I might have Part-Time Lover (Matt Giraud's Cover) be the theme song for this fic. I'm just saying. I might make an AMV now because of this. That's a BIG MIGHT though. A very big one.

Chapter 2-

Okay, at first Sollux was like what and now... well he's still wondering what. He let himself be dragged by Eridan to a small restaurant with a sudden pounding head and growling stomach. He hadn't noticed the aches or pains or exhaustion until now when his emotions ran amuck from the presence of his very own pain in the ass. The past week made a little sense now; his friends kept telling him to take a break and now he was considering the advice. Upon receiving a table, Sollux sat down across from Eridan, a migraine starting to race along his head. Eridan smirked at the other, sliding his finger around the lip of a glass filled with water.

"Sol, I'd like to inv-vest in your project."

Sollux blinked hard, "Invetht?"

"Sure."

"Dammit Ed, are you-"

"I'm serious Sol, I'm considerin' making an inv-vestment on your little project."

Sollux looked to either sides of his shoulders and glared back. "I'm not in the mood for thith Ampor-"

"W-will you just listen for a second? I listened to you for the past half hour, didn't I?"

"Yeah, while interrupting every five thecondth," Sollux sneered. "Why would you want to make an invethtment anywayth? I thought you hated my gutth."

"Personal problems hav-ve nothing to do with business. Besides, people change y'know?"

"You thtill haven't."

"Look, relationship w-wise I doubt w-will ev-ver be improv-ved betw-ween us, but bein' the company son's ow-owner I know-w I could help you out."

"Why?"

"To bring back old financial relations of course."

"You mean make me your goddamn dog?"

"W-well-"

Sollux abruptly stood up; a flash of black blurring the sides of his vision. The world around him spun in a circle as his exhaustion began to get the better of him. A slight pressure was applied to his upper arm and he could hear Eridan through a suddenly loud restaurant.

"Alright I get it Sol, you hav-ve lots of pride. W-what I meant to say is I'd like to help you out in better w-ways. Y'know, clear aw-way the bad records our names once had."

"It's jutht all about the money for you."

"And w-what do you hav-ve to lose?"

"Being in debt to an arrogant athhole which tho happenth to be you."

"Then w-why don't you make up the guidelines?"

Sollux raised an eyebrow at the other. He let out a small breath, taking a seat after his threatening motion to leave. Eridan still stood, hand half reached over until Sollux looked to him, assuring he wouldn't leave.

"I'd make the guidelineth?"

"A majority of them, yes."

Sollux wrapped his fingers around the glass of water he had yet to touch. Its cool feel against his skin made his throat suddenly grow dry. He chugged the water down in one motion. The icy stream ran through his throat, cooling down the heat fuming in his face. He felt a threatening fever begin to simmer down.

"I dunno, I mean I'll hear you out Ed but I'm not looking for a partnership on my project."

"You aren't going to get far w-with your little project stuck in the basement of a low, middle-class house."

"I moved out moron. I'm not that fucking poor."

Eridan smirked. "How-w do you manage w-with your amazing social skills?"

"Better than you. I probably thtill have more friendth than you ever will," Sollux shot back.

"I hav-ve friends."

"People who you're forthed to be nithe with don't count ath friendth."

"This topic is beside the point."

"Tho you thtill don't have any friendth?" Sollux chuckled bitterly.

Eridan frowned, cheeks burning and eyes darkening. "I only need Fef, smartass."

"Oh yeah, how's she doing?" Sollux asked, now feeling a lot better –more like arrogant and confident- than they first started out. "She got pretty hot over the yearth, huh? I'd like to thee her," Sollux winked, "if you know what I mean."

"You-"

"Sorry for the wait gentlemen, are you ready to order?"

Sollux was grinning more wildly, humming to himself as he checked the menu. He made almost a list of the things he wanted to order; whatever sounded good was what he asked for. Eridan shook his head lightly, knowing Sollux was just abusing the courtesy of him paying for the meal. What a waste of food. Eridan ordered a small course to fill his non-existent appetite. They passed their menus to the waiter, eyes locked dangerously on one another.

"There are children in Africa who deserv-ve that food more than you do."

"Then why don't you go pick up one of them and athk them on a pretty little date."

"You wish it w-were a date."

"Thorry, you're not my type of guy."

This was basically the progression of their relationship for the most part. It felt rather natural and almost heart-warming to Sollux. Though their insults were far more harsh and immature, the action basically summed up their childhood years. Maybe a black eye would be given, but since they were out in public that couldn't happen unless they wished to be kicked out of the restaurant. The banters continued even when their meals were being delivered, to which Sollux reenacted the days he ate sloppily –not that his manners changed much after, but he had the courtesy to eat politely in front of important people. Eridan scrunched his nose up, daintily picking at his food without much interest.

"I don't understand you." Sollux looked up in slight wonder. "I offer you money to help support your project and you act like you w-want nothing of it."

"It'th not jutht about the money," Sollux said, nearly spitting his food to purposely disgust the other. "It'th the shit daddy dearest put my family through. How do I know you won't treat me the thame way?"

"I nev-ver met my father Sol." Eridan responded. "If I had I probably w-wouldn't be here."

Sollux chewed his food slowly, seeing something a bit different in Eridan's gaze. He was familiar with the immature haughty stare the other shot constantly at him; it was usually what made Sollux irritated and pissed at the other. At the moment, there was just a glimpse of honesty and even common ground between him and Sollux. Was he that desperate to get Sollux to agree to this or was it something else? Sollux huffed, pressing his knuckles up against his temple.

"Can I jutht... think about it?" Sollux asked. "I'm not going anywhere and you're the only option at thith point."

Eridan looked back, a bit more perked up. "I'm fine w-with that."

"Well aren't you happy?"

"Shut it."

Sollux rolled his eyes. "Tho then… what brings you back here?"

Sollux regretted that question. Jesus did he regret that question.

He forgot how much of a conceited talker Eridan was and how much he loved his stupid voice because he went on, and on, and on about God knows what. Sollux knew the other moved to France because of business reasons but then Eridan insisted on giving the back story of why he had to make his return to the states. At some point Sollux just dropped his head to the table, smashing it against the frame several times and laid there when his head ache began to return. The lecture started to blur into one mixture after some time; France, school, company policy, what? It all slurred in Sollux's head and he found exhaustion getting to him once more.

"Sol, are you ev-ven listening?"

"Attentively." Sollux lied.

"Really now-w?"

Before Eridan could shoot a question at Sollux the waiter came by, asking if the food was fine and dropping off the bill. Sollux looked up, catching a glimpse of Eridan's face. The other didn't seem shocked or angered at the price of the meal. Hmph! And Sollux was half expecting Eridan to flip the table and cough out fire from his mouth. How disappointing.

Sollux's phone in a sudden motion began to ring where a different fire breathing voice erupted through the restaurant.

"Karkat?"

"YOU HAVE A LOT OF FUCKING NERVE TO IGNORE ME ASSHAT!"

Sollux cringed, not expecting Karkat's voice to be so loud. The response not only caught Eridan's attention but a quarter of the restaurant's customers. Damn, and Karkat wasn't even on speaker. Sollux turned a bit, facing away from Eridan's slightly surprised face.

"Chill man," Sollux nearly whispered, but it wasn't much of a help since the restaurant fell quiet, most eyes on him.

"DON'T TELL ME TO CHILL! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU ANYWAYS? I took you out of your fucking house so you could get some fresh air, and I come back to hear Terezi tell me you ran off with some pretty boy to do God knows what!"

"Karkat, it'th not like that."

"Don't "Karkat it's not like that" with me fucker! You could have at least answered my texts. I thought you were fucking kidnapped or something. Do you know how long I was waiting for you to answer until I called Terezi?"

"What?" Sollux glanced at his phone and surely enough at the top of the screen there was an icon indicating his new message. He guessed he hadn't caught it when he was walking. "Thorry… I'll make it up to you, okay?"

"You fucking better!"

"Do you want me to pick you up right now?"

"Too late," Karkat sneered, lowering the angered tone in his voice. "I'm taking the bus with Terezi. You can drive your sorry ass home by yourself."

"Yeah, yeah." Sollux said, brushing off the comment.

The call ended, bringing Sollux back to Eridan who had arms folded and an amused smirk over his lips. Oh how Sollux missed that tingling sensation in his fists to just punch that face out.

"Friend?"

"And?"

"Isn't he charming?"

"He'th my betht friend tho you better back off." Sollux glared.

"I said nothing."

"I know you were going to."

"W-why w-waste my breath?

"Becauthe you're that much of a raging jackath."

"You're no different."

The waiter dropped off the bill which Eridan so casually signed. He then stole away an unused napkin, scribbling his name and number over the thin sheet.

"Here." Eridan said sliding the napkin to Sollux

"What? No kiss on the napkin?"

Eridan snorted. "Buy me dinner next time and maybe there'll be one."

Sollux collapsed to the couch once he entered Mr. Deuce's home. His legs gave out when the rush of heated air engulfed his body. His limbs grew shaky as he dragged himself into the living room. Everything just felt heavy on him, especially with an overstuffed stomach. Sollux fell face forward on the couch, his glasses crushing up against his eyes. He removed them quickly, groaning lowly under his breath. He thought he'd simply close his eyes and rest for a while until a loud thud startled him. Mr. Deuce was studying and comparing some strange objects with wires jutting out of them. Sollux rubbed his eyes, feeling his body still weak and tired. He grabbed a pillow, stuffing it under his face when he noticed a blanket was draped over him. He stared blindly at the two objects, trying to make out the strange figures on the table.

"Get a good sleep?"

"Felt like a nap." Sollux muttered.

Mr. Deuce chuckled lowly to himself, tapping his fingers against one machine. "I guess if you're that tired. At least you got a couple hours to sleep in for once this vacation week."

"Hours?" It was still sunset from what Sollux saw.

"Yeah, it's Thursday boy."

"What?" Sollux eyes grew wide open. He glanced at his phone, taking a double take at the date. Did he seriously almost a day's worth just sleeping? Did he just-? Fuck...

Sollux dropped his head on the pillow, whining into it. Mr. Deuce smiled blankly at the objects he was playing with. He placed one over the other, letting out a loud clank that made Sollux cringe. The younger blindly searched for his glasses as Mr. Deuce packed away his machines. The man returned to the room with a board under his arm, setting it in the coffee table at the center of the loft. Sollux stared aimlessly at the board, realizing it was a chess board. Really? Right after he just woke up?

"Want something to drink, boy?" Mr. Deuce asked as he scattered out the chess pieces.

Sollux huffed, sitting upward. Yep, Mr. Deuce was serious. He inhaled long and hard, pursing his lips together in thought.

"Just coffee... pleathe," Sollux said.

Mr. Deuce escaped off to the kitchen, getting coffee made and a mixture of alcohol for himself. Still in the living room, Sollux pushed off the blanket, feeling the combination of a heated room and wool beginning to make him sweat. He leaned towards the chess board, starting to place each piece into place.

It was a weird tradition Mr. Deuce started with Sollux back when he barely got his braces. At first Sollux had no clue why they'd do it. Later on he guessed it may have been to help with his self-esteem, but now he had no clue why they'd do it. Anyways, Mr. Deuce made it a point to play chess with Sollux whenever he could. Usually it was once or twice a month, and other times it would be night after night of playing chess. Sollux didn't mind the challenge, in fact he was happy to play a one on one mind game with someone else, and Mr. Deuce was pretty awesome at chess. He was a challenge, which Sollux appreciated a lot. Sometimes Mr. Deuce would play a game of poker instead. He'd just pull out a stack of cards and order Sollux to shuffle them. Sollux wasn't much of a gambler –he had nothing to gamble for anyways- but he found the skills it brought very applicable to tedious everyday tasks.

Yeah, it was weird, but he enjoyed the thought.

The chess pieces were in place and Sollux sat back on the couch. His mind automatically raced around, pondering the events of toda- well, yesterday with Eridan. The idiot seemed pretty persistent too. Sollux bit down on his lower lip. Maybe he would take the deal. He didn't know much about investments, contracts, and other shit like that, but Terezi's mother did. And if Eridan did anything sneaky, he could probably get her to help out. She was the best lawyer in the country, after all. Sollux rubbed his hand over his mouth, thinking back at the situation in general.

It was kind of funny, the idea of meeting Eridan again.

Sollux couldn't exactly remember the last time they saw one another. All he could recall was that Feferi wasn't there –or maybe she was- and Eridan was still being a whiney little bitch. What got Eridan to stop complaining that day Sollux couldn't recall; he was just glad that whatever he did he managed to shut the boy up. Sollux mind drifted to those years of the familiar baby-faced, large eyed rich boy. He definitely did change. He looked more serious and stern. His body was fitted into something stronger, more proud. Eridan appeared to mean business inside and out. The lively attitude that kept them going on with their banters was still there and so was his stupid stutter. At most though, Sollux never got over his eyes. He wasn't entirely sure why. They were a stunning baby blue shade, tinted by an odd purple color. Sollux was a bit amazed that through his rampage of stress and anger, those were the features he remembered most when talking to Eridan after so long. There was just something precious about those eyes, a rarity and unique appearance Sollux would never admit to liking, of course, but found them interesting.

A thud broke Sollux out of his fantasies, spotting a cup of coffee close beside the chess board. He glanced up, watching Mr. Deuce sip some alcoholic beverage and take a seat across from the younger.

"Why are we playing now?" That was actually a stupid question because Mr. Deuce would always respond with-

"Make your first move."

Sollux sighed. Okay.

He was about to motion his pawn when he began to stare at the board. The back of his mind tickled with the thoughts and predictions of the game, taking it about seven steps ahead of nearly a dozen situations that could go on. Mr. Deuce sat patiently, drinking his beverage and humming at the burning sensation streaming behind his tongue. Sollux finally picked up a pawn, creating a plan in his mind after what seemed like an hour. Mr. Deuce made his move quicker, almost spontaneous, catching Sollux by surprise. No long pause and thought? Okay. Sollux still stuck with his plan, moving another pawn. Once more Mr. Deuce made another sudden move. Well fuck. Sollux looked up to the elder man who casually drank his beverage.

The game didn't go on like this for too long. After about five more spontaneous moves, Mr. Deuce slowed his pace. He won his first piece after shuffling around a knight, making Sollux both shocked and slightly irritated. The cogs in his mind started up faster, working around the game plan again. When it was Mr. Deuce's turn, Sollux was staring hard and long at his opponent's bishop. The bishop was wide open, just a square piece away from his pawn but it was a little too close to his rook. Maybe he could-

"You know," Mr. Deuce said, twisting his queen between the palms of his hand, "there's only two things you need to know to survive in this world, boy, and that's how to gamble and play chess."

Sollux lifted his blue and light brown eyes to the man, "Why'th that?"

"If you know how to gamble, you know when to take a chance. If you know how to play chess, you how to approach that chance. If you understand both of them, you'll know how to get into your opponent's mind."

The moment Mr. Deuce finished his statement, he moved his queen over a pawn, the pawn close by his own Bishop and over the rook Sollux was trying to protect. Sollux groaned; infuriated with himself that he hadn't thought of that move. Damn, it had been a while since he played chess.

"Hey…"

"Hm?"

"Ith it true you beat thomeone to death with thomething called a bull penith cane?"

Deuce stared long and hard at the younger as Sollux quietly thought of his next move. He smiled, smirking down at his chubby fingers. "Hell no. What would give you that idea?"

Sollux shrugged. "Can't remember. I thought it wath cool though."

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