Chapter Text
“Hey kiddo, I’m takin’ Noli out for dinner tonight. Card’s on the counter, get yourself supper and dessert, shoot me a text if you need anything.”
Coolkidd sat silently on the couch, scrolling through social media with the TV on in the background. The idle chatter of horror gameplay videos blurred in his head as he zoned out, paw pad swiping endlessly through posts he told himself he wouldn’t take seriously.
The sun hadn’t set yet, perhaps a sign he should go outside for the remaining daylight. He debated pulling himself off of his tired mess on the couch before he got too comfortable underneath the blankets and fell asleep, but he probably shouldn’t trust himself to do that.
He opened up his messages, texting one of his few friends, Acorn.
im. so clsoe to falling asleep dude </3
It took a few seconds before he realized he had already gotten a reply.
its like 5pm dude if you fall asleep right now youre done for
He grumbled softly to himself. I CANT HELP IT IM SO COMFY
is your dad home
…no why
im coming over so youre forced to get up
OH ASSHOLE
He dropped his phone beside him on his spot on the crouch, yawning and burying his face in the fluffy blankets. He might as well nap while he still could before Acorn got here.
He was… exhausted. He had gotten a text from his dad earlier—007n7 probably wasn’t even mad at Coolkidd, but just thinking about the text is already ruining his day. He hadn’t done any schoolwork in several weeks, and 007n7 was starting to grow frustrated. Coolkidd knew why his dad was upset with him, and he knew his dad held no grudge against him or anything, but it still instantly ruined his day just thinking about it. The sunshine beaming through the windows didn’t really cheer him up, and he wasn’t sure if he could handle Acorn visiting. He wasn’t in the mood for talking or having to deal with complex social shit. He snuggled under the cover and stuck his paws out from underneath so he didn’t overheat, stretching before finally curling into himself and closing his eyes.
It felt as if he had just blinked, as he was awoken by the knocking at his door.
He peeled the blue quilt blanket off of him, trying to lift his body upright and get to the door. He already missed the cozy embrace. He sat up slowly, taking a deep breath before grabbing his water bottle and chugging what was left of it. At least the action woke him up a little. Another sigh before he carefully arose from the couch, immediately getting dizzy despite standing up slowly. Rubbing his eyes and yawning, he dragged himself towards the front door just as another series of knocks arrived.
He twisted the handle and pried the old door open, wincing at the loud creaking.
Acorn stood there awkwardly, her auburn, calico cat-themed hair pulled into a hasty bun with a claw clip. She was just in an old worn sweater and sweatpants, a few dirt stains present on the hems. “Did you nap?”
Coolkidd merely let out a raspy hum.
“So that’s a yes.” Acorn made her way inside, setting down her worn, stained tote bag and taking off her dirt-covered previously white sneakers, leaving them by the messy entrance mat.
“Oh,” Acorn perked up, showing off a cup of iced coffee dripping in condensation. “Here. You like the ones with chocolate sauce, right?”
Coolkidd immediately perked up, not even having noticed the cup until Acorn pointed it out. Just by looking at it he felt less tired. “Shit, you got this for me?”
Acorn wiped the cup with her sleeve, trying to make it less wet. “Well, yeah. You said you were tired. Take it.”
“Yaay,” Coolkidd whispered taking the chilly cup and immediately taking a large gulp of the cold mocha. It tasted a little more bitter than usual, but he probably needed that right now. “Thank you,” he dragged out, tail flicking silently behind him.
“No problem. What do you wanna do?” Acorn smiled soflty before letting it drop back, face relaxing.
Coolkidd hummed, walking back towards the couch, this time aiming to sit in the middle. His soft paw pads were silent compared to the heavy footsteps of Acorn. “Maybe just talk? I kind of wanna ask you something.”
“Of course. Something going on?” Acorn and Coolkidd sat down next to each other, the cushion sinking beneath them.
“Uhm…” Coolkidd stalled, debating on where to even start. “Does your head ever just… feel loud?”
Acorn took the claw clip out of her hair, letting her wavy hair fall down. “Loud?” She repeated, testing the words on her tongue. “Not really. Well, sort of? My head feel like, too quiet. But the silence is so damn loud.”
“Huh.” Coolkidd stared at her and sighed. “I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like a snowstorm in my head. It’s not always words or voices or anything comprehensible. It’s just noise.” He was only partially telling the truth; he knew exactly how to describe it. It felt like something under his skin that wouldn’t stop screaming like a banshee. It felt like his bones were mocking him, crackling like a fire with each bark of laughter. It felt like his muscles were ready to burst into a messy pile of viscera and boiling blood. It felt like anger masking sorrow. He wanted to rip his hair out and peel his skin off at the same time. He could feel something wailing under him and it just would not shut the fuck up. He wanted to rip its vocal cords out. He wanted to slit its throat. Whatever was underneath his skin, he wanted dead and writing and QUIET. His head was always ringing, his skin was shrieking, flesh was crying, everything was wrong, wrong, wrong, WRONG. His muscles were coiled tight like a spring and he felt like he was ready to explode.
There was something under his skin.
And it wouldn’t stop screaming.