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Player hadn’t slept this good in ages. They’d been bouncing from hotel room to hotel room since they were first thrusted into the past.
No matter how luxurious or comfortable the hotels were, nothing beat Griefer’s room. None of those hotel beds could even come close to the cloud that was Griefer’s bed. It was always just the right temperature and softness.
Player would always go out of their way to sleep in his bed rather than the hotels Shedletsky gets for them. Griefer didn’t even question it anymore. Sometimes he’d go to bed alone and wake up with a face full of their yellow hair. Other times he’d be on his computer all night, yelling at people on his games when Player would walk in. They wouldn’t even acknowledge each other as Player dropped their stuff against the wall and changed into their pajamas and collapsed into his bed. Griefer would continue to play his game, through he would be a little more quieter. Even though Player insists that he doesn’t have to, that they can sleep through anything.
Today was one of those days, it was around 7am and Player had snuck in the night before. Both of them were out like lights, a tangle of blankets and limbs. Player was woken up by their ringtone. They hadn’t sent an alarm, had they?
Player felt around for their phone. It was somewhere around here. They grazed Griefer’s hand and he unconsciously grabbed their hand and pulled them closer. Mumbling something about sleeping in. Player mumbled something unintelligible back like either of them were awake enough to communicate.
Player eventually found their phone and opened it. The light burned their eyes.
Please don’t be Shedletsky please don’t be Shedletsky
They prayed as if it would change the outcome. Player was surprised to see Noobador’s name at the top of their screen. Player sat up a little straighter and, despite Griefer’s whines and weak attempts to pull them back down, answered the call. They put the phone up to their ear, “’ello?” They mumbled.
“Hey, hero. I didn’t wake you, did I?” Noobador said casually. They could hear a ruckus from the other end. Probably just Red and Blue.
“You did, but s’fine… I need to get up anyways,” Player yawned, “did you need something?”
“Yeah, you’re not going for the next sword yet, right?” Noobador asked.
Player shook their head despite it being a phone call, “I’m not, why do you ask?”
“I was wondering if you could watch Red and Blue for the day, I’ve got some business to attend to and they don’t need to be getting involved” Noobador’s casual tone got a bit more serious.
Player decided not to pry on whatever business he spoke of, “sure, I can watch ‘em” they yawned again, rubbing their eyes with one hand.
They could hear Noobador’s relief through the screen, “thanks, kid. Child care is expensive these days”
Player laughed slightly, “Red and Blue would tear up a daycare in an instant”
Noobador laughed heartily.
“I’ll be there in a little, bye” Player stood up from the bed. Griefer sighed dramatically.
“See ya soon, and thank you again hero” Noobador replied. Player put their phone back on the bed when the call ended.
“D0 Y0U H4V3 T0?” Griefer mumbled from the bed.
Player rolled their eyes playfully, “I can’t rot in bed all day, as much as I would like to”
Griefer huffed, “ITS N0T JUST TH4T… 1 W4NN4 B3 W1TH Y0U…”
Player whipped their head around, their face beat red. “What?!”
Griefer shot up, “N0T L1K3 TH4T! JUST- L1K3- 1 W4NN4 K33P H4NG1NG 0UT!” He was just as red as them. Player rubbed their eyes and sighed. Griefer laid back down and hid his mortified face.
After a long moment of silence, Griefer spoke. “WH4T 1F Y0U BR0UGHT TH3M H3R3?”
Player raised an eyebrow at him, “you don’t strike me as the ‘good with kids’ kind”
“1M N0T B4D W1TH K1DS” Griefer huffed
“Do you even like kids?”
“1M W1LL1NG T0 PUT UP W1TH TH3M F0R Y0U”
Player looked away as their face heated up again, “you can’t just say shit like that…” they mumbled.
Griefer leaned forward, “WH4TD4 S4Y?” He asked.
“Nothing, just… Red and Blue are a handful y’know” Player slipped their socks and shoes on.
Griefer shrugged, “W3 C4N H4NDL3 3M”
Player chuckled, “this place better be clean when I get back through. Red and Blue don’t need to deal with your mess”
Griefer groaned, “F1N3 F1N3, WH4T3V3R”
Player stood up and headed out, back to Bizville where Noobador lived. It was a long walk, by the time Player got there it was a little after noon.
Noobador was standing on the porch, watching Red and Blue run around the lawn. Blue noticed Player first, her face lit up like Christmas lights. “Player!” She ditched chasing Red around and threw herself at Player.
Player lifted her up in their arms, “Hey Blue,” they smoothed her sapphire colored hair as they walked towards Noobador. Red begrudgingly ran up to Player. He didn’t say anything, but Player offered a hand to him and he held it with a pout.
“He’ll warm up to you eventually,” Noobador chuckled. He reached over and ruffled Red’s hair. Red grumbled.
Player shrugged, “I don’t mind”
Player let Blue down so she could go grab her bag from inside. Red followed to grab his as well.
“Thank you again hero” Noobador smiled with relief.
“Don’t worry about it,” Player said humbly.
Blue and Red came out with their stuff and hugged their uncle goodbye. “Be good, alright?”
“Got it boss!” Red said with a wide smile.
“We will uncle!” Blue smiled.
Player headed out with a finally wave to Noobador. Red and Blue skipped along side them. “Where are we going?” Blue asked.
“Yeah, aren’t you like… homeless?” Red said.
Player shrugged, “technically, yeah. I bounce around from motel to motel, but we’re going to Turitopulis”
Red and Blue had never been to Turitopulis. Blue got excited, Red was a little more mellow. He didn’t like new places.
Red and Blue stared wide eyed at the jungle town. The sun barely peaked through the tree canopy. They’d never seen anything like it. Vines stretching taller than pines.
Griefer’s room was actually clean when Player walked in. Red and Blue followed behind them. It smelled like basil and mint.
Of course, Griefer was at his desk, controller in hand. Playing whatever video game was his obsession this week.
“I’m back” Player said.
Griefer grinned, “SUP” he glanced down at Red and Blue. Blue was hiding behind Player’s leg. Red instinctively stepped in front of Blue.
“Red and Blue, this is Griefer. Griefer, this is Red and Blue” Player gestured between the three. Red walked over to Griefer and peaked over at his monitor. Red and Blue didn’t get to play any computer games, they were too expensive. The only computer games they’d ever play was the ones pre-installed on the Bizville library computers. It was usually minesweeper, which Red could never understand.
“What game is that?” Red asked.
“C0D M0D3RN W4RF4R3 2” Griefer said.
“Cod? Like a fish?” Blue kept holding onto Player’s hand as they walked to the bed and sat down. Blue crawled into their lap.
“It’s an acronym, it stands for Call of Duty” Player said.
Both Griefer and Red snorted at the word duty.
Red watched Griefer player for a little longer. Player leaned back against the headboard. Blue was still in their lap, watching as well.
“Can I try?” Red asked.
Griefer smirked and handed the controller to him, “G1V3 1T 4 SH0T”
Griefer stood up and Red hopped up onto his gaming chair. Griefer joined Player and Blue on the bed, sitting next to Player.
Player yawned, absentmindedly running their hands through Blue’s wavy hair. Red was cackling at the people he killed on the game.
Blue crawled out of Player’s lap and ran over to Red. She hopped up onto Griefer’s chair, right next to her brother.
Griefer looked over at Player, “T1R3D?”
Player shrugged, they were always tired. Griefer chuckled. “What’s so funny?” Player asked.
“D1D Y0U BRUSH Y0UR H41R B3F0R3 Y0U L3FT?”
Player’s head fell back in defeat as they covered their face and groaned. Of course the one thing they forgot was to brush their hair before they went to pick the kids up. They probably looked stupid.
“R3L4X, 1T 41NT TH4T B4D” Griefer coaxed their head to stop leaning back against the headboard and brushed through it with his fingers.
It wasn’t too effective for smoothing their hair out, but in honesty Griefer just wanted an excuse to touch their hair. And by the way Player leaned into it? They weren’t complaining either.
Once their hair was looking marginally better, Griefer glanced down at their wings. Their feathers were sticking every which way. Griefer ran a hand through the front of their right wing.
Their reaction was immediate they melted against him like jelly. Griefer snorted, “Y0UR3 4 M3SS”
Player mumbled something against his shoulder. It sounded like ‘shut up’.
Player glanced over at Red and Blue. They were yelling at the screen and laughing. Player smiled, they never really liked kids before, but these two seemed to be an exception.
Player turned their head the other way, nuzzling further into Griefer’s neck. His cool leaves were soothing on their face, they tickled a little. His hands worked methodically through their wings, straightening feathers and spreading the natural oils around.
Griefer heard a soft coo come from the avian in his arms. Clearly they hadn’t slept much the night before. Griefer laid back so they could lay down more comfortably.
Red and Blue glanced over at the tired hero, they realized they should probably keep their voices down to let them sleep.
—
Player didn’t remember falling asleep, but they woke up to quiet giggling. They recognized it as Blue’s giggles. The next thing they felt, was something warm curled against them. They looked down to be met with Red’s bright cherry red hair, his face was pressed against their neck. It seems like Player wasn’t the only one needing an impromptu nap.
Player sat up slightly, Red grumbled and wrapped himself around them tighter. Player looked over at the end of the bed.
Blue was giggling, “Uncle Noobador doesn’t know how to braid hair”
Griefer was sat behind her, braiding her hair. “1 C0ULD T34CH 3M, 1TS N0T H4RD”
Griefer heard the soft rustle of the sheets, he looked over his shoulder at Player. “G00D M0RN1NG, PUNK”
Player smiled tiredly. They didn’t feel like speaking. Blue looked over at Player, she beamed. “Hi Player!” She said a little too loud. Red whined in Player’s arms. Blue smiled sheepishly, “sorry Red…”
Player ran a hand through Red’s short hair. He nuzzled into Player’s side, too tired to keep up his hard persona.
Griefer finished Blue’s braid. Blue turned around and hugged him. “Thank you Mr. Griefer”
Griefer patted her on the back awkwardly. He wasn’t used to hugs from kids. Kids were usually scared of him. Griefer’s face got hot at Player’s giggles from behind him.
Blue pulled back and yawned, “WHY 4R3 4LL 0F Y0U T1R3D?” Griefer huffed.
“Because we are all active, you just rot in your room all day” Player said, their voice hoarse from sleep.
Griefer leaned back against the headboard, “SHUT UP PUNK”
Player opened their arms Griefer laid down. Blue and Red were sandwiched between them.
“I didn’t know you could braid hair” Player said quietly, not to disturb the kids in their arms.
“K0K0 T4UGHT M3 WH3N W3 W3R3 K1DS, 1 BR41D MY 0WN H41R WH3N 1M B0R3D” Griefer said softly.
“That’s sweet,” Player said with the weight of nostalgia weighting heavy on their shoulders. They remembered when they learned how to braid hair. Some girl that frequented the same park as Player when they were young. Player’s hair was always a mess from neglect, that girl was Player’s first friend. Even if one day she stopped showing up to that park, and Player never saw her again—
“PL4Y3R?”
Player was brought back to the present, “hm?”
“Y0UV3 G0T TH4T L00K 1N Y0UR 3Y3S”
Player felt a fond smile creep onto their face, “it’s nothing, just nostalgia”
Griefer’s curiosity was peaked, but he knew better than to push Player. Anything related to time was a touchy subject, them being torn from the future and all.
Griefer just pulled them closer, their forehead rested against his shoulder. Neither of them spoke. The only noise around was the soft breathing of all four of them.
Player wouldn’t have it any other way.