Work Text:
Wemmbu has been pacing for over 30 minutes now. Jaden wasn’t one to pry into his friends' issues— much preferring to wait for them to come to him. But this though, it was a bit worrying. Especially after witnessing that little ‘incident’ in Codemaster’s house.
Jaden stood up, and grabbed a drink from his chest. It was an extra potion he got from the bar a while back.
Wemmbu was going to go on his 3rd revolution when Jaden pressed the cold drink onto his cheek. Wemmbu lets out a hiss— flinching from the stabbing cold.
“I- what??” He lets out a confused noise as he stares at his friend. Nonetheless, he takes the drink from Jaden, tilting his head. “What’s all this bro?” he says, swirling the potion bottle in his hands.
“Thought you’d need a drink.” Although Wemmbu can’t see it, due to the mask, Jaden was obviously grinning at him. A few months ago, that grin was like a slice of a sword. Mocking him with how he failed to protect him.
But now— that sharp grin has dulled. Dulled from both time and bond that the duo managed to form.
One day is all it takes to make an enemy. And one day is all it takes to make a friend.
Wemmbu sighs, and chugs the bottle in one go. Downing it like there’s no tomorrow. Well, with how the caves are— it does feel like time halted. Nothing here can be used to indicate a new tomorrow— a fresh day, a new start. No, this place felt like a constant day.
Usually, even without a clear indicator that time has passed— the body has its own clock. A muscle memory etched into both the brain, and body. But, with Wemmbu’s already shit sleep schedule— not even his body knows when to rest.
He’s usually pretty sharp— constantly aware of anything, and everything within his environment. But, more recently, he’s more out of it. He realized that he didn’t even hear Jaden opening a chest, or walking up to him.
He sees a hand waving at his peripheral. He raised his head— when was his head even down in the first place?
And he saw Jaden’s face. His brows furrowed.
“Dude you alright?”
Wemmbu looks at him. Seeing the spiderwebs covering his friend. Jaden shouldn’t be covered with that. He should be covered in all the riches, and treasure from the sea. But now here he is, stuck with Wemmbu— all because he didn’t want him to be captured alone.
He’s seen this story before. A group of players— stuck in an underground civilization. Constantly at risk of being banned.
“I- I’m fine bro. Just uh, thinking, you know?” He diverts his eyes to the floor by Jaden's shoes.
Jaden knows he’s bullshitting. But from the time he spent with Wemmbu here, he knew his friend wasn’t one for being vulnerable. He rarely showed it, and when he did, he’d cover with silent anger. Out of everyone, Jaden knows this best.
“Alright” Jaden sighs. “Well, Arachnid for one hasn’t given us that many missions just yet-” Wemmbu looks at him, with a raised brow. “-and we’re both pretty bored so, why don’t we visit a specific Code?” Jaden shifts his body to the door.
Before Wemmbu could respond— the sound of someone dropping on a block can be heard next to them. On the floor was Yungy, rubbing his head after having it smacked on the stone heard floor.
He stood up, smiling like an innocent little child looking at their parents for candy. “Heh, so I heard you guys were going to play a game.” Wemmbu squints at him. “Dude, really?”
Wemmbu flinches slightly with the sudden side hug from Yungy. “AWW COME ONE DUDE!!” “DUDE YOUR VOICE IS SO LOUD??!” Wemmbu basically punches Yungy, trying to get him off.
Jaden’s aware that Yungy is…one of the reasons why they ended up in this civilization in the first place. But, Yungy’s…er, loudness— seemed to help pulling Wemmbu out of his own head from time to time. And Jaden has enjoyed his presence.
Jadens laughs at the scene in front of him. Being with them always made him smile. And he knows that they could enjoy this even more when they rescue Egg. But for now, that is still a goal they are trying to accomplish.
Doesn’t mean they can’t have some fun, right?