Chapter Text
After Griefer was defeated and reverted back to a somewhat normal state, he became more relaxed around Player. He was happy when they called him to help them in a battle, it made him feel important at times. As time went on and they got stronger together, Griefer started to feel strange. He usually just pushed the thoughts to the back of his head, but they resurfaced. A lot. It was becoming frustrating, Griefer had never felt this way with anyone, not to mention his personality was probably the biggest turn off. The longer Griefer was around Player, the more the feelings seemed to grow and fester. Griefer thought about telling his dad about it, but he immediately rejected the idea. It was probably nothing.
Player called Griefer to another battle, once the enemy was defeated. Griefer turned to Player, they already were about to leave. Griefer watched as they walked but before they got too far, he grabbed their hand. "Wa1t.." Griefer started, Player turned to face him. Their expression was unreadable as always, but Griefer could sense the confusion coming off of them. He felt his heart race as he held their hand for a moment; he quickly let go. "I..uh w4nted to h4ng s0met1me. Th4t's c00l, r1ght?" Griefer asked awkwardly, he knew Player was busy helping Shedletsky get all those swords, but he wanted to spend more time with them. To understand them better, to see what they were like outside of battles.
Player stared blankly before nodding, Griefer was shocked, he had honestly expected them to say no. "0h, c00l." He said, his eyes landed on theirs, it made his heart rate quicken. He looked away and cleared his throat trying to fall back into his 'cool' personality. "Y3ah, I kn3w you'd s4y that. Wh0 wouldn't w4nt to h4ng w1th m3?" Griefer said with a small laugh, hoping they didn't notice his awkwardness from before. It was hard to tell what they were thinking about half the time. Player just smiled, that smile...it was simple. It was the same smile Griefer wanted to punch and kick in before, but now, he wanted to protect that smile. He wanted to preserve it, he wanted to see it every day, he wanted to-
Griefer snapped out of his staring, he realized he probably looked like a complete idiot and he felt stupid. He felt his cheeks burn; he quickly turned away so Player wouldn't see his reaction. "Just c0m3 t0 my cr1b wh3n y0u'r3 r3ady..." Griefer muttered as he shoved one of his hands into his jacket pockets, the other gripping his crowbar tighter than necessary. He needed to get away from them before his whole face was a shade of red. He didn't look back, but he could feel their gaze on him, a shiver went down his spine. He quickened his pacing so that he would no longer feel their staring, it practically felt like they were trying to burn a hole through him.
On his way back, Griefer kicked a rock, as he made his way through the jungle. It wasn't much of an issue walking around; he had known this place sense he was a kid. It was all he had ever known to be honest. The only time he went out was when Player needed him for a battle. It didn't take long for Griefer to reach his crib; he took off his jacket and threw it alongside his crowbar onto his poorly made bed with his crowbar. He stared at the mess that he called home, maybe he should clean up a little before Player comes by? Wait, why does he even care about them seeming his place messy? It's been like this since forever basically, the stacks of Witch's Brew and Bloxy Cola had grown to a concerning amount. A giant cluster of empty cans and drops of the sugary drinks were all over the place. He wasn't even sure the last time he had just drunk water for a day. He shrugged and found one of the packs of bloxy cola's he had stacked around the place. He cracked one opened and drank it down, the fizz tingling the back of his throat in the best way imaginable. He sighs, satisfied with the taste, he could never get sick of drinking the stuff.
While he waited for Player to show up, he began to boot up his pc. He needed to take his mind off of all these gross feelings. He began to play some first-person shooter, insulting people any chance he could get. Time went by and he hadn't realized it, he blinked and it was already around 5 pm. The sun was still out but it was starting to get lower in the sky. A small frown creased Griefer's face, how long was he gonna wait for them? He wasn't sure, but he would wait hours just to see them. He got up from his chair and stretched. He needed to use the bathroom pretty badly now that he had realized it. Unfortunately, there was no form of pluming at his place. It also meant that he would either have to walk all the way to his dad's place or just go in the jungle. Not like he hasn't done it before. Griefer walked out his place and began to descend the Sacred Hallow. The roots of the large orange tree were fairly thick and held up strongly despite the inside of the tree being bare on the inside. After going down for a little he did his business and went back to his crib.
Griefer laid on his bed, his mind swirling with thoughts about Player. He honestly just wanted all this to go away. It all so stupid, he was supposed to be cool and badass. He didn't need all this gross, mushy crap. But even as he told himself all these things, even as he tried to drown it out...his brain responded by making the feelings come back fiercer. Griefer grunted and buried his now warm face in one of his pillows. "Th1s is s0 stup1d..." He grumbled in the pillow when the hell did he get so lame? While he was having a crisis about his...Player situation, he heard the sound of someone walking up the spiraling roots of the Sacred Hallow. Griefer sat up and tried to calm himself, he couldn't let someone see him blushing. Thankfully, whoever was walking up wasn't in much of a hurry. Griefer chilled out and went back to his usual front.
Player stood in the large entrance of Griefer's crib. Their hands were weirdly behind their back. Griefer got up and moved over to them, walking cooly or at least trying to. "T0ok y0u long 3nough." Griefer muttered while crossing his arms. Once he was directly in front of Player, they held up a small bouquet of roses, a big smile spread on their face. Griefer looked down at the roses, he tried to act aloof, but a small bit of blush reached his face. "Ar3 th0se f0r m3..?" Griefer asked hesitantly, Player nodded and put them in his hand. Griefer stared down at them, some of the thorns poked at Griefer's fingers, not enough to draw blood. Player moved closer to Griefer, they opened their mouth to speak, "They remind me of you." They went silent after that, waiting for Griefer's response.
Griefer's eyes widen for a second before a looked away in a flustered manner. "W-what3v3r...y0u d0n't have t0 b3 so corny." Griefer mumbled out, his words not having any of the usual snark that came with them. He walked to his cluttered desk and swept some of the empty cans onto the floor before placing the bouquet on the desk carefully. He wasn't all that into plants and flowers, Griefer that gardening was for losers. But...maybe he'd ask his dad for a vase to keep them in. Player sat on the edge of the messy bed as they watched Griefer set the flowers down. Griefer sat next to them, leaning back a bit. "S0, wh4t do you w4nna do?" Griefer asked a bit sheepishly he didn't exactly make plans for what they could actually do, so he was hoping they'd have something in mind.
Player pondered for a moment before pointing at the large self of Green Goop cards that Griefer had next to his pc. Griefer looked over at the self, he was a pretty big fan of them if that wasn't obvious. He had his dad spend a large chunk of money just to get that many packs and a couple of the cardboard stands, just for the fun of it. "Y3ah 1 gu3ss we c0uld op3n a few of 'em..." Griefer got up and grabbed a few of the packs before tossing them on the bed. "1've been try1ng t0 get th1s 0ne c4rd, 1t's hell4 rar3. N0t even sur3 if 1t's ava1labl3." Griefer added while he ripped open one of them, he looked through the cards inside and cursed under his breath. It was all commons, the same ones that have been taunting him ever since he had been opening these card packs. Player looked down at one of the cards, the cards were familiar, but they couldn't place their finger as to where they have seen them. While Griefer gradually got angrier as he opened the packs; Player looked their inventory and sure enough, one of the cards was simply sitting there. Player took out the card; it was sparkly and had the shine that only special cards had. However, Player wasn't really into card collecting so they didn't really know nor fully cared about the valuable card they were casually holding.
Player tapped on Griefer's shoulder, the other robloxian looked up from his laser focus. "Huh? Wh4t?" Griefer said a little rougher than necessary, as if he was being interrupted from the most important thing. Player held up the shiny card, "Is this good?" They asked with a tilt of their head, Griefer's jaw dropped at the sight of the card. It was the exact one that he needed, well wanted. "Th4t's m0re th4n g0od...th4t's l3gendary!" Griefer exclaimed, he desperately wanted to hold the card. To get a better look, to make sure this wasn't some fake. Player handed it to him, as if they could read his mind.
Griefer let out a shaky breath has he held the card in his grasp. He held it so gently as if he was afraid it would shatter like glass. "Dud3...1t lo0ks ev3n cooler 1n p3rson." Griefer whispered to himself. "You can have it." Player said simply, Griefer snapped his head back to look at them like they were insane. They probably were actually, especially after all the shit they went through. "Y0u'r3 s3riously gonn4 g1ve th1s t0 m3? N0 str1ngs 4ttached?" Griefer asked while he clutched the card a tad bit tighter. "Yeah, I don't really want it." Player shrugged, Griefer couldn't believe his luck. "Th4nks..." Griefer smiled, his red fangs baring a bit as he did so. Player smiled back, the smile made Griefer's heart want to spring out his chest.
The two spend the rest of the night in a blur. Mainly consisting of playing on Griefer's pc or watching some videos. Griefer enjoyed it, he enjoyed all of it. He didn't want this to end, but after a while Player left. Back to their mission, gone before Griefer could properly say goodbye. He was alone again. In the desolate silence once more, Griefer yawned, it was pretty late. Maybe he should just call it a night, he didn't have any pjs, so he just slept in his day clothes. The soft blanket hugged him as he looked up at the ceiling, parts of the Sacred Hollow still trying to make itself known. The large rings of would stare down at Griefer, sometimes he'd count them if he couldn't sleep.
Griefer wasn't sure what this would make of their friendship, but he wanted it to continue to be like this. He wanted to see them smile, to see them happy. He wanted Player, but he wasn't sure if they wanted him. He wasn't sure if they would even want to be with a person like him. The doubt picked at him, but he shoved the everything away. He couldn't let his dumb emotions ruin this. Ruin what they had. So, he ignored it all, and shut his eyes.