chapter two

"This is my seemingly gay ass friend Eridan. Eridan this Is my new annoying as hell roommate Sollux. Happy now? He is taking us out to drinks so let's fucking go."

Eridan urged a screaming Karkat out down the stairs as Sollux went and got Gamzee and Tavros from their room. Eridan could feel the vibrations of Karkat's yell through his mid back. He chuckled at the short Cancer's antics, the boy may have been tough and hard to get close to but Eridan knew he was one of the biggest softies he had ever met. As Eridan opened the door for Karkat he saw the pale skin and bi-colored glasses lead out a tall gangly-limbed man with a strong jaw and light olive skin framed with thick, long hair that curled into loose tangles as messy as it was he could see the fluffines and shine all the way up there, leaving the hair looking soft. Eridan had to be honest and say the man, who he recognized as Gamzee, was definitely attractive but the face paint had always detracted it a bit for him. He moved his eyes from the tall juggalo, and saw the petite boy being rolled along in a wheelchair. His dark skin and dyed mousey brown hair shaved into a mowhawk had always accented his big amber eyes. He gripped his wheelchair tightly as it bounced down each step.

Sollux had helped Gamzee set Tavros into the Hummer. The small parapeligic then struggled but finally succeeded to scoot into the middle. Gamzee pushed up the only open seat for Sollux as the skinny nerd climbed into the back of the car and into one of the two leather seats. Gamzee then slammed the seat down and hopped in, a lazy grin stretched across his face. Eridan sighed and started the car.

Sollux had known this get together would have been a bad idea, but he had no idea it was this bad. He ended up driving everyone home, getting hit, and gaining a new rival resulting in more unnecessary drama. Driving back from the club Sollux gripped the wheel tighter thinking back on the night.

Eridan entered the club, strutting to the bar demanding for a Sex on the Beach. It was after all, his favorite drink. The bartender eyed him suspiciously and got him the drink. Of course he would assume eridan was underage. hH had the body of a god. Eridan took the drink from the man and gripped onto it like it was his lifeliine. He headed out to find Karkat and tell him about what happened between Feferi and him. He knew Karkat could understand his point of view.

Eridan headed to where the short darkhaired boy was planted and sat next to him.

"So you wanna know the real reason I called you and Kan out?" He asked, looking into his cup like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Karkat looked at him with a look of confusion and nodded.

"Yeah sure, not like there is anything fucking better than drink and listen to sad douches."

Eridan swallowed and started. "Well you know that I love Fef. Like more than a friend should. It was so obvious. I wanted her so bad and I finally decided after months of flirting with her and all the affection I gave her that I would make a real move in our relationship. So there I was, beautiful as ev-ver right? So I asked her out! It shoulda been nothing, I shoulda left it at that! But no. I decided to be an idiot and kiss her! She got so mad she left me and didn't want to see me again." Karkat sipped at his drink, not surprised. It was normal for Eridan to ruin any situation with his overreactions.

"Well that tends to fucking happen when you are fucking idiot. That and she is dating my roommaate, so of course she would overreact." Karkat knew that would tip Eridan over the edge and winced as soon as he said it. Eridan stood up straight and downed the rest of his drink and left without another word towards Karkat and stomped over to where the lanky nerd was and pushed him out of his chair, screaming profanities at him. He wasn't in his right mind he knew that but it felt so good to scream at him to fly at him with his fists raised and hit him square in the jaw. Sollux on the other hand was beyond pissed and pushed Eridan off of him and tackled him. He straddled the brunette and beat him till he was wimpering and bloody. Even then he didn't stop, he kept hitting him over and over. One blow to the stomach two to the shoulder, four more to the face.

Sollux only stopped when he was yanked up and pulled out of the bar by a burly man named Equius. He was set onto the pavement and cooled himself. The warmth in his cheeks soon turned chilly from the December air. His mind cleared a lot faster because he didn't even have a chance to order a drink before he was attacked by a purple striped douchebag. Sollux sighed and asked to go see Eridan. Knowing the only way to fix all this was to apologize. The bodyguard nodded and let him inside only for a few minutes.

Eridan on the other hand was in the bathroom with a still smiling Gamzee. He was told to sit on the counter and complied as Gamzee got some paper towels and got them all damp. Eridan's head was lifted gently by a large hand while it's twin dabbed at his nose. Eridan winced and whined.

"Gaaaammmm.. that hurrrttss" Gamzee just kept smiling kindly and moved to his temple.

"Sorry Eribro. I will work on the motherfucking rest then." Eridan slowly calmed down as Gamzee finished his cleaning and lazily kissed the top of his head. "All better my brother."

They were both interrupted by the door opening. Eridan saw the scrawny guy walk in that he recognized as Sollux and Eridan's face scrunched up in anger.

"How-w FUCKIN' dare you?! What are you goin' to do? Beat me more?! I sw-wear if I can get my hands on you I w-would you fuckin' asshole. First you fucking steal Fef and now you beat me! How-w low-w can you fuckin' get!? You are a pathetic piece of shit and I w-wish Fef would hav-ve better taste." Eridan spat at Sollux and saw him clench his fists in anger and hurdle towards Eridan. He coward at the sight and awaited the pain but notice there was none and looked up to see Gamzee gripping Sollux's fist tightly, he could see the muscle tightening in his arm as his grip grew stronger on Sollux's fist.

"Don't you motherfucking DARE TOUCH MY MOTHERFUCKING FRIENDS." Gamzee screamed at Sollux and he nodded, ovbiously frightened. He yanked his hand from Gamzee's now loosening grip, and scurried away. His silky black hair swishing as his pace grew faster. Eridan smiled at Gamzee and stood.

"Thanks Gam, means a lot!" Eridan patted Gamzee's cheek and walked out of the bar, now tired of the place. He soon saw Kanaya hurry towards him.

" Are you alright, honey? He didn't hurt you too badly did he?" She cooed at him. Eridan just simply nodded and went to the car. " Eridan, I can take a guess at how it started and you really should refrain from starting fights. It isn't good for your health and Sollux is genuinely a nice man. You just had to have given him a chance. " Eridan tuned out Kanaya and her rambles and got into the car after he did everyone decided Sollux would be best to drive and filed in.

Sollux, tuned back in, realizing he was back at the apartment and honked, causing half the crowd to wake and the other half to whine or yell. "Alright, thitheadth let'th get out and go to bed. No one in my room, I have work tomorrow." He called out to the group and threw Eridan's keys at the half-awake brunette's face, causing him to yelp. Sollux snickered and stomped up the stairs of the dirty apartment. He couldn't wait to get out of this apartment. It was so dirty and the people here are equally disgusting, well, bar the group he lives with/near. Sollux then unlocked his apartment door, having to slam his shoulder against it because the lock broke, causing it to stick occasionally. The door flew open and he stepped in, leaving for the rest of the group. Tomorrow was an important job and he knew he shouldn't have stayed up so late.

Sollux stripped his clothes once he was inside his room and slipped into the small bed. He grabbed the lotion on his bedside table ad started rubbing it into his skin, mkaing sure not to miss a single spot. Where he was going to be he needed it.