Chapter 2: Let's Meet Again
So the second confrontation didn't turn out as well as he'd hoped. He didn't get any answers that he'd wanted but he did get a time and place to meet Kid again and this time it would happen without interruption.
He hadn't eaten as much like he usually did because of what was on his mind and his mom and Abby took notice. He shrugged it off and said that he just wasn't feeling like eating a lot. Both of them tried to pry for more info, especially his mom who thought he might be sick, but he wouldn't allow it, ensuring that it was nothing serious. He ended up retiring to bed early, around 8:30, at the request of his mother who was sure he was sick. He rolled his eyes and bid goodnight to his parents but Abby followed him to his room.
"What's up?" He asked as he entered his bedroom.
"Are you sure you're okay?" She asked, closing the door behind her.
"Yes, for the last time, I'm fine." He said, smiling at her. "Thank you for your concern but there's nothing wrong."
"I don't know, Ty. With how you acted earlier at the gag lab and then now, I just feel like there's something off." She was always a pretty observant person so it didn't surprise Ty that she was starting to see that there was something different. Of course, that doesn't mean he was going to tell her what it was or confirm that it was there in the first place.
"Nope, it's just you this time Abby." He felt bad for lying to her face, he really did, but for now he felt it was just best if he kept it a secret from her. It might be best for the both of them, actually, since she'd probably get both hurt and angry if she found out Ty was meeting with Kid without telling her.
"Hmmm, okay. Goodnight Ty." The two hugged and Abby left, leaving Ty alone in the dark. He sighed and lied down, not intending to go to bed but just wanting to think. What was he hoping to accomplish by seeing Kid in private like this, anyway? What would it do? Was he just going to ask Kid to come to the lab? Oh yeah, as if that would work out.
'Hey, uh, so if you like me so much, could you, oh I don't know, do me a favor and come to the gag lab so we can finally kill you?'
'Oh yeah, sure thing. I'll even do it all with a smile and no fight what-so-ever.'
He didn't know what his intentions were. Maybe just to see where it goes? Hmm. The more he thought about it, the more his thoughts started to go in all directions as he began to relax. Before he knew it, though, he'd fallen asleep. He snapped awake and shot up.
"Fuck." he rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?" The clock on his shelf read midnight, it's glowing red numbers visible in the night. He smacked his forehead before diving out of bed and quietly creeping out of the house to the shed where he changed into his grossologist suit. Pausing, he wondered if he should go to the gag lab to grab his goop shooter. He bit his lip, thinking it over before coming to his decision.
As quietly as he could, Ty entered the gag lab, listening for any sounds of Lab Rat. Once he entered the main area, the loud snoring coming from the computer desk put him at ease. With a soft sigh, he quickly grabbed a goop shooter and glanced at Lab Rat. The hermit scientist was curled up in his chair, Hermes cradled gently in his arms. It was an oddly cute scene and Ty couldn't help but smile.
Just as he stepped away, though, the rat awoke with a squeak, perking his ears at Ty. The grossologist bit his thumb, trying to think. He didn't have a cracker with him to give to Hermes this time so instead, he just put his fingers to his lips. "Shh, please Hermes. Shhh." The rat tilted it's head and kept quiet, as instructed, but hopped out of Lab Rats hold and walked towards Ty. "Hermes." He said sternly but the rat continued to follow him, stopping only when Ty closed the main door to the lab, keeping Hermes in and allowing himself to leave.
Hermes squeaked loudly at the door but remained quiet afterward, walking back to his owner and returning to sleep.
At the burger joint, Ty paused noting that it had already closed for the night. 'Fucking great' he thought, pursing his lips as he considered what to do. Maybe he'd go back to the forest and see if Kid was just waiting there but that would mean he'd have to explain to Lab Rat why he was needing the GRS-1 to fly around in the middle of the night. He doesn't think Lab Rat would sleep through the sounds of the GRS taking off.
"Well, it's about time you showed up."
This was the second time Kid Rot had startled Ty and he wasn't happy about it, especially when Kid Rot was laughing again. This time, though, he tried to stifle it, putting his hand over his mouth.
"Sorry. You're just so easy to scare."
"Enough banter, Kid. What did you bring me out here for?" Ty said, glaring. He was already irritated after being scared but he'd honestly also wanted to buy something while he was here. Too bad his dozing off ruined that chance.
"I just wanted to come out here and meet you to talk with you in private." The parasite glanced around. "Though this isn't very private if I had to be honest. But don't you want to know why I'm doing this and what not? Isn't that why you came?" His smile returned, showing his teeth. "Or did you just come to see me too?"
"Don't get any ideas. I want to know why this is happening and I want the gifts to stop. They're gross and upsetting Abby...and me to a lesser extent. I don't exactly enjoy dead squirrels and chipmunks."
"Of course, of course. All you had to do was ask. I did it mostly just to get you to come out and see me." Kid shrugged. "But they'll stop."
"So why do you want to see me? I thought this would be something you did with Abby."
"It would be but my interest has changed from her," he smirked. "To you." Ty narrowed his eyes in response, pursing his lips again. "You don't believe me, I know and I understand why. I mean, why would you?" Kid moved closer, starting to circle the grossologist as he spoke. "I am a psychopath. A killer. An evil villain that, on several occassions, has tried to kill you and take your sister." The way he spoke about it was so casually like he was discussing the weather. "And, especially, the fact that it's probably hard to believe that I'm suddenly gay."
"Yeah, that is very hard to believe Kid which is why I don't believe it." The grossologist crossed his arms now. "And I'm glad you're so aware of how terrible you are." Ty said sarcastically.
"Yes, I may be terrible most of the time but I can be very kind and giving to those that I have interests in, trust me. Of course, the affection there has to be a two way street."
"Yeah, well, I'm not interested, Kid." At this, Kid stopped walking and stood in front of Ty now.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes."
"Then why did you come alone? Why haven't you told Abby or anyone else about this yet? Hmm?" He leaned in towards Ty and whispered "Why do you want to keep it a secret so badly?"
Ty backed up, still looking angry but honestly didn't have a clear answer himself. Again, the question that he'd asked himself earlier came up, asking 'What was I even hoping to accomplish coming here?' Kid took notice of Ty being lost in thought and shrugged. "I think it's because you are interested, even if it's in the slightest." Ty huffed and opened his mouth to argue but was stopped by Kid putting his hand in front of him, signaling him to stop.
"I don't know if you're stuck in some inner turmoil or whatever right now but what I do know is that you're still single since you and your ex, what was her name, Naomi I think, broke up. You haven't dated anyone since and, from what I noticed, haven't been looking either. So here, you can take this and just think it over." He handed Ty a takeout bag from the burger joint.
"What is this?" Ty asked.
"Exactly what it looks like. I got you what I assumed to be your favorite meal from here since I always see you get it."
Ty raised an eyebrow and said flatly "I don't like rotten food, you know." Kid rolled his eyes.
"It's not rotten, trust me." Ty took the bag and opened the bag, realizing that Kid Rot had indeed gotten him his favorite meal from the joint; a double cheese burger with condiments in their packets to be added later and a large order of choco-cheesy fries.
"I had gotten you a drink too but it got very watered down since you took a while to get here and I ended up just throwing it away." Kid explained, looking pleased with himself.
"Um, thank you. This is my favorite."
"You're welcome. If you want to meet up again, you can find me back at the forest. If not, I'll just know by you not showing up. Goodnight Ty." He waved and walked off. Ty watched him leave before he returned his attention back to the bag.
"Wow." He said quietly to himself, a whole mess of emotions swirling around inside him, his mind busy with thoughts about everything. He probably looked dazed as he walked home, too deep in thought to really take anything around him into account.
When he did get home, it was around 2 in the morning. Had he really been out for so long? He crept as quietly as he could inside and walked up to his room. There, he changed out of his suit and left it under his bed to be put away later. He was about to go to bed when he remembered the bag of food.
"Well, I wouldn't want this meal to go to waste." With that, he ate up the burger and fries before washing up and finally going to bed, dozing off with thoughts about his night out.