Chapter Text
In her rush to leave, Katie accidentally forgets her bag in one of the university’s laboratory rooms.
Can you blame her though? It wasn’t her fault that her chemistry professor decided to do a last minute class extension.
Apparently, the class was falling super behind the scheduled syllabus. And for a good fifteen minutes, the professor went into wax poetry as he foretold the whole dilemma. Katie had tuned him out, opting to ignore his ramblings. She couldn’t care less, and she sure as hell was way too tired to listen to his lackluster excuses.
Why waste more time with these complaints? If the professor had joined them in class consistently, the entire issue wouldn’t have even existed. But sure, keep the nonsense and the ramblings going. Why was a psychology student even required to take this class in the first place anyways?
Ruminating, she looked back at the clock above the wall, waiting for the minutes to pass by faster. She was supposed to meet Mike at the cafe ten minutes ago. Can this teacher just shut up and dismiss them sooner?
As if answering her prayers, she heaves a sigh of relief when the professor finally dismisses the class. Quickly bolting from her seat, she leaves the university's lab immediately to catch up with her best friend, Mike.
It’s only been a few days, but it felt like forever since she had previously last met up with him. Mike was ill and suffering from a fever all week, which resulted in him staying at his dorm room all day, completely bedridden. And, while 7 days of not being able to visit him were not a lot, Katie had already missed him.
Initially, Katie had wanted to take care of him, but Mike insisted that she didn’t. As one, he didn’t want to risk her getting infected. Two, she had an important test the same week, a quiz that she couldn’t risk missing by being sick or she'd fail. If you had asked Katie though, getting infected by Mike didn’t sound all that bad, her quiz results were probably shit anyways, since it had been a statistics class.
Sprinting from her classroom to outside the campus, Katie finally sees the cafe. The cafe was filled to the brim with bustling students, some were chatting, while most were studying. As she opens the cafe’s door, a small bell rings to signal a new arrival.
Familiar neon-pink hair immediately catches her eye, it was Mike. He was there sitting by the table near a corner. Looking up from his phone, Mike sees Katie and waves with a smile.
“Hey Katie!”
“Mike!” Katie sprints inside the cafe as she happily shouts, earning some looks from customers.
As she settles into her seat, all the exhaustion from running immediately catches up to her as she takes a deep breath. Mike looks back at her chuckling, unbothered by her lateness. “So Katie, how are you?”
“Are you kidding Mike! I should be the one asking that, are you alright? All healed?” Katie asks with tilted brows.
“Yes! I’m all better, no worries. So catch me up, anything new that happened lately?” Mike says with a smile.
“Well, class today ended late since our teacher extended our time. Sorry about being late by the way,” Katie mentions, apologetically. “and well, since the teacher’s a deadbeat and only showed up now, he’s all rushing us with our classwork. It’s hard since it's chemistry class too!” The girl says pouting.
“Wow, sounds bad. Do you know anyone who got him as a prof before? Maybe they’ll be able to help?” Mike says, with a hand on his chin thinking.
Katie looks down as she tries to recall, “Hmm not really. The people I know got different chemistry professors. So I’m all alone…” She mumbles the last words saying it a bit sadly.
“Well, don’t sweat it Katie! It’s gonna be alright! I’m sure you’ll be able to handle it, as I said before you’re strong!” Mike states encouragingly.
“Yeah, yeah! You’re right!” The girl replies back feeling better, “I hope he gives incentives though, because if he’s a deadbeat and he grades low, nothing’s redeeming him.”
Mike softly chuckles amused by his friend’s comment. “Mhm, I’ll let you know if I find anyone I know who took his classes before. What’s his name again? Also you should probably order.”
“Uhh he’s—oh yeah wait I haven’t ordered yet!” Katie cuts herself with the reminder that she hasn’t gone to order yet. She excused herself and headed for the counter, when she came back she and Mike continued to converse more.
They spent the next hour catching up on everything they had missed, from classes to the upcoming concert hosted by the student council. Mike excitedly rambled about the possible performers while Katie listened, occasionally throwing in guesses of her own.
As they gush and laugh more at each other's theories, both laughing at some of the other’s guesses at some point, Katie almost forgets how late it was getting. That was not until a familiar person approached their table.
“Hey bestie!” A familiar high-pitched and excited voice calls out.
“Hello Ewron! What brings you here?” Katie replies back matching his energy, albeit with fake excitement.
“Oh! you know, here to order my regular! I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon Katie!” Ewron continues, hugging Katie tightly while looking at her with a playful smile.
“Yeah, me too! It’s so nice to see you! So, are you here with anyone?” She very much doesn’t want to deal with his lies and yapping right now, thank you.
Ewron smirks and chuckles as he answers, “Mhm, I am, so I’ll have to leave you. Bye bestie see you later!” Thank god he went with someone, it’s a bit surprising that he didn’t push more, but she guesses that it's her lucky day.
“Roier! Let’s order—“ Ewron’s loud voice fades as he returns back to the person he went with. Katie, happy to be left alone, stares at Mike’s direction again.
“Katie, he really has to start leaving you alone. You two keep fighting and then making up. Like, it’s not good. You know how much of a mess you get when you two start fighting again.”
Tilting his head questionably at Katie, he adds again. “I’m worried that he’ll go too far one day, are you sure about not cutting ties with him entirely?”
“I—Mike it’s just, I don’t really know what he’ll do if I stop talking to him. He’s kinda unpredictable, might as well just get on his good side for now.” Katie says, eyes wandering from the ceiling to Mike’s face. She didn’t want to admit it, but there was a part of her that was genuinely afraid of what Ewron might do next. His jokes were usually harmless, but sometimes he crossed lines she wasn’t sure he even noticed.
“Okay, if you say so.” Mike replies, settling down and trusting Katie’s words. “Punch him again if he does anything stupid.”
Both chuckle at his words, in Katie’s opinion that was by far one of the most satisfying things she has ever done.
“Anyways, you said you went to get my paper back from my Language professor. Can I have it back please?” Mike mentions, remembering the time she asked her to pick it up while he was sick.
“Oh yeah wait it’s—shit.” Katie instinctively reaches for her bag. Her hand meets empty air. “I forgot! I forgot my backpack in the lab!”
Confused, Mike looks back and asks, “What? Wait, how did you pay without your bag? Oh no, Katie it’s almost sunset. Are you going to be able to get it?”
“I was able to pay since I had my wallet and phone in my pockets,” Katie answers the first question then adds, “I don’t know about getting the bag though, fuck. I have no choice. I’ll probably have to sprint back and get it before someone locks up.” Katie says as she hastily stands up.
“Mike, I have to leave now. I’m so sorry, I’ll give you your paper back tomorrow!” The girl adds, greeting Mike with a wave. “Bye Mike!”
“No worries Katie, bye! Hope you get your bag!” Her friend replies reassuringly. Call Katie cheesy all you want, but Mike really was the most understanding and most amazing friend she can ask for.
Leaving immediately, Katie sprints for the second time that day to retrieve her lost bag. So much for a lucky day.
As Katie ran back to the direction of the university, hoping that the staff had yet to lock the laboratory, the sky started to glow an almost orange. It would have honestly been nice, if it weren't for the fact that Katie was in a rush.
Fully fueled with adrenaline by the time she had arrived at campus, that was when the sun had fully started setting.
The number of students have clearly significantly dwindled, leaving only those with night classes walking toward their assigned rooms.
As she finally sees her building, she quickly rushes inside. After entering, she immediately bolts for the stairs and goes to the third floor.
The stairs do a perfect job of knocking the air out of her lungs out, as she ends up huffing and puffing for air as she makes her way towards the lab room. Noticing the room unlocked, she finally lets herself calm down and breathe a sigh of relief.
Carefully opening the door, she enters the room. Sitting in one of the chairs for a while, she lets herself rest as she takes a quick look around the room.
The sun’s orange rays can be seen gracing the table tops, the windows fully welcoming in the light. The room looked quite scenic, it was unlike what Katie was used to seeing. Her chemistry class had always been during the mid afternoon after all.
Letting her thoughts drift, she wondered why students always gossiped that all the rooms in this building were haunted. It was actually pretty calming being in the room, even as it grew darker by the minute.
Catching a glimpse of her bag in the corner, she decides to finally make a grab for it. After looking inside her bag and deeming all her stuff complete, she gazes back to the front to leave but then stops.
She hears a low groan.
Something shifts at the corner of her vision.
Slowly, Katie looks down.
A figure lies motionless beside her feet, his face pressed against the cold laboratory floor.
"What is—is that a ghost?!"
Needless to say, her scream echoed throughout the whole room as she stared wide eyed at the person, who actually fainted? Looking more carefully at the man laying on the floor, he looked like a student.
Staring closer at his face, Katie tries to get a better view. She sees the pale guy's eyes flutter, he seems to be losing consciousness. She crouches down immediately and taps the stranger’s back.
“Hello? Are you still alive? Should I bring you to the clinic?” Katie asks, her eyebrows contorted. She didn’t want to have to bring someone to the clinic when it was on the other side of campus, but she couldn’t just leave the guy laying down on the floor either.
“That won’t be needed, just help me roll and lay down on my back. I have low iron so this happens sometimes.” The stranger replies with a tired voice, obviously lightheaded.
“Alrighty, wait let me do that. We also need to elevate your legs right? Let me find a chair.” Katie says as she grabs a chair for his legs, she thinks of using her bag as a pillow but then catches herself from doing so when she remembers that it might restrict the man’s breathing.
After propping the man’s legs on the chair, Katie opened the windows to let some fresh air in.
Noticing the increasing darkness, she flicked on the lights. The laboratory was immediately bathed in artificial light.
Sitting beside the guy on the floor, she studied him more closely.
He was definitely a student, he wore a black collar top while donning a slightly tattered laboratory coat. He wore black pants and white shoes, which was a pretty standard fit. The man’s hair was styled in dreads with green tips and black roots. His expression was still tight with displeasure as he looked pale and fatigued.
After giving the man a chance to recover for five minutes, Katie eventually decides to break the silence. “Are you feeling a lot better now? Would you like me to help you with standing up?”
Katie stares, as the man tries to quickly rise, hand on his head. “No need, kurwa. Fuck, I’m dizzy.” The guy failed in his attempt to stand, gripping the laboratory countertop tightly after nearly falling again.
Katie moves quickly as she settles beside him, steadying his shoulder before he can collapse again. Helping him remain upright, she then helps him stand up. Carefully, so as to not to rush the man from rising.
“Don’t stand up immediately, you should probably go sit first.” the girl replies, quietly.
As Katie helps her fellow student get situated on one of the chairs, she decides to observe a bit before chatting again. Why was he here when it was getting so late? Did he get permission to use one of the rooms? Normally it should be locked already.
Since these questions refuse to leave her mind, she decides to speak again. She never really was used to long silences, “So what’s your name? How often do you pass out?”
“I’m Multi. I faint every once in a while, it’s not a big deal.” The student, Multi, says as he downplays his fall. He still seemed pale even now, but at the very least his eyes weren’t shut tight like a while ago. And like a switch, once Katie noticed her acquaintance's seemingly better state, she no longer faltered from talking even louder.
“Well! Hello Multi, it’s nice to meet you! I’m Katie, not sure if you should be fainting often but it’s good to see you much better!” The girl says with a loud and enthusiastic voice.
“Fuck, can you lower your voice down a bit, what the hell.” Multi says, eyes squinting again as another headache seems to develop.
“Shoot, I’m so sorry, just got a little excited.” The girl blurts out in a rush, wincing as she realises her mistake. “Are you feeling better? What causes you to faint so often?”
“It’s not often. As I told you, it's just once in a while. However, it has started to happen more frequently since the midterms started. With there being many projects and tests to finish.” Multi mentioned straightforwardly, still clutching his forehead.
“I see! It must be really busy in your course then. What degree are you taking?” Katie asks curiously. She noticed it when she started talking with him, but it felt like the guy was familiar somehow. Similar classes perhaps?
“I’m a chemistry major. It is quite busy, but honestly it wouldn’t actually be so stressful if my roommate wasn’t so loud and scheming all the time.”
He rants, as he continues, “Kurwa, that Ewron, if he hadn’t accidentally broken my project I might not have ended up fainting here trying to finish it.” Multi finishes. Frustration evident as he mentions– Wait, Ewron?
“What the fuck! You know Ewron?” Katie semi-shouts eyes wide with shock. “Wait, you’re also Polish! Are you fucking kidding me Ewron? Really?”
“Lower your voice please, I’m gonna have another headache geez. Yes. Ewron, that fucking cockroach.” Multi says annoyed but sounding a bit glad?
“You can say that again, he’s so irritating! You don’t even know, oh my god.” Katie complains, shaking her head. “He’s always messing with me. I became classmates with him in one of my general electives once, and then he started teasing me all the time.”
“He’d refer to me as his bestie then continue to pull massive pranks. It’s been exhausting.” Just yesterday he’d apologized for yet another prank—as if that erased everything.
“Wait. What did you say your name was again?” Multi asks confused.
“Katie.” The girl answers, staring, curious as the man eyes her questionably. She was just about to go on another rant when Multi interrupted.
“I know you! You’re the girl Ewron pranked with the uranium glass I made for class. He told you it was radioactive didn't he?” Multi says with a snap of his fingers, eyes wide as he recalls Katie’s name.
“Oh I remember that. My friend, Mike, was with me in my room when we found it. He came along with me as I went and confronted Ewron immediately about it, because who else would the culprit be than him?” Katie mutters rolling her eyes as she continues.
“When he heard Ewron teasing us that the uranium was radioactive, he started panicking. Since, you know, he also came into contact with the so-called uranium. And well, Mike got mad and fought with Ewron.”
“Was he the one responsible for Ewron’s black eye that day?”
“Nah that was me, I punched him since he started pissing me off.” Katie said with smirking satisfaction.
“Wow. Amazing. Can you do that again?” Multi says huffing a laugh with the new information. “Please, I’d pay good money.” He adds again jokingly.
Katie also giggles as she replies, “Please, I’d do it again for free! Although, I ain't denying free money.”
She then quickly adds, “Hmm the thing is though, I don’t think a punch again will really help all that much, considering it won’t completely shut him up.”
“Maybe bug spray can help? I can concoct a new formula that can kill cockroaches with a 100% guarantee.” The man smirks, staring at Katie with amused eyes.
The woman smiles returning the same mischievous look. “Sure! I’ll gladly test it out with you when you do.”
Katie and Multi, at the mention of Ewron, chatted some more as they ventured to various other topics. From there, the conversation also drifted toward other people on campus, particularly those they were acquainted or on good terms with. During the conversation, Katie found out that they both knew Graf and Quackity.
“Wait, you room with Quackity? They allowed a guy and a girl in one room together?” Multi asks, confused.
“Well the university didn’t really have a choice. We both signed up pretty late for dorm rooms, so we got situated together being the last ones to be paired.”
She chuckles, then adds “I don’t really mind it though, Quackity’s fun, he's like a brother. Don’t tell him I said that though, he already has a big enough head as is.” Katie replies, with an amused smirk.
“Besides that, he goes to Mr. J’s dorm room to sneak off all the time. So, I pretty much have the room almost to myself.”
Multi with tilted eyebrows then asks, “Wait, are you talking about Schlatt? Why do you call him Mr. J?”
“Well, as much as he isn’t really that much older than me. He kinda reminds me of an old man, in a positive way! Of course! Akin to like a dad with the way he supports and gives me advice, I find talking to him comforting."
“I see, then wouldn’t that make Quackity more, kind of like your mom then?” Multi replies back, smirking.
“Fuck no. Get that bullshit thought out of your brain right now, Multi.”
As they made more friendly banter with one another, they didn’t realize how late it was until the window outside reflected the dark night sky. Peering up the clock, the time read 8:00pm.
“Oh, it’s late already, we should probably leave before we get locked in.” Katie says, looking at her new friend. “I should walk you to your dorm, you might pass out again.”
“No, no, I should walk you to yours as thanks. I would have probably remained passed out here until the person in charge of locking the door found me. Or until Ewron remembered that he had a roommate.”
“Nope, I’m walking you to yours. No buts!”
“Katie, I am capable of walking—“
“Can’t hear ya, let’s go.” Katie shouts as she tugs on the other boy’s wrist. Slamming the door open, the girl kept a careful pace as they went down the flight of stairs.
Throughout their trip going down the stairs, Katie had failed to realize that she was still holding the other’s wrist.
Multi had coughed and tugged on his wrist a bit forcefully, it instantly got her attention as she immediately noticed what she did.
Something must have shown on her face, because the other had then hurriedly responded. “I don’t really like too much—touch. It’s not ‘cause I hate you or something.” Multi explains, eyes darting elsewhere, embarrassed as he said the last part. He was a pretty straightforward guy, and Katie honestly appreciated the bluntness.
“No probs, I’ll get a hug out of you someday though.”
“Don’t. You’re the type who likes hugging people?”
Katie puts a renewed pep to her step as she replies, “Yep, I love hugging people when I say goodbye!”
“Of course. You do seem like it.” The other man mutters, sighing.
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Thank you!”
“Sure, anyways let’s go. My dorm’s direction is this way.” Seemingly too tired to try convincing the girl not to walk him home, Multi leads the way to the direction of his dorm building.
As the two walked beside one another and across the path together, the streetlights illuminated their way as they both chatted some more. “So Katie, why were you at the lab? I forgot to ask earlier but it wasn’t often that I’d see people there at that time of day.” The boy asks curiously.
“I forgot my bag, the teacher was taking so long that I booked it out of there the moment he said class was done.” Katie answers with a shrug.
“I see, well I’m thankful I was found. Staying at the hospital sucks.”
“Yes, there is no need to fret anymore young Multi! Your hero, SuperKatie, will now and always be here to assist you and rescue you from your low iron.” Katie shouts with a smug look, a huge smile showing. She looks at the other expectantly, waiting for his laugh.
With another incredulous look, Multi shoots her a slightly amused sigh as he pokes fun at her random outburst. “Shut up please SuperKatie, you’re so fucking lame Kurwa.” He lets out a laugh after the last couple of words.
As they talk more, Multi manages to tell her more about his new upcoming project and Katie gets to gush about the new guy she was seeing that was majoring in photography. Reaching the building, Multi looks towards her and clears his throat.
“Well Katie, we’re here. It was nice talking to you, see you later?” Multi greets her bluntly, arms behind his back.
“Yep, it was fun hanging out with you Multi! Let’s talk again soon!” Katie replies eagerly as she attempts to hug the other man. “I’ll miss you!”
With a disbelieving look, Multi avoids the hug. He continues to stare back at the woman and then nods. “As if. Goodbye, Katie.” That was the last thing he said before turning around and entering his building, what a pity.
Katie watched him disappear inside before turning towards the direction of her own dorm. Multi was a very interesting person. Hopefully she gets to talk to him more—wait she didn’t get to ask for his number. Even any socials he might have! Well, she supposed she could always go and ask Quacks about it later.