coil, who was trailing behind him in the shadows, about to reveal his sick prank to him by tackling him to the floor like he always did. He got so excited to confirm he was safe (and to see him again) that he started smiling. And he kept waiting.

Coil never came. The news came to him but didn't hit as hard as before, just because he had silently accepted that he wasn't there at all. It was good to try, at least.

He stopped smiling and raised his phone to his face again, the light slightly illuminating parts of his face. He made his way to the groupchat with Coil, Boombox, and Slingshot, and called.

Nobody picked up. It wasn't late late into the night, but people would not like to talk at this hour. Or- Slingshot wouldn't. Because Boombox picked up after a couple seconds.

Loud rave music emerged from the small device, a blur of motion displayed to Skateboard with bright lights everywhere. A wide range of inphernals was shown in the camera coming and leaving before Boombox's face came into view. He was busy wearing purple shaders over his visor and had a huge hat on his head, over his normal cap. He was probably at a party and his voice had to raise higher than the music for Skateboard to understand.

"Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Skateeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! Whatchu calling forrrr??"

"Hi Skateboard!!!!!!!"

"Hey Skate??!?! Are you here?????? I'm gonna go check!!"

Boombox spoke first, then a couple of other partygoers who barely knew Skateboard had chimed in with their own hellos before disappearing offscreen and into the rest of the party. Boombox sounded extremely laid back.

"Hey Boom. Uh, is Coil's location on for you?"

"Hah??!?!??? What did you say??????????? Speak louder!!"

Boombox was... half paying attention... not to blame him or anything, he was at a party- he was having a good time, but, he could at least try a little harder.

"Goddamn, I'm in a quiet area and I gotta speak up- IS COIL'S LOCATION ON FOR YOU??"

Boombox had fistbumped someone and was busy walking around, tuning out Skateboard. He then suddenly stopped smiling and squinted hard at the phone for a prolonged amount of time before starting to walk again.

"...Huh???? Bruh, let me just go upstairs..."

The noise had started to die down as he walked up a flight of stairs and past many wasted inphernals. It got quieter upstairs with a lot less people, and now he only needed to find an empty room to lock. He opened the guest bedroom door and found a mini party in there he was almost tempted to join. He opened up a bathroom to find an inphernal throwing up- quickly giving them a sign of "Sorry!" before closing the door. He opened the door to a smaller bathroom and found no one in there, so he entered and locked the door. Soon the phone was propped up against the mirror.

"Okay. Sorry, party's super loud n' stuff, you should like... totally come over even if it's just for a minute though, it's real cool-"

"Hey. Boombox. This is like, serious I think. I dunno. I think it is. Can you just listen for like, a sec?"

Skateboard was staring intently at the phone but not at Boombox, presumably typing to someone. Yet he demanded Boombox's attention, and he listened.

"Uh," Boombox scratched a part of his face and contorted it into a grimace. "Yeah, sure, go ahead."

"Great. Can you check your phone?" Skateboard kept typing, the top half of his face furrowing more intensely each second as his typing quickened itself, even seemingly growing angry. "Check Coil's location. I needa know if he just turned it off for me, or left it on for you."

Boombox picked up his phone and did as he was told. "Sure. Why do you need Coil's location though? Isn't it normally turned off anyways?"

"Yeah." Skateboard didn't answer his question and pursued typing instead, only to slap his own face and let out a loud sigh.

"Gods, sorry Boom. I just need it 'cause he just randomly- disappeared? I don't know, uh- he just said he was gonna use the restroom, and that was over half an hour ago, and he's not picking up or answering my texts at all, and I just needa know if he's okay, it's super late and y'know how dangerous it could be-"

Skateboard had started to subconsciously ramble to both himself and Boombox, trying to get his feelings out in a couple simple sentences. Boombox stayed on the other line, growing ever concerned, the concern multiplying as he got an answer for Skateboard's question.

"...Damn. Damn man, uh. Wow. He just randomly fluked on you? LIke that?"

"I- fuck, maybe- but I don't know if he's gotten hurt or anything."

"He probably didn't. Don't make it worse than it seems."

Boombox paused for a moment, squinting at his phone just to make sure his eyes were not tricking him. Then he rubbed the back of his head, face turning into a grimace again.

"Sorry Skate but, I don't see his location. Like at all."

Skateboard frowned as he heard that. Though it didn't last long, as he started to kick the floor again to get his skateboard started up and moving, skating in the direction he presumed Coil went.

"Guess I'll just have to keep searching then."

Boombox looked confused as he listened to Skateboard's words, trying to wrap his head around the whole situation. "You're looking for him? What if it's just one of his pranks?"

Skateboard kept skating, wind resistance becoming louder as he skated faster.

"It's not a prank. He woulda seen all my texts, and all my calls, and that I'm searching for him and calling you guys. He would've come out by now."

"Huh. I guess you're right. Want me to text Slingshot to have him pick up?"

"Nah, it's okay. If he's already asleep by now we don't wanna disturb him."

"Okay. Do you want me to come out there and help you look?"

Skateboard took some time to think for a moment, weighing his options. It would be nice to have someone else helping look for Coil, especially now that it seemed like a serious thing and that he wasn't joking around with him. But then again, it was Coil they were talking about, so how serious could it get?

"...It's fine. You don't gotta go look with me, go party. I don't know anyone else that could find him faster than me anyways."

"Kay. But I'm not gonna go back to partying if it's really this important to you. I'll just stay here until you go ho- find him."

"...Thanks."

Skateboard continued skating, the flicker of streetlamps occasionally appearing and disappearing within seconds. Boombox was lazily playing around with his phone as he decided to keep the conversation going and calm Skateboard down.

"You know he's probably fine, right?"

"He's FINE?" Boom, he hasn't responded or read my tex-"

"Yeah, and he does that. He frequently does that. It's nothing new."

"He doesn't do that to me. He always answers me."

"...He does?"

"Yeah."

"Well, shoot.

Did ya say something to piss him off?"

"No?? I don't think so??"

"Uh oh."

Boombox was internally cringing at how bad the conversation was taking a turn for. He tried to spin it around again.

"Playground isn't all that dangerous dude. And this is Coil we're talking about- he's got that crystal, he literally takes down Biografts like nothing..."

"Someone could've drugged him. With like... those darts those ninjas use."

"Yeah. Could've. But who even has that here?"

"...Bad people..."

Boombox put his arms on the counter of the bathroom and his head in his hands. Time to be the sensible one here. "I guess you keep looking for him and I'll... give you ideas where he might be?"

"Yeah, cool."

Vine Staff had just finished making dinner for the night and was busy sewing a patch into her nightgown that needed fixing. Medkit was washing the last fork and moved over into the living room where Vine Staff was, pulling out the piano stool and sitting down on it. His hands hovered over the keys methodically, like a surgeon preparing to make an incision. They started moving and pressing down onto the white and black slabs, sound beginning to fill the room.

"You're getting better everyday."

Vine Staff commented on Medkit's playing, continuing to sew the nightgown in her lap. She occasionally waved around her left hand to a flower pot on a side table, green sparks forming around the palm of her hand as a plant started to rapidly bloom flowers off its limbs.

Medkit slowed his playing until it came to a stop, flipping to another page of sheet music to try.

"It's not going to become a serious thing."

"Really? Because you've been playing that old thing everyday now."

Medkit began playing the piano once more, playing a slower song designed to be a waltz.

"I only play it because I know you enjoy it."

Vine Staff looked up from her sewing for a moment, watching Medkit intently play the piano before giving a contented hum and going back to working. She swapped the gown she had in her hands with the plant she was working on and took out a pair of gardening shears, gingerly trimming around the edges of the plant. Her hand waved at the plant a couple times over, the flowers becoming more vibrant and lively.

The house became peacefully quiet, the scent of newly bloomed flowers and the soft sound of piano filling up the living room and rest of the house. The world outside had finally quieted down and the heartbeat of nature outside had slowed.

And then there was a series of urgent knocks at the door.

Both inphernals looked up from their activites and towards the door. After a moment of them not responding, the knocking came again, harder. Medkit made a motion that alerted that he was about to get up, but Vine Staff waved him off and got up instead. She placed the plant and gardening shears on the couch just where she was sitting on.

"I'll get it."

Medkit looked at the door for a moment before nodding and turning back to the piano. Vine Staff began to walk over to the door, suppressing a yawn as she got over there.

She unlocked the door and made sure she was presentable, then turned the handle. Who could be out this late?

Before she could register who was outside her door, a voice cut through as soon as she opened the door, the urgency and desperation in it noticeable to anyone who'd heard it.

"Vine- can we please stay here?"

On her doorstep was a young inphernal who looked both extremely emotional and extremely detached from the world. His hands were shaking like he was cold, but he was in a cold sweat. In one of his hands was a cage keeping a small animal captive.

Vine Staff stared in surprise at the man, shocked so hard that she had temporarily frozen in place where she stood, hand still on the door. The surprising action and how late it had become combined made her wipe her eyes twice followed by rapid blinking, making sure she was seeing things correctly. After staring in awe for so long (and needing to respond to the situation), she managed to construct words to speak.

"...Coil?? It's really late, what are you doing out still? What do you mean can you st- is that-"

Vine Staff stopped talking when she realized he was staring at his phone, looking over a long list of text messages. Both of their ears perked up and their heads turned to the side where the sound of skating and someone yelling rapidly approached.

Coil turned back to Vine Staff who was still staring off into the distance as she tried understanding what that noise from. Coil, noticing the danger, quickly placed Plume down temporarily and took her hands in his so she would listen to him.

"Please."

Vine Staff gave him a concerned and confused look, taking a couple glances towards the place the noise came from and then back at Coil. She then removed her hands from his as he picked up Plume's cage again and she began to usher him inside.

"Okay, just- let's talk inside, okay?"

Coil did not say anything, opting to get inside as quickly as possible so that he wouldn't be seen.

Meanwhile, Skateboard continued his search alongside Boombox who was giving him advice through his phone. He was continuing to monitor his phone for any sign of a text message but he himself had stopped trying to text Coil, resorting to yelling just to see if he would respond. He came up on a more residential area of wherever he was, more houses than business buildings starting to appear.

"It's been forever and I still can't find him..."

"It's been forever and I'm still in this bathroom. Do you know how many people have knocked?"

"Dude, I think I've skated so far I'm in Crossroads. I'm going as fast as I can and I still see no sign of him- do you think I missed him? Should I go back?-"

"You shouldn't. Keep asking people if they've seen him and you'll find him, right? I mean, people don't miss Lovedoves. I'm glad you had him bring it because at least we know he hasn't been hurt, right?"

"Yeah. Now we know that he's just ghosting me."

There was a moment of silence between the two, Skateboard's comment expressing obvious anger and confusion in it. Boombox decided to calm him down again, like he had been for the past half hour.

"It could've been something you said but again, he's not dead. He's safe. That's what you really cared about, right?"

"...I guess, yeah. But what did I say wrong? What happened that made him get up and leave- actually- more importantly lie to me? If he bails on me he tells me the straight truth because he doesn't care what I think! Why'd he lie now?"

"I'm not saying that you're the problem! Maybe something came up! Just- you can go home now. Just think about it."

"No. I want to keep looking for him. If I just keep asking people where he went, I'll find him and I'll find out what the fuck is wrong. Because this is fucking weird."

Boombox had to quiet down to pretend like he wasn't in the bathroom because of a bunch of partygoers were trying to enter. Once they left he picked up his phone again and continued speaking.

"If you already know he's safe and just left you, why are you still looking?"

Skateboard didn't respond. He kept skating, purposefully ignoring Boombox as to avoid his question, because truly he didn't know why he was still searching either. Boombox shook his head and started to put a party popper in his mouth just to entertain himself.

"Okay, well, you go talk and stuff but know it's getting close to nine now. And I should probably leave this party soon..."

Skateboard stuffed his phone into his pocket and prioritized skating and keeping himself attentive as he made his way forward, continuing to follow Coil's trail. Except when he asked the next person he found, they said that Coil had not passed them.

Coil walked into the house only to look through the peephole in the door once it was closed, pushing past Vine Staff to watch what was happening outside. He saw Skateboard on his phone, talking to someone as he skated right past the house. He had to suppress a sigh of relief as to not seem even more suspicious to Vine Staff, though he was sure she had already caught on. His attention was redirected to Vine Staff as she tapped his shoulder, making a motion for him to follow her. Now that he focused, he could hear the sound of piano echoing through the house and was greeted by the familiar scent of flowers, now stinging his nose. He hastily followed Vine Staff into the living room as he attempted to make sure Plume was okay, which she was (to the best she could in this situation).

He was told to sit down on the couch next to a plant, the cushion softly sinking underneath his weight as he sat down. He saw Medkit was playing the piano and was secretly thankful that him and Vine Staff were still awake, because if they weren't he might've been found by Skateboard.

Why did he run away anyway?

His emotions got the better of him.

Not the emotions that are hateful and angry, but the softer ones.

He hated those ones and he didn't even realize he was still being controlled by them.

Vine Staff knelt down in front of him as Coil put Plume’s cage on the cushion next to him, freeing his hand. Medkit, now noticing the disturbance, stopped playing and turned back to see what was happening but did not say anything, holding his tongue. Vine Staff however wanted to waste no time, understanding the situation and attempting to handle it as gently as she could.

“Coil, honey, what is going on?”

Coil stared off to the side, knowing all eyes were on him. Medkit’s were silent and piercing. Vine Staff’s were soft but pressed for answers.

Something inside of him told him he should lie to them. That if he didn’t lie, if he told the truth, they wouldn’t let him leave and would alert Skateboard.

Because nobody could truly understand. They’d want to fix everything. Confronting Skateboard felt like seeing death itself, as if it had come for him and he was stuck with no way out.

Lying would keep him alive.

So he did.

“Me and- me and Skate got into an argument, and…

We just-

I just-

I just left for a moment, and I don’t want to go back right now. I can’t right now.”

Was that considered a white lie?

Vine Staff’s expression deepened in concern as she listened, wrapping her head around the situation. It was like she knew he was lying, and yet she didn’t say a single word. He couldn’t tell if Medkit could tell- or if he even cared.

“How is Skateboard doing?”

“He’s been texting me. I haven’t brought myself to read them yet.”

That was the truth. Sort of.

“And you’re sure you don’t want to go back right now?”

Coil nodded his head feverishly. Vine Staff continued her gaze of concern but turned it into a sad smile as she patted his shoulder, trying to comfort him.

“Okay. You can stay here with us.”

She noticed the way his face both lifted and fell when she said that- as if he was both happy and sad that she said that. He most likely was secretly hoping to confess to Skateboard, but also was desperately avoiding it.

“You look terrible, was it that bad?”

“Huh? I’m fine. My head just hurts a little.”

“No- you’re clearly dazed, you’re walking without purpose, you’re antsy at the same time- Med, you see it too, right?”

Medkit only gave a nod of agreement as he continued watching. It was like he was scanning over Coil and his soul, his stare imposing.

Coil didn’t know why they were lying to him. He was completely normal, just had a headache.

“I’ll go start you some tea to help. Just- rest for now.”

Coil didn’t normally like tea, but he didn’t protest at all.

A few moments later, Vine Staff returned with a singular cup of tea in her hand and placed it in front of Coil, who was still sitting on the couch. Plume was busy sleeping, attempting to sleep off her sadness.

“Here. Drink, it’ll help.”

Coil took a small sip of it and felt nothing. Vine Staff had waited for him to finish, then started her questioning again as she knelt in front of him.

“If you are to stay though, at least answer some questions. You can’t be having us worry about you and not do anything about it. When are you planning to go and talk to him?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re going to respond to his texts at least, yes?”

“I don’t know.”

“Does anyone else know you’re here? Or that you’ve split up temporarily?”

“I think Slingshot and Boombox know. There’s an active call in our group chat.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’ll tough it out.”

Medkit noticed a pause of silence and took the moment to ask some questions of his own.

“You’re not physically hurt anywhere, are you?”

“Nope.”

“Is he still texting you?”

“No.”

“Did he try to stop you when you left?”

“…

No.”

Medkit intensified his gaze, it almost turning into a glare as his grip on the piano which he had stopped playing increased ever so slightly.

“This isn’t about your visits to Blackrock, is it?”

“No.”

Medkit did not say any more than that, but he might’ve mumbled a quiet “good”. Vine Staff had moved to looking out the window, noticing Skateboard in the area but not saying anything.

“Our house is a little small so we don’t have a guest bedroom, sorry. I hope you’re fine with the couch?”

“That’s okay.”

“Great, I can get it prepared for you right now.”

And so for the next twenty minutes Vine Staff rearranged the pillows, pulled out a couple extra blankets, cleared the couch of any debris, doing anything to make sure it was comfortable. Medkit went to another room presumably to do paperwork for his job that nobody knew what he worked as. Vine Staff continued trying to help Coil even after preparing the couch, pulling out board games, offering snacks, doing stuff to bond and comfort with him. She managed to get him to play a couple games with him which boosted his mood, even if it was by just a little.

And they watched movies. Vine Staff showed him a couple things Medkit was crafting, wooden sculptures made into bowls and statues that he had been working on for months now. He took a special liking to the wolf one.

Coil would occasionally check his phone. The rapid flow of text messages from Skateboard had stopped, though the call was still ongoing. He was almost tempted to respond.

* please just say something
what’s going on
people are js saying you keep walking
where are you going??

i know you’re probavly seeing thes
idfk why ur ghosting me but
just come home whenever u can ok
ok 👍
pleas

Even Boombox had started to text him, though it nearly wasn’t as much as Skateboard had.

Despite all the things they had done, it had still only been a few minutes. The movies they had watched were hours long, but they only watched the first 5 minutes because they had gotten disrupted and distracted.

Vine Staff and Medkit went to sleep earlier than him. Vine Staff came into the living room and flicked off the light, making sure everything was okay before she left.

“You need anything else?”

“I’m good. Thank you.”

“Don’t be afraid to wake me or Medkit up if you need anything.”

“…I really can’t believe you’d let a criminal stay in your house. Just- just sayin.”

“Hm? Oh, well, I’ve got a faction traitor in here, so, it can’t get much worse than that!”

They both laughed at that. Plume opened her eye and flopped over before going to sleep again. Vine Staff walked over to Coil to say one more thing.

She tapped him on the head and whispered.

“Don’t think I didn’t notice Plume. We can talk more in the morning.”

And then she left.

So she did know.

Well, it was expected. Plume’s broken heart was hard to miss.

That meant Medkit probably knew too.

Gods, they’re really good people, aren’t they?

Coil was left alone in the darkness with Plume, keeping the lower half of his body under the blankets that were provided. Plume had fallen asleep before him, quietly breathing inside her little cage. He did start to feel bad again, pressing a finger onto the fuzzy heart that had broke into two and soured her mood. Once he was able to think alone and somewhat calmly, he turned his body to the side to a wall housing many pictures of Vine Staff and Medkit's happy relationship. His mind tried hard to imagine that with him and Skateboard again. In the end, he couldn't, distress, fear, and anger overwhelming him and causing him to sigh in defeat. With no other options, he decided to go to bed. Normally he’d stay up later but he felt worn out for once.

And alone.

Did he really let his emotions get him here?

Everything could’ve been normal if he faked it.

If he didn’t act stupid and suddenly run away.

Now he’s made everything worse and going back will have the friendship on thin ice.

How was he supposed to confess if he couldn’t even keep that together?

He left because he felt vulnerable, didn’t he?

That makes sense.

He sat alone in the darkness for a long time, staring at nothing. His mind ran with thoughts of how everything could’ve been better if he stayed.

And he fucked it up by leaving.

He can’t just randomly respond now, right?

Why’d he dig himself into a hole he can’t get out of?

Whatever. Those are thoughts for tomorrow.

He finally laid down and closed his eyes, silencing his phone as he tried to go to sleep.

He only went to sleep this early because he didn’t want to cry.

He didn’t realize how badly he needed to until now.

And he didn’t let himself do it.

Because that was bad.

And he will keep that suppressed for as long as he can.

Even when he faces Skateboard.

Gods, what a fucking day.

And he let himself fall into a light sleep, one that he needed but kept him alert for danger. His mind had finally quieted itself enough to allow real- not fabricated- peace in there, even if it was tainted with anxiety after the day. Not that it lasted long however, because only minutes after he fell asleep, the doorbell to the house rung.

Nobody answered, so the person rang again.

And again.

And again.

It was this constant, annoying, pestering noise that rang through his ears and the whole house, relentless in its attempts to get someone, anyone to answer. Like an annoying bug that would constantly fly over your head, but now it rang throughout the entire house. It went on for so long Coil could hear Vine Staff and Medkit talking in their bedroom, unintelligible words becoming louder and louder but not attempting to check the door.

Nobody came to look.

He didn’t want to check, but he felt obligated to. Coil sat up with a groan, pushing off the blankets and moving off the couch, walking over to the peephole of the front door to look at who was outside.

He was greeted with Skateboard staring right back at him.

Chapter Text

"That guy didn't pass me."

An older inphernal spoke, horns going gray from age and worn down from years of living in the Inpherno. A cigarette lazily hung from his mouth as he took another puff of it, smoke escaping from the burning tip and into the night air. He took it between two fingers and tapped the top, fiery chunks falling down onto the concrete below.

"What do you mean he didn't pass you?"

The man coughed, almost turning into a fit as he rapidly beat his chest before sitting up straight again. "He didn't. Walked into one of the houses here."

Skateboard tilted his head in confusion, the man not paying him any mind and blowing smoke into the air once more. Now fully understanding what he said, Skateboard turned around to get a look at the houses while turning his phone so Boombox could get a look too. Boombox kept quiet so Skateboard could continue talking.

"You sure he went in one of these houses? They're a little..."

"Yep. Eagerly knocked on the door liked his life depended on it, wouldn't stop knocking. A little pitiful." The man wasn't eyeing any specific house, only theatrically waving around his hand in one direction.

Skateboard, now a little shaken, attempted to get more answers out of him, copying his hand movements.

"Do you know which one he entered?"

The man took another breath of smoke, his voice becoming harsher and brittle each time. A smug smile found itself on his face as he leaned back just a bit more. "...Mmm, yup, but you gotta give me something if you wanna know. Money, another cig. Oh, you know what? I think he had one of those Blackrockian crystals on his horns. Think you could hook me up with some?"

"You must've seen wrong. He doesn't have something like that. Thank you anyways."

Skateboard walked off from the man who gave him a sour look before continuing what he was doing before, choosing to pay no mind to the younger inphernal. Boombox was still on the other line listening to the whole conversation, trying to connect the dots in his head with the new information they had just got.

"So, like, he just randomly walked into someone's house here? What?"

"That's what that guy said."

"You think he had something to do? Like... debt... or... something... like drugs... or... I don't really know but you get it right?"

"Hell no! He doesn't do that. And if he did he would just make his own."

"...Huh?????"

Skateboard started to head for the closest house, a small one that had a bunch of anti-deity signs on the windows, walls, everywhere you could think. They were probably a victim of The Scorch, yet they lived in Crossroads which had been previously ruled by that same deity instead of going to The Church of the True Eye. What an odd choice.

"Skate, you should really head home. It's late. You're in Crossroads. Just- come back home and he'll be there tomorrow.

"I can't do that."

"Why?? You already know he's safe. He's intentionally not talking to you. What makes you think he'll still talk to you even if you find him?"

"I just- I just want to know why he's here."

Walking up the stairs, the scent of something rotting became more pronounced and stained the air with its presence. It was sickly- something left out for days, decomposing somewhere unseen, in some dark corner where it was forgotten. Skateboard did not want to investigate. He raised his fist up to the door, paint peeling off its skin, and knocked loud enough the house owner could hear.

"...I guess it's strange. But he doesn't have to act the same all the time. Even if he's walking into a stranger's house... and not responding to you... and purposefully running away from you... uh... he's an adult too, so he's not your problem...??"

Boombox continuously attempted to make excuses for Coil, pleading with Skateboard over the line so he would just go home and sleep. And he did hold many truths to his words, yet Skateboard continued to disregard him and stick to what he wanted to do. Even now Boombox was starting to get disheartened and was only staying on the phone because he felt as if he hadn't, Skateboard would stay out there all night looking. He didn't have the heart to leave him.

Shuffling could be heard from the inside of the house- quiet, then loud and erratic, a pot falling over, and then quiet once more. An unseen eye peeked through the boards on top of a window, wide and uncanny, staring at Skateboard as he continued waiting. A few moments later, the sound of multiple locks coming free could be heard behind the door, and the door itself opened by only a small crack, not allowing much to be seen.

A squeaky, almost freakishly nasal voice came from the crack, low but pronounced enough to be heard. Soon an eye came into view and just that eye, nothing else. "What do you want?"

He was almost absolutely sure Coil wouldn't be here, but he tried anyway.

"...'Scuse me, but I'm looking for my friend... he's about my height, two-toned horns, wears a jacket but the sleeves are torn off and there's a Cerberus on the ba-"

"Not here. I don't know. Go away now, don't knock again."

And the door slammed shut, and the locks became locked again, and the house became dark.

Skateboard was left on the doorstep, staring endlessly at the door as he tried regrouping.

"I guess he's not here."

"Yeah, wouldn't go here."

He started for the next house beside the previous one, plainly simple and seemingly newly renovated, like someone had just moved in. Boombox commented on what had just happened.

"...Feel bad for them, man. I don't know much about The Scorch but it must've been bad enough for... whatever that is to happen."

He had moved to adjusting the hat on his head in the mirror, making sure it fit perfectly before going back to what he was doing in the bathroom- which was now staring at a large array of soaps.

"Hope they're okay."

Skateboard stopped for a moment to count the houses in the area, making a mental note of how many he'd have to knock on and which ones he could know for certain Coil wasn't in. He had just finished counting when his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice through his phone, but not Boombox's.

"What are you two doing...?"

Slingshot had (finally) joined the call after many minutes of ignoring it. He was home, Shuriken in the background throwing his gear at a target on the wall, not-so-subtly eavesdropping on whatever Slingshot was doing behind him. It looked as though they both had just gotten home.

Boombox turned around from the soaps, making his way over to his phone as he held it up and spun around like he was spinning Slingshot around. "Sling!! We thought you wouldn't pick up!"

"Skate, are you outside??- What are you still doing out?"

"Lookin' for Coil."

"...What happened this time."

"I didn't do anything!! He's just avoiding me and I need him to come home."

"...And Skate thought he got kidnapped earlier..."

"I THOUGHT, but now I know he's okay. And he's also in someone else's house."

"Boom, what are you wearing???"

"Party hat... and glasses... and party popper..."

"...Man, what the fuck is going on? Okay- you know what- Boombox, just tell me instead."

While Skateboard talked with the inphernal at the next house, Boombox recapped the past hour to Slingshot. While listening, he was constantly giving glares to Skateboard, though he didn't see since he wasn't looking at his phone. Meanwhile the inphernal only shook their head and said that they weren't housing Coil nor had seen him. They offered to go help look for him, but Skateboard declined and walked away. The walk to the next house was dead silent until Slingshot decided to criticize Skateboard.

"Dude, why are you always messing things up with Coil??"

"Huh- What do you mean always?? We've been fine all week!"

"Today was a shitshow. Notice how he was actually happy a couple hours ago?

And now he's not?"

"Sling, it probably wasn't him, maybe something else was going on with-"

"No- I most CERTAINLY guarantee that it was him, and Boom, if you haven't caught on then maybe I should just tell it straight to your face."

"Say what to my face?"

"Yeah, say what?"

Slingshot paused for a moment, staring deadpan at his phone. Shuriken, still in the back, could not contain his excitement and was hopping up and down waiting for someone to say something, acting as though he were watching a movie. All Boombox and Skateboard did was stare.

Slingshot paused to think for a moment as he quietly cooled down. Nobody spoke a word and nobody was planning to, the atmosphere becoming heavier and for Slingshot, tainted with the sense of dread. He wanted them to get a hint. He actually thought Boombox might've had one but didn't want to say anything wrong to Skate, so he kept thinking nothing of the two. Slingshot could tell him. And he could tell Skate.

But that was the wrong thing to do.

He and Coil were never close. They were growing closer to each other, last week they had a couple of good conversations and Coil even stopped by his cafe. But they weren't as close as they could've been.

Coil made him angry. When he started to tease him, he was like an annoying, unmovable leech that wouldn't give him a moment of peace. He could get back at him by telling them.

It wasn't his place to say anything, though.

It was possibly one of the cruelest things he could've thought to do. That was a terrible thought and he was sure he wouldn't think it again. It was Coil's job to let them know- more importantly let Skateboard know. And now that he thought, and he thought for a very long time, he could relate to him, almost.

They were alike, at least in the past, when bottling up their feelings. Skateboard had to make the first move on Slingshot for him to say anything, otherwise them dating would've never happened. He knew the same thing would happen with Coil, and he knew Skateboard would not do the same thing with him. He didn't want him to be unhappy. If he just gave him a little push...

"You know what, nevermind. Just keep doing whatever."

He should text Coil, even if he wasn't responding. He needed to let him know- let him know something, just so he could have peace of mind, and maybe he could even talk to him. It wasn't his job. He wasn't involved in any of this. This was his and Skateboard's problem. Skateboard was his best friend. Coil felt like his least favorite person.

Boombox had gone quiet and was just watching whatever he could see from Skateboard's phone, laying his head down on the bathroom counter. Skateboard knocked on nearly every door, each person different and yet all had the same answer: he wasn't there, nor did they see him, and that Skateboard needed to leave. Slingshot however, was busy leaving a message for Coil.

* hey
we all hope you're doing alright
if you see this don't leave yet, i need to say something important
i know that lovedove is for skatee
don't worry, nobody told me, i just figured it out on my own

i believe boombox doesn't know
skate Obviously doesn't know.
If you need to talk about it to someone im here
i know we're not close
But we're kinda similar about Skate
he made the first move for me
but i know he's not gonna do it for yu
you've got to tell him.

it's not good to keep it to yourself its gonna tear you apart
i won't tell anyone
but that menas its up to you to tell him :(
or not. not forcing u to do anything

* what do you mean you know

* if you ne
what
hello
Hi
why idd you rpesond to me and ngot bom or
coil come back

Oh shit. He responded. He responded? He responded????

Slingshot almost flinched when he got a response, only widening his eyes before checking Boombox and Skateboard's expressions to see if they noticed anything or also got a text message. Nothing happened between them, so he assumed this was exclusive to him. He held the phone closer and watched for anything else.

* why do u now and not boom or skate

* would you rather have one of them know instead of me?

* boombox

* ok

Shit, this was big. Big news. Maybe because he had said something other than "Where are you?" and "Are you okay?" made him respond. After all, what he said was definitely provoking. It was enough to make him even continue the conversation.

* how is skate

* paranoidd
he's been out for likse forever trying to find you
boom has been staying in the call with him to try to get him to go home
oh
he's searching the house are a youre in btw

* You're lying

* i'm not go check

Coil had been left in the darkness with Plume, keeping the lower half of his body under the blankets that were provided. Plume had fallen asleep before him, quietly breathing inside her little cage. He did start to feel bad again, pressing a finger onto the fuzzy heart that had broke into two and soured her mood. Once he was able to think alone and somewhat calmly, he turned his body to the side to a wall housing many pictures of Vine Staff and Medkit's happy relationship. His mind tried hard to imagine that with him and Skateboard again. In the end, he couldn't, distress, fear, and anger overwhelming him and causing him to sigh in defeat. With no other options, he decided to go to bed. Normally he’d stay up later but he felt worn out for once.

And alone.

(If you're confused about what's happening here, check out the first sentence of End Notes!!)

Even though Slingshot was talking to him.

He hadn't been paying much attention to texting, only looking at his phone just after Vine Staff had left. His mind was on the brink of sleep and he didn't take Slingshot's words to heart, too tired to think straight. There's no way he was here. He wasn't here, and he wasn't checking the doors, because too much shit had happened today and if he had to deal with another crazy thing he might just shutdown.

* im going to sleep

* Can you atleast let skate know you are ok so he will go home

* you can do that

* wait don't go yet
are you safe rn?

* yea

* you're very calm in response to me knowing
you didn't take any weird drugs right
didn't try to od

* im just tired

* ok
if you joined the call it'd make everybody talk again lol

* why doeds skate have to be sol stupdi
makin everything sucha big deal
he sucks

* Because it is a big deal
it's ok to be sad

* im going to sleep

* just dont frek out if you see him

Coil didn't respond. Slingshot was left there staring at his phone, staying quiet as Skateboard continued to knock on doors and the time got later. He really hoped Coil was mentally okay- he had never seen him anything other than stupidly confident, so he didn't know what him falling apart would look like- but he hoped he was okay anyway. He wished he could've talked to him a bit longer.

Coil had shuffled into the covers, staring up at the ceiling as he stopped worrying about his conversation with Slingshot. He wasn't worrying about anything he said.

Did he really let his emotions get him here?

Everything could’ve been normal if he faked it.

If he didn’t act stupid and suddenly run away.

Now he’s made everything worse and going back will have the friendship on thin ice.

How was he supposed to confess if he couldn’t even keep that together?

He left because he felt vulnerable, didn’t he?

That makes sense.

He sat alone in the darkness for a long time, staring at nothing. His mind ran with thoughts of how everything could’ve been better if he stayed.

And he fucked it up by leaving.

He can’t just randomly respond now, right?

Why’d he dig himself into a hole he can’t get out of?

Whatever. Those are thoughts for tomorrow.

He finally laid down and closed his eyes, silencing his phone as he tried to go to sleep.

He only went to sleep this early because he didn’t want to cry.

He didn’t realize how badly he needed to until now.

And he didn’t let himself do it.

Because that was bad.

And he will keep that suppressed for as long as he can.

Even when he faces Skateboard.

Gods, what a fucking day.

And he let himself fall into a light sleep, one that he needed but kept him alert for danger. His mind had finally quieted itself enough to allow real- not fabricated- peace in there, even if it was tainted with anxiety after the day. Not that it lasted long however, because only minutes after he fell asleep, the doorbell to the house rung.

Nobody answered, so the person rang again.

And again.

And again.

It was this constant, annoying, pestering noise that rang through his ears and the whole house, relentless in its attempts to get someone, anyone to answer. Like an annoying bug that would constantly fly over your head, but now it rang throughout the entire house. It went on for so long Coil could hear Vine Staff and Medkit talking in their bedroom, unintelligible words becoming louder and louder but not attempting to check the door.

Nobody came to look.

He didn’t want to check, but he felt obligated to. Coil sat up with a groan, pushing off the blankets and moving off the couch, walking over to the peephole of the front door to look at who was outside.

He was greeted with Skateboard staring right back at him.

And he froze.

His mind went quiet.

He was right there. Right in front of him. Right outside Vine Staff's and Medkit's door.

His first thought was that he had fallen asleep, and this was the result of a dream. It made sense- he had been on the receiving end of numerous amount of stressors today, all relating to Skateboard. It was normal to dream and have him in it.

So he pinched his arm, and he didn't wake up.

He pinched his hand, and he didn't wake up.

The doorbell was screeching at him so loudly that he did not notice nor feel Vine Staff's hands on him until she shook him.

"Coil, what are you doing? Answer the door!"

She was in her night dress, alongside Medkit who was checking outside the window to see who it was. Her face displayed tiredness blended with annoyance, her whole demeanor projecting an image of a disappointed mom. That all changed when Coil turned around, revealing his terrified face and multiple pinch marks around his lower arms, between the coils that looped around them.

"How. Did he. Find me?"

"What- who?- Let me check-"

Coil had already moved out of the way when Vine Staff moved in to check the hole in the door, putting an eye to the glass so she could see through it. Her reaction was the exact same as Coil's, just as a whisper.

"Oh, shit. Hm.

Okaaaaaaaay. Okay."

The doorbells soon stopped, but tension only got worse inside the house. Coil felt as if he were going to die. Vine Staff was seeing an opportunity. Medkit was planning a hundred different routes to handle this situation in his head. There wasn't a lot of room for thinking- Skateboard was already thinking about leaving and was slowly moving off the porch, so Vine Staff quickly spoke her thoughts.

"He's here- you could tell him, we'll both be here for you two-"

"I can't."

"But you can't keep running forever. Getting it done now is good- I understand emotions are high, but-"

"I don't want to see him. I don't even want to think about him."

Coil's voice was gradually getting lower and lower as he stepped back with tiny movements until he bumped into Medkit, his body going into self-defense mode and almost swiping at him but holding back. Vine Staff looked at the two for a moment, then sighed.

"Are you sure?"

He did not respond, but she already knew the answer.

"Okay. You don't have to talk to him- he doesn't even have to know you're here. But on one condition. Just- let me talk to him. I can tell you what he said. You know he cares about you. We just- I, just, know that you're never going to say anything. Because of how you're reacting right now, it's plain as day that you're going to shut down again and again."

Coil had the instinct to fight back, to say something to defend himself, but nothing came up. It was like his chest and everything in it was closing in on itself.

"So just let me have a chat with him, and I'll tell you everything he said. This could all be a misunderstanding. You need the motivation.

Things could be fixed by tomorrow."

...

Vine Staff always preferred to fix things before they could get worse. This, of course, stemmed into dealing with relationships as well. It was a great motto to live by- not going to sleep angry. But sometimes it just didn't work.

She was wise. But she was also young. Medkit, who contrasted her normally had something to say to her ideas. But he kept silent, because truly he didn't know what to do either.

You can't force someone into doing something they don't want to do. Especially not Coil. He loved his freedom.

He didn't give any fight or pushback, or even a harsh word. Maybe he felt indebted to them, because he went along with every instruction he was told. Medkit took his hand and led him into the bedroom, where he was sure Vine Staff wouldn't bring Skateboard. Vine Staff murmured a couple words to herself as she opened the door and called out to Skateboard, feigning ignorance.

Barely any words had been spoken during the time Skateboard had been touring around houses searching for Coil. Everybody was tired and wanted to go settle down for the night except Skateboard. He was more awake than ever, more determined than ever, for something so unimportant.

All the attempts of locating his friend came up fruitless. The trio had seen a vast variety of inphernals who'd you'd see in completely different factions right here in this little area, and yet they all provided the same answer. They were coming up on the next house, filled to the brim with exotic flowers and the sick smell of them wafting through the immediate area. Immediately in front of the door was a quiant welcome mat painted half teal, half pink. Skateboard knocked quietly, noticing the lights to the house were off. After nobody responding- even though he acknowledged it was rude, he rang the doorbell.

Nobody answered.

So he rang the doorbell again.

And again, more determined. Boombox half-heartedly chimed in.

"Yo, I don't think they're awake."

Shuriken, now leaning over Slingshot's shoulder and watching his phone, made an excited comment.

"Oh, hey- that's my sister's house!"

This piqued Skateboard's and Boombox's interests, causing them to both focus their attention to their phones.

"Really?"

"Yeah!!"

Skateboard paused for a moment, staring at the doorbell with his finger hovered over it. Then he started to feverishly press it again and again, likely to vent out his anger about what had happened during that entire day. And still, nobody came. Nobody came to check the door, though he could hear the slightest sound of voices just behind the door and he could've sworn he saw someone in the window.

After getting no response (and being afraid of being yelled at), he started to walk away from the doorstep and down the short stairs, eyeing the next house that seemed to also be asleep. He had just made it a few steps away when a voice called out to him from behind.

"Skate? What are you doing out so late?"

He turned on his heel to find the source of the voice, his eyes meeting with another inphernal's at the house that he just left. They hadn't talked, but she seemed familiar to him as if they had met before, and it finally hit him.

"Vine Staff? Oh, so Shuri wasn't lying. Huh."

"You were ringing the doorbell like a madman- you understand some people are trying to sleep, right?"

He glanced off to the side and nervously scratched the back of his neck with his free hand, cheesily smiling as he had to manage the awkward moment.

"Yeah, sorry, today's just been stressful..."

He had recognized Vine Staff from seeing her in phights and when she'd sometimes work the register at Slingshot's. He knew she had been the old roommate of him and her brother Shuriken and had recently moved, so he saw less and less of her that he had already seen before. He also remembered that during phights, she had occasionally talked to Coil before matches if they were on the same team, presumably teaching him tricks about healing.

"Actually, do you remember Coil?"

"Him? Yeah, I'd say we're friends. He visited earlier."

"-He came over earlier?"

"Yes?"

Skateboard readjusted the phone in his hand as his brain started to piece together all that he had just heard, watching Vine Staff's concerned expression. This seemed like the place Coil would've entered and yet, Vine Staff gave no indication that he was there.

"...I'm actually looking for him right now. H-Have you seen him?"

Vine Staff adjusted her dress and yawned into her hand before thinking of a response. Skateboard did not want to admit it, but despite her answers, it just seemed like she knew something she was not telling him. It was as if she were trying to get something out of him, information maybe.

"...No honey, I haven't. What's going on?"

"He suddenly left me awhile ago and isn't responding to any of my text messages. I've been searching for him forever- I had to ask a lot of people to find out where he went, but the last 'phernal I asked said that he entered one of these houses. He wouldn't happen to be here, right?"

All Vine Staff did was shake her head twice. Skateboard was about to apologize, thank her, and leave, but then the healer decided to add on one last thing to the conversation.

"If it would help, would you want to come inside and talk?"

He stopped what he was doing, focusing all his attention on her once more. It was a sudden, out of the blue question that made him teeter between the options of continuing his search or... going to talk about what happened in his day?

The options were plain and simple but could easily become complicated if he read into it too much. His long search could be put into a simple sentence: concerning and worthless. All he was left with was questions that needed to be answered. Why was Coil so different? Where did he go?

He had Vine Staff right here. And Boombox. And Slingshot. And even Shuriken. It wouldn't be bad to vent about his feelings, even if it was just for a bit. And he was a bit cold from the chill outside.

But his main motivation for accepting the proposal was the hinted suspicion she had something to do with Coil.

"Uh... okay?"

------guyhgggpbuhhhbhbhh buhhhhhh bababaaaaa this cahpter is lolng as fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk why does skateboard have a fornite party he's carrying around in the middle of the night broooo

Walking in, everyone on the phone made sure to greet Vine Staff at the door when Skateboard passed her.

"Hey Vine!"

"Hi Vine Staff. Come visit me and Shuri soon?"

"Sis!! I missed you!!"

The air stung with the sickly scent of blossoms, a pleasant scent in controlled amounts but here it seemed to overwhelm. Even Vine Staff seemed to notice, scrunching up her nose.

"I missed you too, Shuriken." Vine Staff closed the door, turning to Skateboard and ushering him into the living room. "Apologies about the... overwhelming amount of flowers, I must've had an exciting dream while I was sleeping!"

Skateboard gave a thumbs-up, though it was really starting to mess with his nose. He walked over to the couch to find it perfectly prepared, minus the blankets randomly stuffed underneath it and the presence of an extra pillow directly in the middle of the cushions. He moved it off to the side and sat down. Medkit stood in the living room, seeming to have just gotten there.

Before Vine Staff could move over next to Skateboard, Medkit whispered a couple of words to her.

"The flowers are a bit much. You're excited over this, aren't you?"

"Why wouldn't I be? I want to see them happy. This is our chance!!"

Vine Staff emitted the quintessence of a girl trying to get her two friends together, as if she thought this was some sick love story. She was slowly becoming irrational, and Medkit noticed.

"Didn't you see how much of a mess Coil was? He's unpredictable right now. Bringing Skateboard into the house made it worse."

"And I appreciate you tidying up the couch so that he wouldn't know anything, but I couldn't just leave him in the cold! And look- just imagine if he figured it out. Nothing would be bad anymore between them. They could make up by the morning."

"This isn't some story, Vine. You can't just force them to do stuff- can't force Coil to do anything, nor Skateboard. You of all people should know things aren't that simple."

Vine Staff strained her voice a little, still keeping it low but adding an angry bite to it. "Who said I was forcing them? I'm giving them a nudge in the right direction."

"But will this really help?"

"What do you know? I'm taking this serious! It's not like I'm stupid, Med. You don't know everything."

"You're being careless. I trust you, but really? You didn't have to bring him in, or talk to him, or even say goodnight to him. What will you do if whatever he says hurts Coil even more?"

"Oh please, it's not like he's going to say anything rude."

The two had only realized their talk had gone on long enough when Skateboard started to awkwardly look at them, attempting to be discreet but failing miserably. Vine Staff grumbled and ran a hand over her face as Medkit put a hand on her shoulder before walking off, still whispering.

"I'm going to go talk to him. Do not let him enter the bedroom."

Medkit walked out of the light of the living room and into the darkened hallway, opening the door at the end corner and disappearing into it. Vine Staff was left there with Skateboard and the people on the phone, taking a seat next to where he sat. Her voice became soft and inviting, the perfect example of a caring figure as she placed a hand on Skateboard's shoulder.

"So. Tell me what happened."

She didn't mention this, but, this was her own way of getting the full story. Coil lied to her. Skateboard was here. If she could just fix them, everything would be okay again. She hated seeing them unhappy.

Skateboard placed his phone on his leg, everyone quieting down as they listened. Vine didn't expect there to be an... audience when she wanted to talk to him, but she'd take what she could get.

"Okay, so... let me recap from this afternoon. I wanted to hang out with him today but he said he was visiting a friend so we planned for tonight. Then, while he was gone, I found something in his room and told him about it. He got mad at me but I offered to go talk about it since we were still hanging out tonight. So we went and did that and everything was fine, and then he just randomly said he had to use the restroom and never came back!!"

His hands had begun to gesture around the air, attempting to help express his feelings but sadly not doing much to help. After he calmed down from his bout of flailing his hands around, he rested his chin in them.

"I only started following him because I thought he had gotten hurt or somethin. And then I learned he was just avoiding me and now I want to know why."

Vine Staff had begun to search the bottom half of the coffee table for something, pushing back a couple boxes until she got to a small bowl and lifted it up to Skateboard. "Candy?"

He grabbed one but only put it in his pocket. Vine Staff placed the bowl back where she found it and hastily responded.

"Why are you still looking for him if you know he's safe?"

"'Cause he lied to me? I mean it's not like he can't-"

"You're acting like he can't."

"He rarely does. And- I guess it just freaked me out, it's really unnatural. When he gets angry, he says the truth. He's uh... uh..."

Slingshot chimed in. "Transparent? Blunt? Sarcastic?"

"Yeah- yeah! Like, you know what he's gonna do. He tells you straight to your face. Except he didn't this time.

He just... left? He didn't even try hinting at anything or insulting me or anything. More like... hiding everything from me. If it were any other situation I'd be fine and go home, but this new."

Placing a finger on her lip, Vine Staff thought carefully as she listened to Skateboard's words. She was secretly thankful nobody on the group call was speaking up or adding to the conversation, because she specifically wanted to hear from only Skateboard.

"You seem convinced that it was your fault."

"Well, I'm not sure what else it could be!"

"You're right. It could've had a high possibility of being you."

She paused for another moment as her eyes gazed down at the floor, tracing over the repeated pattern on the rug. She didn't want him to feel bad, her hope to still help him realize what may have gone wrong and to generally just help the situation.

"And you're still looking for him even though he's mad at you? And don't think he could only be that, you could've made him sad too. What makes you think he'll even talk to you?"

Skateboard stayed quiet as he digested the words he heard and attempted to create an answer that he could not only respond with, but also agree with.

"...I mean, I do want to talk to him. Something's wrong, right? But if he doesn't, even seeing him is fine I just- didn't think this through, I think...

And I guess I should probably go home now, it is getting late and I'm in a completely different faction-"

"Would you have searched as long as you did for anyone else?"

"Huh?"

"You're going to such extremes for nothing. You've even called your friends. Think of this: if it were anybody else, say, Slingshot, Boombox, or anyone else of your friends, would you have done the same?"

He didn't get how this was relevant.

"Uhh, under the same circumstances yeah. He's my friend so I can't just do nothing when I know something's wrong."

"But even this is a bit much. Following him. Staying out late. Knocking on people's doors. Are you sure there's no other reason?"

It felt as though Vine Staff was attempting to get him to admit something in front of her, in front of everyone. The way her questions were phrased felt as though she were some sort of detective, using sneaky tricks to deceive into the answer they wanted. And the way the flowers around the house started to smell more threw him off.

He was sure she knew what he was going to say, but he didn't want to admit it in front of everyone, forcing him into being just barely audible, mumbling under his breath.

"...At the bridge, I think I realized something-"

He cut himself off. Nobody said anything, so Vine Staff spoke up once more.

They chatted for a decent amount of time, Skateboard managing to express both his fears and his confusion while everyone else listened. Occasionally Slingshot, Boombox, or even Shuriken would ask something or attempt to help answer a question, though Shuriken left after only 5 minutes of listening, getting bored quick and going to do something else worth his time. It felt good to talk, even if the constant thought of him not being able to follow Coil's path anymore still lingered in the back of his mind. Actually, that became a secondary thought, trumped by the fear of what caused him to leave, the talking convincing him to stop trying and go home.

"He's so stupid- I hate him!"

In the other room, Medkit had managed to talk to Coil.

Medkit had been silently listening to him rant, eye flicking over to the closed door to monitor what was going on outside. He had only come over to check on him, not expecting to become a therapist in the process.

"I mean, how does ANYONE manage to be so annoying and oblivious??! It's like he's DOING IT ON PURPOSE to torture me. Why can't he just leave me alone??"

"He's worried about you."

"Worried my ass. Maybe he's found some fucked up joy out of my suffering."

Coil had brought up his knees to his chest on the floor, a defensive stance. Medkit was knelt down next to him, the crystal hanging over his head being the only light in the dark room.

"Do you really think about him like that?"

Coil didn't want to look him in the eyes, so he chose to stare at his shoes. He was having short bursts of anger, then periods of quiet, and then the anger resurfacing again.

"...No."

The older inphernal chose to stay silent. In the hallway the faint sound of voices carried over and into the room, louder than how they were talking but unintelligible. Coil had gone quiet multiple times to listen for a certain voice, even occasionally getting up and putting his ear to the door in an attempt to hear better- which is what he was doing now.

"Why does he care so much? Does he know? Can he fuck off?"

"...He's your friend."

"Okay well- can he stop friending?? Stop doing friend shit and leave me alone???"

"...It is kind of your fault for disappearing and not saying anything."

"I wasn't thinking. Now I am."

"If you're thinking now, why don't you go out there and say something?"

"I can't."

"Because you're scared."

"I'm not?"

"You are."

"Don't start this with me."

"You're afraid to go confront him. You're scared to talk to him. You're afraid of even seeing him."

Plume, who was in her cage at Medkit's side, had begun to become impatient and loud when she noticed Skateboard's presence. She shook at the bars of her cage, wanting to go see him, but was locked inside. Medkit would have to constantly shush her so that she wouldn't become too loud.

"I'm not scared!"

"Then do it. Go out and say something."

"..."

Coil could only sigh. His spirit to fight back, to do something, had been stomped out and beaten into submission over the course of the last few hours, and now when he needed it most, he couldn't use it. He was worn out. And it didn't help that everything Medkit said was the truth.

So he slumped to the floor once more, back against the wood of the door. His eyes met with Plume's- who was still pleading to be let out of her cage, body pressed up against the bars as far as she could push it.

From here he could hear the voices clearer. He could tell who's was who's- Vine Staff's, Slingshot's, Boombox's, Skateboard's- everyone. He could even make out some words.

"I just want to help."

Hearing Skateboard's voice made him feel both anxious and calmed at the same time, an unusual feeling as it was the result of two responses that do not go together.

"I don't know how to feel about him."

(For a moment, the dialogue will be split up between Skateboard and Coil! Skateboard will be in italics, and Coil's will be in normal text.)

"He's stupid, sure. I think most of his brain is used for... nothing.

And he doesn't know when to quit. Especially when everyone else would've given up he just keeps fucking going. I don't know what's programmed wrong in his brain."

"He's smart. He acts dumb all the time but when he isn't he's actually one of the smartest people I've met. I guess that's bad right now because he can just disappear whenever he wants to.

I don't think I've ever seen him be seriously sad. Angry, yeah, but like- sad? Like Slingshot sad? Nah."

Slingshot made a confused and offended look. Boombox, who had succeeded in escaping the bathroom and the party, had to stifle a laugh.

"He's acting like he knows everything about me right now. Which is obviously not true, 'cause he would've stopped trying to catch me.

Doesn't he know I'm a wanted criminal? I escape people. That's what I'm good at."

"I know I can find him with my gear, but does he really want to talk to me? I've been searching and trying to contact him for so long but he hasn't budged. I feel conflicted."

"I want to talk to him, I really do. But I just can't bring myself to do it."

Medkit made a motion that silently said "So I was right?". Coil gave him his middle finger.

"But you know one thing that really pisses me off? He doesn't want help."

"Is it that hard to leave me alone?"

" All I want is to help him. At least have him tell me what's wrong, but apparently he's not gonna do that."

"It's not like I'm never going to tell him! I don't know why everyone says that I'm not! It's just... not the right time yet."

"I think he can be stupid sometimes."

"He is stupid."

"No, actually, he is really stupid."

"I don't need his help."

"He can't do everything alone."

"I've been on my own before. I've done things alone before why can't he let me be sad in peace?"

"I don't think he thought this through. Or maybe he has. Why won't he let me in?"

"I don't know why I fell in love with someone so oblivious. And why I can't stop it."

"I don't know why I fell in love with someone so avoidant. And why it's directed at me."

Vine Staff had to hide her very large and excited smile when he said that. She got him to crack. He spilt it- he said what she needed to know, and now she could tell Coil and they could talk and they could be happy together. Sure, it was something she had already known, but it was confirmation. Boombox seemed to be attempting to keep his sudden surprise down, mouthing to himself, "Wow, I was right?" while Slingshot was doing the exact opposite- staring with his mouth wide open, not hiding anything.

Even after all that talk, Medkit still kept his mouth shut. He only spoke to himself in his thoughts, squinting his eye at Coil who did not stare back. After a moment of thought he stood up and moved towards the door.

"...I understand. I'm going to go check on them, we can continue this conversation when he leaves?"

Coil didn't respond. He was trying to hide it, but Medkit knew. He was still overwhelmed- possibly even more stressed than he was just a minute ago, and he was like a bomb, slowly ticking down and could explode at any moment.

Yet he still left. He would start to regret that soon.

Walking into the living room, he found the group still talking, Skateboard taking control of the conversation and gesturing with his hands, which ocassionally went to cradle his arms. The flower smell had grown exponentially worse.

"Oh. Hey Meds."

Vine Staff invited him for a seat on the armchair next to her, which he accepted. He wasn't planning on adding much to the conversation, his main focus to talk to Vine Staff away from them all, waiting for a chance. It didn't take long for Skateboard to continue talking.

"He better come back soon. And he better not do anything stupid."

Vine Staff placed a hand on his knee in an attempt to comfort him. "It'll be okay, I just know he'll be back and ready to talk to you. All he needs is time."

"Do you think I should've given him space instead?"

"No- No no no!! It was a completetly normal and fine reaction to go and look for him. And continuing to look for him is just what you decided to do."

A loud sound could be heard from down the hallway, causing everyone to go quiet. Nobody was down there, so Vine Staff had to quickly make an excuse.

"Something must've fallen."

Medkit quickly agreed. "Mhm."

Skateboard couldn't stop staring in that direction anymore. Vine Staff attempted to change the subject.

"-Do you need anything? Water? I'm sorry, I should've asked sooner-"

"It's fine." The talking had made him forget what his original purpose of coming inside was for- looking for Coil. He was grateful for the talk and him realizing and accepting his feelings, but now he needed to do the important thing and then leave. "Actually, could I use your restroom?"

"...Sure! It's down the hall and to the right."

"Thanks."

He quickly sat up and made his way for the hallway, disappearing into the darkness. His phone was left on the coffee table. Medkit, seeing an opportunity, grabbed Vine Staff's attention and made a motion for them to move to the kitchen.

"Let's talk. Just news about Coil."

After everyone had left, the people on the phone decided to start their own conversation, chattering away about what they had just heard.

Meanwhile, after he had made sure they were not listening and moved safely to the kitchen, Skateboard quietly moved to the first door he found and opened it. He could be anywhere, so he had to check everywhere.

The door led to a small storage closet mixed with the laundry room. Nobody was inside.

He huffed, continuing to sneak down the hallway to the next door, constantly checking in Vine Staff and Medkit's direction to make sure they hadn't caught on yet. The handle slowly turned in his hand and the door opened for him to find books upon books. It was a mini library, walls lined with literature from the past century. In the middle were two desks- one with a cold coffee on it. Stepping inside he could find that every single wall was covered, and in the places it wasn't were pictures and decorations. He wasn't a big fan of books like them, but he was a bit jealous. Nobody was here though, so he moved on to the end of the hallway, making sure to close the door and leave everything as it was.

Opening the bedroom door he found it to be dark, just like the rest of the rooms. There was a bed to the right and a closet to the left, and an open window at the back wall. He was hit with the cold draft of air that blew in from the window, making him readjust his hoodie. The sheets had been rumpled and messed with as if somebody were just sleeping in them. Nobody was in sight, so he checked the closet, sliding the door open to be greeted with rows and rows of clothes. Nobody was there.

His head peaked out into the hallway- no one was there, and he could still hear the voices of the healers in the kitchen and of his friends in the living room. His last option was the bathroom, so he opened the door to be greeted with an overwhelming amount of light coming from the ceiling, the light had not been turned off. Nobody was there, so after waiting in there for a moment, he walked back out and into the living room.

He really thought he was here. It's not like he knew what he was going to do if he found him, but he at least knew he should head home now.

He grabbed his phone and greeted his friends, walking over to the kitchen to say goodbye.

In the kitchen Medkit had started to speak quieter but not too quiet, just silent enough so Vine Staff could understand. Skateboard entered and waved to them, Vine Staff turning around.

"Thanks for the talk and the candy." He moved his hand so his phone could be in his sight and checked the time. "I should be goin' soon, or else it'll be midnight by the time I get home."

Vine Staff only reacted calmly, "Oh, okay. Again, I hope you will find him soon and make up." but when he turned his back she immediately broke into a smile and hopped up and down excitedly. She ushered Medkit to follow him with her.

While walking to the door, he was a bit dissapointed. He wholeheartedly hoped he would find something, but he was wrong once more.

It wasn't much of a problem in his mind anymore. As long as Coil was safe, he could be somewhat okay.

"Oh, and you might wanna close your bedroom window. Animals can get in."

They both stared at him confused, exchanging glances to one another but not saying anything. Vine Staff silently started walking towards the bedroom while Skateboard unlocked and stepped out the door. Medkit stayed behind to say goodbye.

"Have a good night."

"Y' too, Mr. Kit."

Once he was gone and out of sight, he shut the door and locked it. Noticing Vine Staff hadn't returned, he went to go and find her.

It was dead silent, besides for the faint sound of a cricket chirping far away. He turned into the bedroom to find Vine Staff standing not too far away from the door, staring straight at their bedroom window which was now open. He had not opened it when he left.

She was silent. He was silent. There was no sign of Coil or Plume anywhere.

And then she spoke, hesitantly.

"Meds.

I think I've messed up."