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It was a nice and sunny summer day, perfect for committing a crime. This had been coming for a long time now, yet Chase still seemed oblivious. (The audacity amazed Nox.)
They had done countless books together, found all of his siblings, and made the wish to turn Nox back into a human- you'd think after all that effort, Chase would be dedicated to their relationship enough to not cheat on him, but you would be painfully wrong.
The other night Nox had walked into their room after a shower, and had seen Chase curled up against another man. The hideous thing- who Nox had later learned was named Alastair, was printed onto a pillow that was nearly as long as Chase. Chase had been snoring softly, his limbs wrapped around it as he got drool on its synthetic cotton chest.
Nox thought Chase only drooled on him! His face had burned with betrayal as he stomped over, making a weak attempt at grabbing the thing and tugging it away from Chase.
He had let out a sleepy noise of protest, his eyes opening blearily. "Buds…?" He'd asked in that adorably stupid voice he used whenever he was half asleep.
"What is that." Nox spat, pointing a finger at the object of offense.
"My pillow…?" Chase murmured giving him a groggy look before nuzzling into it as if he could just tune Nox out.
Usually that sleepy voice was saying things like 'Goodnight dear' or 'I love you', not… not whatever this was! Nox scowled as Chase closed his eyes. He seemed ready to give up on the conversation, but Nox certainly was not.
"Wake up and get that sleaze away from you!" Nox huffed, resisting the urge to stomp his foot.
"No." Chase whined, shoving his face in the pillow. He used to shove his face in Nox's chest whenever he tried to wake Chase up, but apparently Chase didn't care about loyalty anymore.
Nox's lips pressed into a thin line. He'd already used one of his best tricks- demanding he got his way like how Violet taught him. The next ace up his sleeve? Seduction.
"Come on, darling." He pleaded, his voice lowering. "You don't need that… thing, when I'm right here." He gestured down to himself, offering Chase a smirk that he promptly ignored.
Instead, Chase had already gone back to snoring. Ridiculous! Chase had prime pillow real estate standing right in front of him, yet he was more content with his stupid caricature of a person.
Nox closed his eyes, taking a deep breath of defeat.
It was fine.
Nox would get his revenge eventually.
///
Nox had wanted to let it burn. Really, this was just his version of giving mercy to the cursed thing. It would go to a new home- a landfill, preferably, and Nox would able to sleep a bit more peacefully with Chase in his arms tonight.
He closed the dumpster lid, letting a small smile sneak onto his lips. "Goodbye, Alastair." He said, the venom clear in his tone as he spat the name out before he turned on his heel and walked back on the gravel pathway inside.
Nox had planned and bid his time until he was able to get rid of the thing- and that time had finally come. The waiting paid off, Nox thought, letting out a small sigh of relief as he poured himself a glass of water.
He heard the muffled sound of the front door creaking open and smiled, quickly abandoning his task to go greet his beloved. Even if Chase left the house pretty often Nox never got any less excited to see him come home, and things would be even better with that nasty pillow out of the picture.
He leaned against the doorway of the living room as he heard Chase walk in, expecting a hug and (at least one) kiss like always. Instead Chase stormed in with a sharp scowl. Nox frowned, his eyebrows furrowing as he quickly moved over to see the issue. He hated seeing Chase upset, but he looked a bit adorable with those narrowed eyes.
"Buds!" Chase exclaimed.
"Yes, darl…" Nox's voice trailed off as Chase held up his arms.
Squeezed between his hands was Alastair, smirking as if he was laughing at Nox's failure- or maybe he just always looked like that. Nox's face immediately fell, his lips twisting into a scowl. He sighed, ready to apologize for the (justified) murder attempt before Chase interrupted him.
"Look at what I found when I was tossing something in the dumpster! Poor baby, he must've been so scared." Chase frowned, hugging the pillow tighter. He never hugged Nox like that, and he certainly didn't coo at him in that babyish voice.
"I bet it was Deacon." Chase gasped. "He never liked Alastair."
"Mhm. Sure." Nox muttered, glaring at the pillow.
"I'm gonna go put him back where he belongs." Chase told him, brushing past him to the stairs.
Nox's jaw nearly dropped at the audacity, and he quickly turned to follow him before he stopped. Instead he grit his teeth as he watched his beloved go.
He'd thought Chase was obsessed with him (and the feeling had been fully reciprocated), so what was this?! Nox let out a shaky breath through his nose, internally telling himself to relax. He had beaten stronger foes, and he wasn't even close to giving up yet.
///
Chase wasn't stupid- he knew Buddy was jealous. It was like that time when Deacon had told him about Chase's (former, very past tense) crush on the pizza delivery guy. He'd gotten so mad- and it was adorable!
Chase just didn't realize his jealousy could extend to inanimate objects. He hadn't meant to make Buddy jealous the other night- He'd been in the shower and Chase needs something to hold or he can't fall asleep, Buddy knew that. Still, putting Alastair in the dumpster was a low blow, and Chase wasn't going to let Buddy get away with it that easily. He set Alastair down on his bed carefully, nodding self assuredly.
"Don't worry Alastair." He cooed. "I won't let big scary Buddy hurt you." He promised the pillow before straightening and leaving Alastair alone and safe.
Probably.
///
Usually Nox wouldn't use this strategy unless he absolutely had to, but after his former plans had already failed he needed something to happen, and he needed it quick. That was how he ended up in the kitchen, kneading sourdough.
He'd already heard about Mr. Ralph's newest contest in extensive detail, and he knew this would matter in the slow but steady war against Diane. "So, Ralph." He said lightly, knowing that he would get scolded if he tried calling the man anything to formal. "Have you seen Chase's… weird pillow?" He asked.
Mr. Ralph laughed gruffly, double checking the oven timer. "His body pillow? Unfortunately yes, I found it in the washer once. The kid was mortified, and I can't blame him." He crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow at Nox. "What about it?"
"I hate it." Nox said, the words spilling out of his mouth. "It's disgusting, but whenever I politely asked him to keep it locked away in a closet or something of the sort, he refused." Sure this was a blatant lie, but Mr. Ralph didn't seem to notice.
He tilted his head back, letting out an irritated sigh. "He has a boyfriend and he still cares about that thing?"
"Exactly!" Nox exclaimed with a raised hand, before remembering the act he was supposed to be playing.
He clenched his hand to a fist, quietly sighing as he drew it to his heart. "It just… truly hurts my feelings." He said softly. "I wish there was a way to get rid of it."
"Oh there is." Mr. Ralph nodded determinedly. "I won't have Chase making my new grandson uncomfortable. Do you want me to talk to him for you?" He seemed so ready to take action that Nox had to bite back a smile.
"I don't know if just talking to him will make a change." Nox told him ruefully.
"You know what, kid? Just sit back, I'll handle it." Mr. Ralph promised him, putting his hand firmly on Nox's shoulder.
Nox let a small smile grow on his lips as he nodded. "Thank you."
Check and mate.
///
"Grandpa."
"Chase."
The stare off continued for a few moments longer, both of their eyes narrowed. "What are you doing with Alastair?" Chase asked steadily.
"What I should've done a long time ago." Grandpa Ralph huffed, grabbing the pillow and tucking it under his arm.
"Hey, hey!" Chase said frantically, holding his hands up. "Why is Alastair suddenly a problem?"
"It's making Buddy uncomfortable." Grandpa Ralph said.
"Oh my god." Chase groaned. Of course, he should've known Buddy would sink to this level.
"Did he seriously get you to do his dirty work?" Chase exclaimed. "Stop playing favorites Grandpa!"
"I'll stop playing favorites when you start helping around the house like he does." Grandpa Ralph said coolly. He walked past Chase, who scrambled behind him.
"Hey, give him back!"
"Nope!" Grandpa Ralph called back as he went down the stairs.
Deacon walked out of his room just in time to see Chase rush down the stairs and trip. And fall flat on his face. And… was that Grandpa Ralph laughing from downstairs?
"I'm not dealing with this today." Deacon sighed, going back into his room.
///
The deed was done. Nox felt a bit lighter, like a weight had been lifted off his chest. "I'm truly sorry, dear." He said, completely unapologetic as he wrapped his hands around Chase's waist to pull him closer.
"Save me the bullshit." Chase rolled his eyes. "Using my grandpa was a low blow." He accused, poking Nox's chest.
"It worked, didn't it?" Nox retorted.
"I don't see why you cared about getting rid of Alastair so much anyways." Chase grumbled.
"I…" Nox paused, the words failing to find him. Why had he cared? The thing was hideous of course, but it had made Chase happy.
"I guess I didn't like seeing that you cared about something as trivial as a pillow more than me." He mumbled.
"What?" Chase's face fell. "Sweetie, you know I care about you more than…" His voice trailed off as he winced. After all he'd done for the pillow, it didn't make him look too good.
"Oh my god." Chase whispered, holding his hand against his mouth.
Nox sighed, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of Chase's shirt. "It was sort of ridiculous, but-"
"No, I was ridiculous." Chase groaned, digging the heels of his palms into his eyes. "It's just a pillow, I shouldn't have made it such a big deal."
"Well I certainly didn't help." Nox admitted, mostly in an attempt to get rid of the guilt on Chase's face.
Chase sighed, letting his hands fall. "Still, I'm sorry." He said, looking up at Nox.
"I am too." Nox said hesitantly. Sure he was happy to have the thing gone, but maybe he'd gone a bit too far.
"I do care about you more though, if you're still worried about that." Chase said with a sheepish smile, his hands moving up to hold Nox's face.
"I don't know." Nox feigned a sigh. "I think I'd prefer if you proved it."
Chase laughed, giving Nox a quick peck. "If you insist."
///
Obviously Chase had been planning to rescue Alastair from his fate in the dumpster, but after what Buddy had told him he knew he would only feel guilty. Besides, he didn't need a body pillow when he had a human pillow right in front of him.
Chase smiled fondly, trailing his fingers through Buddy's hair. Buddy had his arms wrapped tightly around his torso and was peacefully sleeping on Chase's chest.
It would be nice if this could last forever, he mused. Who needed a silly pillow anyways?