Author's note: Oh gosh, I'm sorry for the big delay guys! Life's been getting in the way of my writing lately, and I lost motivation there for a while. Sometimes I just need a little push to get going again! I do this mostly for you guys so if I take way too long to update, if any of you ever wanna drop me a little reminder to get my booty writing, you can message me on my tumblr! My url is Nanchoparty. It's much easier to get in contact with me there than it is on here. Anyway, hope you like it!
Be Sollux
There's a stranger sitting next to your hospital bed.
You pretend to be unconscious still while you look him over through your eyelashes.
You've never seen this guy before in your life.
So then, what the fuck is he doing here?
Is he visiting you?
What reason would he have for that?
He's wringing his hands together and his eyes keep flickering from staring at the wall, to the door, to you, and back.
Who is this dumbass and what the hell does he want from you?
The way he's dressed makes him look like an idiot.
The thick rimmed glasses he's wearing probably aren't even prescription and he's wearing a scarf even though it isn't even winter yet.
Or is it?
Who knows how long you've been out.
You don't dare make a sound.
You don't want to confront him, you have no idea what to expect from a guy like this.
You'll just wait until he leaves, and call a nurse in.
Ask her what the hell all that was about.
And then go home.
Everything will be back to normal.
You'll go home and get back to work and Karkat will nag you and…
Wait.
Oh.
Oh right.
You guess you forgot about that.
Things will be almost normal with a side of sharp regret, but you guess that's how your life's been like for a while now.
"Okay, I'm back, sorry I took so long. Is he awake yet?"
Feferi's voice.
Oh god, Feferi's voice is so nice to hear right about now.
She sounds stressed.
Really, really stressed.
Shit, what you must have put her through…
She must have been so worried.
Wasn't she supposed to have left for Florida by now?
Oh no, she didn't postpone it for you, did she…?
"Nah, still out. Hasn't moved a fuckin' bit."
The sound of the stranger's voice makes you clench the bed sheets.
He has a superior tone, like a snobby rich kid who is nothing but better than you.
You want him to leave.
Right fucking now.
You guess now is a good time as ever to "wake up."
You flutter your eyelids open, squinting against the harsh, bright lighting, and groan.
Both of them whip around, and Feferi runs to your side, dropping the bag she was carrying on the floor.
"Sollux?" She holds your face in her hands, her eyes, filled with worry, locked onto yours.
"Heh, hey Fef. How long was I out?"
She sighs deeply and pulls you into a hug.
You rest your head against her shoulder.
"How long was I out?"
"A few days. The doctor's say it was a combination of stress and dehydration. Sollux, you had me SO worried!"
She holds you an arms length away, her brow twisted in frustration.
"You did it again! You forgot to take care of yourself, and look what happened! You-"
Oh, not this again.
The babying.
She acts like she's your fucking mother.
You hate when she gets like this, it's none of her business.
"Feferi, I'm not a child, I can take care of myself just fine. I was working and I didn't have time for anything else. It's fine, it isn't going to happen again."
She holds your gaze for so long that after a while you have to look away, but eventually her grip on you softens and she pulls you back into a hug and rubs your back with one hand.
"Promise me, okay? Promise me that it won't. I can't be here if it happens again."
"I promise, I promise."
This time you pull away.
And your expression hardens.
The stranger's face goes red and he shifts awkwardly in his chair.
"Who's he?"
"Huh? Oh. Uh, this is Eridan, Sollux! He's just been keeping me company for a while."
What?
Eridan?
As in, the Eridan that Feferi has always complained about?
Stalker Eridan with his obnoxious amount of texts and his creepy voicemails?
The Eridan that has made Feferi's life hell?
Oh, fuck no.
No, you are not fucking okay with this.
You knew you had a reason to dislike him from the moment you saw him.
He is going to regret daring to step foot near you.
You are going to teach this asshole a fucking lesson.
"You stupid fucking…" You growl, throwing your legs off of your bed, ignoring the protesting of your muscles.
"Sollux, what are you… Sollux, NO!"
Feferi grabs your arm tightly, but you shake her off.
You stand up.
Your head goes fuzzy, but you don't care.
Eridan shrinks back and his hands tremble as he holds them up in surrender, but you don't care.
You lunge for him.