Chapter Text
It was a cold Sunday night, and Ze was tired, getting up from his bed to get the cold drink he placed in the fridge. Ze starts to recall his brilliant prank back on April Fools. He couldn't stop teasing Regect for being so idiotic and actually falling for it– really? Falling for the ol’ Door Bucket Prank 4 times in one day?
Ze chuckled, thinking about how angry Regect looked. Though Ze did feel bad for Moe getting caught in the crossfire.. She accepted his apology after he apologized profusely to her. Moe did say it was fine, but her tone was off. Ze knows she spends a lot of time doing her makeup, and he really needs to give her an IOU soon for it.
At the time Regect said that he’d get him back for it, saying him and Moe were going to “Make him regret it” with a “better prank”. Ze didn't think much of it. Although it did kinda worry him that Regect was just gonna buy something stupid off Amazon with Ze's money and call it a prank. Speaking of Regect buying stuff with his money, it's what he did last year… 160 dollars down the drain.. Ze probably should lock his card before he does that again, regardless of whether it's for a prank or not.
Ze sighed as he walked down the stairs, entering his kitchen. It was surprisingly clean, all the dishes being put away, and no odd stains torturing the counters. It was almost like he lived alone. It was nice having the kitchen clean for once, though it was a bit disturbing, making him a bit more cautious of the things around him.. Normally, the kitchen would be a mess, Ze would usually fight with Regect, forcing him to clean up his shit.. No way they’d be playing a prank this late at night! And a month later– do they even know how April Fools pranks go?? It's May.
Ze looked around, suspecting he was being watched by the entity.. Or someone at the very least. He already made sure everyone was asleep beforehand. Regect was snoring like a distorted elephant, and Moe's room was quiet.. He was probably just thinking too much, and Regect and Moe decided to be civil.
He couldn't be bothered anyway.. Too late in the night for this. Ze walked over to the fridge and opened it, the cold air blowing around Ze as he looked for the plastic water bottle he had prepared for emergencies like these, though while looking through the cramped fridge, he was surprised to see a small bottle with Ze’s name on it, “For Ze, From Moe!(Pineapple juice)”
Ze hummed in confusion
He doesn’t recall Moe making pineapple juice.. Without much hesitation, Ze grabbed the sugary drink, opened it, and sniffed. Smelled like Pineapple juice.. Wait.. What does pineapple juice smell like again?
Without a second thought, he decided to drink it. It shouldn't be anything bad- I mean, it’s from Moe! Why would she poison him? Or do something malicious? And how can a drink this good be something bad!?
The drink had a soft sugary taste, all sweet but a bit sour, maybe some raspberry in it? He didn't truly know what he was drinking, but it sure did taste good!
After a few gulps, the decently small plastic bottle was empty, leaving a bit of an aftertaste in Ze’s mouth. He was gonna need to brush his teeth again. At least he wasn't dehydrated anymore! Ze placed the empty plastic bottle on the counter and headed to bed without any thought of the drink, sleeping well until the morning.
~~ Morning ~~
Waking up with an agonizing headache, Ze was able to hear small muffled chitter chatter, and maybe some giggles? He couldn't make out whatever the entity or the clown was spouting about. Ze’s bedroom was the furthest from downstairs, yet he could still hear Regect’s loud, annoying ass voice.
“Uhhg.... what time is it..?” Ze sighed, looking at his clock. The clock was broken, with the time stuck at 4:20pm. He was supposed to get that fixed last week but ended up getting stuck with Regect on one of his ‘fun’ adventures. It was, in fact, not fun, having to deal with that asshole in a 1 by 1 hole is not fun! Whatever..
Ze, not wanting to start another crazy day with the two idiots downstairs. He tries to fall back asleep, just maybe for another hour. Though it was disrupted by a big CLANG!! startling him.
“Oh my god.. Do they ever have respect for the others in this household??” Ze mumbled. He was mostly talking about Regect, out of all people in this household, Moe was the one who actually cared for others' well-being, unlike that 3-limbed entity..
Scratching his chest, getting out of bed, fully preparing himself and his headache to start a stupid argument about being quiet in the morning. He could hear the two even more as he got closer to his door. They were really loud today.. Ze started heading downstairs, as he finally got to the bottom of the stairs. Both Moe and Regect quickly turned to look at him, both the clown and entity looking back and forth at each other and then back at Ze
“...” “...”
“...”
“What?” Ze sighed with annoyance. He really did not want to deal with any nonsense in the morning, at least let him grab a cup of coffee or breakfast. AT LEAST!!
Before he took another step, Moe started chuckling, while Regect snorted and laughed alongside her. Both of them making gestures about the empty bottle on the counter.
Ze quickly catches on to what they are laughing about. “Oh yeah, sorry Moe i kinda drank the drink you saved for me”
Moe looks at Ze’s straight face, eyes all teary from laughing, before Ze could get a word in, as she makes a wheezing honk sound..
“W- wait- y-you ACTUALLY DRANK IT??” Regect yelled, trying to contain his laughter.
“Yeah, I drank it-? What? Was it not for me? I'm pretty sure there was my name on it-” before Ze could finish what he was saying, the entity burst out into hysterical laughter like a maniac.
“HOLY– HA- I-II DIDN’T THINK IT WOULD HAVE WORKED MOE, GOD ZE YOU IDIOT! GET PRANKED JACKASS!!” Regect was basically on the ground at this point, barely catching his breath.
Moe was also on the floor, stiff.
Ze didn't understand what the prank was- or the joke.. It was just pineapple juice, really good pineapple juice he’d say.. He might ask where they got the juice whenever they stop laughing to answer his question about where they got it from.
“What?- why are- was there something IN the drink??” This was starting to get on his nerves. It's the ass-crack of dawn, a headache, and two laughing idiots. He did not want to deal with this shit.
After some seconds had passed, Regect finally says something, “uh YEAH or uh I don’t know what was in the drink BUT it is something random I stole from Wakafante. smelt like pineapple though” Regect grinned.
“What.”
“YEAH!! get pranked, loser!!” Regect was basically jumping with joy, thinking his ‘prank’ was a success.
Omg.. Ze did NOT want to deal with this today.. But did Regect actually go to that crazy wizard house or whatever that mess of a home is called- and steal a random drink?? The drink wasn't the problem- it tasted fine, it was just the fact that it was from HIM. Wakafante. The guy with the most insane imagination possible! Yeah, sometimes his stories are amusing, but who knows what that wizard put in that drink?! Does Regect seriously not remember what happened last time? The guy is a madman!
“How-” Ze was at a loss for words. raising his voice, despite his headache, “HOW IS THAT A PRANK???” Ze puts his hands on his forehead, trying to soothe the throbbing pain as he continues “A- and you DON'T know what was inside that drink?? You didn't take a moment to think that maybe it could be poisoned??"
Moe seemed to see the problem as she stopped laughing. Getting up from the ground, and taking her gaze off of Ze.
“Where did you even find the drink? His fridge or-?”
“Some cauldron” Regect replied
“...”
It seemed to Ze that Regect firstly- didn't know how to prank someone and secondly- didn't understand how dangerous giving someone a drink from a crazy person (Wakafante) is! Let alone a drink you got FROM A CAULDRON! A normal person would probably be smart enough to know this.. Though Regect wasn't typically seen as ‘normal’, now was he..
“Dude.”
“What?”
“This is like-” Ze sighed, “illegal-? not only for breaking into someone's ‘house’ but also giving me a drink that might be drugged??”
“I don't see the problem.” Regect flicks his tail as he steps towards Ze, “it's funny! Have fun! You're SUCH a party pooper you know! Can you not take a joke?” He places his hands on Ze’s shoulders shacking him a bit
“You- you know what- I’m not dealing with this today. I don't even know what time it is an- and I don't feel like arguing.” Ze paused shoving the asshole off, hand still on his forehead “but I swear to god.. IF–” he was cut off.
“Yada yada whatever- no fuuun! You fucking suck.” Regect groans, annoyed that Ze was taking his joke so seriously.
“Whatever.. Dick” Ze walks past Regect and Moe, half hearing Moe talking to Regect. Since Ze was trying to ignore them, he could only make out what Moe was saying with a few words, but he knew that Moe was taking his side for this one. Probably feeling a tad bit guilty. At least there are two smart people in this house. Unlike someone..
Ze opens his fridge to get his cold water bottle that he had originally intended to drink last night. He wished that he’d just went with his water instead of that drink. Note to self.. Don't eat or drink anything that has your name on it written by someone that isn’t you..
Opening the fridge. It was Ze’s worst fear.. His water bottle was gone. “Did someone drink the water I put in the fridge?” he says, turning around towards the two.
Regect had a smug expression on his ‘face’ “oh yeah, I drank it, very refreshing.”
“...”
Ze would then tackle Regect to the ground as his beloved cold water was gone, down this entity's throat.
For the next few days everything would go back to normal, Regect making Ze go on his (un)safe adventures, and all just hanging out as usual. Ze had nearly forgotten about the drink.
Although, during those days, Ze had become significantly more concerned with his actions..
Ze had started randomly making small piles of clothes and pillows all over the floor. being piled around in his room. He had also barely gotten any sleep caused by his constant shifting. Even sitting down he’d reposition himself on the couch twenty times before settling into it. But that wasn't the weirdest thing Ze noticed about himself. He noticed that his skin started getting really itchy, constantly scratching his back, chest and occasionally his neck.
Moe started noticing Ze’s strange behaviour and even brought it up a few times, though Ze just shrugged it off and told her that it's no big deal, that his actions are completely intentional and he’d get his itchiness checked someday. Both were complete lies.
It had been around 6 days since Ze had started scratching himself. It was irritating. He tried to stop, covering himself with itch creams, but they never seemed to work. The itching was like an addiction. He couldn't stop. Even if he ignored the itch it would start to burn and poke at his muscles, making him twitch. Which was happening right now at movie night.
“Dude, you need to like- calm down with all that scratching” Regect says concerned. "You're gonna like, tear through your skin or something.”
Ze let out a large huff, “and when did you start giving a shit?” He said, heavily side-eyeing the figure beside him.
“I don't give a shit about YOU! I give a shit about my poor ears. It's annoying hearing your constant scratching " he pauses "it's all like”-Regect tries to imitate the sound of scratching skin with his voice (he sounds more like a screaming pig). “A- and you need to shut the hell up! I CAN'T HEAR THE TV!!”
“Oh boo-hoo! Why don't you try dealing with being all itchy all day!”
“I wouldn't be itchy ALL DAY if I tried- but you being CONSTANTLY itchy for 4..5– WHATEVER days straight? that’s not normal.”
“You’re not normal!” Shit. Regect did have a point, it's been 6 days straight and that isn’t a normal thing. especially for a human like himself. He should probably make an appointment to see a doctor or a dermatologist.
Speaking of getting himself checked out, he noticed 2 days ago two medium-ish rashes had appeared near his shoulder blades and should really be checking on those rashes soon. Ze HAD put cream on them, praying it’d do something. But considering the other creams he’s been using hadn't been doing jack-anything, he doesn't have high hopes that the ones for his rashes are working either.
“Just ignore me or something, you seem to be good at that when I ask you to do the dishes or clean up your messes.”
Regect rolls his eye while huffing, his tail banging against the couch in annoyance. He seemed to mumble something inaudible to Ze. Ze though, not wanting to ruin the movie night- alongside Moe’s, who's sleeping on the other couch. Ignoring him, Ze re-adjusts his placement on the couch for the millionth time.
You know.. The scratching wasn't the only strange thing happening throughout the past week. His throat started to get the same treatment as his skin. All tingly. He thought that it was just a cold coming on, even though his temperature was normal. While on one of Regects adventures both he and Regect were having their light hearted arguments, until Ze went to throw an insult back at Regect, But then he chirped..? Like a bird??? wtf?
The noise caught the two off guard. So much so that Ze had to pause for 8 seconds before coughing out the tickle left over in his throat, not understanding what just happened. Ze assured it wasn't him after Regect asked if he had made the noise, and since they were outside there was most likely a bird close to them.
Regect didn't ask any further questions about it, as it was uncalled for. But both continued their day as normal.
But those bird-like noises were just getting worse throughout time. Movie nights? A small chirp. Waking up in the morning? a bird-like purr. Getting actually spooked- NOT by Regect but Moe? A squawk. Of course Regect made fun of him for it- why was a human making bird noises? But Ze could tell that the two knew something was wrong and both were getting concerned.
On a pretty bright sunny afternoon He, Moe and Regect had gone out to visit the Zoo, they were all gathered at the bird enclosure, Ze was off in his own world, whistling to the bird above, having them mimic his words, having a normal great time. But as time went by, he started to get an odd familiar tickle in his throat.. Thinking it's just another dry cough coming in he grabs his water and drinks.
But it clearly doesn't help. A strong impulse in Ze's throat causes him to go out of control, chirping nonstop, he basically strangled himself to stop the noises- which ended with having the group kicked out of the Zoo that Moe wanted to see for the past week..
.
“I’m sorry Moe.. Maybe we can go next time..” Ze trying to sound both apologetic and cheerful
“Yeah and maybe next time Ze will try not to kill himself at a Zoo and stop communicating with the birds” Regect smirked, chuckling a bit on his words
“I swear to you I DID NOT MAKE THOSE NOISES!” His face, heating up. He can't admit that he was the one making those noises, well at least he can't back down now after refusing that it was him nonstop for the past week, it was the first time that he actually felt like it was him making those noises. It was already clear to Moe and Regect that it was Ze, considering the following days.
“Sure sure whatever you say” Regect says walking further up
“You’re such a dick..” Ze mumbles
Ze hears honks from Moe's, her honks filled with concern (You aren't hiding it well.. You should maybe make an appointment about it, along with the scratching!)
Ze sighs, knowing she's right.. But at this point of time, getting an appointment to see the doctor was nearly impossible, and not to mention the cost of it too. He could go into a clinic but he didn't want to waste his time waiting hours just to get a “drink more water” answer and some random cream that could potentially make his skin worsen.
“Um, maybe later..” He says, trying to avoid looking at the clown
Moe sighed, crossing her arms, annoyed that he wasn't gonna get the help he needed.
A bit of time passed, walking towards a nearby crosswalk.
“Hey, so are we just going to walk home? Orr”
“Taxi.” He says without hesitation.
“Yeah yeah you guys do that, ill see you guys later” before Ze or Moe can get a word in, regect disappears, teleporting away, most likely to home. I guess Regect had enough of walking and left.
Both Moe and Ze sighs as he picks up his phone to call an uber to come get them. But this decision ended up making him and Moe wait 5 hours just for the car to show up.
Driving back to their place in the uber, Moe asks questions about Ze’s condition, if he’d been feeling weird, etc. Yes, OFCOURSE he was feeling weird, everything was happening so randomly.. The noises, scratching, and actions he’d never do! But Ze brushes her off telling her that it was mainly just headaches, and he’d take some Advil to soothe it. Which was half true..
Another big thing. The headaches, he’s tried taking Advil and every medication for headaches in the book! Nothing seemed to get rid of them, except for resting. But how can you rest when you are constantly repositioning yourself now?
The rest of the drive was nearly soundless, but near the last turn to their home Ze of course couldn't help stop a chirp slipping through, making him dive out of the car while it was moving to avoid the embarrassment and questions that Moe would ask him. Falling into a big mud pile.
Damn, the uber didn’t even look back to get him..
After walking back to his house and finally entering his home, he meets a Moe crossed armed, clearly upset that he flew out of a moving vehicle. Ze apologizes and to excuse himself he says it was an “intrusive thought” that he couldn't stop in time. Terrible lie, but it had Moe back off from him.
it was pretty late when Ze and moe finally returned, Who knew that getting home by an uber would take so long? While taking off his shoes he spot someone in the corner of his eye
“Took you guys long enough. Uh-” Regect announces before staring at Ze, he looked like he dove straight into a pig pen with all the mud clinging to his open jacket and T-Shirt “Jeez what happened to you? You look like shit.. Like more shit then before”
“Wow thankss” Ze rolls his eyes at Regects insult, “Just uh trying a new style of clothes, i call it “The Regect”, kinda has a ring to it don't ya think?” smirking to the entity in front of him
“No the fuck it doesnt.. wait A- Are you just calling me shit??” furrowing his ‘eyebrows’, squinting his one eye at Ze
“I’m glad you got at least a brain cell to get the joke.” Ze unintentionally said too sarcastically
“Pshh- awful joke. but uh– what actually happened–? You got run over by a truck or something?” Regect says with curiosity.
Moe stepped in to explain to him how Ze bolted out of the moving uber. Regect got a few good laughs before telling Ze to clean his shit self up, luckily for him, Ze was already planning on taking a shower.
While heading towards the stairs, Ze intentionally gives regect a good shove to the ground while making his way up the stairs hearing regect groan in pain. Ze smiles hearing him.
Entering the washroom, Ze starts to undress himself, peeling the wet mucky clothes that clinged to him, while looking back at his reflection he notices those weird wet looking spiky fluff on his back and some on his chest. Lots more had appeared then last he checked on his rashes, he had tried to pull them out once, but the pain was not worth it.
Looking closer on his back, Ze sees the two rashes. They grew larger and seemed to look a bit swollen. Upon inspection, touching them made him wince in pain. Sucking air between his teeth. GOd that hurted! After a while the pain seemed to have dulled out.
Ze probably shouldn’t have jumped out of that uber.. Or at least that's what the swollen and larger rashes are caused from, right? He hit the ground pretty hard when doing so..
After taking off his pants, turning on his shower he feels a bit of relief that the day is finally over. Nothing to deal with at this moment, of course, he may need to tell Regect to shut up while he tries to sleep later.. but that was just a daily thing he’d need to do anyway.
Before stepping into the tub, a sudden hit of lightness hits Ze’s head for a second, regaining composure as he steps fully into the shower.
While in the shower, Ze can't help but remember the conversation about the drink he consumed 3 weeks ago.. When he and Moe randomly met Wakafante and that bitch pirate at the local farmers market, say what was the pirate's name again? It didn't matter.
Wakafante seemed to be going off about some weird black and white dragon who summoned a bunch of chickens all over him one time, to be fair Ze mainly tuning him out.. Until Wakafante asked if they had seen his ‘potion’, mentioning that it got stolen the week before. Ze knew exactly what happened, though to cut their conversation short.. And the embarrassment of telling the guy that he drank it. He decided to not tell him, and pretended to feel sorry for the guy.
Although Ze did ask him what the drink even did, he half regretted the question as the old man went on a spiral about some ‘Avian’ and bird crap tangent, Ze could put two and two together that the drink would basically transform someone into a bird-like creature. Which has now been concerning Ze, considering all the stuff that's been happening for the 3 weeks, the itchiness, the weird chirping noises.. All the headaches..
Ze refocused back to the shower, finally accepting that his hair was wet enough for shampoo. Though while rinsing the shampoo out he couldn't help noticing a tense sharp pain that continuously started to hurt more and more near his shoulder blades. Feeling his back, he could feel two swirling dull bone-like bumps trying to emerge from his skin, touching it made the original spikey pain worse.
“AAAUURRGGH SHIT-” Ze bends down, he didn't mean to yell out that loud– now kneeling towards the ground of the tub trying to recover from the pain. But unlike last time the pain only seemed to worsen.. Struggling to take deep heavy breaths. His throat closing and reopening in raw agony
Ze groaned, feeling them shuffle through his back
At this point, Ze was hurled to his knees, sweating, clenching his sides as his body cramped. Shaking, Feeling heavy. All he could do was wait for it all to end. Ze struggles to think on why.. Maybe he ate something bad at the zoo or that stunt he pulled really damaged him and caused his body to act up..
A few minutes passed, Ze was still in pain, another headache started to appear like a second warning, telling him to prepare for what's to come, it pounded harsh reality in his head. He started to feel his mind go foggy.. What the hell was happening to him? He didn't recall hurting himself THIS BAD for this to happen. The limped over boy tries to recall what could be causing this.
The thought of what's to come sends fear into him, Ze tries to move his stiff hands off his body
Though nothing gets him anywhere as a wave of pain hits him, making him scream and groan from it.
God Ze really hopes the others didn't hear that, it was practically midnight and it would be such an inconvenience if they were to walk in on him in the shower, naked, hurled over like a dog that got kicked. Maybe the naked part is the main reason why he didn't want them coming in.. how embarrassing..
He closes his eyes, waiting, and waiting for it to all end.
After a few moments of trying to endure the pain that spread all throughout his torso, he opens his shaky eyes to see the running water go down the drain, as he looks, staring off into near nothingness, he spots trails of pink strains of liquid enter the drain. The pink streams started to turn a dark red. Almost like blood.. It was blood. But where was it coming from?
Ze tries to look around, only being to slightly move his head, panicked, he lists everything that could possibly be the cause of the blood. Was it his chest..? No.. his arms? No they were fine..
He tries to again attempt to move his stiffened arms towards his back, but as he does, another wave of pain hits at him, making him jerk back.
Whatever was making him bleed was definitely in his back, he now felt the warm blood flowing throughout his entire back.
He couldn't do anything, it was like his body was forcefully pinning him down to the ground, as the water from the showerhead hitted him, making him flinch from almost every water droplet. He could feel his muscles tense up as his whole back started to burn. Throbbing every second, he couldn't help himself from moan in pain
His lungs felt like they were about to collapse from lack of fresh air, steam from the hot water clogging any clear air. Ze needed to turn off the shower. His raw throat begged for cold water
Shuffling forward creates a sharp pain in his back and causes him to choke from a lack of air. He starts to feel a slight lightness in his mind, looking down at the blood stream, it was nearly pitch black with red outlines. Ze screamed from pain in his back, feeling something push out of him, his screams were inaudible for himself. Did he scream? He sure he made a noise
For the slightest moment he could hear again, the shower running, his heavy gargled breaths, a door banging
Ze heart drops, hearing it. Ripping, a flow of pain that is like being thrown into a meat grinder, having his back feel like a pulled web of nothing but throbbing hits Ze without warning, his eyes starting to overflow with tears making his vision blur. Unable to control what's around him. The man cries in pain, shaking, shivering. The feeling of his back opening as two large wings slowly emerge from his back, being wrapped with some of his skin that was previously attached to his back.
The tub being stained with his blood, as He hears another rip he was able to feel his warm blood squirting out of him, hitting the walls of the tub
As Ze's vision starts to darken, mind collapsing, Ze shifts his eyes toward movement to the shower curtains and sees a dark figure.
“Holy shit… Ze?”