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“You know what? Fine! We’ll watch your stupid movie!” Z surrendered with a sigh, equal parts exasperated and irritated. “If it means that much to you, jeez. Two tickets to- whatever you got showing… in this hole…place. Yeah!”
Z didn’t exactly know how he’d ended up in this scenario, but he’s hardly surprised at this point. Stupid things happened all the time, and by now, he’d really just stopped questioning it. Especially since he never received and helpful answers anyway from the rejected antagonist who haunted his world like a bad odour, whom also seemed intent on making Z’s life a living hell.
There’s a lot Z didn’t want to do, jumping down a hole being one of them, but right now, he definitely didn’t want to watch a movie, especially not with him.
The ‘him’ who was currently giving Z the nastiest side-eye (not that Z could see it, the guy had no face. But man, could Z sense it. God, he hated that guy).
Z glared back in vitriol. “Dude, what, you got any other ideas?” He glanced pointedly back at Theatrebot, who was now contentedly buzzing as it dispensed 2 thin bits of paper. At least someone was happy about the pair going to the cinema.
“Seriously, you wanna watch a movie? Mo just disappeared, and you wanna watch a movie?” Reject deadpanned, arms folded.
Was he being serious? “Does it look like I want to? I-I literally got forced into it!”
“Pffft, you didn’t try very hard to stop it. Loser.” The insult tacked on the end almost habitually.
“Not like you did anything to stop it! You know what, I’m ignoring you. Fucking… dumbass.”
As Z turned to the counter, Entity spoke again. “It’s like you’re taking me on a date…or something. Weirdo.” Again with the insult stapled onto the end. Can Entity really say nothing without insulting Z?
Z’s jaw dropped. Was this guy being serious? “Really? That’s why you’re being pissy? It’s almost like you want this to be a date.”
Entity visibly recoiled. “Nuh-uh, no I don’t.”
“Do too!”
“Do not!”
“Do too-!”
The loud mechanical buzzing behind them drowned out their bickering. “Take your tickets. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please-“
Of course, of course this was happening. Z really was the unluckiest guy ever. Exasperated, he swiped the tickets from the desk before shooting another withering look at Entity. “Dude, look what you started. This is all your fault.”
Theatre bots droll metallic speech looped on. “Please. Please. Please-“
“Is not.” He replied matter-of-factly, “I think that was your fault, actually.”
“Please. Please. Please-“
Stuffing his face into his palms, Z groaned. “Yeah- I’m leaving. God, I hate that guy.”
“I heard that.”
“Good, asshole!”
——
The movie theatre itself was a shoddy, decrepit place, lined with wooden benches Z swore had splinters sticking out of them, and mysterious squeaking noises echoing from the room's dimly lit corners (where those bats?!).
The movie itself had already started playing (which seems a bit inconsiderate, seeing as Entity and himself where the only ones in the theatre), and by the looks of it, it was some sappy ’90s romance.
“At least it’s not Snow White staring Gal Gadot, I hate that movie.” Entity grumbled as he settled further into the chair beside Z, their shoulders brushing an almost uncomfortable amount. “And where’s the popcorn. Did you really not buy popcorn?”
“Shut up.” Z whispered back.
“Not even drinks. I’m gonna get thirsty, or hungry, or both. This is a lousy-“ an elbow to the ribs shut him up swiftly. Z was seriously going to throttle this guy.
“Do you mind? I’m trying to watch the movie!” He hissed at the writhing creature beside him.
Entity sighed loudly. You’re seriously enjoying this crap?”
“If you don’t want to be here, just leave.”
Entity slouched further into the seat, a bit like a wet cat, arms folded. “I didn’t say that, idiot.” They lapsed back into silence, Z finally focused on the movie.
Z couldn’t remember the last time he’d taken a break, it was always ‘go to this fucked up ikea’ or ‘catch this horse’ or some other disturbance brought on by his… friend(?).
Would Z finally get a moment of peace?
No.
“Just- surprised you’re into this… romance stuff. Didn’t take you for a very romantic guy,” Entity mused aloud.
“I’m very romantic, thank you!” Z scowled.
“Haha, yeah, sure.”
“Well- you aren’t exactly charming either.”
“Huh, really? Well watch this!” Entity huffed before slinging an arm around Z’s shoulder.
What.
The protagonist's face flushed furiously with indignation (obviously. Nothing else). Under the gentle glow of the movie screen as he turned to look at the guy he hated most. Entity looked almost… triumphant. Z couldn’t be having that.
“Hah, told you. Loser.”
“Ass-hole” Z mutters back. “Well, watch this!” He scooted closer before leaning his head against Entity's shoulder.
Oh shit. Z, what the fuck are you doing?!
Beside him, Entity froze.
Oh fuck, now that asshole is gonna really hate him.
But before Z could move away and surrender, quietly, Entity tilted his invisible head slightly, and rested it against Z’s.
Oh.
Oh.
Z should feel angry, should be disgusted; this was his enemy! He hated this asshole! …So why wasn’t he moving away? Why did he feel so… warm? And why does he move, awkwardly, to slither his free arm behind Entity’s back and rest it on his waist?!
The movie kept playing in the background, some scene about love confessions or something, but Z wasn’t paying attention. The sounds and pictures washed over him, and the only thing he could feel was Entity's warmth and the small smile touching his lips.
Somewhere along the way, Z found his pale hand slotted perfectly in Entity's black, glitchy one.
“You know, asshole, maybe I don’t dislike you that much.”
Z’s smile was soft. “You too, asshole,” he swallowed, “I still hate you though.”
“I hate you more.”
“I hate you most.”