13 Steps, a Regular Show fanfiction.

Step Four: The Temptress

"You're listening to KROK 98.3, home to the best of the 80's! This next one is a request, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Cyndi Lauper, here on the 'Rok!"

"...Oh daddy dear you know you're still number one, but girls they want to have fun-un, oh girls just want to have-"

.

My semi-conscious mind had informed my eardrums that Mordecai's alarm clock had gone off, but my eyes were refusing open and my head was pounding to the faint bass flowing in invisible waves from the machine beside me.

Wait a sec, BESIDE me?

My eyes flew open in an instant and I greeted to a view I wasn't used to. My trampoline, flat and empty, was striped by sunlight from the rays of shadows escaping our blinds.

I'm in Mordecai's bed. Whoa.

I froze up like a statue, hoping I could carefully sneak away and beat these nerves that had control of me. I could just slip out and he would never know I was in his sheets, sharing his privacy. Yeah, it would-

"Ugh, shut up," I heard a voice say, and turned to see Mordecai stretching his wings, eyelids half-mass. It was too late now, I couldn't escape. Was he saying shut up to me? I wasn't even talking!

I watched his wing hit the power button with a forceful slam, ending Cyndi Lauper's crooning about girls wanting to have fun. He yawned loudly, scratching his side as he sat up, turning his head downward to look at me. "Morning dude."

My jaw dropped slightly in surprise. Why wasn't he freaking out and tossing me off his bed? Had he known about the booze?

"Morning Mordecai," I said quietly, unable to channel my usual tone of voice. Would I be able to apologize straight up or-

"I can't believe you did that last night, man," he sighed softly, interrupting my thoughts, shaking his head lightly. "I mean, I know you're jealous about all the time I'm spending with Margaret but-"

"Whoa, hold on, I'm not jealous," I lied, sneering. "I'm an adult, you know, I just wanted to enjoy myself. I can make my own decisions."

Mordecai just sighed again, waving a wing in dismissal. "Dude, you've never drank hard liquor before last night, I know this for a fact. Why the h would you start now of all times? What's fun about drinking alone?"

I didn't want to.

"It was pretty fun, not that you'd know. I watched some movies and pigged out on snacks," I said solemnly, wishing I wasn't sitting next to this bird who I had strange feelings for. I wanted to just run.

"By the way you acted last night, I wouldn't want to know, Rigby. You were being a serious hole, and still are. If you have something to say, say it now while you're actually sober."

I could feel the anger creeping up on me, coursing through my veins. He was always treating me like this, talking down to me like I'm a child. Was I nothing more than a toy to him, something to have fun with then throw into the closet when something better came along? I remembered something my dad had said to me years ago: Be your own best friend, because others won't always be there for you. He was gone, but I finally found this phrase alive and relevant. He was right.

"I don't need you to spend time with me, Mordecai. I have other friends to go hang with. I'm not jealous."

Maybe if you say it enough it'll actually be true.

"Whatever man, we both know you don't have other friends." He gave a knowing smirk. "Hm."

At that moment I would have rather taken a death punch from him than hear those words that stung my heart. I knew he was right, but to hear that from my best friend was too much to handle. He said it so easily, and it hurt to the very core of the relationship we had built for so many years.

"Stop talking," I said angrily, but in a surprisingly soft tone contrasting from my normal shouting. A lump in my throat told me what was coming next, and I would be damned if Mordecai saw me cry again. I hated him right now and wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Dude, chill. We have to get going or Benson's gonna boil. By the way, don't ask to sleep in my bed again, that was weird."

I scampered out of the room on all fours before he could say anymore, thankful that he hadn't seen me breakdown once again.


I spent most of the work day separated from Mordecai, expect this time it was by choice. The things he had said were all true, but they hurt nevertheless. It was painfully obvious that I was becoming more and more isolated every day, from everyone and everything. Was this eighteen all over again?

No, I wouldn't let it be this way again.

The sun was starting to set and the breeze coursed through my unkempt fur, looking up, cursing as rain droplets hit the bridge of my nose, shivering. The clouds had been battling for control of the sky all day, pretty similar to my thoughts. I could never tell him the truth, not at the height of his relationship with that Capital S Margaret.

I grinned, thinking of all the guys she had gone through before ending up with my best friend. He foolishly tried impressing her time and time again, and deep down I knew that she knew exactly how Mordecai had felt about her because I was a witness to the whole thing every step of the way. Was it possible that the robin had played out so options that Mordecai was the only choice?

It was wrong, but it felt good to believe that. He wasn't so special. What did he have that I didn't?

Social skills.

It was true I wasn't the best at making small talk and conversation, but at the same time I never had much to say. I was a do-er, not a talker. I lived my life the way I wanted, not to impress someone else. That was where I beat Mordecai at something.


Throwing the last of the garbage bags full of green waste into the dumpster, I exhaled, ready for the day to be over. Maybe I would sit by the fireplace and watch some TV by myself, keeping today's theme of No Mordecai into the night, when I saw the blue jay himself walking toward me.

"Hey dude, I'm done, are you?"

"Yeah," I replied curtly. "Are you surprised?" Truth be told I was surprising myself at the amount of work I was actually accomplishing lately, but I didn't want to be treated like a child once again.

"Kind of, yeah, but good job."

I already have a boss, I don't need another.

"Thanks, I guess. Were you gonna tell me something?"

He nodded. "Yeah, that I have dibs on the TV tonight. I got a new game I wanna play by myself."

I rolled my eyes, huffing. "I'm surprised you're not going over to Margaret's. By the way, why can't I play?"

"She's working tonight, and it's a one-player game. Tough luck."

What a jerk.

"Whatever, I didn't wanna play anyway."

Mordecai laughed sarcastically. "Sure, whatever." He waved and started walking back towards the rec house, dismissing me.

I stood there clenching my fists, in shock that he could treat me even worse. I bet this was payback for last night, trying to make me feel bad. I yelled out to no one in particular, venting my frustrations. I had to get out of this park, and a steaming hot coffee sounded like a plan.


I was greeted by warm heat entering the shop, closing the door behind me, leaving the chilly wind with it. Surveying the empty chairs, I saw one couple by the window and a lone guy on his laptop towards the back. For seven o' clock it was unusually empty, and I guessed the weather was keeping everyone in their own warm homes.

I took a seat near the waitress's substation in the center of the seating area, letting out a sigh. The chairs weren't the most comfortable in the world, but right now it felt good to relax.

"Hey Rigby," I heard a voice greet me, and looked up to see Margaret smiling at me, holding a tray of dirty cups. To the normal person Margaret was a cheerful, pleasant girl, even innocent, but I knew better. The only thing real about the robin was her attractive body and lady pecs.

"Hey Margaret," I said automatically, with no real feeling behind it. "What's up?"

"Not too much, it's a quiet night as you probably saw, so I've been kinda bored actually. It's nice to see you, though I'm surprised Mordecai's not here."

I laughed gruffly. "Nah, he's playing some new game, he didn't want to go out."

She rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Yeah, that sounds like him. Did you want a coffee? Black two sugars right?" I nodded.

"Alright, I'll be right back," she giggled, giving me another smile before walking off to get it. It was pathetic really, the flirting. She did it with every guy it seemed and I had known for a while I was on her list of potentials, it was just a matter of-

I froze, feeling metaphorical gears turning in my head.

Potentials.

All of the anger I had been feeling for days, no, months was suddenly pushed back into the recesses of my mind, and a grin formed on my face slowly. It was genius really, the perfect way to get revenge on someone I had considered a best friend. It was time to see where I could take this.

Margaret returned a few moments later, a cup of coffee and two sugars tucked in her wing. "Here you go Rigby."

I gave her my best s-eating smile and winked. "Thanks beautiful."

"Beautiful? Oh stop Rigby," she said with a smirk, other wing on her hip. "You don't honestly mean that."

I kept the smile plastered on my face, chuckling. "Oh, but I do. You're the 'lot' to my 'latte'."

That was too lame.

Sure enough though Margaret giggled like she always did at my puns. "Oh Rigby, you're too funny."

Hook, line and sinker.

"And you're beautiful, so does that make a good combo?" I had to admit, this was actually pretty fun.

"I think so," she said quietly, winking. "Oh man, sorry, I still have your coffee."

She untucked her wing holding the cup, and bending down to set it on the table, I could have sworn she paused for a moment to give me a look at her cleavage, which was now eye-level to me. Even I had to appreciate her flawless body, her breasts practically pressing against her work-ordered shirt. She was good, no doubt about it, the blush creeping to my cheeks and my slight arousal evident. It was pure lust driving me, but in the wrong direction.

She shifted positions, letting her beak hover to my perked ear. "You didn't come in here just for coffee, did you?" she whispered seductively.

Whoa, was this really happening? I'm letting it happen.

I stuttered, shifting in my seat comfortably, unable to say anything. She smiled and suddenly I felt a wing caressing my thigh under the table.

Stop this NOW.

The last warning fell short as her touch slid to my arousal, her feathers teasing and tickling my sensitive flesh. I let out a soft pant, heat spreading through my body much like the alcohol had. I couldn't stop it now, the damage had been done.

The warmness flickered out as her wing retreated, our eyes meeting, her stare playful and knowing.

"You're not so little Rigby. We could continue this at my place when I get off...if you want. Seems like you do."

It was all happening so fast, this robin wasted no time. I knew for sure now that Mordecai's "beloved" wasn't so beloved after all. Deep down my gut was screaming for me to say no, to leave the shop and never talk to her again.

My mind sped through scenes of the last few days, of my best friend treating me like a pest instead of a person. He didn't care, and neither should I. Hell, I was doing him a favor.

"I'd like that."


And so the plot TRULY begins. I'm very excited to write the next few chapters, but I have to say this to get it out of the way: I'm not a Margaret basher, this is just the way the story will be written to stay true to what I'm trying to convey. Unfortunately not every character can be a Goody Two-Shoes because that would led to a very boring story.

Thanks for your reviews and I'll see you next chapter!