Hurt
Chapter 4-The Guppy Who Could
AN: Notes at end.
"GET BACK HERE! YOU STUPID COD DAMN ASSHOLE! WHY DON'T YOU FUCKIN' WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOIN'! I SWEAR TO-"
But the man was already out of earshot. Eridan growled under his breath as he brushed the dirt off his pants. Designer jeans covered in..god even knows what has been paved into the sidewalk over time. Eridan scowled and reluctantly mounted his bike. He had half a mind to chase after that guy and chew him out some more, but he thought better of it. Feferi would be waiting for him anyway. Eridan peddled off, looking back the way the stranger had gone. He didn't see him, but glared after him as if he could. If he ever sees that dickwad again, he'll give him what-for. He owes him a new pair of pants.
Feferi looked back at her phone for what was likely the hundreth time. Nothing. Well, not nothing-her phone proudly displayed "2ollux was here" on the main screen where her name should have been. By all means Feferi should feel her privacy a little invaded by the stranger but instead she just giggled. It was cute. He was cute. She wasn't going to complain if a handsome man flirted with her a little. But why wasn't he texting her yet? And for that matter, where was Eridan?
She frowned and looked up from her phone, scoping out her surroundings. No sign of him. Her hands gripped the edge of the bench and she let her body rock forward. It wasn't like Eridan to be late when meeting her. What if something bad happened to him? What if Dualscar got angry and...did something? Would he? Feferi knew Dualscar had a temper (one almost matched by his son, she thought) but, surely he wouldn't actually do anything to hurt Eridan. Feferi shook her head, Eridan's father wasn't anything like her own mother. Or..maybe he was? She really didn't know him all that well. She perked up, but then slumped down again. She was overreacting. He'd be here soon. Eridan would be fine.
Feferi glanced at her phone again. Nothing. A look of worry crept over her face. One minute..two minutes..three minutes..
"F-Fef!"
Feferi's head shot up. Her head whipped around trying to pinpoint the voice. When she found it her hopeful expression faded. It wasn't Eridan. Instead it was another childhood friend. She had gone to school with him for a brief time before he was yanked out of the academy. It wasn't his fault, his parents had sacrificed all they could for him to attend, but in the end he just didn't have the money. Feferi managed to keep in touch with him on occasion. He was always so nice and optimistic when she was feeling bad. His name was Tavros Nitram.
Tavros ran up to her with a big, stupid grin on his face. He was just a hair taller than Feferi was. He was just a little husky, but it added to his boyish charm. His bright brown eyes were shining with excitement as Feferi stood up to give him a hug in greeting.
"F-fancy..uh..seeing you here and all!"
"Hehe..you too, Tavros. What are you doing here?"
"Oh, you know, just wanted to come see the new Nassau Grouper the aquarium got! I was going to take some pictures of it for the zoo! There's a charity gala next month and I know they needed some promotional material." He didn't miss a beat when talking about his favorite subjects. Tavros had a sincere love for all animals, much like Feferi's own interest in fish. He wanted to become a vet tech one day, and he would be wonderful at it, she thought. He was the only person, besides Eridan, that she could ramble on and on about her obsessions with. He never thought it odd. He always listened whole-heartedly. "Is..um..that why you're here too? To see the Grouper I mean?"
Feferi smiled politely. "Oh..well..no. But, I certainly can't wait to see it now! And I'd love to see your work at the gala."
Tavros's face lit up immediately. "We, we could go see it together! I mean..if you'd like to, that is." His face flushed scarlet. Despite knowing Feferi all these years, he still got nervous talking to her. She was a girl, after all. Something about the opposite sex perplexed him.
"Awww, Tavros, that's so sweet! But, I'm waiting for someone. He should be here soon."
"Oh..yes..of course. Heh..I'm sorry. I didn't mean to impose on you or anything. Um..yea..sorry. Who are you waiting for?"
"FEF!"
"E-eridan!" Tavros said startled and took a step back, putting his head down as Eridan biked up to them. Tavros didn't really like Eridan very much. He was pushy, and mean, and he yelled at Feferi sometimes when he was around. But he wasn't about to say anything. He just kept his head down.
"Eridan! There you are..where were you?" Feferi asked, but Eridan wasn't looking at her. His eyes were on Tavros.
"Tav."
"Oh..h-h...hi, Eridan. I just..was just leaving.." And with that he quickly turned and ran away, not looking at either of them as he absconded.
"Tavros! Tavros, wait!" Feferi called after him but he didn't turn back around. She thought she even heard a sob. "Eridan! What did you do?"
"Wwhat do you mean wwhat did I do? I didn' do anything! I just showwed up! Wwhat wwere you doin' wwith Tavv? I thought you wwanted to meet up to spend the day wwith me?"
"Oh, please, Eridan. Tavros saw me sitting here when he was passing by. I was waiting for you."
"Hm." Eridan only then turned back to Feferi. His eyes were narrowed and his tone suspicious.
"Eridan, stop it. You're the one who's late. Where were you?"
"I ran into some jackass in funny glasses and a stupid shirt. Knocked me off my bike, nearly tore my new pants, Fef! Some people have such nerve."
"Eridan..were you riding your bike on the sidewalk again?"
"O' course I wwas! You think I'd be stupid enough to ride in the street? With CARS!"
"The side walk is for pedestrians, not bicyclists. He had the right to be on the sidewalk."
"I can't believve you're takin' that idiot's side! Fef, if I ride in the street the cars could KILL me!"
"The cars aren't going to kill you, Eridan." She rolled her eyes. Eridan was the biggest drama queen she'd ever met, and she knew quite a few. Not to mention one of Eridan's best friends, Vriska.
"They might, Fef. Evveryone seems to wwant me dead," he sighed as he guided his bike to the bike rack by the bench. He glowered at the rack, it wasn't empty. He wasn't about to risk someone scratching his bike with the way his luck was going. Instead, he picked the bike up and slid it behind the bench before chaining it in place.
"You are so para-wait. What do you mean everyone wants you dead?"
"Wwell, I almost DIED on my wway out here! Did you forget about that? And.." Eridan took a seat on the bench and looked at the concrete.
"And?" Feferi sat down beside him and leaned forward to look at him.
"Nothing, Fef. You shouldn't wworry so much about me." He smiled weakly but didn't look directly at her.
"Eridan, what happened? You said the talk didn't go well?"
"No..it was terrible." He paused. Feferi took this opportunity to grab his hand and give a reassuring squeeze.
"Eridan..tell me..tell me what happened."
"The wway he looked at me..Cod, the wway he looked at me! Like he wwas so ashamed..I'll never be like him, Fef. I can't live up to that. An', you knoww wwhat? I don't wwant to. An' noww I can't anywway! He's goin' to disowwn me, Fef. I wwon't be an Ampora after this."
That's all? That's what he was so upset about? Feferi gave a small sigh of relief. But she knew this meant a lot to him. Eridan admired his father so much, but he didn't like feeling restrained. This was a fate worse than death to Eridan. Loosing his name, his money..all for independence. Feferi gave him a gentle smile and his hand another squeeze.
Eridan had barely peeped out the corner of his eye before Feferi had scooted in close by him and leaned forward. She kissed him at the corner of his mouth.
Eridan turned bright red from his cheeks to the tips of his ears. Bravely, he reached a hand up to her cheek and pushed her away a little.
"Fef.."
"Eridan. It's going to be alrigh-"
Eridan tugged her forward, kissing her full on the mouth, their glasses clicking against one another. Eridan's eyes were closed, so he couldn't see her eyes wide with surprise. But she didn't pull away either, and eventually her eyes closed and he felt her sink deeper into the kiss.
Eridan stroked Feferi's cheek and stretched his fingers behind her ear, weaving them into her hair. He combed through the soft strands, entangling his fingers, before he carefully slid his tongue over her lips, testing the waters. The other seemed to hesitate, her lips trembling just a little. Eridan could feel it and immediately backed off.
Feferi looked away blushing profusely, her freckles gaining a deeper hue. She ran a hand up to her hair and tucked an invisible stray lock behind her ear. Eridan couldn't take his eyes off of her. This was the woman of his dreams. She was everything. Feferi was his best friend, the most beautiful woman in the world, the only person he completely trusted. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her.
"Wwe should run away."
"...what?" Feferi's voice was small, barely a whisper as she looked up at Eridan.
"Wwe should! There's nothin' left for us here, Fef. Wwe should just..leave it all behind."
"Are you out of your glubbin' mind! We can't run away! Where would even go? What would we do for money?"
"I...I'll get a job and take care of us!"
"Eridan..that's just stupid."
"I mean it. Wwe can leavve tomorrow evven. Wwe'll..wwe'll go to Manhattan! Wwe can get an apartment and-" Eridan stopped and looked at Feferi. She was looking straight at him, tears forming in her eyes. "Fef.."
She sniffed. "Eridan.." She lunged forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him and cried freely into his shoulder. An escape..she could get away. "Do you mean it?"
"Do I mean it? Fef.." He reached both arms around her and pet her hair. "O' course I mean it." He kissed the top of her head, resting his chin there. "I mean it..I'm goin' to take care of you."
Feferi pried herself away and pushed Eridan off. She looked at him and smiled through the tears. Then, she kissed him. It was a chaste kiss but it lingered. Eridan wrapped his arms tightly around her and held her close, feeling her soft lips firm against his. He was happy to just hold her there, to be like this.
When they finally parted, Feferi took hold of both of Eridan's ringed hands and stood up.
"Come on. Someone needs to go apologize to Tavros."
"I didn' do a damn thing to him!" He glared at her but she knew he would come around. She pulled Eridan to his feet and let one of his hands go, leading him by just one. They had a Nassau Grouper to go see! Eridan would like that..and then they could make memories. Capturing them with his camera. Wait..where was his camera?
"Eridan, you didn't bring your camera with you, did you?"
"Oh...oh no. Shit! Fuck! COD, howw could I forget it! I havve to go back an' get it, Fef!"
Feferi giggled and reached for her purse. "It's okay..I thought you might. I brought mine."
"But..Fef..mine's nicer."
"Well, maybe I want to take some pictures for a change." She pulled the camera out of her purse and smiled. "Say 'Eridan's a grumpy beta!'"
"Eh? Wwhat! N-no! I'm not ready!"
Feferi just laughed again and held the camera up, squinting through the viewing window. She managed to capture a silly picture of Eridan. He looked both surprised and horrified. This one was definitely a keeper. She grinned as Eridan turned away, scowling.
Feferi felt her phone vibrate in her purse, the sign of a text message. She fished around the bag and pulled out her phone.
hey, 2up, iits me
She looked at the screen for a minute before putting the device away again. It could wait. "Come on, Mr. Grumpy Gills, there's something I want you to see. Tav told me about it," Feferi led him by the hand into the building. Eridan followed, his eyes never leaving her. When she looked back at him, she swore she could almost see a smile. Almost.
AN: I'm sorry this was a little short. I was going to make it longer but I figured the extra scene would be better for the next chapter. I PROMISE we'll get to EriSol soon (yea, I know that's what we're all after here :P). Just be patient. Remember, this is a love triangle, if you're here specifically for EriSol and only EriSol you will be disappointed :( It will happen, it's just not happening yet. Also, this story right now takes place before Tavros lost his legs so he's not yet crippled.
